IN ASSOCIATION WITH

For the record 12 September
12-09-2007
by Ciara O'Brien

IEDR to relax rules for personal domain names | Study finds no link between ill health and mobile phones

As mooted in June, the IEDR has relaxed the rules for the registration of personal dot-ie (.ie) domain names for individuals. From 31 October, individuals will be allowed to register their own personal domains, giving sole traders, politicians and other trademark holders the chance to get their application in first. The IEDR said it took the decision to relax its strict rules as a result of the increased popularity of social networking and blogging sites, which are driving a larger number of people online. Individuals must still have a legitimate claim to the name and a connection to the island of Ireland, and provide documentation to prove that claim.

A new study has found that mobile phones are not linked to health problems when used in the short term, but further study is needed to uncover the health effects on children. The Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme, which carried out its study over six years, failed to establish a definite link between the use of the phones and cancer of the brain, and also failed to find evidence of the signals affecting brain function -- when the devices were used for less than 10 years. More study is needed to examine the long term impact of using mobile phones, however, the organisation said.

Three Ireland owner Hutchison Whampoa is under the spotlight after a UK newspaper reported it was planning to sell its Italian mobile network. According to reports, the firm is looking for potential buyers for the Three Italia network, after abandoning last year's plans to sell the 3G network due to the high value Hutchison Whampoa placed on it.

Cork-based mobile Java games firm Selatra has won a nomination for Best Games Service Provider at the Mobile Entertainment Awards. The ceremony, which will be held in London on 18 September, will honour the achievements of companies in the fields of mobile imaging, music, games, video and advertising.

Mobile phone firm Meteor has been named as the official mobile supplier for Ireland's Special Olympics representatives for their trip to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in China. The network will provide free calls and texts to organisers and co-ordinators in the lead-up to the event and while roaming in China throughout the Games. More than 140 athletes will compete in 12 different sports in Shanghai, while 55 coaches and 200 volunteers will travel with the team.

International online recruitment company Saongroup.com has appointed Denise Hannon as its new recruitment specialist. Under the new role, Hannon will take responsibility for the recruitment of all Saongroup.com companies including Irish recruitment management software firm Candidate Manager, and recruitment website IrishJobs.ie.

In other appointments news, Colt Telecom has named its new finance director. Hywel Evans, who formerly worked for Diageo Ireland, Orange in the UK and Meteor Mobile Communications, will take over the role.

Meanwhile, mobile marketing firm Puca has appointed Shane Kavanagh as global marketing and communications manager. In his new role, Kavanagh will promote the Puca brand within the Irish, UK and Chinese markets, and further strengthen Puca's market position worldwide.