Cardiff first in BT's ?10bn 21CN network makeover

Cardiff has been chosen by BT as the first city to sample phone calls, broadband and other Ethernet services over its next-generation telecommunications network, dubbed '21st Century Network' (21CN). Migration of customer lines to the new infrastructure is scheduled to begin during the second half of 2006 and it will require the replacement of equipment in 50 local exchanges as well as new IT systems to support the delivery of the new services that will be possible. Examples include BT Fusion, a mobile phone that uses Bluetooth and IP technology to automatically connect to a landline when used at home, and BT LiveTime, which enables the broadcast of TV and digital radio to mobile handsets. ...more

Big Brother Brings Out The Best In Ecommerce

Big Brother winner, Craig Phillips, has pledged his ?70,000 winnings to Joanne Harris a Downs Syndrome sufferer in need of a life saving operation. On hearing Craig's generosity ebookers.com, an Internet holiday company, has promised to fly both Craig and Joanne to the US where her heart and lung transplant be performed. ...more

EU holds fire on iTunes probe

The EU has no plans to investigate whether Apple's iTunes Music Store breaches its competition laws, despite threats of action by two member states. Sweden and Denmark have both said they will investigate whether the digital music service violates local consumer protection laws. Their enquiries were prompted by Norway, itself not an EU member, which has given Apple until 1 August to alter the store's terms and conditions in order to comply with Norwegian law. ...more

Telephony market to be shaken up by Internet phone calls

Internet phone calls will take a 12 per cent stake of telephony revenues in five years, say researchers. The fledgling technology enables users to plug in a standard PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) handset into a box that sends the calls over the Internet, making them far cheaper. Research group Juniper expects revenues from this techology to grow to $260bn by 2009, with traditional fixed line revenues in decline. ...more

Vodafone fone services go live

Under the umbrella title of 'Vodafone Live!', Vodafone today launches its portal of mobile services. Dubbed 'a world of pictures, colour, sound', the features include picture messaging (36p both to send and receive), a games arcade (where the download of a game carries a first-time payment ranging from ?1 to ?5, though some are free) and a ringtone centre (1,300 polyphonic ringtones are available, costing ?2.50). ...more