Buying cable buddies: Another sign surfaced that Microsoft Corp. is still trying to buy pals in the cable-television industry. The New York Times reported that the software-maker is close to an agreement to buy a 6 percent stake in US West's cable operations.
Just a few weeks ago, similar talk arose about Microsoft and cable big Tele-Communications Inc. The Times suggested the TCI deal has foundered because Microsoft didn't like the idea of teaming up with a big investor in potential rival @Home Networks.
The Times said talks between Microsoft and US West were moving quickly and Microsoft hoped to announce a deal before the Western Cable Convention, an industry trade show in early December. In June, in a similar deal, Microsoft agreed to pay $1 billion for an 11.5 percent stake in another big cable company, Comcast Corp.
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Names: SALT LAKE CITY (Dow Jones) - Environmental Plasma Arc Technology Inc. (EPAC) changed its name to Earth Products & Technologies Inc.
Comment: Good move.
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Push meets Bill: Having hardly warmed his seat in the executive offices of PointCast, the push-media company's new president and CEO David Dorman has been appointed to President Clinton's Advisory Committee on High Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology, and the Next Generation Internet.
Irving Wladawski-Berger, head of IBM's Internet division, and academics John Miller of Montana State and Joe Thompson of Mississippi State were also appointed by Clinton to sit on the committee advising the president on tech issues.
"The explosion of the Internet and advances in computing and communications are transforming the way people and technology interact," Dorman said in a written statement. "I'm excited to be a part of this committee to help influence exciting new developments." (4.Nov.97)
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Snap on books: Borders.com - the online outpost of the bookstore chain, due to launch in January - has signed a deal to promote its site through various CNET properties, the content provider announced this morning. CNET.com, Gamecenter.com, News.com, Search.com and Download.com will be decorated with links to Borders.com, which will be "conveniently placed alongside the editorial to provide quick access to relevant book titles," according to CNET, which calls the deal its first major e-commerce agreement.
CNET's recently launched Snap Online service will also flaunt links to Borders.com in all its channels and on its search pages - while Borders and Waldenbooks will promote Snap in stores across the country and distribute start-kits with CD-ROMS to help newbies get online via Snap. Borders stores have promoted Salon magazine - sections of which are sponsored by the bookseller - for about a year, with in-store displays of books reviewed in the magazine and co-branded bookmarks. (4.Nov.97)
