The Irish Times reports that major government technology projects should be fast-tracked in the same way priority is given to physical infrastructure projects under the National Development Plan, according to IBM. Paul Farrell, country managing partner for IBM's global business services division, was speaking in response to an IBM-sponsored report by the on global "e-readiness". The EIU defines e-readiness as the "state of play" of a country's ICT infrastructure and the ability of its citizens, businesses and governments to use technology to their benefit. The annual report found Ireland has fallen from 16th place to 21st in the rankings, and rates poorly for connectivity and technology infrastructure.
The paper also says Irish firm has signed deals with two of the main mobile operators in Malaysia to provide mobile television services. Qtelmedia now has access to 15.2 million customers in Malaysia thanks to the contracts with Maxis and Digi. Qtelmedia takes video from content providers such as Fox Sports and Malaysian TV stations, converts it into the correct format for mobile phones, and delivers it to the mobile operators' networks. The company says it is growing its revenues by 20 percent to 25 percent per month.
The same paper notes that mobile phone technologies could be used to make airlines and airports more efficient, according to an aviation management expert. Paul O'Neill, a partner in 's aviation and transport services division, cited low-cost airline as an example of what can be achieved. It introduced an SMS booking service in August 2003, and now sells 28 percent of its tickets by mobile phone. Text messages coupled with iris scans, fingerprints or other biometric information could reduce ticket fraud and make security controls more efficient, O'Neill told an airline industry conference in Dublin this week.
The paper also reports Silicon Valley entrepreneur , the co-founder of , told a conference that Ireland should not be disappointed Intel decided to locate its latest factory in China rather than here. Speaking at the Create & Innovate event in Dublin City University, Coleman said employment in such factories was falling due to automation, adding that they were not high-value jobs. He said Ireland should adopt the "glass half full" outlook and focus on the fact that Google located here. Coleman has said he is considering Ireland for the European headquarters of his latest venture, .
The paper also says that small firms will soon be able to avail of heavily subsidised technology assessments through a new government-backed programme, . Read the full story on ENN .
The Irish Independent records that shares rose on Thursday after the company posted an 88 percent rise in quarterly profit. Read the details of Apple's results on ENN .
The paper also reports that telecoms regulator spent over EUR21 million in the year ended June 2005, a 34 percent rise on the previous year, according to its latest annual report. The expenditure included just under EUR10 million in consultancy and legal expenses, while staff costs came to nearly EUR9 million. According to notes with the accounts, staff costs included salaries of the three commissioners; these combined amounted to EUR401,000. ComReg employs 122 people.
According to the Financial Times, chairman Julian Horn-Smith has stepped down unexpectedly from the UK software group, less than one year after his appointment, citing "differences in culture and style". Horn-Smith was formerly deputy chief executive of mobile giant Vodafone. His abrupt departure is a blow for Sage, which has been strongly acquisitive and has been seen as a potential target for leading players such as Microsoft, SAP and Oracle. Tony Hobson, a non-executive director at Sage, will become acting chairman with immediate effect, while the company prepares to hire headhunters to find a long-term replacement.
The paper also says that British chip designer has revealed plans to double its dividend for 2007 and accelerate its share buyback programme. The group, which designs chips used in mobile phones, iPods, gaming devices and high-definition televisions, reiterated its bullish outlook for 2007, saying it expected sales of smartphones to remain robust. The group said it planned to increase its full-year dividend from STG0.01 per share in 2006 to STG0.02 per share in 2007, and to boost its share buyback programme to more than STG100 million for the year.
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