IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 6 January
06-01-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Google unveils Nexus One | 3G 'temporarily' closes stores
The Irish Times reports that Google has unveiled its new mobile phone, the Nexus One. The device will run on Google's Android operating system and features enhanced voice control, with a voice-enabled keyboard for all text fields, including e-mail, Twitter updates and Facebook posts. Google also announced its own store for selling the phone, which is available SIM-free. Users can also buy the device with a service plan through one of Google's partner phone networks. The phone is not yet available to buy in Ireland.
The paper also says that mobile phone chain 3G has "temporarily" closed its Irish stores, with the loss of about 150 jobs, while the business seeks new investment. Customers and staff were told on Monday that the chain, which has 27 stores in the Republic, is temporarily closing. Callers to customer helplines operated by the company were told it could be closed for two to four weeks and were informed that the company was engaged in "a re-evaluation". The group's website says it employs 160 people, most of whom were temporarily laid off on Monday.
The Irish Examiner reports that businesses have been warned to ignore unsolicited letters offering to update their domain names. In recent months dozens of SMEs have received letters from Internet Register Ireland, which has an address in Hamburg, Germany, asking companies to sign a document updating their domains and re-registering their details. However, the small print of the document states that any firm that signs the letter will be obliged to pay EUR2,874 over the next three years in "advertisement costs". Irish internet body the IEDR has confirmed the German-based company has no official link to Irish internet registration.
The paper also says that former Dell workers have set up a support group to help the 2,000 people who lost their jobs in Limerick a year ago. A further 5,000 made redundant by companies that supplied goods and services to Dell will also be supported by the group, the Dell Redundant Workers Association. Denis Ryan, chairman of the workers' association, said there were a number of immediate issues the group will be working on. "Our priority will be to get the Government to release money from the European Globalisation fund which has been approved by the EU to help workers who have lost their jobs," he said.
The same paper notes that the Department of Education is paying almost EUR500,000 to provide every primary and second-level school with online versions of World Book and Encyclopedia Brittanica. The online resources use text, video clips, three-dimensional simulations, research aids and other new media in giving information to students. The provision of a teaching laptop and digital projector for every primary school class in the coming months will add to the potential educational uses of the service.
The Financial Times reports that shares in Nintendo rallied 6.9 percent on Wednesday thanks to strong December sales of the Wii game console in the US. The gains were helped by a 20 percent cut in the price of the console and the introduction of the 'New Super Mario Bros Wii' game. US sales of the Wii console reached a record 3 million in December, up from 2.14 million units a year earlier.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has acquired mobile advertising firm Quattro Wireless. Quattro places ads on mobile websites and applications. The value of the acquisition was not immediately clear. The deal was first reported by All Things D, which said the purchase was valued at USD275 million. Andy Miller, the head of Quattro, will become vice president of mobile advertising for Apple.
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