French deploy optical url reader

Europe in Brief Software developer Wiziway of Lyons, France has unveiled a novel way to bridge the gap between printed media and the Internet: a simple click of a mouse-shaped device, or clicker, is enough to take the user directly from a printed document to a web page.

Wiziway's software solution is based on the reading of a tiny tag (embedded in the printed document) by an optical reader, which connects to the USB port. The reader instantly recognises the URL contained in the tag and opens the default browser on the PC. The company says that several large organisations have already embraced the new technology, including Manutan, Haléco, Alcatel Diffusion and Fiducial Office Solutions.

Sweden: IT companies start hiring

Two out of three IT-companies in Sweden plan to recruit new employees this year, reflecting an increase in demand, according to a survey done by Info one and Dagens Industri.

Seventy-five per cent of the companies also say that the turn-around already has begun. Swedish companies have put behind them a "slash IT costs" strategy and are investing for growth. A few businesses, about 10 per cent, are planning geographical expansion. Most of these are targeting larger cities in south and central Sweden with a university or technology institute.

Malta: Policies for new broadband technologies

The Maltese government is considering appropriate policies for new broadband technologies including power line and fixed wireless access, Malta Business Weekly reports.

The final draft of the National Broadband Strategy for Malta, drawn up jointly by the Malta Communications Authority within the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications and the Ministry for Information Technology and Investment, was presented to the National Information Society Advisory Council last month. At least four companies have expressed an interest in launching Digital Terrestrial TV operations in Malta.

Denmark: Exact opens subsidiary

Exact Software Denmark has set up a subsidiary in Copenhagen, having looked at both Denmark and Sweden in order to find the right location, Invest In Denmark reports.

The Dutch company, which manufactures software for accounting, human resources management, customer relationship management, e-business and enterprise resource planning (ERP), targets the Danish ERP market, of which Navision currently has a 70 per cent share. ®