With a massive giveaway of Internet-ready set top boxes, content from more than 40 regional, national and international newspapers and a media blitz which saw over 30 television ads broadcast throughout the weekend, Unison www.unison.ie has made its debut in the Irish online marketplace. Speaking at the launch of the new service, Internet-Ireland's Michael Branagan said the venture would make the Net, email and e-commerce accessible through the television to the 80 per cent of Irish people who do not have PCs.
Unison is to form the cornerstone of an effort to "create a real information society that doesn't just cater for the 20 per cent that are now online", he said, adding that business partnerships to be announced over the coming months would make the portal an e-commerce hub in Ireland. 10,000 of the Linux- driven set-top boxes are to be given away over the coming weeks in a promotional drive involving the newspaper titles in the initiative. Unison hopes to launch its own-brand credit card within months and, with Irish Multichannel, provide broadband Net access beginning this year.
AOL'S extra large suit: A class-action lawsuit has been filed against AOL on behalf of eight million customers who claim version 5.0 of the ISP's software cripples rival companies accounts. AOL said complaints were overblown and the result of customers not understanding that if they installed AOL as their browser it would dominate online functions.
Lining up for Linux: Shares of Linux companies have surged after a coalition developing a version of the operating system to run on Intel's next-generation microprocessors said they were ready to release it to developers at large.
Kodak moments: Eastman Kodak plans a new service to encourage users of digital cameras to process prints in shops rather than at home. Together with Hewlett-Packard, Kodak will install new digital photo machines in a range of retail outlets where high quality prints will be available.
Mobile credit: Motorola and Trintech have unveiled a credit card for making online purchases from mobile phones. Motorola has combined Trintech's virtual credit card technology for online purchasing with its own wireless devices. [ QL]
Net for all: President Clinton has unveiled a plan to help poor Americans access the Internet. The plan will see $2 billion given in tax incentives over 10 years to encourage private sector activities such as computer donations. It will also propose some $380 million in grants to train new teachers on the use of technology and expand home access to computers.
MS Millennium: The name of Microsoft's new operating system due out in the second half of this year will be Windows Millennium Edition. It will include software to view and edit digital video and updates to Internet Explorer.
WAP for free: Tralee-based wapprofit.com is offering people the chance to build a free site in the wireless access protocol (WAP) format suitable for viewing on mobile phones. The sites will be hosted on what it calls a "mortal" or mobile portal. Info: www.wapprofit.com
Wyden the tax ban: Two US politicians have proposed making permanent the current ban on new taxes on goods and services sold online. Ron Wyden and Christopher Cox said they would introduce bills to set in stone the moratorium on new Web taxes enacted by Congress in 1998.
Amazon losses flow: Amazon.com has suffered the worst losses in its four-year history despite record revenues. Recent losses were eight times greater than they were a year ago. The company lost $185 million for the quarter.
Computer class: Tesco has launched the third year of the Computers for Schools programme, an initiative which has contributed over £2 million worth of computer equipment to over 1,800 schools throughout Ireland.
Marketing Movildat: Eircom is to market the Movildat fleet management system in Ireland. Movildat systems use GPS positioning and GMS communications to manage and secure vehicles and cargo. Info: www.movildat.se
In brief... Irishabroad.com is to offer free Internet access in a partnership with 1stUp.com in the US or Canada. . . Soft- ware Paths has been appointed as the Microsoft Windows CE authorised systems integrator in Ireland. . . Psion and Motorola have signed an agreement to co-develop mobile Internet access devices. . . eircom has announced the introduction of Phonef@x Internet, a fax machine capable of sending and receiving email. . . Interact Services Ireland has signed a $250,000 deal with Boston-based company Marketing Data- base Associates to design an e-commerce portal for American utility companies. . . Intelligo Software has launched VIP Manager which puts specialised personnel software within reach of SMEs. . . A British e-commerce company is to sell condoms online to people too embarrassed to ask for them at the chemist's. . .