Microsoft has launched So.cl, which it describes as a social-search tool to share information and meet people with common interests. "So.cl is an experimental research project focused on the future of social experiences and learning, especially among younger people," Microsoft said in an e-mail. The tool was launched late last year for students at a numver of colleges and universities. Last week, the company quietly made it available to the public for a trial period.

According to data from StatCounter, Google Chrome routed more Internet traffic over the weekend than Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Explorer has long held its spot as the most-used Web browser in the world. However, other Internet trackers still show Internet Explorer in the lead, and have criticized StatCounter's data collection methods, saying the group does not account for the different ways countries collect Internet traffic data.

twofour54 is set to add 30 companies to its Abu Dhabi-based media zone this year, and is pursuing further investments as part of its goal to improve the Arabic content industry. "We have more than 30 in the pipeline this year," said Noura Al Kaabi, the new chief executive of twofour54. "They range from broadcasters to PR, production and digital start-ups" she added. Currently, there are about 160 companies based at twofour54, including CNN, the Financial Times, and Sky News Arabia, which begins broadcasting on Sunday.

Facebook has agreed to buy photo-sharing platform Instagram for $1 billion in cash and stock. This is Facebook's biggest acquisition ever, in both price and reach. "We don't plan on doing many more of these, if any at all," Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a a blog post. "But providing the best photo sharing experience is one reason why so many people love Facebook we knew it would be worth bringing these two companies together."

According to a report by digital marketing firm Experian, Pinterest is now the third most-visited social-networking site in the United States. Pinterest, which lets its users 'pin' photos and info from the Internet onto virtual boards, ranks behind Facebook and Twitter in terms of total visitors. According to Experian, Pinterest had 104 million total visits from people in the United States last month, which puts the site ahead of heavyweights like LinkedIn, Google+, MySpace and Tumblr.

CNN is said to be in advanced talks to acquire Mashable. The sale could be announced as early as Tuesday in a deal worth more than $200m. Mashable, which was founded by Scottish-born Pete Cashmore in 2005, covers social media and technology news and has expanded to business and entertainment news as well. Mashable has a large following, with more than 20 million unique monthly visitors.

Google has launched a beta version of Chrome for Android smartphones and tablets. "Our goal was to get all of Chrome onto Android, "said Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Google Chrome. The computer browser was launched in 2008, when Google decided to take on Microsoft, Mozilla by launching its own internet browser. Since then, Chrome has increased its browser market share. It recently surpassed Firefox and has become a popular alternative to the dominant Internet Explorer.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, surprised many by announcing a $300 million investment in Twitter, and has recently explained his decision to invest in the micro-blogging site. “Kingdom Holding is not new at all to the internet and tech arena,” he said in an interview with CNN. “We were the first to invest in Apple computers … the first to invest in Amazon and eBay.”

Online social networking site Twitter said on Thursday that it will begin deleting users' tweets in countries that require it -- but it will still keep those deleted tweets visible to the rest of the world. Until now, the only way Twitter could comply with countries' limits was to remove the content globally.