IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 18 June
18-06-2009
by Sylvia Leatham
Bord Gais loses customer details | Census data goes online
The Irish Times reports that 75,000 Bord Gais customers have been warned to monitor their bank accounts for suspicious transactions after a laptop containing account details was stolen. The office of the Data Protection Commissioner has warned those affected that fraudsters could potentially use their information to withdraw money from their accounts or take out loans in their name. Four laptops were stolen from Bord Gais offices on Foley Street in Dublin in the early hours of 5 June. One of the computers, which was not encrypted, contains details such as account numbers, home addresses and branch details of about 75,000 people who recently switched from the ESB as part of Bord Gais's "big switch" campaign.
The paper also says that the details of every census conducted in Ireland over the last 83 years are now available online to the public. The historical census volumes from 1926 to 1991 have been scanned and published on the website of the Central Statistics Office, www.cso. ie/census/historical_reports.htm. Until now, access to this data was only available from the CSO on request, to certain persons and in paper format.
The paper also says that mobile operators were criticised at an Oireachtas committee for being too slow to introduce technology that could help combat the bullying of children and teens. Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney said many operators did not have any service or technology available to help tackle bullying among younger children, despite the large resources at their disposal. The mobile operators outlined the measures they have put in place or are planning to introduce, as reported by ENN on Wednesday.
The same paper notes that French online retailer Cdiscount will formally launch in Ireland on Thursday. Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan will announce the creation of jobs at the company's headquarters for Ireland and the UK in Dundalk. Cdiscount sells a wide range of discounted consumer goods. The company launched its British website in January and will launch an Irish site this summer.
The Irish Independent reports that Mylocalnews.ie, an online 'one-stop community forum' founded last September by media exec Kevin McDermott, is now racking up 38,000 hits a month. The site has more than 1,300 groups signed up as members, which means they can post their news online on dedicated pages for their areas.
The Irish Examiner says that the first decline in mobile subscriptions in four years has been recorded by ComReg. Look out for more details of ComReg's latest quarterly report in ENN's Weekly Digest on Thursday.
The paper also reports that data storage firm EMC has confirmed it is to cut 30 jobs in Cork as part of a global restructuring drive. The company, which has its Irish base in Ovens, announced at the start of this year that it would reduce its global workforce of 34,300 employees by 2,400, or 7 percent, as part of an overall efficiency drive. Until now, the effects had not been seen in Ireland. A spokeswoman confirmed that 30 Cork staff would lose their jobs over the coming months.
The Wall Street Journal says that Microsoft and Google clashed on Wednesday as the two traded barbs over a new Google software offering. Microsoft said Google's new Apps Sync software disables the search capabilities of Microsoft's popular Outlook email program. Google acknowledged an issue with its software, which it released last week, but disputed the severity of the problem and said it is working to improve its software. Apps Sync, which is aimed at businesses, allows users to merge data between Google's e-mail and calendar service and Outlook.
The paper also reports that Intel is changing the branding on its computer chips, including phasing out the high-profile Centrino logo on laptops. The chip giant said the changes were designed to simplify an array of brands and logos. Among other things, Intel plans to spend less energy promoting 'platforms' of multiple chips, such as Centrino, to concentrate on promoting the microprocessors that are the company's hallmark. "Things have gotten more and more confusing," said Deborah Conrad, an Intel vice president and director of corporate marketing. "A consumer doesn't need to see that minutiae."
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