NEWS IN BRIEF
Daily Digest 5 December
05-12-2008
by Emmet Cole
Irish companies to cut IT spend: ComReg | Apple/Wal-Mart rumours fly
The economic downturn will see 35 percent of Irish businesses curb IT spend in the next twelve months, according to The Commission for Communications Regulation's second business survey of 2008, published Friday. The survey also revealed that 67 percent of Irish corporates and small to medium-sized enterprises have switched internet service provider (ISP) at some time. Meanwhile, 48 percent of Irish businesses have switched fixed line provider and 60 percent have switched mobile provider. More than 80 percent of businesses surveyed found it easy to switch fixed line, mobile and ISPs. Finally, 86 percent of businesses surveyed have internet access, with 76 percent of these using a broadband connection.
The first survey of Irish iPhone users has found that 72 percent would recommend the phone to their friends despite the high purchase price and monthly tariffs. The Mulley Communications survey of 115 iPhone users also found that on average Irish iPhone users have spent EUR17 on applications for the device, with one of the most popular being Eirtext, which allows iPhone users to access free webtext messages from o2, Vodafone and Meteor. More than half of respondents admitted to spending more than their contract limit. The survey comes amid Stateside gossip claiming that Apple plans to release a USD99, 4 GB version of the iPhone for sale at Wal-Mart stores.
Facebook users are bracing themselves for a new variation of the Koobface virus. The virus, which caused much consternation amongst MySpace users earlier this year, exploits Facebook's friends-only email policy to make it look as though the content comes from a trusted source. Users are then directed to what looks like an online video, are informed that they need a software update to view it, and are told to download a codec which downloads the virus. Facebook has told members to delete contaminated e-mails and has posted directions on how to clean infected computers.
On a less viral note, Get Creative, a Facebook-based application for communications and marketing professionals, has been launched by Dublin-based Slattery Communications. Unveiled in support of 'EngageOnline@Scomms' the company's online digital media service, Get Creative allows participants to search and vote on a range of PR, advertising and marketing ideas -- from event and photocall ideas to advertising and direct marketing submissions.
IBM's X-Force team of security specialists -- yes, they really do exist -- identified a 30 percent increase in network and web-based security events over the last 120 days, with the total number rising from 1.8 billion to more than 2.5 billion worldwide per day, according to sources at the company. IBM also detected a 40 percent increase within the last 120 days in its clients' access of IBM virtual security operations centres. In response, IBM is planning several measures, including a formal program to enable strategic providers to resell managed security services; free financial assessments of company security infrastructure management costs; new identity and access management services (a recent IBM X-Force Quarterly Report showed that more than 42 percent of vulnerabilities are caused by weaknesses in access and identity management); and (presumably), getting SpiderMan on the case.
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), which tracks US spending in the industry, has cut its industry growth forecast for the fourth quarter of 2008. New data showed muted consumer sentiment and a decrease in overall consumer spending so far this holiday season. The data, including final October shipment and revenue figures and a survey of US shoppers, sees CEA now projecting a 0.1 percent increase in fourth quarter wholesale shipment revenues over the same period in 2007. The original forecast, issued in October, anticipated 3.5 percent fourth quarter growth over 2007. According to CEA, holiday shoppers are opting for smaller, less expensive TVs and other consumer electronics products purchased at discount retailers. Mobile phones will see five percent growth in the fourth quarter compared to last year, a downward revision of CEA's 11 percent growth forecast issued in October.
Finally, location-based advertising is gaining momentum as a new medium but is still in its infancy, with many barriers remaining, according to a new ABI Research Brief released Friday. According to ABI, location-based advertising provides more targeted and efficient marketing tools for advertisers and represents an additional revenue source for location-based services (LBS) vendors, by allowing them to offer free ad-funded navigation and LBS services. But plenty of barriers remain: a lack of understanding of location-based mobility, limited indoor location technology, and intrusiveness and privacy-related end-user concerns. Transparent opt-in processes and advanced levels of customisation will be key success factors for the medium, the authors predict.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 