IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 13 August
13-08-2007
by
Wall Street braced for VMware IPO | UPC to hire new staff
The Irish Times reports that telecoms firm Perlico is planning to launch cut-price phone calls, video-on-demand and television services over the internet. Customers will be able to purchase the services through Perlico's website; for EUR25 a month, people will be able to make unlimited calls to any landline in more than 20 countries. Perlico said it would offer a free trial to every Irish home with broadband access in early 2008. Iain MacDonald, Perlico's chief executive, estimated that the move would require a EUR1 million investment by the company.
The paper also says that a new text-based service launching on Monday aims to provide young people with easy access to a range of helplines and support services. Provided by Rehab, the free 24-hour service can be accessed by texting the word "Headsup" to 50424. Rehab says the service is fully automated and provides information on a confidential basis in areas such as relationships, suicide, teen issues, sexual health and mental health.
According to the Financial Times, Wall Street is braced this week for the most anticipated technology IPO in years as VMware prepares to float 10 percent of its shares on the stock market. VMware, maker of "virtualisation" software that greatly increases the efficiency of big computer systems, has attracted huge attention from companies as they race to cut costs and boost computing capacity. Companies that use its software can run a number of functions on a single server, meaning they need fewer pieces of hardware. VMware's flotation could be the biggest technology IPO since Google made its stock market debut in 2004.
The paper also reports that UK internet service providers are warning they may have to restrict customers' access to the BBC's new iPlayer service unless the corporation contributes to the cost of streaming videos over the internet. ISPs such as Tiscali, BT and Carphone Warehouse have raised concerns that the iPlayer, which allows viewers to watch TV shows over the internet, will put too much strain on their networks if it becomes popular among a mass audience.
The Wall Street Journal reports that search giant Google is shutting down a service that sold and rented online video, ending a 19-month experiment doomed by the proliferation of free clips on the web. Google has been selling the right to watch a wide range of video, including sports, music and news, since January 2006. The video section on Google's website will remain open, but it will stop showing paid programming on 15 August. The decision underscores Google's intention to concentrate on developing an advertising format to capitalise on the popularity of online video.
The Sunday Times says that a website called Confidentialaccess.com is offering a "revenge package" whereby users can destroy the financial status and relationships of their enemies. For as little as EUR15, customers can make the credit ratings of people they dislike plummet and even have them suspected of fraud. Senior police sources said the site is under investigation.
The paper also says that Xsil grew its turnover by more than one-third last year to over EUR38 million, according to accounts just filed. The laser technology manufacturer's profits rose 42 percent to EUR8.5 million. Co-owner Peter Conlon said that rising labour costs and the strength of the euro against the dollar was forcing the company, which employs 140 staff at its headquarters in Dublin, to consider moving its operations abroad.
The Sunday Tribune reports that the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) has initiated an industry-wide probe of broadband connection speeds. The ASAI is investigating a "handful" of complaints about discrepancies between advertised broadband speeds and actual speeds enjoyed by subscribers, and the organisation is also looking at marketing standards across the entire industry.
The paper also says that the largest Eircom union has decided to oppose a proposed split into separate retail and wholesale businesses "by all means at its disposal". The Communications Workers' Union said management's decision to ignore staff queries on the long-mooted plan and its engagement in "megaphone diplomacy" through the media have prompted the CWU to oppose any break-up of the firm or any sale of Eircom retail.
The same paper reports that leading mobile phone makers are failing to comply with Irish recycling obligations with regard to phone packaging. Motorola and Nokia appear to be violating recycling rules by not collecting phone packages, while others such as Samsung and Sony Ericsson either said they did not have to comply with or were unsure of their compliance status.
The paper also notes that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has admitted it is unclear if Ireland will be able to introduce digital terrestrial television (DTT) in time to meet an EU deadline of 2012.
The paper also says that UPC Ireland is hiring up to 140 new staff across all divisions. A spokeswoman said UPC was hiring for a number of positions, with the majority in its call centre in Limerick.
The Sunday Business Post reports that Valentia Technologies, a provider of wireless technology for hospitals, ambulance services and other healthcare organisations, will establish its Middle East base in Dubai's new Healthcare City. Peter Nelson, the company's CEO, said that Dublin-based Valentia will also host a visit in November by the president of Saudi Red Crescent, Prince Faisal.
The same paper says that the Office of Fair Trading in Britain has ordered Ryanair, Aer Lingus and 11 other airlines to change their websites so that passengers can see full ticket prices at the start of the booking process. But according to the report, the two Irish companies are citing "technical issues" that prevent them from taking immediate action to change their website booking process, so that full charges would be shown up front instead of at the purchasing page only. In the meantime, Ryanair and Aer Lingus have changed their homepages to make the full charges clearer, and the OFT said it would monitor the airlines' compliance with the order.
The paper also reports that Version 1 Software plans to employ 60 people in its newly formed business consulting division by the end of 2008. The company's managing director, Justin Keatinge, said the new division employs 25 currently, some of whom are new hires and some of whom have been redeployed from other divisions. Founded in 1996, Version 1 employs 170 people and has a strong public sector client base, as well as contracts with public companies such as the Irish Independent, Bank of Scotland and AIB.
The paper also reports that "Cost of Losing Information", a new report by software firm CA, says IT security breaches can cost a company 3.6 percent of its annual revenues on average. Researchers at Infonetics Research undertook the work for CA, speaking to 80 large companies. CA's country manager for Ireland, Frank Kennedy, pointed out that 55 percent of respondents in the EMEA region and 65 percent in Ireland "have no overall risk management budget for the business or IT".
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 