ROUNDUPS
In the papers 03 May
03-05-2002
by Ralph Averbuch
3Com closes Galway research and development operation | Researchers grow materials that could be used to make semiconductors
The Irish Independent reports that 3Com has closed its Galway research and development operation in Spiddal. Twenty-three job losses came with closure, which the company said was made in an effort to return to profitability.
The paper also reports that Alphyra said on Thursday that growth in the level of transactions was solid across all its geographical areas as it goes into the second quarter. Alphyra reported it had seen significant volume growth in the pre-paid mobile market in the first quarter of 2001. Last month Alphyra won a contract to supply top-up services for one of the leading two mobile phone operators in Germany, with T-Mobil and Vodafone being the biggest players in that market.
According to the Irish Times, Eircom is opposing the government's plan to spend millions of euro in the telecoms market. Eircom has described the government initiative with US firm Global Crossing as "counter-productive" and negative for consumer value, arguing that the government should focus on stimulating consumer demand. The newspaper obtained the document under the Freedom of Information Act shortly before the publication of a Fianna Fail policy document backing the State policy of investing EUR300 million in telecoms over the next three years.
The paper also reports that Annrai O'Toole, a founder of Iona Technologies who still holds a seven percent share in the company, will hold onto his stake despite resigning as a director. This comes after months of debate with the firm over any conflict of interest with his new firm, Cape Clear Software.
According to the Financial Times, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said the slump in demand for IT products was the main cause of declining world trade last year. The WTO's latest report on international trade said the bursting of the IT "bubble" would lead to slower trade growth in future.
The paper also reports that bankers to WorldCom, the US telecoms company, have started discussions with the company that some suspect may lead to the disposal of far more assets than those already marked for sale. The paper adds that WorldCom's international activities eat around USD500 million a year, making them a drain at a time when WorldCom faces a possible liquidity squeeze. A further sale of global assets would shore up the telecom giant's free capital.
According to the Wall Street Journal, recently released internal documents in the antitrust case against Microsoft show that it planned to attack rival RealNetworks Inc., in much the way it targeted the Netscape Navigator Web browser. A series of internal e-mails from 1999 show that Microsoft senior management was worried over the strategic threat of RealNetworks' Web streaming audio and video software.
The paper also reports that scientists at the University of Texas have devised a way to use viruses to grow new materials that could be used to make semiconductors and other electronic, magnetic and optical devices. The study, detailed in an article in the journal Science, involves using natural molecules to bond to minute particles of manmade materials and then self-assemble into new composite structures. Expert observers say the linking of organic and inorganic materials is a potentially important advance in the fast-growing field of nanotechnology.
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