Hyperloop One becomes ‘Virgin Hyperloop One’ with investment from Virgin Group, J2 Global acquires two companies and sells three others and Movies Anywhere app launches with backing from major studios.

Hyperloop One Becomes ‘Virgin Hyperloop One’ with Investment from Virgin Group

Hyperloop One Inc. of downtown Los Angeles announced on Thursday that it had changed its name to Virgin Hyperloop One after a significant, but undisclosed investment from Virgin Group, Reuters reports. Virgin Group founder and billionaire Richard Branson joined the board of Hyperloop One as part of the deal. The company plans to develop pods that will transport passenger and mixed-use cargo at speeds of more than 250 miles per hour.

J2 Global Acquires Two Companies and Sells Three Others

J2 Global of Hollywood said Thursday it acquired an automated email marketing software company and a cloud-based backup company. The firm also sold bioscience public relations firm Cambridge BioMarketing, webhosting business Web24, and healthcare lead generation platform Tea Leaves Health.

Movies Anywhere App Launches with Backing from Major Studios

Movies Anywhere, a free app and website digital locker service, launches Thursday at 9 p.m. PT, backed by four digital retailers and content from Walt Disney, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Film, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment — a combined library of more than 7,300 digital movies, Variety reports. Movies purchased digitally from Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu can be accessed in the digital locker across devices and platforms.

Technology reporter Garrett Reim can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @garrettreim for the latest in L.A. tech news.