MS buys Greenfield Online

Microsoft has agreed to buy Greenfield Online, owner of popular European price comparison Web site ciao.com, for $486 million to boost its Internet search and e-commerce business in Europe, reports Emirates Business 24/7.

Microsoft, whose $47.5 billion-bid to buy Yahoo earlier this year failed after a long battle, said the acquisition, the latest in a series, should help it build a more consumer-friendly, results-oriented search engine.

"We call it 'instant answers'," says John Mangelaars, head of Microsoft's consumer and online business in Europe.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has withdrawn requirements that Green Dam Internet censorship software come pre-installed on all computers. This victory is not unblemished, states The Washington Post.

China is continuing to install the software in computers at Internet cafes and universities. And some manufacturers continue to include it with computers shipped to the country.

The outcome, although not perfect, is a success for the Chinese people and the cause of Internet freedom.

Social networking service iLike has opened a music download store and has begun selling MP3s from all the major music labels, according to CNET News.

CNET previously reported that iLike would soon open a store and offer song downloads from at least three of the major labels. The site is selling music from all four big record companies: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI.

Companies competing in the ad-supported music space have struggled to generate cash as advertisers are reluctant to pay them premium rates.