Dear Friends and Colleagues,
There is never a dull moment in this industry. But with the new regime in Canberra lifting the priority profile of ICT, it has just got more exciting.
Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd has named his Ministry, introducing some not-so-subtle changes of emphasis to portfolios that should be welcomed. Stephen Conroy has been appointed to the newly-named portfolio of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, while Kim Carr has been appointed Minister of the critical Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio.
Importantly, Senator Conroy and Senator Carr are both in the Cabinet, giving the industry two voices at the most powerful table in the country. Add Mr Rudd, who has shown himself during the campaign to be personally engaged with the industry’s biggest issues – broadband infrastructure, skills, education and innovation – and you can see why this is an exciting time.
Senator Conroy has been a passionate advocate for the industry inside the Opposition party room. Labor’s national broadband pledge was incredibly ambitious. That the initiative was so big and announced so early in the campaign year had Senator Conroy’s fingerprints all over it.
The strength of some of Labor’s Industry initiatives announced by Senator Carr just days before the election took some of us by surprise, especially its welcome emphasis on fostering innovation and commercialisation – and in particular its plans focus on encouraging greater public and private research and development.
Lindsay Tanner’s appointment as Finance Minister in the Rudd Cabinet is also to be welcomed. Mr Tanner has been a Shadow Communications Minister and is very familiar with the industry. the Federal Government as a technology buyer wields tremendous influence. CeBIT Australia has had a long relationship with the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO), which falls within the Department of Finance, and we look forward to working with Mr Tanner.
Changes of Government can be unsettling. But at CeBIT Australia we are very encouraged by today’s appointments, and we’re very optimistic about the industry’s future.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
IBM, Yahoo update free enterprise search tool
IBM and Yahoo! has unveiled an updated version of its enterprise search software, which lets companies customise and personalise searches of information within their organisations and across the web.
The so-called IBM OmniFind Yahoo! Edition software was launched a year ago to provide a no-cost, full-featured search product that eliminated financial and technology barriers to information access.
Since its launch, nearly 25,000 users have downloaded the software and global organisations of all sizes are using it to improve enterprise search. In addition, numerous independent software vendors (ISVs) and businesses have developed applications that integrate with or support the free IBM search platform.
“Last year, IBM and Yahoo! came together to change the rules of enterprise search, defining a new market standard for search as a core capability that should be ubiquitous and free,” Yahoo! Search Distribution senior director of product management Joff Redfern said.
“We're committed to helping enterprises – both large and small – get more value out of their information quickly and inexpensively, and providing them with an on-ramp to leveraging the power of all their information.”
The new version of IBM OmniFind Yahoo! Edition provides the ability to create a number of collections, each indexing a different set of documents. This allows the user to limit the search to only the documents from a specific source, providing more accurate results.
It also provides the ability to define additional custom fields in the index allowing field values to be mapped from HTML meta tags, extracted from the document's own metadata, or pushed in from the push API.
The OmniFind Yahoo Edition software is based on the open source Lucene project. The update includes the latest version of the Lucene core.
For more Web Applications news, click here.
The so-called IBM OmniFind Yahoo! Edition software was launched a year ago to provide a no-cost, full-featured search product that eliminated financial and technology barriers to information access.
Since its launch, nearly 25,000 users have downloaded the software and global organisations of all sizes are using it to improve enterprise search. In addition, numerous independent software vendors (ISVs) and businesses have developed applications that integrate with or support the free IBM search platform.
“Last year, IBM and Yahoo! came together to change the rules of enterprise search, defining a new market standard for search as a core capability that should be ubiquitous and free,” Yahoo! Search Distribution senior director of product management Joff Redfern said.
“We're committed to helping enterprises – both large and small – get more value out of their information quickly and inexpensively, and providing them with an on-ramp to leveraging the power of all their information.”
The new version of IBM OmniFind Yahoo! Edition provides the ability to create a number of collections, each indexing a different set of documents. This allows the user to limit the search to only the documents from a specific source, providing more accurate results.
It also provides the ability to define additional custom fields in the index allowing field values to be mapped from HTML meta tags, extracted from the document's own metadata, or pushed in from the push API.
The OmniFind Yahoo Edition software is based on the open source Lucene project. The update includes the latest version of the Lucene core.
For more Web Applications news, click here.
Greenpeace dumps on Microsoft, Nintendo
GREENPEACE has slammed console makers Microsoft and Nintendo for their poor environmental credential in the latest edition of its quarterly Guide to Greener Electronics.
The latest Guide to Greener Electronics includes the environmental scoring of consol manufacturers for the first time.
Nintendo earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first company to score 0/10 while Microsoft did little better with a score of 2.7/10.
Heading the ranking, Sony Ericsson took over the number one spot from Nokia while Samsung and Sony surged ahead to occupy second and third positions. Nokia and Motorola had a penalty point deducted after a Greenpeace investigation found their claims of global takeback were not being matched by reality.
The Guide to Greener Electronics focuses on toxic chemicals and takeback policy because of the rapid growth in quantities of toxic e-waste being dumped in developing countries like China and India.
While Nintendo's Wii console appears to be more energy efficient compared to the Microsoft Xbox and Sony Playstation, energy use is not yet covered in the ranking.
Companies making the most progress with new products without the worst toxic chemicals are now ranking higher than companies who have only committed to remove them in the future. Toshiba has laptops free of toxic chemicals like vinyl plastic (PVC) and has reduced the use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs).
Apple's score improves slightly due to new iMacs reducing the use of PVC and BFRs. All new mobiles from Sony Ericsson and Nokia have been free of PVC since the end of 2006.
For more Future Parc news click here .
The latest Guide to Greener Electronics includes the environmental scoring of consol manufacturers for the first time.
Nintendo earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first company to score 0/10 while Microsoft did little better with a score of 2.7/10.
Heading the ranking, Sony Ericsson took over the number one spot from Nokia while Samsung and Sony surged ahead to occupy second and third positions. Nokia and Motorola had a penalty point deducted after a Greenpeace investigation found their claims of global takeback were not being matched by reality.
The Guide to Greener Electronics focuses on toxic chemicals and takeback policy because of the rapid growth in quantities of toxic e-waste being dumped in developing countries like China and India.
While Nintendo's Wii console appears to be more energy efficient compared to the Microsoft Xbox and Sony Playstation, energy use is not yet covered in the ranking.
Companies making the most progress with new products without the worst toxic chemicals are now ranking higher than companies who have only committed to remove them in the future. Toshiba has laptops free of toxic chemicals like vinyl plastic (PVC) and has reduced the use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs).
Apple's score improves slightly due to new iMacs reducing the use of PVC and BFRs. All new mobiles from Sony Ericsson and Nokia have been free of PVC since the end of 2006.
For more Future Parc news click here .
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
AIIA welcomes change of Government
POLICY implemented in the next three to five years will largely determine how successfully the nation engages with the global information economy, according the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA).
The top priority for the Rudd Labor government should be to give the ICT industry and the wider community “clear plans and a concrete timetable” for the nationwide broadband roll-out, AIIA chief executive Sheryle Moon said.
Welcoming the change, Ms Moon said the AIIA looked forward to working with the new government during what will be a “pivotal” three years.
“The leadership and policy delivered to the industry over the next three to five years will to a large degree define our future stake in the international information economy as well as our ability to successfully meet Australia’s most pressing domestic issues.” Ms Moon said.
In other areas the AIIA said that the government has presented strong policies addressing a number of significant industry concerns.
“In particular, we look forward to working with the new government to address ICT workforce pressures and reinvigorate the R&D sector,” said said.
However, more will be required if ICT is to maintain a viable contribution to the economy and wider issues affecting Australia.
“The ALP’s Innovation Future for Australian Industry … recognises many of the imperatives that must be addressed if the ICT industry is to maintain a vibrant contribution to Australia and its interests,” said Ms Moon.
“The challenges it identifies are significant, however, and the clock is ticking,” she said.
For more e-Government news, click here.
The top priority for the Rudd Labor government should be to give the ICT industry and the wider community “clear plans and a concrete timetable” for the nationwide broadband roll-out, AIIA chief executive Sheryle Moon said.
Welcoming the change, Ms Moon said the AIIA looked forward to working with the new government during what will be a “pivotal” three years.
“The leadership and policy delivered to the industry over the next three to five years will to a large degree define our future stake in the international information economy as well as our ability to successfully meet Australia’s most pressing domestic issues.” Ms Moon said.
In other areas the AIIA said that the government has presented strong policies addressing a number of significant industry concerns.
“In particular, we look forward to working with the new government to address ICT workforce pressures and reinvigorate the R&D sector,” said said.
However, more will be required if ICT is to maintain a viable contribution to the economy and wider issues affecting Australia.
“The ALP’s Innovation Future for Australian Industry … recognises many of the imperatives that must be addressed if the ICT industry is to maintain a vibrant contribution to Australia and its interests,” said Ms Moon.
“The challenges it identifies are significant, however, and the clock is ticking,” she said.
For more e-Government news, click here.
Internet capacity problems by 2010: Study
CONSUMER and corporate internet usage demands could outstrip global network capacity by 2010 if billions are not invested now, a new report reveals.
The findings of the Nemertes Research study indicate that by 2010, the Internet’s capacity will not likely accommodate user demand and users could increasingly encounter internet “brownouts” or interruptions to the applications they’ve become accustomed to using. It may take more than one attempt to confirm an online purchase or it longer to download the latest video from YouTube.
“The immediate impact of the inadequate infrastructure will be to slow the pace of innovation, Nemertes warned. The next Amazon, Google or YouTube might not arise – not from a lack of user demand, but because of insufficient infrastructure preventing applications and companies from emerging,” the report said.
The investment required to bridge the gap between growing demand and capacity was between US$42 billion (A$48 billion) and US$55 billion for the US market alone. And this required investment is above and beyond the US$72 billion that service providers are already planning to invest.
The new study, from Nemertes Research, found the required investment globally was estimated at US$137 billion. The research, titled to “The Internet Singularity, Delayed: Why Limits in Internet Capacity Will Stifle Innovation on the Web” indicates that Internet access infrastructure, specifically in North America, will cease to be adequate for supporting demand within the next three to five years.
“This groundbreaking analysis identifies a critical issue facing the Internet – that we must take the necessary steps to build out network capacity or potentially face Internet gridlock that could wreak havoc on Internet services,” said Internet Innovation Alliance co-chairman Larry Irving.
“It’s important to note that even if we make the investment necessary between now and 2010, we still might not be prepared for the next killer application or new internet-dependent business like Google or YouTube,” Mr Irving said.
Nemertes Research president and senior founding partner Johna Till Johnson said: “This is the first study to independently model both Internet capacity and demand.”
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
The findings of the Nemertes Research study indicate that by 2010, the Internet’s capacity will not likely accommodate user demand and users could increasingly encounter internet “brownouts” or interruptions to the applications they’ve become accustomed to using. It may take more than one attempt to confirm an online purchase or it longer to download the latest video from YouTube.
“The immediate impact of the inadequate infrastructure will be to slow the pace of innovation, Nemertes warned. The next Amazon, Google or YouTube might not arise – not from a lack of user demand, but because of insufficient infrastructure preventing applications and companies from emerging,” the report said.
The investment required to bridge the gap between growing demand and capacity was between US$42 billion (A$48 billion) and US$55 billion for the US market alone. And this required investment is above and beyond the US$72 billion that service providers are already planning to invest.
The new study, from Nemertes Research, found the required investment globally was estimated at US$137 billion. The research, titled to “The Internet Singularity, Delayed: Why Limits in Internet Capacity Will Stifle Innovation on the Web” indicates that Internet access infrastructure, specifically in North America, will cease to be adequate for supporting demand within the next three to five years.
“This groundbreaking analysis identifies a critical issue facing the Internet – that we must take the necessary steps to build out network capacity or potentially face Internet gridlock that could wreak havoc on Internet services,” said Internet Innovation Alliance co-chairman Larry Irving.
“It’s important to note that even if we make the investment necessary between now and 2010, we still might not be prepared for the next killer application or new internet-dependent business like Google or YouTube,” Mr Irving said.
Nemertes Research president and senior founding partner Johna Till Johnson said: “This is the first study to independently model both Internet capacity and demand.”
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
Amazon kindles e-book device market
IN a bid to kick-start the e-book market, online retailer Amazon.com has launched a wireless reader device with “electronic paper” features for downloading books, blogs, newspapers and magazines.
Called the Amazon Kindle, the device has a high-resolution electronic paper display that looks and reads like paper – even in bright sunlight – and is priced at US$399 (A$452).
“Our top design objective was for Kindle to disappear in your hands – to get out of the way – so you can enjoy your reading,” Amazon.com founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos said.
“We also wanted to go beyond the physical book. Kindle is wireless, so whether you're lying in bed or riding a train, you can think of a book, and have it in less than 60 seconds,” Mr Bezos said.
“No computer is needed – you do your shopping directly from the device.”
Kindle is lighter and thinner than a typical paperback and fits in one hand. Its built-in memory stores more than 200 titles, and hundreds more can be stored with an optional SD memory card.
The Amazon wireless delivery model in the US uses the mobile phone network, and books can be downloaded in less than a minute, while newspapers and blogs are delivered automatically to subscribers.
Amazon pays for the wireless connectivity bills for Kindle, so there are no monthly wireless fees, data plans, or service commitments for customers.
For more Digital Content news, click here.
Called the Amazon Kindle, the device has a high-resolution electronic paper display that looks and reads like paper – even in bright sunlight – and is priced at US$399 (A$452).
“Our top design objective was for Kindle to disappear in your hands – to get out of the way – so you can enjoy your reading,” Amazon.com founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos said.
“We also wanted to go beyond the physical book. Kindle is wireless, so whether you're lying in bed or riding a train, you can think of a book, and have it in less than 60 seconds,” Mr Bezos said.
“No computer is needed – you do your shopping directly from the device.”
Kindle is lighter and thinner than a typical paperback and fits in one hand. Its built-in memory stores more than 200 titles, and hundreds more can be stored with an optional SD memory card.
The Amazon wireless delivery model in the US uses the mobile phone network, and books can be downloaded in less than a minute, while newspapers and blogs are delivered automatically to subscribers.
Amazon pays for the wireless connectivity bills for Kindle, so there are no monthly wireless fees, data plans, or service commitments for customers.
For more Digital Content news, click here.
HP unveils automated services tools
US tech giant HP has bolstered its service offerings with a suite of new software and services to help customers transform their IT operations and automate the management of business operations.
The HP Automated Operations 1.0 offering is a set of products that automates IT operations, eliminating labor-intensive tasks and ad hoc, error-prone manual processes. The company says the product dramatically lowers the day-to-day cost of IT operations.
The HP Automated Operations 1.0 software suite is composed of IT Service Management, Business Service Management and Business Service Automation solutions.
It also launched its HP Business Service Automation software, a single platform to automate all IT processes and drive change across applications, servers, networks, storage and clients.
“We have been aggressively expanding our software portfolio in the last two years to broaden and deepen our capabilities to help customers improve their top and bottom lines,” HP’s Software senior vice-president Tom Hogan said.
IDC Enterprise Management Service research director Stephen Elliot said business service automation was an opportunity for IT organisations to more closely align with business objectives such as compliance, security, and cost reduction, and the delivery of innovative products.
“The legacy manner in which many IT organisations execute enterprise infrastructure management processes is quickly becoming obsolete as they are too static, take too long to execute and lengthen time to market cycles,” Mr Elliot said.
“IT organisations must mature toward processes and technologies that enable a more dynamic, business-driven impact.”
For more IT Services news, click here.
The HP Automated Operations 1.0 offering is a set of products that automates IT operations, eliminating labor-intensive tasks and ad hoc, error-prone manual processes. The company says the product dramatically lowers the day-to-day cost of IT operations.
The HP Automated Operations 1.0 software suite is composed of IT Service Management, Business Service Management and Business Service Automation solutions.
It also launched its HP Business Service Automation software, a single platform to automate all IT processes and drive change across applications, servers, networks, storage and clients.
“We have been aggressively expanding our software portfolio in the last two years to broaden and deepen our capabilities to help customers improve their top and bottom lines,” HP’s Software senior vice-president Tom Hogan said.
IDC Enterprise Management Service research director Stephen Elliot said business service automation was an opportunity for IT organisations to more closely align with business objectives such as compliance, security, and cost reduction, and the delivery of innovative products.
“The legacy manner in which many IT organisations execute enterprise infrastructure management processes is quickly becoming obsolete as they are too static, take too long to execute and lengthen time to market cycles,” Mr Elliot said.
“IT organisations must mature toward processes and technologies that enable a more dynamic, business-driven impact.”
For more IT Services news, click here.
Hostworks calls for strengthened backbone
THE Federal election ‘last mile’ broadband debate missed a more fundamental point, according to the region’s largest hosting and managed services provider: Australia does not have adequate backbone capacity.
Hostworks managing director Marty Gauvin warned the incoming Rudd Labor Government that Australia’s ability to compete internationally was being hindered by capacity problems in backbone infrastructure.
If fact, Mr Gauvin said if Labor successfully implements its ambitious ‘last mile’ plans, “it will create a massive online gridlock.”
“The critical issue is not how fast it goes into people’s houses: It is how fast it runs across the country and the speed of backbone data links for commercial service providers like Hostworks,” Mr Gauvin said.
Hostworks is one of the largest enterprise application outsourcing firms in the region, providing hosting and managed services to corporate customers like Network Ten, SBS, News Digital Media, ninemsn, realestate.com.au, SEEK, Ticketek.
“If Australia wants to succeed internationally as the online economy evolves, we need to start thinking much more innovatively. As well as building the infrastructure to support the online population we want, we need strategies to aggregate our online content to make it much more accessible and compelling,” he said.
Mr. Gauvin said the “choke points” created by broadband infrastructure represented a failure of market forces to deliver the best outcome for the country. “If we leave solving this problem to market forces, then Australia will just go backwards,” he said.
“The new government has an opportunity here to demonstrate real leadership. While the bulk of what online consumers want is overseas, Australia will continue to be diminished in its ability to have a content industry based here.
For more IT Services news, click here.
Hostworks managing director Marty Gauvin warned the incoming Rudd Labor Government that Australia’s ability to compete internationally was being hindered by capacity problems in backbone infrastructure.
If fact, Mr Gauvin said if Labor successfully implements its ambitious ‘last mile’ plans, “it will create a massive online gridlock.”
“The critical issue is not how fast it goes into people’s houses: It is how fast it runs across the country and the speed of backbone data links for commercial service providers like Hostworks,” Mr Gauvin said.
Hostworks is one of the largest enterprise application outsourcing firms in the region, providing hosting and managed services to corporate customers like Network Ten, SBS, News Digital Media, ninemsn, realestate.com.au, SEEK, Ticketek.
“If Australia wants to succeed internationally as the online economy evolves, we need to start thinking much more innovatively. As well as building the infrastructure to support the online population we want, we need strategies to aggregate our online content to make it much more accessible and compelling,” he said.
Mr. Gauvin said the “choke points” created by broadband infrastructure represented a failure of market forces to deliver the best outcome for the country. “If we leave solving this problem to market forces, then Australia will just go backwards,” he said.
“The new government has an opportunity here to demonstrate real leadership. While the bulk of what online consumers want is overseas, Australia will continue to be diminished in its ability to have a content industry based here.
For more IT Services news, click here.
Monday, November 26, 2007
ACS elects Parakala as new President
THE Australian Computer Society has elected the chairman of its NSW branch – Kumar Parakala – as National President for 2008-09 to replace its outgoing president Philip Argy.
Mr Parakala, who is chief operating officer of KPMG’s Global IT Advisory Practice, said he would continue the society’s campaigning on issues like skills, higher education and industry collaboration. He would also focus on Green issues, he said.
Mr Parakala was elected by the society’s peak decision-making body, the ACS Council, at a meeting last week.
“I will also focus on promoting the relevance of ICT to business professionals. This includes understanding the ubiquitous nature of ICT and highlighting ICT’s changing and enabling role across all professions,” Mr Parakala said.
“As ACS National President, I intend to drive relevant national ICT strategic matters that are critical to ICT professionals such as skills gap, ICT higher education, green issues, industry collaboration and accreditation,” he said.
Current ACS President, Philip Argy, welcomed the result and congratulated Kumar Parakala on his election.
“It’s an exciting time for our industry – ICT is now firmly positioned on Australia’s political agenda and is recognised as key driver of the nation’s economic prosperity.” Mr Argy said.
“I am delighted to announce the new ACS President and I am confident that the ACS will enjoy continued growth under his presidency and that ICT industry will continue to prosper.”
For more e-Government news, click here.
Mr Parakala, who is chief operating officer of KPMG’s Global IT Advisory Practice, said he would continue the society’s campaigning on issues like skills, higher education and industry collaboration. He would also focus on Green issues, he said.
Mr Parakala was elected by the society’s peak decision-making body, the ACS Council, at a meeting last week.
“I will also focus on promoting the relevance of ICT to business professionals. This includes understanding the ubiquitous nature of ICT and highlighting ICT’s changing and enabling role across all professions,” Mr Parakala said.
“As ACS National President, I intend to drive relevant national ICT strategic matters that are critical to ICT professionals such as skills gap, ICT higher education, green issues, industry collaboration and accreditation,” he said.
Current ACS President, Philip Argy, welcomed the result and congratulated Kumar Parakala on his election.
“It’s an exciting time for our industry – ICT is now firmly positioned on Australia’s political agenda and is recognised as key driver of the nation’s economic prosperity.” Mr Argy said.
“I am delighted to announce the new ACS President and I am confident that the ACS will enjoy continued growth under his presidency and that ICT industry will continue to prosper.”
For more e-Government news, click here.
Hotmail pioneer embraces SaaS office
THE internet pioneer who founded and built the Hotmail service before selling it to Microsoft has launched a suite of online personal productivity products that will compete with the powerful MS Office franchise.
The Live Documents service was launched last week by Bangalore-based Instant Collaboration Software Technologies (InstaColl), a start-up founded by Sabeer Bhatia – a co-founder of the phenomenally successful Hotmail services.
Mr Bhatia rose to international prominence in the industry when in 1997 he sold Hotmail to Microsoft for US$400 million.
Live Documents is a full-featured suite of online Office productivity applications offering functionality equivalent to Word, Excel and PowerPoint that can be used through any computer with a browser.
The Live Documents service also allows online collaboration and sharing of documents. The hybrid online-offline service lets users work on documents offline on any PC that runs Flash software, regardless of the operating system.
“Live Documents offers a unique perspective on Office productivity and collaboration that merges the best of two worlds - the richness and familiarity of desktop software with the collaborative capabilities of the web,” InstaColl chairman Sabeer Bhatia.
“It provides a reliable bridge between the online and offline worlds that consumers and businesses can count on, he said.”
“Live Documents is the new productivity suite for the internet generation providing flexibility lacking in traditional software while retaining that which is important from the past and extending it with unique collaborative capabilities.
“I believe that Live Documents does for documents what Hotmail did for e-mail,” Mr Bhatia said.
For more Web Applications news, click here.
The Live Documents service was launched last week by Bangalore-based Instant Collaboration Software Technologies (InstaColl), a start-up founded by Sabeer Bhatia – a co-founder of the phenomenally successful Hotmail services.
Mr Bhatia rose to international prominence in the industry when in 1997 he sold Hotmail to Microsoft for US$400 million.
Live Documents is a full-featured suite of online Office productivity applications offering functionality equivalent to Word, Excel and PowerPoint that can be used through any computer with a browser.
The Live Documents service also allows online collaboration and sharing of documents. The hybrid online-offline service lets users work on documents offline on any PC that runs Flash software, regardless of the operating system.
“Live Documents offers a unique perspective on Office productivity and collaboration that merges the best of two worlds - the richness and familiarity of desktop software with the collaborative capabilities of the web,” InstaColl chairman Sabeer Bhatia.
“It provides a reliable bridge between the online and offline worlds that consumers and businesses can count on, he said.”
“Live Documents is the new productivity suite for the internet generation providing flexibility lacking in traditional software while retaining that which is important from the past and extending it with unique collaborative capabilities.
“I believe that Live Documents does for documents what Hotmail did for e-mail,” Mr Bhatia said.
For more Web Applications news, click here.
Symantec launches SmartPhone protection
US-based tech security specialist has rolled out a suite of consumer mobile security products that provides anti-virus, firewall and anti-spam protection for Windows Mobile and Symbian OS phone operating systems.
Symantec’s Norton Smartphone Security aims to give mobile device users the same level of security that has become standard for laptops and other computing devices.
“Smartphones are expanding consumer freedom to communicate and access important information anytime, anywhere,” said Symantec Consumer Business Unit senior vice-president Rowan Trollope said.
“However, unsecure public WiFi or network connections can put users at risk. In addition, web and e-mail viruses can directly infect smartphones, enabling hackers to remotely control the device, access sensitive information or disable applications,” he said.
“Norton Smartphone Security runs discreetly in the background, providing the confidence and peace of mind to engage in everyday activities like e-mailing, Web browsing or banking online from these handheld devices.”
As more users transact using their mobile devices, the financial incentives for virus writers and mobile hackers increase, Symantec says.
In a U.S. survey of smartphone users conducted by Applied Research, 34 per cent of respondents said they access their bank accounts via their mobile device and 54 per cent of respondents said they access web sites that require a password.
For more IT Security news, click here.
Symantec’s Norton Smartphone Security aims to give mobile device users the same level of security that has become standard for laptops and other computing devices.
“Smartphones are expanding consumer freedom to communicate and access important information anytime, anywhere,” said Symantec Consumer Business Unit senior vice-president Rowan Trollope said.
“However, unsecure public WiFi or network connections can put users at risk. In addition, web and e-mail viruses can directly infect smartphones, enabling hackers to remotely control the device, access sensitive information or disable applications,” he said.
“Norton Smartphone Security runs discreetly in the background, providing the confidence and peace of mind to engage in everyday activities like e-mailing, Web browsing or banking online from these handheld devices.”
As more users transact using their mobile devices, the financial incentives for virus writers and mobile hackers increase, Symantec says.
In a U.S. survey of smartphone users conducted by Applied Research, 34 per cent of respondents said they access their bank accounts via their mobile device and 54 per cent of respondents said they access web sites that require a password.
For more IT Security news, click here.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Mozilla release Firefox 3 beta
OPEN source software specialist Mozilla has launched the first beta release of its next-generation Firefox 3 browser, highlighting better security, ease of use, and personalisation features.
The organisation said the beta was still “a bit rough”, but would let developers preview features and functions, and to get feedback before the project proceeds into its next phase.
“Much of the work leading up to this first beta has been around developing the infrastructure to support a bunch of exciting new features,” Mozilla said in its release notes.
“With this first beta, you'll get a taste of what's coming in Firefox 3, but there's still more to come, and much of what you'll see is still a bit rough around the edges.”
Rough edges include the fact that Firefox add-ons don't work properly with the beta version.
Those add-ons include applications such as ad blockers, search engines, and dictionaries in other languages. Mozilla did not offer a final release date, noting only that the final version will be launched “when we qualify the product as fully ready for our users.”
Mozilla has set out to make the Firefox 3 browser more personal, with a star button that lets you add bookmarks from the location bar with a single click. A “smart places” folder lets you access recently bookmarked and tagged pages, as well as more frequently visited pages.
New security features in Firefox 3 include malware protection, more informative SSL information, and a one-click function to identify who owns a site.
Firefox 3 automatically checks add-ons and will disable older, insecure versions. The browser even will inform anti-virus software when downloading executables, and it respects the Windows Vista parental control setting for disabling file downloads.
For more Web Applications news, click here.
The organisation said the beta was still “a bit rough”, but would let developers preview features and functions, and to get feedback before the project proceeds into its next phase.
“Much of the work leading up to this first beta has been around developing the infrastructure to support a bunch of exciting new features,” Mozilla said in its release notes.
“With this first beta, you'll get a taste of what's coming in Firefox 3, but there's still more to come, and much of what you'll see is still a bit rough around the edges.”
Rough edges include the fact that Firefox add-ons don't work properly with the beta version.
Those add-ons include applications such as ad blockers, search engines, and dictionaries in other languages. Mozilla did not offer a final release date, noting only that the final version will be launched “when we qualify the product as fully ready for our users.”
Mozilla has set out to make the Firefox 3 browser more personal, with a star button that lets you add bookmarks from the location bar with a single click. A “smart places” folder lets you access recently bookmarked and tagged pages, as well as more frequently visited pages.
New security features in Firefox 3 include malware protection, more informative SSL information, and a one-click function to identify who owns a site.
Firefox 3 automatically checks add-ons and will disable older, insecure versions. The browser even will inform anti-virus software when downloading executables, and it respects the Windows Vista parental control setting for disabling file downloads.
For more Web Applications news, click here.
Parties fail privacy test
PRIVACY advocates in Australia have been underwhelmed by the privacy commitments of the two major parties, giving both sides of politics a failing grade for privacy protections.
The Australian Privacy Foundation set an election challenge last July asking that the parties declare their positions on eight critical privacy issues.
“The government and the alternative government continue to score very badly on privacy”, APF chairman Roger Clarke said.
The privacy foundation gave the Coaltion just 1.5 out of ten for its privacy policies, while Labor also failed with 4.5 out of ten.
“For its total disregard of privacy issues, we need look no further than the recent law introduced by the Government – the new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financial (AML-CTF) Law,” Mr Clarke said.
“Thousands of small businesses are required to collect much more information from customers, and dob them in for anything suspicious.”
“This isn’t just more red-tape for small business; it destroys the trust within Australian society. Alarm bells should be raised merely from the fact that the Government is trying not to draw attention to this new law before the election.”
The Coalition simply ignored key privacy issues. It did not rule out a further attempt to bring in a de facto ID card via the Access Card proposal, and it did not rule out the use of biometrics and RFID tagging of humans.
The Greens and the Democrats faired much better, rating eight and nine out of ten respectively.
The Democrats strong showing “perhaps a reflection of Senator Natasha Stott- Despoja’s commitment to privacy issues over many years” said Clarke.
The Greens high rating was due to the Party’s opposition to the Access Card proposal and its campaign against the excessive elements in the counter terrorism laws.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
The Australian Privacy Foundation set an election challenge last July asking that the parties declare their positions on eight critical privacy issues.
“The government and the alternative government continue to score very badly on privacy”, APF chairman Roger Clarke said.
The privacy foundation gave the Coaltion just 1.5 out of ten for its privacy policies, while Labor also failed with 4.5 out of ten.
“For its total disregard of privacy issues, we need look no further than the recent law introduced by the Government – the new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financial (AML-CTF) Law,” Mr Clarke said.
“Thousands of small businesses are required to collect much more information from customers, and dob them in for anything suspicious.”
“This isn’t just more red-tape for small business; it destroys the trust within Australian society. Alarm bells should be raised merely from the fact that the Government is trying not to draw attention to this new law before the election.”
The Coalition simply ignored key privacy issues. It did not rule out a further attempt to bring in a de facto ID card via the Access Card proposal, and it did not rule out the use of biometrics and RFID tagging of humans.
The Greens and the Democrats faired much better, rating eight and nine out of ten respectively.
The Democrats strong showing “perhaps a reflection of Senator Natasha Stott- Despoja’s commitment to privacy issues over many years” said Clarke.
The Greens high rating was due to the Party’s opposition to the Access Card proposal and its campaign against the excessive elements in the counter terrorism laws.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
Facebook enrages privacy groups
SOCIAL networking phenomena Facebook is under fire from privacy groups over an advertising scheme that publishes the online purchasing habits of its users without their permission.
And a group of privacy advocates are so hot under the collar about it that they are using the networking capabilities of Facebook to organise opposition to the policy.
The group MoveOn.Org has established a Facebook group aimed at generating petition signatories against the policy. Just days old, it now has nearly 9,000 members.
The group highlights the example of Matt, from New York, who found out what his girlfriend was planning to give him for Christmas.
“Why? Because a new Facebook feature automatically shares books, movies, or gifts you buy online with everyone you know on Facebook,” the group says. “Without your consent, it pops up in your News Feed – a huge invasion of privacy.”
The group encourages companies to “get word-of-mouth promotion” for their business to “millions” of users.
The concerns are related to a free tool called Beacon, that businesses are can embed in their sites. When a Facebook user purchases something from that site, it is published on their news feed.
The aim of Beacon is to promote sales through the electronic word-of-mouth provided by social networking. If someone sees their friends making a purchase, they may be encouraged to make the purchase themselves.
Beacon is an opt-out system. When a purchase is made, a small opt-out icon appears at the top of the screen that reportedly disappears after about 20 seconds.
The privacy groups complain that not only is the icon easily missed, but that the scheme should be opt-IN, not opt-out.
Though Facebook built a reputation for strong privacy in its early days, that reputation has taken a battering more recently. When the news-feed was introduced in 2005, users were outraged until the company changed its policies and allowed the feed to be turned off.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
And a group of privacy advocates are so hot under the collar about it that they are using the networking capabilities of Facebook to organise opposition to the policy.
The group MoveOn.Org has established a Facebook group aimed at generating petition signatories against the policy. Just days old, it now has nearly 9,000 members.
The group highlights the example of Matt, from New York, who found out what his girlfriend was planning to give him for Christmas.
“Why? Because a new Facebook feature automatically shares books, movies, or gifts you buy online with everyone you know on Facebook,” the group says. “Without your consent, it pops up in your News Feed – a huge invasion of privacy.”
The group encourages companies to “get word-of-mouth promotion” for their business to “millions” of users.
The concerns are related to a free tool called Beacon, that businesses are can embed in their sites. When a Facebook user purchases something from that site, it is published on their news feed.
The aim of Beacon is to promote sales through the electronic word-of-mouth provided by social networking. If someone sees their friends making a purchase, they may be encouraged to make the purchase themselves.
Beacon is an opt-out system. When a purchase is made, a small opt-out icon appears at the top of the screen that reportedly disappears after about 20 seconds.
The privacy groups complain that not only is the icon easily missed, but that the scheme should be opt-IN, not opt-out.
Though Facebook built a reputation for strong privacy in its early days, that reputation has taken a battering more recently. When the news-feed was introduced in 2005, users were outraged until the company changed its policies and allowed the feed to be turned off.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
Apple settles Burst patent dispute
APPLE has signed an agreement to end two years of litigation with audio software specialist Burst.com, saying it will pay Burst.com a one-time payment of US$10 million (A$11.4 million.)
The one-time payment will give Apple non-exclusive license to Burst’s patent portfolio, except four specified DVR technologies.
The $10 million patent license provides Apple with the right to use Burst’s intellectual property in its own technology and products, without further consideration. Burst, however, retains the right to enforce its patent portfolio against others.
Court costs, expenses and attorney’s fees in connection with the settlement of the litigation with Apple will reduce proceeds to the Company to approximately $4.6 million.
The Apple litigation related to audio compression software used in iPod players, iTunes, iLife and QuickTime.
Burst settled a similar dispute for US$50 million last year.
“Burst plans to continue identifying and evaluating companies who represent licensing opportunities and intends to diligently pursue those likely to yield suitable returns,” the company said in a statement.
“Burst does not plan to announce specific names of suspected infringing products or companies in advance of negotiating with them or filing litigation to enforce its patent rights.”
For more Digital Content news, click here.
The one-time payment will give Apple non-exclusive license to Burst’s patent portfolio, except four specified DVR technologies.
The $10 million patent license provides Apple with the right to use Burst’s intellectual property in its own technology and products, without further consideration. Burst, however, retains the right to enforce its patent portfolio against others.
Court costs, expenses and attorney’s fees in connection with the settlement of the litigation with Apple will reduce proceeds to the Company to approximately $4.6 million.
The Apple litigation related to audio compression software used in iPod players, iTunes, iLife and QuickTime.
Burst settled a similar dispute for US$50 million last year.
“Burst plans to continue identifying and evaluating companies who represent licensing opportunities and intends to diligently pursue those likely to yield suitable returns,” the company said in a statement.
“Burst does not plan to announce specific names of suspected infringing products or companies in advance of negotiating with them or filing litigation to enforce its patent rights.”
For more Digital Content news, click here.
Fujitsu Oz invests $15 million in services
FUJITSU Australia has announced plans to invest $15 million over the next 12 months on a business transformation program to improve its delivery of IT services to customers.
The intitial $15 million investment aimed to consolidate its “industrialisation of IT services” based on the company’s Triole processes.
The “industrialising” of IT aimed to reduce cost, reduce complexity, and improve delivery of IT services by using standard components in IT service offerings wherever possible.
“This investment represents a tangible commitment to deliver on our vision to lead the industry with a new standard for IT service delivery by industrialising our offerings and processes,” said Fujitsu Australia-New Zealand chief executive Rod Vawdrey.
“We are now engaged in a program that will embed this approach at the heart of everything we do, a strategy to which we are fully committed because we believe it will deliver tremendous value for our customers,” said Mr Vawdrey.
Fujitsu’s Triole is modelled on the highly successful industrialisation of the Japanese car industry. Manufacturers like Toyota standardise on 80 per cent of a motor vehicle’s components, allowing customers to specify their options for the 20 per cent of the car that reflects their unique needs.
“Like motor vehicles, IT solutions share about 80 per cent functionality in common, providing an opportunity for us to save our clients time and money by standardising on those components, our methodologies and delivery processes,” said Fujitsu’s Infrastructure Services Division executive general manager Peter McFarlane.
Fujitsu plans to focus its initial business transformation efforts on Infrastructure Services since this area offers the greatest potential for immediate benefits for customers.
“Through an intensive program of continual enhancement and testing, we will be able to guarantee superior performance and reliability to reduce the risk associated with projects adopting an industrialised approach.
“At the same time we will free up resources to focus our innovation capabilities on the 20 per cent of a solution that represents a client’s unique business requirements and the key opportunity for differentiation,” Mr McFarlane said.
For more IT Services news, click here.
The intitial $15 million investment aimed to consolidate its “industrialisation of IT services” based on the company’s Triole processes.
The “industrialising” of IT aimed to reduce cost, reduce complexity, and improve delivery of IT services by using standard components in IT service offerings wherever possible.
“This investment represents a tangible commitment to deliver on our vision to lead the industry with a new standard for IT service delivery by industrialising our offerings and processes,” said Fujitsu Australia-New Zealand chief executive Rod Vawdrey.
“We are now engaged in a program that will embed this approach at the heart of everything we do, a strategy to which we are fully committed because we believe it will deliver tremendous value for our customers,” said Mr Vawdrey.
Fujitsu’s Triole is modelled on the highly successful industrialisation of the Japanese car industry. Manufacturers like Toyota standardise on 80 per cent of a motor vehicle’s components, allowing customers to specify their options for the 20 per cent of the car that reflects their unique needs.
“Like motor vehicles, IT solutions share about 80 per cent functionality in common, providing an opportunity for us to save our clients time and money by standardising on those components, our methodologies and delivery processes,” said Fujitsu’s Infrastructure Services Division executive general manager Peter McFarlane.
Fujitsu plans to focus its initial business transformation efforts on Infrastructure Services since this area offers the greatest potential for immediate benefits for customers.
“Through an intensive program of continual enhancement and testing, we will be able to guarantee superior performance and reliability to reduce the risk associated with projects adopting an industrialised approach.
“At the same time we will free up resources to focus our innovation capabilities on the 20 per cent of a solution that represents a client’s unique business requirements and the key opportunity for differentiation,” Mr McFarlane said.
For more IT Services news, click here.
Aussie chief for CSC Asia
TECH services giant Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) has re-arranged it senior management in the region, with its Australian chief promoted to head the CSC Asia Group.
Mike Shove had been president of the CSC Australia Group since 2003 before being promoted to the regional role this week. He will be based at CSC Asia headquarters in Singapore and responsible for the company's operations and clients in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Prior to running the Australian operation, Mr Shove had been vice-president for the Enterprise Business Solutions group in Australia
Mr Shove will be replaced by Nick Wilkinson, who is currently vice-president of Chemicals, Energy and Natural Resources for CSC’s Global Outsourcing Services organisation.
Both men will report directly to CSC chairman, president and chief executive, Michael Laphen.
“Mike has proven his ability to grow revenue, enhance profitability, increase customer satisfaction and grow our client base through significant local wins," Mr Laphen said in a statement.
“His experience and track record make him ideally suited to take on an expanded role in Asia.”
For more IT Services news, click here.
Mike Shove had been president of the CSC Australia Group since 2003 before being promoted to the regional role this week. He will be based at CSC Asia headquarters in Singapore and responsible for the company's operations and clients in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Prior to running the Australian operation, Mr Shove had been vice-president for the Enterprise Business Solutions group in Australia
Mr Shove will be replaced by Nick Wilkinson, who is currently vice-president of Chemicals, Energy and Natural Resources for CSC’s Global Outsourcing Services organisation.
Both men will report directly to CSC chairman, president and chief executive, Michael Laphen.
“Mike has proven his ability to grow revenue, enhance profitability, increase customer satisfaction and grow our client base through significant local wins," Mr Laphen said in a statement.
“His experience and track record make him ideally suited to take on an expanded role in Asia.”
For more IT Services news, click here.
Rudd pushes Green export opportunities
GREEN and clean technologies present excellent export opportunities for Australian innovators, according to Kevin Rudd.
The Labor government would make supporting the development of clean technologies for export markets a priority, Mr Rudd told the National Press Club in Canberra.
As part of that plan, Labor will spend $15 million on a Energy Export Strategy, and $20 million setting up a Clean Energy Innovation Centre.
“Responding to climate change and global warming is not just an environmental imperative; it is an important economic opportunity,” Mr Rudd said.
“Both carbon trading and renewable energy technology provide opportunities for the export of goods and services,” he said.
Australia would become a clean energy hub for the Asia-Pacific, Mr Rudd said, making clean energy central to Australia’s economic and environmental future.
“Labor will harness clean energy research, innovation and enterprise, so that Australia can build a low carbon economy and export climate change solutions to the world,” he said.
The Clean Energy Export Strategy will provide critical capacity in Austrade to promote Australian clean energy exports of products, technologies and services. Austrade liaison officers will work with individual clean energy firms to match their strengths with opportunities in clean energy growth markets such as China, India, Japan and the United States.
For more Export Alley news, click here.
The Labor government would make supporting the development of clean technologies for export markets a priority, Mr Rudd told the National Press Club in Canberra.
As part of that plan, Labor will spend $15 million on a Energy Export Strategy, and $20 million setting up a Clean Energy Innovation Centre.
“Responding to climate change and global warming is not just an environmental imperative; it is an important economic opportunity,” Mr Rudd said.
“Both carbon trading and renewable energy technology provide opportunities for the export of goods and services,” he said.
Australia would become a clean energy hub for the Asia-Pacific, Mr Rudd said, making clean energy central to Australia’s economic and environmental future.
“Labor will harness clean energy research, innovation and enterprise, so that Australia can build a low carbon economy and export climate change solutions to the world,” he said.
The Clean Energy Export Strategy will provide critical capacity in Austrade to promote Australian clean energy exports of products, technologies and services. Austrade liaison officers will work with individual clean energy firms to match their strengths with opportunities in clean energy growth markets such as China, India, Japan and the United States.
For more Export Alley news, click here.
USO should cover broadband: ACS
THE Australian Computer Society has called on Government to include minimum broadband service standards under the terms of its Universal Service Obligation (USO) requirements.
The ACS said in a submission to the Department of Communications, IT and the Arts’ (DCITA) review of the USO that expanding the requirements to include broadband would help reverse the “digital divide”.
The USO is a set of requirements imposed on telecommunications carriers to ensure anyone who wants a phone service has access to it, regardless of where they live. It also covers services like ensure adequate numbers of payphones and emergency numbers like 000.
The ACS said the USO review should consider the way mobile communications is developing as a universal information platform with significant potential for remote internet access.
Regardless of which party wins the upcoming federal election, Australia needed a USO that encompassed broadband and mobile technologies, according to ACS Telecommunications Board director, Professor Reg Coutts.
“Australia faces a growing digital divide, which is being exacerbated by the huge disparity between the quality of telecommunications services provided in our cities and those available in rural and remote parts of the country,” Prof Coutts said.
“The USO was written at a time when a standard fixed line service was all anyone needed, but times have changed.”
Prof Coutts said the long debate over Telstra’s privatisation had delayed “any meaningful action” on broadband for several years, and that the issue needed to be addressed in the next six to 12 months for Australia to maintain global competitiveness.
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
The ACS said in a submission to the Department of Communications, IT and the Arts’ (DCITA) review of the USO that expanding the requirements to include broadband would help reverse the “digital divide”.
The USO is a set of requirements imposed on telecommunications carriers to ensure anyone who wants a phone service has access to it, regardless of where they live. It also covers services like ensure adequate numbers of payphones and emergency numbers like 000.
The ACS said the USO review should consider the way mobile communications is developing as a universal information platform with significant potential for remote internet access.
Regardless of which party wins the upcoming federal election, Australia needed a USO that encompassed broadband and mobile technologies, according to ACS Telecommunications Board director, Professor Reg Coutts.
“Australia faces a growing digital divide, which is being exacerbated by the huge disparity between the quality of telecommunications services provided in our cities and those available in rural and remote parts of the country,” Prof Coutts said.
“The USO was written at a time when a standard fixed line service was all anyone needed, but times have changed.”
Prof Coutts said the long debate over Telstra’s privatisation had delayed “any meaningful action” on broadband for several years, and that the issue needed to be addressed in the next six to 12 months for Australia to maintain global competitiveness.
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Carriers’ security confidence grows
A NEW survey from IBM has revealed security concerns among telecommunication carriers had reduced dramatically in the past two years.
The results of the 2007 State of Security for Global Telecommunications Carriers survey mark a turning point in a competitive industry where the delivery of new services often has come at the expense of security considerations.
A key finding in this year's report reveals that only 36 per cent of survey respondents said security concerns were hindering their rollouts of Internet Protocol (IP) based service bundles including voice, video and data. That number is down sharply from 2006 when 55 per cent of carriers said security concerns were hindering delivery of new services.
“This survey shows what the market is already experiencing from recent mergers and acquisitions, including Verizon/Cybertrust and IBM/ISS: that security is a key ingredient for carriers as they move into next generation services and solutions,” said Current Analysis senior research director for telecom services Counse Broders.
“Clearly, those providers without a security solution in place risk losing their competitive edge.”
Security concerns still plague the telecom market especially in the area of next-generation, IP-based networks (NGNs).
NGNs represent a major evolution in telecommunications involving the convergence of voice, data and video onto one network.
The 2007 Global Telecommunications Carrier survey revealed that the wholesale migration to next-generation, IP-based architectures is imminent, with almost 85 per cent of respondents indicating that they will roll out this kind of architecture in the next five years.
However, fewer than half of respondents (46 per cent) said their companies had a strategy in place for mitigating security risks posed by NGNs.
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
The results of the 2007 State of Security for Global Telecommunications Carriers survey mark a turning point in a competitive industry where the delivery of new services often has come at the expense of security considerations.
A key finding in this year's report reveals that only 36 per cent of survey respondents said security concerns were hindering their rollouts of Internet Protocol (IP) based service bundles including voice, video and data. That number is down sharply from 2006 when 55 per cent of carriers said security concerns were hindering delivery of new services.
“This survey shows what the market is already experiencing from recent mergers and acquisitions, including Verizon/Cybertrust and IBM/ISS: that security is a key ingredient for carriers as they move into next generation services and solutions,” said Current Analysis senior research director for telecom services Counse Broders.
“Clearly, those providers without a security solution in place risk losing their competitive edge.”
Security concerns still plague the telecom market especially in the area of next-generation, IP-based networks (NGNs).
NGNs represent a major evolution in telecommunications involving the convergence of voice, data and video onto one network.
The 2007 Global Telecommunications Carrier survey revealed that the wholesale migration to next-generation, IP-based architectures is imminent, with almost 85 per cent of respondents indicating that they will roll out this kind of architecture in the next five years.
However, fewer than half of respondents (46 per cent) said their companies had a strategy in place for mitigating security risks posed by NGNs.
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
Pacific Internet launches ‘clean feed’
ASIA Pacific services provider Pacific Internet has launched a business grade “clean feed” content filtering system that restricts employee access to web sites that pose a security or productivity risk.
The service, launched in partnership with MailGuard and called PacNet CleanWeb, is tailored for the business and government markets.
Pacific Internet senior vice-president Dennis Muscat said the company had previously partnered with MailGuard to launch its PacNet CleanMail service a year ago.
“We’re aware of the vulnerability many businesses face with staff increasingly accessing the web for social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace,” Mr Muscat said.
“This is a threat to organisations both from a security and a productivity perspective.”
CleanWeb helps manage staff productivity and protect the organisation from malicious attacks via the web, as well as potential litigation due to web browsing abuse.
PacNet CleanWeb provides management, control and reporting of the internet web browsing resource in organisations. The service protects networks and systems against web-based threats.
“PacNet CleanWeb gives businesses the opportunity to manage what their users are actually doing,” Mr Muscat said.
“Administrators simply use the console to manage access to the web by user, file types, key words and sites by individual, group or company wide rules as required.”
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
The service, launched in partnership with MailGuard and called PacNet CleanWeb, is tailored for the business and government markets.
Pacific Internet senior vice-president Dennis Muscat said the company had previously partnered with MailGuard to launch its PacNet CleanMail service a year ago.
“We’re aware of the vulnerability many businesses face with staff increasingly accessing the web for social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace,” Mr Muscat said.
“This is a threat to organisations both from a security and a productivity perspective.”
CleanWeb helps manage staff productivity and protect the organisation from malicious attacks via the web, as well as potential litigation due to web browsing abuse.
PacNet CleanWeb provides management, control and reporting of the internet web browsing resource in organisations. The service protects networks and systems against web-based threats.
“PacNet CleanWeb gives businesses the opportunity to manage what their users are actually doing,” Mr Muscat said.
“Administrators simply use the console to manage access to the web by user, file types, key words and sites by individual, group or company wide rules as required.”
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
Open Source takes hold in public sector
MORE than half of technology exexcutives in the US federal government have implemented open source software projects in their agencies, citing security and reliability issues as the chief reason.
A survey conducted by the Federal Open Source Alliance – a group supported by HP, Intel and Red Hat – said more than 70 per cent of respondents said their agencies would benefit from open source software.
The Federal Open Source Referendum is the first of an annual report aimed at identifying open source adoption rates and trends in federal government.
Federal ICT executives view data centre consolidation as accelerating open source transition – 58 percent of respondents note they are more likely to consider moving to open source as they consolidate data centres.
The survey found that those executives that had already implemented Open Source in a project identify advanced security as the biggest benefit, with 30 percent citing access to advanced and multi-levelled security capabilities as the top benefit.
Those that had not implemented an open source project cited security as a top challenge – 40 percent.
“The focus on data centre consolidation as an inflection point on open source migration echoes what we hear directly from Federal as well as state and local agencies,” said Red Hat government sales operations vice-president Paul Smith.
“The study underlines the perception divide on security as well as the important role that cultural attitudes to change and robust structured technical support play in open source migration success,” Mr Smith said.
“The Federal Open Source Alliance is committed to fostering collaboration to close the open source education divide and empower implementing agencies to obtain maximum value from their open source migrations.”
The study underscores the fact that open source is gathering broad-based support and an impressive record for success in the Federal space. Some 55 percent of respondents note that they have been or are involved in open source implementations and 90 percent of those respondents assert that the deployment has benefited their agency.
For more e-Government news, click here.
A survey conducted by the Federal Open Source Alliance – a group supported by HP, Intel and Red Hat – said more than 70 per cent of respondents said their agencies would benefit from open source software.
The Federal Open Source Referendum is the first of an annual report aimed at identifying open source adoption rates and trends in federal government.
Federal ICT executives view data centre consolidation as accelerating open source transition – 58 percent of respondents note they are more likely to consider moving to open source as they consolidate data centres.
The survey found that those executives that had already implemented Open Source in a project identify advanced security as the biggest benefit, with 30 percent citing access to advanced and multi-levelled security capabilities as the top benefit.
Those that had not implemented an open source project cited security as a top challenge – 40 percent.
“The focus on data centre consolidation as an inflection point on open source migration echoes what we hear directly from Federal as well as state and local agencies,” said Red Hat government sales operations vice-president Paul Smith.
“The study underlines the perception divide on security as well as the important role that cultural attitudes to change and robust structured technical support play in open source migration success,” Mr Smith said.
“The Federal Open Source Alliance is committed to fostering collaboration to close the open source education divide and empower implementing agencies to obtain maximum value from their open source migrations.”
The study underscores the fact that open source is gathering broad-based support and an impressive record for success in the Federal space. Some 55 percent of respondents note that they have been or are involved in open source implementations and 90 percent of those respondents assert that the deployment has benefited their agency.
For more e-Government news, click here.
NICTA secures additional funding
THE nation’s peak technology industry research body, National ICT Australia, has secured an extra to hire a group of Australian chip researchers recently made redundant when their lab was shut down.
The 16 researchers, considered world-class in their field, were recently made redundant from LSI Australia – formerly Agere Systems – following the closure of their North Ryde research facility.
The additional $4.8 million in funding over two years was set aside by Communications and IT Minister Helen Coonan just before the federal election was called.
The extra funding from the Australian Government means NICTA will be able to offer new employment to these researchers. They will be working on wireless-related research within NICTA’s Embedded Systems research theme. This research is developing next generation wireless networks.
“Through this team Australia has developed a core competency in silicon chip design which is leading edge and contributed to Australia’s ICT capability,” NICTA acting chief executive officer Professor Aruna Seneviratne said.
The addition of the researchers to the Millimetre Wave Gigabit Wireless Project team will allow NICTA to fast-track research on the technology. NICTA envisages that the increased effort afforded by the LSI team could mean that research from the project would be ready for commercialisation in two years.
“NICTA identified an opportunity to merge the LSI Australia-Agere team with an existing research effort to create state-of-the-art personal broadband wireless chips which will enable people to transfer large multi-media files, such as entire movies, a thousand times faster than currently possible,” NICTA Chief Technology Officer of Embedded Systems Dr Chris Nicol said.
The researchers will be based at NICTA’s New South Wales facilities and will be part of NICTA’s efforts in Embedded Systems.
For more Future Parc news click here .
The 16 researchers, considered world-class in their field, were recently made redundant from LSI Australia – formerly Agere Systems – following the closure of their North Ryde research facility.
The additional $4.8 million in funding over two years was set aside by Communications and IT Minister Helen Coonan just before the federal election was called.
The extra funding from the Australian Government means NICTA will be able to offer new employment to these researchers. They will be working on wireless-related research within NICTA’s Embedded Systems research theme. This research is developing next generation wireless networks.
“Through this team Australia has developed a core competency in silicon chip design which is leading edge and contributed to Australia’s ICT capability,” NICTA acting chief executive officer Professor Aruna Seneviratne said.
The addition of the researchers to the Millimetre Wave Gigabit Wireless Project team will allow NICTA to fast-track research on the technology. NICTA envisages that the increased effort afforded by the LSI team could mean that research from the project would be ready for commercialisation in two years.
“NICTA identified an opportunity to merge the LSI Australia-Agere team with an existing research effort to create state-of-the-art personal broadband wireless chips which will enable people to transfer large multi-media files, such as entire movies, a thousand times faster than currently possible,” NICTA Chief Technology Officer of Embedded Systems Dr Chris Nicol said.
The researchers will be based at NICTA’s New South Wales facilities and will be part of NICTA’s efforts in Embedded Systems.
For more Future Parc news click here .
PC-makers eager for a Rudd govt
PC hardware makers have been showered with big-ticket promises from both parties during the election that has them looking forward to sweet years ahead for their education sector business units.
From the Kevin Rudd promise to turn every school into a “digital school” (an admittedly vague commitment) to John Howard’s tax rebates on education expenses, its looked like a Christmas come early.
But just how much of the funding commitments – Rudd said Labor will spend $1 billion over four years on its digital school plan – translates as new money for the industry remains to be seen.
A large number of the middle-class beneficiaries of the election largesse would have purchased computers on a regular upgrade basis anyway – and they’ll simply (and happily) enjoy the middle-class welfare being put forward by both major parties.
Still, in the absence of industry development policy the IT sector might reasonably have hoped for, the money being tipped into the education sector is generally positive for the industry.
Federal Labor’s National Secondary School Computer Fund will allow every Australian student in years 9-12 to have access to their own school computer.
The National Secondary School Computer Fund will allow secondary schools to apply for capital grants of up to $1 million to acquire new or upgrade information technology equipment.
This could include personal laptops or computers, thin clients with virtual desktops and internet network infrastructure to plug our secondary schools into the information superhighway.
Under Labor’s plan, 99 per cent of school children will also get access to broadband connections of speeds up to 100 megabits per second at school through fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband infrastructure.
The other one per cent of students will get improved access at school, via the best available fixed line, wireless and satellite technologies.
For more e-Government news, click here.
From the Kevin Rudd promise to turn every school into a “digital school” (an admittedly vague commitment) to John Howard’s tax rebates on education expenses, its looked like a Christmas come early.
But just how much of the funding commitments – Rudd said Labor will spend $1 billion over four years on its digital school plan – translates as new money for the industry remains to be seen.
A large number of the middle-class beneficiaries of the election largesse would have purchased computers on a regular upgrade basis anyway – and they’ll simply (and happily) enjoy the middle-class welfare being put forward by both major parties.
Still, in the absence of industry development policy the IT sector might reasonably have hoped for, the money being tipped into the education sector is generally positive for the industry.
Federal Labor’s National Secondary School Computer Fund will allow every Australian student in years 9-12 to have access to their own school computer.
The National Secondary School Computer Fund will allow secondary schools to apply for capital grants of up to $1 million to acquire new or upgrade information technology equipment.
This could include personal laptops or computers, thin clients with virtual desktops and internet network infrastructure to plug our secondary schools into the information superhighway.
Under Labor’s plan, 99 per cent of school children will also get access to broadband connections of speeds up to 100 megabits per second at school through fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband infrastructure.
The other one per cent of students will get improved access at school, via the best available fixed line, wireless and satellite technologies.
For more e-Government news, click here.
IBM unveils Cloud computing plans
COMPUTING giant IBM has announced plans to develop commercial “cloud computing” services based on its expertise in building massively scalable infrastructure using open standards and open source software.
Called “Blue Cloud”, the initiative was demonstrated at an unveiling in Shanghai last week. It aims to deliver infrastructure that lets corporate users operate more like the internet using “a distributed, globally accessible fabric of resources, rather than on local machines or remote server farms.”
The Blue Cloud offering is a like commercially saleable version of the Google, or EBay-like environments – massive infrastructure built on commodity hardware, open source software and designed from the ground up to cope with widely variable fluctuations in demand.
The systems deliver compute power at low-cost per-transaction cost.
IBM said that its Blue Cloud development is supported by more than 200 IBM internet-scale researchers worldwide and targets clients who want to explore the extreme scale of cloud computing infrastructures quickly and easily.
The company said its first Cloud systems would be offered to customers by mid 2008.
At the event in Shanghai, IBM demonstrated how cloud computing technologies, running on IBM BladeCenters with Power and x86 processors and Tivoli service management software can dynamically provision and allocate resources as application workloads fluctuate.
The company will also offer a System z “mainframe” cloud environment in 2008, taking advantage of very large number of virtual machines supported by System z. IBM also plans to offer a cloud environment based on highly dense rack clusters.
“Blue Cloud will help our customers quickly establish a cloud computing environment to test and prototype Web 2.0 applications within their enterprise environment,” said for IBM Systems & Technology Group senior vice-president for development and manufacturing, Rod Adkins.
“Over time, this approach could help IT managers dramatically reduce the complexities and costs of managing scale-out infrastructures whose demands fluctuate.”
For more IT Services news, click here.
Called “Blue Cloud”, the initiative was demonstrated at an unveiling in Shanghai last week. It aims to deliver infrastructure that lets corporate users operate more like the internet using “a distributed, globally accessible fabric of resources, rather than on local machines or remote server farms.”
The Blue Cloud offering is a like commercially saleable version of the Google, or EBay-like environments – massive infrastructure built on commodity hardware, open source software and designed from the ground up to cope with widely variable fluctuations in demand.
The systems deliver compute power at low-cost per-transaction cost.
IBM said that its Blue Cloud development is supported by more than 200 IBM internet-scale researchers worldwide and targets clients who want to explore the extreme scale of cloud computing infrastructures quickly and easily.
The company said its first Cloud systems would be offered to customers by mid 2008.
At the event in Shanghai, IBM demonstrated how cloud computing technologies, running on IBM BladeCenters with Power and x86 processors and Tivoli service management software can dynamically provision and allocate resources as application workloads fluctuate.
The company will also offer a System z “mainframe” cloud environment in 2008, taking advantage of very large number of virtual machines supported by System z. IBM also plans to offer a cloud environment based on highly dense rack clusters.
“Blue Cloud will help our customers quickly establish a cloud computing environment to test and prototype Web 2.0 applications within their enterprise environment,” said for IBM Systems & Technology Group senior vice-president for development and manufacturing, Rod Adkins.
“Over time, this approach could help IT managers dramatically reduce the complexities and costs of managing scale-out infrastructures whose demands fluctuate.”
For more IT Services news, click here.
Marvel unlocks comic vault online
COMICS have long been an undervalued and under-appreciated art form. Aficionados will tell you, though, that the influence of comic styles on the broader art community is far reaching.
It has taken a while, but mainstream comics are becoming more accessible online. Comic traditionalists needed to be convinced that online versions could match the back pocket feel of paper comic books.
One of the world’s largest comic publishers, Marvel Entertainment, has launched a new back catalogue subscription site that
“We wanted to make sure we presented a site that would set the standard in digital comics and offer readers an affordable way to experience our vast archive of content,” Marvel Publishing president Dan Buckley said.
“With Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, we believe we have built a state-of-the-art online destination that will not only engage comic book readers of all ages, but also serve as the ultimate complement to our primary comic hobby market print business through which all new Marvel Comics monthly titles will continue to be released before their availability in digital format,” Mr Buckley said.
At launch, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited offers more than 2,500 comic books. Each week, Marvel will add at least 20 additional titles to the site that will be chosen based on editors’ picks and subscriber requests.
The initial offering includes the first 100 issues of the Amazing Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four; the initial 66-issue run of Uncanny X-Men, the first 50 issues of The Avengers, and Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men.
There are also issues with the first appearances of Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, Thor, Daredevil, and Silver Surfer, as well as Dr. Octopus, Sandman, Lizard, Dr. Doom, and, for wardrobe fans, the first time Spider-Man's black costume is shown.
Yankee Group analyst Mike Goodman called the online archive a great idea, saying if online newspapers worked, then the model should work for comics too.
As the digital age moved completely into the mainstream, Mr Goodman said content companies “have to give consumers the flexibility to watch or listen to what they want, when they want,” from a variety of devices or formats.
For more Digital Content news, click here.
It has taken a while, but mainstream comics are becoming more accessible online. Comic traditionalists needed to be convinced that online versions could match the back pocket feel of paper comic books.
One of the world’s largest comic publishers, Marvel Entertainment, has launched a new back catalogue subscription site that
“We wanted to make sure we presented a site that would set the standard in digital comics and offer readers an affordable way to experience our vast archive of content,” Marvel Publishing president Dan Buckley said.
“With Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, we believe we have built a state-of-the-art online destination that will not only engage comic book readers of all ages, but also serve as the ultimate complement to our primary comic hobby market print business through which all new Marvel Comics monthly titles will continue to be released before their availability in digital format,” Mr Buckley said.
At launch, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited offers more than 2,500 comic books. Each week, Marvel will add at least 20 additional titles to the site that will be chosen based on editors’ picks and subscriber requests.
The initial offering includes the first 100 issues of the Amazing Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four; the initial 66-issue run of Uncanny X-Men, the first 50 issues of The Avengers, and Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men.
There are also issues with the first appearances of Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, Thor, Daredevil, and Silver Surfer, as well as Dr. Octopus, Sandman, Lizard, Dr. Doom, and, for wardrobe fans, the first time Spider-Man's black costume is shown.
Yankee Group analyst Mike Goodman called the online archive a great idea, saying if online newspapers worked, then the model should work for comics too.
As the digital age moved completely into the mainstream, Mr Goodman said content companies “have to give consumers the flexibility to watch or listen to what they want, when they want,” from a variety of devices or formats.
For more Digital Content news, click here.
Everex champions sub-US$200 Ubuntu PC
OPEN Source Linux has ‘arrived’ in the mainstream so many times that even the most one-eyed Gearhead has trouble getting excited enough to herald the latest amazing, unique, never-seen-before market breakthrough.
But reports from the US are pointing to just that – a remarkable market development that Linux people are excited about.
Everex, one of the oldest brands in the PC industry, launched an impressive Google-friendly, sub-US$200 PC pre-installed with the Ubuntu Linux distribution, as well as open source applications like the Firefox browser and OpenOffice productivity tools, and Skype voice over IP.
What is remarkable about the Everex Green gPC is that it is sold through the WalMart chain, which has sold out – both in-store and online.
Though WalMart would not reveal how many PCs had been sold, the Green gPC’s clearly outstripped sales projections and WalMart is scrambling to get more in.
The Green gPC is an entirely non-Microsoft system. The operating system, called gOS is a custom version of Ubuntu, and a 1.5 GHz Via Technologies processor, 512MB of memory and an 80GB hard-drive.
Online consumer reviews of the Green gPC have been enthusiastic, and pundits are saying the seel-out from WalMart is evidence that the market has embraced Linux on the desktop and Google online applications like Gmail, Gtalk, Docs & Spreadsheets, among others.
For more Open CeBIT news, click here.
But reports from the US are pointing to just that – a remarkable market development that Linux people are excited about.
Everex, one of the oldest brands in the PC industry, launched an impressive Google-friendly, sub-US$200 PC pre-installed with the Ubuntu Linux distribution, as well as open source applications like the Firefox browser and OpenOffice productivity tools, and Skype voice over IP.
What is remarkable about the Everex Green gPC is that it is sold through the WalMart chain, which has sold out – both in-store and online.
Though WalMart would not reveal how many PCs had been sold, the Green gPC’s clearly outstripped sales projections and WalMart is scrambling to get more in.
The Green gPC is an entirely non-Microsoft system. The operating system, called gOS is a custom version of Ubuntu, and a 1.5 GHz Via Technologies processor, 512MB of memory and an 80GB hard-drive.
Online consumer reviews of the Green gPC have been enthusiastic, and pundits are saying the seel-out from WalMart is evidence that the market has embraced Linux on the desktop and Google online applications like Gmail, Gtalk, Docs & Spreadsheets, among others.
For more Open CeBIT news, click here.
Google Oz snares old-school media exec
GOOGLE has looked to the ranks of mainstream traditional media to fill its Australia-New Zealand general manager position, appointing a former Fairfax magazine specialist.
Google announced Karim Temsamani had been appointed GM for the NAZ markets, managing the search giant’s domestic business and strategic partnerships.
Mr Temsamani was most recently a group director at Fairfax General Magazines, responsible for growing the profile and advertising revenue of Fairfax's suite of inserted magazines, and commercial director for Newspapers – responsible for agency and group sales, trade marketing and business development.
Prior to this he was publisher and vice-president of Who Weekly at Time Inc South Pacific from 1999 to 2002.
Google South Asia regional director Richard Kimber said Temsamani would focus on continuing to build our sales and operations team and developing Google's strategic relationships with industry partners.
Mr Temsamani said the company was committed to increasing its investment in Australia and New Zealand.
“Google is investing significantly in our team in Australia, as Australian consumers and businesses navigate the growing online world,” Mr Temsamani wrote on the company blog.
“Behind the scenes, there's a large team here that is working to ensure that you get access to the latest Google products, and that we continually improve our existing products,” he wrote.
For more Web Applications news, click here.
Google announced Karim Temsamani had been appointed GM for the NAZ markets, managing the search giant’s domestic business and strategic partnerships.
Mr Temsamani was most recently a group director at Fairfax General Magazines, responsible for growing the profile and advertising revenue of Fairfax's suite of inserted magazines, and commercial director for Newspapers – responsible for agency and group sales, trade marketing and business development.
Prior to this he was publisher and vice-president of Who Weekly at Time Inc South Pacific from 1999 to 2002.
Google South Asia regional director Richard Kimber said Temsamani would focus on continuing to build our sales and operations team and developing Google's strategic relationships with industry partners.
Mr Temsamani said the company was committed to increasing its investment in Australia and New Zealand.
“Google is investing significantly in our team in Australia, as Australian consumers and businesses navigate the growing online world,” Mr Temsamani wrote on the company blog.
“Behind the scenes, there's a large team here that is working to ensure that you get access to the latest Google products, and that we continually improve our existing products,” he wrote.
For more Web Applications news, click here.
Fonality acquires Aussie CRM developer
LEADING US-based unified communications and contact centre specialist Fonality has acquired Sydney-based SugarCRM development house Insightful Solutions for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition is part of a Fonality initiative to create the industry’s first phone system that unifies both telephony and CRM for small and medium sized businesses.
Insightful Solutions is one of the world’s largest SugarCRM development companies and is a SugarCRM Gold partner for the Australia-New Zealand and Asia Pacific regions.
SugarCRM is a commercial open source customer relationship management software platform.
Over the past two years, Insightful has made substantial enhancements to SugarCRM and hosts more than one thousand seats in 13 countries at the company’s three global data centres. By combining Insightful’s CRM expertise with Fonality’s telephony suite, small businesses will have an affordable solution that unifies employees with presence management, instant messaging, fixed and mobile calling, and provides a single 360 degree view of customers and business partners.
“Fonality has over 1,000 hybrid-hosted call centres deployed in 25 different countries and our hybrid-hosted platform is a powerful framework for delivering integrated applications directly to the SMB with no investment in premise equipment required,” said Fonality chief executive Chris Lyman.
“Telephony and CRM have a naturally concentric relationship, so this is good place to leverage hybrid-hosted and we are thrilled that the great folks at Insightful have joined forces with us to accelerate our unified offering to the global SMB marketplace,” Mr Lyman.
As part of the deal, Fonality will also begin selling Insightful’s SugarCRM managed service offering immediately, branded FonalityCRM.
Insightful co-founder and chief executive Marc Englaro has been appointed general manager of Fonality’s CRM Division. Before founding Insightful, Englaro was Director and Principal Consultant with Si2, leading its open source consulting practice. He will remain in his role as director of Open Source Industry Australia (OSIA), the country’s national industry body for open source adoption.
Insightful’s Australian team of CRM development and marketing experts have all taken positions with Fonality. The Insightful offices in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore will remain open.
“In Fonality we found a like-minded team which values going beyond simple integration, and building fully conjoined products that expand the definition of what’s on the market today,” said Englaro.
“Together we’re going to continue to raise the bar for what people expect from both VoIP and CRM.”
For more Open CeBIT news, click here.
The acquisition is part of a Fonality initiative to create the industry’s first phone system that unifies both telephony and CRM for small and medium sized businesses.
Insightful Solutions is one of the world’s largest SugarCRM development companies and is a SugarCRM Gold partner for the Australia-New Zealand and Asia Pacific regions.
SugarCRM is a commercial open source customer relationship management software platform.
Over the past two years, Insightful has made substantial enhancements to SugarCRM and hosts more than one thousand seats in 13 countries at the company’s three global data centres. By combining Insightful’s CRM expertise with Fonality’s telephony suite, small businesses will have an affordable solution that unifies employees with presence management, instant messaging, fixed and mobile calling, and provides a single 360 degree view of customers and business partners.
“Fonality has over 1,000 hybrid-hosted call centres deployed in 25 different countries and our hybrid-hosted platform is a powerful framework for delivering integrated applications directly to the SMB with no investment in premise equipment required,” said Fonality chief executive Chris Lyman.
“Telephony and CRM have a naturally concentric relationship, so this is good place to leverage hybrid-hosted and we are thrilled that the great folks at Insightful have joined forces with us to accelerate our unified offering to the global SMB marketplace,” Mr Lyman.
As part of the deal, Fonality will also begin selling Insightful’s SugarCRM managed service offering immediately, branded FonalityCRM.
Insightful co-founder and chief executive Marc Englaro has been appointed general manager of Fonality’s CRM Division. Before founding Insightful, Englaro was Director and Principal Consultant with Si2, leading its open source consulting practice. He will remain in his role as director of Open Source Industry Australia (OSIA), the country’s national industry body for open source adoption.
Insightful’s Australian team of CRM development and marketing experts have all taken positions with Fonality. The Insightful offices in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore will remain open.
“In Fonality we found a like-minded team which values going beyond simple integration, and building fully conjoined products that expand the definition of what’s on the market today,” said Englaro.
“Together we’re going to continue to raise the bar for what people expect from both VoIP and CRM.”
For more Open CeBIT news, click here.
AMD sells stake to mid-east interests
CHIP-maker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has sold an 8.1 per cent stake in the company to the investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government for US$622 million (A$698 million) in cash.
Proceeds from the sale, to the Mubadala Development Company, would be used for general corporate purposes – including the accelerating it long term growth strategy by investing in research and development, product development and manufacturing capability.
Partly to allay US public concerns about Middle East government investment in technology firms, AMD said this was a non-controlling, minority investment and that Mubadala would not receive any board representation as part of the deal.
The transaction did not present a controlling investment or acquisition subject to review by regulatory authorities like the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), the company said.
“We proudly welcome Mubadala, a world-class investor, to the AMD shareholder family. This investment strengthens AMD’s ability to deliver customer-centric innovation and choice to the marketplace, creating greater value for all of our shareholders,” said AMD Chairman and chief executive Hector Ruiz.
AMD has been in a slump in recent quarters, and the investment is seen as a timely injection of capital to take to its ongoing battle with rival Intel. AMD has lost more than US$1.6 billion so far this year.
For more Components & Peripherals news, click here.
Proceeds from the sale, to the Mubadala Development Company, would be used for general corporate purposes – including the accelerating it long term growth strategy by investing in research and development, product development and manufacturing capability.
Partly to allay US public concerns about Middle East government investment in technology firms, AMD said this was a non-controlling, minority investment and that Mubadala would not receive any board representation as part of the deal.
The transaction did not present a controlling investment or acquisition subject to review by regulatory authorities like the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), the company said.
“We proudly welcome Mubadala, a world-class investor, to the AMD shareholder family. This investment strengthens AMD’s ability to deliver customer-centric innovation and choice to the marketplace, creating greater value for all of our shareholders,” said AMD Chairman and chief executive Hector Ruiz.
AMD has been in a slump in recent quarters, and the investment is seen as a timely injection of capital to take to its ongoing battle with rival Intel. AMD has lost more than US$1.6 billion so far this year.
For more Components & Peripherals news, click here.
Friday, November 16, 2007
EDS buys public sector specialist
OUTSOURCING giant Electronic Data Systems is to acquire public sector software and service specialist Saber Corporation for US$420 million (A$468 million) in cash.
Under the terms of the agreement, Saber chief executive Nitin Khannan and chief operating officer will retain a 7 per cent stake in the firm while running it as an EDS unit.
Founded in 1997, Saber is one of the fastest-growing providers of software to state and local governments.
“This transaction creates a growth opportunity for EDS as Saber brings complementary capabilities to EDS’ already strong presence in the U.S. state and local government market, and is consistent with our strategy to move aggressively into higher-value application services,” said EDS executive vice-president Corporate Strategy and Business Development Joe Eazor.
“The combination of Saber’s industry-leading applications portfolio, geographic breadth and deep understanding of government technology needs, together with EDS’ global resources and demonstrated strengths in systems integration, will provide unmatched, end-to-end solutions for clients,” Mr Eazor said.
The US state and local government market for IT services is a highly attractive growth segment valued at approximately US$50 billion by research firm INPUT and is estimated to have a compound annual growth rate of nearly 8 percent, driven by modernization of legacy systems and strong demand in new market segments for software and service solutions.
Last year, approximately US$3.3 billion, or 16 percent, of EDS’ revenue came from U.S. Government clients.
For more IT Services news, click here.
Under the terms of the agreement, Saber chief executive Nitin Khannan and chief operating officer will retain a 7 per cent stake in the firm while running it as an EDS unit.
Founded in 1997, Saber is one of the fastest-growing providers of software to state and local governments.
“This transaction creates a growth opportunity for EDS as Saber brings complementary capabilities to EDS’ already strong presence in the U.S. state and local government market, and is consistent with our strategy to move aggressively into higher-value application services,” said EDS executive vice-president Corporate Strategy and Business Development Joe Eazor.
“The combination of Saber’s industry-leading applications portfolio, geographic breadth and deep understanding of government technology needs, together with EDS’ global resources and demonstrated strengths in systems integration, will provide unmatched, end-to-end solutions for clients,” Mr Eazor said.
The US state and local government market for IT services is a highly attractive growth segment valued at approximately US$50 billion by research firm INPUT and is estimated to have a compound annual growth rate of nearly 8 percent, driven by modernization of legacy systems and strong demand in new market segments for software and service solutions.
Last year, approximately US$3.3 billion, or 16 percent, of EDS’ revenue came from U.S. Government clients.
For more IT Services news, click here.
Europe extends DoubleClick scrutiny
REGULATORS in Europe have intensified its scrutiny of the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger, saying its initial investigation had revealed competition concerns.
The European Commission issued a statement this week saying it had opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed acquisition under EU merger regulation.
“The Commission’s initial market investigation indicated that the proposed merger would raise competition concerns in the markets for intermediation and ad serving in online advertising,” the statement said.
It now has 90 working days to make a final decision on whether the transaction would impede effective competition.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is also looking at the possible impact of the proposed acquisition.
The further Commission investigation will look in particular at whether DoubleClick would have grown into an effective competitor of Google in the market for online ad intermediation if the acquisition did not take place.
It will also investigate whether the merger, which combines the leading providers online advertising space and intermediation services, with ad serving technology, could lead to anti-competitive restrictions and harm consumers.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
The European Commission issued a statement this week saying it had opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed acquisition under EU merger regulation.
“The Commission’s initial market investigation indicated that the proposed merger would raise competition concerns in the markets for intermediation and ad serving in online advertising,” the statement said.
It now has 90 working days to make a final decision on whether the transaction would impede effective competition.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is also looking at the possible impact of the proposed acquisition.
The further Commission investigation will look in particular at whether DoubleClick would have grown into an effective competitor of Google in the market for online ad intermediation if the acquisition did not take place.
It will also investigate whether the merger, which combines the leading providers online advertising space and intermediation services, with ad serving technology, could lead to anti-competitive restrictions and harm consumers.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
Farmers attack Labor broadband plan
THE nation’s peak farming lobby has attacked Federal Labor’s plan to use money from the $2 billion Communications Fund to help pay for its national broadband plans.
National Farmers Federation(NFF) president David Crombie said the Communications Fund had been put in place to “future proof” the bush and should not be used for a one-off upgrade of broadband services.
The Communications Fund was established with proceeds from the T3 sale of Telstra shares. It was intended by Government to be a “locked-box” perpetual fund, with annual interest payments from the fund to be directed to rural upgrades.
“Labor’s policy fails to recognise that there is much more to telecommunications than just broadband, especially in the bush where phone and mobile services are critical to everyday life,” Mr Crombie said.
“Right now, future-proofing rural telecommunications is enshrined in legislation – funded by the $2 billion Communications Fund – guaranteeing future rural service upgrades,” he said
“From interest accrued on this dedicated perpetual Fund, rural telecommunications, including broadband and mobile services, are guaranteed funding for upgrades in the future.”
“The sole purpose of the Communications Fund is to finance solutions to telecommunications inadequacies across regional, rural and remote Australia on a regular basis into the future,” Mr Crombie said.
He said in “a couple of years” when the satellite, wireless and microwave technology became obsolete, there was no Labor plan to continue investment in the bush.
“Rural Australia will be left behind because Labor failed to plan for the future.”
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
National Farmers Federation(NFF) president David Crombie said the Communications Fund had been put in place to “future proof” the bush and should not be used for a one-off upgrade of broadband services.
The Communications Fund was established with proceeds from the T3 sale of Telstra shares. It was intended by Government to be a “locked-box” perpetual fund, with annual interest payments from the fund to be directed to rural upgrades.
“Labor’s policy fails to recognise that there is much more to telecommunications than just broadband, especially in the bush where phone and mobile services are critical to everyday life,” Mr Crombie said.
“Right now, future-proofing rural telecommunications is enshrined in legislation – funded by the $2 billion Communications Fund – guaranteeing future rural service upgrades,” he said
“From interest accrued on this dedicated perpetual Fund, rural telecommunications, including broadband and mobile services, are guaranteed funding for upgrades in the future.”
“The sole purpose of the Communications Fund is to finance solutions to telecommunications inadequacies across regional, rural and remote Australia on a regular basis into the future,” Mr Crombie said.
He said in “a couple of years” when the satellite, wireless and microwave technology became obsolete, there was no Labor plan to continue investment in the bush.
“Rural Australia will be left behind because Labor failed to plan for the future.”
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
Microsoft buys French mobile music firm
MICROSOFT has furthered its music-related ambitions, announcing a suite of initiatives around its Zune platform, including the acquisition of a mobile specialist and the creation of a music-related social networking service.
The company said it had entered an agreement with the French firm Musiwave, an OpenWave subsidiary and leading provider of mobile music and entertainment service to carriers and media companies.
The acquisition brings Musiwave’s relations with music labels, device makers and mobile carriers together with Microsoft’s so-called ‘Connected Entertainment technologies’ – like Windows Mobile, Zune, MSN and Windows Live.
Should the acquisition be approved, Musiwave will continue to operate from its current Paris headquarters.
“Microsoft and Musiwave share the same philosophy in working with hardware and mobile operator partners to deliver great experiences for mobile device users,” said Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business senior vice-president Pieter Knook.
“Bringing Musiwave on board would provide an opportunity for Microsoft to explore new areas in the mobile space previously untapped, and to showcase the power of software plus services,” Mr Knook said.
“This contemplated acquisition reflects Microsoft’s recognition of the software and technology expertise in Europe.”
Microsoft also unveiled a beta version of its Zune Social service, a social networking site based on music. The company said the service was designed to “connect people through music” by helping them to share their music tastes, knowledge and experience.
Also launched was a swag of new Zune portable media players.
For more Digital Content news, click here.
The company said it had entered an agreement with the French firm Musiwave, an OpenWave subsidiary and leading provider of mobile music and entertainment service to carriers and media companies.
The acquisition brings Musiwave’s relations with music labels, device makers and mobile carriers together with Microsoft’s so-called ‘Connected Entertainment technologies’ – like Windows Mobile, Zune, MSN and Windows Live.
Should the acquisition be approved, Musiwave will continue to operate from its current Paris headquarters.
“Microsoft and Musiwave share the same philosophy in working with hardware and mobile operator partners to deliver great experiences for mobile device users,” said Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business senior vice-president Pieter Knook.
“Bringing Musiwave on board would provide an opportunity for Microsoft to explore new areas in the mobile space previously untapped, and to showcase the power of software plus services,” Mr Knook said.
“This contemplated acquisition reflects Microsoft’s recognition of the software and technology expertise in Europe.”
Microsoft also unveiled a beta version of its Zune Social service, a social networking site based on music. The company said the service was designed to “connect people through music” by helping them to share their music tastes, knowledge and experience.
Also launched was a swag of new Zune portable media players.
For more Digital Content news, click here.
Boom looms for mobile broadband
THE global trade association for the mobile industry, the GSM Association (GSMA), says there is a vast untapped worldwide market for an additional 70 million mobile broadband-capable notebooks.
The association published results of a survey conducted with Microsoft that shows a market worth US$50 billion (A$56 billion) in 2008 for notebook PCs in the high growth, mass market US$500 – US$1,000 price-range with built-in mobile broadband.
GSMA says the results suggest PC makers had not yet hit the configuration/price sweet spot in the mobile broadband market, and that there remains a lot of latent demand.
It reveals a gap of up to 46.5 million units between recent industry analyst forecasts and the new analysis, suggesting that PC manufacturers have yet to deliver the right mobile broadband PCs - bundled with pre-configured mobile connectivity - to appeal to mass market PC buyers.
The market research, by Pyramid Research, involved more than 12,000 consumer interviews across 13 countries, with input from notebook manufacturers, component companies and chip set suppliers as well as more than 200 field trials.
“With the right form factor, price and ‘out-of-the-box’ connectivity, the research has unearthed substantial demand for mobile broadband embedded notebooks that is not yet being met,” said GSMA chief executive officer Rob Conway.
“Now that we understand the market potential and consumers’ requirements, we are pleased to communicate the findings to the broader industry eco-system,” Mr Conway said.
Leading PC manufacturers, including Asus, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, Lenovo, Twinhead and Vestel have welcomed the research report and expressed interest in working with mobile operators and the GSMA to fulfil this market demand.
For more Mobile Computing news, click here.
The association published results of a survey conducted with Microsoft that shows a market worth US$50 billion (A$56 billion) in 2008 for notebook PCs in the high growth, mass market US$500 – US$1,000 price-range with built-in mobile broadband.
GSMA says the results suggest PC makers had not yet hit the configuration/price sweet spot in the mobile broadband market, and that there remains a lot of latent demand.
It reveals a gap of up to 46.5 million units between recent industry analyst forecasts and the new analysis, suggesting that PC manufacturers have yet to deliver the right mobile broadband PCs - bundled with pre-configured mobile connectivity - to appeal to mass market PC buyers.
The market research, by Pyramid Research, involved more than 12,000 consumer interviews across 13 countries, with input from notebook manufacturers, component companies and chip set suppliers as well as more than 200 field trials.
“With the right form factor, price and ‘out-of-the-box’ connectivity, the research has unearthed substantial demand for mobile broadband embedded notebooks that is not yet being met,” said GSMA chief executive officer Rob Conway.
“Now that we understand the market potential and consumers’ requirements, we are pleased to communicate the findings to the broader industry eco-system,” Mr Conway said.
Leading PC manufacturers, including Asus, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, Lenovo, Twinhead and Vestel have welcomed the research report and expressed interest in working with mobile operators and the GSMA to fulfil this market demand.
For more Mobile Computing news, click here.
Google offers US$10m Android prize
SEARCH giant Google has offered a US$10 million prize for the developers who build mobile applications for its new Android mobile phone operating system.
The company said the Android Developer Challenge was designed to support the developer community and to spark innovation on the platform. Cash prizes ranging from US$25,000 to $275,000 will be awarded to developers whose applications are picked by a panel of judges.
“We've built some interesting applications for Android but the best applications are not here yet and that's because they're going to be written by developers,” said Google co-founder and technology president Sergey Brin.
“We'd like to reward these developers and recognise them as much as possible.”
Google director of mobile platforms Andy Rubin said the company was challenging developers “to stretch their imaginations and skills” to leverage the full capabilities of this new platform and to create something amazing.
Google announced Android a week ago through the Open Handset Alliance, a group of more than 30 technology and mobile companies backing the Android open source platform.
The OHA includes Google, China Mobile, LG Electronics, Intel, eBay, Motorola, NTT DoCoMo, and Qualcom.
Last week, the Alliance released an early look at the Android SDK through a developer’s blog.
The US$10 million total in the Android Developer Challenge will be distributed equally between the Android Developer Challenge I and II. Submissions for Challenge I will be accepted from the beginning of January to March 3, 2008, and the 50 most promising entries will be recognised by end of March, with each receiving US$25,000 awards to fund further development.
These 50 entries will be eligible for more funding with a further ten awards worth $275,000 each, and another ten worth $100,000 each.
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
The company said the Android Developer Challenge was designed to support the developer community and to spark innovation on the platform. Cash prizes ranging from US$25,000 to $275,000 will be awarded to developers whose applications are picked by a panel of judges.
“We've built some interesting applications for Android but the best applications are not here yet and that's because they're going to be written by developers,” said Google co-founder and technology president Sergey Brin.
“We'd like to reward these developers and recognise them as much as possible.”
Google director of mobile platforms Andy Rubin said the company was challenging developers “to stretch their imaginations and skills” to leverage the full capabilities of this new platform and to create something amazing.
Google announced Android a week ago through the Open Handset Alliance, a group of more than 30 technology and mobile companies backing the Android open source platform.
The OHA includes Google, China Mobile, LG Electronics, Intel, eBay, Motorola, NTT DoCoMo, and Qualcom.
Last week, the Alliance released an early look at the Android SDK through a developer’s blog.
The US$10 million total in the Android Developer Challenge will be distributed equally between the Android Developer Challenge I and II. Submissions for Challenge I will be accepted from the beginning of January to March 3, 2008, and the 50 most promising entries will be recognised by end of March, with each receiving US$25,000 awards to fund further development.
These 50 entries will be eligible for more funding with a further ten awards worth $275,000 each, and another ten worth $100,000 each.
For more Telecommunications news, click here.
Xbox Live signs 8 millionth members
MICROSOFT’S online games network Xbox LIVE celebrated its fifth birthday this week, with the company announcing the service had signed its 8 millionth customer to market the event.
For a service that had plenty of knockers at launch, Xbox Live has changed market expectations of what a gaming service should be.
And the service is largely credited with keeping the Xbox console alive and competitive in the hyper-competitive market that includes Sony and Nintendo Wii.
Xbox LIVE has grown from a small community of gamers in two countries, playing a handful of games online with their friends, to a worldwide social entertainment network offering online access to gaming, music, movies and TV shows.
Microsoft said it would celebrate the five-year milestone by giving all 8 million customers a free Xbox Live Arcade game – through its new download service.
Starting in early December, all Xbox Live members will receive a free system update that includes a series of new features and updates – including the launch of Xbox Originals,
Xbox Originals will for the first time let consumers download and own full Xbox Games – Halo and Psychonauts.
“In just five short years, Xbox LIVE has revolutionized the way friends and family have fun in the living room,” said Microsoft’s LIVE software and services corporate vice-president John Schappert.
“On its fifth birthday, Xbox LIVE truly is the place for hanging out with friends and enjoying downloadable TV shows, movies, videos, game add-ons and now downloadable Xbox games on demand.”
For more Digital Content news, click here.
For a service that had plenty of knockers at launch, Xbox Live has changed market expectations of what a gaming service should be.
And the service is largely credited with keeping the Xbox console alive and competitive in the hyper-competitive market that includes Sony and Nintendo Wii.
Xbox LIVE has grown from a small community of gamers in two countries, playing a handful of games online with their friends, to a worldwide social entertainment network offering online access to gaming, music, movies and TV shows.
Microsoft said it would celebrate the five-year milestone by giving all 8 million customers a free Xbox Live Arcade game – through its new download service.
Starting in early December, all Xbox Live members will receive a free system update that includes a series of new features and updates – including the launch of Xbox Originals,
Xbox Originals will for the first time let consumers download and own full Xbox Games – Halo and Psychonauts.
“In just five short years, Xbox LIVE has revolutionized the way friends and family have fun in the living room,” said Microsoft’s LIVE software and services corporate vice-president John Schappert.
“On its fifth birthday, Xbox LIVE truly is the place for hanging out with friends and enjoying downloadable TV shows, movies, videos, game add-ons and now downloadable Xbox games on demand.”
For more Digital Content news, click here.
Facebook sells users to corporates
WILDLY popular social network Facebook is to test the loyalty of its 50-million-strong user base, unveiling a new advertising system that targets its users based on their personal preferences.
The company is also announced plans to allow corporations to launch dedicated brand pages on the service, saying it had already signed deals with dozens of companies, including Coca-Cola, Blockbuster and eBay.
Facebook Ads would allow marketers to become “part of the conversation,” Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg told a conference in New York.
The highlight of the system is that “users can now learn about new businesses, brands and products through the trusted referrals of their friends,” the company said.
The Facebook ad system was expected, but its invasiveness has surprised some users. Groups have already appeared on the service protesting the use of personal information by the system.
Facebook’s corporate blog said the Facebook Ads system improved the service for its users. It promised its pages would remain clean-looking, and that users would not see any more advertisments than they see now.
The company also said the service would allow its users to keep in closer contact with the brands they feel “passionate” about.
Mr Zuckerberg said the social network’s role in advertising was becoming increasingly powerful.
“Social actions are powerful because they act as trusted referrals and reinforce the fact that people influence people,” said Mr Zuckerberg said.
“It’s no longer just about messages that are broadcasted out by companies, but increasingly about information that is shared between friends. So we set out to use these social actions to build a new kind of ad system,” he said.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
The company is also announced plans to allow corporations to launch dedicated brand pages on the service, saying it had already signed deals with dozens of companies, including Coca-Cola, Blockbuster and eBay.
Facebook Ads would allow marketers to become “part of the conversation,” Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg told a conference in New York.
The highlight of the system is that “users can now learn about new businesses, brands and products through the trusted referrals of their friends,” the company said.
The Facebook ad system was expected, but its invasiveness has surprised some users. Groups have already appeared on the service protesting the use of personal information by the system.
Facebook’s corporate blog said the Facebook Ads system improved the service for its users. It promised its pages would remain clean-looking, and that users would not see any more advertisments than they see now.
The company also said the service would allow its users to keep in closer contact with the brands they feel “passionate” about.
Mr Zuckerberg said the social network’s role in advertising was becoming increasingly powerful.
“Social actions are powerful because they act as trusted referrals and reinforce the fact that people influence people,” said Mr Zuckerberg said.
“It’s no longer just about messages that are broadcasted out by companies, but increasingly about information that is shared between friends. So we set out to use these social actions to build a new kind of ad system,” he said.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
AOL in advertising acquisition play
MASS market internet services pioneer AOL is to acquire New York-based online advertising specialist Quigo, the latest online giant to make an equity play in the ad market.
AOL competitors Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft has all spent billions this year buying online advertising companies, most notably Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick – which is still to be approved by federal antitrust regulators – and Microsoft’s acquisition of aQuantive.
The deal gives AOL contextual advertising capabilities, allowing it to match advertising to the content of Web pages. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
The company has more than 500 premium publisher relationships, including a recently finalized deal with Time, and has a broad network of roughly 3,000 advertisers.
Quigo's AdSonar technology lets advertisers purchase ads on websites based on specific pages, sections, topics or keywords. Quigo offers a variety of pricing models including text, display and video ads bought on a cost-per-click, cost per impression, or cost per time basis.
“We will be able to offer advertisers and publishers the most advanced set of tools, including contextual and behavioural targeting, superior analytics, and access to the largest display network in the marketplace.” said AOL chairman and chief executive Randy Falco.
“And by offering advertisers the ability to target ads based on the content of Web pages using Quigo's AdSonar technology, we will be able to maximise the value of publishers' ad inventory,” he said.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
AOL competitors Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft has all spent billions this year buying online advertising companies, most notably Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick – which is still to be approved by federal antitrust regulators – and Microsoft’s acquisition of aQuantive.
The deal gives AOL contextual advertising capabilities, allowing it to match advertising to the content of Web pages. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
The company has more than 500 premium publisher relationships, including a recently finalized deal with Time, and has a broad network of roughly 3,000 advertisers.
Quigo's AdSonar technology lets advertisers purchase ads on websites based on specific pages, sections, topics or keywords. Quigo offers a variety of pricing models including text, display and video ads bought on a cost-per-click, cost per impression, or cost per time basis.
“We will be able to offer advertisers and publishers the most advanced set of tools, including contextual and behavioural targeting, superior analytics, and access to the largest display network in the marketplace.” said AOL chairman and chief executive Randy Falco.
“And by offering advertisers the ability to target ads based on the content of Web pages using Quigo's AdSonar technology, we will be able to maximise the value of publishers' ad inventory,” he said.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
Murdoch dumps WSJ fees
MEDIA magnate Rupert Murdoch says News Corporation will drop the subscription model used by the online site of its latest masthead The Wall Street Journal in favour of free access.
Mr Murdoch said the company hopes to generate at least 10 to fifteen times as much traffic to the WSJ site by making it free. The company will make more money by attracting more readers, he said.
News Corporation is expected to complete its acquisition of WSJ owners Dow Jones – announced last month – by the end of the year.
Speaking at the annual News shareholder in meeting in Adelaide, Mr Murdoch said: “We are studying it and we expect to make that free, and instead of having 1 million (subscribers), having at least 10 million to 15 million in every corner of the earth.”
The WSJ.com site is one of the few internet sites to have successfully introduced a subscription model – charging its million readers an annual fee of US$50 (A$55).
After spending much the nineties as an online sceptic before ultimately becoming a big investor, Mr Murdoch told the meeting the internet was now generating US$1 billion a year for the company
While not expressing surprise at the size of the internet revenue, he did remark it was somewhat unsual given it came from a sector that “didn’t exist” as recently as a few years ago.
“I'd like to be able to say it was great prescience on my part but there's a certain amount of luck to it,” he said.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
Mr Murdoch said the company hopes to generate at least 10 to fifteen times as much traffic to the WSJ site by making it free. The company will make more money by attracting more readers, he said.
News Corporation is expected to complete its acquisition of WSJ owners Dow Jones – announced last month – by the end of the year.
Speaking at the annual News shareholder in meeting in Adelaide, Mr Murdoch said: “We are studying it and we expect to make that free, and instead of having 1 million (subscribers), having at least 10 million to 15 million in every corner of the earth.”
The WSJ.com site is one of the few internet sites to have successfully introduced a subscription model – charging its million readers an annual fee of US$50 (A$55).
After spending much the nineties as an online sceptic before ultimately becoming a big investor, Mr Murdoch told the meeting the internet was now generating US$1 billion a year for the company
While not expressing surprise at the size of the internet revenue, he did remark it was somewhat unsual given it came from a sector that “didn’t exist” as recently as a few years ago.
“I'd like to be able to say it was great prescience on my part but there's a certain amount of luck to it,” he said.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
Yahoo settles over China dissident
WEB pioneer Yahoo has settled a lawsuit in the US that had accused the company of helping authorities in China to jail and torture two political dissidents.
The World Organisation for Human Rights USA, which had assisted in legal action agianst Yahoo in California over complicity in “major human rights buses in China”, said in a statement that the company had settled out of court.
The case had generated a growing public backlash, making the company the subject of intense political pressure from the US congress in the past weeks.
Details of the settlement have been kept private, but are thought to include a commitment from Yahoo to provide financial support to the families of the jailed men; to help secure the release of the men; and to reconsider the way it handles certain requests for information from authorities.
“Yahoo had handed over the identifying internet user information of well-known Chinese journalist Shi Tao, and pro-democracy writer Wang Xiaoning, to Chinese authorities, who sought to punish the two men for having done nothing more than expressed their free speech rights – rights that are, ironically, recognised under the Chinese constitution,” Human Rights USA said in the statement.
“As a result of Yahoo's cooperation with Chinese authorities, the two men were subjected to arbitrary arrest, long-term detention, abuse, and torture while imprisoned in China,” the statement read.
“Both men are serving 10-year sentences under the highly dubious charges of ‘subversion of state power’ and ‘sharing state secrets’ – vague charges whose underlying purpose is to detain individuals who make statements unfavourable to the Chinese government.”
For more Web Applications news, click here.
The World Organisation for Human Rights USA, which had assisted in legal action agianst Yahoo in California over complicity in “major human rights buses in China”, said in a statement that the company had settled out of court.
The case had generated a growing public backlash, making the company the subject of intense political pressure from the US congress in the past weeks.
Details of the settlement have been kept private, but are thought to include a commitment from Yahoo to provide financial support to the families of the jailed men; to help secure the release of the men; and to reconsider the way it handles certain requests for information from authorities.
“Yahoo had handed over the identifying internet user information of well-known Chinese journalist Shi Tao, and pro-democracy writer Wang Xiaoning, to Chinese authorities, who sought to punish the two men for having done nothing more than expressed their free speech rights – rights that are, ironically, recognised under the Chinese constitution,” Human Rights USA said in the statement.
“As a result of Yahoo's cooperation with Chinese authorities, the two men were subjected to arbitrary arrest, long-term detention, abuse, and torture while imprisoned in China,” the statement read.
“Both men are serving 10-year sentences under the highly dubious charges of ‘subversion of state power’ and ‘sharing state secrets’ – vague charges whose underlying purpose is to detain individuals who make statements unfavourable to the Chinese government.”
For more Web Applications news, click here.
Online ad spend to double by 2011
SPENDING on online advertising in the US will grow to more than US$21 billion ($22.6 billion) this year, and double to US$42 billion in 2011, according to research firm eMarketer.
The company said generally gloomy industry forecasts for traditional advertising – a result of concerns about the US economy – were unlikely to hurt online advertising as badly as the rest of the media.
“Even as the credit crunch pulls ad money off the total media table, the internet looks to be more resistant to economic turmoil,” said eMarketer senior analyst David Hallerman.
“To put the obvious into figures, online advertising contributes more and more to the total ad spending universe every year.”
“That share will be 7.4 per cent this year, approach one in ten dollars next year, and will likely reach at least 13 per cent by the end of 2011,” Mr Hallerman said.
The average ad spend per internet user is also growing, eMarketer reports.
In fact, 2007 marks the first year that marketers will spend more than US$100 to reach each person online. And, by 2011, advertisers will be spending nearly US$200 per user.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
The company said generally gloomy industry forecasts for traditional advertising – a result of concerns about the US economy – were unlikely to hurt online advertising as badly as the rest of the media.
“Even as the credit crunch pulls ad money off the total media table, the internet looks to be more resistant to economic turmoil,” said eMarketer senior analyst David Hallerman.
“To put the obvious into figures, online advertising contributes more and more to the total ad spending universe every year.”
“That share will be 7.4 per cent this year, approach one in ten dollars next year, and will likely reach at least 13 per cent by the end of 2011,” Mr Hallerman said.
The average ad spend per internet user is also growing, eMarketer reports.
In fact, 2007 marks the first year that marketers will spend more than US$100 to reach each person online. And, by 2011, advertisers will be spending nearly US$200 per user.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Nortel taps Macquarie graduate schools for training
TELECOM equipment vendor Nortel has signed an agreement with the prestigious Macquarie Graduate School of Management to drive joint training and marketing activities targeting wireless technologies.
The three-year agreement sees the deployment of a Nortel wireless network at the MGSM North Ryde and Sydney CBD campuses.
Nortel will gain access to a number of certified MGSM courses, and for marketing purposes will be acknowledged and the school’s official technology partner.
“This important agreement goes well beyond the introduction of new technology,” Macquarie Graduate School Dean Professor Roy Green said.
“Over the next few years we can expect to further enhance the quality and relevance of our teaching material by marrying the technology with practical input from a global communications leader like Nortel,” he said.
“By linking 'real world' experience with the most current management theories and principles from around the globe, MGSM provides executives with a learning experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of a business school.”
Nortel Australia-New Zealand managing director Mark Stevens said in the fast-approaching age of “hyperconnectivity” – where the number of devices connected to a network outpaces the number of people connected – managing communications became an increasingly important part of graduate management training.
“There’s a natural synergy between MGSM’s focus on leadership in management education and Nortel’s focus on leadership in delivering enterprise communications solutions,” Mr Stevens said.
For more IT Services news, click here.
The three-year agreement sees the deployment of a Nortel wireless network at the MGSM North Ryde and Sydney CBD campuses.
Nortel will gain access to a number of certified MGSM courses, and for marketing purposes will be acknowledged and the school’s official technology partner.
“This important agreement goes well beyond the introduction of new technology,” Macquarie Graduate School Dean Professor Roy Green said.
“Over the next few years we can expect to further enhance the quality and relevance of our teaching material by marrying the technology with practical input from a global communications leader like Nortel,” he said.
“By linking 'real world' experience with the most current management theories and principles from around the globe, MGSM provides executives with a learning experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of a business school.”
Nortel Australia-New Zealand managing director Mark Stevens said in the fast-approaching age of “hyperconnectivity” – where the number of devices connected to a network outpaces the number of people connected – managing communications became an increasingly important part of graduate management training.
“There’s a natural synergy between MGSM’s focus on leadership in management education and Nortel’s focus on leadership in delivering enterprise communications solutions,” Mr Stevens said.
For more IT Services news, click here.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Privacy groups target net cookies
THE battle lines have been drawn in the brewing fight between privacy advocates and online advertisers with a proposed “Do Not Track” register likely to be a flashpoint.
A group of nine privacy and advocacy groups in the US have applied to the Federal Trade Commission for the creation of register that would let users ‘opt-out’ of the internet advertising practice of tracking, storing and using details of consumers’ online habits.
The No Not Track register would operate in the same as way as the Do Not Call register, which stops telemarketing companies from calling their home phones numbers.
It is the Federal Trade Commission that operates the Do Not Call register in the US. In Australia, a Do Not Call register was introduced earlier this year, operated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Privacy has become a frontline issue in online advertising and marketing, with billions of dollars at stake. Online search giants Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have all spent billions this year acquiring online advertising firms – with the aim of using demographic and preference data acquired through the search process and applying it to advertising.
The US FTC on Wednesday held a ‘Town Hall’ meeting to hear consumer concerns about online advertising and marketing. Groups engaged in lobbying for the Do Not Track register include the Electronic Frontiers Foundation, the World Privacy Forum, the Center for Democracy and Technology, and the Consumer Federation of America.
From the internet to mobile devices and beyond, consumers leave behind a vast amount of behavioural information that is tracked and targeted by advertisers and marketers without their knowledge. This “behavioural tracking” – the practice of collecting and compiling a record of individual consumers' activities, interests, preferences, and communications over time – places consumers' privacy at risk, and is not covered by law.
“If you look back at the Do Not Call list, it was at one time managed by industry. But it didn’t gain widespread acceptance until the FTC took it over,” said World Privacy Forum executive director Pam Dixon.
“The industry has had seven years to prove they can manage online opt-outs. It is time to move toward something structured like the Do Not Call list to address the problems we are seeing, and have now seen for seven years.”
The Do Not Track list springs from consumer protection principles on the internet already enforced by the Commission, and builds on its experience as the lead law enforcement agency in the fight against and prosecution of spyware abuse.
The Do Not Track register would require advertising entities that place persistent tracking technologies on consumers’ computers to register with the FTC all domain names of the servers involved in such activities.
Developers of browser applications would be encouraged to create plug-ins allowing users to download the Do Not Track list onto their computers. Having the list accessible via a browser application would allow users to prevent any site from tracking behavioural data.
“Online opt-outs should be as well-known and as easy as the Do Not Call list,” said Consumer Federation of America research director, Mark Cooper.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
A group of nine privacy and advocacy groups in the US have applied to the Federal Trade Commission for the creation of register that would let users ‘opt-out’ of the internet advertising practice of tracking, storing and using details of consumers’ online habits.
The No Not Track register would operate in the same as way as the Do Not Call register, which stops telemarketing companies from calling their home phones numbers.
It is the Federal Trade Commission that operates the Do Not Call register in the US. In Australia, a Do Not Call register was introduced earlier this year, operated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Privacy has become a frontline issue in online advertising and marketing, with billions of dollars at stake. Online search giants Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have all spent billions this year acquiring online advertising firms – with the aim of using demographic and preference data acquired through the search process and applying it to advertising.
The US FTC on Wednesday held a ‘Town Hall’ meeting to hear consumer concerns about online advertising and marketing. Groups engaged in lobbying for the Do Not Track register include the Electronic Frontiers Foundation, the World Privacy Forum, the Center for Democracy and Technology, and the Consumer Federation of America.
From the internet to mobile devices and beyond, consumers leave behind a vast amount of behavioural information that is tracked and targeted by advertisers and marketers without their knowledge. This “behavioural tracking” – the practice of collecting and compiling a record of individual consumers' activities, interests, preferences, and communications over time – places consumers' privacy at risk, and is not covered by law.
“If you look back at the Do Not Call list, it was at one time managed by industry. But it didn’t gain widespread acceptance until the FTC took it over,” said World Privacy Forum executive director Pam Dixon.
“The industry has had seven years to prove they can manage online opt-outs. It is time to move toward something structured like the Do Not Call list to address the problems we are seeing, and have now seen for seven years.”
The Do Not Track list springs from consumer protection principles on the internet already enforced by the Commission, and builds on its experience as the lead law enforcement agency in the fight against and prosecution of spyware abuse.
The Do Not Track register would require advertising entities that place persistent tracking technologies on consumers’ computers to register with the FTC all domain names of the servers involved in such activities.
Developers of browser applications would be encouraged to create plug-ins allowing users to download the Do Not Track list onto their computers. Having the list accessible via a browser application would allow users to prevent any site from tracking behavioural data.
“Online opt-outs should be as well-known and as easy as the Do Not Call list,” said Consumer Federation of America research director, Mark Cooper.
For more e-Marketing news, click here.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Hackers discover extra Manhunt violence
COMPUTER hackers in the US have uncovered ultra-violent content in the game “Manhunt 2” which the publisher had hidden in order to get it through the ratings authority.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board in the US had originally given the game an “Adult’s Only” rating. But when the game went on sale a week ago, it carried a “Mature” rating.
Reports in the US say hackers have broken the blurring of some of the more violent scenes in the game. The game’s publisher had blurred the ultra-violent content in order to get a more marketable rating.
The reports say the hackers had defeated blurring on the Playstation Portable version of the game, which is also available on PlayStation 2 and Nintendo’s Wii consoles.
The Manhunt 2 publisher Take Two Interactive Software have hit headlines in Australia previsouly, both for the previous version of ManHunt and for its Grand Theft Auto franchise. Ultra-violence and graphic sex scenes have been the complaint.
The Manhunt 2 hack is said to roll-back only some of the changes that were made to give the game a more accessible rating. The hack also requires considerable technical expertise, as well as a PlayStation Portable that has itself been hacked to allow it to play modified software.
For more Digital Content news, click here.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board in the US had originally given the game an “Adult’s Only” rating. But when the game went on sale a week ago, it carried a “Mature” rating.
Reports in the US say hackers have broken the blurring of some of the more violent scenes in the game. The game’s publisher had blurred the ultra-violent content in order to get a more marketable rating.
The reports say the hackers had defeated blurring on the Playstation Portable version of the game, which is also available on PlayStation 2 and Nintendo’s Wii consoles.
The Manhunt 2 publisher Take Two Interactive Software have hit headlines in Australia previsouly, both for the previous version of ManHunt and for its Grand Theft Auto franchise. Ultra-violence and graphic sex scenes have been the complaint.
The Manhunt 2 hack is said to roll-back only some of the changes that were made to give the game a more accessible rating. The hack also requires considerable technical expertise, as well as a PlayStation Portable that has itself been hacked to allow it to play modified software.
For more Digital Content news, click here.
Internet remains tax free – for now
GOODS and services sold via the Internet will almost certainly retain their tax free status after lawmakers in the US voted to approve a seven-year extension of a moratorium on online tax.
The US Senate voted overwhelmingly last week to approve the extension, while the House had two weeks earlier approved a four-year extension of the internet’s tax free status.
The internet tax ban was originally approved in 1998, but was due to expire on November 1. Though there had been efforts among some lawmakers to make the tax ban permanent, those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
The Senate moratorium extension received strong support from both side of the chamber.
In a joint-statement issued after the vote Democrat Senator Tom Carper and Republican Senator Lamar Alexander – who jointly introduced the bill – said the extension was a commonsense compromise.
“This agreement is a common sense victory both for internet users and for state and local governments,” the Senators said.
“It continues the moratorium on Internet taxation, avoids unfunded federal mandates on states and cities, updates the definition of Internet access, and allows Congress to revisit the issue after seven years.”
The two Chambers will now have to reach a compromise on the length of the moratorium and some other fine-print detail before it can be sent to President George Bush for his signature.
For more e-Commerce & e-Finance news, click here.
The US Senate voted overwhelmingly last week to approve the extension, while the House had two weeks earlier approved a four-year extension of the internet’s tax free status.
The internet tax ban was originally approved in 1998, but was due to expire on November 1. Though there had been efforts among some lawmakers to make the tax ban permanent, those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
The Senate moratorium extension received strong support from both side of the chamber.
In a joint-statement issued after the vote Democrat Senator Tom Carper and Republican Senator Lamar Alexander – who jointly introduced the bill – said the extension was a commonsense compromise.
“This agreement is a common sense victory both for internet users and for state and local governments,” the Senators said.
“It continues the moratorium on Internet taxation, avoids unfunded federal mandates on states and cities, updates the definition of Internet access, and allows Congress to revisit the issue after seven years.”
The two Chambers will now have to reach a compromise on the length of the moratorium and some other fine-print detail before it can be sent to President George Bush for his signature.
For more e-Commerce & e-Finance news, click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)