Every time you buy on the Web, the carrier will take its slice

A plan is being considered by one of the world’s biggest telecom companies to levy a charge on every Internet-based commercial transaction made over its wires. It seems AT&T is considering charging Internet retailers each time a customer buys something over its broadband network. It may also collect a fee from retailers each time a customer accesses their site through its network. ...more

Amazon expands into online DVD rental

Amazon has expanded into the online DVD rental market. The e-commerce giant is offering six discs a month for a flat fee of £9.99. ...more

Yahoo! buys BT's music service

Yahoo! has acquired BT Openworld's dotmusic and Games Domain services for its UK and Ireland sites. Financial information about the deal has not been disclosed, but the companies are already arm in arm, transforming BT Openworld's Internet service into BT Yahoo! Broadband in September, with a narrowband version expected before the end of the year. The deal over dotmusic and Games Domain will mean they remain available to the BT Yahoo! customers but will also be available to users of Yahoo!'s UK and Ireland websites. ...more

IBM opens European RFID lab

IBM has opened its own RFID Testing & Solution Center based at La Gaude in France. This will be the third such centre in the world, the others being located in in Gaithersburg in the US and Tokyo, Japan. RFID or Radio Frequency Identification is being viewed as the likely successor to barcode inventory tracking. ...more

Norton launches early at John Lewis

Symantec 2003 line available pre-release for download. Symantec's 2003 range of security and anti-virus products are available for download ahead of the official release date and at a VAT-free price. Currently Norton Antivirus 2003 is available - from the John Lewis Web site - but the rest of the line is set to follow over the next couple of days we are told. ...more