The $3 million, four-letter-word Web site

If you have a lot of cash to burn, and are looking for a Web site name that is both witty and offensive, check out this auction at eBay. The name f*ckedcompany.com is up for sale, and has just notched up $3 million in bids. ...more

Mobile phone operators slash roaming costs

Facing increasing pressure from the European Union, a number of European mobile phone operators in the European Economic Area (EEA) - which includes the EU countries plus others in a free trade bloc - have agreed to slash their roaming charges to subscribers who call from outside their home nations. Seven companies have agreed to cap the average wholesale rates they offer each other for providing roaming services at 45 Euro cents per minute from October 2006 and 36 Euro cents per minute from October 2007, lowering current wholesale rates by around half. Among those companies that have agreed to halve the price of average wholesale roaming tariffs are T-Mobile, Orange, Telecom Italia, Telenor, TeliaSonera and Wind, which between them have some 200 million customers. ...more

Mobile sales pass saturation point

First drop in history for global mobile phone sales. According to the research group Gartner Dataquest, the mobile phone industry has suffered its first drop in total unit sales. While 2001 saw the shifting of 399. ...more

Google silent over US Government subpoena

Google stays schtum on user behaviour following US Government subpoena Google is refusing to hand over information on queries submitted to, and websites available on, through the Internet giant's servers, despite being subpoenaed by the US Government. The company says the Justice Department's requests are overreaching and that complying would jeopardise its users' privacy. Although no identifying information is being sought, Google is concerned that the data requested may well contain personally identifiable information. ...more

Dell gears up for going green

Dell has announced plans to triple the amount of products that it recovers from customers by the end of 2009. The objective is outlined in the company's annual report on sustainability and corporate responsibility. In addition to a threefold increase in the recovery and recycling of 'retired' computers, the company also intends to ensure global compliance with the European Union's Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and enhanced product energy efficiency through improvements in product design. ...more