Vantage shuts up shop

Vantage Computers has gone into liquidation following weeks of unanswered calls at the Kent-based PC maker. Doubts were raised over the company's future when it was expelled from the Professional Computing Association (PCA), for repeatedly failing to respond to the Association's attempts to solve customer disputes. It has also reportedly failed to refund at least one customer's pre-payment. ...more

Intel's laser on a silicon chip

Intel Researchers are claiming the world's first silicon-based laser device. If so, it could revolutionise computers and communications. Traditionally, optical communications devices are expensive, requiring high quality glass fibre and some exotic compounds. ...more

Microsoft confident going into the anti-trust home straight

Microsoft halves its list of remaining witness, to defend its case in the long running anti-trust suit. Read the runes as you will - inspecting the twists and turns of the case for a wider significance - Microsoft is putting a confident spin on events. Citing 'progress made so far' as the reason for not calling half of its remaining witnesses. ...more

Google heads to court next month

Search engine Google will appear in court next month as it begins its defence over its refusal to hand over its logs to the US government. The company has been summoned to appear before a Federal court on 22 February. The lawsuit follows a subpoena by the US Department of Justice which is looking for evidence of the extent of child pornography on the Internet as it builds its case for a new child protection law. ...more

Wanadoo wants to become Orange

A little over a year since it changed the name of its UK ISP from Freeserve to Wanadoo, France Telecom is to spend another 200mn Euros rebranding it as Orange. The change will bring together the company's Internet offerings and its Orange mobile phone services under a single name. Ultimately consumers will be able to get all their telecoms and Internet services from a single supplier as the various arms of France Telecom converge. ...more