Ireland has the potential to become the e-commerce hub for Europe with the IFSC leading the drive, according to the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. He was speaking last Friday at the publication of the report e-Business in International Financial Services - Developing Ireland's Potential which was prepared by the IFSC's Clearing House Group. The report recommends that Ireland and the IFSC in particular exploit opportunities for the provision of services using new technology. Mr Ahern said: "While we have accomplished much in the last few years with regard to our readiness for the impact of e-business it is important that we don't take our foot off the pedal."
Gael a goer: Gaelport.com, a new portal for the Irish language has been launched containing information on all aspects of the language - including classes, organisations and services. Gaelport.com promises to be an excellent resource for those with an interest in Irish, and for schools, universities and academic researchers.
Yahoo ban: Yahoo! will ban the sale of Nazi memorabilia from its auction pages. A lawyer acting for the portal said the move was not in response to a French court's order banning the sale of such material, which included SS daggers and replicas of Zyklon B gas canisters.
Digital shutdown: Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is to close its US-based online division News Digital Media. The company said it would transfer the production of its three US websites back to the networks they are associated with - Fox Broadcasting, Fox Sports and Fox News.
Nokia number one: Nokia has tightened its grip on the global mobile phone market in the third quarter of 2000, with Germany's Siemens also gaining at the expense of Motorola and Ericsson. Figures from research group Gartner Dataquest showed Nokia with a market share of 30.6 per cent, more than double that of its closest rival.
More money for mobiles: Ireland's mobile phone users would be prepared to pay as much as 63 per cent on top of existing bills to access next generation services offering high-speed Net connections, research on behalf of Siemens Ireland, has indicated. A survey of 1,500 business and non-business mobile users also showed that up to 66 per cent would be prepared to accept advertising on their G3 mobiles if it meant using them would be cheaper.
Plantation mentality?: Microsoft was last week hit with one of the largest discrimination suits in US history as seven African Americans alleged racism and a "plantation mentality" at their workplace. The plaintiffs alleged that they were paid less than their fellow employees, repeatedly passed over for promotions and subjected to harassment and retaliation when they complained. In an odd twist, the case is to be heard by Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, who ordered Microsoft to be split last spring.
Browse as Gaeilge: Upstart software company Opera has launched versions of its browser in four Celtic languages. The download is available in Irish, Scots Gaelic, Breton and Welsh. It is available for a 30-day demo after which it has a $38 registration fee. The English language version is free.
In brief...Esat Fusion has launched Instant Messaging, Voice Messaging, Note Posting and Chat all tailored to the Irish market. . . Student portal Oxygen.ie and Northern Ireland based TV company, Extreme Production have announced their intention to work together on a variety of Reality TV formats. . .