IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 14 December
14-12-2009
by Sylvia Leatham
Cryptologic to hook up with Betclic | Four R&D firms to make investments
The Irish Times reports that Irish online gaming specialist Cryptologic is set to sign a deal with multinational internet betting operator Betclic. It is understood the Dublin-based company is expected to announce this week that it has hooked up with Malta-based Betclic, which will offer Cryptologic games on its casino website. Cryptologic is also preparing to launch a series of new blackjack and casino games in partnership with DC Comics and Paramount Digital Entertainment.
The paper also says that investments totalling EUR45.5 million by four companies involved in research and development have been announced. The investments will create 26 jobs. Wexport, part of the LEO Pharma Group, is to immediately invest EUR10 million, with plans for a further EUR10 million at a later date, at its site in Little Island, Cork. Merit Medical Systems, which produces proprietary disposable medical devices, is to invest over EUR20 million at its Galway facility. Sanmina-SCI, a global electronics design and manufacturing services provider, is to invest EUR10 million in its operation in Fermoy, Cork, while Baxter Healthcare is to invest EUR5.5 million in installing and commissioning a 3MW Combined Heat and Power plant in Castlebar, Mayo.
The Wall Street Journal says that Google plans to begin selling a mobile phone directly to consumers as early as next year, according to sources. The Android-powered phone, called Nexus One, was designed by Google and will be sold, at least initially, without being subsidised by a mobile partner firm, the sources said. Google plans to sell the Nexus One itself online, although the company may seek wireless partnerships in the future. Users would have to buy their wireless service separately.
The paper also reports that EU antitrust regulators have reacted positively to a proposal by Oracle to safeguard Sun's MySQL database. The move means that Oracle's bid for Sun is likely to be approved by the European Commission. The EU had expressed concerns that Oracle could quash MySQL, an open-source product which can be downloaded for free, to protect its database franchise. But in a statement on Monday, Oracle said it would "continue to enhance" MySQL and release future versions under an open-source licence. It also said it would make available certain programming details needed for others to work with MySQL, and would hold off on any copyright claims against third parties who use those details.
The Financial Times reports that gaming firm PartyGaming is in informal talks with Bwin, an AustriaN online gambling group, about a potential merger. People familiar with PartyGaming said talks with Bwin went beyond exploratory, but stressed there was no imminent prospect of a deal.
The Sunday Tribune writes that Green TD Paul Gogarty has become a YouTube hit following his outburst in the Dail last week. Video clips of Gogarty responding to Labour's Emmett Stagg using strong language have made it on to the video-sharing website, and the story even made the Huffington Post website.
The same paper reports that Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has told RTE and the One Vision TV consortium that the country risks missing the January 2012 deadline for the European switchover to digital TV unless agreement is reached in a matter of months. RTE and the consortium, which has been tasked with rolling out the service, are negotiating over a cash guarantee RTE is seeking for the project.
The Sunday Business Post reports that online ad agency Net Behaviour is to close, with the loss of nine jobs. Founder Justin Cullen is blaming the closure, which is due to take place over the next few months, on the slowdown in the economy and the growing trend of in-house digital divisions in advertising agencies. The firm was set up in 2005.
The same paper says that a new report has criticised IT staffing, skills and procurement in Government departments, saying the amount of money being spent is too high. The Department of Finance document says the Civil Service is spending almost EUR200 million each year on external IT resources; however, almost 1,300 dedicated IT staff are employed in the public sector. The report said many staff working in the ICT units do not have the required skills or knowledge, and IT staff numbers and costs could be considerably reduced. The report suggests centralising IT systems and expanding the use of existing government-owned data centres.
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Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 