For this client, networking and connections are key.

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IMVU, a social networking and instant messaging client which uses 3D avatars to represent its users, announced Thursday that they have hired David Fleck to serve as vice president of marketing for the company.

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Executives with Philips Electronics outlined strategy and gave advance demonstrations of new and upcoming peripherals, including a home networking system for consumers and thin-client products aimed at corporate users.

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The firms are sometimes pooling client assets specifically to buy a piece of the social networking companies.

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