As it turns out, Google isn't the only hugely successful company capable of bad ideas. Indeed, Facebook is pulling the plug on Lite just seven months after releasing the service to the world. Hyped as a potential Twitter-killer, Facebook Lite was a simplified version of the site, which was supposedly "optimized for people with slow connections," notes All Facebook. "But apparently not enough people were using it." Regarding the service, Facebook said: "We're no longer supporting it, but learned a lot from the test of a slimmed-down site." The question remains as to why Facebook would act so fast to …

Fast Company continues its coverage of Ford and the carmaker's efforts to incorporate smartphone technology into the driving experience. Discussing Ford's in-car Sync system, it explains: "The idea is that when you connect up a Sync-compatible smartphone, running the right kinds of apps, to your Sync-enabled car, you'll be able to merely utter a few words of command to get the app to bend to your will." The new Sync AppLink service only works with BlackBerry and Android phones at the moment, but iPhone -- and even iPad -- compatibility could come later this year. One lucky app that will …

How many texts do you send a day? Compare that number to the 100 texts that a third of U.S. teens (with cell phones) now send every day. That number is from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which found that texting has risen dramatically since 2008, eclipsing cell phone calls, instant messaging, social networks, and, as Reuters notes, "talking face-to-face." "Texting is now the central hub of communication in the lives of teens today, and it has really skyrocketed in the last 18 months," Pew researcher Amanda Lenhart tells the news service. Furthermore, Pew found that three-fourths of …

From Canada to Israel, 10 countries have come together to demand that Google build move privacy protections into its various services. According to The Wall Street Journal, the synchronized effort represents "the latest sign of increasingly international anxiety over Google's power." Along with Canada and Israel, the letter includes signatures from "privacy officials" in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom. Of chief concern, the countries take issue with Google's mapping service and its recently launched Buzz product -- or what The Associated Press calls "the company's fumbled foray into social networking." …

Following a week of rumors, social buying startup Groupon has secured $135 million from Digital Sky Technologies, along with Battery Ventures. The startup, which closed its Accel-led second round of funding late last year to the tune of $30 million, is now profitable and has 270 employees -- the majority of whom are sales associates responsible for reaching deals with local service providers from yoga studios to sushi restaurants. According to Boom Town, the funding will be used "to speed far ahead of numerous rivals," although it will also likely inspire more entrepreneurs to join the social buying marketplace. Groupon …

Foursquare is considering a sale to Yahoo, according TechCrunch's Michael Arrington -- a move he insists is not in the best interests of the hot location-based social network. In recent days, "Yahoo and maybe others expressed interest in the company, and are reportedly offering way above [its current valuation of] $80 million," Arrington notes. Such a deal, he maintains, would be bad for both parties. "What the heck is Yahoo going to do with Foursquare that will somehow turn around their business? Absolutely nothing, that's what. M&A for PR purposes is not what savvy executive teams do. Whatever tech cred …

Mint.com just doubled the number of financial institutions from which it can receive account information, Digits reports. The change is important as the personal-finance site seeks aims to expand beyond its core base, "and address the regular complaint that specific financial institutions aren't listed," writes The Wall Street Journal blog. The site will provide access to more users than just those who use top banks like Citibank or HSBC. In an ominous note, Digits considers the move timely "as many consumers are reconsidering their relationships with financial institutions." The expansion was facilitated by data and aggregation software from Intuit Inc …

Yahoo just named Microsoft veteran Blake Irving as its new chief product officer. Irving fills the void left by Ari Balogh, Yahoo's CTO and EVP of products, who said earlier this month that he was leaving for "personal reasons." During his time at Microsoft, Irving led the back-end development of its Windows Live platform. Irving "retired" three years ago -- shortly before a major reorganization of Microsoft's online operations, according to paidContent. More recently, he serves as a professor at Pepperdine's business school. Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz said she liked Irving's "large scale internet expertise from a mature company." Among …

Why is Android's app marketplace growing so much faster than Apple's iPhone app store? Two reasons, according to The Times' David Pogue, include willpower and deep pockets. Likening Google's efforts to Avis car-rental's old slogan, "We're Number 2. We try harder," Pogue posts a letter from one developer who was offered an olive branch (and a free Nexus One) by the search giant. "It shows that Google is actively recruiting developers to their platform, using the enticements of free hardware and open communication," the developer pointed out. "Contrast with Apple's approach: it took us about three months of resubmitting our …

Not content with its already dominant online presence, Facebook is branching out farther beyond its own borders with several soon-to-launch products and technologies. Chief among them is a universal "Like" button that Web publishers will be able to put on their pages. "Similar to the Facebook 'Share' buttons that are already popular with many Web sites, the 'Like' buttons will make it easier for Web publishers to offer more social experiences, in essence allowing Facebook friends to enjoy those sites together," reports The New York Times. "Can Facebook get any bigger," The Guardian asks on the news. …