Via backs Bluetooth

The short-range wireless technology got another boost yesterday, as Taiwanese processor and board maker VIA licensed Bluetooth intellectual properties from Ericsson. Quite how VIA will deploy it in its product range remains unclear, although adding the technology to the chips it sells to manufacturers of computers and mobile phones is a strong possibility. Jerry Sun, Special Assistant to the President and Head of the Networking Business Unit at VIA, said: 'This licensing agreement on Bluetooth wireless technology extends our range of connectivity options for the PC and mobile arenas. ...more

The Guardian scoops Web awards

A good night for The Guardian Online at the British Press Awards 2002. Among the more traditional paper-based awards, the Web site 'Guardian Unlimited' took the winning prize for Web site of the year. The judges described it as 'stylish and pace-setting site with a distinctive character and sense of humour'. ...more

Firefox version 1.0 touts a million downloads

It's one million downloads and counting for version 1.0 of the Firefox open source browser, which was only released Tuesday 9 November. Actually, that is still an estimated download figure, but spreadfirefox. ...more

Mobile phones come to the pulpit

In a bid to increase revenue, the Church of England invited 16,000 parish churches in England and Wales to offer their church towers, spires and flagpoles as telecommunications masts to mobile operators. A list of interested churches will be published in January, with preferred bidders being announced in April, reported the Financial Times today. Revenues from the initial bids will go to the Church of England to cover the costs of organising the tenders, but individual churches will receive around ?5,000 a month in rent. ...more

Google and Microsoft seen together in public

Microsoft has been making overtures to Google within the last two months, exploring possibilities for partnership or takeover, according to the US press. Google is said to be preparing to launch itself as a public company. Executives met with investment bankers last week to discuss how to take the company public as early as March next year. ...more