In today’s Bulldog update of technology news: TouchCare adds prominent members to board; SAS helping the METS, IBM approves quarterly dividend, stock repurchase.

Touchcare adds board members

Durham-based mobile health care startup TouchCare has named two new members to its board, former U.S. Senator Joseph Robert “Bob” Kerrey and Brad Wilson, the president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Founded in 2014, TouchCare’s telemedicine app enables convenient, HIPAA-compliant virtual video appointments that can be used within existing doctor-patient relationships. TouchCare also enables peer-to-peer video calls allowing providers to talk face-to-face privately with another doctor, or sit alongside their patient to present their case to a specialist anywhere in the world using the app.

“Senator Bob Kerrey and Brad Wilson will provide tremendous insight as both government regulation and health care transformation continue to play an important role in the future of telemedicine,” said Damian Gilbert, TouchCare’s founder and CEO.

SAS helping the METS

Cary-based SAS has a stake in this year’s World Series, the Triangle Business Journal reports. TBJ says the METS are using SAS analytics to build a fan engagement hub, analyze social media and mobile communications, when fans buy tickets, which drinks they purchase and other data.

For the TBJ story see: http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/techflash/2015/10/sas-cary-nc-partnership-new-york-mets-analytics.html

IBM approves dividend, stock repurchase

The IBM (NYSE: IBM) board of directors Tuesday declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.30 per common share, payable December 10, 2015 to stockholders of record November 10, 2015.

With the payment of the December 10 dividend, IBM will have paid consecutive quarterly dividends every year since 1916.

The board also authorized $4 billion in additional funds for use in the company’s stock repurchase program. IBM said it will repurchase shares on the open market or in private transactions from time to time, depending on market conditions.

Raleigh may approve Airbnb rentals

The News and Obsever reports that Raleigh’s Planning Commission endorsed proposed regulations for residents who want to rent their homes or rooms through services such as Airbnb.

While such rentals are currently banned, the city has not been enforcing it.

The rules would limit residential rentals to 30 days at a time in parts of the city and create two types of short term rentals each requiring slightly different paperwork for residents.

For the full story see: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/raleigh-report-blog/article41612481.html#emlnl=morning_newsletter