News in brief related to Information Technology.
Japan's Pioneer heading for big loss
TOKYO - Japan's Pioneer warned on October 21 that it expects to run up a net loss of 24 billion yen ($208 million) in the year to March 2006 on disappointing sales of DVD recorders and other consumer electronics products. The projected loss marks a significant deterioration from a profit of 1 billion yen that Pioneer had previously forecast. Pioneer, a major maker of car navigation systems and plasma display panels, also cut its full-year revenue forecast to 770 billion yen from a previous projection of 810 billion.
Britain's BSkyB bids $375mn for Easynet
LONDON - British satellite broadcaster BSkyB on October 21 launched a 211-million-pound Sterling (€311-million, $375-million) cash takeover of telecoms firm Easynet, as it looked to muscle in on the lucrative Internet broadband market. "Today's offer reflects the exciting opportunities that now exist to combine quality entertainment with significant high-speed connections," BSkyB chief executive James Murdoch said in a statement. BSkyB said that it would pay 175 pence per share for each Easynet share, a premium of 38 percent to the closing price of 127 pence on October 20. The takeover of Easynet would allow BSkyB to offer pay-TV, high-speed broadband and telephone services to its subscribers.
Chinese police investigate baby trafficking over Internet
SHANGHAI - Chinese police are investigating baby trafficking over the Internet after an advert for newborns was placed on the US-based online auction site eBay's China site, a state press report said on October 20. Baby boys were advertised on eBay Eachnet at 28,000 yuan ($3,450), and girls at 13,000 yuan, the China Daily reported, citing Eachnet manager Tang Lei. No sales were made but more than 50 people browsed before the posting was pulled down. The seller, under the username "Chuangxinzhe Yongyuan", or "innovator forever", said that all the babies came from Henan province in central China and would be available 100 days after birth.
New copyright suit filed against Google
WASHINGTON - An association of US book publishers said on October 19 that it was suing Google, claiming that the Internet giant's plan to make digital copies of millions of books without permission violates copyright laws. The Association of American Publishers (AAP) said in a statement that its lawsuit was filed "only after lengthy discussions broke down between AAP and Google's top management regarding the copyright infringement implications of the Google Print Library Project". AAP said that it filed the action on behalf of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Pearson Education, Penguin Group USA, Simon and Schuster and John Wiley and Sons.
NTT DoCoMo adds walkie-talkie function to 3G mobiles
TOKYO - Japan's top mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo on October 19 unveiled its new line of third-generation (3G) mobile phones with a walkie-talkie feature, the first of its kind in the country. The new series of 902i phones will allow users to speak simultaneously with up to 19 other people by selecting those to be included in the call and simply pressing a button, rather than dialing individual telephone numbers. The service, known as "push-to-talk", will cost 1,050 yen ($9) a month plus five yen for each 30 seconds of communication time.
Internet hoax sees China invade Japan
TOKYO - A fictitious article saying that Chinese troops invaded the Japanese island of Okinawa was seen on a bogus Japanese-language Yahoo News Website on October 19 at the height of tensions between the two Asian neighbors. The article, which was wrongly credited to Japan's Kyodo news agency, reported that the US Department of Defense announced the "invasion" early on October 18. Both Kyodo News and Yahoo Japan quickly denied that they had anything to do with the story and said that they were considering legal action although the identity of the perpetrators was unknown.
Dell Computers to set up large call center in Philippines
MANILA - Dell, the world's largest personal computer producer, announced on October 19 that it was setting up a major customer call center in the Philippines. The call center, to be located in a special mall in a suburb of the Philippine capital, will initially employ 100 when it opens in February, 2006, but this will eventually increase to 700 in a few months, Dell Computers Southeast Asia vice-president Rajan Anandan said. The company also formally opened a recruitment and training center in the Makati financial district on October 19 and will begin interviewing applicants on November 1.
Nigeria and Microsoft sign deal to fight e-mail fraud
ABUJA - Nigeria and the US software giant Microsoft have formed an alliance to combat the Internet fraudsters who have damaged the country's international image, Nigeria's anti-graft agency said on October 18. "Millions of people all over the world can only link the country and her nationals to the infamous scam letter," said Nuhu Ribadu, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in a statement released here. Computer users across the world have become accustomed to being bombarded by e-mails from Nigerians seeking to trick them into handing over bank details or making advance payments on nonexistent money-making schemes.
Greek police arrest five over child pornography
ATHENS - Greek police on October 18 said that they had arrested five people allegedly implicated in an Internet child pornography ring that operated in Athens and another nine places across the country. The accused were arrested red-handed while peddling material that included children photographed in indecent acts with adults and also animals, the first instance of such a case in Greece, a police statement said. Those arrested after a six-month operation code-named "Storm" were a university professor living in Athens and four residents of Veria, in northern Greece. Police are looking for 15 more people in connection with the ring.
Auction site eBay pulls Tamiflu from British site
WASHINGTON - Auction site eBay pulled Tamiflu, an antiviral considered effective against bird flu, from its British site, a spokesman said on October 18. "As I understand it, there were a handful of listings for Tamiflu placed by sellers on our UK site. The Tamiflu listings on eBay.co.uk were removed from the site as soon as we became aware of them," said spokesman Hani Durzy. "We have had a long-standing policy that prohibits the listing of any controlled drug or item that requires a prescription," he said.
Global computer sales up 17 percent in quarter
WASHINGTON - Global computer sales rose at least 17 percent in the past quarter, ahead of earlier projections, driven by strong demand for mobile PCs and lower prices, two research firms said. Gartner said late on October 17 that worldwide personal computer shipments totaled 55 million units in the third quarter, up 17.2 percent from a year ago. A separate report from International Data Corp. pegged the increase in the third quarter at 17.1 percent to 52.8 million. "Strong market growth continued to be driven by lower prices and mobility in the third quarter," said Charles Smulders, vice-president of Gartner.
India's TCS wins $850mn pension outsourcing business from UK group
MUMBAI, India - Tata Consultancy (TCS), India's leading software exporter, on October 18 said that it had won a 480 million pound sterling ($847 million) outsourcing contract from Britain's Pearl Group insurers for a 12-year-period. TCS said that the British group would transfer its entire existing business processes to a new TCS subsidiary proposed to be set up in Britain to manage the new acquisition. "The agreement will mean that a new company, a subsidiary of TCS, will be set up and employ about 950 of Pearl group's current 1,100 staff," TCS said in a statement to the Mumbai stock exchange.
Hong Kong protestors condemn Yahoo! over China journalist jailing
HONG KONG - Protestors rallied outside the Hong Kong office of Yahoo! on October 18 demonstrating against the US Internet giant for passing on information that led to the jailing of a journalist in China. The chanting protestors denounced Yahoo! for providing Chinese authorities with the contact details of writer Shi Tao who was jailed in April for 10 years for revealing state secrets. The demonstrators, members of the Democratic Party, unfurled a large banner and urged the company to review its privacy policy so that client information was protected in future.
Palm to use RIM's Blackberry software for Treo
OTTAWA - Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM) will allow handheld device maker Palm to use its Blackberry software on its Treo 650 smart phones and other wireless devices early next year, the companies announced on October 17. The deal means that customers will be able to access their e-mails and electronic calendars using RIM's software platform, but have more choice in which device they use it on. Palm last month announced a deal with Microsoft to use Windows software on smart phones using the Verizon wireless service. But the latest announcement means that RIM and Blackberry will retain a foothold in the Treo market with Palm.
US, India sign science, technology pact
WASHINGTON - The United States and India on October 17 signed an umbrella science and technology agreement to boost cooperation in areas ranging from health to space technology. The pact, signed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and India's minister of state for science and technology Kapil Sibal, nailed down intellectual property rights issues that had snagged negotiations since 1993. It is aimed at expanding collaboration in basic sciences, space, energy, nanotechnology, health and information technology, according to a State Department fact sheet. The agreement, officials said, would also complement the activities of the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, established in 2000.
Easynet reports bid approach
LONDON - Easynet said on October 17 that it had received an approach that may lead to a takeover, amid a report that British satellite broadcaster BSkyB wanted to snap up the London-listed telecoms group. "The board can confirm that it has received an approach that may or may not lead to a formal offer being made for the company," Easynet said in an official statement to the London Stock Exchange. The Sunday Telegraph newspaper had reported that BSkyB was to muscle in on the lucrative Internet broadband market by announcing this week the takeover of Easynet.
Microsoft chief Gates expected in Israel
JERUSALEM - Microsoft founder Bill Gates is to visit Israel this week to speak at a major business conference, the Ma'ariv daily reported on October 16. Billionaire Gates was expected to address 2,500 businessmen due to attend the conference in Tel Aviv on October 25 and 26. He is also expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon although there was no immediate confirmation from the premier's office.
Samsung launches mobile phone with 3-gigabyte memory
SEOUL - South Korea's Samsung Electronics on October 16 launched a mobile phone with a three-gigabyte memory, the world's largest data storage capacity ever applied to mobile handsets. The SPH-V7900 handset can hold up to three digital movies or 700 music files in its built-in memory chip, which also functions as a portable hard disc for computers, Samsung said in a statement. The new product, equipped with a two-megapixel camera and dual speakers, is a follow-up to Samsung's September model with a 1.5-gigabyte memory.
Hollywood unions want share of iPod video player
LOS ANGELES, CA, USA - Hollywood's actors, directors and writers unions said on October 14 that they would vet Apple's new iPod portable video player so members get their share of residuals. "The announcement today unveiling the Apple Video iPod represents the latest chapter in the ongoing technological evolution of our industry," they said in a joint statement. "We have not yet heard from the responsible employers of our members, but we look forward to a dialogue that ensures that our members are properly compensated for this exploitation of their work," said the statement.
EBay completes acquisition of Skype
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA - Internet auction giant eBay on October 14 announced the completion of its acquisition of online telecom company Skype for about $2.5 billion in cash and stock. The San Jose, California-based eBay said that the final consideration consisted of about $1.3 billion in cash and 32.8 million shares of its common stock. It noted that the maximum amount payable under the performance-based earn-out aspect of the deal is about $1.4 billion in cash or stock, with the payment expected to occur in 2008 or 2009. The Luxembourg-based Skype has rapidly emerged as a leader in the market for Internet telephone calls.
Steven Spielberg takes plunge into videogame world
LOS ANGELES, CA, USA - Legendary moviemaker Steven Spielberg is making a groundbreaking leap into the world of videogames by teaming up with a top US game-maker to create three new videogame franchises, he announced on October 14. The Oscar-winning creator of Jaws, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park has signed a groundbreaking pact with Electronic Arts that will spur convergence between Hollywood and the booming game industry. As Hollywood begins to take the extremely lucrative videogame business seriously, Spielberg is the first A-list film director to plunge his talents into the virtual world of gaming.
Sony's ratings lowered by Standard and Poor's
TOKYO - Ratings agency Standard and Poor's (S & P) said on October 14 that it has lowered by one notch its long-term and short-term credit ratings on Sony Corp. as the Japanese electronics giant struggles with a restructuring drive. S and P said that its long-term credit rating on Sony was downgraded to "A-" from "A" with a stable outlook. It also lowered Sony's short-term rating to "A-2" from "A-1". Sony announced plans last month to cut 10,000 jobs, dispose of a swathe of assets, axe 11 of its 65 manufacturing plants and one-fifth of its product line.
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