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Expenditure on technological R&D in the business sector in Ireland hit EUR784m in 1999 | Dilbert has made an appearance on Google
Expenditure on technological research and development in the business sector in Ireland amounted to EUR784 million in 1999, according to a report published by Forfas. The report, which updates a regular series on Business Expenditure on Research and Development, notes that there has been an increase of 11 percent per annum in business spending on R&D for the period 1997 to 1999. The annual growth rate for the 1990s stands at almost 15 percent per annum.
Irish-based independent directory enquiry service provider Conduit has been provisionally allocated the number 118 899 by Oftel, the British telecommunications regulator. The decision, made at the Oftel Directory Enquiry Lottery procedure in the UK, means that BT's monopoly of the market and the number 192 will no longer exist, Conduit said. The business further explained that the numbers allocation process is the first step in levelling the playing field for directory enquiry companies in the UK.
Secure payment company Trintech has launched its PayWare Merchant Retail Edition, a card-processing solution for retailers and merchants that the company says reduces costs and deployment times. The product is aimed at retailers and merchants who require integrated on-line card payment processing. Trintech said the solution provides seamless card processing integrated with the merchant's electronic point-of-sale system.
After winning a major contract with US telecommunications and entertainment company Cablevision earlier this year, Dublin-based Internet services company WebBusters is expanding. The profitable company, which is based in the Guinness Enterprise Centre, currently employs 11 but is hoping to increase employment levels over the next few months thanks to a number of new deals with companies like Cablevision as well as Carlsberg and eBookers. WebBusters' deal with Cablevision, which was signed in February, will see the company provide five of Cablevision's Web properties with on-line marketing and visibility services.
Cork-based Media Satellite has launched what it claims is Ireland's first comprehensive national broadband network with the introduction of its B-DSL suite of products. Using satellite technology, the B-DSL (Broadband Digital Subscriber Line) suite is available to subscribers for EUR50 a month. The company says the system will provide cheaper and faster access to broadband for businesses of all sizes in every part of Ireland.
KDDI, Japan's second-largest wireless network operator, has surpassed its initial projections by signing 334,000 third generation subscribers in the first 30 days of offering its 3G voice and data services. KDDI launched its Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 1X voice and data services on 1 April on all its Motorola-supplied wireless radio access network. CDMA 2000 1X technology nearly doubles the voice capacity on the network and is capable of transmitting data at a peak rate of up to 153kb/s.
Six people were arrested in South Africa at the weekend on suspicion of being involved in the infamous Nigerian e-mail and letter fraud. South African police believe the six people are part of an international fraud and drug-dealing cartel and have been sending thousands of e-mails and letters in an attempt to defraud. Police seized a large amount of drugs, computer equipment and false identification papers.
Cartoon office worker Dilbert has popped up on the home page of Google. Search engine Google said it is temporarily redesigning its logo this week by featuring "doodles" of Dilbert and his fellow workers on their home page. Fans of the popular cartoon can also purchase Dilbert coffee mugs for five days by clicking on the Google logo or by visiting the Comics.com Web site.
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