IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 11 August
11-08-2008
by Sylvia Leatham
Dublin shops leave wireless networks open | Fleetmatics raises EUR16.5m in funding
The Irish Examiner reports on the launch of a website called Historyex. The site allows users to sign up and leave details of their relationships with ex-partners. These details can then be viewed by other users. The site can be searched by inputting the last five digits of a person's phone number.
The Wall Street Journal reports that iPhone users have downloaded over 60 million programs for the phone from the recently launched App Store, according to CEO Steve Jobs. Although most of those applications were free, Apple sold an average of USD1 million a day in applications for a total of about USD30 million in sales over the month since the store went live, Jobs said. If sales stay at the current pace, Apple stands to reap at least USD360 million a year in new revenue. "I've never seen anything like this in my career for software," said Jobs.
The paper also says that Yahoo is to allow users to stop receiving targeted ads based on factors such as which webpages they visit or other ads they click on, following a US Congressional probe into whether such online advertising violates consumer privacy. Yahoo announced the opt-out feature as it responded to a letter the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent it and more than 30 other technology companies last week. The letter asked the companies, including Google and Microsoft, to respond to a number of questions related to their ad-targeting practices -- including how many of their customers have received ads targeted to their web browsing habits and whether those ad systems draw on sensitive personal data like health information.
According to the Financial Times, Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei Technologies has pledged to step up its European sales efforts, a move that will increase pressure on troubled Western rivals. Zhou Ming Cheng, Huawei's European marketing director, said the company had achieved sales of USD2 billion in Europe in 2007, up from USD770 million in 2006. Zhou said Huawei was aiming to boost European sales further this year, implying that it was seeking to increase its market share at the expense of its established rivals -- Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks.
The Sunday Business Post reports that up to a third of shops and restaurants on Dublin's busiest shopping streets could be leaving their wireless networks open to credit card thieves. The paper's survey found that the businesses were using security systems that were out of date, such as Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP). The networks are used to connect store computers and give staff online access. This could leave customers' sensitive financial details open to thieves, the survey found.
The same paper writes that TV licence inspectors may soon be calling to cars and motor homes if there are devices capable of receiving a TV signal used there. Laptops and home computers that have extra equipment capable of getting the analogue, digital or cable TV signal will also require licences.
The Sunday Business Post also writes that vehicle tracking software firm Fleetmatics has managed to raise EUR16.5 million in funding from Investcorp, a US-based private equity firm. Although the company is staying tight-lipped on the deal, the paper quoted filings from the Companies Office which seem to indicate that the money was received in July in three separate instalments. It is not clear what stake the investment will give Investcorp. This is the first time that Fleetmatics has sought outside funding.
The same paper reports that Limerick-based EpiSensor has raised EUR1 million in funding to help develop components that work with an emerging type of wireless technology called ZigBee. The money was raised from the AIB Seed Capital Fund, Enterprise Ireland and EpiSensor founder Gary Carroll. Devices using ZigBee, which is an open standard for wireless communications, have low power requirements. According to EpiSensor, the technology could be used to monitor voltage, water flow and air quality, transferring the measurements to a database to help produce "real world" data for clients.
The same paper reports that Irish retailers are failing to fully capitalise on online markets. According to e-commerce company Magico, online retail could be poised for an upswing as sales on the high street fall. Price-conscious consumers could increase online sales by up to 50 percent, and those retailers who already have an online presence could be the best placed to take advantage of consumers who wish to shop around.
The Sunday Business Post also writes about a new website that is exploiting social networking technology to bring anglers together. Prebait.com allows fishermen to share information on good fishing grounds, and in a bid to discourage illegal fishing, the site is trying to get users to register using their real names.
The same paper also says that Hosting 365 has signed a deal with Nostra Technologies to provide servers to the hosting firm, in a EUR2 million deal. Under the three-year deal, Nostra will provide IBM servers to Hosting 365. Nostra has recently set up a new venture, Nostra Hosted IT, which provides services to smaller companies, such as an online Microsoft Exchange server, Microsoft Sharepoint, and online back-up and storage.
Separately, the paper briefly reports on Hosting 365's plan to offer customer relationship management services through a partnership with Provident Technology and SugarCRM.
The paper also notes that payments software firm Trintech has won a deal with BAE Systems to provide its AssureNet GL software in BAE's accounting systems.
The Sunday Tribune reports that police in the UK have begun an investigation into internet abuse of the London Rose of Tralee. Belinda Brown has been targeted by racists on stromfront.org. Police received a number of complaints from Irish groups in Britain and took the decision to investigate the incident. They have brought in a specialist group of detectives to uncover those responsible.
The same paper reports that 330 people have been prosecuted for sending lewd text messages under new legislation introduced last year. Under the laws, it is an offence to send materials or messages that are "grossly offensive", are indecent, or are menacing. One man has already been prosecuted for sending lewd messages to a 15-year-old boy, after he tricked the teenager into giving him his number.
The paper also notes that businessman Richard Doyle has lost the domain name Champagne.ie after the World Intellectual Property Organisation ruled it should belong to France's champagne producers. Doyle has offered to sell the domain name to Comite Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne in 2006 for EUR19,000, before halving the price a year later. The CVIC offered just EUR1,000. In October last year, they filed a complaint with the WIPO. Although Doyle argued he had registered the name in good faith, the WIPO ruled against him.
The Sunday Times writes that Dell is to lose its head of manufacturing facilities in Europe after Nick Hartery decided to step down after eight years. He will be replaced by Sean Corkery. Hartery is to leave on 1 October to pursue other interests, but the company has refused to comment on his future plans. Dell has been hit by a number of job losses in recent months, with 250 job cuts announced last April, the majority of which went at the Cherrywood, south Dublin facility.
Electronics manufacturer Tyco Sensormatic is reviewing the future of its plant in Cork, the paper also reports. The company, which employs 250 people, is to make a final decision next month. However, the outlook is already grim, with local sources saying that the chance of jobs remaining at the plant is unlikely. A small number of research and development jobs may stay at the Cork facility, similar to Tyco's move in Shannon last year, which saw it cut 178 jobs and keep 20 people on in R&D work.
The same paper reports that new search engine Cuil is to keep forging ahead with plans to offer commercial services, despite its teething problems on launch. Although beset by glitches and bugs, the company has decided to press ahead with ambitious plans to take on Google in the advertising world, allowing its clients to show more information such as images and product details, before they click through on the ad.
The paper also briefly notes that Irish technology company Emuse has moved into IPTV with an interactive ad for the film Prince Caspian on BT Vision.
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