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21st October 1998 Archive

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  • The true costs of Linux development

    A Register reader challenges the Microsoft 'one man' theory of Linux

    Microsoft's claim that any talented individual can compete effectively with it has been challenged, as one might expect. Yesterday a Microsoft attorney (see earlier story) cited Linus Torvalds in court as an example of how one person can produce a sophisticated OS, but Register reader Eric Green of Linux Hardware Solutions has …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 08:31

  • EU denies fixing mobile phone market in Europe's favour

    The expected counterblast has been issued. Now, who apart from Qualcomm is complaining?

    An EU spokesman has denied US claims that it was attempting to exclude US mobile phone companies from Europe in defining third generation cellular standards. Earlier this week US trade representative Charlene Barshefsky said the European process was aimed at shutting US companies out (see US vs Europe wireless trade war looms). …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 09:09

  • Trial unnecessary, and we don't have to be polite – Microsoft lawyer

    It was Sound-bite City as John Warden opened for Microsoft's defence yesterday

    The thrust of Microsoft's opening two-hour statement by its leading external lawyer, John Warden of Sullivan & Cromwell, was that it had done no wrong and was not obliged by law to be soft on competitors, since the antitrust laws are not a "code of civility in business". Microsoft "firmly believes the trial to be unnecessary", …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 09:26

  • Smoking memos that support Netscape's carve-up tales

    New documentation indicates that Netscape's 'fantasy' originated the day after the companies met -- spooky, eh?

    "Netscape had what the government would consider a monopoly in the market for Internet browsers until the Great Satan [clearly a Register reader] Microsoft came along," John Warden, Microsoft's trial lawyer said in his opening remarks. Referring to the meeting between Netscape and Microsoft at which it is alleged that a carve up …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 09:29

  • ‘How much to screw Netscape’ memo sheds light on AOL IE deal

    These days AOL claims IE was technically superior -- but what was it saying at the time?

    It will not help Microsoft's case that AOL has a document which details a meeting between Microsoft and AOL executives, where Gates was trying to persuade AOL to drop Netscape and use Internet Explorer only. The document is dated 21 January 1996, and was written by David Cole, an AOL executive. To make matters even more …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 09:33

  • Beebug scuttles away from Acorn

    Veteran dealer blames Acorn

    Veteran Acorn dealer Beebug is shutting down its retail arm on 13 November. Retail manager Jeremy Botterill, who joined the St Albans, Herts company in July, has been made redundant, along with three other staff. The retail business comprised a catalogue operation and a retail outlet in St. Albans. Founded in 1982, Beebug began …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 11:35

  • Microsoft results ahead of expectations, as expected

    Weirdly, the company's still finding 98 sales surprising too...

    Microsoft's oft-expressed surprise at the success of Windows 98 became even more puzzling when the company released its latest quarterly results yesterday. It said it earned $1.52 billion, and that from 25 June to 30 September it had sold ten million copies of Windows 98. That's just over three months, so would put the company …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 12:13

  • Gates didn't threaten Intel's Grove, says Microsoft attorney

    Attempts to get Intel to drop NSP were for technical reasons, claims Microsoft

    Bill Gates did not threaten Andy Grove, then CEO of Intel, during a three-hour dinner with him in 1995 at which native signal processing was discussed, John Warden, Microsoft's trial lawyer claimed. Gates was just urging Intel to drop the development of native signal processing because the technology was technically incompatible …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 12:20

  • Barksdale holds ground in three hour cross-examination

    Microsoft attorney John Warden has so far failed to dent the Netscape CEO's armour -- but he's only on page 13 of 127

    Jim Barksdale, CEO of Netscape, spent three hours yesterday being cross-examined by John Warden for Microsoft. Barksdale's written testimony was formally added to the court record, and despite the length of the session, Warden only reached page 13 of the 127-page deposition. Barksdale was calm throughout and resolutely failed to …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 12:23

  • IE 4 security bug latest

    Yet another way for Web sites to sneak dodgy content onto your system

    Microsoft Internet Explorer 4's method of parsing IP addresses could allow unscrupulous Webmasters to run code on users' machines, it has emerged. The security hole centres on the way IE distinguishes between two alternative ways of formatting IP addresses. If the browser encounters an address in the commonly-used form of four …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 12:27

  • Apple denies it's cancelled would-be NT killer

    MacOS X Server will ship says Great Stan of fruit

    Apple's MacOS X Server is alive and well, and will ship by the end of the year, the company claimed yesterday, seeking to scotch rumours that it had cancelled the OS. "As Apple has said, MacOS X Server is on track to ship this year," company spokeswoman Staci Sheppard told US Web site MacWeek.com. Apple was forced to make the …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 12:33

  • CRTs beat back flat panel challenge

    Average selling prices continue to decline

    CRT monitors will continue to dominate the data display market for the next seven years, despite "mounting competitive pressure" from flat panel displays. Worldwide CRT sales will produce $17 billion revenues from 90.5 million units, according to research firm Stanford Resources. By 2004, the worldwide CRT monitor market will …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 12:50

  • Ericsson selects Secure's SoftToken for intelligent phones

    Deal to allay mobile data security fears

    Ericsson has concluded a deal worth over $1 million to build SofToken technology from Secure Computing into its future generation of 'intelligent' mobile phones. Ericsson is also a shareholder in Symbian, the joint venture building intelligent phones based on Psion EPOC32 OS. The move was made to address the fears that many …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 13:29

  • Action halfway to £500m target

    Selective acquisitions planned (as opposed to non-selective acquisitions unplanned)

    Action Computer Supplies Holdings reported its 1998 results, ramping up turnover by 45 per cent to £250 million, but still way short of meeting its stated ambition to be a £500m company by the year 2000. Financial director Ian Wakelin said the objective still stands, although the timetable may have changed, but given the 45 per …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 13:39

  • ATI confirms Chromatic buyout

    It's all about system-on-a-chip technology

    Graphics card specialist has confirmed its intention to acquire media processor developer Chromatic Research in a deal worth $67 million. As predicted by The Register (see ATI prepares Chromatic buyout), ATI's interest lies in Chromatic's work on system-on-a-chip (SOC) products for set-top boxes. Chromatic has been developing an …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 14:21

  • Ideal Hardware founders ease the reins

    Name change and reorganisation, too

    Ideal Hardware founders James Wickes and Kevin Harper are relinquishing hands-on management at the company. They are joining fellow directors Simon Barker (operations) and Simon Miesegas (finance) in Ideal's new holding company -- called InterX -- where they will focus on "business opportunities for the whole group". Day-to-day …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 14:56

  • Lucent unveils voice-over-IP line

    ClearTrac integrates voice, data over frame relay

    Lucent has announced a line of enterprise-oriented voice over IP products based on technology developed by ACT Networks. The ClearTrac line brings voice calls from a PABX and IP, IPX and SNA data traffic together onto a wide area frame-relay network. To minimise bandwidth, the products offer built-in data compression. Lucent is …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 15:01

  • Bristol's Microsoft antitrust suit cranks on

    Lawsuits? Sure, we got lawsuits...

    With Microsoft's "A" team of lawyers busy in Washington, a "B" team was equally pressed in Bridgeport, Connecticut where Bristol Technology is seeking a preliminary injunction against Microsoft for, allegedly, abusing its operating system monopoly by indulging in anticompetitive behaviour, manipulating the Windows APIs, and …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 18:51

  • CHS juggles finances following collapse of Vobis buyout

    Parent renegotiates earnout payments of subsidiaries

    CHS Electronics stock plummeted two weeks ago and it announced yesterday that it is now renegotiating earnout payments for companies it has acquired, including big-hitters like Metrologie and Karma International. CHS would have the option of paying in cash or stock, reducing the number of diluted shares outstanding. The second …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 19:59

  • PhoneLink profitability in sight says CEO

    Acquisition strategy drives return to the black -- but not this year

    "We've been described as a stock-market dog," said Graham Ramsey, CEO of PhoneLink, the loss-making Tel-Me online content provider, "but our acquisition strategy is working and we're very bullish about the future." In 1996 PhoneLink reported £4 million turnover and a £7 million loss. By March 1997, turnover was static but the …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 20:03

  • Airline startup AB gets thumbs down from IT execs, spin doctor and hacks

    Lack of service in straw poll causes major grousea

    A UK airline startup got the thumbs-down from an IT distributor, a spin doctor and four independent journalists today for tardiness and lack of service. AB Airlines got the thumbs down from all six people. A straw poll The Register conducted elicted negative reactions from European chip company Dane-Elec, its PR company Chaz …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 20:27

  • Microsoft draws blood in Netscape battle

    But actually, the 'victory' means a lot less than Microsoft thinks

    Microsoft finally drew blood this morning when it produced a 1994 memo from Netscape co-founder Jim Clark. Late in December of that year Clark was approaching Microsoft, lobbying for the company to licence Netscape's browser, protesting that Netscape wasn't interested in the client market, and suggesting that Microsoft invest in …

    Business 21 Oct 1998, 20:53