NEWS IN BRIEF
For the record 27 June
27-06-2007
by Ciara O'Brien
Galway firm offers free e-learning | Damovo links up Sligo County Council
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a double-edged sword, an Enterprise Ireland summit has heard. Although SaaS represents a huge opportunity for the Irish software industry, it can also be a major threat, according to Frank McCracken, founder and professional services director of Saaspoint. Although the internet could be used to distribute technology globally, the shift could also represent a major challenge for those companies who are not in touch with what customers want. "Without this level of awareness, there will be no relevant innovation and Ireland will be left behind," he said.
Irish-based Cicero Networks is teaming up with Comverse and Lyse Tele to deploy quad-play services -- fixed-line, mobile, TV and broadband internet -- to Lyse Tele customers in Norway. The firm, which has its headquarters in Dublin, provides wireless VoIP solutions that enable telecoms providers to deliver fixed mobile convergence (FMC) services. The move will allow Lyse customers to use a single phone and single number for both fixed-line and mobile calls.
A Galway-based e-learning firm is bringing its services to 171 countries free of charge and is currently aiming for 1 million users. Launched earlier this year, GALWAY.ALISON (www.alison.com), which stands for Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online, is expecting the number of registered learners to hit the 1 million mark by the end of 2007. The company allows users to educate themselves for free via certification-based interactive multimedia courseware, and relies instead on advertising for funding. Courses include ECDL, E-Citizen, Financial Literacy, Health & Safety and Touch Typing.
The EU is clamping down on infringements of its telecom rules, with the European Commission referring four cases to the European Court of Justice. The cases concern Germany, Poland and Portugal, and the Commission has also opened two new cases against Poland and Spain. The cases relate to issues including a lack of comprehensive directory services, the designation of a universal service provider and a lack of market analysis to support existing price regulation for retail broadband services. "With today's action, we confirm that the correct application of the EU telecoms rules in all Member States continues to be a priority," said EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding. "Consistent regulatory conditions are essential for Europe's telecom industry and for effective competition in our internal market."
Dublin-based content management system developer pTools has seen two of its clients pick up awards for their online services. Kilkenny County Council won its second O2 Ability Award for the accessibility of its website, while Carmarthenshire County Council in Wales picked up the UK-based SPIN (Society of Public Information Networks) award for best council site in Wales. Managing director of pTools Tom Skinner explained that pTools not only provided the core content management functions for the websites, it also ensures usability and accessibility compliance.
Business communications firm Damovo has provided a converged IP telephony system for Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council, connecting 430 staff across 12 offices. The system is designed to deliver faster response times to enquiries from the 60,000 residents in the area and make services more accessible and user-friendly. Damovo says the new solution links the local authorities' sites seamlessly, routing calls efficiently to eliminate lost and misdirected calls, and giving staff free internal calls between the 12 connected offices.
Innovation is the key to surviving in the Irish economy, delegates at a Chambers Ireland conference have been told. Various speakers, including Sean Murphy, Chambers Ireland's director of policy, told attendees that to enhance profitability, businesses need to drive productivity or create products that people are willing to pay a premium for -- and innovation is the key to that. Delegates were also encouraged to take risks, considered a key element of innovation.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 