ROUNDUPS
For the record 06 February
06-02-2003
by Ralph Averbuch
Swedish study suggests that mobile phones damage key brain cells | Nokia N-Gage game deck goes on show
Nokia has showcased its new mobile games deck, the Nokia N-Gage, at events in London, UK and Sydney, Australia. The Nokia N-Gage game deck is supposed to give an enriched 'interactive gaming experience' by providing a wireless multiplayer platform for both local and remote gaming.
A Swedish study suggests that mobile phones damage key brain cells and might cause the early onset of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers have found that radiation from mobiles damages sections of the brain associated with learning, remembering and moving. The research was performed on rats but scientists have yet to show conclusive results proving mobile phones damage a human brain in the same way.
Bill Gates sold 1 million shares of Microsoft common stock, according to a filing on Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He sold the shares for USD48.28 to USD49.05 a share. He still owns 610,749,300 common shares and indirectly a further 214,628 common shares.
Saudi Arabian Airlines has adopted Datalex technology for its on-line booking channels. Dr. Khaled A. Ben-Bakr, Director General, Saudi Arabian Airlines, said that booking through the Internet will save the airline and its customers time and effort. Datalex has provided technology solutions for the global travel industry since 1985 and is headquartered in Dublin.
A third of companies have been infected with spyware on their networks, claims the "Emerging Internet Threats Survey 2003", conducted by Internet management specialist Websense International. The emergence of spyware in business settings could mean companies are vulnerable to unknown outside parties such as competitors, intruders or advertisers, who can gather confidential company information without consent. The survey had input from 408 IT professionals across Europe.
The USA has reached an agreement with India aimed at boosting high-technology trade. The agreement now reverses sanctions initially imposed after India carried out nuclear tests in 1998.
Apple VP and general manager in Europe, Pascal Cagni, says the company will launch stores along similar lines to those already in the USA. In an interview with Sunday Business he said that retail locations will include London and Paris, adding that no precise opening date had been set. US retail store revenues grew to almost USD150 million in Q1 2003.
Garry Kasparov (39), top-rated world chess player, and his computer opponent Deep Junior tied in the fifth game of their Man versus Machine series on Wednesday, playing just 19 moves. Deep Junior has been programmed by an Israeli team.
Gartner, the information-technology consulting and research company, said it had a net loss of USD14.4 million in the quarter ending 31 December because of costs to cut jobs and close some offices. Sales of research and consulting advice have been hurt by reduced corporate spending on computers, software and related services.
In a first for Oracle, the company has won UK government backing from the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) with a three-year deal. The agreement allows UK public sector organisations to replace legacy software with Oracle solutions.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 