A US appeals court this week agreed to shelve temporarily a lower court order that would force software firm Microsoft to start incorporating Sun Microsystems' Java programming language in its Windows operating system.
Telecoms policy draws criticism
The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has warned the Government its policy of aggregating public-sector demand for telecoms may create local monopolies which deter other service providers from entering the market. In its paper, "Future Delivery of Broadband in Ireland", the commission says that, if demand aggregation were implemented without competition, it could have a negative effect on the Irish market.
Sx3 signs €60.9m tech contract
Sx3, a Northern Irish tech firm, signed a £60 million (€60.9 million) contract with the Western Education & Library Board this week to deliver IT services to all post-primary and special needs schools in Northern Ireland.
The five-year contract, the third phase of the Classroom 2000 initiative, will deliver the latest education technology to the 237 post-primary and 48 special needs schools in Northern Ireland.
As the prime contractor, Sx3 will be the sole source of contact for the schools and will have overall responsibility for the delivery, management and servicing of 23,000 PCs, along with specialised educational software, servers and switches.
Servecast in deal with Deloitte
Servecast, the Dublin-based tech firm which counts Mr Denis O'Brien and Mr Eddie Jordan among its shareholders, has signed a deal with accountants Deloitte & Touche. The firm, which develops software in the multimedia communications field, will present a major corporate communications and training initiative for the firm.
Deloitte & Touche's three Irish offices will use Servecast's new product, Enterprise Media Studio, to create, manage, deliver and measure multimedia presentations for corporate communications, employee training and compliance training and testing.
Dell handheld computer arrives
Dell Computer has begun shipping its first handheld computer to customers throughout Europe in an important step in its strategy to diversify from PCs.
The first model, the Axium X5, will be available in two configurations priced at €349 and €249 and five languages - English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
The X5 is based on the Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 software and both configurations feature sleek ergonomic design, and a 3.5-inch transflective colour display, a technology that enables superior readability in both low and bright-light conditions.
Microsoft ruling on Sun is shelved
The court agreed to stay the antitrust order until it rules on Microsoft's appeal of the decision.
The appeals court gave no explanation for the decision. It also granted a request by both sides to hear the appeal on an expedited basis. - (Reuters)
