In short

A round-up of today's other technology news in brief ...

Microsoft messaging goes online

Microsoft has launched an online version of its messaging and collaboration software tools which can be used for €12.78 per user per month. Business Productivity Online Suite provides access to Microsoft Exchange Online, for e-mail and calendar functions, Microsoft SharePoint Online for collaborative document sharing, Microsoft Office Communications Online for instant messaging, Microsoft Office Live Meeting for web conferencing and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, for customer relationship management.

Although the suite can be used by all businesses, Microsoft says it is particularly suitable for small to medium enterprises. One of the first customers to use it is Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children’s Project International.

“As a charity we just don’t have the resources to invest in needed technology, so we were very excited to learn about Microsoft Online Services,” said the project’s communications manager Miriam Forde.

Fineos to supply claims software

Fineos, the supplier of software to the insurance industry, has won a significant contract with Thornton Partners, Ireland’s largest loss adjusters. Thorntons will use Fineos as its software for loss adjusting claims operations following an evaluation of available property and casualty claims solutions.

Firefox is Europe’s most used browser

Mozilla Firefox 3 became the most popular web browser in Europe last week according to new data released by web analystics firm StatCounter. The Dublin based firm bases its analysis on 4 billion pageloads a month, which found Firefox 3 took had 35.05 per cent of the European market followed by Internet Explorer 7 with 34.54 per cent.