IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 4 September
04-09-2007
by Sylvia Leatham
Vodafone may take control of Vodacom | Sony Ericsson president to step down
The Irish Times reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has added an interactive map viewer to its website. The new tool will enable people to monitor their surrounding area and access information and environmental data gathered by the agency. The tool, which is similar to Google Earth, is freely accessible via the EPA's website, www.epa.ie.
The Financial Times reports that Vodafone could pay up to USD10 billion to take full control of Vodacom, South Africa's largest mobile group. Telkom, the largest telecoms group in South Africa, said that it was in early-stage talks over its future with the UK firm and domestic rival MTN. Vodafone and Telkom each hold a 50 percent stake in Vodacom at present.
The paper also says that businesses are challenging the reliability of some data collected online -- the fastest-growing method in the market research industry. Taylor Nelson Sofres, the global market research group, said companies were concerned that the emergence of "professional" web respondents simultaneously signed up to several online research panels could skew results from the web. Over-questioning of panellists, who can be interviewed quicker and cheaper online than by telephone or in person, is also seen as a danger, while maintaining the credibility of web data will be vital if the medium is to continue its recent growth as a research tool, according to TNS.
According to the Wall Street Journal, mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson has said its president, Miles Flint, will step down from his post and be succeeded by Hideki "Dick" Komiyama. Flint, who took over as president of the joint venture between Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson and Sony in June 2004, is largely credited with carving out a niche for the company as a fashionable camera and music-phone maker. Komiyama will succeed Flint on 1 November.
Separately, the paper says that Sony is quietly preparing a move to expand the company and challenge rival Apple by launching a video-downloading service, according to sources. People familiar with the situation say Sony will use its technology-packed PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable videogame machines, along with its Bravia high-definition televisions, to develop products and services to let users download television shows and movies, similar to the way they download music and videos using Apple's iTunes store and iPods. A Sony spokesman declined to comment on the company's strategy, however.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 