Google gobbles messaging vendor

Google has acquired mobile messaging developer Jaiku, but it`s keeping its plans for the Helsinki, Finland-based company hush-hush, says CRN.

Jaiku allows users to create an "activity stream" to share their availability, location and calendar. The customisable portal allows users to add Web feeds and share comments with others.

First available on PCs, the company now offers a version for cellphones as well. Jyri Engestrm and Petteri Koponen founded the company in February 2006.

As part of today`s announcement that Capcom`s Monster Hunter 3 would prowl exclusively on the Wii, Nintendo announced it would be "entering the third phase of its strategy, aimed at expanding the game player population", reports Gamespot.

One way in which it will be doing so is by more heavily supporting its console`s online capabilities, and today Nintendo revealed a number of new developments in its strategy.

Opera has said that Nintendo has begun disseminating the newest version of its Internet Channel, which is available as a free upgrade to existing users.

Since shelling out $1.6 billion for YouTube last year, Google has yet to wring a profit from the video site`s millions of user-generated clips, reports Forbes.

Google has tried inserting overlay ads into videos and on Tuesday, it launched a new program to distribute ad-laced, commercially produced YouTube video clips to sites through its AdSense network.

But the key to unlocking profits from the torrent of home-grown online videos may instead be in the hands of a small British video search company called Blinkx.

After a couple of experiences dipping a toe into the mobile market, Mozilla says it plans to get serious about developing a mobile browser, reports PC World.

Mozilla recently hired two new developers to work on the project and plans to release Mobile Firefox some time in the next year or two.

The iPhone, Apple`s popular new mobile phone, in part contributed to the renewed interest in mobile browsing at Mozilla. "The user demand for a full browsing experience on mobile devices is clear," said Mike Schroepfer, VP of engineering at Mozilla.