In short

A round-up of today's business news in brief

Conference on social network tools

Irish and international experts on the use of social networking tools will speak at the FutureProof business conference in Dublin's Science Gallery next Thursday, June 18th.

Among those speaking on the theme of The Business of Social Mediawill be Ziad M Kane ("Zee"), editor of The Next Web blog; Alana Taylor, New York-based contributor to Mashable; broadcaster and Twitter user George Hook and John Breslin, a social media researcher at NUI Galway and co-founder of Boards.ie.

The organisers say they have priced tickets at a “recession-busting” €139.

Internet business start-up finalists

Dublin internet consultancy iQ Content has announced a shortlist of eight entries in its €10,000 competition for the best business plan for an internet start-up. They are: Decisions For Heroes, GetitKeepit.com, MyHotel.ie, Neurosynergy Games, Octopied, Our Writers’ Bloc?, Pendle House and Plink.

The eight finalists will make a Dragons’ Den style pitch to the judges on July 8th to win the €10,000 prize. They will also pitch at a public event immediately afterwards, with the popular choice receiving €1,000.

Mobile phone collection incentive

Children’s charity the Jack Jill Foundation is asking schools to collect old mobile phones in exchange for interactive whiteboards. In conjunction with its partner Promethean, each school collecting 300 phones will get a 78-inch Promethean ActivBoard, with two ActivPens and lesson development software.

The organisers say the collected phones are recycled. Funds raised from the scheme will be used to provide home nursing care for sick children. Site: www.phonesforboards.com

Microsoft set to unveil anti-virus tool

Microsoft is getting ready to unveil a long-anticipated free anti-virus service for personal computers that will compete with products sold by Symantec and McAfee.

A Microsoft spokesman said the company was testing an early version of the product with its own employees. – (Reuters)

Possession order over debts to Anglo

A receiver appointed by Anglo Irish Bank over 11 properties over an alleged €3 million debt has secured a court order for possession of two of those properties.

Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan yesterday granted the orders to receiver Martin V. Ferris over an address at The Paddocks, Kildangan, Co Kildare, and the Coalmine Inn, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny.

The orders were sought against Sean Murphy, with an address at The Paddocks, Kildangan, and Martin Dunne, described as a property developer, with an address care of the Coalmine Inn.
The judge was told The Paddocks is a development in Kildangan and that Anglo had provided a loan for development of 31 houses there. Of those, 17 had been sold. Some of the remainder were let with the rent being paid to the receiver.

Counsel for Mr Ferris said Mr Murphy had taken possession of an address at The Paddocks and the bank was not aware of any rent or lease in that regard. Mr Ferris was seeking orders for possession of the address and of the Coalmine Inn.

The bank secured the appointment of Mr Ferris as receiver arising from mortgages and charges in its favour relating to 11 properties. It alleges some €3 million is owed on foot of the various loans.

Kentz ‘has contracts worth 1 billion’

Irish-based engineering and instrumentation group, Kentz, told shareholders yesterday that it had lined up contracts worth a total of $999 million by the end of April.

At the company’s annual general meeting in London, chief executive, Hugh O’Donnell, said that the company is trading in line with expectations. Kentz is based in Clonmel, Co Tipperary .

Approval for firm’s medical balloons

Medical devices manufacturer ClearStream Technologies announced yesterday that it has received approval from the Korean Food and Drug Administration for its angioplasty balloon catheter product range. The Co Wexford company plans to launch the range in Korea this year.