Despite the recent tech sector slump and thousands of layoffs worldwide, the number of people with Internet access and the number of online purchases continues to surge, figures released last week show. The Nielsen//Netratings Global Internet Index for March shows the "universe" of individuals with Web access from home grew by nearly seven million people in March to a total of 379 million. Active Internet usage rebounded after a slump in February growing almost 4 per cent to 211 million people.
The March index also shows that 100.2 million Americans have purchased something on the Internet at least once over the last year, an 11 per cent increase on the previous year. One hundred and twenty three million people in the US now have Web access. Eighty one per cent of these have completed a purchase on the Internet. In March, online shoppers spent $3.5 billion up 36% from $2.6 billion in April 2000.
BAD CALL: A Co Mayo sandwich-seller is to pay "substantial" compensation for posting the name and personal details of a business rival on a website advertising the services of prostitutes, a court heard on Friday. Ms Maureen Walker, a mother-of-two from Castlerea in Co Roscommon told the circuit court hearing in Westport in Co Mayo she had undergone a "woman's worst nightmare" when over two days she received calls from more than 100 men seeking to have sex with her. Mr Francis Kenny (40) from Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo admitted to gardai after his arrest last May he had posted his business rival's details on a website advertising "escorts".
SOFT LAUNCH: The newest version of Microsoft's Windows operating system, Windows XP, will go on sale on October 25th next, the software giant announced last week. Bill Gates has hailed XP as "the most important release since Windows 95". Both a home edition and business edition will be released.
WARPED QUESTION: Studies need to carried out to see if accessing Web porn can warp adolescents, according psychiatrists on an American Psychiatric Association panel entitled "Voyeurism in the New Millennium: A Prime-Time Obsession?". "The potential of seeing hundreds of thousands of such images during adolescence - I have no idea what that could do. But I can imagine it must be profound," said Dr Norman E Alessi, a University of Michigan psychiatry professor. Another Arizona psychiatrists at an addiction treatment centre went so far as to call the Internet the "crack cocaine of sex addiction".
MISS PC: A three-country study of Web users found the majority would miss their computer more than their television if they were stranded on a desert island. Interviews by AOL Europe and Roper Starch Worldwide with a total of 1,500 users across the UK, Germany and France found that half believed the Internet was now a "necessity" in their lives, and more than six out of 10 claimed it made their lives better. The study also indicated an explosion in the number of users, with more than one in three of those questioned having started to use the Internet in the past year. Michael Lynton, president of AOL International, said: "This study makes it crystal clear that the online boom in Europe is still just getting started."
ON TRACK: A 20-year-old American Internet entrepreneur last week launched technology which will enable musicians to track down who has done what with their compositions. The software called Songbird, developed by Mr Travis Hill, has been supported by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and 10 groups representing artists, songwriters and publishers. "Songbird gives music copyright holders a completely new insight into how Napster is using their music and, if they want to, take steps to get it removed," said IFPI chairman Jay Berman.
IN BRIEF. . . The company which runs recruitment website Monster.ie, TMP Worldwide, last week reported record first quarter 2001 results. . . Computer users have once again been warned about email attachments after the latest ".vbs" virus, Homepage, spread to Ireland. . . The closing date for entries to the Golden Spider Awards 2001 is Friday July 27th. . . Online travel site Lastminute.com said its British and French operations - which make up most of its business - would be profitable in a year. . .
Diary
May 31st: Bookings now being taken for the Irish Software Association Annual Conference, O'Reilly Hall, Belfield. Info and booking - www.software.ie.
Modem World
www.teachers.ie
Resource site for both primary and secondary teachers in Ireland.
www.lahinchfailte.com
Promoting Lahinch in Co Clare.
www.edgecities.eu.org
Linking businesses on the edge of capital cities in Europe, including those in Co Fingal outside Dublin.
Textbites
"The Government is determined to see the benefits of the Information Society made widely available to maximise the opportunities available for all citizens. That's why we're focusing on developing the Information Society in Ireland" - Taoiseach Bertie Ahern speaking at the launch of the Careers World website on Thursday
News monitor column by Patrick Logue.
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