PCI council sharpens oversight of security auditors
The PCI Security Standards Council introduces plan to sharpen oversight of qualified security assessors and approved scanning vendors.
Time to reappraise speech recognition systems?
One April, 11 and a half years ago, Hollywood actor Richard Dreyfuss presented a new type of software that was going to 'revolutionise business'. He had been paid to host the launch of Dragon's NaturallySpeaking application, which could faultlessly translate spoken words into text. If this worked, we could chuck away our keyboards. Productivity would multiply. Dragon would become the new Microsoft and a new era of IT would dawn.
Symantec CEO John Thompson to step down
Symantec CEO John Thompson is retiring.
Career Watch: Talking to Generations X and Y
Q&A: Jason Seiden
Hosted Exchange, SharePoint now widely on sale
In five years, Microsoft expects half of all enterprise employees with e-mail to use a combined online and premises-based system like the company's Exchange Online, an executive said Monday at a launch event for that software and the SharePoint Online hosted collaboration application.
PC makers embrace Core i7 chips in new desktops
PC makers on Monday launched desktops that incorporate the latest technologies to work alongside Intel's new Core i7 chips, which have received praise for their speedy performance.
Data transfer rates to jump with USB 3.0
A standards group on Monday released specifications for a new Universal Serial Bus standard that could speed up data transfers between computers and devices such as digital cameras and flash drives.
Livescribe's Pulse Smartpen for Mac
Livescribe made some noise earlier this year when it released the Pulse Smartpen for the PC. Its ability to record sound and synchronize the audio with written notes paved the way for the Smartpen to become the new "it" gadget.
5 tech companies that could use a bailout
While tech companies may not have the same level of clout among Washington policy makers as AIG or General Motors, many of the industry's biggest players have hit hard times in recent months and could certainly use a health infusion of cash to help them right their ships.
Sierra Leone threatens to close unlawful telcos
Sierra Leone will crack down on telecom companies that ignore regulations or do not live up to service obligations, according to the country's minister of information and communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo.
Millicom wins Rwanda’s third mobile license
Millicom International Cellular, a telecommunications firm specializing in emerging markets, has won its bid to become Rwanda's third mobile phone service provider.
Novell bolsters GroupWise 8
Novell Monday shipped GroupWise 8, adding interface and administrative upgrades to its messaging and calendaring platform.
Public-private collaboration to improve supply of AIDS drugs
A major public-private partnership comprised of Axesstel, the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), Dell, the Nairobi Provincial Medical Office, Qualcomm, RTI International and Telkom Kenya is planning to improve the supply of AIDS drugs and treatment through the use of wireless technology.
SEC files insider trading charges against Mark Cuban
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has filed insider trading charges against Dallas entrepreneur Mark Cuban, after he allegedly sold 600,000 shares in an Internet search engine based upon insider knowledge.
Experts see data center through green lens
The data center is an area of IT that can reap benefits from using greener and cleaner technology, but experts who gathered in New York recently said CIOs still aren't doing enough to help the environment or their businesses by using green technology practices in their facilities.
IT security education continues to evolve
The majority of programs at colleges and universities around the country are certainly doing a good job of training people to go into positions in IT. In fact, we have a greater demand among employers for students than we have students to fill positions. That said, there are some areas where we lack students who graduate with the right amount of expertise and focus. IT security and cyber forensics are areas where we have a critical need for workers in the field.
How to Choose the Right IT Outsourcing Provider
So, you have decided to outsource. The journey to that decision was no doubt a difficult one, but now comes the hardest part: the road to selecting an outsourcing partner. Take the wrong path, and your project will be destined for failure, but the right one could lead you to a valuable outsourcing relationship for years to come. Here are five steps that should be on your roadmap to choosing your outsourcing partner.
McColo takedown: Vigilantism or Neighborhood Watch?
Few tears were shed when McColo Corp., a San Jose-based ISP that allegedly hosted companies known to be prolific purveyors of spam and other malware, was suddenly taken offline last Tuesday by its upstream service providers.
DeFi Mobile, DoubleU partner in the MENA region
DeFi Mobile and DoubleU have forged a partnership to market DeFi's mobile-data and voice-connection offerings in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region.
Microsoft files suit to defend Visual Studio users
In a new lawsuit, Microsoft asks a San Francisco court to declare invalid several patents assigned to an online transactions company in hopes of defending customers who have been sued by the patent holder, WebXchange.
Apple sued for hairline cracks in the iPhone
A lawsuit filed against Apple and AT&T on Nov. 4 charging misrepresentation of the 3G speed of the iPhone on AT&T's network, has been amended with an additional charge. The new charge claims the iPhone develops hairline cracks in the housing.
Econet Wireless Kenya adopts Cerillion Express
Cerillion Technologies has expanded its footprint in Africa by providing an interconnection management tool to Econet Wireless, Kenya's fourth mobile-phone service provider.
NetWitness releases free version of security software
NetWitness, a vendor of networking threat-analysis software, is offering a free version of its NetWitness Investigator package by download, the company said Monday.
ConceptDraw MindMap Pro 5.5
In the time it takes you to read this sentence, a new idea could spring to life. For most of us, jotting down that idea means fumbling for a pen and paper. Desktop software such as ConceptDraw MindMap Pro can help you capture the thought just as easily. Think of a good candidate for a Web design team you're assembling? Suddenly inspired to build a canoe from scratch? MindMap's open interface--really, it's just a blank page with objects for text and artwork--is like the king of idea-generation because it doesn't try to flaunt its powerful features.
Timekeeping applications for the iPhone
Professionals who bill by the hour understand the need for scrupulous timekeeping. As someone who only recently and cautiously entered the world of the self-employed, I've finally come to understand precisely why time is money.
Sun releases StarOffice 9
Support for Mac OS X and improved document format support are some of the improvements in Sun Microsystems' StarOffice 9, which was released on Monday.
Nokia Siemens Networks to modernize Orascom's database
Mobile service provider Orascom Telecom Algeria has announced that Nokia Siemens Networks will be the sole provider of its Home Location Register solution.
Cellulant to launch Mobile-XL browser in Kenya
Mobile-XL of California has partnered with Cellulant Kenya to allow mobile-phone users to download links for the XLBrowser via SMS.
EMC forms Decho subsidiary, targets consumers' 'digital echo'
EMC has formed a new company known as Decho to help consumers manage personal information in the Internet cloud.
Ribbit opens Web telephony platform to all developers
Ribbit Monday released for general availability its Web telephony platform, designed to extend telephony development to the world's Web developers through the use of its APIs (application programming interfaces).
Dodgy ISP briefly comes online, updates botnet
An Internet service provider associated with online crime and child pornography briefly came back online over the weekend before being cut off again, according to security vendors.
Microsoft to launch online SharePoint, Exchange on Monday
Microsoft on Monday will release the first of several of its hosted business-productivity services.
Malawi Telecommunication announces cable project
Malawi Telecommunications, the country's sole provider of fixed telecom services, has announced plans to lay underground fiber-optic cables throughout the country at a cost of $30 million.
Malawian gov't directs service providers to interconnect
As the problem of interconnection by service providers becomes a hot button issue in Africa, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MCRA) has directed all telecom companies in the country to share their infrastructure.
Lagos warns against indiscriminate telecom mast building
The government of Lagos has warned corporations against erecting base stations, towers, masts and parabolic antennae without observing state laws.
You really can do more with less
With the global economy lurching toward recession , everyone is being asked to do more with less, and cutbacks and layoffs are weighing heavily on people's minds. But cutting costs in IT does not necessarily mean laying staffers off, deferring projects or reducing support. There are simple steps every company can take to significantly save money and improve the bottom line during these turbulent economic times.
Safaricom turns focus to data
After facing considerable competition in the voice arena, mobile phone service provider Safaricom has turned its focus on data with the unveiling of Safaricom Business.
Kenya ICT Board invites local online content developers
The Kenya ICT Board has invited local developers to create new content applications with the support of a $4.1 million grant.
Zamtel workers end strike, normalize operations
Operations of Zambia Telecommunications have been normalized following the end of a three-week strike by workers who were pressing management for higher salaries and improved conditions of services.
Ubuntu and chip maker Arm form netbook alliance
Mobile phone chip designer Arm has announced an alliance with the makers of the Ubuntu the open source Debian derived Linux-based operating system software.