IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 22 June
22-06-2009
by Sylvia Leatham
Eircom's ESOT backs Singapore bid | Google execs to appear in Italian court
The Irish Times reports that several firms are planning to drop out of the race to acquire Eircom after the employee share ownership trust (ESOT) decided to back the bid submitted by Singapore Technologies Telemedia (STT). Irish telco exec Sean Melly is believed to be preparing to withdraw his interest in Eircom following the decision by the ESOT, which has left STT as the clear favourite to acquire Eircom. Private equity group Arcapita is also believed to have signalled that it is withdrawing from the race to buy Eircom. STT is expected to lodge its bid for Eircom this week; reports suggest that the Singapore group will offer more than EUR100 million.
The Irish Independent notes that the company that operates the controversial Irish Psychics Live premium phone lines posted a 22 percent drop in pre-tax profits last year to EUR1.7 million. Accounts just lodged by Realm Communications with the Companies Office show the company's pre-tax profits declined by EUR494,000 to the end of April last year.
The Irish Examiner reports that the organisers of the Deloitte Fast 50 Technology Awards are encouraging Irish-owned businesses to enter. "The Fast 50 awards are an opportunity for technology businesses to gain recognition for their successes and achievements," said David O'Flanagan, partner, Deloitte. Previous winners include Data Electronics, PulseLearning and Lincor Solutions.
The paper also says that Tourism Ireland's international websites had a record number of hits in the first quarter this year, despite the fall-off in visitors to Ireland. New figures show that the number of hits to the 41 websites rose to 2.89 million during the first three months of 2009.
According to the Financial Times, four Google executives are to appear before an Italian court on Tuesday in a trial that could have major implications for internet privacy and the future of video-sharing websites. An Italian prosecutor has laid criminal charges against the four after footage of a disabled boy being bullied by other boys was broadcast on Google Video. The four executives are charged with criminal defamation against the disabled boy and with breaching the Italian privacy code. They face up to three years in prison if convicted. Google maintains that it removed the video as soon as the company became aware of it, and that the group had co-operated with investigators in identifying the four boys involved.
The same paper reports that the US has complained officially to China over its strict new internet censorship rules -- a rare direct intervention by the US over internet freedom. China has ordered PC makers to load internet filtering software on all machines on sale from 1 July. The order, officially directed at filtering pornography, could give officials power to block political content as well. The US embassy in Beijing said representatives had met officials at China's ministry of industry and information technology and the ministry of commerce on Friday.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple chief Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave since January to treat an undisclosed condition, received a liver transplant in Tennessee about two months ago. The chief executive is expected to return to work on schedule later this month, though he may work part-time initially.
The Sunday Tribune reports that the Lotto is to go online, with players able to register on the site. The new move, which was proposed three years ago, eliminates the need to buy a ticket in shops. Organisers allayed fears that Jackpot winners could be prevented from claiming their money due to technical hitches. The site allows players to register names, addresses, credit card details and supply verification that they are over 18.
The same paper reports that Gardai tried to negotiate the return of the laptop at the centre of the Bord Gais data breach. However, they now believe the laptop was sold on within days, and has probably been wiped clean. Police are putting the theft down as "opportunistic" and identified a number of young criminals in the area who may have been involved. They then made it known to these people that the laptop could be returned.
The paper also says that a website is aiming to become the 'Daft.ie' for insolvency practitioners. Liquidator Kavanagh Fennell has added sales listings to its Insolvency-journal.ie site in an attempt to shift the growing amount of properties currently available. The site has been getting around 5,000 hits a week to date.
The Sunday Times reports that Google and Facebook have set up Farsi versions in response to emerging importance of the internet as a communications tool for Iranians. The recent unrest has seen many Iranians turn to online tools such as Twitter to communicate and report on the situation. Google has also added a Farsi dictionary to its online translation service, Google Translate.
The Sunday Independent writes that one in nine of the proposed broadband networks set up by the Government is idle or not built. This is despite a bill of EUR172 million that has been run up. The networks, known as Metropolitan Area Networks, are intended to boost broadband coverage across the country and the Government has already rolled out the first phase. Phase one includes 27 networks, four of which are not being used at present in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan; Gaoth Dobhair; Co Donegal; Kiltimagh, Co Mayo; and Kingscourt, Co Cavan. The second deadline was for 2008, when 65 towns were due to have MANs. However, only 59 have been built.
The Sunday Business Post reports that chipmaker Intel is partnering with broadband provider Imagine in Ireland to invest EUR100 million in high-speed wireless technology. WiMax is expected to shake up the broadband market and is due to go live in the coming months. Work has already begun on the network in Dublin and Kildare.
The same paper writes that another court battle may be in the offing between record labels and Irish ISPs. EMI, Universal, Sony and WEA have filed an action against BT and UPC, claiming the telecoms firms will not do anything about illegal file-sharing over their broadband services. UPC says there is no basis under Irish law for ISPs to be compelled to block or filter content downloaded by users. Smaller ISPs may also fight any action by the labels.
The Sunday Business Post writes that cloud computing company Saaspoint recorded revenues of EUR3 million last year. The firm signed a number of new deals last year and has had a good start to the current year after selling applications to over 40 companies to date in the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Britain, Germany and Ireland. However, the tougher market means Saaspoint is expecting flat or slight growth in revenues for the year.
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