Latest News on WRAL Tech Wire

Dropping citizenship to save Facebook co-founder $67M in taxes

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:57:00 -0400

Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin will save at least $67 million in federal income taxes by dropping U.S. citizenship. Those savings will keep growing if Facebook's shares increase after its IPO.

In a first, new map tracks economic, demographic, education data across N.C.

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:26:16 -0400

The UNC System's Center for International Understanding is team up with SAS for the "Global North Carolina Heat Map." Its purpose is to encourage job creation in the state as well as more global interaction.

Billionaire donates $15M to Duke for entrepreneurship program

Sat, 12 May 2012 09:19:54 -0400

David Rubenstein, co-founder of the private equity firm Carlyle Group, gives $15 million to Duke;s Innovation and Entrepreneurship program. "Students today increasingly want to be entrepreneurs, social or business," he says.

Triangle economic developers launch high-tech worker recruiting campaign

Mon, 07 May 2012 07:38:58 -0400

"Work in the Triangle, Smarter From Any Angle" push is designed to help the Triangle area attract more highly qualified candidates for several technology sectors, such as life science, biotech, clean energy, gaming and software. A forum on Wednesday featuring a columnist from Forbes magazine kicks off the effort.

Facebook prices shares at up to $35 for biggest Internet stock offering

Fri, 04 May 2012 06:48:18 -0400

The social media giant aims to sell more than 337 million shares at a price between $28 and $35 in what would be the biggest initial public offering of stock by an Internet company. Founder Mark Zuckerberg will own 31.5 percent of the company after the IPO.

Florida passes NC for No. 2 spot in state business climate survey

Wed, 02 May 2012 13:29:42 -0400

Florida is No. 2 on Chief Executive's latest "Best and Worst States" survey, passing North Carolina, which slipped to third. Texas finished first as it has in each of the eight annual lists.

Raleigh economic forum kicks off high-tech worker recruitment drive

Wed, 02 May 2012 09:18:04 -0400

Joel Kotkin, an author and Forbes magazine columnist, will be keynoting an economic forum in Raleigh next week as event organizers kick off an effort to attract more high-tech workers to the Triangle.

Raleigh-Cary jumps to 7th from 14th on Forbes 'Best Cities for Jobs' list

Wed, 02 May 2012 09:17:05 -0400

A new report out from Forbes by the keynote speaker at an economic development forum in Raleigh next week says the private sector is leading growth in jobs.

IBM early retirement plan protects takers from layoffs

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:18:07 -0400

An internal IBM memo leaked Tuesday outlines plans to offer an early retirement package to U.S. employees that offers those who accept by the end of next year protection from layoffs.

Cary-based Connexion Technologies files for bankruptcy

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:59:11 -0400

The company, which also operates under the name Capitol infrastructure and is led by former Cary Mayor Glen Lang, recently laid off two thirds of its employees.

Union official: IBM headcount in RTP, NC is plummeting

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:27:44 -0400

Based on sources from within IBM, Alliance@IBM's Lee Conrad says Big Blue now employs under 10,000 people in North Carolina and soon will have just 6,000 in RTP. In 2007, the company said it had 13,000 workers across the state.

High-tech job openings in NC surge to pre-recession level

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:42:01 -0400

The daily average of advertised job openings in March soared more than 20 percent from February to 5,670, the North Carolina Technology Association says. That's the highest number since July of 2007 before the recession hit and more than double that of two years ago.

CEO aims to keep Red Hat growing, its value high to ward off buyers

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:42:53 -0400

In his fifth year as the top executive at Raleigh-based Red Hat, Jim Whitehurst plots a strategy for continued growth and another 150 local jobs in the wake of the Linux software firm topping $1 billion in revenues. He aims to keep the stock price high and at the same time keeping the company focused on the "changing paradigm" in computing. As for his own career, Whitehurst says "I can't imagine anything better to do."

IBM having female CEO re-ignites Augusta National membership debate

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:57:52 -0400

The last four chief executives of IBM -- a longtime corporate sponsor of the Masters -- have been members of the exclusive golf club in Augusta, Ga. The latest CEO of the computer giant happens to be a woman. Virginia Rometty was appointed earlier this year. One problem -- a woman has never worn a member's green jacket since Augusta National opened in 1933.

Red Hat exec talks about company's $1B revenue mark

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:53:01 -0400

Red Hat executive vice president and chief financial officer Charlie Peters talks with WRAL News about the local company crossing the $1 billion-revenue platform.