In Short

A round-up of other technology news in brief

Dublin to host open source conference

The Irish Open Source Technology Conference is scheduled to open in Dublin's Cineworld complex next Wednesday evening and will run until Friday.

A host of Irish and international experts will debate the pros and cons of the free software model.

Speakers will include Stephen McGibbon from Microsoft, Shane Coughlan of the Free Software Foundation Europe, Graham Taylor from Open Forum Europe and Adam Jollans, IBM. http://iotc.firstport.ie

New and enhanced products from CA

CA this week released eight new and enhanced products as part of its Enterprise IT Management strategy to help large firms better govern, manage and secure their technology infrastructure.

Frank Kennedy, CA's Irish country manager, said regulatory compliance was driving demand for the products, which automate many of the tasks associated with it. Mr Kennedy said CA has tripled the amount of new business it has generated in Ireland in the last three years.

Industry sources suggest the IT management specialists now has annual revenues of about €15 million in the Republic.

More demand for venture capital

Local venture capital firms believe the global credit crisis will see an increase in demand for venture capital funding from Irish companies.

The study by the Irish Venture Capital Association found 70 per cent of members expect an increase in demand as traditional loans and other finance become harder to obtain.

While 60 per cent said the likelihood of a portfolio firm floating in the next two years was now reduced, all firms expect one or more of their investments to be the subject of a trade sale.

According to the IVCA, Irish firms raised €226 million from venture capital funds last year - the highest amount for five years.

Manners in the age of Facebook

Etiquette experts Debrett's have drawn up a new set of rules to navigate social networking sites politely.

Tips include never posting a profile picture you would not want to see in a local newspaper and always waiting 24 hours to "gather your thoughts" before accepting or removing a friend.

Debrett's has drawn up five new "golden rules" for polite social networking which includes the advice that you don't have to make friends with people you don't know and that birthdays, engagements and weddings are not "virtual" events and should be marked with cards or telephone calls. - (PA)

Codd appointed MD of SQS Ireland

Phil Codd, the former managing director of SAP's Irish operations, has been appointed managing director for SQS Ireland.

SQS says it is the largest independent software testing and quality management consultancy in Europe and employs 85 staff at offices in Dublin and Belfast.

Digiweb's market share increases

Broadband and technology services provider Digiweb is the largest Irish-owned hosting company, according to a new independent survey.

Data from the whoisireland.com website shows Digiweb has over 10 per cent of the market following its acquisition of Novara in April.

Digiweb says it has over 32,000 web hosting and data centre customers.

Meanwhile, data centre services player Servecentric has announced that Cogent Communications is now directly connecting into its Dublin centre. Cogent's network carries more than

17 per cent of the world's internet traffic and this is the first time it has connected in to an Irish data centre.