L-plates for the Internet

Should kids take a provisional-surfing test before being allowed full access to the Internet? This is an idea floated by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR). A report published by the research body - entitled Communications: Revolution and Reform, with a forward by the culture secretary, Chris Smith - calls for better Internet training of school students. The idea is twofold: that kids would be better prepared to cope with the dangers lurking around the Internet - for example safe conduct within chat-rooms - and that they would be better equipped to carry out independent study. ...more

Germany unmetered Internet looking shaky

A Dutch telecoms company has withdrawn its unmetered Internet service, blaming Deutsche Telekom's reluctance to provide wholesale rates to ISPs. In a scenario very similar to that of AltaVista UK (except that Versatel actually ran an unmetered service for a while), the company blamed the regulator for failing to act. DT charges ISPs on a metered basis, while they in turn struggle to cover the losses as subscribers stay online for hours at a time. ...more

Vodafone launches Live! Shopping! On Your Mobile!

Vodafone UK has introduced a new service 'Vodafone live! Shopping', a virtual shopping mall where you can buy CDs, chocolates or wines over your phone with a credit card. For the launch, Vodafone has teamed up with HMV, Thorntons, Oddbins, gadgetshop and Firebox and has promised more retailers will be onboard soon. An icon on the live! menu takes customers through to a virtual shopping centre. ...more

Microsoft dishes the dosh for games

Microsoft has just announced that it is going to include cash-back vouchers with three of its top selling PC titles. Money for old rope? I think not. Microsoft intends to include money-back vouchers with Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, Flight Simulator 2000 and Flight Simulator 2000 Professional Edition. ...more

Networks to run 10 times faster

A team of researchers has discovered a method that could allow semiconductors made of traditional materials to be able to switch at the speed of light. Announcing their discovery in the journal Nature, the team from Stanford in the US says that the design is 10 times faster than existing switches that might herald a new generation of ultra high-speed networks. The team says that they have built a modulator made of silicon and germanium. ...more