Microsoft’s leading evangelist in the blogosphere and a founder of the video blogging movement, Robert Sdcoble, aka The Scoblelizer, has decided to leave the mighty M-team for a Silicon Valley start-up known as PofTech.net. Scoble says he leaves Microsoft because his work there was done and he moves to PodTech to participate in a nascent industry that promises to go nova.
Scoble put a human face on the company during controversial times. Robert, we’ll miss you! [24×7]
Casuality Seattle Explores Advertising In Interactive Gaming
Casuality Seattle: A Conference for Casual Game Developers, Publishers and Distributors is coming to Seattle’s Benaroya Hall June 27-29.
Attendees will spend a full day gathering a complete perspective of casual games advertising, learning about all forms of game advertising including: the advertising agencies’ perspective, success stories from other interactive media, casual advergames and commercials in casual games followed by an exploration of next steps to define the casual games industry’s advertising model.
The casual games industry is pioneering the concept of advertising-supported and funded game play inside of interactive entertainment, yielding huge benefits for both consumers and marketers alike.
“Advertising, after many fits-and-starts, has become a critical source of revenue in interactive media business models, both Internet and iTV,” said Michael Zeisser, SVP Liberty Media Corporation.
“Casual games, because of how they are delivered and consumed online, represent a sophisticated advertising platform for marketers looking to reach gamers today,“ said Dave Madden, EVP of WildTangent and Chair, Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Games Committee. “The IAB is excited to work together with the casual games industry to define some common units and measurements that can scale across all game platforms, thus enabling marketers and agencies to make larger financial commitments to the rapidly growing medium.“ [24×7]
Qwest Teaming with Windows Live
Qwest Communications will offer Windows Live antivirus software to high-speed Internet access customers, switching from McAfee Inc. as Microsoft Corp. introduces expanded online programs this year.
Qwest announced it also will use Microsoft’s e-mail and instant-messaging software for its 1.7 million consumer high-speed customers.
Microsoft is revamping its MSN Internet services under the Windows Live brand. [24×7]
McCaw Taking Eastside Community Beyond Wi-Fi
Craig McCaw, 56, the founder of the first U.S. cellular-telephone network, has been busywith his latest enterprtise, a venture called Clearwire Corp. to bring more-reliable wireless Internet to homes. Last Monday, the company got permission from Hunts Point, where McCaw lives along wth neighbor Steve ballmer, to install a 41-foot antenna disguised as a flagpole outside the town hall.
The waterside enclave of fewer than 500 people, would be among the first to get a new WiMax service. It’s a longer-range, clearer version of the Wi-Fi wireless Internet now being installed by cities from Philadelphia to Dayton, Ohio.
Hunts Point will join neighboring Clyde Hill, which is installing a Clearwire antenna atop the water tower behind City Hall. [24×7]
