LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? Australia News Digest http://whatshappening.lewispr.com/au/ Copyright LEWIS Communications LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 21/08/08 BUSINESS

Fairfax Media annual profit rises 47pc

Fairfax Media reported a 46.8 per cent jump in annual profit, bolstered by its digital businesses.
http://www.afr.com

IT

Global economic crisis not all gloom and doom for IT

Despite Australia's economy slowing in recent months in line with a global economic downturn, IT's increasing role in underpinning critical business operations will likely save the sector from feeling the full brunt of the credit crunch.
http://www.computerworld.com.au

TELECOMS

Vodafone Australia's iPhone bill shock

Vodafone Australia is fielding a number of complaints from Australian customers who received unexpectedly large bills a month after they bought an Apple iPhone from the mobile carrier.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/hardware/soa/Vodafone-Australia-s-iPhone-bill-shock/0,130061702,339291414,00.htm?feed=rss

INTERNET

MySpace TV takes on YouTube

MySpace Australia has launched its online television channel with a global concert by US band Death Cab for Cutie.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/myspace-tv-takes-on-youtube/2008/08/19/1218911773983.html

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 4,997.5
S/ASX Information Technology (Sector): 519.9
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,517.3

Technorati Tag:

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 20/08/08 BUSINESS

Green to go as B&B reshuffles

The embattled asset manager Babcock & Brown is set to overhaul its corporate structure, including the departure of Phil Green as chief executive, as it desperately tries to prevent further erosion of investors' confidence.
http://business.smh.com.au/business/green-to-go-as-bb-reshuffles-20080819-3y7g.html

IT

Red Hat boosts Australian investment

Open source-based software provider Red Hat has increased its headcount and more than doubled its footprint in Queensland.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24207405-15306,00.html

TELECOMS

Telstra-Hutch deal could rattle Optus

Telstra has launched the latest offensive against its main rival Optus by allowing No 4 mobile player Hutchison to use its Next G network in areas where the smaller company does not own a network, in a deal worth more than $120 million year.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24211406-15306,00.html

INTERNET

Internet allowed in Sydney school exam

A Sydney girls' school will let its student use iPods, the internet and mobile phones during exams as a new method of assessment.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Internet-allowed-in-Sydney-school-exam/0,130061791,339291372,00.htm

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 4930.4
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 512.8
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,491.3

Technorati Tag:

]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 19/08/08 BUSINESS

Higher fuel price changes habits and home life

Sales of unleaded petrol fell 5.3 per cent in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year as motorists escaped record prices by cutting back on driving and switching to more energy efficient fuels.
http://www.afr.com

IT

Microsoft pitches proactive enterprise support

Microsoft has added a new level of support for business customers that offers unlimited access to resolving IT problems.
http://www.computerworld.com.au

TELECOMS

Unwired trouble, heavyweights wade in

Vodafone and Optus yesterday simultaneously unveiled new mobile broadband offerings that could sound the death knell of wireless internet service provider Unwired, owned by the Seven Group.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,,24202957-5013040,00.html?from=public_rss

INTERNET

Bono's boob: secret songs taped for you too

Four songs from U2's upcoming album were leaked on to the internet after frontman Bono played them too loudly on his stereo at his villa in the south of France.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/athome/bonos-boob-secret-songs-taped-for-you-too/2008/08/18/1218911539035.html

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5,043.5
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 508.3
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,498.4

Technorati Tag:

]]> Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 18/08/08 BUSINESS

CBA could move on BankWest

Expectations are building that the Commonwealth Bank will make a $6 billion-plus tilt at BankWest in the wake of its abrupt decision last week not to buy the Australian investment banking operations of ABN AMRO, which is owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24196298-643,00.html

IT

Privacy report makes little room for emerging trends

While the Australian Law Reform Comission’s (ALRC) privacy recommendations are based around advances in technology, Gartner security analyst Andrew Walls believes they do little to address major developing trends like social networking.
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/82447,privacy-report-makes-little-room-for-emerging-trends.aspx

TELECOMS

Slow Optus credits iPhone 3G users for woes

Optus is giving "goodwill credits" to iPhone 3G customers suffering reception problems and slow data speeds, but new reports say a software fix is on the way.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/slow-optus-credits-iphone-3g-users-for-woes/2008/08/15/1218307199329.html

INTERNET

SMS updates gone for Aussie twitterers

Australian and European users of Twitter can no longer receive text message updates on their mobile phones, in a temporary move designed to keep the start-up's telecom bills down.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/SMS-updates-gone-for-Aussie-twitterers/0,130061791,339291292,00.htm?feed=rss

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5,038.9
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 503.8
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,510.8

Technorati Tag:

]]> Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 15/08/08 BUSINESS

$A opens weaker on high US inflation

The Australian dollar has opened marginally weaker on Friday as the fastest annual US inflation growth data in 17 years boosted the US unit.
http://news.smh.com.au/business/a-opens-weaker-on-high-us-inflation-20080815-3vv8.html

IT

TCS, Infosys and Wipro becoming top vendors

India's top three outsourcing majors, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro, will gain enough muscle to take on today's IT giants like IBM, Accenture and EDS by 2011, IT research company Gartner said.
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14739939

TELECOMS

Telcos gouging Australian customers on mobile roaming fees

According to a recent KPMG report Australian mobile carriers are reaping 300 percent higher profit margins from overseas calls.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;177912970

INTERNET

Broadband bushwhacking beckons a Kiwi

The failure of Opel to fulfil its outback dreams could herald a telco from across the seas. Could Telecom New Zealand be about to pour more money into Australia?
http://business.smh.com.au/business/broadband-bushwhacking-beckons-a-kiwi-20080814-3vpk.html

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5,039.0
S/ASX Information Technology (Sector): 514.3
S&P/ASX 200 Telecommunication Services (Sector): 1,462.2

Technorati Tag:

]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 14/08/08 BUSINESS

Telstra in secret non-union contract offers

Telstra is preparing to offer its staff non-union enterprise agreements in a secret strategy aimed at saving the company $50 million over the next three years, confidential documents show.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24178960-36418,00.html

IT

Privacy laws to address the human side of IT

Real impacts wont be felt for several years but IT must begin considering proposed changes.
http://www.computerworld.com.au

TELECOMS

Telstra ready to fast-forward IT plans

After failing to achieve its target of migrating five million customers onto its new billing systems by July, Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo said the telco will fast track all seven million consumer customers onto the new system by December 31.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24174700-15306,00.html

INTERNET

Barack Obama dominates Twitter

Barack Obama has just overtaken Digg founder Kevin Rose's spot as the most followed person on Twitter, according to Twitterholic.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Barack-Obama-dominates-Twitter/0,130061733,339291267,00.htm

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 4,995.9
S/ASX Information Technology (Sector): 534.3
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,483.9

Technorati Tag:

]]> Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 13/08/08 BUSINESS

CommBank posts $4.8b profit

The country's largest bank, the Commonwealth, today helped lift some of the gloom that has descended on the domestic economy by reporting a 7 increase in its annual net profits to almost $4.8 billion.
http://business.smh.com.au/business/commbank-posts-48b-profit-20080813-3uc2.html

IT

Apple grows Australian market share

Apple's share of the Australian personal computer market has jumped sharply in the last year, according to statistics released this week by Australia's two largest technology analyst firms.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/hardware/soa/Apple-grows-Australian-market-share/0,130061702,339291218,00.htm

TELECOMS

Cirrus acquires another rival ISP

Regional ISP Cirrus Communications has acquired another competitor, the wireless provider Unisky.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/

INTERNET

Google tries its hand at cryptography

Google is taking a step into the field of cryptography, with KeyCzar, an open-source tool which allows developers to use encryption within their applications.
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/82391,google-tries-its-hand-at-cryptography.aspx

MARKETWATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5090.3
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 560.4
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,534.6

Technorati Tag:

]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 12/08/08 BUSINESS

Australian dollar falls to new seven-month low

The Australian dollar fell below US88 cents to a seven-month low amid a further slide in commodity prices.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24166881-20142,00.html

IT

Public service replaces PC fleet

The Rudd Labor Government's climate change focus, coupled with the impending Gershon review of federal technology and communications procurement, will lead to hundreds of thousands of desktops being replaced - a boon for local computing businesses.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,,24165007-5013040,00.html?from=public_rss

TELECOMS

Commander fire sale not a hit

Two of Australia's fastest-growing and most acquisitive IT services companies today showed little interest in participating in the fire sale of their failed rival Commander, which passed into the hands of administrators last week
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Commander-fire-sale-not-a-hit/0,139023166,339291196,00.htm?feed=rss


INTERNET

Ticketek snafu exposes 13,000 email addresses

A technical cock-up has exposed the email address of over 13,000 Ticketek members
http://www.computerworld.com.au

MARKETWATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5,070.3
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 549.8
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,545.9


Technorati Tag:

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 11/08/08 BUSINESS

The economy is slowing faster than RBA expected

The Reserve Bank will dim its outlook for the Australian economy today when it reduces growth targets in an admission that the current slowdown could be occurring too rapidly.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24158138-643,00.html

IT

Aussie corporates flirt with Gmail

Australian IT services firm SMS Management and Technology last week claimed to be fielding decent levels of interest from large Australian organisations interested in dumping their existing email platforms and migrating to Google's Gmail service.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Aussie-corporates-flirt-with-Gmail/0,130061733,339291174,00.htm

TELECOMS

Telstra lifts gates on ADSL2+

Telstra has finally lifted the commercial barricade around its ADSL2+ service and hooked its first wholesale customer to the long-protected broadband service.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24147452-15306,00.html

INTERNET

Even security pros tricked in Facebook scam

Computer security professionals tend to be a highly paranoid bunch, seeing potential threats everywhere. It turns out that some aren't cautious enough, though.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/security/even-security-pros-tricked-in-facebook-scam/2008/08/08/1218139040086.html.

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5,037.6
S/ASX Information Technology (Sector): 544.1
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,550.0

Technorati Tag:

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 08/08/08 BUSINESS

Company watchdog to pounce

The corporate regulator has moved to boost confidence in Australia's investment markets with a plan to target recently controversial areas. These include rating agencies, activist hedge funds, listed investment vehicles and instances of suspected market manipulation.
http://business.smh.com.au/business/company-watchdog-to-pounce-20080807-3rs3.html

IT

Ubuntu cuddles Zimbra

Zimbra, the open source email software that Yahoo acquired for US$350m last year, is officially coming to Ubuntu Linux.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Ubuntu-cuddles-Zimbra/0,130061733,339291153,00.htm

TELECOMS

Deadline set for Telstra on broadband

The slow-turning wheels of the federal Government's multi-billion-dollar national broadband network tender creaked forward a little yesterday, with the announcement that Telstra must provide network information to potential bidders by August 22.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24146990-15306,00.html

INTERNET

Bogus tickets still trading on internet

Websites secretly operated by the alleged Beijing Olympics ticket fraudster, Terance Shepherd, were still trading this week, offering $US1300 ($1410) front-row seats for swimming event finals.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/bogus-tickets-still-trading-on-internet/2008/08/07/1217702200817.html

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5030.0
S/ASX Information Technology (Sector): 532.7
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,548.8

Technorati Tag:

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 07/08/08 BUSINESS

Costly price tag for unit-pricing

Computer system changes to support a planned federal government grocery-pricing crackdown are set to cost retailers tens of millions of dollars and independent grocers could be the hardest hit.
http://www.misaustralia.com

IT

NAB set to axe more Aussie jobs

National Australia Bank is likely to send more of its 2600 information technology jobs offshore, following a major restructure of its IT services group to support its $1 billion core banking overhaul.
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24141211-462,00.html

TELECOMS

Elders staff fired as telco arm closed

Elders this week announced it would make 80 per cent of its telecommunications staff redundant as it closed its internet service provider division.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Elders-staff-fired-as-telco-arm-closed/0,130061791,339291113,00.htm

INTERNET

Friendster befriends former Google boss

Social network Friendster has announced the appointment of Richard Kimber as its CEO.
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/19893/50/

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5015.7
S/ASX Information Technology (Sector): 517.3
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,546.9

Technorati Tag:

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 06/08/08 BUSINESS

Coles cheapest on grocery website

Supermarket giant Coles comes up trumps on a new website that allows consumers to compare grocery prices in their local area and elsewhere in Australia.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24136339-36418,00.html

IT

Regulatory compliance tops issues facing IT managers

Regulatory compliance, protection of sensitive info and governance paramount for IT managers and execs over next 18 months.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/

TELECOMS

Unwired still in the red

The Seven Network's purchase of wireless broadband player Unwired last year has failed to return a profit according to the broadcaster's 2008 annual results.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24133228-5013040,00.html

INTERNET

Twitter targeted by malware attacks

Microblogging service Twitter has started to be targeted by online criminals with malware.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Twitter-targeted-by-malware-attacks/0,130061744,339291098,00.htm?feed=rss

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 4,882.0
S/ASX Information Technology (Sector): 493.0
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,538.9

Technorati Tag:

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 05/08/08 BUSINESS

Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest vows to give away most of fortune

Australia’s richest man and the boss of Fortescue Metals plans to give away nearly all his fortune before he dies.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24129795-5005200,00.html

IT

Why women are leaving IT

Critics contend society is not encouraging girls to study IT. Of the few women who enter tech, nearly half leave. Why?
http://www.computerworld.com.au

TELECOMS

Optus still in the dark on outage

Optus has still not pinpointed the cause of the mobile network outage which occurred on Friday, affecting 3G data services as well as voice.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Optus-still-in-the-dark-on-outage/0,130061791,339291055,00.htm?feed=rss

INTERNET

Google Street View now in Australia

Close-up photos of Australian homes, businesses and famous landmarks in cities, towns and remote areas are now available on Google Maps Australia, absolutely free.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Google-Street-View-now-in-Australia/0,130061733,339291061,00.htm

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 4,957.6
S/ASX Information Technology (Sector): 500.2
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,569.9

Technorati Tag:

]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 04/08/08 BUSINESS

Shell and BP join pursuit of Origin Energy

BG Group's $13.8 billion hostile bid for Origin Energy could well be undermined by the intervention of two of its biggest rivals.
http://business.smh.com.au/business/shell-and-bp-join-pursuit-of-origin-energy-20080803-3pbi.html

IT

CrimTrac drives push for number-plate recognition

Motorists across the country may soon come under the watchful eye of a national license plate monitoring system as federal anti-crime agency CrimTrac considers the widespread adoption of the technology.
http://www.misaustralia.com

TELECOMS

Optus 3G mobile network paralysed

Optus 3G customers on the east coast were unable to use their mobile phones for up to 8 hours after an unknown failure crippled the telco's network.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24112301-5013041,00.html

INTERNET

IOC tries to shut down 'fake' site beijingticketing.com

Olympic officials are trying to shut down an online Beijing Games ticket seller accused of scamming sports fans worldwide out of thousands of dollars.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24124095-15306,00.html

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 4,978.0
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,553.0
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 497.8

Technorati Tag:

]]> Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 01/08/08 BUSINESS

Choice: Rate cut or recession

Australian economists are calling for urgent rate cuts to save the country from full-blown recession. Economic data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics yesterday revealed data showing retail sales for the first half of 2008 had experienced the biggest slump since records began almost 30 years ago.
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24108730-462,00.html

IT

NAB sticks with $1bn computer plan

The National Australia Bank will press ahead with plans for a $1 billion overhaul of its computer and communications systems despite the resignation yesterday of chief executive John Stewart.
http://www.misaustralia.com/viewer.aspx?EDP://20080801000030112119

TELECOMS

Telstra increases data limits on lowest “most popular” plans!

Telstra has announced that from August 1, “more Australians will be able to use and explore more mobile internet content, video and email on the nation’s largest and fastest national mobile network – the Next G network – with the release of new and increased data download limits on the most popular data plans.”
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/19759/1103/

INTERNET

Yahoo launches Delicious 2.0

Yahoo has revamped Delicious, saying the site for storing, describing, and sharing web bookmarks is faster, easier to use, and has better search abilities.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Yahoo-launches-Delicious-2-0/0,130061733,339291001,00.htm

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 4,868.6
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 500.7
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,550.3

Technorati Tag:

]]> Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 31/07/08 BUSINESS

Seeing value in share market pain

Australian corporate leaders are starting to see value in the local share market, particularly in banking shares, in the wake of the recent price shake-out, although none forecasts a bull market soon.
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24105518-462,00.html

IT

Google enrolled for schools email deal

Google has snatched what is believed to be its biggest single client in the world - the NSW Department of Education - away from its rival Microsoft to claim up to 1.3 million new users of its free email product.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/google-enrolled-for-schools-email-deal/2008/07/29/1217097291695.html

TELECOMS

ISPs crucial to child pornography blocks

The Federal Government's internet service provider-level web filtering regime could kick off in earnest next year.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24092793-15306,00.html

INTERNET

Online search puts new life into old news

Economists and historians may soon have access to decades worth of information locked up in old newspapers as a mammoth project to digitise the Australian National Library’s newsprint archives gathers pace.
http://www.misaustralia.com

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5008.7
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 502.7
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,521.9

Technorati Tag:

]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 30/07/08 BUSINESS

Hundreds out of pocket as eBay trader goes bust

One of the biggest Australian sellers on eBay has gone bust and its owner has fled to China, leaving hundreds of buyers out of pocket an estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/hundreds-out-of-pocket-as-ebay-trader-goes-bust/2008/07/28/1217097135143.html

IT

IT security on the cheap
Smaller businesses in Australia will soon be able to replicate the expensive and highly secure IT security infrastructure used by resources giant BHP Billiton without the vast capital outlay.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24069551-5013044,00.html

TELECOMS

Bloodbath at Alcatel-Lucent

Both the chairman and chief executive of Alcatel-Lucent are to step down later this year, following the telecommunications equipment firm's sixth consecutive quarter of losses.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Bloodbath-at-Alcatel-Lucent/0,130061791,339290929,00.htm

INTERNET

Facebook fends off attack of the clones

In its bid to go global, Facebook is facing off against itself. Clones of the wunderkind social-networking web site - some of which resemble Facebook right down to colour, font and layout - have popped up in local languages around the world. These competitor sites offer identical core services, letting users post pictures, make groups and choose their friends.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,,24096506-5013040,00.html?from=public_rss

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 4,923.3
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 487.7
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,507.2

Technorati Tag:

]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 29/07/08 BUSINESS

Starbucks chain 'bailing out' of Australia

Starbucks stores will shut their doors for a mystery meeting of their managers in Melbourne today, fuelling speculation the coffee giant might bail out of Australia.
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24094314-462,00.html

IT

Check-in bug holds up Qantas take-offs

Qantas domestic passengers in Sydney had hour-long departure delays yesterday morning as check-in staff failed to come to grips with a new departure management system.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24092706-5013040,00.html

TELECOMS

Virgin Australia to launch iPhone?

Australia's telecommunications industry is abuzz with strong speculation that Virgin Mobile Australia will start selling Apple's 3G iPhone handset in the next two weeks.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Virgin-Australia-to-launch-iPhone-/0,130061791,339290878,00.htm

INTERNET

Hello, Cuil world

New search engine developed by ex-Googler tracks 120 billion web pages and claims to deliver better results than Google.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/hello-cuil-world/2008/07/28/1217097137646.html

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 4,989.9
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 505.2
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,542.5

Technorati Tag:

]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 28/07/08 BUSINESS

Qantas names new chief executive

Qantas has named Alan Joyce, the head of its Jetstar offshoot, as chief executive of the airline group.
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24087781-31037,00.html

IT

IT jobs for the picking - degree or not

Australian employers are so desperate for skilled IT workers that an academic qualification such as a degree is no longer a mandatory requirement, according to a leading recruitment boss.
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/19658/50/

TELECOMS

Privacy advocates marshal to fight copyright regime

Australian Internet service providers and consumer groups are gearing up to fight the powerful US copyright lobby over a proposed new international trade agreement that aims to establish a new intellectual property rights enforcement regime to crack down on electronic counterfeiting and piracy.
http://www.misaustralia.com

INTERNET

Google launches Maori search engine

Coinciding with Maori Language Week, the company launched Google Aotearoa to cater specially for people who speak the language of New Zealand's indigenous people.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24069482-5013040,00.html

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5028.9
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 490.2
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1509.2

Technorati Tag:

]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 25/07/08 BUSINESS

Stokes stalks West Australian Newspapers

Kerry Stokes' Seven Network yesterday spent $41 million raiding West Australian Newspapers' share register in a bold move that brings its holding to more than 22 per cent.
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24075158-462,00.html

IT

TomorrowNow confusion Down Under

A lack of information from the global headquarters of software giants Oracle and SAP has left the pairs' Australian divisions completely in the dark about what actions to take in the wake of the closure of SAP's Oracle services subsidiary TomorrowNow.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/TomorrowNow-confusion-Down-Under/0,139023166,339290836,00.htm

TELECOMS

Telstra NBN plans a joke: Terria

Telstra’s main competitor to the national broadband network (NBN) tender has dubbed the telco's submission as a "complete joke".
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24071391-15306,00.html

INTERNET

Australians asked to help monitor the Great Firewall of China

Amnesty International has developed a tool designed to provide measurements for the extent of Internet censorship in the PRC.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5188.4
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 519.3
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,513.5

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]]> Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 24/07/08 BUSINESS

ACCC gives thumbs up to merger proposal

The success of Westpac's $15 billion bid for St George rests largely with the latter's shareholders after the competition regulator yesterday gave preliminary permission for the two banks to proceed with a merger.
http://business.smh.com.au/business/accc-gives-thumbs-up-to-merger-proposal-20080723-3jxa.html

IT

Yahoo! results show high cost of battle

Yahoo’s fierce resistance to overtures from Microsoft and threats from dissident shareholder Carl Icahn has proved costly, with the company spending $US22 million ($22.6million) in just three month to fend off the duo.
http://www.misaustralia.com

TELECOMS

Telstra's China plan hit by staff cuts

Telstra chief executive Sol Trujillo has taken a second dent in his armour within a month of the company postponing plans to float its Chinese internet business Soufun Holdings as global stock market conditions continues to deteriorate.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24069440-15306,00.html

INTERNET

Websites stretch truth over page hits

Website operators are bringing online audience measurement figures into disrepute by using tricks to boost traffic numbers in the eyes of advertisers, at a time when the industry is trying to clean up its image.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24069475-15306,00.html

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5161.6
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 518.4
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,479.4

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]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 BST LEWIS 360 | What's happening in Australia? 23/07/08 BUSINESS

CommBank eyes ABN Amro

Commonwealth Bank, the nation's second-biggest lender by assets, said it is in talks to acquire ABN Amro's Australian and New Zealand operations.
http://business.smh.com.au/business/commbank-eyes-abn-amro-20080723-3jjz.html

IT

Retailers consoled by big games sales

The ray of retail sunshine Australia’s shopping malls are looking for could well turn out to be the standby light of a computer games console.
http://www.misaustralia.com

TELECOMS

Vodafone bulks customers, drops ARPU

Vodafone Australia has stacked on customers this quarter, but its average revenue per customer has taken a hit.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Vodafone-bulks-customers-drops-ARPU/0,130061791,339290775,00.htm

INTERNET

Apple's MobileMe meltdown

The launch of Apple's MobileMe service has become a complete shambles with widespread problems forcing the company to give away one month of free service for the second time in as many weeks.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/apples-mobileme-meltdown/2008/07/22/1216492418014.html

MARKET WATCH

ALL ORDINARIES: 5075.9
S/ASX Information Technologies (Sector): 508.5
S/ASX Telecommunications (Sector): 1,504.9

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]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 BST