Web Tidbits - Social Networks, Dell

Breaking news - Microsoft and Facebook
Microsoft has acquired 1.6% of Facebook for $240 million.  The deal values the social networking king at $15 billion, far more than the $1 billion offer that Yahoo! made for the site earlier according to CNNMoney and The New York Times.  Microsoft will be the exclusive advertising platform and will gain rights to sell adverrtising around the world.

For more on social networks see my article "The expanding world of Social Networking" at Wisconsin Technology Networks.

Dell Strategy Changes - Social Media, Retail Channel Expansion
In a continuing evolution of their business strategies Dell is learning how to listen and join the conversation with a range of web 2.0 technologies according to Michael Jarvis in a recent Business Week article.  Jarvis is a blogger who infamously had taken Dell to task in the past.

In other Dell strategy changes, Dell has expanded beyond their direct sales model overseas according to Business Week and in the U.S. signed a deal with Staples to sell select small business equipment starting November 11th according to eWeek.  This retail expansion follows their earlier agreements with Wal-Mart to sell consumer models in their stores.