IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 26 June
26-06-2007
by Sylvia Leatham
Google seeks extension of Microsoft scrutiny | Dell to unveil colourful new PCs
The Irish Examiner reports that Irish firm Vimio saw its losses widen last year. The company, which develops technology to allow television to be viewed over mobile phones, said losses of EUR2.8 million for 2006 were about EUR500,000 higher than losses in 2005. The higher losses arose after EUR1.1 million worth of revenue from a contract that it won in 2006 could not be recognised until this year's accounts.
According to the Financial Times, Google has called on a judge to extend part of the US government's four-year antitrust scrutiny of Microsoft. In an unusual legal manoeuvre, Google went over the heads of Justice Department and state regulators to appeal directly to a federal judge to impose greater restrictions on the software giant. In a filing with a federal court in the District of Columbia, Google drew parallels between desktop search and other forms of middleware governed by the decree that resolved the US government's antitrust case against Microsoft four years ago. Microsoft's lawyers said the approach was part of an untested procedure that fell outside the judge's remit.
The paper also says that a rebel shareholder will on Tuesday highlight how Vodafone's stake in US mobile operator Verizon Wireless is a "cash drain" on the UK group. Efficient Capital Structures -- an activist shareholder backed by John Mayo, former deputy chief executive of Marconi -- is focusing on how Vodafone has not received dividend payments from Verizon Wireless for two years. Vodafone owns a 45 percent stake in the leading US mobile operator.
The Wall Street Journal reports that PC maker Dell is moving beyond the black-and-grey look of its personal computers, in a bid to woo consumers. The company is introducing 10 new notebook and desktop PCs, some of which feature pink, green, red or yellow cases. The new models are being accompanied by flat-panel monitors and consumer services such as online data back-up.
The paper also reports that Sun Microsystems, which has lagged behind rivals in sales of supercomputers, says it now has the technology to build the world's biggest scientific systems. The computer maker will on Tuesday provide details about a massive machine called Constellation, which includes an unusual high-capacity switching system for passing data among thousands of chips that act as electronic brains in the system. Sun developed the machine in collaboration with the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas, which is installing the hardware in its facility in Austin.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 