IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 7 April
07-04-2008
by Ciara O'Brien
Setanta Sports ends exploratory sale talks | O2 may bid for Smart Telecom: report
The Irish Independent reports that the Data Protection Commissioner is investigating a formal complaint from a blood donor who claims their details were on a laptop stolen in New York in February. A spokesman for the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) said it aimed to deal with all complaints within six weeks but this case was proving "complex" because of the need to first establish whether the individual's details were on the laptop.
The Financial Times says that the number of mobile broadband connections globally has risen tenfold in the past year. The GSM Association, the global trade body for mobile operators, is expected to announce on Monday the 32 millionth mobile broadband connection, up from 3 million at the end of March 2007. The GSMA also said the number of operators offering high-speed internet access through mobile networks had soared 44 percent in the past 10 months.
The paper also notes that Setanta Sports, the Irish-based pay-TV channel, has ended exploratory sale talks after potential bidders demurred from its high price tag. The group said in February it would examine offers after at least five UK and US firms, including BT, ITV and Walt Disney's ESPN sports subsidiary, made informal approaches. It denied it had started a formal auction process but admitted it had asked financial adviser Goldman Sachs to examine the informal approaches. However, bidders are understood to have been put off by Setanta's STG1 billion price tag.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a Chinese court has agreed to consider copyright-infringement cases against two China-based internet heavyweights that offer illicit music downloading. The music-industry lawsuits claim USD9 million in damages against Baidu.com and USD7.5 million against Sogou, the music-delivery service operated by Sohu.com. Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Hong Kong and Universal Music are bringing the action against Baidu. Those same companies plus Gold Label Entertainment, a Hong Kong-based company backed by EMI, are bringing the action against Sogou.
The Sunday Independent says that mobile group O2 has approached Smart Telecom with a possible takeover bid in mind. There is speculation that an agreement, which is said to be an all-cash offer, could be signed within 10 days. Less than two years ago, Smart Telecom was facing closure, before Brendan Murtagh put together a rescue package for the firm. No official comment has been made on the possible takeover.
The Sunday Tribune reports that High Court judge Paul Carney has already criticised the new digital recording system in the Irish courts, only a week after it was introduced. After saying that he didn't understand the new system, Carney said if it interfered with the court's business, it would be switched off. Senior counsel in the court also raised objections, over fears that it could record privileged conversations between defendants and counsel. However, a source at the Courts Service denied this would happen.
The same paper says a new online game parodying the recent Heathrow Terminal 5 problems has sprung up online, starring BA boss Willie Walsh. "Wee Willie Walsh in Terminal Panic" involves getting bags from the scanner to the conveyor belt -- but they don't always arrive on time.
The Sunday Business Post reports that RTE and UPC are believed to be joining forces for a joint bid for a licence for digital terrestrial TV. Last week, it was reported that TV3, Setanta and Eircom have also formed a consortium for a licence bid. The UPC decision to ally itself with RTE is somewhat of a turnaround for the firm; the cable operator had raised concerns about RTE's involvement in DTT to the European Commission.
The same newspaper reports that Dell's Irish operations are not expected to be affected by the latest job cuts, which will see the computer maker cut 10 percent of its workforce. The job cuts are proposed to yield USD3 billion in cost savings for the firm. Last year, Dell Ireland implemented a voluntary redundancy programme, and said it is not seeking any further cuts.
The same paper writes that Belfast-based HeartSine, which makes portable defibrillators, saw its revenues rise 19 percent in 2006. The latest accounts for the firm saw turnover reach STG2 million, an increase from the previous year's STG1.7 million. Costs rose 2 percent to STG1.5 million. The company recorded an overall loss for the year of STG1.4 million.
The Sunday Business Post also reports that networking technology event First Tuesday is making a comeback. Despite the fact that First Tuesday has still been active in Ireland since the dot-com crash, the format had changed from start-ups making presentations to investor panels as the market dried up. However, the shaky property market has resulted in a surge of interest in venture capital. First Tuesday returned in its original format in February, with a successful event held last week too.
Irish healthcare IT firm Helix Health is staging an assault on the British market, the same paper reports, after signing an agreement with British firm Emis healthcare. Under the deal, Emis will use its network to distribute Helix's pharmacy management software, and in return, Helix will distribute Emis's dentistry and primary care products through its sales channel in Ireland. Helix is also looking at the US market, with Chief Executive Howard Beggs travelling to the US last week for meetings.
The paper also briefly reports on Magnet's new suite of services aimed at smaller businesses, including a new package that allows companies to run voice and data traffic over a single uncontended line.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 