IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 25 May
25-05-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Eircom begins file-sharing clampdown | Social media users warned on defamation law
The Irish Times reports that the Government has signed a second memorandum with a major motor manufacturer to promote the development of the electric vehicle industry in Ireland. Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan and senior executives of Mitsubishi Motors signed the agreement to trial its all-electric i-MiEV model in Ireland. The alliance follows a similar memorandum signed by the Government and ESB with the Renault-Nissan consortium. A fleet of i-MiEVs will be used throughout Ireland to support and test the new charging-point infrastructure.
The paper also reports that computer users are being targeted by the operators of a scam seeking to gain access to bank details and other personal information. Scores of people in Dublin and other cities have reported receiving unsolicited cold calls in recent days, in which a telemarketer seeks to gain access to the person’s computer. There are several variations to their approach, but most involve a 'PC doctor' telling victims their computers are not working properly. The caller, who often claims to be working for 'Windows' or to be a Microsoft agent, seeks to get the victim to turn on the computer and go to a particular website. Callers promise to speed up the victim's PC, rectify a claimed fault in the computer, or get rid of viruses.
The same paper reports that First Derivatives, the Northern Ireland software and consulting company, has reported strong pretax profits of STG5.6 million for the year ended February 2010. Pretax profits jumped by 27 percent, while turnover grew by 45 percent to STG25.4 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation grew 12 percent to STG7.2 million in the year.
The paper also notes that IBM has agreed to buy Sterling Commerce for USD1.4 billion in cash, gaining software that helps businesses conduct transactions. IBM will buy Sterling from US telco AT&T.
The paper also says that the Moriarty tribunal has dropped adverse findings it issued in January arising from evidence heard from barrister Richard Nesbitt on the issuing of a mobile phone licence to Esat Digifone. Businessman Dermot Desmond was informed of the decision to drop the findings on Friday. Desmond had threatened judicial review proceedings if the findings were not dropped. Justice Moriarty told Desmond on Friday that, in the light of evidence given by Denis McFadden and John Gormley, officials from the Office of the Attorney General, he has decided to withdraw his January findings. He also indicated that some of his 2008 provisional findings are being reviewed and may be withdrawn.
The Irish Independent reports that one in ten motorists admits to regularly sending text messages while driving. And one in 100 spends more than an hour a day on their hand-held mobile phone behind the wheel, according to a new survey for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). It also showed that one in five regularly use their mobile phone while driving. The distraction caused by mobile phone use has played a role in up to 30 percent of all road collisions, the RSA warned.
The paper also reports that thousands of Eircom broadband users caught illegally sharing music will be targeted each week as part of a major clampdown. Eircom on Monday began a 'three strikes' process that can lead to offenders having their service cut off for a year. Eircom broadband customers will initially be contacted to see if they know their connection is being used to illegally file-share. Their service will be withdrawn for seven days if they are caught three times and they will be cut off for a year on a fourth offence. Eircom expects to initially contact about 50 users a week, but this will quickly be scaled up to thousands.
The same paper says that Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has warned social media users that they could be sued for posting slanderous comments online. Speaking at the launch of the second annual report of the Press Ombudsman, Ahern said that defamation law applied to social media, including blogs and sites such as Facebook and Twitter. "Anybody who puts anything up, they have to understand it can go around the world in a few seconds to a huge number of people. Quite a number of people in public and private life have been slandered by comments made on these internet sites, some on purpose, others by mistake," he said. Social media sites can apply to be regulated by the Press Ombudsman.
The Irish Examiner reports that Paddy Power has signed a deal with British mobile phone gaming specialist Probability that will see it expand its gambling service. The deal, the value of which was not disclosed, will see AIM-listed Probability integrate its existing mobile gambling service with Paddy Power's online service. This will allow Paddy Power customers both here and in Britain to play mobile gambling games on over 7,000 different mobile devices, including the iPhone. Meanwhile, online betting agency Betfair has launched a sports/betting app for the iPhone.
The paper also reports that a new website called Gateway Ireland is to launch in order to promote Ireland as a destination for business, tourism, culture and education. The website will include language-specific 'electronic embassies' which developers say will offer Ireland a unique presence and competitive advantage within the developing nations of the world, such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. The site will be available at www.gateway-ireland.com.
According to the Financial Times, Yahoo and Nokia have struck a broad alliance to strengthen their mobile internet offerings, particularly in emerging markets. Under the arrangement, Yahoo will provide its e-mail and instant messaging services on all Nokia handsets. Nokia will supply its mapping services to Yahoo. In a separate deal, Yahoo is acquiring an Indonesian social networking site, Koprol, that works on a wide range of mobile phones.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft is expected to shake up the management of its unit focused on videogames, mobile phones and other devices, according to sources. The software giant could announce major organisational changes at its Entertainment & Devices Division as early as this week, the sources said. The division includes Microsoft's Xbox videogame business and Windows Phone, an operating system for mobile phones.
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