Google (GOOG) is accustomed to being in the top spot. It leads search and virtually owns the online ad space. Its Google News portal is among the top sites for directing traffic to media outlets. But, the behemoth is starting to feel the feet from social media sensation Facebook.

Not only is the rather young platform stealing market share from Google News, it's now encroaching on its e-mail turf ... a situation that Google isn't taking lightly. To compete more effectively with Facebook, Google is upgrading its Gmail capabilities to include more social media tools reminiscent of those found on its competitor.

It's now official: Microsoft (MSFT) and Yahoo! (YHOO) are in cahoots to take on search engine giant Google (GOOG). The new search partnership inked by the two companies still needs to secure regulatory approval, but the talks that began in late July are merely a step away from reality now.

Microsoft and Yahoo! expect to pass this final step early next year. If this happens, the muscle behind Yahoo! search will be Microsoft's Bing search engine.

I've quoted comScore quite a bit over the years. The company is the leader in in-depth industry research – especially on the digital side.

Well, now the company has filed to go public.

While comScore has traditional researchers, there is also a panel of more than two million Internet users that help provide usage patterns. Yes, that's how the firm knows such things as how many users are watching online videos or not clicking on a banner ad.

It's a very lucrative business. Last year, comScore chalked up $66.3 million in revenue and a hefty $10.9 million in cash flow from operations. Customers are usually large companies like Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), and Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO).

Fees are charged on a subscription basis. This allows for a recurring revenue stream -- which investors love.

comScore's underwriters include Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) and Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB). The proposed ticker symbol is SCOR.

You can check out the IPO filing at the SEC website.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.

It's never fun to call for information. Yes, I try to avoid paying the charge.

Nonetheless, it is a cash cow for the telecom world (which needs all the cash it can get). How big? Estimates range from $5 billion to $7 billion.

And, it is no surprise that, according to a survey from comScore Networks, more than 70% of consumers believe that 411 services should be free.

Well, there is an alternative: 1-800-FREE411.

That's right -- you pay nothing, so long as you are willing to listen to short ads, that is.

The company that provides the service is Jingle Networks. Basically, the company is growing like a weed as it has processed about 85 million calls this year.

But, might this be too good to be true? Is this another dot-com style company that will flame out?

Probably not anytime soon as this week, the company announced a $30 million financing with top notch firms the likes of Goldman Sachs, Hearst Corporation, Comcast Interactive Capital, First Round Capital, IDG Ventures Boston and Liberty Associated Partners.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and operates InvestorOffering.com.