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Post 13/7 and the Delhi [ Images ] high court blasts, what foxed investigators was the complete absence of telephone conversations that led up to the planning and the execution of these blasts.

Further investigations revealed that the cadres had used social networking websites, and that's how they managed to stay under the investigators' radar. The investigators also found that some cadres of the Indian Mujahideen [ Images ] were trying to conduct recruitments through their Facebook accounts.

The IM has been quick in the use of technology when it came to planning and executing their operations. They started out with the use of email, then moved on to chats and later Skype, a video conferencing application.

However, when the police finally realised, the cadres improvised by using the 'save draft' option and the cache to store their messages in accounts which were accessed through a common username and password.

The planning

IM's elusive chief operative Yasin Bhatkal had extensively used social networking sites to stay in touch with his cadres. Personalised messages were sent out and status updates in coded form were used to communicate his plans which eventually led to two very horrific blasts.

The police say that the cadres had started using social networking websites as far back as 2008, but it was only used as backup.

However, post 2008, because of strict monitoring by investigators; the cadres started using social networking websites extensively.

The first use was visible during the 2010 Varanasi blast, which was orchestrated through this medium. The perpetrators used heavily-coded language to pass on the information. They used a similar modus operandi during the triple blasts in Mumbai [ Images ] and the Delhi HC blasts.

During the planning stage, the IM cadres in India met directly and discussed their plans. They realised that one-on-one meetings left little or no trail. Networking sites were used to communicate with their counterparts in other locations. This, of course, went unnoticed by the police, which helped them execute their plans with a great deal of ease.

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Is IM using social networking sites for recruitment?

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Google is buying Silicon Valley startup Meebo to help expand its social networking service.

The acquisition announced Monday will bring more tools to Google Plus, an alternative to Facebook Inc.'s popular online hangout. Meebo started as a system for connecting people by instant message but has since built other communication features used by an audience of about 100 million Web people in the U.S.

Both companies are based in Mountain View, Calif. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

"We are always looking for better ways to help users share content and connect with others across the Web, just as they do in real life," Google said in a statement. "With the Meebo team's expertise in social publisher tools, we believe they will be a great fit with the Google Plus team."

Since its debut nearly a year ago, Google Plus has attracted more than 170 million users. Despite that impressive growth, Google so far has had trouble persuading people to visit its social networking website as regularly as Facebook's more than 900 million users frequent its website.

Meebo works with publishers and advertisers to help them connect with Web surfers for longer periods.

"Together with Google, we're super jazzed to roll up our sleeves and get cracking on even bigger and better ways to help users and website owners alike," Meebo wrote in a Monday blog post.

Meebo has raised $70 million in venture capital since it was founded in 2005 by Seth Sternberg, Elaine Wherry and Sandy Jen. Sternberg, who formerly helped IBM Corp. identify acquisition targets, served as Meebo's CEO.

Google Inc. has spent more than $16 billion buying 140 companies since the end of 2009. That includes the biggest deal in Google's 14-year history, a just-completed $12.5 billion acquisition of cellphone maker Motorola Mobility Holdings.

Google shares fell 59 cents after hours to $578. They ended regular trading up $7.61 at $578.59 before the deal was announced.

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Google buys Meebo to help social networking push

03-06-2012 09:58 Google+ Google has announced today that it has created a new tab on Google+ called Google+Local, which is designed to replace Google Places. According to the search engine giant, Google+ Local will be a simple way to discover and share local information featuring Zagat scores and recommendations from people you trust in Google+. How Google + Local Works Once you access the Local tab on the left, you will be able to search by topic and location. If you click on a restaurant, doctor's office, real estate agent, etc..., you'll be taken to a local Google+ page that includes photos, reviews from people in your circles, Zagat scores and summaries, and other useful information contained in Google Places, like the company address and hours of operation. In addition, G+ Local is also integrated into other Google products, such as search, maps, and their mobile apps. If you have not yet set up a Google+ Brand Page for your business, then click here for an instructional video. Google+ Local | What are Zagat Scores? Google+ Local is utilizing Zagat in an effort to bring you a more balanced scorecard approach to reading reviews. Zagat is designed to summarize thousands of scores and reviews into one simple review. Traditionally, Google Places, as with other review sites, used only a 5 star ratings system. However, Google+ Local wants to provide users with a breakdown of multiple factors. For example, a restaurant will be graded on a scale of 0-3 on the ...

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Google+ Local | Google+ Local to Replace Google Places - Video

03-06-2012 18:56 The Miiverse is a "Mii universe" that is the system's redesigned networking and designed Mii Plaza. Miiverse the new network service where Miis from around the world can meet. The redesigned Wii Plaza shows Mii clustered around various Wii U titles. This shows what games players are enjoying and what's popular. Nintendo also showed Miis leaving in-game messages. Mii WaraWara, taken from the Japanese's "warawara" (the sound of things happening, in Japanese). Even when the game isn't designed for online or even if the game's are not online, the Miiverse can still connect consoles and players. Think of it as a social networking system for the Wii U, the 3DS, and even your mobile device or PC. The Miiverse will not be available at the Wii U's launch.

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Wii U - Miiverse Commercial Trailer 'E3 2012' HD - Video

Odds are, the days of looking over your shoulder while aimlessly perusing Facebook at work could soon be over. With workplace use of popular social networking sites on the rise, a recent study suggests the number of large organizations blocking social media is on the downturn.

Researchers at Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner Inc. project that by 2014, fewer than 30 percent of large employers will block employee access to social media sites, compared to 50 percent in 2010. The number of organizations blocking all access to social media sites is decreasing by 10 percent each year.

Andrew Walls, research vice president at Gartner, said the projections are based on a collation of several outside surveys, as well as information gathered from Gartner clients.

One local expert said the trend holds true in Pittsburgh, where employers are increasingly allowing -- and even encouraging -- the use of social media during work.

"People used to go to the water cooler, and now they go to their social media site for interaction," said Chris Posti, president of Posti & Associates, a human resources consulting firm based in Green Tree. "I think it's really an enhancement of productivity when people can feel connected to others."

Ms. Posti said the amount of social media use in the workplace varies from industry to industry, and many area employers are adding clauses into employee handbooks that offer social media guidelines.

These guidelines can range from being required to be active on Facebook or LinkedIn, to the recommendation to operate two Facebook accounts -- one private and one public.

She added that if companies and businesses truly want to attract progressive, younger employees, they need to give serious thought to encouraging social networking while still remaining productive at work.

But that, in itself, may be the trick.

A 2011 study dauntingly suggests that work distractions, with social media at the forefront, are costing companies millions of dollars a year in lost revenue.

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Employers Continue Warming to Social Networking Usage