ROUNDUPS
In the papers 07 February
07-02-2003
by John Cradden
Meteor seeks roaming agreement with Vodafone or O2 | Intel set to launch new portable-computing technology
The Irish Times reports on a proposed plan by the Minister for Communications, Dermot Ahern, to establish an all-Ireland digital television system to deliver dozens of new domestic and foreign television channels at a low cost. Under the plan, which is modelled on Britain's Freeview service run by the BBC and BskyB, customers would pay a once-off fee of approximately EUR160, with no further payments. The Minister said the platform would enable all the Republic of Ireland TV channels to be available to viewers throughout Northern Ireland.
The paper also reports that the Republic has been ranked second of 18 European countries in terms of the percentage of basic public services that are available on-line, according to a new European Commission survey. See the full story as reported in ENN.
The same paper reports that Meteor, the State's third mobile phone company, is seeking a roaming agreement with Vodafone or O2 that would enable it to use their networks in rural areas, increasing Meteor's coverage. The firm said yesterday it had asked the Commission for Communications Regulation to intervene in its negotiations with the two operators. If necessary, it said it wanted the commission or the Government to enforce a deal to promote competition.
The Irish Independent reports that shareholders with less than 35 percent of the shares in e-payments group Alphyra have indicated their acceptance of the management buyout terms of EUR2.45 per share. This marks a disappointing turnout for the bidders who will need more than double that level of acceptances for 80 percent of the share capital to successfully take the company private. See the full story as reported in ENN on Thursday.
The same paper reports that the financial capacity of the main members of the Esat Digifone consortium was not approved until hours before the licence was issued in May 1996. The Moriarty Tribunal heard on Thursday that accountant Donal Buggy was asked by the Department of Communications Secretary General John Loughrey to examine the financial strength of the Esat consortium, and how its continuing financial problems could be sorted out, as well as assessing the role of IIU and Dermot Desmond.
The Financial Times reports that EDS, the world's second largest IT services company, posted an 11 percent drop in income from continuing operations and lowered its guidance as it struggles with two large under performing contracts and financially troubled customers. The drop in income was even larger at 42 percent when discontinued operations and a restructuring credit were excluded. It followed a 5 percent fall in revenue compared with the year-ago quarter.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the tax shelter that derailed the careers of Sprint Corp.'s two top executives was intended to indefinitely protect the income they reaped around the time of the proposed deal with WorldCom Inc., then the richest corporate merger ever. The tax shelter, which was structured to allow them to permanently avoid paying taxes, was proposed by Ernst & Young LLP in a series of meetings after the proposed merger was announced.
The same paper reports that chip maker Intel expects to launch its new portable-computing technology on 12 March, the first in a new generation of notebook personal computers that have built-in wireless network connections. The bundle of technology, called Centrino, includes both a new microprocessor chip as well as accessory chips that handle communications using the 802.11b standard, or Wi-Fi. Besides selling those chips to computer makers, Intel plans to help stimulate deployment of wireless networks that can be used by the public.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 