IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 28 April
28-04-2008
by Bryan Collins
Yahoo lets Microsoft deadline pass | Consumers association calls on Bank of Ireland to pay compensation for stolen laptops
The Irish Independent reports that Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer may start a fight to oust the board of Yahoo and pave the way for a takeover. Ballmer had given Yahoo an ultimatum to accept a USD44.6 billion bid by Saturday, but the internet company let his deadline pass without agreeing to a deal.
The Irish Examiner reports that Chorus NTL will switch all of its Cork customers over to a fully digital service from Tuesday. The company will be able to offer customers broadband speeds of up to 12Mbps, phone, high-definition TV and video-on-demand. The move will make Cork the first cable network area in Ireland to completely switch from the analogue system.
According to the Wall Street Journal, chip giant AMD plans to begin a major push to improve its position in the market for PCs sold to small- and midsize-businesses. The semiconductor firm is set to unveil an initiative -- code-named Hardcastle and now renamed AMD Business Class -- that comes with a "platform" of chip technologies to help PC makers build machines tailored to the needs of smaller companies. AMD's effort is based around its Athlon and Phenom microprocessors.
The Sunday Business Post reports that the founder and moderator of Politics.ie has decided to transfer the site to a US server and to sell it to a US registered company owned by him. David Cochrane made the decision after a Dublin law firm asked him to remove content and identify posters who were involved in an online discussion about the Taoiseach's former secretary, Grainne Carruth. Cochrane feared if the law firm pursued Hosting365, the operator of Politics.ie's Irish server, his website might be shut down. He is now seeking the protection of US data laws.
The same paper reports that a survey released last week by research firm Forrester found that half of North American and European companies view Web 2.0 as a priority for 2009. The article went on to say there is a large potential revenue stream for companies who use Web 2.0 applications. This has resulted in McDonalds using blogs, Thinkhouse PR setting up online offices in Second Life and Budget Travel sending out special offers with Twitter, among other examples.
The paper also says that IT consulting and services firm Delphi Technologies reported pre-tax profits of EUR1.1 million for the year to 30 June 2007. The Dublin-based firm's most recent reported figures are down on its pre-tax profit figure of EUR1.2 million the previous year. The paper also says that at June last year, Delphi Technologies was owed EUR2.6 million by trade debtors.
The same paper carries a story about Belfast-based software firm Lagan Technologies. It raised USD10 million during a recent funding round to finance further expansion in the North American market. The money, which is structured in the form of a business loan, came from US based commercial finance firm BlueCrest Capital Finance. Lagan said it is going to announce ten new contracts in North America, including four with Canadian clients.
The Sunday Business Post also reports that Certification Europe has said more than 30 Irish organisations have implemented an international standard governing the security of sensitive information held in electronic formats. The firm, which is the only Irish one providing accreditation for ISO 27001, said the Department of Defence, Vodafone, Eircom, Elan and Wyeth have all implemented the standard. Chief Executive Michael Brophy told the paper that this standard could help companies avoid embarrassing data losses.
The paper also notes that managed services company Typetec plans to significantly grow its business this year after a turnover increase of nearly 20 percent in 2007. The Dublin-based firm reported turnover of EU15.9 million in 2007. This was an increase on 2006's EUR13.3 million figure. The company aims to double its turnover to over EUR30 million within the next few years.
The Sunday Times reports that the National Consumer Agency (NCA) has set up an online profile on social networking site Bebo, in effort to warn young people about how to avoid getting ripped off. The NCA Bebo page has been online for two weeks and has already attracted 3,500 hits and more than 80 friends. The NCA set up the page after research revealed that 34 percent of consumers describing themselves as "weakly empowered" were largely divided between those aged 15-to-24 or over 65.
The Sunday Times reports that Wii Fit for the Nintendo Wii games console, which launched last week, is expected to be one of the biggest games of the year. Wii Fit has been on sale in Japan for the past five months and has become the fastest-selling title ever in the country, shifting over 1 million copies in its first five weeks.
The same paper also reports that Leslie Benzies, president of games company Rockstar North, has said that the panic over violent video games is the same as the moral outrage that greeted the arrival of rock and roll. Rockstar North releases Grand Theft Auto IV on Tuesday and the title is expected to take in over STG200 million in its first week. Benzies said the title is not meant for children and the company is careful about who it markets its products to.
The Sunday Independent reports that 123 electronic items, such as Blackberrys and memory sticks, have been reported missing or stolen from government departments over the past six years. The Department of Foreign Affairs topped the list of government departments reporting missing or stolen items, with 33 laptops and computers taken between 2003 and 2004. The article also says that there is no standardised guidelines which deal with the precautions needed when handling personal information of state employees or the public.
The Sunday Tribune reports that Irish people are sending e-mails to an inbox meant for God. Sydney man Bill Tokos set up Deargod.net for people who want to post their prayers to Jesus, Allah, Buddha or a "universal spiritual energy". The site follows on from the Catholic Church's social networking site, Faithtrip.net, which features religious-themed blogs, chat rooms forums and webcasts.
The Sunday Tribune also notes that the Consumers' Association of Ireland wants Bank of Ireland to pay EUR40 million in compensation to the 10,000 customers affected by the loss of four BOI laptops. It is basing this figure on the EUR4,000 payout the bank previously made, after it sent a letter to the wrong person.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 