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

Car.NET devices to be in a showroom near you

Microsoft is showcasing its Car.NET framework at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Based on Windows CE for Automotive 3. ...more

Microsoft's aQuantive deal signals Web video fight

Microsoft's $6 billion acquisition of Internet marketing firm aQuantive is just a beginning, according to industry executives and experts. As well as capturing a bigger role in the nascent Web video market it will increase pressure on competitors to make acquisitions of their own. AQuantive will likely have fetched the largest price in a wave of online ad consolidation, but as many as eight more deals are likely for smaller, niche ad plays, with a range of $300 million to $500 million, believe industry sources. ...more

EU, e-business and consumer bodies agree on e-commerce

A breakthrough agreement has been made that could lead to a common standard for conducting business on the Internet in Europe. The EU, European consumer organisation BEUC and the Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe (UNICE) have agreed common standards covering commercial communications and fair marketing practices, pre-contractual information, confirming and acknowledging orders, payment and security, data protection, handling complaints and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Also to be implemented is an effective monitoring and approval system including neutral third-party assessment of trustmark schemes to ensure that commitments to these standards are met in practice. ...more

Old media strong, new media weak for AOL

Reports of a slight profit by AOL/Time Warner are overshadowed by news that the company is to restate two years of financial results following an 'internal review'. The giant 'new media'/'old media' amalgam has announced that revenues for the two year period were overstated by $190m. The Internet division - America Online - accounted for $168m of this total, due to a reduction of advertising revenues. ...more