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Google+ is being opened up for anyone to join after two-and-a-half months is closed testing.

Google announced the launch of its new flight search tool, challenging sites such as Kayak and Orbitz.
The company acquired travel-search software maker ITA in April, following a Justice Department probe into how the merger would affect competition with other travel sites. This latest product seems to be a direct result of that acquisition.

Yahoo Inc shareholder Daniel Loeb appealed to the company's co-founder Jerry Yang to fire Chairman Roy Bostock and several other directors to revive the Internet media company after years of poor performance.

And so it begins. After Yahoo this week gave CEO Carol Bartz the axe, the stock rallied on the suspicion on the Street that the company almost certainly has now been put into play, and might not last very long with its current corporate structure.

Google Inc. announced Thursday that it has acquired Zagat Survey LLC, the restaurant review and ratings service that is a go-to source for foodies everywhere.

The sudden ouster of Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz wasn't triggered by one specific factor, but rather because Ms. Bartz wasn't reaching a series of performance targets.

Google said it will discontinue several products, as the Internet giant narrows its focus and doubles down on new efforts, including its Google+ social networking service, under CEO Larry Page.

Google is launching a new Gmail web app and updates to Calendar and Docs to make them more useful when there's no Internet.

Softbank said it will pocket a handsome profit by repaying a $1.135 billion loan from Citibank with most of its 4% stake in Yahoo.

Google+, Google's new social networking service, might cautiously be called a hit. With 25 million visitors at last count, Google+ may well be the fastest-growing social network to launch thus far.