And also today (22-October-2001)...

Here, in brief, are some of the day's other stories. MS recruits top developer Microsoft has recruited the C++ expert Stanley Lippman to its Visual C++.NET team. ...more

Real makes 'let's take on Microsoft' plea to Apple

Real Networks has suggested to Apple that the two companies form an alliance to challenge Microsoft in the digital music market, according to a New York Times report. Real's CEO Rob Glaser proposed a 'tactical alliance' to his Apple equivalent, Steve Jobs, in an email last week. He said that if no agreement could be made, then he might be forced to atempt to join forces with Microsoft. ...more

French MEP proposes 'email tax'

A French politician has come up with a new idea to help solve the European Union's budget problem. MEP Alain Lamassoure has suggested that the EU put a tax on emails and mobile phone text messages. The centre-right MEP says that all 25 EU national parliaments and governments should make computer users pay a tax of €0. ...more

AOL closes deal to put Flat Rate in every high street

AOL UK has teamed up with European retail group Kingfisher to distribute co-branded software for AOL's unmetered access package Flat Rate. The software will be made available in Kingfisher's 2,000 Comet, B&Q, Woolworths and Superdrug stores throughout the UK. In return, Kingfisher will get B&Q's range of home and garden goods promoted on AOL's online shopping sites, which include Netscape Online and CompuServe. ...more

Microsoft warns of seven new patches on the way

It's almost that time of the month again. On July's Patch Tuesday, on the 11th, Microsoft is to provide fixes for seven security concerns that cover a range of vulnerabilities affecting Windows and Office, some of which have been deemed to be 'critical'. Four of the seven patches will address problems uncovered in the Windows operating system, while three will deal with flaws in Microsoft Office. ...more