General Dynamics Itronix, a maker of rugged laptops used by mobile workers and military personnel, plans to shut down its Spokane facility later this year as it moves the work to Florida. About 300 workers are losing their jobs in Spokane, a location where Itronix has operated for 25 years.

Alley Insider says Microsoft should buy Research In Motion, something Seattle venture capitalist Matt McIlwain has talked about for years.

The Ramp Group, a 9-year-old Bellevue technology consulting company, has named John Frankovich as chief operating officer and managing partner. He previously worked as a managing director at Cap Gemini Sogeti.

Comedy Web site JibJab Media says it is using digital storage technology from Seattle's Isilon Systems to house artwork, animation and visual effects as well as a repository for some 60 million user-generated images.

Dotster, the Vancouver, Wash.-based domain name hosting and registration service, has sold its RevenueDirect Internet domain name service to Sedo for an undisclosed price.

Charles Seybold introduces the new features in LiquidPlanner's latest release, writing that the online project management tool is “more professional, more social."

And speaking of updates from Seattle companies that launched at last year's Demo conference, Seattle's blist has unveiled new features to make it easier for groups of people to collaborate on online lists.

BusinessWeek covers how VMware -- led by former Microsoft executive Paul Maritz -- could battle against Microsoft and others in the cloud computing arena.

Watch the Urbanspoon iPhone app advertisement -- with a British accent. The Seattle online restaurant directory has offered its service in London since last summer, adding Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh in December.

Two Seattle area companies -- GridNetworks and Widevine -- are working together to deliver secure online video content over the GridCast TV service.

U.S. mobile ad revenues are expected to reach $3.1 billion in 2013, up from $160 million last year, according to The Kelsey Group.

Hearst Corp., which is looking to shut down the print version of the Seattle P-I, announced today that it may close The San Francisco Chronicle.

Tips from business leaders who have built companies in past downturns.