FTC spotlights Google's DoubleClick deal

Google's $3.1 billion acquisition of DoubleClick is now being looked at by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has asked for additional information about the deal, the search giant confirmed today. Following news of Google's intentions to buy the web ad specialist its rivals came out in droves to voice their concerns about how it could affect the market and, ultimately, users. ...more

Silver surfers quick to pick VoIP

A survey conducted by Skype shows that the phone bill payers are the most interested in the Internet telephony revolution. The demographic more familiarly known as the 'silver surfers' has emerged as the early adopters of the technology, with 51 per cent anointing the Net as the preferred method of communication, compared with 36 per cent of 16-24 year olds. No surprise then that of this latter age band, 53 per cent say they have no idea what to expect on their phone bill at the end of the month and that more than a quarter claim it turns out unexpectedly steep. ...more

The states split nine versus nine

It was a split decision when the states involved in the Microsoft anti-trust case had to declare their intentions. When Judge Kollar-Kotelly held her first meeting yesterday the 18 states were split three ways: six in favour of the DoJ-backed deal, 6 against and six undecided. She then extended the settlement deadline, to give a few hours more to the undeclared states. ...more

IBM appoints new chief

The IBM board of directors have elected a new CEO to succeed Lou Gerstner. Samuel J. Palmisano (pictured left, with Gerstner), currently IBM president and chief operating officer, will take over 1 March, but to smooth the transition Gerstner will remain chairman until the end of 2002. ...more

Trade and Industry Select Committee backs BT and LLU

The House of Commons's Trade and Industry Select Committee has backed the findings of Ofcom's recent Strategic Review of Telecommunications in the UK. The committee agrees with the regulator's two key findings. Firstly that in the absence of investment in new national networks of exchanges independent of BT, local loop unbundling is the best way to increase competition in the wholesale broadband market. ...more