IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 28 September
28-09-2007
by Sylvia Leatham
Google defends DoubleClick deal | Alcatel-Lucent chief has one month to present emergency plan
The Irish Times reports that Irish software firm Candidate Manager has announced a partnership with a leading US recruitment website, Careerbuilder.com. Candidate Manager's software will be offered to Careerbuilder client companies to enable them to screen and analyse job applicants. The announcement was made during an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the United States, led by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheal Martin. The mission also involved a technology investment forum, during which five Irish start-ups seeking to raise USD5 million in funding presented to an audience of New York venture capitalists.
The paper also says that VoiceSage, a Cork-headquartered software firm, has signed up five of the top 10 debt collection agencies in Britain to use its automated voice messaging software. VoiceSage's technology enables large amounts of telephone numbers to be dialled automatically. A customised message can then be played to the recipient of the call. At the end of the message, the recipient is provided with a selection of options, which they choose from by pressing the corresponding button on their phone keypad.
The paper also notes that an Irish internet pioneer has been appointed to the board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann). Dr Dennis Jennings, a venture capitalist and former director of computer services at UCD, is the first Irish person to have been appointed to the board and he will commence his duties in early November, serving for three years. Icann is a non-profit created in 1998 to oversee a number of internet-related tasks, including managing the assignment of domain names and IP addresses.
The same paper notes that a Wicklow-based company has launched an innovative device that uses global positioning technology to alert drivers to dangers on the road ahead. Speed Nanny is a "switch on and go" device that sits on dashboards and verbally alerts drivers when they are approaching risks on the road.
The paper also reports that systems and integration company Sabeo Technologies has started a new storage practice, which will provide an independent consulting service for clients. The service will provide Sabeo customers with access to a team of storage experts, who will assist clients in aligning their company business goals and objectives with their IT infrastructure.
The Irish Independent reports that e-learning firm ThirdForce generated EUR9 million in revenue during the first six months of its financial year. Read the details of ThirdForce's results on ENN.
According to the Financial Times, Alcatel-Lucent chief Pat Russo has been given one month to present an emergency restructuring plan to the board, as well as to outline where the group should focus its future research and sales efforts. Russo is also being urged to streamline the telecommunications equipment group's organisational structure, particularly the executive committee, which has grown top-heavy since the merger of equals between Alcatel of France and Lucent of the US. Directors believe this has slowed decision-making and helped spark the crisis that has led to three profit warnings in less than 10 months.
The paper also reports that Google was on the defensive on Capitol Hill on Thursday, fending off allegations from Microsoft that its takeover of DoubleClick had grave antitrust and privacy implications for consumers. David Drummond, chief legal officer at Google, defended the search giant's proposed deal with online advertising group DoubleClick, claiming the takeover would help the "relatively young" online advertising business to grow and develop. He also promised that Google was "exploring" ways to create more transparency in its privacy practices and policies.
The Wall Street Journal says that smartphone maker Palm has unveiled a new device that the company hopes will appeal to a broader base of mobile phone users. The Centro was designed as a small smartphone comparable to the popular BlackBerry Pearl. At USD99, the company is hoping the device will attract users shopping for regular mobile phones who may be put off by the USD200-USD300 price tags carried by most smartphone devices.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 