In The Papers 29 September

29-09-2008

by Sylvia Leatham

UK to rule on BSkyB's ITV stake | Nokia to unveil touchscreen phone

The Irish Times reports that Dublin-based San Leon Energy, an oil and gas exploration company chaired by former Smart Telecom chief Oisin Fanning, is to float on London's Aim market on Monday.

The Irish Examiner notes that Irish firm Ci3 has been sold to international tax and accounting group Wolters Kluwer International, as reported on ENN last week.

According to the Financial Times, the UK's Competition Appeals Tribunal is to rule on Monday on what should happen to BSkyB's 17.9 percent stake in ITV. Many investors believe that if the tribunal upholds the finding of the Competition Commission last December that BSkyB's holding gives it an ability to influence ITV's strategy in a way that restricts the market, it will trigger a bid for the UK's largest commercial broadcaster. BSkyB appealed against the ruling on the grounds that it had offered to put its shares into a blind trust arrangement, undertaking not to vote on ITV affairs or seek any board representation.

The Wall Street Journal says that handset maker Nokia is expected to unveil a high-profile touchscreen phone, known by gadget aficionados as the "Tube", at an event on Thursday, according to industry analysts. With the launch of the device, Nokia is aiming to compete with Apple's iPhone. The handset, which will be called the Nokia 5800, emphasises music and is more of a multimedia player than a full-blown smartphone.

The paper also reports that the Massachusetts attorney general's office and the National Federation of the Blind have reached an agreement with Apple under which the iPod maker will make its iTunes service accessible to the blind. Using technology called screen access software, blind consumers will be able to turn on-screen information into braille or speech so that they can search the internet using keyboard commands. Apple will also make a USD250,000 contribution to the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind to purchase the assistive software.

The Sunday Tribune writes that Irish children are more likely to be amused by porn online than their European counterparts. The paper says that girls are bookmarking explicit links because they find them funny. Unpublished research seen by the paper says that children as young as nine find the material funny, and are more likely to do so than their peers in the UK or Scandinavia.

The same paper says the Dublin Unitarian Church is spreading word online. The church is podcasting its sermons, with people from the UK, America, Germany and Russia downloading the material. The church said it may even consider videoing services in the future.

The Sunday Independent writes that women are going the extra mile for their Facebook and Bebo profile pictures. The paper says that women are forking out for professional makeovers and photo shoots to ensure they have the perfect pic to adorn their profile. Bella The Makeover Studio, owned by Jennifer Maguire -- former contestant on British TV show 'The Apprentice' -- says the Facebook phenomenon has been huge for the studio, with women spending on average EUR300 to EUR400.

The Sunday Business Post reports that Cork sales technology firm Tas Group has raised EUR1.4 million from its investors. The company's backers include Trinity venture capital, which helped it buy a division of Oracle in 2006 for USD10.45 million, and a number of private investors. TVC contributed to the current funding round, along with Cork-based businessman Michael Enright and the firm's head, Donal Daly. Tas has made a loss in recent years, but this has been attributed to the ongoing attempts to build its business. According to accounts, it had turnover of USD12.9 million in the 13 months to January this year, but made a pre-tax loss of USD5.4 million.

IT solutions company Heavey RF has signed several new contracts, with a total value of EUR1.5 million, the same paper notes. New clients include Cadbury Ireland and Musgraves. The company sells IT solutions for distribution and supply chain companies, and its technology allows customers to select stock in their warehouses more accurately and rapidly. The company is on tack to record turnover of EUR5 million, a 20 percent rise on last year's figures.

The paper also writes that AIM-listed mobile software firm Zamano is targeting the US, shifting its resources after the company already showed strong performance in the UK and Irish markets. Limited growth opportunities this side of the Atlantic are being blamed for the new focus on the US. The company recently posted a rise of 145 percent in half-year revenues, to EUR23.7 million

The same paper says that Belfast based e-mail security firm Mail Distiller is planning to expand, after it raised STG500,000 in funding. The company's chief, former NTL managing director Ian Jeffers, is aiming to get the company into the top five in the sector, aiming to grow turnover to STG7 million a year. Already the firm is on course to record revenues of STG1.2 million in the financial year.

The paper also writes briefly about Kerry-based Donseed's partnership deal with insurance firm RSA, mobile technology firm Macalla's mobile banking project for permanent TSB, and ChangingWorlds' new deal to support Orange's mobile web portal for Austrian customers.

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