economic slowdown

Some popular Web companies may be vulnerable to the economic slowdown. Do they face an ill fate similar to that of the beloved delivery service of the last bubble?

Business social networking site LinkedIn has created an advertising network that will allow partner publishers to identify LinkedIn users and target them across hundreds of sites.

The site has joined ad network Collective Media to create the LinkedIn Audience Network, which lets advertisers target specific sections of LinkedIn users - called the InCrowds - based on the information in their profiles.

The sleek, touchscreen iPhone has proved so lucrative for Apple that the electronic gadgets manufacturer has unseated Google to become the most valuable company in America's cradle of technological innovation, Silicon Valley.

Queues outside Apple's stores are commonplace since the phone's launch a year ago as shoppers line up to get their hands on the prized device.

Vodafone became the latest victim of the slowdown yesterday as the mobile group warned that its annual revenues would be at the bottom end of forecasts.

The revision - mainly caused by falling sales in Spain - shocked the City and sent shares down almost 14% to close at 129p, making it the biggest percentage faller in the FTSE 100.

It cast a shadow over the departure of chief executive Arun Sarin, who is stepping down next week after five years at the helm.