NEWS IN BRIEF
Daily Digest 25 June
25-06-2009
by Emmet Ryan
IBM announces 100 new Irish jobs | Gartner says PC sales fighting back
IBM has announced it is to create up to 100 new jobs as part of its Ireland Development Lab. The lab, which focuses on developing new business software, will see IBM invest as much as EUR25 million at sites in Dublin, Cork and Galway over the next three years. The move is being supported by IDA Ireland. The new roles will be in software engineering and service management positions.
The Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan has launched the 100Mbps Post-Primary Schools Project. The new project, which will see EUR16 million invested to aid the first 78 schools taking part, aims to deliver high-speed broadband to second level schools across Ireland. Under the existing Schools Broadband Programme, primary and post-primary schools in Ireland can access a basic level of broadband connectivity. The new programme was announced in the Digital Hub Learning Studio on Thursday.
Cable and Wireless Worldwide has announced that it is commencing the rollout of its next-generation network, known as the Multi-Service Platform (MSP), across 21 locations in Ireland and Continental Europe. The extension of the MSP to Ireland and Continental Europe will form part of the company's network across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, providing customers with an increased global reach. The new network will connect Ireland with 150 countries worldwide.
Funding of EUR5.6 million will be made available for the establishment of a new strategic research cluster focusing on molecular therapeutics for cancer. The new cluster, which will be lead by consultant medical oncologist Professor John Crown, will receive funding through Science Foundation Ireland. The Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Conor Lenihan, said the new research group would significantly benefit cancer patients in Ireland.
The Minister for Integration, John Curran, has launched the new website of his office at www.integration.ie. The website will highlight the work of the office and inform migrants and interested stakeholders of developments in integration and diversity management taking place at a national and international level. The site will also be used to provide information on European and national funding streams managed by the office.
Irish firm OpenHydro has received two awards. The renewable energy firm was named the 2009 innovative company of the year award by Engineers Ireland and also picked up the 2009 company pioneer award at the Energy Ocean conference in the US.
Hewlett-Packard (HP) has launched a web-connected home printer. The HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web is designed to give people quick, easy, touchscreen access to popular digital content, according to HP. In addition to receiving applications preloaded on the printer, people can download new ones as they become available at the HP Apps Studio to suit their interests and needs.
New research from Gartner has found that worldwide PC shipments are on pace to reach 274 million units in 2009, a 6 percent decline from 2008. Despite the decline, this is a marked improvement on previous estimates. Gartner expects the PC market to post positive growth in the fourth quarter of 2009, setting the stage for a healthy market recovery in 2010 with units forecast to grow 10.3 percent.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 