Small business has been feeding the daily deal industry, routinely assuming 75% of a deal’s cost and often with little or no repeat business. The draw for SMB’s to behemoths like Groupon is the reach: 60 million users and 500 markets.

Smaller merchants are becoming savvier in the deals they are making with the big guys like Groupon, LivingSocial, and web mainstays like Facebook, Yelp, Travelzoo, OpenTable who are all adding Groupon-like features — all the while being "bombarded" by a growing array of smaller wannabes, and contemplating what they can do without a middleman.Continue reading...

Acer faces rising tablet challenge.

American Family tops insurance-satisfaction ranking.

Bing, Google and Yahoo partner on web standards.

Chevron boosts Gulf of Mexico production.

EA launches Origin, a consumer gaming platform.

Facebook testifies that Ceglia e-mails were forged.

Fiat buys rest of US government stake in Chrysler.Continue reading...

Acer sees stock tumble after questionable financial audit.

Amazon rolls out Groupon rival, Amazon Local.

American Airlines and Orbitz forced to play nice.

Android assails Nokia in Europe.

Anthony Weiner's Twitter scandal continues.

Asos bottom line dinged by warehouse move.

Audi sued for allegedly using Eminem's Chrysler ad music.

Borders sees bidder emerge also with Michigan roots.Continue reading...

The Daily Mail repeats "wild rumors" that P&G is planning to bid for Unilever.

Australia reverses ban on gay safe-sex ads.

Eastman Kodak launches recyling program.

Google launches +1 button as Twitter introduces one-click follow button.

Groupon expands real-time deals to New York and San Francisco as Google Offers goes live in Portland, OR.

Pfizer scores with soccer-themed web game in the UK.

Shaquille O'Neal announced his retirement from the NBA on Twitter, using video from new startup Tout.Continue reading...

Last week, Google launched a new service, Google Advisor, to help consumers make money decisions and compare financial products: credit cards, CDs, checking, and savings accounts.

Today, the search giant unveiled its own financial product, Google Wallet, at a press conference in New York, with partners Citi, MasterCard, First Data and Sprint, sharing the stage.

Can Google Banking be far behind?Continue reading...

As Glenn Beck gets ready to exit Fox News earlier this year, his next gig may raise some eyebrows.

His production company, Mercury Radio Arts, just launched Markdown.com as a direct competitor to Groupon, LivingSocial and scores more in the social deals and group buying space. Beck's announcement came via a Twitter update: “Proud to announce the launch of Markdown.com. Valuable deals with partners who have values. Today: CHOCOLATE!” 

The key differentiation according to Beck: “Markdown is a place where I will be able to connect you directly with the products and retailers that I love…But, best of all, Markdown is a place where my personal slogan and values will be brought to life.” And in case you were wondering: this is not a stunt from those wags at The Onion or Funny or Die, by the way.Continue reading...

Amazon "gives away" Lady Gaga's new album for 99 cents.

AOL shuts down India portal.

Apple rumored to be planning a store in NYC's Grand Central and a curved glass iPhone.

Barnes & Noble's Nook "crushes" Amazon's Kindle in the glossy magazine department.

Cisco accused of aiding Chinese crackdown on dissidents.

Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean 4 scores fourth biggest global weekend opening.

Ellen DeGeneres boycotts Twitpic in wake of Twitter app's photo agency deal. 

Ford plans in-car driver health monitoring with Medtronic.

Foursquare and Groupon reportedly in partnership talks.Continue reading...

Katie Couric exits the CBS News anchor chair tonight with one final interview: Hillary Clinton.

Also stepping down this week: Mary Hart, who signs off Entertainment Tonight on Friday after 29 seasons in a final broadcast that brings out her former co-hosts.

Arnold Schwarzenegger puts projects on hold to deal with personal crisis.

Discovery Networks to run first in-show product placement under relaxed UK rules.

FDA pulls diabetes drug Avandia from shelves.

Gap quarterly profit falls 23%; partners with Goodwill for donated clothing discount.Continue reading...