6th December 2004 Archive

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Telecom Italia to mop up mobile minorities

Buys more shares in Plain English

Telecom Italia is buying the outstanding shares in its mobile division for $21bn. It currently owns 56 per cent of Telecom Italia Mobile, which it spun off as a separate company in 1995. Shares in both companies will be suspended while the bid is decided. Mobile telecoms have enjoyed better growth than fixed line business in …

Mobile 6 Dec 2004, 10:01
IBM, Lenovo to announce JV 'this week'

Big Blue PC division sell-off not on the cards, apparently

Far Eastern sources continue to claim that IBM and Chinese PC maker Lenovo are in joint-venture discussions rather than pursuing the all-out acquisition of Big Blue's PC division. Neither company has formally commented on their talks, first reported a few weeks ago. The story was re-ignited last week when a number of US news …

Financial News 6 Dec 2004, 10:03
Cable broadband regs draw high court review

FCC, Bells to slug it out before the Supremes

When the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided in 2002 that broadband Internet access via cable is legally distinct from other broadband services, and should be left largely unregulated, it set the stage for a confrontation with telcos that have a large shopping list of regulatory burdens and obligations to contend …

Telecoms 6 Dec 2004, 10:03
US health secretary resigns

We're still all going to die

US Health and Human Services Secretary and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson resigned his post on Friday, evidently due to nerves. Apparently, the high-strung Thompson is surprised to be alive, and believes that we're all living on borrowed time. "For the life of me, I cannot understand why the terrorists have not …

Public Sector 6 Dec 2004, 10:34
Aussie jailed for flogging bogus Canon servers

Rebadging scam

An Australian man has been jailed for ripping off millions of dollars by selling counterfeit computer equipment. John Michael Parker, as a director of a reseller called Matrix, had an exclusive distribution deal for Canon equipment in Toowoomba, Queensland. In 1992 the firm was contacted by McCafferty's, a bus company, which …

Channel Register 6 Dec 2004, 10:35
AMD pitches PowerNow! at servers

Opteron to gain power preservation tech - and other goodies

AMD today said it has added its PowerNow! power conservation technology to its Opteron processor line, the better to pitch the parts at high-density servers and blade-based systems. The move essentially mimics Intel's addition to SpeedStep to its Xeon processors last summer. Again that was done to make Xeon more suitable for …

Servers 6 Dec 2004, 10:52
Pipex gift-wraps VoIP for business

And other VoIP stuff

Broadband ISP Pipex has ripped off the wrapping paper from its new internet telephony service for businesses. "VOIP for Business", as it's called, enables firms to save money on calls by routing them over the net. The VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service includes security measures that lets people access the net and make …

Telecoms 6 Dec 2004, 10:52
Congress moots intelligence overhaul bill

Another layer of federal bureaucracy

The intelligence overhaul bill that the 9/11 Commission inspired, and the President says he wants, but has done little to promote, might just squeak through Congress this week. After passing the Senate, it got tied up in the House last week due to Republican intransigence. The idea of placing another layer of federal …

Public Sector 6 Dec 2004, 11:07
High-school drop-out to become Homeland Security Czar

Sounds about right

President George W. Bush has nominated former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik to replace Tom Ridge as Homeland Security Secretary, marking a significant departure from his tendency to choose educated, Patrician types for his Cabinet. Kerik, a high-school drop-out abandoned at age four by his prostitute mother in …

Security 6 Dec 2004, 11:07
Intel updates price list

Chip tariff catches up with recent launches

Intel updated its microprocessor menu yesterday, adding a number of juicy new items to its bill of fare. Actually, 'new' might be stretching the point a little. Essentially, all the products added to the price-list are parts put on sale since Intel last updated the document, back in October. So now we see the 775-pin 3.46GHz …

Channel Register 6 Dec 2004, 11:28
Apple of IBM's eye?

Opinion Stranger things have happened at sea ...

As the IT world digests the fact that IBM has, according to the New York Times, put its PC division up for sale, another set of speculation revs up. No, not the fact that the rumored potential buyer is Chinese company Lenovo, nor the cruel related joke that many old IBMers caught in the sold PC division would quickly will …

Channel Register 6 Dec 2004, 11:32
Cisco and Fujitsu pool R&D for big routers, switches

First Japan, then the world

Cisco and Fujitsu are teaming up to develop high end routers and switches. Cisco will tap into Fujitsu's expertise in high-reliability and high-availability technologies, so bringing advanced features to market more quickly. This will help it to fend off competition from arch rival Juniper Networks. The Cisco -Fujitsu alliance …

Data Networking 6 Dec 2004, 11:43
Offshoring, not just for IT...

Letters Reg readers respond

Register readers are not easily riled. But talk of offshoring (Offshoring inevitable - so get over it) can get them hot under the collar. Nathan McCourtney represents the voice of reason... From Nathan McCourtney: What a silly line of reasoning. Let me see if I can map out this train of thought: 1. An implosion of consumer …

Letters 6 Dec 2004, 11:57
IDG: e-magazines 'not good value'

'Sometimes discouraging'

One of the most successful publishers in the e-magazine market has warned his rivals that the technology is not proven to be good value. Patrick Kenealy, CEO of IDG, told the Quvu e-magazine publishing forum in New York last week that for many titles, the effort of producing a digital edition of a successful magazine, was not …

Financial News 6 Dec 2004, 12:03
German Supreme Court rules in favor of 'generic domain grabbing'

First-come, first-served system 'not unethical'

The German Supreme Court has ruled that merely registering generic terms as domain names does not constitute an unethical intent to cause damage, online magazine Heise Online reports. The court says that registering domain names is typically based on a first-come, first-served principle. The resulting advantage for the person …

Financial News 6 Dec 2004, 12:15
Linux and the job market

Labour problems

The principles of economics, as Computerworld reports, are finally affecting Linux. Linux is increasing its market share so rapidly that, in consequence, some companies find it difficult to secure the resources to handle Linux development and installation. Naturally, the contractor or salary costs rise. This may reduce the …

IT Director 6 Dec 2004, 12:50
BCS certifies Freedom of Information

Deadline looms...

The British Computing Society(BCS) is offering a new qualification to help IT pros ensure they are ready for 1 January when the Freedom of Information Act comes into force. From New Year's Day all public bodies must be able to provide the public with any information they require under the Act within 20 days. Despite having had …

Public Sector 6 Dec 2004, 12:53
mmO2 hikes 3G speeds

On the Isle of Man, admittedly...

mmO2 says improvements to its Isle of Man 3G network will make it three times faster than rival services from Vodafone and 3. Due to go live next summer the network uses HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) technology and IMS(Internet Protocol Multimedia services). But the extra speed is available only through data cards …

Mobile 6 Dec 2004, 12:56
BT stands firm against Ofcom

Wants to tango with army

BT has signalled that it won't roll over and comply with new regulatory demands made by Ofcom if such moves are too damaging for its business. In its review of the UK's telecoms sector last month Ofcom called on BT to give rival operators equal access to its products and services (aka "equivalence") and to bring about " …

Telecoms 6 Dec 2004, 13:00
The post-PC era is upon us

Analysis What comes next?

IBM is trying to sell its PC business. Korea has already launched a programme called "The Post-PC Era." Jonathan Schwartz, president of Sun Microsystems, told the New York times: "We've been in the post-PC era for four years now." Can we really manage without the PC? For rivals to IBM, the news that its ThinkPad range may be …

PCs 6 Dec 2004, 13:29
Who would you like to attack today?

Tailor-made malware

A massive rise in phishing attacks this year may lead on to customised email security attacks targeted specifically at individual or small groups of companies, according to email security firm MessageLabs. In September 2003 MessageLabs intercepted 279 phishing emails. In September 2004, it netted more than two million. So far …

Enterprise Security 6 Dec 2004, 13:58
Tulip Computers freezes Dutch aid to Bangladesh

Plays hardball, wins $5m court case

Tulip Computers today won a court case against the Dutch Government over a derailed €10m development project in Bangladesh. The dispute saw the small Dutch PC maker successfully freeze the Dutch government's development aid funds to Bangladesh worth €30m a year. Four years ago Tulip Computers started a project in Bangladesh, co …

Channel Register 6 Dec 2004, 17:29
Akamai and C&W kiss and make up

Patent dispute resolved

Akamai and Cable and Wireless have settled their patent dispute, which has pushed the two in and out of court for the last four years. A jury found in Akamai's favour back in December 2001 C&W subsidiary Digital Island was guilty of infringing patents. Akamai and C&W today agreed the amount of damages to be paid, including a …

Telecoms 6 Dec 2004, 17:33
Disruptive IT forces gather in London hotel

Wise men speaking - and it's not even Christmas yet

Last Friday saw this year's Economist Leadership Forum which ended with a panel discussion of disruptive technologies to watch out for in the year ahead. The panel included Microsoft's European chief executive, Dell's European president and the chief technology officer for mobile network Orange. The great and the good were …

IT Director 6 Dec 2004, 17:39
Cisco unveils 'mini' monster router

Look at the backplane on that

Cisco has launched a router and application management platform which pushes more intelligence into service provider data networks. The Cisco CRS-1 8-Slot System adds a new member to the firm's flagship router family, joining the Cisco CRS-1, which launched in May. The CRS-1 8-Slot Single-Shelf System has a total switching …

Data Networking 6 Dec 2004, 17:56
IBM wins £500m Lloyds TSB VoIP gig

Big deal

Lloyds TSB, the UK retail bank, has picked IBM to provide network and VoIP services for the next seven years. The £500m contract covers a converged network carrying voice, video and data as well as 70,000 Voice over Internet Protocol phones from Cisco. The nationwide network will be rolled out over the next 20 months. The …

IT Director 6 Dec 2004, 18:04
Apple threatens iTunes.co.uk owner

Something rotten in the digital music world

Apple has accused the owner of iTunes.co.uk of being a cybersquatter, and taken him to UK registry Nominet demanding to be given the domain. Unfortunately, the owner happens to be one Benjamin Cohen, the "dotcom millionaire" of lore, whose father is a solicitor, and Apple doesn't have a leg to stand on. As a press release put …

Financial News 6 Dec 2004, 18:11
Internet fraud is easy, says judge...

...as he sentences eBay UK fraudster

A judge has told a court in Leicester that it's a doddle to swindle people on the net. His remarks came as he sentenced Sara Hambridge, 28, from Leicester, who netted more than £3,000 when she sold non-existent tickets to the Glastonbury festival via eBay. When the punters complained the tickets hadn't arrived, she insisted she …

Music and Media 6 Dec 2004, 18:59
Oracle's data center of the future doesn't include HP or Sun

Dell is our favorite

HP and Sun Microsystems should take note. Oracle has announced its "architecture of the future," and HP and Sun have been left off the plans. Oracle today kicked off its OpenWorld customer conference in San Francisco with the company's President Charles Phillips giving the grandest of endorsements to Dell, Red Hat, Novell and …

Applications 6 Dec 2004, 19:01
Sun shooting for double-digit piece of the x86 market

A real playa

Sun Microsystems hopes to grab at least 10 percent of the x86 server market by 2007. The Register obtained this figure when a presentation meant for Sun's partners arrived on our desk. Sun is looking to sell 94,000 x86 servers next year, 200,000 in 2006 and 414,000 in 2007. In the US only market, Sun is looking to sell 40,000 …

Servers 6 Dec 2004, 21:36
Lycos goes straight

One way to avoid criminal prosecution

After a week of well-deserved criticism, Lycos is abandoning its scheme to launch denial-of-service attacks against spammy websites. Did the company reform in time to avoid criminal prosecution? A short-lived project by Lycos's European subsidiary to give users a method to "attack" spammers was an overall bad idea, albeit …

Spam 6 Dec 2004, 22:52
Amazon unavailable for holiday shopping madness

Things are really complicated

Amazon.com went down just in time for the holidays. The shopping site was tossing up "Http/1.1 Service Unavailable" messages to users in the US throughout Monday. The problem started in the morning and continued on throughout the afternoon. According to The Register's clock, Amazon was mostly functional at 4:30 p.m. CST. …

Financial News 6 Dec 2004, 23:05