Yahoo Launches VoIP Service Linked To Web Features

1. Yahoo Launches VoIP Service Linked To Web Features

The crowded VoIP sector is getting another major player. Yahoo Inc., which is entering the field with a service that in many ways is cheaper than Web phoning pacesetter Skype, and putting another nail in the coffin of traditional landline telephoning.

For more on this:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Dec 8 2005


2. Google takes the bus

Google has debuted a test version of a service that tries to map out the most direct route for public-transportation users. Google's transit trip planner, launched Wednesday, is currently limited to Portland, Ore., but may eventually launch on a global scale, according to its Web site.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET news.com, Dec 8 2005


3. Yahoo makes its telecom play

Yahoo will offer two new fee-based voice over IP services so customers can make voice calls from a PC to a telephone and receive phone calls on a PC, the company said Wednesday.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET news, Dec 7 2005


4. Yahoo Undercuts Skype, Telcos on Voice Call Rates

Yahoo Inc. said on Wednesday the company plans to allow computer users to make and receive calls from phones at rates that undercut eBay-owned rival Skype and are significantly below traditional phone companies.

For more on this:
- read full story from eweek.com, Dec 8 2005


5. AIM Worm Mimics Talking IM Bots

A new malicious worm squirming through America Online Inc.'s AIM network has the ability to carry on an instant messaging conversation with potential victims.

For more on this:
- read full story from eweek.com, Dec 7 2005



6. Open-Source Browser's New Version Comes Loaded With Options

The Firefox Web browser hit a milestone last week with the release of version 1.5 in Mac, Windows and Linux flavors. It has graduated from its hacker roots and turned into a powerful, fast and easily customizable browser that anyone can use.

For more on this:
- read full story from the new york times, Dec 8 2005


7. Review: Skype Handset Makes VoIP Easier

If you live outside your home country or phone overseas often, chances are you've heard of Skype, the voice-over-Internet service that allows you to make free or cheap voice calls through your computer.

For more on this:
- read full story from washingtonpost.com, Dec 7 2005


8. Web Advertising Expected to Double Its Take Of The Overall Market In Five Years

Internet advertising is expected to account for 10 percent of the overall U.S. market by 2010, a twofold increase over last year, a market research firm said Thursday.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 8 2005


9. Gmail Gains 'Web Clips' Feature

Google is adding a new feature to its Gmail Web mail service that lets users display links to various types of Web content, such as news articles and blog entries. The enhancements are described in information posted this week on the What's New section of the Gmail Web site.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 8 2005


10. Yahoo Updates Messenger's Phone Features

Yahoo plans to upgrade Yahoo Messenger with a capability that lets users dial out from the instant messaging service interface to traditional or mobile phones, a Yahoo executive says.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 8 2005

Verizon Launches E-mail Encryption For Small Businesses

1. Verizon Launches E-mail Encryption For Small Businesses

Verizon Online has unveiled a new e-mail security service for small businesses that encrypts e-mail messages before they are sent out over the Internet.
The new subscription service, called Verizon Secure Mail, uses Echoworx's encrypted e-mail software.

For more on this:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Dec 7 2005


2. Yahoo's new online phone calls near

Yahoo is expanding its reach in the fast-growing Internet calling market, offering a service that will allow people to make and receive low-cost computer calls to and from regular phones.

For more on this:
- read full story from mercurynews.com, Dec 7 2005


3. Yahoo undercuts Skype, telcos on voice call rates

Yahoo Inc. said on Wednesday the company plans to allow computer users to make and receive calls from phones at rates that undercut eBay-owned rival Skype and are significantly below traditional phone companies.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 8 2005


4. Virgin Mobile says rejects NTL offer

Virgin Mobile Holdings Ltd., which is controlled by British tycoon Richard Branson, said on Wednesday it was rejecting a buy-out offer from cable TV firm NTL Inc.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 7 2005


5. Yahoo Adds Skype-Like Ability to IM Service

Yahoo Inc. is entering a suddenly crowded field, offering Skype-like capabilities through its instant-messaging service that will let people dial regular phone numbers using their computers or receive calls from conventional phones

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 7 2005

6. Junk Mail Beats Spam Again in '05

The Internet continues to take its toll—both pro and con—on the U.S. Postal Service, but the post office may be starting to win the fight. For the first time in several years, the USPS reported an increase in first-class shipments, albeit a nominal one of one-tenth of one percent.

For more on this:
- read full story from eweek.com, Dec 7 2005


7. Hosted E-Mail, IM Service Providers Offer Archiving

Managed e-mail security and management providers are launching new services to help businesses archive electronic communications as they seek to comply with regulatory and legal requirements.
For more on this:
- read full story from eweek.com, Dec 7 2005


8. Changing Message on AOL

Time Warner Inc. has abandoned plans to sell a minority stake in America Online Inc. but remains in active negotiations with rival suitors Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. about forging a more limited partnership with one of them to increase online ad revenue for AOL.

For more on this:
- read full story from eweek.com, Dec 7 2005


9. Inmarsat launches global high-speed Web access

Inmarsat on Wednesday launched a long-awaited service to provide cheaper voice and high-speed Internet access anywhere in the world, as the satellite operator looks to tap additional revenues.

For more on this:
- read full story from reuters, Dec 7 2005

NTL and Virgin in takeover talks

1. NTL and Virgin in takeover talks

NTL has confirmed it has approached Virgin Mobile over merging the firms in a potential deal worth more than £800m. The combined company would challenge Rupert Murdoch's dominant UK satellite TV firm BSkyB.

For more on this:
- read full story from BBC News, Dec 5 2005


2. New Breed Of Malicious IM Bots Get Interactive

The IMlogic Threat Center has issued a warning on a new breed of malicious IM bots which dupe users into activating their IM worm payloads.

For more on this:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Dec 6 2005


3. Beware Of IM Greeting Cards

Akonix Systems Inc. today said it has identified a new instant messaging worm named W32/Aimdes.E, that disguises itself as a holiday greeting card. Holiday greetings present a vulnerable avenue of attack and Akonix warns that this method will most likely be used throughout the month of December.

For more on this:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Dec 6 2005


4. .eu domains are go, go, go!

It may have taken over five years getting there, but at 10am today, the first .eu domains will go on sale - and it's going to be a landrush. At least it will be for trademark holders, because only those holding a valid European Union trademark will be entitled to apply from now until 7 February 2006 - and only on the exact trademark they own. Applications will be checked, we are told.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Dec 7 2005


5. Ingenio brings pay-per-call ads to InfoSpace

Pay-per-call advertising pioneer Ingenio was set to announce Wednesday that ads from its network would appear on InfoSpace's search site.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET News.com, Dec 6 2005

6. Google Desktop tweaked to block attackers

Google has made an adjustment to its desktop search tool to foil attacks that take advantage of an unpatched vulnerability in Microsoft's ubiquitous Internet Explorer Web browser.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET News.com, Dec 7 2005


7. ZoomInfo Automates Social Networking

Online social networking isn't for everybody. For those who don't enjoy the social part, there's ZoomInfo, which, thanks to recent enhancement, sports more info than the original version launched in March.

For more on this:
- read full story from internetnews.com, Dec 5 2005


8. South Korea orders Microsoft to unbundle Windows

Microsoft Corp. was ordered to separate its instant messaging service from its Windows software and allow rival products on its system in South Korea after losing a ruling on unfair business practices on Wednesday.

For more on this:
- read full story from reuters.com, Dec 7 2005


9. Livedoor Acquires Innovation Interactive

Acquisition Increases Japanese Conglomerate Leadership in Search and Performance Marketing. Livedoor Co., Ltd. today announced that it has acquired Innovation Interactive, a US-based performance marketing firm. Innovation Interactive's assets include full suite of Search Engine Marketing solutions from 360i, customized Search Management software platform from SearchIgnite, Direct Marketing Solutions, Contextual Marketing Solutions, as well as a large portfolio of Direct Navigation domains.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! Finance

Virgin trying for mobile deal:Branson

1. Virgin trying for mobile deal:Branson

A year after announcing he aimed to set up a mobile reselling service in China, Richard Branson said on Monday his Virgin Group was still trying to get a slice of the world's biggest cellular market.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 5 2005


2. Bringing Skype To The Masses

The day that you can buy a Skype-enabled headset with your cappuccino is closer than you think. The mostly free Internet communication service, recently acquired by eBay is wildly popular in Europe and Asia and is making a rapid push into mainstream America.

For more on this:
- read full story from forbes.com, Dec 2 2005


3. With AOL's Triton, the Message Sent Is One of Overmarketing

America Online has come out with a major new software release, one that may change how millions of people experience the Internet. Not too long ago, that sentence could only have meant one thing: AOL had just upgraded the program used by subscribers to connect to the popular online service.

For more on this:
- read full story from washingtonpost.com, Dec 4 2005


4. Gone Spear-Phishin'

About a year and a half ago, Amnon Jackont, an Israeli mystery novelist and Tel Aviv University history professor, became ensnared in a mystery of his very own: friends and students were receiving e-mail messages from him that he had never written.

For more on this:
- read full story from the new york times, Dec 4 2005


5. RealNetworks to offer rhapsody service

RealNetworks is to launch a Web-based version of its Rhapsody subscription music service, becoming the latest company hoping to capitalise on growing consumer interest in software and services that can be accessed anywhere via the Internet.

For more on this:
- read full story from scmp.com, Dec 5 2005


6. Madison Avenue faces Google fears

Google's search for revenue beyond its wildly popular pay-per-click advertising system has everyone from publishers to phone companies unnerved by the seemingly endless scope of the Web leader's ambitions.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET News.com, Dec 4 2005


7. Wi-fi venture tests Philadelphia

Wireless Philadelphia is a project that has been in development for several years, but which will not be finished until late 2006. It seems such an agreeable proposition to everybody involved - cheap wi-fi for an entire city.

For more on this:
- read full story from BBC News, Dec 4 2005


8. Phishing with Google Desktop

It's nice to see Microsoft and Google's respective technologies working in tandem - but not so nice to see it used to expose data on your own hard disk to a malicious website operator.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Dec 3 2005