NEWS IN BRIEF
Daily Digest 2 October
02-10-2009
by Deirdre McArdle
ComReg LLU proposals get EU green light | Apple buys Google Maps rival: report
Magnet has launched Magnet Bolt, a service for online gamers that it claims will quicken responsiveness, eliminate jarring game play and deliver spoken commands to online team mates faster. Those who subscribe to the service will be visited by a Magnet engineer who will tweak their internet line to boost its performance for gaming. Users will also have gaming server traffic prioritised and be supplied with a high quality Telsey gaming router as well as 12Mb Broadband with 1:1 contention. Latency and ping times (the amount of time it takes for information to travel between game consoles) are two of the biggest issues cited by online gamers in Ireland; Magnet says Bolt addresses both of these factors. Magnet Bolt is available for EUR64.99 per month up until the end of October, after that it will cost EUR69.99 per month.
A proposal by ComReg to direct Eircom to lower the prices it charges other operators to access its networks has been cleared by the European Commission. The plan would see prices reduced in 2009-2010 to EUR12.24 per line per month for LLU and EUR10.38 per line per month for a partial local loop connecting to the subscriber, down from EUR17.89 and EUR15.63, respectively. "Due to the proposed regulatory measure, alternative operators will pay less for access to Eircom's network, so they will be able to provide more attractive retail offers. As a result, competition will increase and consumers will have greater choice and better prices," said EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. The proposed price cuts build on earlier moves made in June 2009 by ComReg which lowered the prices charged by Eircom for granting competitors access to its broadband network and for migrating customers between different wholesale broadband products.
In related news, communications spokesperson for the Labour Party Liz McManus has expressed concern at the latest broadband figures for Ireland which positions Dublin 87th city in the world for the quality of its broadband infrastructure. She has called on the Government to publish a strategic plan to tackle broadband quality. McManus also urged the Government to include proposals in relation to the future of Eircom and the need for this vital infrastructure to be developed.
Mobile operator Digicel has hit a significant landmark, clocking up 10 million subscribers across the 32 markets in which it operates globally. The operator, which is owned by businessman Denis O'Brien, has operations in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific region.
Apple reportedly 'quietly' acquired PlaceBase, a rival to Google Maps, back in July, according to ComputerWorld's Seth Weintrub, who made the deduction from some Tweets and a LinkedIn profile (PlaceBase founder Jaron Waldman's profile was changed to say that he was now a member of Apple's Geo team). With the acquisition of PlaceBase, Apple gains access to the map technology maker's worldwide maps and API technology PushPin. Industry observers believe the deal signals a move by Apple away from Google's Maps programme for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Neither Google nor Apple has commented.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 