ITSTUFFHD

Woolworths already trialling it. Google today unveiled a videoconferencing system for businesses in its latest effort to generate revenue from corporate customers. Under a partnership with Asus, Hewlett-Packard and Dell, Google will offer a specialised version of its Chromebox PC bundled with videoconferencing gear, including a video camera and speakers. The first  Chromebox for meetings  to be available is made by Asus and goes on sale in the US this week for US$999, Google said. Customers can also pay a US$250 annual service and management fee, though the first year is included in the product's sales price. Google Australia was yet to provide details on local availability at the time of publication. iTnews  can confirm that one Australian customer is already using the solution. Retail giant Woolworths has been trialling several Chomebox videoconferencing units, acquired as part of a close working relationship between the two companies....

Internet giant Google bought an almost 6 percent stake in Lenovo last month for US$750 million (A$838 million), according to a disclosure on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Google acquired 618.3 million Lenovo shares at US$1.2 per share on January 30 - the same time it revealed the purchase of Motorola Mobility. Last Thursday the pair confirmed Lenovo had  agreed to buy Google's handset division  for US$2.9 billion (A$3.3 billion) in a cash and stock deal. The Motorola Mobility unit, which includes the Moto X and Moto G smartphones, also holds some 17,500 phone-related patents - the majority of which Google retained and will license to Lenovo.  Lenovo acquired 2000 of the patents under the deal.