Interview: CEO of Fujitsu Siemens Computers on Asian competition

What do European IT companies see in Asia? More partners or more competitors? What do they think in Europe about Asia's role in innovations? What can they say about Taiwan? Recently DigiTimes.com had an opportunity to talk to Bernd Bischoff, president and CEO of Fujitsu Siemens Computers. Known best as a vendor of computer systems ranging from notebooks to hi-end servers, this company targets the markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), while placing its manufacturing orders with Asian manufacturers. ...more

Microsoft improves spam filtering in Office 2003 update

As well as bug-fixes, Microsoft has incorporated new features into the Office 2003 Service Pack 1, which has just been made available. New features for the all-dominant productivity suite include improved spam control in Outlook (junking messages on the basis of country codes), support for InfoPath developers (those using managed code, digital signatures and form sharing via e-mail) and end users (additional handwriting support for Tablet PCs), and improved OneNote integration with other Office 2003 components (for example, to import meeting details from Outlook 2003, create contacts and appointments, and to copy notes directly from a Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC or Smartphone). Note that the OneNote changes have already been previewed in an update from April 2003 - Microsoft takes note of OneNote changes Microsoft states that the same error reporting tools and feedback mechanisms that helped with the beta programme have been used to prioritise features and fixes for the service pack update. ...more

OpenOffice gets groupware boost

The Open Office Group has announced the formation of the OpenGroupware.org project. The new software is said to be the final piece of the 'OpenStack' roadmap to develop open source versions of all the key components of modern office applications. ...more

Napster and record industry go another round

MP3-swapping software firm Napster was in court again on Monday, and this hearing didn't progress the argument much. Both Napster and the record industry set out their cases again to three federal judges, who are expected to make a decision in around a month. Whichever way the verdict goes, the loser is likely to appeal to the US Supreme Court. ...more

European mobile companies queue up for iTunes phone

With Apple seemingly poised to unveil Motorola's iTunes phone at its 'special event' later this week in San Francisco and announce that network operator Cingular will carry the phone in the US, European mobile companies are now queuing up to bring the phone across the Atlantic. O2 is reputedly looking to offer the phone in the UK, while German giant T-Mobile said at a Berlin tradeshow that it plans to carry it. All parties declined to comment. ...more