iPhone Can Manage Music Through Sonos

Sonos's controller for its multiroom music system has often been likened to the iPod for its ease of use. Now, iPhone or iPod touch owners can use their devices as their Sonos controllers.

The Santa Barbara company said it was making a free application available for download that would allow owners to manage music in different rooms. Owners can equip up to 32 rooms to play different music from their personal collections, online music services or 15,000 Internet radio stations.

A player costs $350 or $500 to set up a room. A controller costs $400.

Location, location, location is the theme for the first investments by a venture capital fund set up with money from Research in Motion Ltd.

Toronto-based BlackBerry Partners Fund LP was created in May to invest $150 million in companies developing software for BlackBerrys and other phones. Co-investing with RIM were Royal Bank of Canada and Thomson Reuters, among others.

The fund is leading an $8 million round for MobiMate Ltd., an Israeli company that makes WorldMate. It helps travelers by keeping track of delayed flights, guiding them to hotels and suggesting restaurants.

Austin, Texas-based Digby is raising $5.5 million with BlackBerry Partners as the co-lead. It helps retailers set up Web stores for cell phone screens.

The third investment is in Buzzd, a New York-based firm that makes an interactive city guide. It's getting $3.2 million.

LinkedIn reels in outside programs

LinkedIn is trying to enliven its Web site's office-like atmosphere by offering online programs made by other companies.

Eight external applications have debuted on LinkedIn, nearly a year after the Mountain View-based company announced its intentions to welcome outside contributions.

By drawing upon other programs, LinkedIn hopes to become a more compelling place to keep in touch with business contacts or mine career opportunities. The privately held company generates revenue through advertising and subscriptions sold to employers, head hunters and sales representatives who want more access to LinkedIn's membership.

Link: Sonos iPhone Video.