Jazz Semiconductor's Optimized SiGe Technology Targeted at Replacing GaAs Components in Growing Millimeter Wave and Cell Phone Markets

- Expanding Millimeter Wave and FEM Markets Estimated to Grow From $400M in 2009 to Over $750M in 2012, a CAGR of Over 23%

Jazz Semiconductor, Inc., a Tower Group Company (NASDAQ: TSEM, TASE: TSEM), today announced it is targeted at replacing GaAs components in high growth markets such as millimeter wave and front-end components of cellular phones with its enhanced SiGe BiCMOS process, IP and design enablement offerings. SiGe provides significant integration and cost advantage over GaAs, enabling products in the emerging markets of automotive collision avoidance, phased-array radar, and HDTV wireless distribution as well as established markets such as optical network and cellular phone front-end components.

NPower Builds Employees’ Skills Online with Blackboard

Blackboard and College of Sunderland Help to Bridge the Skills Gap for Employees

AMSTERDAM – August 6, 2009 – Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB), a global leader in education technology, today announced that City of Sunderland College has partnered with Blackboard to deliver an online course in advanced project management to NPower employees. The course will help bridge the skills gap between employee and employer, and will focus on planning, organizing and managing resources to increase efficiency.

The online, bespoke 15 week Advanced Project Management course has been created for employees in the Continuing Service Improvement (CSI) department at NPower and demonstrates the energy company’s continued commitment to developing local talent to meet the demands of its business.

Google to Acquire On2 Technologies

On2 Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Amex: ONT) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) jointly announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire On2, a leading developer of video compression technology. Under the terms of the agreement, each outstanding share of On2 common stock will be converted into $0.60 worth of Google class A common stock in a stock-for-stock transaction. The transaction is valued at approximately $106.5 million.

“Today video is an essential part of the web experience, and we believe high-quality video compression technology should be a part of the web platform,” said Sundar Pichai, Vice President, Product Management, Google. “We are committed to innovation in video quality on the web, and we believe that On2’s team and technology will help us further that goal.”

IBM to Acquire SPSS Inc. to Provide Clients Predictive Analytics Capabilities

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and SPSS Inc. (Nasdaq: SPSS ) today announced that the two companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement for IBM to acquire SPSS, a publicly-held company headquartered in Chicago, in an all cash transaction at a price of $50/share, resulting in a total cash consideration in the merger of approximately $1.2 billion. The acquisition is subject to SPSS shareholder approval, applicable regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions. It is expected to close later in the second half of 2009.

This acquisition is expected to further expand IBM's Information on Demand (IOD) software portfolio and business analytics capabilities, including the range of offerings available through IBM's recently-announced Business Analytics and Optimization Consulting organization and network of Analytics Solution Centers. The acquisition is also expected to strengthen IBM's Information Agenda initiative, which helps companies turn information into a strategic asset.