IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 30 August
30-08-2007
by Sylvia Leatham
BT Ireland staff to stage protest | Apple to introduce new iPods
The Irish Times says that Nokia has launched an online music store, as reported by ENN on Wednesday.
The paper also notes that results for technology services group LogicaCMG show that its telecoms products division, a significant portion of which was acquired by a consortium led by Irish firm Atlantic Bridge Ventures on 19 June, had an operating loss of STG22.6 million (EUR33.36 million) in the first six months of this year. This compares to an operating profit of STG3.2 million in the six months ended 30 June 2006. Brian Long, managing partner of Atlantic Bridge, said it had not acquired a number of loss-making units associated with the telecoms products division.
The Irish Examiner reports that Pulse IT is to oversee all of Carphone Warehouse Ireland's IT requirements, as noted by ENN on 21 August.
The paper also says that up to 50 BT Ireland staff will stage a public protest outside the corporate headquarters of BT Ireland in Upper Grand Canal Street on Thursday. The protest is being organised by staff in response to what they say is the firm's refusal to recognise the staff's trade union, the Communications Workers' Union. They say BT staff in the North are already represented by the CWU.
The Financial Times reports that News Corp and NBC Universal have finally christened their forthcoming video-sharing site, six months after joining forces to launch a YouTube rival. The site will now be known as Hulu. "Why Hulu?" asked Jason Kilar, the site's recently named chief executive. "Objectively, Hulu is short, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and rhymes with itself. Subjectively, Hulu strikes us as an inherently fun name, one that captures the spirit of the service we're building." Hulu will begin testing a private version in October.
The same paper says that shares in Pirelli and Telecom Italia rose on Wednesday on hopes that Brazil's telecoms regulator will clear the way for new investors to take a controlling stake in the Italian telecoms group. Telefonica of Spain and a group of Italian investors agreed to purchase a 23.6 percent controlling stake of Telecom Italia for EUR5.1 billion at the end of April. Pirelli holds a controlling stake in Telecom Italia, but because both Telecom Italia and Telefonica have large stakes in Brazilian mobile operations, approval by the watchdog -- Anatel -- is pivotal.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Yahoo's global sales executive vice president, Gregory Coleman, is to leave the internet company as part of a management reorganisation, Yahoo president Susan Decker announced to staff on Wednesday. Coleman's departure is planned for February 2008. His responsibilities will be assumed by Yahoo executive vice president Hilary Schneider. Coleman's resignation follows the June departure of Yahoo's chief sales officer, Wenda Harris Millard.
The paper also says that Apple is expected next week to introduce new versions of its iPod that have more features but cost the same. The new digital music players, say analysts, typify how the company is focusing on its core businesses after expanding into the mobile phone industry earlier this year with the iPhone. Last month, Apple unveiled a similar update of its iMac desktop computers, in which it added more features and in some cases dropped the prices.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 