Be launches its ADSL2+ broadband

Be has announced the launch of its ADSL2+ broadband service, following a brief trial. The 24Mbps uncapped service includes 24-hour access and a free, wireless Be Box modem for ?24 per month plus a ?24 connection fee 'We are thrilled to be the first ISP to roll-out 24 meg broadband in the UK,' said Dana Pressman, managing director of Be. 'For anyone wanting to get the most from the Internet, this is an absolute must - at ?24 per month Be is simply better value than any other broadband service from any other provider. ...more

Firefox 1.5 reaches release candidate 1

The first release candidate version of Firefox 1.5 is now available from the Mozilla Organisation. The release adds nothing bar bug fixes to previous beta releases. ...more

shuffle to boost iPod sales to record levels

iPod sales for the current quarter look likely to surpass the 14 million units sold in the same period last year, with the recently shipped shuffle model expected to have a significant impact on demand. Based on data from the quarter's first month, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster estimates that Apple will sell at least 14 million. But that data was collected in October, before the shuffle appeared on shop shelves. ...more

LLU reaches half a million

The UK now has more than half a million unbundled phone and Internet connections, according to BT Openreach. After a faltering start local loop unbundling is now proceeding at a rate of 20,00 lines a week, with customers attracted by cheaper and faster broadband connections and low price telephone calls, afforded to some extent by BT's recent wholesale price cuts. 'Hitting this half million milestone confirms that the LLU market in the UK is truly coming into its own,' said Openreach's Anne Heal. ...more

Microsoft anoints XML as Office 12 format

XML will be the default file format for the next major version Office, currently codenamed 'Office 12', Microsoft has revealed. The change is signalled as one of the key innovations for the next release of the ubiquitous office productivity software. As well as introducing an XML format for PowerPoint, Microsoft is promising 'significantly enhanced XML formats' for Word and Excel. ...more