NEWS IN BRIEF
Daily Digest 12 November
12-11-2008
by Emmet Cole
Worldwide IT spending growth to slow | Singularly big investment by software company
The IBEC group that represents Irish mobile operators, the Irish Cellular Industry Association (ICIA), has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the problem of bullying via mobile phones. In a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications Energy and Natural Resources, Tommy McCabe, director on the ICIA, detailed the various measures the mobile industry has rolled out to combat the problem, which include the ability to block certain numbers; dual and access controls to help parents monitor phone usage anda dedicated spam reporting line. McCabe also said the ICIA would soon be releasing a "Parents’ Guide to Mobile Phones", which will be launched shortly.
Worldwide spending on information technology will slow significantly in 2009 as a direct result of the global financial crisis, according to a newly revised forecast from IDC, released Wednesday. Global IT spending will grow 2.6 percent in 2009, down from IDC's pre-crisis forecast of 5.9 percent growth. Spending growth in Japan, Western Europe, and the US will hover around 1 percent in 2009. IDC estimates that more than USD300 billion in industry revenues will have been lost due to slower spending over the next four years. There is, however, some light at the end of the tunnel -- [Yeah, yeah, but where's the tunnel?!] -- as IDC expects IT spending to make a full recovery by the end of the forecast period with growth rates approaching 6 percent in 2012.
Singularity, the business process management software company with headquarters in Derry, is to invest over STG3.5 million in operational expansions that will see the creation of 112 jobs worldwide, Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster announced Wednesday. Singularity hopes to accelerate its growth within the business process management market through increased research and development and expansion of its global team. Singularity was recently honoured by the Irish Software Association with the 'Sales Achievement Award', in recognition of the company's 80 percent growth in the past year.
Three quarters of UK and Irish businesses do not have a data loss contingency plan in place, according to a study by Kroll Ontrack released Wednesday. IT services and software firm Kroll Ontrack concludes that Irish companies are more at risk of a data breach than ever before as the value of data rises as we endure an economic recession. This research comes on the back of a recent Gartner study that predicts the cost of a sensitive data breach will increase by 20 percent in 2009, as breaches become less opportunist and more targeted.
Google has launched Ancient Rome in 3D on Google Earth, allowing visitors to the project website an opportunity to explore the historic city as it stood in 320AD. With more than 6,700 historic buildings to explore, realistically restored virtual interiors, and explanatory "information bubbles" written by expert historians, there's plenty to keep history buffs occupied.
Fujitsu Siemens Computers is introducing a Green IT label for all qualifying products with immediate effect, the company announced Wednesday. The label provides a visible 'Green Check' that indicates products have been designed in line with the company's corporate goals on energy efficiency and sustainability. According to the company, the Green IT label will give customers instant insight into how individual products perform in terms of energy efficiency and environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle, from manufacturing to recycling.
Finally, we all know that kids are getting chubbier (less respectful, more self-indulgent, and they never tidy up after themselves either, do they?) -- but parents are using technology to fight back as they buy record numbers of WiiFit kits for their lethargic offspring. Nearly two thirds of British parents (61 percent) are worried about their children's weight and fitness, according to a survey of 1,253 people conducted by online entertainment outfit Swoopo. Thirty-four percent of parents said they 'actively try to encourage' their child to exercise for health and fitness reasons. Asked 'Do you think video games encouraging your children to exercise are beneficial?' 86 percent responded positively. Interestingly, mothers were more worried about their children's health than fathers (67 percent – 55 percent), which, according to Swoopo, correlates with sales statistics that show females are buying more WiiFit kits than males.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 