New mobile app to track carbon footprints
Walk this way
Irish mobile operators have welcomed the introduction of a new application to allow mobile users to track their own carbon footprint.
The new application, called mobGAS, has been developed by scientists working for the European Commission. The application is available in 21 European languages and allows users to see how their …
Firms fear disgruntled staff: report
Employees the biggest threat to security and finance
Who do Irish organisations consider the biggest threat to their finances? Possibly you, according to a new survey from Citrix.
The study from the software giant found that 49 per cent of IT specialists said people, or more precisely disgruntled staff, are a major financial threat to Irish businesses. The survey found that firms …
Carphone Warehouse to pitch Irish broadband
Talking 'bout TalkTalk
Carphone Warehouse is set to step into the Irish broadband market with the launch of three packages under its TalkTalk service.
The mobile phone retailer expects to unveil its TalkTalk Broadband products before Christmas. "The plan is to have TalkTalk Broadband available by the end of the year and it will be available to both …
Telecoms regulation encourages investment
Who'd have thought it
The presence of strong regulators in the telecoms market encourages investment, according to a report by the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA).
The study found that annual investment in the Irish telecoms sector rose from $639m to $684m between 2003 and 2005, which the Association of Licenced Telecom …
Ireland still good for foreign investment
Emerald Isle a golden opportunity for multinationals
A new report published by ICT Ireland* claims Ireland is still an attractive location for foreign direct investment.
The study, which was released by the IBEC group on Monday, sets out why many major foreign investors believe Ireland is an attractive location in which to do business. The report, entitled Why Ireland should be …
Eircom moves closer to split
Reports of submission confirmed
The Irish Department of Communications has confirmed reports that Eircom has made a submission regarding splitting the company.
A spokeswoman for the Department told ENN that Eircom made the submission recently and that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, is currently studying it.
"It's a …
Law & Order takes on Second Life
Internet drama meets TV drama
The blurred lines between virtual worlds and the real world have been examined in a recent episode of US drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
A fictitious virtual world cleverly called Another YOUniverse, which bears a striking resemblance to Second Life, is the main focus of a recent episode of the investigative drama. The …
Alphyra merges with Cardpoint
Payzone is born
Irish payment services firm Alphyra has merged with UK firm Cardpoint in a deal reportedly worth €800m.
The merger is a reverse takeover of Cardpoint by Alphyra under the rules of London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM). The two firms will combine to form a new company called Payzone.
Under AIM rules an extraordinary …
C&W inks deal with online games firm
€400,000 hosting contract
Cable & Wireless has signed a €400,000 deal to provide managed hosting for online gaming firm Gala Networks Europe (GNE) at its Dublin data centre.
The initial two-year contract covers building, hosting, management, and network connectivity for GNE's European online gaming platform.
GNE is part of the Gala Group, which has its …
MySpace launches free mobile service
Another string to social networking bow
MySpace has fired another salvo in the battle for social network supremacy with a free mobile version of its website.
MySpace will provide free access to the service to US-based users with advertising being used to cover the costs. The new site will load one banner ad and one text based ad for each visitor.
The move is part of …
Apple turns to Orange in France
Mobile operator wins iPhone deal
When is an Apple an Orange? When it's an iPhone it would seem, with the mobile operator winning the French rights to sell the Apple device.
As widely expected France Telecom will start marketing Apple's iPhone in France through Orange, its wireless arm. The two parties announced the deal on Thursday following announcements of …
Yahoo! hopes Mash will be a monster
360! take! two!
Yahoo! has launched a new social networking site, its second such foray into the field.
Mash is a new service from Yahoo! currently in beta mode. The social networking project can only be accessed by invite at present, and opened to a handful of users on 14 September.
The new project follows the failure of Yahoo! 360, the firm …
PC shipments set to jump
Notebooks and laptops show biggest growth
Worldwide PC shipments are expected to rise by 12.6 per cent this year, according to new research by analysts IDC. The projected figure of 257.5 million units is up on IDC's prediction in June, which estimated growth of 12.2 per cent in 2007.
The rise in the number of units shipped is being led by notebooks and laptops which …
Home PC users at risk: CA
Need to be wary of online threats
Home PC users need to be wary of security vulnerabilities when they go online, according to software firm CA.
The 'CA Mid-Year Internet Threat Outlook Report' found that the exposure of home PC users is growing as the PC becomes the family communications and entertainment hub.
"Everyone using the internet should be aware of …
Oracle buys Netsure Telecom
Grabs network intel and analytics software
Business software provider Oracle has acquired Dublin-based Netsure Telecom.
Netsure provides network intelligence and analytics software to communications service providers. The firm's clients include Vodafone, Cable & Wireless and Eircom.
The deal is expected to be completed later this month, but financial details of the …
Profits soar at SkillSoft
Revenue up 28%
E-learning firm SkillSoft saw its profits nearly treble in its latest set of results, which were released on Friday.
SkillSoft had net profits of $12.4m, or $0.11 per share, for the second quarter, up from $4.8m, or $0.05 per share, for the same period last year. The New Hampshire based firm's revenue for the three-month period …
Garmin tops mobile navigation market
Sales up 116%
The mobile navigation device market has a new king with a new report revealing that Garmin is the top seller in the field.
Research from Canalys shows Garmin has claimed the top spot for the second quarter of 2007 after rival TomTom had led the way for the past two years. In total, 7.4 million mobile navigation devices were …
Future looks bright for video ads
Runt of the advertising litter to grow up fast
The revolution will be televised but you'll have to sit through the ads first.
In the new Simpsons movie, President Arnold Schwarzenegger declares that he "was elected to lead not to read", and now advertisers are trying to ensure literacy is not a pre-requisite for consumers they target oonline.
Video advertising is set to …
Nissan rolls out drink-proof cars
'I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you drive'
Drink drivers could be prohibited from driving under the influence if new technology from Nissan is introduced.
The Japanese car maker has developed a new odour detection system designed to prevent drivers from operating a car if they are over the legal limit. The system works by using a series of sensors to detect the level of …
SMEs embrace wireless broadband
Mobile pretty popular too
Wireless broadband services are proving popular with Irish SMEs, according to new research from Vodafone Ireland.
The study found that a third of small and medium sized enterprises are using services other than fixed lines as their main connection to the internet.
According to the report, new services such as mobile broadband …
IBM: technology will ease travel woes
Cars to get cat-like reflexes
IBM has predicted that travel by plane, train, or automobile is going to be a lot easier in the future.
Big Blue gazed into its crystal ball and made predictions about how technology will change the way people travel in the future. The IT giant has listed five changes that will improve the way we get from A to B.
First off, …
Toshiba raises forecast as profits surge
PCs and semiconductors lead the charge
Chip maker Toshiba raised its forecasts for the first half of the fiscal year after the firm enjoyed strong sales in the quarter ending 30 June.
The Japanese firm's net profits surged to ¥20.6bn (€126.8m) for the first quarter from ¥4bn (€24.9m) for the same period last year. This represent earnings per share of ¥5.92 (€0.04) …
Laptop sales drive PC shipments in EMEA
Sales up 13.5%
PC sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) were up 13.5 per cent in Q2 2007, according to market watcher IDC. A total of 17.5m desktop and notebook computers were sold in the region, with a 31 per cent increase in notebook sales compared to the same period last year.
IDC said competition among the leading vendors of …
RFID a 'technical blunder', report says
The next bubble ready to burst?
Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a technology bubble ready to burst according to a new report by Dublin-based firm Heavey RF.
The firm, which provides radio frequency products such as handheld scanners, has published a study entitled RFID.Bomb?
"History is littered with large technical blunders; RFID in the supply …
BT's IPTV aims to lure footie fans
Cut price game access
UK customers of BT's IPTV service will be able to avail of cut-price access to English Premier League football matches for the coming season.
The BT Vision Sport standard service costs £4 a month and will provide subscribers with access to delayed coverage of 242 games from the Barclays Premier League. A pay-per-view option is …
British customers miffed at email response times
Nine out of ten driven to defect
British consumers are unhappy with the time it takes for email queries to be answered, according to a new report.
The study, by hosting firm Fasthosts Internet, showed that 78 per cent of British consumers have been disappointed by a slow response to a customer service email enquiry, with the average consumer sending three …
Sony Ericsson dials up revenue and profits jump
Walkman phones prove leader of the pack
Sony Ericsson saw its profits jump 55 per cent year-on-year in its results for the second quarter of 2007.
The results, announced on Thursday, saw the group record pretax profts of €327m for the quarter, compared to €211m for the same period in 2006.
The growth in profits reflected strong sales, which were up to €3.1bn for the …
HP launches 'virtual beauty consultant'
Paint by PC
HP Labs is launching new technology aimed at helping women find the right shade of make up to suit their skin tone.
The firm, which is better known for more conventional IT applications, has developed colour matching technology that could potentially change the way women buy cosmetics.
Using a digital camera, such as one found …
Computershare acquires Datacare
Hopes deal will help US consolidation
Australian firm Computershare has purchased Monaghan-based software business Datacare for €12m.
The deal was announced on Thursday. Datacare was set up in Ireland in 1983 and currently has 63 employees in five countries. The firm provides entity management software to over 500 clients worldwide.
Last year Datacare came in at …
US claims top spam spot
American spammers resurgent
The US was top of the spam charts for the month of June, according to new e-mail security statistics from IE Internet.
The US generated 37.4 per cent of all spam filtered by Irish security and e-mail monitoring firm IE Internet during the month of June, well clear of the chasing pack. China came in second with responsibility …
Nintendo launches face training game
Pull faces, look younger
Nintendo's creative department must be in overdrive as the Japanese console giant is poised to release software aimed at making users look younger.
The games package, called Otona no DS Kao Training, is being released along with a new camera for the Nintendo DS portable console. The camera video records a user's face as they …
Global mobile subscriptions hit three billion
Multiple SIMs boosting numbers
Worldwide mobile phone subscriptions have hit three billion, according to a new report by Informa Telecoms and Media.
The study, entitled Multiple SIMs: Quantifying the phenomenon taking mobile penetration beyond 100 per cent, estimates that the number of actual mobile users is far lower than the total number of subscriptions …
Eircom injects €5m in Northern Ireland network
More good news for the job market
Eircom is to make a €5m investment in its network in Northern Ireland as the telecoms firm looks to develop its business in the area.
The investment will see Eircom establish a network operations centre in Belfast, employing 15 people in roles such as network engineers, project managers, and qualified service professionals. …
Safari gets four new fixes
Quick fix tames vulns
Apple has released four new fixes for its Safari cross-platform internet browser - less than two weeks after its launch. The new patches mark the second update to Safari since its release, and are part of a larger Safari 3.0.2 beta release for Mac OS X and Windows.
Both packs contain stability fixes in addition to the security …
Plaxo looks to social networking market
Reinvents self to be more competitive
Online address book provider Plaxo has introduced a major overhaul in an effort to catch up with networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook.
Plaxo has released Plaxo 3.0, an online address book and calendar that synchronises services from Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, AOL, Mac OSX, and Thunderbird.
"This is much more than just …
Social networkers lack loyalty: report
Many court other sites on the side
Social networking users tend to get around, as they say, and not stay faithful to one network, according to a new study.
The report, Web 2.0 & the New Net, by research group Parks Associates, found that MySpace users are chronically unfaithful. The survey found that nearly 40 per cent of MySpace users keep profiles on other …
Mobile internet set for take-off?
Take-up increasing, but progress is slow
The mobile internet is more toll road than superhighway, but the logjam could clear up.
On the face of things there is little reason to be confident that mobile internet will ever fully catch on with consumers. It's expensive, awkward to use, and lacks the content and functionality of a traditional PC-based browser.
While …
Robots en route to Dublin car parks
Droids to park your car
Irish drivers could soon come face to face with powerful robots. There's no need to worry though, they only want to park your car.
Sky Parks Projects has developed the Sky Parks Robotic Parking Systems (SRPS), a parking system that uses autonomous robots and lifts to park and retrieve cars. These car parks are designed to make …
Google acquires Panoramio
Adds photo-sharing to its panoply of services
Google continued its attempts to offer every service imaginable online by purchasing a Spanish photo-sharing website.
Panoramio's technology allows user to pin pictures to Google's online maps to show where they were taken. The site boasts more than one million photos and more than 300,000 registered users.
The two firms have …
Sanyo results hint at financial recovery
Battered but unbowed by scandal
Scandal-hit electronics firm Sanyo showed signs it may be on the road to recovery despite posting net losses of ¥45bn (€275m) in its annual results.
The results, for the year ending 31 March 2007, showed the Osaka-based firm had sales of ¥2,215bn (€13.5bn), down 7.6 per cent from the previous year. Sanyo saw its operating …
SME sector to 'explode with blades': IBM
Blade server market to be worth $11bn by 2010
The blade server market will be worth $11bn worldwide by 2010, according to IBM, with SMEs being a particularly fruitful market.
Big Blue expects the market will grow significantly from its current standing of $4bn over the next three years. The IT giant said the mood among customers towards blades has improved in recent years …
Siemens names new CEO
Loescher steps up as bribery probe continues
Engineering giant Siemens has appointed Peter Loescher as its new chief executive in an attempt to kick start efforts to restore the German firm's image.
Shares in Siemens rose as much as 2.7 per cent to a six-year high on Monday after its supervisory board surprised markets on Sunday by naming the Austrian born US healthcare …
Alltel in multi-billion dollar buyout
TPG Capital and GSCP tag-team mobile operator
TPG Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners (GSCP) have agreed a deal to purchase US mobile operator Alltel in a $27.5bn deal.
The agreement will see the investment firms acquire all outstanding Alltel stock for $71.50 per share, which represents a 23 percent premium on Alltel's closing price prior to the first time it was …
Apple gets go ahead for iPhone launch
Slams 'false rumours' of delays
Apple's iPhone has been given the green light to take a bite out of the US handset market as the firm bit back at false rumours that sent shares plummeting.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given its seal of approval to Apple's iPhone, clearing the way for the handset to hit the US market next month. "The iPhone …
Icahn loses bid for seat on Moto's board
But thinks he's made his point
Despite his apparent failure to win a seat on the board of Motorola, billionaire investor Carl Icahn has declared victory.
Preliminary estimates of the votes cast by shareholders at the handset manufacturer's annual meeting in Chicago on Monday indicate that Icahn will not be elected to Motorola's board, with the current board …
Web 2.0 baffles businesses, says survey
Lack of know-how prevents cash-in
Senior executives see Web 2.0 as a tool to increase revenues but they could be held back by a lack of know-how within their firms, according to a new study.
A report, entitled Serious Business: Web 2.0 Goes Corporate, was conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and sponsored by enterprise search business Fast. The …
Mobile operators giveth and taketh away
Tourists to shoulder the cost of EU roaming cuts
In much the same way as some firms try to pass on savings to customers, mobile phone networks look set to pass extra costs on to certain consumers.
A study by Informa Telecoms & Media, entitled Global Mobile Roaming: Business Models and Forecasts in the Evolving Environment, has found roaming price levels for non-Europeans …
UCD gears up for robot rugby
Lego bots prepare for the scrum
Faster, higher, more intuitive. It's not quite the Olympics, but the third annual Siemens Roborugby tournament promises a fresh approach to engineers' education.
Held at University College Dublin (UCD), teams of students design robots to try and claim top honours and the table-top contest aims to show a practical and fun side …
The Doors open online
'I use iTunes and stuff'
The remaining members of The Doors have decided to break on through to the digital side as the band made its back catalogue available online on Monday.
All six albums recorded by the Los Angeles group, led by the late Jim Morrison, are being made available for download for the first time. The release marks the fortieth …
SOA key to survival for businesses
Adoption will make you stronger and faster, expert says
Service oriented architecture (SOA) will make businesses faster and stronger, according to Accenture.
David Nichols, global practice leader for SOA with Accenture, said companies would become more athletic if they implement SOA. "Everyone wants to have the most agile business," said Nichols. "There's an evolution under way in …
