The lowdown on... V.92

It's the new modem standard that hasn't quite arrived. Involving more than just an increase in data throughput, V.92 has a number of useful new features - even if ISPs are being slow on providing V92 support. ...more

AltaVista sold to paid-for search firm Overture

Overture Services has acquired search stalwart AltaVista for $140m in stocks and shares. The sale is split between $60m in cash and $80m in stock and Overture will pick up 'certain of AltaVista's liabilities', as well as its stock of 58 search-related payments. Overture, which specialises in paid-for listings in searches, will use AltaVista to 'offer a significantly enhanced Web search solution. ...more

Small businesses benefit from DIY Web presence

How great a financial benefit do small businesses see from a DIY presence on the Web? A new survey indicates that 70 per cent of such businesses are quickly generating new sales revenues from relatively modest outlays - the majority had spent less than ?100 on creating and maintaining their website. It must be declared, however, that the survey was carried out for 1&1 Internet, the Web hosting provider, which will be more than keen to encourage the take-up of business websites. Nonetheless, there are some interesting stats thrown up by the survey of 25,000 users. ...more

Adobe gets all clear for Macromedia buy

Adobe's proposed acquisition of fellow media software company Macromedia appears certain to go ahead after it was approved by US authorities. The decision by the Department of Justice to clear the buy out means that, a few European issues aside, it should go ahead as planned before then end of the year. Shareholders overwhelmingly approved the deal in August, leaving the DoJ as the last major obstacle to be cleared. ...more

Google adds coupons to Maps

Google has come up with a new way of adding value to its local maps services by allowing businesses to add printable coupons to the service which are redeemable by the customers when they buy a product. The service could provide businesses with another way of attracting and retaining new customers by offering new promotions almost in real-time as well as making Google maps a more attractive local search service. This is the first time that one of the mapping engines has come up with such a service. ...more