Apple and IBM today announced an exclusive partnership that teams the market-leading strengths of each company to transform enterprise mobility through a new class of business apps — bringing IBM’s big data and analytics capabilities to iPhone and iPad.

The landmark partnership aims to redefine the way work will get done, address key industry mobility challenges and spark true mobile-led business change grounded in four core capabilities.

The new IBM MobileFirst for iOS solutions will be built in an exclusive collaboration that draws on the distinct strengths of each company: IBM’s big data and analytics capabilities, with the power of more than 100,000 IBM industry and domain consultants and software developers behind it, fused with Apple’s legendary consumer experience, hardware and software integration and developer platform. The combination will create apps that can transform specific aspects of how businesses and employees work using iPhone and iPad, allowing companies to achieve new levels of efficiency, effectiveness and customer satisfaction, faster and easier than ever before.

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Applications Open

Following Cisco’s inaugural Entrepreneurs in Residence Cohort in March, Cisco is announcing that applications for the fall 2014 class are now open. As an innovation program Cisco Entrepreneurs in Residence supports early-stage entrepreneurs working on the next big ideas for the Internet of Everything, cloud computing, Big Data, analytics and other strategic areas for Cisco. Cisco Entrepreneurs in Residence is one of the innovation catalyst programs within Cisco that focuses on breakthrough innovation to help grow early-stage companies.

Cisco is looking for 5 to 10 early-stage startups at their seed or Series A funding stage working on the next big ideas for the Internet of Everything, cloud computing, Big Data, analytics and other transformational technologies. The accepted companies are expected to enroll by October 2014 at Cisco headquarters in San Jose, California.

Each cohort spends six months in residence with Cisco. The Entrepreneurs in Residence program offers financial support, access to a co-working space, basic software tools, and a potential opportunity to collaborate with Cisco product or engineering teams. The program works closely with Cisco Investments to explore equity investments when appropriate.

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Completes Acquisition

SAN JOSE, Calif., (PRNewswire) — Atmel Corporation, a leader in microcontroller and touch technology solutions, today announced that it has closed the acquisition of Newport Media, Inc., a leading provider of advanced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth solutions.

“We are pleased to have the talented team of Newport Media join Atmel,” said Steve Laub, Atmel’s president and CEO. “This acquisition immediately expands Atmel’s already strong wireless portfolio with the addition of 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and will accelerate our introduction of low-energy Bluetooth products. NMI’s products combined with Atmel’s connectivity and ultra-low power microcontrollers further strengthen our leading position in the Internet of Things marketplace.”

Atmel provides the electronics industry with system solutions focused on industrial and consumer markets.

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‘No Charge to Charge’ Partner

VENICE, Calif., (PRNewswire) -- Recargo, Inc. announced today that PlugShare, the world’s most popular way to find and use electric vehicle charging services, is the official app to find chargers for Nissan’s “No Charge To Charge” promotion.

A new filter within the PlugShare app and on plugshare.com makes it easy for Nissan LEAF drivers to locate charging stations taking part in “No Charge To Charge,” which provides two years of no-cost public charging in selected markets with the purchase or lease of a new Nissan LEAF.

As Nissan LEAF and other plug-in vehicle sales have grown worldwide, so has PlugShare, which currently serves more than 100,000 active and engaged drivers who use the app not only to find and make payments at charging stations, but also to share their experience with others by rating locations, adding photos and tips, and messaging to coordinate ‘sharing the plug’ at busy stations.

Nissan’s new “No Charge to Charge” program is now active in 10 markets across the United States including San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle and Portland. Nissan recently announced plans for the Aug. 15 launch of the program in Los Angeles.

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Granted U.S. Patents

CAMPBELL, Calif., (PRNewswire) — hopTo Inc., developer of one of the most comprehensive mobile productivity workspaces available, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted hopTo, Inc. 10 additional patents, bringing the total number of patents granted and allowed to 18.  hopTo Inc. now has a comprehensive patent portfolio of 170 total applications in more than 75 unique patent families.

U.S. patent numbers 8,745,280 and 8,738,814, titled “System for and Method of Translating Motion-Based User Input Between a Client Device and an Application Host Computer,” are two in a family of patents critical to facilitating the level of touch-based interaction between mobile devices and enterprise applications.  This technology represents one of many key differentiating features of hopTo products.

U.S. patent numbers 8,763,055; 8,776,152; and 8,763,054, titled “Cross- Platform Video Display,” belong to a family of patents that protects important aspects of hopTo’s unique ability to provide seamless access to documents wherever they are stored.

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