AOL has launched itself into the online, downloadable movie business, saying today that it has partnered with 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to allow for downloadable movies thro

AOL announced that it was acquiring Los Angeles-based Userplane (www.userplane.com) this morning, adding Userplane's many instant messaging, chat, and community tools to its lineup of services. We spoke with Mike Jones, CEO and founder of Userplane, on hi

AOL said this morning that it has acquired Los Angeles-based Userplane, a provider of software for social networking and community networking web sites. Financial terms were not disclosed. AOL said that the acquisition would expand and extend the relevanc

Tommy McGloin is founder of DoctorsDirect.com (www.doctorsdirect.com), a startup that is developing a service that connects patients to doctors. Tommy is former SVP and GM of MapQuest, and was also head of AOL Moviefone and Digital City. I caught up with

Irvine-based Autobytel is continuing its management shakeup, saying yesterday that it has appointed Mark Canon, founder of Switchboard.com and former AOL Search VP of Strategy and Development, to the position of Chief Product Officer. Canon will focus on

Irvine-based Boost Mobile has tied into AOL, MSN, and Yahoo with its latest instant messaging features. Customers of Boost can now instant message from their cell phones directly to AOL, MSN, or Yahoo instant messaging services. Also, instant messages sen

Irvine-based Autobytel, a provider of online automotive marketing and auto-buying services, has named two executives from AOL to head up its web operations. The firm said this week that it has added Jon Rosen, fomer head of strategy and business developme

AOL has launched a beta of a new, extreme sports content site based out of Los Angeles, the company said yesterday. Lat34.com focuses on action sports, including skating, BMX, FMX, and is soon expanding to surfing and snowboarding. The web site currently

San Diego-based Kyocera Wireless and Virgin Mobile USA have rolled out a new, mobile phone targeted at the youth space. Virgin Mobile said today that it will roll out its new Switch_Back handset, targeting the teen market with pre-loaded AOL Instant Messa