Net phoning starts to win friends

1. Net phoning starts to win friends

Awareness of net calling technology is steadily growing among Britons, suggests a survey.
Almost half of those questioned said they knew that they could make cheap phone calls via the net using so-called voice over IP (Voip) technology.

For more on this:
- read full story from BBC News, Sept 29 2005


2. Snapfish: Photo Sharing Made Simple

As photo-sharing Web sites proliferate, at first glance it's hard to spot the differences among them. Virtually all of them let you upload, print, order and send digital photos.

For more on Snapfish:
- read full story from businessweek.com, Sept 29 2005


3. Skype Upgrades VoIP Software, Services

Skype has upgraded its VoIP software to version 1.4 for the Windows platform, touting new features like call forwarding and customized ringtones. The new free call-forwarding feature, for example, lets users configure the VoIP service to forward calls to up to three other phone numbers or to another Skype software client.

For more on Skype:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 29 2005


4. Some Web Telephones Can't Re-Use Numbers

Kirsten Dixson was proud to be an early adopter when she signed up her career coaching business for Internet-based telephone service earlier this year.

She soon came to regret her tech savvy when bad sound quality made her long for traditional phone service. Then the other shoe dropped — she couldn't take her number with her to another provider.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 29 2005


5. F-Secure Security Suite Tackles Spyware, Rootkits

Finnish anti-virus specialist F-Secure has dived headfirst into the crowded anti-spyware market, rolling out a new consumer-facing security suite that promises to detect unwanted programs before a PC becomes injected.

For more on F-Secure Security Suite:
- read full story from eweek.com, Sept 29 2005


6. Does the ITU get the internet?

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is angling for a wider role in running the internet, to the extent that it is hosting the WSIS meeting taking place in Geneva at the moment.

Situated in the United Nations' Palais des Nations and just over the road from the ITU three-building complex, delegates from across the world have been complaining about the low-tech environment featuring unrecordable audio and a severe shortage of power sockets.

For more on ITU:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Sept 29 2005


7. Internet advertising soars in the US

Online advertising revenues in the first half of this year soared to a new high of around $5.8 billion in the US – up 26 per cent over the first half of 2004, according to figures released yesterday by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Sept 28 2005


8. BitTorrent Lands $8.75 Million in Funding

The creator of the popular online file-swapping software BitTorrent has lined up $8.75 million in financing from a venture capital firm in a bid to build his software into a commercial distribution tool for media companies.

For more on BitTorrent:
- read full story from Washington Post, Sept 29 2005

FCC backs off on internet phone deadline

1. FCC backs off on internet phone deadline

The Federal Communications Commission backed off again Tuesday on enforcing a deadline for Internet phone service providers to disconnect all customers who haven't acknowledged that they understand it may be hard to reach a live emergency dispatcher when dialing 911.

For more on this:
- read full story from BusinessWeek Online, Sept 27 2005


2. Symantec and Microsoft Bring Down Pirate

Symantec Corp. announced on Wednesday that it was awarded more than $1 million in restitution from a Houston software counterfeiter.
A year-long investigation by the Houston Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation snagged Li Chen, proprietor of Microsource International in Houston.

For more on this:
- read full story from internetnews.com, Sept 28 2005


3. Yahoo Desktop Search Out of Beta

Yahoo has released its Desktop Search to the public. The product, which was released in beta in January, now includes LiveWords contextual search.

For more on Yahoo Desktop:
- read full story from internetnews.com, Sept 28 2005


4. Google to team with NASA in space research

Web search company Google Inc. said on Wednesday it plans to partner with U.S. space agency NASA on space research and to build a new campus at the agency's research center in the heart of Silicon Valley.

For more on Google and NASA:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 29 2005


5. Japan's eAccess in talks with GS

Wholesale broadband provider eAccess Ltd. said on Thursday it is in talks with Goldman Sachs over a possible investment in a mobile phone service the Japanese firm aims to start next year.

For more on Japan’s eAccess:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 29 2005

6. Google Ends Boycott of News.com

Google Inc.'s boycott of News.com appears to have ended quietly, less than three months after company executives told the technology news site that they would stop speaking with its reporters for a year.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 28 2005


7. Phishers go after World Cup fans

The organization behind the World Cup soccer competition warned this week that Internet fraudsters are using its name in a global phishing scheme.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET news.com, Sept 28 2005


8. Hackers Step Up Attacks on IM Networks

Instead of the usual Internet browser or e-mail targets, hackers may be taking aim first at instant messaging networks. One security research outfit on Wednesday reported the highest monthly total ever of new IM viruses.

For more on this:
- read full story from eweek.com, Sept 28 2005


9. Blogbot Open-Sources Outlook Web Feed Aggregator

The code for Blogbot, an Outlook add-in that aggregates RSS and Atom feeds and delivers them into Outlook folders, has been open-sourced. Blogbot's domain is also up for sale, according to its Web site.

For more on this:
- read full story from eweek.com, Sept 28 2005

Orchestria Study Shows Messaging Makes Financial Industry Vulnerable To Compliance Breaches

1. Orchestria Study Shows Messaging Makes Financial Industry Vulnerable To Compliance Breaches

Orchestria said today that according to its survey of US financial services firm employees, electronic communications such as e-mail, instant messenging, Webmail, blogs, chat rooms and handhelds, present a significant threat to the security of intellectual property and also risk violations of compliance with corporate and regulatory policy.

For more on Orchestria Study:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Sept 26 2005


2. Managing Google's Idea Factory

In late 1998, when Marissa Mayer first heard about a small outfit called Google, she barely batted an eye. The Stanford University grad student was urged by her adviser to pay a visit to two guys on the computer science building's fourth floor who were developing ways to analyze the World Wide Web.

For more on Google:
- read full story from BusinessWeek Online, Sept 27 2005


3. Online Ad Market Grows 26 Percent

Search-based keyword ads largely propelled the 26 percent growth — to a record $5.8 billion — in U.S. Internet advertising revenues for the first half of the year.

For more on Online AdMarket:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 26 2005


4. Google Video Integrates Media Player

Google has improved its Google Video service by eliminating the need for users to download software to play back videos, the Mountain View, California-based company has announced.

For more on Google Video:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 26 2005


5. Monitoring, Archiving and Indexing Enterprise E-Mail

Today's employers are caught in a difficult Catch 22. On the one hand, they feel the need to respect their employees' and customers' sense of privacy; on the other, they must comply with increasingly strict data-storage regulations imposed by government agencies.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 26 2005


6. How to get the most from VoIP

Merrill Lynch has high hopes for its Voice over Internet Protocol roll out, which features 35,000 Cisco IP phones at more than 500 offices nationwide, enhanced call availability and cost savings on data center requirements.

For more on this:
- read full article from NetworkWorld


7. Euro email storage scheme 'illegal', warns official

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has said that he is not yet convinced by the arguments put forward in favour of a European directive on data retention, and has set out strict conditions any such law would have to meet if it's to be considered acceptable by his office.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Sept 26 2005


8. Phishers target Yahoo! Photos

Internet crooks looking to capture login details of Yahoo! accounts are changing tactics. Phishing attacks that attempt to capture a user's Yahoo! ID and password by tricking the gullible into handing over their credentials to fake sign-in pages have been around for months if not years.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Sept 26 2005


9. VoIP wants to cut the computer cord

Mark Bruk, a frequent business traveler, always packs a Plantronic headset with an ear bud and microphone so he can plug into any computer and make phone calls on the cheap.

For more on this: - read full story from CNET news, Sept 26 2005

Orchestria Study Shows Messaging Makes Financial Industry Vulnerable To Compliance Breaches

1. Orchestria Study Shows Messaging Makes Financial Industry Vulnerable To Compliance Breaches

Orchestria said today that according to its survey of US financial services firm employees, electronic communications such as e-mail, instant messenging, Webmail, blogs, chat rooms and handhelds, present a significant threat to the security of intellectual property and also risk violations of compliance with corporate and regulatory policy.

For more on Orchestria Study:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Sept 26 2005


2. Managing Google's Idea Factory

In late 1998, when Marissa Mayer first heard about a small outfit called Google, she barely batted an eye. The Stanford University grad student was urged by her adviser to pay a visit to two guys on the computer science building's fourth floor who were developing ways to analyze the World Wide Web.

For more on Google:
- read full story from BusinessWeek Online, Sept 27 2005


3. Online Ad Market Grows 26 Percent

Search-based keyword ads largely propelled the 26 percent growth — to a record $5.8 billion — in U.S. Internet advertising revenues for the first half of the year.

For more on Online AdMarket:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 26 2005


4. Google Video Integrates Media Player

Google has improved its Google Video service by eliminating the need for users to download software to play back videos, the Mountain View, California-based company has announced.

For more on Google Video:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 26 2005


5. Monitoring, Archiving and Indexing Enterprise E-Mail

Today's employers are caught in a difficult Catch 22. On the one hand, they feel the need to respect their employees' and customers' sense of privacy; on the other, they must comply with increasingly strict data-storage regulations imposed by government agencies.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 26 2005


6. How to get the most from VoIP

Merrill Lynch has high hopes for its Voice over Internet Protocol roll out, which features 35,000 Cisco IP phones at more than 500 offices nationwide, enhanced call availability and cost savings on data center requirements.

For more on this:
- read full article from NetworkWorld


7. Euro email storage scheme 'illegal', warns official

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has said that he is not yet convinced by the arguments put forward in favour of a European directive on data retention, and has set out strict conditions any such law would have to meet if it's to be considered acceptable by his office.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Sept 26 2005


8. Phishers target Yahoo! Photos

Internet crooks looking to capture login details of Yahoo! accounts are changing tactics. Phishing attacks that attempt to capture a user's Yahoo! ID and password by tricking the gullible into handing over their credentials to fake sign-in pages have been around for months if not years.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Sept 26 2005


9. VoIP wants to cut the computer cord

Mark Bruk, a frequent business traveler, always packs a Plantronic headset with an ear bud and microphone so he can plug into any computer and make phone calls on the cheap.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET news, Sept 26 2005

General Dynamics Implements Jabber XCP For Homeland Security Applications

1. General Dynamics Implements Jabber XCP For Homeland Security Applications

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and Jabber, Inc. have created a partnership to provide the instant messaging company's product line of secure and scalable enterprise messaging and presence solutions to customers in the defense, intelligence and homeland security markets.

For more on Jabber XCP:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Sept 26 2005


2. China toughens rules on Internet news, targets civil society

New restrictions on Internet news content in China are aimed at controlling an increasingly independent society that is demanding more rights protections, reports and analysts said.

For more on China’s rules on Internet news:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 26 2005


3. MSN Search Toolbar Gets Contextual Search Add-in

The Watson 2.0 contextual search software released by Intellext earlier this month is now available as an add-in package for Microsoft's MSN Search Toolbar application, Intellext announced Friday.

For more on MSN search toolbar:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Sept 23 2005


3. Symantec Lands Anti-Phish Firm

Security software giant Symantec is expanding its line of products with the acquisition of behavior-based security and anti-phishing firm WholeSecurity.

For more on symantec’s anti-phishing software:
- read full story from theinternetnews.com, Sept 23 2005


4. A Disconnect Between SMBs, VoIP

Voice over IP service providers big and small are in a full-court press to lure small and medium businesses (SMBs) to IP telephony.

For more on this:
- read full story from theinternetnews.com, Sept 23 2005


5. Amstrad pulls em@iler from shelves

Amstrad's integrated 'phone and email device is being withdrawn from retail sale after poor sales this year provoked the company to pull the emailer.

Amstrad shifted 61,000 units during the year - which Amstrad described as: "currently the worst high street retail market for many years". The board is writing off £5.7m to cover anticipated costs.

For more on Amstrad:
- read full story from channelregister.co.uk, Sept 26 2005


6. Be 24 meg broadband is go

'Be' - the local loop unbundling (LLU) broadband ISP - goes live today offering net access of speed of up to 24 megs for £24 a month.

The service is available in parts of London where the LLU operator has already installed its kit in BT exchanges.

For more on Be:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Sept 26 2005


7. Toolbar, search site aim to guard against phishers

A Massachusetts company on Monday plans to launch a search site and toolbar that will alert Internet users when they are visiting Web sites that are fraudulent or should not be trusted.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET news.com, Sept 25 2005


8. Competitors to RIM Step Forward

Several mobile e-mail access companies this week will announce products and services designed to compete with Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry platform, but RIM continues to hold its own, with new carriers and device partnerships due by year's end.

For more on this:
- read full story from eweek.com, Sept 26 2005