Free broadband Internet

For a limited period, in major cities, and only in 'high street Internet kiosks' For one week only BT is providing free broadband Web access from its blue 'high street Internet kiosks' - the 21st century's phone box. Free access is available in London this week, in Leeds and Manchester next week, and in a further 66 cities across the country over the following fortnight. Paul Hendron, director of BT Payphones, said, 'This will be the first time that many people have tried the Internet at broadband speed. ...more

Apple joins new HTML specification project

Apple has joined W3C's recently announced HTML Working Group, that will oversee the development of a new version of the website coding language. The company will have three representatives in the working group, including Dave Hyatt, the lead developer for Safari and WebKit. It is also increasing its participation in other W3C Working Groups and standards bodies related to Web technology. ...more

Judge to re-examine Google click fraud settlement

A judge is to decide whether to re-open the case against Google over alleged negligence in tackling click fraud. Judge Joe Griffin, sitting in Arkansas, is to hear a number of plaintiffs object to the proposed settlement in which Google has offered $90m in 'free' AdWords advertising and payment of legal fees. The case began when Lane's Gifts and Collectibles of Texarkana filed the lawsuit last year, alleging Google improperly charged advertisers for fraudulent website clicks. ...more

The Dell machine powers record sales

The Dell machine is not running out of gas just yet. The Texas-based computer company, famous for its direct sales business model, has reported record sales for the last three months in its latest financial results, and recorded a profit of $1 billion. The headline figures for the company's fourth quarter are: revenue of $15. ...more

UK youth are below average PC users

An EU survey of 10,000 young Europeans has found that weekly use of a PC in the UK is trailing that of other countries including Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Portugal. The 15 to 24-year-olds polled, between April and May of this year, were found to be a Web-savvy lot, with 37 per cent using the Internet and 31 per cent email (this compares with 7 per cent and 5 per cent respectively, in 1997). The relatively high usage of technology within northern member states was balanced by the likes of Greece, which had only 20 per cent Internet and 12 per cent email usage. ...more