IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 17 February
17-02-2011
by Sylvia Leatham
PayPal to create 150 Dublin jobs | Google unveils generous revenue deal for publishers
The Irish Times reports that a date was fixed at the Magistrates' Court in Derry on Wednesday to hear the case of a man who denies that comments he posted about a politician on Facebook were grossly offensive or of a menacing character. It is the first prosecution of its kind in the UK. Daryl O'Donnell posted comments about DUP MP Gregory Campbell last June, days after the publication of the Saville report into Bloody Sunday. O'Donnell is being charged under the Communications Act 2003 with the "improper use of public electronic communications".
The paper also says that 150 jobs are to be created in Blanchardstown, Dublin, following PayPal's decision to expand its Irish operations. The positions to be created by PayPal will be in customer service and merchant services. The online payments company already employs more than 1,200 people at its European headquarters in Blanchardstown. Meanwhile, medical devices firm American Medical Systems said it would create 50 new jobs in a EUR4.6 million expansion in Athlone, Westmeath.
The Irish Examiner notes that Irish software firm Nathean Technologies, which develops visual data analysis and reporting solutions, has formed a partnership with the British division of business software firm UNIT4.
The Irish Independent reports that the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival has developed iPhone and Android apps. The festival kicks off on Thursday.
The paper also notes that RTE has launched the RTE News Now app for the Apple iPad. The app offers national and international headlines, live news bulletins and on-demand video clips and news, sport, business and entertainment content.
The Financial Times reports that Google has issued a challenge to Apple with a payment service for digital content that features a more generous revenue share for publishers than Apple's new system. The One Pass service will provide a single point of payment for content across websites and mobile applications. The initial partners are all newspaper publishers, but Google said it could also be used for music or video content. Google will take a 10 percent cut of subscriptions through One Pass, compared to Apple's 30 percent share of digital content revenues.
The paper also says that Game Group is to focus more on online gaming as the specialist retailer tries to counter sluggish growth in its traditional console market. "The market is changing... Being a gamer is getting more confusing," said Ian Shepherd, chief executive, as he unveiled a strategic review. The retailer pledged to triple its online and digital revenues to STG300 million by 2013 and to double sales of its own-brand gaming accessories. Integration between its stores and websites will be improved, with greater use of personalised offers to its 16 million loyalty card holders.
The Wall Street Journal reports that US Republicans on Capitol Hill have attacked new regulations for broadband and criticised the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission for adopting them. Republicans are targeting the 'net neutrality' rules, which would prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking or slowing internet traffic and services, as unnecessary and overly burdensome on industry. FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, a Democrat, defended the new rules, saying the FCC "did the right thing" and that it is "pro-job and pro-investment" for the US economy. Democratic lawmakers also defended Genachowski.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 