Microsoft to challenge Eolas patent

Microsoft has been given the go-ahead to make a fresh legal challenge to the Eolas patent. The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will hear Microsoft's argument that it invented the software technology described by patent, not the University of California and researcher Michael Doyle and their jointly-owned company, Eolas. The patent describes a method for embedding and displaying content within Web pages. ...more

LetsBuyIt.com bows out

It looks like it's all over for co-shopping site LetsBuyIt.com, which has finally filed for bankruptcy. The company's troubles began just before Christmas when it asked a Dutch court to protect it from its creditors while it sought extra funding. ...more

Paypal texts itself to mobile phones

Paypal is to launch a new service making it possible to pay into Paypal accounts from a mobile phone. The service is available on the PayPal website. Users first have to activate their phone and have a PayPal account, and can then send money either with a simple SMS message detailing the amount and destination account, or by dialling a number and following automated instructions. ...more

Google still leads Web search but rivals catching up fast

Google remains the world's favourite search engine although rivals Yahoo! and MSN are catching up fast according to analysts Keynote Systems. 'Google is the king of customer experience in the search engine industry, but Yahoo!, MSN and Ask Jeeves are improving,' said Dr. Bonny Brown, director of research and public services for Keynote. ...more

Police crack Egg fraud

The National Crime Squad (NCS) has uncovered what is believed to be the first case of attempted Internet bank fraud in the UK. The attempted fraud is believed to have involved bogus applications for accounts with the Internet bank Egg.com, which has emphasised that no money was actually stolen. ...more