IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 30 July
30-07-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Digital address code system launched | 100m Facebook users' details shared on net
The Irish Times reports that RTE's transmission network could be sold off following the investment of EUR70 million of public money into the development of digital technology, Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan has indicated. Ryan said he would be opposed to the privatisation of the ESB, Bord Gais and An Post, if recommended by the State assets review group appointed by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan last week. However, he said the review group would be "absolutely right" to look at the future ownership of RTE's transmission network, whether it was with a view to selling it or separating it fully from RTE's broadcasting division.
The paper also notes that Apple's iPhone 4 went on sale in Ireland on Friday morning. Three Ireland opened its stores in Dublin, Waterford, Limerick, Cork, Galway and Killarney from a minute past midnight. Rival network O2 opened the doors of some stores in Dublin, Drogheda, Tralee, Galway, Cork and Limerick at 8am. However, the mobile operator said it was restricting iPhone 4 sales to existing customers for the initial launch period. Vodafone stores opened at the normal time, but the online store began selling the handset at 7.30am.
The paper also reports that Cork company GPS Ireland has launched an all-Ireland digital address coding system with the backing of satnav maker Garmin. GPS Ireland says its Loc8 codes can define any location on the island of Ireland, accurate to within six metres. The codes uniquely identify addresses and could be used as a navigational tool on satnav devices, smartphones or online. Any business or individual can get a code for their premises or house for free at www.loc8code.com. GPS Ireland will earn revenue through licensing the technology to satnav manufacturers, app developers or online retailers that use courier services to deliver goods.
The same paper says that details of more than 100 million Facebook users have been made available to download from the internet via file-sharing websites and torrents. Canadian security consultant Ron Bowes of Skull Security developed a piece of software code that enabled him to harvest data on Facebook users who have not amended their privacy setting to make their information unavailable to search engines. The list was then made available for other internet users to download via sites such as Bit Torrent. Bowes said he collected and published the data in order to raise awareness of the problems of using public data online.
The paper also reports that BT Ireland has won a EUR3.5 million deal with Applus, the company that runs Ireland's NCT service, to provide the computer network for the national car-testing service. Under the three-year deal, BT Ireland will design, build and manage the network for the NCT service. Last year, Spanish company Applus was awarded a ten-year contract by the Road Safety Authority to run the NCT centres.
The paper also notes that Cork software developer Daithi O Crualaoich was part of the team at the Guardian newspaper involved in producing a piece of "datajournalism" that helped shed new light on the war in Afghanistan this week. Last Sunday, whistleblower website Wikileaks, in conjunction with the Guardian, the New York Times and Der Spiegel, published six years' worth of classified US military reports on the war in Afghanistan. O Crualaoich, who studied computer science at UCC, helped to create interactive maps that paired data on casualties and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.
The Irish Independent reports that SMEs are being held back from building their businesses online by a lack of infrastructure, according to Google. The search giant said many Irish business owners either lack the knowledge to create a significant online presence or are held back by a lack of broadband in their area. Ronan Harris, Google's director of online sales and operations in Ireland, said an online presence was essential for SMEs to succeed in this economy.
The paper also says that mobile operator O2's revenue from telecoms services fell nearly 9 percent year-on-year, to EUR193 million in the last quarter. Releasing figures for the three months to the end of June, O2 said blended average monthly revenue per pre-pay and contract user fell 6 percent to EUR37.14. The monthly average revenue per contract user slumped nearly 13 percent to EUR55.46, while among pre-pay users the number was down slightly more than 2 percent to EUR24.33.
The Irish Examiner notes that the Health and Safety Authority, the Irish Farmers Association and FBD Insurance have launched a joint appeal to farmers to avail of an online tool designed to enhance farm safety. A website called Farmsafely.com allows farmers to complete safety statements in a user-friendly manner and to receive an assessment of their farm's safety risks.
The Financial Times reports that US mobile maker Motorola's profits surged in the second quarter, boosted by the popularity of its Android-powered Droid X smartphone. Net income soared to USD162 million, or USD0.07 a share, up from USD26 million a year ago, beating Wall Street expectations. Sales slipped 2 percent to USD5.4 billion. However, the mobile device unit swung to an USD87 million operating profit as 2.7 million smartphones were shipped.
According to the Wall Street Journal, chip giant Intel has won a key ruling in a suit against the company on behalf of computer buyers, which found no evidence that consumers have been hurt by the company's discounting practices in the market for computer chips. A special master in the case, filed in US District Court in Delaware, recommended the court reject a motion to certify the case for class-action status. Under the court's rules, the recommendation will serve as the court's ruling unless the plaintiffs object within 21 days. The case had proceeded in parallel with a private antitrust suit brought in June 2005 by AMD, which also alleged that Intel used improper discounts and other tactics to deter computer makers from buying chips from AMD.
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