IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 25 January
25-01-2011
by Sylvia Leatham
Ireland could be cloud leader: Microsoft | EU to improve SME access to research funds
The Irish Times reports that Ireland has the potential to become a world leader in the cloud computing industry. That's according to new research commissioned by Microsoft, which predicts that Ireland is poised to capture about 13 percent of the world cloud computing market. By 2014, the cluster of firms involved in this industry in Ireland could generate EUR9.5 billion in sales and employ about 8,600 people. "There isn't a country around that has the same opportunity we have," said Paul Rellis, managing director of Microsoft Ireland. "We're small enough to get things done quickly."
The paper also reports that European research commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn has taken steps to make it easier for SMEs to draw research funding from the EU's maze of bureaucracy. Three measures to simplify access to funding "will save millions of euro" and they will take effect immediately, Geoghegan-Quinn said. The measures are designed to make it easier to deal with "complex" procedural systems and to bridge the gap between EU-specific rules and accounting rules used generally by business and research bodies.
The Irish Independent says that operating profit at Vodafone Ireland dropped nearly 40 percent to EUR122.3 million in the 12 months to the end of March 2010. The fall followed a 24 percent drop in operating profit the previous year. Accounts show that revenue in the latest period declined nearly 10 percent to EUR1.08 billion. The accounts also show that the company paid an additional EUR125 million dividend to its parent company during the last financial year.
The Irish Examiner reports that the Data Protection Commissioner has written to political parties to warn them about texting and emailing people in the run-up to the general election. Commissioner Billy Hawkes has warned parties against using information from third parties to contact voters. The office said it had received numerous complaints during previous campaigns. According to the office of the DPC, "in many cases, the individual had no previous contact with the political party or candidate and was concerned at the manner in which their details were sourced. Subsequent investigations revealed that contact details were obtained from sources such as sports clubs, friends, colleagues and schools."
The paper also notes that an online survey has been set up by the HSE to provide updates on every recommendation for which it is responsible under A Vision for Change, the Government's blueprint for reforming the mental health services. According to the HSE, the tool will assess progress made in mental health policy over the next five years and identify gaps in service provision. For more information go to www.hse.ie/go/visionforchange.
According to the Financial Times, chipmaker Texas Instruments benefited from strong demand for its chips for smartphones and tablets as it posted Q4 sales and profits slightly ahead of Wall Street expectations. Fourth-quarter revenues came in at USD3.53 billion and earnings per share were USD0.78 cents, boosted by a disposal and a tax benefit worth USD0.14. Excluding these, earnings of USD0.64 a share were just ahead of analysts' expectations of USD0.63 and sales of USD3.51 billion.
The paper also says that the BBC has pledged never to create rivals to Facebook, Wikipedia or Spotify as part of a strategic review of its online operations. BBC Online's service budget will be cut by a quarter to STG103 million under the two-year scheme, with the loss of 360 staff, at the same time as it begins a complete redesign of the website and its navigation. As one of the first products of his broader strategy to do "fewer things better", Mark Thompson, director-general, said the changes would make the BBC's web services "more focused and more valuable".
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 