IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 24 September
24-09-2007
by Sylvia Leatham
Microsoft campaigns against Google's DoubleClick deal | Forfas to review Ireland's e-government services
The Irish Independent reports that Italian designer Giorgio Armani will unveil a mobile phone model at a fashion show on Monday, having joined forces with Samsung Electronics. Italy's leading fashion house will also design a television and other consumer electronics, joining several other designers who have already tapped this market. Dolce & Gabbana have teamed up with Motorola for a gold-coloured version of the RAZR mobile phone model, while Prada has developed a phone with LG Electronics.
The Financial Times reports that a non-profit organisation is launching a scheme that allows adults in North America to donate a laptop to developing countries if they buy a computer for four times its price. One Laptop Per Child is aiming to provide USD100 laptops for schoolchildren in the developing world. A two-week programme from 12 November will enable the US and Canadian public to pay USD399 for an 'XO' laptop created for the developing world -- and for each one sold to them, another will be given for free to a child in a developing nation. The new scheme is at odds with OLPC's statement in January that it had no plans to make the laptop available to the general public.
The paper also says that BT has dropped its hostility to considering a super-fast fixed-line broadband network, which could cost more than STG10 billion to build. Ian Livingston, head of BT's retail division, told the newspaper that the firm would discuss investing in an ultra-fast network with the Government and regulators at a summit in November or December.
The Wall Street Journal says that Microsoft is campaigning with a PR firm to convince internet companies, advertisers and regulators to oppose Google's planned USD3.1 billion acquisition of online advertising specialist DoubleClick. In recent months, PR firm Burson-Marsteller has pitched media outlets and internet firms on what it said were the dangers of the deal, which would bolster Google's already strong presence in online advertising. The PR firm has urged companies to become signatories to an online petition for a more "transparent and competitive internet," according to the pitches.
The paper also reports that Dell has announced a deal to sell its PCs through China's largest electronics retailer, the latest departure from its direct-sales model as it seeks to grab a larger piece of the global market. The deal with Gome Group will let Dell use Gome's retail network -- close to 1,000 stores in 168 Chinese cities -- to sell its desktop and notebook models in China, the world's second-largest PC market by shipments.
The Sunday Business Post reports that Forfas, the state advisory board, has been asked to carry out a review of Ireland's e-government services after a survey ranked this country behind nations such as Estonia and Malta in delivering large-scale technology projects. The survey, which was carried out by international consulting company Cap Gemini, placed Ireland 15th in Europe for the provision of online public services, with just half of 20 basic e-government services on offer. Forfas is set to study the countries that were ranked at the top by the survey, before recommending improvements to the Irish government.
The paper also reports that electronic payments firm Alphyra is set to confirm plans for a reverse takeover of British independent ATM provider Cardpoint. The deal will create a new stock market-listed company valued at approximately EUR800 million, a massive increase on Alphyra's EUR88 million value at the time of John Nagle's management buyout in 2003. It is believed that Nagle plans to expand the new company into new European markets.
The same paper reports on the progress of IT services company Evros, which has doubled its staff in the past three years and is also planning to double its turnover by the year 2010. Managing Director Caroline Godsil is quoted as saying that the company is on track to post turnover of EUR12.5 million in the current financial year, up from EUR10 million in 2005. Evros acts as a reseller for a number of global IT equipment manufacturers and also offers outsourced IT support and network design consultancy services.
The paper also says that Irish mobile solutions company Insero has secured its first major contract in Britain and is currently negotiating for several more. Insero manufactures handheld mobile devices that transfer information to servers. The UK contract was agreed with Manchester building company Barnfield Construction for the supply of Insero's Siteintell product. An Insero source said that the contract was valued at a "significant sum". He added that the company has also opened a London office in the hopes of capitalising on the expected construction boom in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games and that the firm was on course to double its turnover this year.
The paper also reports on the appointment of James Finglas as managing director of IT services provider MJ Flood Technology. Finglas has been sales director at the company since 1999. He previously worked as senior account manager at Moss Technology and has over 20 years' experience of the Irish IT sector.
The same paper says that Dublin-based production company Campbell Ryan Productions is to produce a version of the interactive teenage diary 'Sofia's Diary' for the Bebo social networking site. The concept debuted in Portugal in 2003 and now has 19,000 mobile subscribers and 200,000 visitors per month.
The Sunday Tribune reports on Irish recruitment company Mary B. Cremin's rebranding as maryb.ie, a sign, the paper says, of the growing acceptability by consumers of URLs as brand names.
The Sunday Times reports that Justice Minister Brian Lenihan is planning to introduce a new 'cybercrime' bill within the lifetime of the current government. The minister is also reported as warning internet service providers (ISPs) that they will have to self-regulate illegal websites or face fines. The same story also reports on the separate development of two international cybercrime agreements being written in to the Irish statute books by means of a draft bill currently being prepared. The two agreements are the International Convention on Cybercrime 2002 and the EU Framework Decision on Attacks Against Information Systems 2005. Aspects of both bills have drawn criticism from civil liberties groups and privacy campaigners.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 