Vodafone buys Turkish mobile firm

1. Vodafone buys Turkish mobile firm

Vodafone is buying Turkey's second biggest mobile telephone operator, Telsim, for $4.5bn (£2.5bn). It outbid Kuwait's MTC to win the auction for state-owned Telsim, which holds about 25% of the Turkish market with 9 million customers.

For more on this:
- read full story from BBC News, Dec 13 2005


2. AT&T doubles up on DSL speed

AT&T on Monday introduced a DSL service designed to double download speeds for small and medium-size business customers of its hosted Web services.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET news.com, Dec 13 2005


3. Hotmail, MSN Messenger get a boost in India

Microsoft is expanding the reach of its mobile e-mail and IM services in India. The software giant's MSN division and messaging company Mobile 365 announced Tuesday that they've reached deals with five Indian mobile service providers.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET news.com, Dec 13 2005


4. Web-Access Version of Microsoft's Business IM Client Goes Gold

Microsoft Corp. kicked off the Interop New York 2005 show with the release to manufacturing of the Web-based version of its Office Communicator 2005 enterprise instant messaging client. Microsoft launched its enterprise IM client the same day that it unveiled its beta-test plans for Windows Live Messenger, aka MSN Messenger 8.0.

For more on this:- read full story from eweek.com, Dec 13 2005


5. AOL Tests Remote Access Service

America Online has begun testing a new service that lets users access their PC remotely from any computer that has a browser and is connected to the Internet.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 13 2005

6. Microsoft teams with MCI on Internet telephony

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Microsoft and telecom group MCI announced a partnership for Internet telephony allowing low-cost global calling around the world.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 13 2005


7. MSN and MCI do VoIP

The increasingly crowded internet telephony market just got a little more squished after Microsoft announced it is hooking up with MCI to offer PC-to-phone calling. The new service - MCI Web Calling - is to be part of Windows Live Messenger, which is due to succeed Microsoft's MSN Messenger service.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Dec 13 2005


8. BT shunts broadband support to India - 886 jobs at risk

Up to 886 jobs in the UK could be axed after BT awarded a major broadband tech support contract to an outsourcing firm in India. Staff at ClientLogic - who have manned BT's broadband technical helpdesk for all consumer and business customers for the last five years - were told yesterday that the IT services company had failed to win a competitive tender.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Dec 13 2005


9. Europe Expected to Require Keeping of Phone-Call Data

The European Parliament is expected to approve legislation Wednesday that would require telecommunications companies to keep details on their clients' phone calls, faxes and e-mail messages for six months to two years to help combat terrorism.

For more on this:
- read full story from the new york times, Dec 12 2005

ClairAccess Lets You Message The Database

1. ClairAccess Lets You Message The Database

When people are on the move they want their information to move as fast as they do. Applications tailored to mobile devices, however, are often not as speedy as their owners can be.

For more on this:
- read full story from internetnews.com, Dec 12 2005


2. Sober Worm Attack Set for January 6

Computer users and system administrators, take note. According to iDefense, a division of VeriSign ,on January 6, 2006, the world will see the release of a new version of the Sober worm. Security analysts hope that, at least in this instance, being forewarned can lead to being forearmed, and that computer users will take the time before the attack to update their security software.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 12 2005


3. Yahoo! Widget Engine integrates maps, mail, more

Yahoo! on Monday announced the release of its Widget Engine 3.0 — the product formerly known as Konfabulator. A free download, Yahoo! Widget Engine works on both Mac, OS X and Windows.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 12 2005


4. E-mail Keeps No Secrets

Six percent of workers admitted that they've e-mailed confidential company information to someone they shouldn't have, according to a study released Monday by messaging research firm the Radicati Group.

For more on this:
- read full story from messaginpipeline.com, Dec 12 2005


5. Akonix Adds New IM Security And Compliance Features

Akonix Systems Inc. has launched Akonix L7 Enterprise v4.3, the latest version of its IM security gateway, which includes a personalized IM archive to store, manage and retain conversations over public and enterprise IM networks.

For more on this:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Dec 12 2005


6. Vignette Unveils Collaboration 7.0

Vignette Corp. Monday unveiled Vignette Collaboration 7.0, a collaboration tool that allows users to catalog concepts and access them through the Web.
"You're seeing a big resurgence in Web content management as companies begin to rethink growth strategies," said Conleth O’Connell, chief technology officer at Vignette.

For more on this:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Dec 12 2005


7. Case calls for Time Warner split

The founder of internet company America Online (AOL) has backed calls for parent firm Time Warner to be split up.
Steve Case said the world's biggest media company had "failed to capitalize on AOL's potential".

For more on this:
- read full story from BBC News, Dec 12 2005


8. AOL testing PC remote access service based on WebEx

America Online (Profile, Products, Articles) Inc. (AOL) has begun testing a new service that lets users access their PC remotely from any computer that has a browser and is connected to the Internet, an AOL spokesman said Monday.

For more on this:
- read full story from infoworld.com, Dec 12 2005


9. BellSouth, 8x8 team up on VoIP

BellSouth is now offering a residential VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) service provided by 8x8, the companies said in a statement Friday. The BellSouth Digital Phone Service is available now in a few areas, mostly in Florida, and will be rolled out to the carrier's whole service area over the next several months, said Bryan Martin, chairman and chief executive officer of 8x8.

For more on this:
- read full story from infoworld.com, Dec 12 2005

1. BT to spend £££s plugging VoIP

BT plans to spend millions plugging its broadband telephony service next year as it looks to ramp up its investment in VoIP. The UK's dominant fixed line telco currently runs two VoIP services - BT Communicator (which enables calls to be made via a PC) and BT Broadband Talk (which enables internet calls using a standard phone).

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Dec 9 2005


2. NTL stands by £817m bid for Virgin Mobile

NTL reckon its £817m bid for Virgin Mobile is a good offer representing "better value for all Virgin Mobile shareholders" - even though it's been rejected by the cellco.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Dec 9 2005


3. Yahoo Acquires Social Network Del.icio.us

In its latest acquisition of a social networking service, Internet powerhouse Yahoo Inc. on Friday devoured del.icio.us Inc., a startup that enables people to more easily compile and share their favorite content on the Web.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 10 2005


4. Viacom nearing deal to acquire DreamWorks

Viacom is close to acquiring DreamWorks, the privately held studio co-founded by director Steven Spielberg, in a transaction that could take place as soon as this weekend, a source familiar with the plan said Friday.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET news.com, Dec 9 2005


5. Yahoo offers Movable Type for bloggers

Yahoo Inc. and Six Apart Ltd., creator of Movable Type -- the most popular software used to create professional blogs -- said on Sunday Yahoo will be the preferred supplier of Movable Type for small businesses.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! News, Dec 12 2005


6. AOL co-founder calls for split of Time Warner

As Time Warner nears a decision on a big alliance with Google or Microsoft for its America Online unit, Steve Case, the co-founder of AOL, has spoken out against the plan, aligning himself with the thinking of the financier Carl Icahn, who has called on Time Warner's board to break up the company.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET News.com, Dec 11 2005


7. Wikipedia becomes Internet force, faces crisis

Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia that is the product of collaboration of its users, has become a major force on the Internet, but faces a crisis after a false biography raised questions about its credibility.

For more on this:
- read full story Yahoo! News, Dec 11 2005


8. Swisscom CEO Discusses Foreign Takeovers

Swisscom's ability to make foreign acquisitions without restrictions must be protected, the firm's chief executive, Jens Alder, told a Swiss newspaper in an interview published on Sunday.

For more on this:
- read full story from eweek.com, Dec 11 2005