DRAM makers keep fingers crossed for better prices

Unwilling to see their losses jump higher, DRAM makers are tolerating higher inventory levels as they keep their fingers crossed for a better pricing environment in the second half, sources said. While global contract prices for DRAM show no signs of recovery, the price of 256Mbit DDR has seen temporary support at $3, as several leading DRAM makers maintain a bias towards holding inventory rather than selling at a loss. However, DRAM prices are unlikely to recover in the near term due to the traditional second-quarter weakness in the IT sector and the potential repercussions of SARS on IT demand, market participants said. ...more

IT Forum 2005: Microsoft scales its Desktop Search for the enterprise

Microsoft has extended its Desktop Search product for enterprise deployment. The program provides a means for users to find documents and files across their hard disk, network file shares or the Internet in a relatively seamless fashion, and can now be more easily rolled out across large scale organisations. Windows Desktop Search, along with the associated MSN Search Toolbar, can now be deployed across organisations via Microsoft's Systems management Server 2003, or specialised third party tools, and can be extended to search additional document formats using IFilters and protocol handlers. ...more

Hutchison plans October launch for 3

3, the Hutchison UK brand for 3G telephone services, will launch in October. But although the name may be missing a G, the company predicts the G may appear in glitches. Canning Fok, group managing director for Hutchison3G said in a conference call to expect dropped calls where users move between 3G and 2G networks: 'There will be dropped calls, but we don't think dropped calls are a problem as every network has dropped calls,' he said. ...more

New e-minister appointed

The government has appointed Douglas Alexander, MP for Paisley South, as the new e-minister. Alexander replaces Patricia Hewitt, who has been promoted to Trade and Industry secretary. He has a slightly different portfolio to Hewitt, who carried the title minister for e-commerce and small business. ...more

Xerox targets SMBs with A4-only printers

Xerox is aiming for the small and medium business (SMB) market with four new products that extend its portfolio with A4-only support. As well as an entry-level colour laser printer and a multi-function device built around the same printing engine, there are the mono WorkCentre 4150 and 3119 MFPs. We are aiming for price conscious buyers,' said Darren Cassidy, General Manager for Xerox UK Office Business, 'bringing us into the range of customers who think Xerox is too expensive for them. ...more