NEWS IN BRIEF
For the record 27 November
27-11-2007
by Stephen Errity
SMEs warned of backup risks | Google turns its attention to renewable energy
HP Ireland has hooked up with wind energy firm Airtricity which will supply nearly 90 percent of the computer manufacturer's energy requirements. The deal is part of a global effort by HP to reduce its energy usage by 20 percent before the end of 2010. The agreement is said to be worth EUR8 million and will cover the purchase of more than 80 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy. It is estimated that HP will save approximately EUR30,000 over the year-long contract. The deal will also save the release of more than 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to taking 9,600 cars off the road for one year.
Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland have been warned of the risk associated with unreliable computer backup technology by backup solutions provider C Infinity managing director Caitriona Lynch. She was speaking at the launch of the company's LiveVault secure online backup solution, which is aimed specifically at SMEs. Lynch cited research which has shown that 77 percent of firms were unable to retrieve all of their data when using traditional backup methods such as tapes. She added that 50 percent of firms that suffer a data loss disaster end up going out of business.
'Disruptive' second-generation websites, such as social networking communities are radically transforming existing global markets while simultaneously creating new ones. This is according to ICT Ireland, the organisation which represents the technology sector within the employer's body IBEC. Speaking at the organisation's conference in UCD on Tuesday, HP's Tony White said: "traditional marketing is a controlled process where messages are developed, crafted, and delivered but with Web 2.0 this model is being inverted by online peer-to-peer communication." The hotel review website TripAdvisor.com was cited as an example of the phenomenon, with hotels reviewed there seeing significant sales implications.
CA has appointed specialist technology provider EOS Systems as an affiliate partner in Ireland. EOS thus becomes one of a number of partners that sell CA's recovery management product. EOS had previously won significant contracts selling CA's backup product, ARCserve, but will now resell the company's entire Recovery Management solution consisting of XOsoft WANSync and ARCServe, as well as a threat management solution.
SMART Technologies and Steljes have announced that they will be taking direct control over the Irish distribution of the 'SMART Board' interactive whiteboard. The board is aimed at the education sector and was previously distributed here by Fusion Technology. Steljes' Irish team will be headed by market development manager Greg Tierney and Irish channel manager Conor McGrogan, Channel. The team is currently said to be recruiting new resellers with an understanding and interest in the Irish education market.
Google is to undertake a new strategic initiative to develop electricity from renewable energy sources that will be cheaper than electricity produced from coal. Known as 'REC', the project will focus initially on advanced solar thermal power, wind power technologies, enhanced geothermal systems and other potential break-through technologies. The search giant said it expects to spend tens of millions on research and development and related investments in renewable energy during 2008.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 