Technology, Innovation & Science

Shares in internet market target iiNet surged again today to a new intra-day high before closing at around $10 each in line with yesterday's formal bid from M2 Group.

Perth-based health fund HBF has formed a partnership with online comparison service provider iSelect to distribute its suite of health insurance products outside of Western Australia.

A Perth-based company is looking to make an international impact in the concrete cutting industry.

Developers are turning to innovative building methods to help address the costs of constructing hotels.

East Africa Resources has become the 36th Perth-based company to announce a backdoor listing deal in the past 18 months, with plans to exit uranium exploration and acquire local security services business Threat Protect Australia.

The mining industry is adopting new technology it hopes will raise flexibility and lower costs in a changing environment.

The Snaptch app allows models and other creative professionals to showcase their portfolio and social media presence to the industry.

Consumers are ditching their desktop and laptop computers in favour of tablets and smart phones amid surging demand for streamed content, Telstra says.

Liberty Resources is ticking the remaining boxes on its list of requirements to be met for its proposed acquisition of Cirrus Networks, with an independent expert giving the transaction its stamp of approval today, ahead of a shareholders meeting next month.

Four months after listing on the ASX, technology company DTI Group has slashed its revenue and profit guidance for the current financial year after being hit by delays in the awarding of prospective contracts, deferred deliveries to the US market and softer sales in the US.

Streaming service Quickflix says the launch of rival Netflix has sparked interest in the industry and helped it attract thousands of new customers.

Perth-based tech startup Resource Governance International is seeking to change the way mining companies report their resources and reserves, launching a $3 million capital raising to commercialise software it hopes will become the industry standard.

Mineler aims to become the global platform for mining people to bid for work and supply contracts, connect with colleagues and share industry knowledge. Members create their own mining industry-specific CV, which is targeted to companies in their field and showcases their on-site experience. Users can then place bids for work contracts on mining projects.

Information technology company Rewardle Holdings has formed an alliance with NSW-based Mint Payments under which the two companies combine their resources to market Mint's card payments processing software across a wider customer base.

Technology company DTI Group has won a contract with the Brisbane City Council to supply its surveillance systems to a fleet of buses for an undisclosed sum.

Stratum Metals has become the sixth Western Australian company to cancel a backdoor listing deal in the past year, with the Nedlands-based business reviewing its future options, including plans for the East Menzies gold project, after walking away from a planned reverse takeover of a US technology venture.

The Australian economy is not particularly innovative and the government could do more to encourage the use of information and communications technology, a global report says.

As investors and the authorities weigh the pros and cons of the many reverse takeovers being proposed in Western Australia, there is at least one spectacular example of what can be achieved via the backdoor listing strategy.

Nedlands-based gold explorer Promesa has announced plans to shift its focus to technology by acquiring social media platform and app developer Thredit.

Office landlords and leasing agents are upping the ante to secure key tenants, with competition to get the signatures of CBH Group and Telstra expected to be fierce over coming months.

eKarma is a social enterprise e-commerce platform enabling buyers not only to secure deals and discounts, but also donate to their favourite charity. eKarma gives away 50 per cent of its commissions to the charity selected by the shopper. eKarma’s mission is to raise funds for charities through ‘conscious consumerism’.

New office builds and significant incentives for tenants to shift premises are ensuring Perth’s interior design firms are kept busy, with fresh office fit-outs relying on technology to ensure flexibility and potential growth needs are met.

A cycle-tracking website and app with management and coordination tools. Find like-minded cyclists, routes, and track your own performance on leader boards. Cycle stores can use it as a community hub to engage their local customers.

Select Exploration has brought in a new broking firm to support a $5 million capital raising, ahead of its planned reverse takeover of rent.com.au, after Bailleau Holst backed out of its appointment as joint lead manager.

The growing number of backdoor listings in WA has highlighted the best, and worst, of the capital markets.

The March quarter was a quiet period for M&A transactions in WA, although the deals that were announced attracted their fair share of controversy. Click through to see details on 78 WA deals worth $2.4 billion.

Patent attorney and software developer Thomas Haines has struck a deal with Sydney company IPH to sell his data analysis businesses for $8 million, but plans to continue running the operation from Perth.

Accounting software giant MYOB is preparing to raise more than $800 million by returning to the stock market after a six-year absence.

Perth technology entrepreneur Nathan Buzza has added to his investment in health informatics company Alcidion Corporation, which has raised $1.5 million to fund the expansion of its Miya platform.

Western Australian startup Sealz has patented an innovation that converts sunglasses into sealed goggles at the click of a button.

Shares in Ruwan Weerasooriya’s Rewardle Holdings closed on a low today following news it was seeking to raise $5 million in a discounted placement.

Greater scrutiny by corporate regulators of backdoor listings on the ASX is not slowing the flow of new transactions, with six Western Australian companies announcing transformational deals in the past fortnight.