European e-commerce complaints leap by 75 per cent

Complaints about products bought abroad via the Internet leapt by 75 per cent across Europe last year. Almost half of the complaints related to non-delivery of goods, with 38 per cent concerning goods that do not arrive at all. The second largest number of complaints related either to goods being defective or not what was expected when they were ordered. ...more

Rhapsody tunes up for Mac and Linux users

RealNetworks is to extend its Rhapsody.com US music subscription service to Mac and Linux users, offering unlimited access to its entire one million plus music catalogue just as long for a monthly fee. However unlike Windows users of the services, Mac and Linux subscribers will not be able to buy songs or transfer music to a portable player. ...more

Sophos backs Microsoft security support

Despite Symantec and McAfee bemoaning Microsoft's closed doors to the kernel of the 64-bit version of Vista, other companies aren't finding it such a barrier. The security giants say that the kernel, the core software system, of the 64-bit version of Vista has been closed off with Microsoft's PatchGuard security feature, rendering it impossible to tweak third-party security software to work on the platform. Microsoft has described the comments as 'inaccurate and inflammatory', and has acted to calm concerns, putting into development a new API that will allow security companies the access they need in order to protect the kernel and offer host intrusion detection (HIPS). ...more

BT kicks off sub-Skype rates for Net calls

BT is stepping up to the Skype challenge when it comes to VoIP-based International calls. The UK telco-giant has now begun a special offer for calls via its Communicator application, which will run until 31 December. International calls to a selected group of countries are now charged at the rate of 0. ...more

Nasdaq stock exchange threatens to delist SCO

Controversial Unix company SCO is in the dog house with the Nasdaq stock exchange, which is threatening to delist the company if it doesn't straighten out its finances. The troubles centre on accounting procedures for its employee stock purchase plan that delayed the filing of its 10K annual report - due at the end of January. SCO's PR Director Blake Stowell said that this involved 'an accounting treatment we have to consider before filing our 10K . ...more