Slack puts out full-page ad just as Microsoft readies to enter team-based chat service

Photo from the Verge

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

In a move reminiscent of old-school passive aggressive tech company taunting, Slack took out a full-page ad on the New York Times to "Welcome Microsoft," and offer some advice as the Redmond Giant unveiled its competing Microsoft Teams collaborative chat service.

Slack is the darling communications app of the technology teams and one of Silicon Valley's most beloved services and it was long rumoured to be in Microsoft's sights as a company to be acquired. There may have been some back-channel negotiations that somehow fell through. Anyway, when a company pulls a stunt like this, they're not really just talking to the recipient (in this case, Microsoft), but the world at large in order to tout their features and brag about their achievements. 

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Live from BlackBerry World 2012 in Orlando

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Orlando, FL - There's a buzz here at the Marriott Orlando World Center in anticipation of this week's BlackBerry World which is the largest annual gathering for the BlackBerry ecosystem, and the place where the community behind BlackBerry devices, services and solutions gather to learn, share and network. 

This one's a big deal. As Research In Motion prepares to unveil much anticipated new smartphone hardware later this year running on an entirely revamped BlackBerry 10 operating system, many believe can make or break RIM's future prospects for success in the smartphone market it created. This is their chance to rally the troops and create excitement for upcoming hardware and software.

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Nokia and AT&T give developers 10 million reasons to create apps

App developers now have 10 million more reasons to create their next great app on Nokia smartphones. Nokia and US carrier AT&T announced recently an unprecedented developer contest with US $10 million in cash and prizes. Winning applications are selected by Nokia, AT&T and, for the first time, by consumers who can use their downloading power to indicate their favorites.

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