- Google Shopping will begin paid-for transition this February Google Shopping is beginning its transition to a commercial model in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil, Australia, and Switzerland next month - a transition that was completed in the United States in October 2012 - meaning that, for the first time, merchants in said 10 countries must pay to have their products listed on Google Shopping.
- 500px gains foothold in Europe with Pulpfingers acqui-hire 500px, the photo sharing platform for professionals, has acquired European startup Pulpfingers, a company that develops photo-focussed iOS apps.
- French president joins Twitter, parody accounts suspiciously suspended Twitter is being accused of internet censorship after four parody accounts in honour of French president Nicolas Sarkozy were allegedly suspended under suspicious circumstances - the same day Sarkozy became officially represented on the service.
- Cost of Facebook advertising on the rise The cost of advertising on Facebook is rising, with the average cost per click increasing as much as 45% in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to a report from Facebook advertising technology firm TBG Digital.
- iPhone 4S pre-orders go live in 22 additional countries, including Ireland The iPhone 4S is now available to pre-order in 22 additional countries, including Ireland, ahead of its second-phase launch on October 28th.
- Facebook Messenger app available in Ireland and the UK Facebook Messenger, Facebook's standalone messaging app, is now available to download in Ireland and the UK - a little over one month after it was initially released in the United States.
- Facebook ad prices increase by 74% as demand soars The cost of advertising on Facebook is rising fast as more and more large brands allocate greater marketing resources to their online efforts. A report published today by TBG Digital, an independent marketing firm specialising in Facebook advertising campaigns, suggests that the average Facebook ad CPC (cost per click) rate increased by 74% in the past 12 months.
- Google fined €100,000 by French privacy watchdog Google have received their first fine for illegally gathering and storing users’ personal data while using Google Street View vehicles. Google “mistakenly” gathered data from unsecured personal WiFi networks in more than thirty countries, including Ireland - something which was officially admitted to in October 2010.