Ofcom forces access revolution at BT

BT is promising 'equality of access' to its local network in a bid to satisfy Ofcom and demands for clearer regulation of telecoms. The two main players in the British telecoms arena have agreed a new approach to regulation for landline telecommunications. The central goal is to ensure equality of access to those parts of the fixed telecoms network which BT's competitors cannot replicate. ...more

Multimap wants your vote

With the General Election only a day away you might be getting a little nervous about voting. One company will help you to make your big decision - well, they will help you find your way to the polling station. At the Internet World Show 2001 at Earls Court, Multimap. ...more

Pirates claim more than 90 per cent of the games software market

Following a Radio 4 investigation, the BBC reports that for every copyrighted game sold, a further ten pirated copies are in circulation. In an industry where the cost and time needed for each new product is comparable to that of the film industry, the games market is reckoned to be losing out to the tune of ?3bn each year. The games market is at the top of the piracy charts as it offers huge returns for a low risk. ...more

Intel regroups its communications businesses

Intel is regrouping its communications-related businesses into a single organisation - the Intel Communications Group (ICG). Previously its work in networking and handheld-focused areas had been divided between ICG and the Wireless Communications and Computing Group (WCCG). 'We continue to drive the convergence of computing and communications through our product lineup, and with this we see wireless local area networking and wide area cellular technologies coming together,' said Intel CEO Craig Barrett. ...more

UK tax-payers subsidising AOL, claims Freeserve

Freeserve has laid into AOL over its exemption from VAT in the UK, which could represent a benefit worth tens of millions of pounds a year. In an official statement headlined "AOL cashes in on UK VAT System", Freeserve attacks the tax benefits enjoyed by what it describes as "the world's most sprawling media company". It draws attention to the 1997 Customs & Excise guideline that an ISP not belonging in the UK is not liable for UK VAT, providing its supplies are classed as mainly content, not telecommunications. ...more