Apple may be preparing to purchase Anobit, an fabless Israeli firm that specializes in flash storage solutions for mobile and enterprise markets. The Cupertino-based company could be willing to spend between $400 million and $500 million on Anobit, Calcalist reported Tuesday. Anobit’s website says its memory signal processing (MSP) technology “significantly improves endurance, performance and cost of flash storage products and systems.” Apple is reportedly already an Anobit customer for it...

HP announced on Monday that it has followed through with its intentions to acquire Autonomy and has purchased the enterprise information technology firm for £25.50 per share in cash. HP will allow Autonomy to operate as an entirely separate arm; Autonomy will continue to be led by its founder and CEO Dr. Mike Lynch, who will report to HP’s newly appointed CEO Meg Whitman. “We are committed to helping our customers solve their toughest IT challenges,” HP president and chief executive office...

Broadcom announced on Monday that it will acquire NetLogic Microsystems for $3.7 billion and current NetLogic shareholders will receive $50 per share owned. “This transaction delivers on all fronts for Broadcom’s shareholders — strategic fit, leading-edge technology and significant financial update,” Broadcom president and CEO Scott McGregor, said. “With NetLogic Microsystems, Broadcom is acquiring a leading multi-core embedded processor solution, market leading knowledge-based proce...

Google announced on Thursday that it acquired the restaurant rating company ZAGAT. “ZAGAT will be a cornerstone of our local offering — delighting people with their impressive array of reviews, ratings and insights, while enabling people everywhere to find extraordinary (and ordinary) experiences around the corner and around the world,” Marissa Mayer, vice president of local, maps and location services at Google said in a blog post. “I’m incredibly excited to collaborate with ZAGAT t...

During the IFA trade show in Berlin on Friday, Samsung Electronics CEO Choi Gee Sung addressed rumors and speculation that Samsung was considering purchasing webOS from HP. Choi said Samsung would “never” make the purchase, according to Bloomberg. “It’s not right that acquiring an operating system is becoming a fashion,” he said. Samsung Mobile already has its own mobile operating system called bada and just released version 2.0. It also sells smartphones running Android and Micr...

Research In Motion will benefit in the near term from the ongoing launch of its new BlackBerry 7 smartphones, which are being described as the vendor’s strongest devices in some time. Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu upgraded his rating on RIM stock to Buy from Neutral, increasing his price target to $35 from $28. Wu sees near-term opportunity in RIM, and he thinks new BlackBerry handsets like the Bold 9900 will be well received. ”The key differences this time include a refined user interface and i...

Electronic Arts is set to purchase PopCap Games for $1 billion, according to TechCrunch. PopCap Games is best known for titles such as Plants vs. Zombies, Peggle, and Bejewled, all of which are available on a number of platforms, including the PC and mobile devices. It’s unclear what the motivation behind the purchase is. EA has a number of hits available in the iTunes App Store, including NBA Jam, The Sims, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12, but perhaps it could use PopCap’s expertise in the casual mar...

Microsoft on Tuesday announced that it will acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in cash. The news comes just days after reports surfaced that Facebook and Google were both interested in purchasing, or at least creating a joint venture with the online video chat company. However, sources said Facebook was considering spending $3 to $4 billion on Skype, a fraction of Microsoft’s offer. The firm said Skype will be used to support Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and other Windows devices. Microsoft also said that...

According to the latest Internet rumor, Apple’s presumed cloud-based service may be getting a familiar moniker. Blog GigaOM is reporting that the Cupertino company has purchased the domain name iCloud.com from Swedish company Xcerion. We wouldn’t be surprised if the rumor turned out to be true, Apple has had a love affair with the vowel “i” since the early 1990′s, although, as TechCrunch points out, the iPad was thought to be called the iSlate at one point. The report states that...

In November, Facebook announced its new “Deals” platform that allows users to check-in to various local businesses for discounts. On Tuesday, the social network announced that it’s taking that idea one step further with its new “Deals on Facebook” service — which is currently being tested in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, San Diego, and San Francisco. Using the Deals on Facebook, friends will be able to see local specials — such as concerts or group discounts at restaurants – and...

The day has finally arrived for those eagerly awaiting the arrival of Research In Motion’s first tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook. The 7-inch tablet — which is also the first device to run the company’s QNX-based software — is aimed at consumers and professionals alike, with a blend of speed, security, and functionality. You know what we think about the device, but we’re curious to know if you have any big plans for the PlayBook. Hit the jump to vote in our poll, and let us know if RIM...

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Twitter is in “advanced talks” to purchase TweetDeck — the popular desktop and mobile third-party Twitter client. The deal could be worth as much as $50 million, although neither party has commented on the possible acquisition. TweetDeck, based in the U.K, has 15 employees on its payroll. Twitter could use the acquisition to immediately offer a “native” Twitter client in the PC desktop space, especially if it has plans to begin target...

Google has confirmed that the nation’s third largest wireless provider, Sprint, has started rolling out a new feature to its Android Market users: carrier billing. Sprint will — presumably — get a small cut of the total amount spent, which will be charged to users’ monthly wireless statements. According to intel gathered by blog Android Central, corporate customers will — for obvious reasons — be automatically opted-out of the service; users that voluntarily decline access to carrier bi...

Those of you clinging on to AT&T, waiting for a serious Android handset, rejoice. Today, February 22nd, is the day that you can officially purchase yourself a dual-core, laptop-docking, 1GB of RAM having, Motorola ATRIX 4G from your local wireless retailer. AT&T will be selling the set for $199.99, RadioShack will be pricing the unit at $149.99, and we’ve heard select Walmart stores will be offering the ATRIX for a very reasonable $129.99. If you’ve already taken pre-order of, or are...