Weekly Digest
Weekly Digest Issue No. 503
18-02-2010
by Deirdre McArdle
Google Buzz falls flat | Irish firms enjoy success at Mobile World
Google Buzz falls flat
Google's launch into social networking has turned into more of a 'splat' than a Buzz, with the internet giant being dogged with complaints about the service's privacy features (or rather, lack thereof). On Wednesday, law firms in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. filed a class action suit on behalf of Florida woman Eva Hibnick, who is apparently filing the suit on behalf of the millions of people who use Gmail. The suit accuses Google of breaking a number of electronic communications laws, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Earlier in the week Google was forced into a hasty revamp of the service following floods of complaints about the system, which records who users e-mail and chat to most often from their Gmail accounts, when it automatically made those frequent contacts 'followers' on Buzz. This practice and its gaping privacy flaws were highlighted by blogger Harriet Jacobs (not her real name), who said she was automatically 'followed' by an abusive ex-husband.
Google responded to the many complaints by saying its engineers were working to resolve the issues, and admitted that perhaps Buzz hadn't been tested properly. Google reportedly tested Buzz internally with its employees but unlike most of its other services it seemed to rush Buzz to market and didn't label it beta on launch, unlike, say, Gmail, which was in beta for years. Government agencies around the world have also expressed their concerns about Buzz, with Canadian authorities saying they would be launching an investigation into the system. US campaigners have also voiced their concerns, while the UK Information Commissioner's office confirmed that it would investigate any complaints. Meanwhile, comments made by Google CEO Eric Schmidt at the Mobile World Congress 2010 didn't do much to calm the situation: "People thought that we were publishing their e-mail addresses and private information, which was not true. It was our fault that we did not communicate that fact very well, but the important thing is that no really bad stuff happens... nobody’s personal information was disclosed."
Mobile giants shine in Barcelona
With the Mobile World Congress taking place in Barcelona this week, the IT headlines from the past couple of days have a distinctly mobile flavour. As the global event kicked off on Monday, undoubtedly the biggest news of the day was the launch of Microsoft's latest mobile OS, Windows Phone 7 Series. Featuring a redesigned user interface, the software incorporates Microsoft services, such as Xbox Live games and the Zune music service. It's also designed to allow users easily access social networking features, photos, web content, contacts and business applications. The first phones using the new OS will be available later this year. According to Microsoft, Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC, HP, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, and Qualcomm have all committed to producing phones based on the software. Initial industry observations suggest that Microsoft could be onto a winner with Windows Phone 7; however, at a lowly fourth in the mobile OS market, it does have some way to go.
Also on the opening day of the Congress, Nokia and Intel unveiled their joint venture into smartphone software, dubbed MeeGo. The platform is based on Maemo, the Linux-based software used in Nokia's N900 device, and Intel's Moblin operating system. The two companies hope MeeGo will make it easier for developers to build a single application that can be ported to a range of devices. Apps were also the order of the day, with 24 telecoms operators, including Vodafone and Telefonica, signing up to work together to create an open platform that will allow app developers to reach all mobile users. The Wholesale Applications Community will create a platform that will allow the distribution of software to phones, regardless of the technology they use or who manufactures them. Hardware too proved a talking point, with many handsets being unveiled during the event. Perhaps most noteworthy was the trio of devices showcased by Taiwan-headquartered HTC. The firm revealed the Legend, Desire and HD Mini. The Legend and Desire are both Android-based devices, with the Legend boasting a seriously cool aluminium 'unibody' casing. The HD Mini is a smaller, less powerful version of HTC's HD2. The three new handsets are likely to hit the European market by April. Check out the Mobile World Congress 2010 website for more news from the event.
Irish firms enjoy success at Mobile World
As has become traditional, a strong Irish contingent attended and exhibited at the Mobile World Congress. Supported by Enterprise Ireland, 16 of Ireland's most innovative mobile firms took their places in the Irish Pavilion at the Congress. Anam Mobile, Aran Tech, Redmere and Zapa Technology were among those showcasing their offerings. "The strong Irish presence at this Congress in Barcelona underlines Ireland's growing international reputation as a key source of innovative and groundbreaking solutions in mobile communications," said Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources Conor Lenihan. This was borne out by a number of deals that were signed by Irish firms during the week. Irish digital communications company Digital Reach on Monday announced an exclusive deal with mobile operator Meteor to provide advertising sales services and ad-serving technology for Meteor's mobile web portal.
In addition, Dublin-headquartered Dial2Do launched a voice-activated mobile application for Google's Android platform at the event. The service allows users to send text messages by voice as well as have incoming text messages read aloud to them. Dial2Do also announced a partnership with Jabra, which manufacturers headsets. Using the service, Jabra UK customers will be able send and listen to e-mails, texts and Twitter updates by speaking into their device. Elsewhere, Irish mobile software heavyweight NewBay signed a deal with Deutsche Telekom. The deal will see NewBay's LifeCache Social Networking Gateway and LifeCache Media Upload Client being deployed to power the upload of photos, videos and audio filed to Deutsche Telekom's Media Centre. All in all, it was a productive event that served to raise the profile of many innovative Irish mobile firms.
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Maths teaching a cause for concern
Ireland's education system, and particularly the teaching of maths and science, was again called into question this week, with industry commentators warning that Ireland's economy and its education capability are undeniably linked. In an interview on RTE's Marian Finucane Show, former Intel chairman Craig Barrett predicted that Ireland will end up an economic backwater if we do not radically reform how we educate our workforce. Barrett said a significant investment in mathematical and scientific teaching was required if the country was to compete with emerging economies in China, India and South America. John Power, director general of Engineers Ireland, reinforced Barrett's message and has called for fundamental change in the way maths is taught in secondary schools. He said that if Ireland does not make investments in teaching maths and science, it will damage the economy.
Meanwhile, a report compiled this week on maths teachers in Ireland made for sobering reading. The research, conducted by Dr Maire Ni Riordain and Dr Ailish Hannigan at the University of Limerick, showed that 48 percent of maths teachers at secondary level were not qualified in that particular subject. The survey shows that these "out-of-field" maths teachers are primarily qualified to teach science and business rather than maths, and are assigned to teach maths to students in the early years of secondary school. Over half of the principals surveyed said it was difficult to find suitably qualified maths teachers. Qualified maths teachers were "scarce and very difficult to get", said Clive Byrne, director of the National Association for Principals and Deputy Principals. Responding to the study, the Department of Education said a national programme of professional development for teachers would begin in October and would preface the introduction of the new maths curriculum, Project Maths. However, Dr Maria Meehan of the School of Mathematical Sciences in University College Dublin said it was not enough to change the maths curriculum without teachers qualified to teach it.
Irish companies get acquisitive
This week saw some comings and goings among Irish firms, with a number of acquisitions hitting the headlines. First up, Dublin-based Afilias, which operates the dot-info domain registry, announced that it had acquired mTLD Top-Level Domain, the operator of the dot-mobi domain registry, for an undisclosed sum. While Afilias was already running dot-mobi under contract, taking full ownership of the domain means the company will now get an annual fee for each of the almost 1 million dot-mobi names that are registered.
Meanwhile, another Dublin-based firm, SkillSoft, was acquired this week by a group of private equity firms, including Berkshire Partners, Advent International and Bain Capital. The consortium bought the Irish e-learning firm for USD1.1 billion, or USD10.80 per share, in cash. SkillSoft said it would continue to be headquartered in Dublin and the current management team, including CEO Chuck Moran, would be staying on. Also this week Northern Ireland financial software firm First Derivatives confirmed it had snapped up the assets of foreign exchange systems provider Cognotec, in a deal worth up to USD4.7 million in cash. Cognotec, which has an office in Dublin, went into receivership in January. First Derivatives said it expects the transaction to be "earnings enhancing" this year.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 