In The Papers 26 November

26-11-2008

by Sylvia Leatham

Three named preferred bidder for broadband scheme | Jury told not to 'Google' for trial info

The Irish Times reports that IBM has formed a multi-million-euro partnership with Irish universities that will create 40 research jobs. Read more on this story on ENN.ie.

The same paper says that mobile operator Three Ireland is to be awarded the contract for the Government's National Broadband Scheme, which will subsidise the delivery of broadband to areas of the country that currently cannot avail of a service. Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan confirmed that Three had been selected as "preferred tenderer". Full details of the scheme, including areas covered and the cost of the service, will be announced early next month following the conclusion of contract negotiations. It is not known how much the contract will be worth but the Government's 2009 Budget set aside EUR45 million in capital funding for communications infrastructure. Eircom, the only other shortlisted bidder following BT's withdrawal last summer, issued a statement last night saying it was "extremely disappointed" with the decision.

The Irish Independent says that an Irish judge has taken the unusual step of warning a jury not to use Google to access online information regarding a trial they will deliberate on. In what barristers believe is the first warning of its kind in an Irish court, the judge issued the edict to a jury of six men and six women. The jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court was told by Judge Sean O Donnabhain to stay free of outside influences and "not Google things" during the trial of Liam 'Baby' Kelly. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The paper also reports that a US federal jury will begin deliberating whether a Missouri woman who used the MySpace social networking site to embarrass a teenager who later committed suicide is guilty of computer fraud. Prosecutors in Los Angeles charged Lori Drew in May under the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act after local authorities in Missouri failed to bring charges under state law. Drew's lawyer said in pretrial filings that it was the first time someone had been charged under the federal statute for violating a website’s terms of service.

The Irish Examiner reports that a survey by SHL Ireland has found that Irish businesses are using the current downturn as an opportunity to re-deploy and re-train staff in preparation for better times ahead, as noted by ENN.ie on Tuesday.

According to the Financial Times, Panasonic's bid to buy Japanese rival Sanyo Electric is close to collapse after Goldman Sachs, one of Sanyo’s three controlling shareholders, walked away from negotiations. Goldman Sachs said the bank was breaking off discussions because the sides were too far apart on price. There was also disagreement about the proposed deal structure, which would give Panasonic majority control while leaving a rump of listed shares in Sanyo. Both Panasonic and Sanyo declined to comment on the breakdown of negotiations.

The Wall Street Journal says that worldwide mobile phone sales are due to decline next year as the economic slowdown hits consumer demand, according to research firm Gartner. "We expect sales in 2009 to show a low-single-digit growth contraction" from 2008 levels, said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi. Market conditions are expected to remain challenging through at least the first half of next year, she said. Growth in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes China and India, is expected to grind to a halt in the fourth quarter of this year as the global economic decline hits consumer spending, the research firm said.