In The Papers 25 July

25-07-2008

by Sylvia Leatham

Ryanair set to enable in-flight mobile phone use | Infineon to cut 10 percent of staff

The Irish Times reports that storage firm EMC has announced it will invest EUR20 million in its facility in Cork, and in the process create 50 new jobs, as noted by ENN on Thursday.

The paper also says that despite recent increases in the unemployment rate, an estimated 7,000 vacancies remain unfilled in the technology sector, while average salaries are continuing to rise. Shane Dempsey, director of the Irish Software Association, said the industry is now facing a potential "skills gap" as there is a time-lag between students training in technology and being available to work. The number of students choosing to study computer science, engineering and other technical courses at third level is of major concern to the local industry.

The paper also notes that Text One Group, a small firm based in Inishowen, Co Donegal, has been granted a patent for a new type of system that will allow customers to order taxis by text. The TextaTaxi service will enable travellers to text their location, destination and time of travel to a single number, and receive booking confirmation by SMS.

The paper also reports that all shops selling batteries will be forced to accept waste batteries from the public free of charge, even if replacements are not being bought, under a new EU directive that comes into force in September. The directive will apply not only to electronic and electrical shops, but to any newsagent, convenience store or supermarket that sells batteries. The only stipulation is that the type of batteries being returned must be available for sale in the shop.

The paper also reports that Science Foundation Ireland has announced EUR23 million in funding for 143 research projects, as noted by ENN on Thursday.

The Irish Independent says that US group Progress Software, which is set to take over Iona Technologies in a deal worth USD4.05 a share or USD162 million, had originally suggested it would pay up to USD200 million for Iona. Details of the sale process have emerged through a regulatory filing by Iona with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing also said that Iona's board will share a 'golden handshake' package of almost USD6 million by the time the deal goes through at the end of September.

The paper also says that threats posted on a social networking site played a key part in convicting a mechanic who was jailed on Thursday for threatening to shoot a friend of his ex-girlfriend. Michael Mooney was jailed for three years after writing the threatening comments on the Bebo website and stating that he would "do the time for it". He also posted a charge sheet on his Bebo page that had resulted from his arrest for setting fire to his ex-girlfriend's car and pouring acid on her friend's boyfriend's car.

The Irish Examiner notes that Eircom looks likely to officially end its sponsorship of the Irish domestic soccer league, after almost eight years as official sponsor. Currently the telco sponsors both the league and the national soccer side. Both deals, which combined are believed to be worth up to EUR1.2 million per annum, are due to expire at the end of the year and, while the company is likely to maintain its sponsorship for the national side, the FAI looks certain to have to seek other backers for the domestic league from the end of the year.

The paper also reports that mobile phone users should take precautions to protect themselves from cancer risks and should not wait for a definitive study to be published, according to the head of a US cancer research institute. Dr Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, said his warning to thousands of members of staff was based on early, unpublished data about the possible risk of brain cancer. Children should only use mobiles in emergencies and adults should try to keep the phone away from their head, he said in an internal memo.

The same paper reports that mobile phone use on some Ryanair flights looks set to be possible from early next month. Ryanair said ten of its aircraft are soon to be kitted out with mini-satellites that will allow passengers to make calls and send text messages while the plane is airborne. The service will be operated by Airbus-owned OnAir and calls will be charged at international roaming rates. Ryanair said it is close to completing the test stage and it is hoping to have the technology on board over the coming weeks.

According to the Financial Times, chipmaker Infineon has said it would cut staff by 10 percent amid continuing tough market conditions, even as it beat market expectations with a 97 percent rise in third-quarter core operating profit. The German group said it aimed to save at least EUR200 million a year, partly by cutting 3,000 jobs. Operating profit at its core logic business advanced to EUR71 million, mainly thanks to the sale of its HDD unit, which produced a gain of EUR41 million. But it posted a group net loss of EUR592 million.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft has reached an agreement with Facebook to link its internet-search service with the social networking website. The agreement is an extension of an existing relationship between the two companies. Under the relationship with Facebook, US users of the site will be able to search the internet using Microsoft's search service, called Live Search. The deal gives Microsoft the exclusive right to offer web search and search ads to US Facebook users.

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