IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 6 April
06-04-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Iarnrod Eireann trials Wi-Fi service | Microsoft, Apple prep new phone products
The Irish Times reports that staff and funding cutbacks at third-level institutions are threatening the effort to build a 'smart economy', according to the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI). The union said inadequate resourcing in the sector could undermine economic revival. TUI represents 3,500 lecturers in institutes of technology. John MacGabhann, assistant general secretary, said staff numbers across higher education were being cut back, despite the record demand for college places. He said further staffing reductions could lead to a cessation of certain modules and a severe diminution of services to students.
The Irish Independent says that train passengers travelling from Dublin to Cork will now be able to enjoy free internet access under a trial scheme. Iarnrod Eireann has announced that Wi-Fi will be available on selected intercity services for a six-month trial period. The service will be free initially, but the rail operator's partner, FleetConnect, will eventually offer access at a variety of prices. Separately, Bus Eireann has unveiled a new website showing customers how long they will have to wait for their bus, www.whensmybus.ie.
The paper also says that thousands of Quinn employees will take to the streets on Tuesday in protest at the decision to put the company into administration, spurred to action by the 'Save Quinn Insurance' group on Facebook. The group has almost 10,000 members, and 2,000 people have signed an online 'Save Quinn Jobs' petition.
According to the Financial Times, Apple sold about 300,000 iPads on the tablet's first day on the market, falling short of the most bullish projections. The company said the figure was based on the number of iPads delivered in the US to retailers, customers' homes and businesses and/or sold directly at its own stores by midnight on Saturday. The figure was in line with consensus estimates before the weekend, though some analysts, notably Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, had predicted double those sales. Interviews and online postings showed that early customers were happy with the gadget.
The paper also says that Microsoft and Apple are preparing to unveil new handset products. Microsoft's announcement, scheduled for next Monday, will involve the first handsets in which the software company has had a close involvement in the overall design and user experience. Meanwhile, Apple will show off a new version of its iPhone software this Thursday, paving the way for an expected launch this summer of a fourth generation of the smartphone.
The Wall Street Journal reports that electronics giant Samsung expects to meet or exceed fiscal first-quarter operating profit projections and post a 15 percent to 19 percent increase in sales from a year earlier. The company said it expects its consolidated operating profit for the three months to come in between SKW4.1 trillion and SKW4.5 trillion (about USD3.6 billion to USD4 billion). Samsung posted an operating profit of SKW590 billion in the first quarter of 2009. Samsung also said it estimates sales to come in between SKW33 trillion and SKW35 trillion, up from SKW28.7 trillion in the year-earlier period.
The paper also says that global chip sales rose 56 percent in February from a year earlier, but were down 1.3 percent from January, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. "There are encouraging signs that the global economic recovery will continue, and we remain cautiously optimistic that there is upside potential for growth beyond our November forecast for 2010," said SIA president George Scalise. The SIA expects sales of PCs, mobile phones and other consumer electronics to grow this year.
Free! "In the papers" email newsletter -- get the full text to your in-box every business day. Email itp@enn.ie with 'subscribe' in the subject line.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 