IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 4 August
04-08-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Motorola develops TV tablet | RIM launches touch-screen BlackBerry
The Irish Independent reports that the Central Statistics Office has carried out a review of how crucial data was released early via Twitter. The state statistical service was forced to release retail sales data days ahead of schedule on Friday after material being prepared for release this week was unintentionally put out on Twitter. A spokesman said the CSO was 100 percent satisfied the early release of the material was "totally inadvertent" and was the result of a technical glitch. He said the CSO was satisfied that there would not be a repeat of the incident.
The paper also notes that US insurance giant Travelers and another major international insurer are understood to have been among the under-bidders for online broker 123.ie. Royal Sun Alliance (RSA) last week announced it had agreed to buy 123.ie for EUR65 million. Travelers, which had been 123.ie's main underwriter, is understood to have given the purchase serious consideration. Another major international insurer is also believed to have mulled over a bid before deciding not to proceed. The extent of other interest is unclear.
The Irish Examiner reports that a photo sent from a mobile phone guided rescuers to mountain climbers in difficulty over the August bank holiday weekend. On Friday, the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) was called out after four women lost their way while descending Carrantuohill. One of the group fell and sustained a leg injury and the group did not know their position. Their location was confirmed when one of them sent a photo of a mountain lake from a mobile phone. The KMRT warned hill walkers that mobile phone coverage cannot be guaranteed in all mountainous areas.
The paper also says that Irish farmers are being urged to switch from keeping their herd records in hard copy format to an online system. Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association rural development chairman John Barron said farmers can eliminate the need to keep their "blue book" animal records updated in hard copy format by registering for the online herd register option on the Department of Agriculture website. He said farmers who are already registering their calves or notifying farm-to-farm movements online just need to register by clicking on a dedicated button, after they have agreed to the terms and conditions. "This is a good opportunity for farmers to cut out unnecessary paperwork. Farmers who are not yet online should consider the benefits of it," said Barron.
The paper also says that Irish universities will be supported in their efforts to produce high potential spin-out companies by a new national professional body. The Irish Technology Transfer and Innovation Group (ITTIG) plans to increase both the number of spin-out firms created in Irish higher education institutions (HEIs) and the number of technology licence agreements between HEIs and industry partners. "It’s widely acknowledged that, while foreign direct investment continues to be hugely important for the Irish economy, we need to ramp up our own indigenous industries, especially in high tech, high potential, export-oriented sectors, like life sciences, medical devices, and clean technologies," said ITTIG chairman Dr John Scanlan.
The Financial Times reports that chip giant Intel has agreed a settlement with US regulators that would bring to a close a decade-long series of antitrust investigations around the world. Details of the agreement with the Federal Trade Commission will be unveiled in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning. Speaking before the deal was concluded, one source said it would involve Intel agreeing to change some of its business practices, though the FTC does not have the power to levy fines in competition cases.
The paper also says that Motorola is developing a digital tablet device that will allow users to watch television on it. The device, which will have a 10-inch screen and run on Google’s Android software, could launch as early as this autumn in the US. It is expected to tie in closely with Verizon’s FiOS digital pay-television service, sources said. Motorola manufactures the TV set-top boxes for the FiOS television service.
The same paper reports that BlackBerry maker Research in Motion has launched a touch-screen BlackBerry Torch 9800 and a new version of its operating system. The new BlackBerry will be sold by AT&T for USD199 when it goes on sale in the US on 12 August. It is the first device to be powered by the new BlackBerry 6 operating system, which includes a more powerful and faster web browser. The BlackBerry Torch comes with a large touch-screen that slides up to reveal the familiar BlackBerry thumb-operated mini Qwerty keyboard.
Separately, the paper reports that Saudi Arabia has ordered its main mobile operators to block unspecified BlackBerry services from Friday. The communications and information technology commission said it had asked "Saudi Telecom Co, Mobily and Zain Saudi Arabia to (immediately) stop the BlackBerry service for businesses and individuals in the kingdom starting August 6". The move escalates a dispute between Research in Motion and the governments of the United Arab Emirates, which has threatened to ban BlackBerrys because of security concerns.
The Wall Street Journal says that Electronic Arts swung to a profit on a 27 percent surge in revenue in its first quarter. The videogame maker reported income for the fiscal first quarter of USD96 million, or USD0.29 a share, compared with a loss of USD234 million, or USD0.72 a share, in the year-earlier period. Revenue rose to USD815 million from USD644 million. EA said "digital revenue" -- sales stemming from games accessed through the web, iPhones and other online distribution channels -- were USD176 million for the quarter, or 22 percent of total revenue.
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