Google Makes First Start_up Acquisition in Israel
Google Inc. has made its first ever start-up acquisition in Israel – LabPixies – a developer of personalized website gadgets for Google's personalized search page iGoogle, as well as for mobile devices. The acquisition, considered a strategic move for Google in Israel, was valued at $25 million.
Israel to Raise 2010 Growth Estimate to 3.5-4%
Israel's Finance Ministry plans to raise its 2010 economic growth forecast to a range of 3.5% to 4%, within two weeks, a ministry source said on Tuesday. The government's previous estimate was for 1.5% growth this year, but the forecast was made in the midst of the global financial crisis.
Israeli Chef Named Food&Wine's 'Rising Star'
The prestigious culinary magazine Food&Wine has ranked Israeli chef Yonatan Roshfeld first place in its list of rising star chefs. The magazine, which is considered a leading publication in the culinary world, publishes a list of the 100 most important aspects in the field of food each year, including interesting trends, top-notch restaurants and innovative bars.
Survey: Only 44% of Israeli Firms Apply Saas Model
Israeli companies are slow to adopt the Software as a Service (SaaS) technological model for software deployment, which enables businesses to licenses applications without actually buying them, thus saving significant operational costs. A recent industry survey found that overall, only 34% of the companies in Israel apply SaaS. About 44% of small businesses in Israel apply the model, compared to 86% in the United States, and only 28% of large businesses use it, compared to 76% in the US, according to International Data Corporation data.
El Al Aims to Boost Bike Tourism
El Al, Israel’s flagship carrier announced it would allow tourists traveling to Israel to bring their bicycles for free – making the airline the only global carrier not to charge passengers to check a bicycle in addition to their baggage. El Al said the move aims to promote bike tourism in Israel, in view of the growth in niche tourism markets.
