In Short

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

Fuji launches users website

Fujifilm Ireland has launched a new digital photography website that allows users to upload their photos, store and share them online and order prints, print enlargements and personalised gifts with their photos printed on them. Orders from Fujipix.ie can be delivered by post or picked up at any of the Fujifilm outlets around the country.

Each account provides 200 megabytes of free storage and everyone who registers for an account will receive 20 free 5" x 7" prints, which would normally cost 35 cent each.

Selatra in frame for award

Cork-based mobile games distributor Selatra has been nominated for best games service provider at this year's Mobile Entertainment Awards, which will be held on September 18th in London.

The awards are organised and hosted by Mobile Entertainment magazine, the leading trade publication

for the mobile content industry.

Overspend at Irish firms

New research from US software company CA has found that over-budget IT projects cost large UK and Irish businesses over €$375 million (€260 million) per year. The survey of 100 chief information officers and IT directors in the UK and Ireland found that a third of all projects implemented each year end up over budget - typically between 10-20 per cent of the original budget. A quarter of projects end up more than 50 per cent over budget.

The primary reasons for overspend are poor forecasting (50 per cent), the project scope increasing during implementation (39 per cent), and issues of interdependencies and conflicts between multiple projects (36 per cent).

Website groups merge

Two web development firms, SitesToGo and InternetLAB, have merged their businesses to form a new company SitesToGoInternetLAB.

Offaly-based SitesToGo provides a range of updatable websites for around 500 SMEs, community groups and organisations.

InternetLAB has produced a range of bespoke websites for businesses in the Kildare/Dublin region.

The newly merged company will have a client base of more than 600 websites.

Mandatory tax filing online bid

The Revenue Commissioners are to begin a consultation process with tax practitioners, industry representative bodies, software providers and customers on compulsory electronic filing of tax returns through ROS, the Revenue Online Service.

ROS has already achieved significant electronic return filing and payment rates to date, but a considerable number of fully computerised businesses still remain outside the ROS system, according to the Revenue.

"The aim is to bring these businesses within ROS, on a phased basis, commencing with certain returns and payments due by larger companies in 2009," according to a statement.

Commenting on the initiative, Frank Daly, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, said: "There has been continuous and steady growth in the number of returns being filed online through ROS since its introduction in 2000 and there are clear benefits from using ROS in terms of efficiency and reduced compliance costs for taxpayers.

"The time has now come to proceed on a phased basis to mandatory electronic filing and payment of tax for all substantial businesses.

"There will always be small businesses where mandatory electronic filing and payment would be inappropriate and Revenue intends to devise a much simplified paper return for these businesses so as to make their tax compliance easier," it said.