IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 12 September
12-09-2007
by Sylvia Leatham
Orbiscom signs deal with Mastercard | Intel accused of anti-competitive behaviour in Korea
The Irish Times reports that Irish software firm Orbiscom has won a major deal with Mastercard that will see its technology embedded into new card products offered to banks. The deal involves the 'Mastercard in Control' platform, which enables banking customers of the credit and debit card provider to issue cards with new features. The first fruits of the relationship are enhanced purchasing controls for the Mastercard Corporate Purchasing Card, which will be launched later this year.
The paper also says that Denis O'Brien's Digicel is facing competition from nine other bidders for two or three mobile phone licences that are on offer in Fiji. Digicel Fiji announced at the end of August that it had submitted a bid to the Fijiian government for a licence. The Fijian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday that the regulatory unit of the Department of Communications confirmed that 10 bids had been received for the new mobile licences.
The same paper notes that Belfast-based Andor Technology, which produces high-end digital cameras, has said that trading in the second half of the year has been broadly in line with the first six months. Strong sales in Europe and Asia were offset by lower demand in the US and a further weakening of the dollar.
The Irish Independent says that the Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO) has warned that there is a spate of phishing e-mails in circulation at the moment. Around two people a month are falling victim to phishing scams, and losing up EUR40,000 each to criminals who persuade unsuspecting computer users to reveal their personal bank details.
The Irish Examiner says that HP and Galway-based Crospon have announced a licensing agreement for a drug delivery platform. Read the full story on ENN.
The paper also notes that web development firms SitesToGo and InternetLAB have announced the integration of their businesses to form SitesToGo InternetLAB.
The Financial Times says that Intel has been accused of anti-competitive behaviour by another regulator after the South Korean Fair Trade Commission followed the European Commission with formal charges against the chip giant. Intel said on Tuesday it had received the equivalent of the Brussels "statement of objections" from the Korean regulator. It sets out allegations arising from a two-year investigation of its practices. As in previous inquiries by regulators in Japan and Europe, Intel is accused of pressuring computer makers to buy its microprocessors rather than those of its rival AMD.
The paper also says that Carphone Warehouse will reach a milestone on Wednesday after its expected promotion to the FTSE100. It will cap a period of strong growth under founder Charles Dunstone, who listed the company just after the peak of dotcom frenzy. Carphone was valued at STG1.6 billion on flotation in July 2000. Based on Tuesday's closing price, the company commanded a valuation of slightly more than STG3 billion.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Google's vice president in charge of health-related projects is leaving the company, a departure that comes as competition over online medical information services is heating up. Adam Bosworth, an industry veteran with a reputation as a brilliant programmer, was overseeing the company's health-related initiatives. A Google spokesman said that Bosworth was on vacation and "has decided to pursue other opportunities after that."
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 