IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 25 August
25-08-2008
by Deirdre McArdle
Babcock meltdown could see Eircom up for sale | Dell in talks to sell Polish plant
The Irish Times reports that Eircom could be set for its fifth change of ownership since its privatisation less than 10 years ago. The meltdown of its current owner, Australian investment house Babcock Brown, means that Eircom, along with other saleable assets held by the Australian firm, is now in effect on the market. No value has been put on Eircom as yet but it doesn't look like an attractive proposition with its large debts and an aging network in a slowing economy.
The Guardian reports that Italian priest Father Antonio Rungi is organising an online beauty contest for Italian nuns, called Sister Italy (as opposed to Miss Italy). From September, Father Rungi will post on his website the photos of those nuns who wish to take part. Pictures of the nuns will be accompanied by a space in which the candidates can list the order to which they belong and the duties they perform.
The Sunday Times says that Dell is in talks to sell its Polish plant as part of a cost cutting plan. The move comes only a year after the plant opened. Taiwanese Foxconn has already been put forward as a possible buyer. However, Dell has refused to comment on the news. The Polish plant opened its doors in January and has invested EUR200 million in the facility.
The same paper also reports that Irish student Wesley Cooper has developed a new surveillance system to help pick out casino cheats. The mathematician's system uses smart video cameras and statistical analysis to catch out players who are counting cards. The 'Clear Deal' system will pick out anomalies, usually observed by eagle-eyed casino staff. The system, which was developed at Trinity College's Graphics, Vision and Visualisation research department, is currently on trial with an international casino.
The Sunday Independent writes that the Department of Social and Family Affairs has contacted social welfare recipients whose details were stored on a stolen laptop. The theft took place 18 months ago, but those affected were only written to in mid-August. The stolen information includes names, addresses, PPS numbers, banking details and dates of birth.
The Sunday Tribune reports that spammers using Bebo are leaving links to hardcore porn sites on users' web pages, exposing children to potentially harmful content. The problem has come about through the Bebo mobile system, which allows users to gain access to the site through their mobile phones. The unsolicited links are being dealt with, however, with Bebo promising that it is tightening security systems and increasing the necessity for verification before comments can be posted.
The same paper writes that new website HistoryEx.com has been slammed as "a forum for bullying". The site allows users to log on and rate their exes -- good, bad or indifferent. Other dating sites have criticised the new venture saying it is one sided. However, spokespeople for the site have denied it is malicious, and say it can be used to help root out cheaters and fakers, and would help make dating "easy" and break ups "fun".
The Sunday Business Post reports that software firm LeCayla Technologies has recorded a EUR1.4 million loss for last year. The firm, which was bought up by Opsource in February, made only EUR7,749 in revenue last year, according to the paper, compared to EUR16,251 in the 15-month period to the end of 2006. The company is carrying accumulated losses of EUR3.2 million as of last year.
Meanwhile, the same paper writes that backup service provider KeepITsafe has signed a deal with recruitment firm CPL for an undisclosed sum. The three-year deal will see the Dublin-based firm provide its backup services to CPL for its Irish and European offices. KeepITSafe currently has five staff and more than 650 clients. CPL's offices include operations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.
The paper also writes that Strencom, which provides internet protocol services, has been given the green light to go for funding under the Business Expansion Scheme. The funding will be used to expand into new markets, the paper said, with Eastern European territories a likely target. However, the company does not have a definite timescale for when this should happen.
The Sunday Business Post also writes that MobileAware's multi-million euro funding round will is now completed, and is expected to see the firm into profitability. Although the firm is keeping quiet on just how much money it raised, it said it was less than EUR10 million, but more than a couple of million euro. Existing investors Nauta Capital and Cross Atlantic Capital Partners led the round, with a third investor also coming on board.
Meanwhile, Dublin software company ChangingWorlds has signed a deal with US mobile company Sprint, which is said to be worth tens of millions of euro. As part of the agreement, Sprint is to use ChangingWorlds' ClixSmart software in its mobile web service to personalise content. The move marks an expansion for ChangingWorlds in the US.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 