The global recession is forcing Internet startups to rethink their business models, the Wall Street Journal reports. One example of this is Slide, Inc, a San Francisco-based startup that creates some of the most popular applications on social networking sites. Last summer, Slide hired an ad sales force in New York to sell standard online ads on its applications, typically selling ad campaigns for between $50,000 and $200,000. However, now, with the online ad market slumping, Slide has decided to scrap those efforts, recently firing its entire ad sales team. It will instead focus on selling branded …

According to a new study from Veronis Suhler Stevenson, consumers spent more time with media they paid for, like books or cable TV, than they did with primarily ad-supported media, like newspapers and magazines, in 2008. This marks the first time consumers spent more time with paid than ad-supported media during the course of a year. As PaidContent.org's Rafat Ali points out, the study shows that people are willing to pay for content-but not all kinds of content. As VSS's John Suhler says: "No longer are newspaper and magazine subscription purchases and network prime-time viewing the norm. …

Last week, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the "Internet Freedom of Preservation Act of 2009" a new bill that aims to keep Internet service providers from blocking, interfering with, discriminating against, or impairing or degrading in any way access to lawful content from any lawful application or device. The measure would also forbid ISPs from imposing a charge on content providers that goes "beyond the end-user charges associated with providing the service to such a provider." In the case of Google vs. AT&T and Apple, AT&T doesn't have to let Google "use its pipes for free," but, as Ars Technica's …

Kara Swisher speaks with Satya Nadella, Microsoft's SVP of Research and Development at its Online Services division, about the new Microsoft-Yahoo search integration, which he will oversee. As Swisher says, "how the search business of Microsoft evolves, improves and, most of all, out-innovates-especially in the face of heretofore withering competition from search behemoth Google-is going to be a big factor in the success of the deal with Yahoo." She adds: "Nadella, who was one of the key execs involved in the deal, has to make sure the companies hold onto top talent until the partnership is approved, …

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it would continue to investigate the relationship between the boards of Apple and Google, even after Google CEO Eric Schmidt announced he was stepping down from Apple's board on Monday. Richard Feinstein, director of the FTC's bureau of competition, commended the companies for recognizing that sharing directors raises competitive issues, but said that the organization would continue to investigate the "remaining interlocking directorates between the companies." Specifically, this refers to former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson, who remains a director of both companies. Consumer Watchdog, a consumer rights group, recently criticized Schmidt …

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission launched an inquiry into Apple's rejection of Google Voice, the search giant's Internet telephony service. In letters sent to the two companies and AT&T, Apple's wireless network provider, the FCC said it wanted to know why Apple rejected the Google Voice application and other related applications from its App Store, and what role AT&T played in that decision. Google Voice gives users a single phone number for users' cell phone, landline and Voice Over Internet Protocol accounts, while also allowing free text messaging and cheap phone calls. The Wall Street Journal …