20041224_research

A Terabyte of space for your email, tom’s hardware guide, 22 Dec 2004

“Email inboxes are not just about sending, receiving and storing emails anymore. The California-based iTrade Group believes that email could become the single most important place to store every single piece of digital data. The increasingly popular email provider offers every Internet user a free email account with one Terabyte (TByte) of space. Last September, the iTrade Group, based in Irvine, California, announced free 100 GByte accounts and recently increased the space to 1 TByte under its domain hriders.com.�

Full story at http://www.tomshardware.com/hardnews/20041222_131746.html


Airtel signs strategic deal with MSN India, India Infoline, 23 Dec 2004

“Airtel, India's leading cellular mobile service, on Thursday forged a strategic mobile alliance with MSN India, a leading online service featuring more than 360mn users worldwide, and Mobile 365 (newly merged Mobileway-InphoMatch), the global leader of mobile messaging services. Under the agreement, Airtel customers will now be able to access their MSN Hotmail accounts via two-way short message service (SMS), as well as send and receive messages using MSN Messenger via their Airtel mobile phone."

Full story at http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/news.asp?dat=51130


Half of UK's mobiles 'go online', BBC News, 23 Dec 2004

“Multimedia mobile phones are finally showing signs of taking off, with more Britons using them to go online. Figures from industry monitor, the Mobile Data Association (MDA), show the number of phones with GPRS and MMS technology has doubled since last year. By the end of 2005, the MDA predicts that 75% of all mobiles in the UK will be able to access the net via GPRS.�

Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4120333.stm


Chinese firms lead technology plays, South China Morning Post, 24 Dec 2004

“Google may have grabbed the headlines, but it was Chinese companies that led the recovery of technology share offers in the United States this year. The two best-performing initial public offerings in the US hail from China: online game operator Shanda Interactive Entertainment and employment portal 51Job. Each has soared more than 250 per cent since listing on the Nasdaq earlier this year. Chinese tech companies and their venture capital backers hope investor enthusiasm for mainland IPOs will continue. On Wednesday, Beijing-based Watchdata Technologies filed for a US$100 million offer, to be led by JP Morgan�

Full story at http://technology.scmp.com/techmain/ZZZINSDQB1E.html


Opera releases new talking Web browser, Cnet News.com, 23 Dec 2004

“Opera Software released a test version of a major update to its Web browser software Thursday, intensifying its efforts, along with open-source rival Firefox, to cut into Microsoft's market share. The new, as-yet-unnamed software adds stronger support for RSS (Really Simple Syndication)--a technology widely used for automatic access to blogs and other material--and technology that allows users to navigate through voice commands and have Web pages read to them.�

Full story at http://news.com.com/Opera+releases+new+talking+Web+browser/2100-1032_3-5502431.html?part=rss&tag=5502431&subj=news.1032.20


To airmen, from the Air Force: New IM tool, Cnet News.com , 23 Dec 2004

“The Air Force has launched an instant messaging service for enlisted people stationed abroad to communicate with their families and loved ones. The new program, called "Friends and Family Instant Messenger," will let airmen chat with anybody with an Internet connection. It was launched earlier this week. Airmen must first send an invitation to family members and friends--limited to five--to register on the Air Force's Web portal to begin chatting. The service is a departure from the military body's former policy of keeping instant messaging for internal use only.�

Full story at
http://news.com.com/IM+lets+soldiers+connect+to+home+for+holidays/2100-1032_3-5501553.html?part=rss&tag=5501553&subj=news.1032.20


MailFrontier Named Among Best Anti-Spam Solutions by Network World Magazine, MailFrontier, 22 Dec 2004

“MailFrontier™, a pioneer in email security and leading provider of anti-spam and anti-phishing solutions, today announced that MailFrontier Gateway™ Server, Enterprise Edition was named as a "favorite" anti-spam software solution in Network World's review of more than 35 anti-spam products in the magazine's December 20 issue.�

Full story at http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/041222/078160.html

20041223_research

AOL gets ready to launch free Web e-mail, Cnet News.com, 22 Dec 2004

“America Online is testing a Web-based e-mail service that will compete with Yahoo Mail, Microsoft's Hotmail and Google's Gmail. Right now, the beta service is available to AOL subscribers only, but it will eventually be offered for free to the public, the company said on Wednesday. The service, dubbed "AOL Mail on the Web," is expected to officially debut early next year for members, and later in the year for the public. "This is paving the way for our free Web mail service that we will be offering to a wider audience in 2005," AOL spokeswoman Jaymelina Esmele said.�

Full story at http://news.com.com/AOL+gets+ready+to+launch+free+Web+e-mail/2100-1038_3-5501107.html

AOL Readies Web E-Mail Contender, eWeek, 22 Dec 2004

“The Dulles, Va., company late Tuesday launched a beta of a revamped Web-based e-mail service called "AOL Mail on the Web." It is available to AOL members who are registered beta testers. In early 2005, the service will replace an existing Web interface that lets AOL's paying subscribers access their e-mail from the AOL.com site, said AOL spokeswoman Jaymelina Esmele. But later in the year, the company also plans to open the service to nonsubscribers—a move that would pit it against the likes of Yahoo Mail, MSN Hotmail and Google's Gmail beta service.�

Full story at http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1745129,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594

Donated Intranet Service Helps Troops Stay Connected, eWeek, 22 Dec 2004

“Intranets.com is giving U.S. troops serving overseas a holiday present—free access to its hosted communications tools. The Woburn, Mass.-based company provides Web-based collaboration tools such as file and document sharing, e-mail, calendaring and discussion forums on a subscription basis, mostly to small-to-medium businesses and departments of larger organizations. Now those services are available free to members of the armed forces stationed overseas.�

Full story at http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1744882,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594


Stalker Software Provides Robust Messaging Solution for University of New Mexico, Stalker Software Inc, 14 Dec 2004

“Stalker Software, Inc., the technology leader in messaging solutions, today announced that the University of New Mexico has deployed CommuniGate Pro Dynamic Cluster to provide powerful and reliable e-mail messaging to thousands of students and faculty. CommuniGate Pro runs over a multi-server configuration to distribute the e-mail traffic and processing load for faster response times. The unique cluster technology also provides automatic server redundancy-if one server goes down, the software automatically reroutes requests away from that server to a fully-functioning server so that the end-users are not interrupted and downtime is avoided.�

Full story at http://www.stalker.com/content/news_article_12142004.html>


Tencent sees lower profit on China Mobile deal, South China Morning Post, 23 Dec 2004

“Instant messaging provider Tencent Holdings expects its monthly profits to drop four million yuan after a possible change in its licensing agreement with China Mobile. The Shenzhen-based company said it was renegotiating a deal for its 161 Mobile Chat service with the country's largest mobile operator, which was expected to change from a revenue-sharing model to a pre-determined monthly subscription business plan. Tencent said its monthly net earnings would be reduced by four million yuan.�

Full story at http://technology.scmp.com/techmain/ZZZSTQDQB1E.html"http://technology.scmp.com/techmain/ZZZSTQDQB1E.html">http://technology.scmp.com/techmain/ZZZSTQDQB1E.html


Father Seeking Marine's E-Mail Gets Help, Associated Press, 22 Dec 2004

“Offers of help have been pouring in for a Michigan man who is trying to persuade online giant Yahoo! to allow him access to the e-mail account of his son, a Marine killed in Iraq (news - web sites). From lawyers to computer-code crackers, people across the nation have come forward wanting to help the family of 20-year-old Justin M. Ellsworth, who was killed last month during a foot patrol in Iraq. "Oh, my God. It's been incredible," said John Ellsworth, Justin's father. "It's an overwhelming response. ... Things are really moving. I'm very encouraged by it all, but I still have my reservations."�

Full story at http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041222/ap_on_hi_te/marine_killed_e_mail


WhatHelps? Launches Free Service, PRWEB, 22 Dec 2004

“As with all WhatHelps? packages, customers also receive a free WebMail/POP3 account, Online Calendar and Address Book, Photo Album, and 10 MB of Web space with use of the Site Maker web site-building tool. These tools, combined with the contents of the new Freebie Package, give customers everything they need to build an interactive web site, online community, or community portal.�

Full story at http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/prweb/20041222/bs_prweb/prweb190796_1


j2 Global Launches PaperMaster Pro 7.0, j2 Global Communications Inc., 21 Dec 2004

“j2 Global Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: JCOM), the provider of outsourced, value-added messaging and communications services, today announced the launch of PaperMaster(R) Pro(TM) 7.0, a client-based document management solution that helps individuals and businesses organize messages more efficiently. PaperMaster Pro version 7.0 continues to advance j2 Global's document management solution by adding many new features and redesigning the user interface. This application's design is based exclusively on feedback from PaperMaster Pro's loyal user base.�

Full story at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=85255&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=656648&


Mozilla's Lightning to strike Outlook? eWeek, 22 Dec 2004

“The Mozilla Foundation is hatching yet another software project to challenge a key Microsoft title. The new project, code-named Lightning, aims to integrate Mozilla's calendar application, Sunbird, with its recently released Thunderbird e-mail application. That integration is aimed right at the heart of Microsoft's widely used Outlook software.�

Full story at http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5501618.html?tag=zdnn.alert


Broadband in U.S. Jumps 38 Pct in Latest Data-FCC, Reuters, 22 Dec 2004

“The number of American consumers and businesses that subscribe to high-speed Internet service, or broadband, jumped 38 percent in the year ended June 30, 2004, according to new statistics released on Wednesday. About 32.5 million broadband lines connected homes and businesses to the Internet, up from 23.5 million at the end of June 2003, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) said in its semi-annual report of the latest statistics. In the six months ended June 30, the number of broadband lines rose 15 percent while during the previous six months the number of lines rose 20 percent, the agency said.�

Full story at http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20041222/tc_nm/telecoms_broadband_dc

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.�

See attached for full story