20041222_research

Yahoo denies family access to dead marine's e-mail, Cnet News.com, 21 Dec 2004

“The family of a U.S. Marine killed in Iraq was denied access to the soldier's Yahoo e-mail account due to the company's policies, raising questions of whether businesses should balance privacy with special requests.�

Full story at http://news.com.com/Yahoo+denies+family+access+to+dead+marines+e-mail/2100-1038_3-5500057.html?part=rss&tag=5500057&subj=news.1038.20


Judge denies guilty plea in AOL spam case, Cnet News.com, 21 Dec 2004

“A district judge in New York has refused to accept a guilty plea from a former America Online employee charged with stealing 92 million e-mail addresses from the online giant, citing vagueness in the prosecutors' argument that the theft violated the federal Can-Spam Act.�

Full story at http://news.com.com/Judge+denies+guilty+plea+in+AOL+spam+case/2100-1030_3-5499701.html?part=rss&tag=5499701&subj=news.1030.20


Google/Yahoo Rivalry Moves Into 2005, Associated Press, 21 Dec 2004

“Even as they trade counterpunches punctuating their similarities, Internet heavyweights Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - news) have strived for different goals — distinctions that may become more apparent as the fierce rivalry moves into 2005. Google, owner of the leading online search engine, is devoted to a single-minded mission: transforming the way the world finds and stores information, even if that means sending people somewhere else. Yahoo, owner of the world's most popular Web site, is taking a more multidimensional approach as it strives to be all things for all people — a one-stop destination for recreation, work and research.�

Full story at http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041221/ap_on_hi_te/ye_portal_wars


BlueTie Awarded U.S. Patent For Unique Name Recognition Technology, BlueTie.com, 20 Dec 2004

“The patented technology is driven by simple name recognition. It allows BlueTie users to send an email message, schedule a meeting, or share information by simply clicking a "hot link" of the name of the person they wish to communicate with from a list of contacts. On the back end, the application then recognizes that contact, recognizes what action is requested, fills the field from a database record and transfers the requested information or message accordingly to that person in the correct context (ie: schedule meeting, share files or send a message) - all with one click.�

Full story at http://www.bluetie.com/about/press/122004.html


Spam Slayer: 2005 Inbox Forecast, PCWorld.com, 20 Dec 2004

“…So where do all this spam, virus, and phishing attacks leave us? For many small businesses and individuals it's just too much to handle. That's why in 2005 you will see more consumers turning to Web-based e-mail services like those offered by Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. Why?Well, it's a pretty good deal. If you can get 2GB of storage, virus scanning of attachments, and a phishing-screening service, then paying a nominal fee (or nothing) makes the advantages of Web-based e-mail worth putting up with some of its shortcomings. For the million or so small businesses that manage their own e-mail systems, letting someone else take care of the problems can be a huge relief.�

Full story at http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/pcworld/20041220/tc_pcworld/118985


US wireless use behind rest of world, South China Morning Post, 20 Dec 2004

“An estimated 57 percent of the US population chats on wireless phones - not much greater than the percentage of wireless phone users in much poorer Jamaica, where 54 per cent of the people have mobile phones, according to the International Telecommunications Union. By comparison, in Hong Kong there are 105.75 mobile subscribers for every 100 inhabitants. In Taiwan, there are 110.�

Full story at http://technology.scmp.com/techcomm/ZZZVY50RB1E.html



The New AOL Looks Like Yahoo, Fortune, 27 Dec 2004

“And even Miller's grand strategy for boosting AOL ad revenue in 2005 is unlikely to blow anyone away: He's building a Yahoo wannabe. Next year AOL (like FORTUNE, a unit of Time Warner) will relaunch AOL.com as a free portal that will compete with the likes of Yahoo and Microsoft's MSN. To attract users to the site, AOL will harvest bushels of material from its "walled garden" and offer articles, games, and other online fare that's now available only to its subscribers. The site will feature a search engine and chatting capability through AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), and it will even offer free web-based e-mail addresses, probably using "aim.com"-- not the coveted aol.com--as the domain name.�

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