Wired Woozees? Startup creates Web-enabled toy potential - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

When ToyBots Inc. debuted its toy called the “Woozee” at last fall’s TechCrunch50 emerging technology conference, the reaction was decidedly mixed. Interesting technology, everyone said, with great possibilities.

But the Woozee itself, a sky-blue wombat with a grating voice, was deemed by some to be creepy — a Teddy Ruxpin on steroids. The toy wasn’t the point. For ToyBots founder Shervin Pishevar, it was all about the platform.

Incubated and then spun out from Pishevar’s Social Gaming Network in Palo Alto, ToyBots is seeking to become the “Internet of things.” The company wants to be a platform that connects toys and other objects with 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS so they can be operated via the Internet or mobile devices...