Computing articles from February 2006

Computing archives from February 2006

News - Firms opt to delay PIN tills. Smaller businesses take commercial decision to miss banking deadlines.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Computing staff. Fifteen per cent of UK shops and businesses have still not upgraded systems to accept chip-and-PIN credit and debit cards, according to figures from banking industry body Apacs. Chip-and-PIN is more secure than...

News - Real-time system trial boards London buses. Transport for London begins first phase of [pounds sterling]120m communications project.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas. Transport for London (TfL) is testing the first part of a [pounds sterling]120m communications project to improve London bus services. The organisation last week began an eight-week trial of a real-time system...

News - Small firms face IT security risk.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas. Inadequate IT security is putting small and medium-sized firms and their supply chain partners at risk, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Despite 60 per cent of medium-sized firms using...

News - Benefits data lost in system transfer. Missing data leads to 'terrifying' benefits mix-up, says MP.(Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus, contract)(Margaret Hodge)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott. Just one in three new benefits applications is being successfully transferred using the Jobcentre Plus (JC+) customer management system (CMS), according to evidence given to a Commons committee last week. Work and...

News - Banks urged to stay ahead of the MiFID game. Financial companies must ensure early compliance with directive, warn experts.(Markets in Financial Instruments Directive)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson. The forthcoming Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) will put significant pressure on IT departments in banking organisations, experts have warned. The directive's implementation date is 1 November...

News - Data exchange to clamp down on immigration.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Brown. The European Commission is to create a web-based information system to share details of illegal immigration within the European Union (EU). Dubbed the Information and Co-ordination Network (Iconet), the system is...

News - MPs blame IT system for tax credits fiasco. Report says system is root cause of payments problems.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Parliamentary correspondent. The technology used by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to administer tax credits was 'the root cause' of the chaos surrounding payments, say MPs. Problems with the tax credits IT system when it was...

News - Smart metering for businesses reviewed.(E.ON UK PLC plans to smart metering software)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Miya Knights. E.ON, the organisation that runs Powergen, is to test computer-based smart metering technology with some of its large business customers. The utility is examining the use of smart metering software to remotely...

News - Financial world.(earnings of some information technology services industry)(Sun Microsystems Ltd., SAP UK, Microsoft Ltd.)
February 2, 2006... Microsoft announced record second-quarter revenue of $11.84bn ([pounds sterling]6.7bn), a nine per cent increase on the same period last year. Net income was $3.65bn ([pounds sterling]2.1bn), up five per cent. SAP announced fourth-quarter...

News - The Computing 30 Share Index.(stocl prices of software industry)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Cryptographic security firm nCipher's share price jumped nearly 24 per cent last week to 255p, following news of a possible bid for the company. Meanwhile, veteran UK company Marconi finally disappeared from the London Stock Exchange's stock...

News - Struggling IT projects to go on red alert.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Parliamentary correspondent. Major government technology projects given consecutive 'red lights' by the Gateway monitoring process are to be automatically referred to spending watchdog the National Audit Office. The Gateway...

News - Search boom led by data explosion. Report predicts companies selling goods online will have particular need of robust search technologies.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson. Some 20 exabytes of new digital data (20,000,000,000 gigabytes) will be created in 2006, increasing businesses' reliance on search technologies, according to a report from Deloitte released today (Thursday). Any...

News - Banks launch online bill payment service. Customers can use their banking site to access accounts from other firms.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson. High-Street banks Lloyds TSB and HSBC will launch an electronic bill viewing and payment service for their internet banking customers in the second quarter of this year. OneVu, a joint venture between payments...

News - Fraud incidents treble in UK.
February 2, 2006... Fraud in the UK increased by nearly 300 per cent last year, costing public and private sector organisations more than [pounds sterling]900m, according to KPMG. The consultancy firm has called for reviews of internal process controls and better...

News - Firms unite to fight spyware.(formation of a consortium )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... A consortium of security companies has been formed to agree a common standard for identifying spyware. McAfee, Symantec, Trend Micro, ICSA Labs and Thompson Cyber Security Labs formed the alliance to create identification and testing...

News - US Army recruits validation tool.
February 2, 2006... The US Army is deploying employee validation software from internet security firm Tumbleweed as part of a project to identify and authorise 800,000 personnel accessing computer systems. The technology will link to smartcards issued to...

News - Microsoft cancels Vista beta.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Microsoft will not issue a second beta of its forthcoming Windows Vista operating system despite repeated promises to do so. The company will rely instead on its Community Technology Previews (CTPs) to allow developers to test the software,...

News - European IT spending grows.
February 2, 2006... IT spending in the western European business sector grew 3.5 per cent in 2005 to almost $302bn ([pounds sterling]170bn), while IT spending among small and medium-sized businesses is forecast to have exceeded $160bn ([pounds sterling]90bn),...

News - LSE sees growth in automatic trading.(London Stock Exchange PLC)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson. More than 40 per cent of all trades conducted on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) are now based on automated, algorithmic trading, compared with virtually none just five years ago. Algorithmic trading relies on...

News - Mobile plan for egovernment.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Brown. The government is to examine the use of mobile technology to deliver public services, and to encourage greater use of egovernment by citizens. Despite the government investing heavily in e-enabling its services,...

News - Council seeks partner to improve poor performance.(North East Lincolnshire Council )
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Brown. North East Lincolnshire Council is to outsource its IT to improve performance, after coming close to bankruptcy. The council was rated by the Audit Commission in December 2005 as the worst-performing in England,...

News - Specsavers tries a new focus for IT upgrades.(contract with ThoughtWorks)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Miya Knights. Specsavers has invested in systems development consultancy and training to improve upgrades to the IT in its shops. The high-street optician has hired specialist firm ThoughtWorks to improve the speed of internal...

News - Six Nations tackles data analysis.(Six Nations Championship, SAS Software Solutions, contract)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Brown. The 2006 RBS Six Nations Championship is to use business intelligence software to collate match statistics. The software, from vendor SAS, will supply TV broadcasters and the press with comprehensive graphics and...

News - Backbytes.
February 2, 2006... The wrong trousers We delight in bringing you useless inventions, but we're not sure what to think of Levi Strauss's decision to launch a pair of jeans that can control your iPod. This obviously addresses the needs of the silent majority...

Enterprise - Recycling firm makes mobile systems secure.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas. Recycling and refuse disposal firm LondonWaste has installed mobile security systems to keep information on its PDAs safe. The company, which collects waste from homes and businesses in north London, is working...

Enterprise - HSA strengthens network security. Healthcare firm restricts employee use of USB devices.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas. Healthcare company HSA is strengthening its network security to protect sensitive data from theft and interference. The company is installing identity management and end-point security software to stop staff...

Enterprise - Police share stolen property data online.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Mortleman. North Wales police is making information on missing valuables available automatically across the country via an online registry. It is the first force in the UK to move towards creating a national database of...

Enterprise - High price of laptop data.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... The average estimated value of data stored on a laptop exceeds half a million pounds, according to a report from software vendor Symantec. Nearly eight out of 10 laptop users polled said that the data on their computer is of substantial value...

Enterprise - IBM to acquire CIMS Labs.
February 2, 2006... IBM has agreed to acquire CIMS Labs, developer of technology that tracks software and hardware used in a virtualised environment, for an undisclosed sum. 'The CIMS software helps companies take control of their IT costs, which is a key...

Enterprise - Hacking settlement agreed.(US Federal Trade Commission and US credit bureau agreement for case aganist with ChoicePoint for identity theft)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has agreed a $15m ([pounds sterling]8m) settlement with US credit bureau ChoicePoint after criminals hacked into the firm's databases last February. The data breach resulted in at least 900 cases of...

Enterprise - IT helps bank focus on customer service. A&L introduces state-of-the-art cash machines in branch trials.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson. Alliance & Leicester is to pilot seven concept branches across the UK that will use technology to change the way the firm interacts with customers. NCR cash machines in branches will allow cash or cheques to be...

Enterprise - Cinema chain boosts online capabilities.(Vue Entertainment contract with Rackspace Managed Hosting)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Miya Knights. Cinema operator Vue Entertainment has signed a new contract for hosted data services to cope with fluctuations in demand for its online and telephone booking services. The company, which operates 54 cinemas across...

Enterprise - Middlesbrough FC introduces CRM tactics. Premiership club improves data about customers' spending habits.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Mortleman. Middlesbrough Football Club is introducing an integrated customer relationship management (CRM) system to improve its marketing efforts. The Premiership club is seeking to identify new revenue-making...

Enterprise - Bank insider charged.
February 2, 2006... Police have charged a former Lloyds TSB employee with corruption and theft after he allegedly helped criminal gangs set up fraudulent bank accounts. The arrest is the latest in a two-year investigation by City of London police into bank staff...

Enterprise - Regulation degree introduced.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... A UK university has teamed up with a US organisation to launch the world's first degree on the regulation of financial markets. The US-based National Association of Securities Dealers is working with the University of Reading to help cater for...

Enterprise - Search firms under investigation.(US congressional committee investigation censor internet services to Chinese citizens)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Google, Microsoft and Yahoo will be the subjects of a US congressional committee over agreements to censor internet services to Chinese citizens. Chris Smith, chairman of the house sub-committee that oversees global human rights, will hold a...

Enterprise - Naming and shaming plan.(universities of Oxford and Harvard teaming up to form StopBadware.org)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Academics from the universities of Oxford and Harvard are teaming up to tackle the plague of 'badware' by naming and shaming the companies that develop and use adware, spyware and other malicious code. The two universities have formed...

Questions & Answers - Facing up to the new threats in IT security. Computing talks to Websense chief executive Gene Hodges about the changing nature of e-crime.(Interview)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas. Gene Hodges resigned from his post as president of anti-virus firm McAfee last month to become chief executive of rival IT security company Websense. After 11 years at McAfee, Hodges has turned his attention from...

Enterprise - Clamping down on the cyber criminals. Businesses welcome the government's plans to amend the outdated Computer Misuse Act.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas. Last week's decision by the government to introduce stiffer penalties for internet criminals has been welcomed by businesses and politicians. The Police and Justice Bill, drawn up by the Home Office, calls for a...

Enterprise - Can supply meet government demand?(prediction on government information technology)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott. There is no longer any doubt about technology's central role in everything the government does, and everything it plans to do in the future. With the [pounds sterling]4bn Defence Information Infrastructure, the...

Comment - Turning data into business value.(forecast on management of digital information)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 2, 2006... So you thought you were suffering from information overload? Well, as the saying goes, you ain't seen nothing yet. According to research by Deloitte, some 20 billion gigabytes of new digital data will be created this year. The...

Comment - A fresh approach to business processes. Ian Paterson reveals how Birmingham's Council Plan is being led by a business transformation vision.(Column)
February 2, 2006... At Birmingham City Council, we no longer have IT projects - we have business transformation projects that may or may not be supported by IT. We prefer not to use the 'e' prefix, as it only supports the belief of a technology-led initiative...

Networking - Young upstarts are ringing the changes in telephony. Gary Flood kicks off this month's networking special with a look at how the increasing use of Skype in businesses could be about to radically alter the face of corporate telephone services.(Skype Technologies S.A)(Company Profile)
February 2, 2006... Traditional telephony is over. At least, that is what the headlines said following online auction site eBay's $2.6bn ([pounds sterling]1.5bn) swoop for internet networking company Skype in September last year. Welcome to a world of...

Networking - Better to be safe than sorry. Linda More reports on how a lack of user awareness can compromise corporate network security.
February 2, 2006... Consultants conducting a random survey in London and Oxfordshire recently found 234 live wireless networks, of which 58 per cent were totally open, while the remaining 42 per cent had only low-level security enabled. Hackers, or specialist...

Networking - Ben Sherman cuts service costs with digital networking. High-speed networking delivers cost savings and efficiencies for shirt-maker, says Mark Dye.(Column)
February 2, 2006... Ben Sherman has evolved significantly since it started making shirts in a small factory in Brighton during the 1960s. The company now sells almost one million pairs of shoes and 600,000 pairs of jeans globally a year. Such changes are...

Networking - BT division readies IT overhaul. Openreach is planning a central IT infrastructure to link or replace systems, says Miya Knights.(BT communications)
February 2, 2006... UK businesses will benefit from more diverse and competitive services as a result of the creation of Openreach, according to analysts. Robert Bamforth, senior analyst at researcher Quocirca, says the new BT communications access division -...

Services - Save [pounds sterling]50 on our 2006 SME guide.
February 2, 2006... The small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) IT market is worth [pounds sterling]15bn. Everyone knows it is out there, but no one can get a real grip on it. Until now. The Computing mi SME Guide is the first market intelligence book to...

Services - Diary.(Calendar)
February 2, 2006... Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 6-8 February 2006 Royal Lancaster Hotel, London Learn how to create an efficient business intelligence environment, while dramatically improving the return on investment. Learn from innovative...

BCS Diary events.(British Computer Society)(Calendar)
February 2, 2006... Information Risk Management and Audit Specialist Group 7 February. 4pm for 4.30pm. Control Aspects of ITIL (Service Delivery)/Cobit. BCS, 5 Southampton Street, London. Visit: www.bcs-irma.org/events.htm BCS South West Branch 7...

Training - listings.
February 2, 2006... Information for the courses page should follow our usual format - course category, title of course, venue, date, price, organising company/body, telephone number. Unless the information is presented in this way, we regret that it cannot be...

Careers - Software assurance firm recruits testers.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Miya Knights. Software assurance firm Tescom is to recruit 100 UK staff to cope with increased demand for its testing services. The company says it needs new staff with specialist skills to meet growing requirements from large...

Careers - Backbytes.
February 2, 2006... It's only words In years to come it may be called 'The Hilton Defence'. We're indebted to The Sun newspaper for its report from Paris Hilton's pre-trial statement before a court case in which she is being sued for $5.7m ([pounds...

Firms opt to delay PIN tills.(personal identification numbers)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Computing staff Firms opt to delay PIN tills Smaller businesses take commercial decision to miss banking deadlines Computing staff FIFTEEN per cent of UK shops and businesses have still not upgraded systems to accept...

Real-time system trial boards London buses.(Transport for London)(Brief article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Real-time system trial boards London buses Transport for London begins first phase of [pounds sterling]120m communications project Daniel Thomas TRANSPORT for London (TfL) is testing the first part of a...

Small firms face IT security risk.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Small firms face IT security risk Daniel Thomas INADEQUATE IT security is putting small and medium-sized firms and their supply chain partners at risk, according to the Confederation of British Industry...

Data exchange to clamp down on immigration.(European Commission is creating Information and Co-ordination Network)(Brief article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Brown Data exchange to clamp down on immigration James Brown The European Commission is to create a web-based information system to share details of illegal immigration within the European Union (EU). Dubbed the...

Struggling IT projects to go on red alert.(Gateway monitoring process)(Brief article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Parliamentary correspondent Struggling IT projects to go on red alert Parliamentary correspondent MAJOR government technology projects given consecutive 'red lights' by the Gateway monitoring process are to be automatically...

Banks launch online bill payment service.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson Banks launch online bill payment service Customers can use their banking site to access accounts from other firms James Watson HIGH-STREET banks Lloyds TSB and HSBC will launch an electronic bill viewing...

Fraud incidents treble in UK Fraud in the UK increased by nearly 300 per cent last year, costing public and private sector organisations more than [pounds sterling]900m, according to KPMG. The consultancy firm has called for reviews of internal process controls and bet.
February 2, 2006... Fraud incidents treble in UK Fraud in the UK increased by nearly 300 per cent last year, costing public and private sector organisations more than [pounds sterling]900m, according to KPMG. The consultancy firm has called for reviews of...

Mobile plan for egovernment.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Brown Mobile plan for egovernment James Brown THE government is to examine the use of mobile technology to deliver public services, and to encourage greater use of egovernment by citizens. Despite the government...

Council seeks partner to improve poor performance.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Brown Council seeks partner to improve poor performance James Brown NORTH East Lincolnshire Council is to outsource its IT to improve performance, after coming close to bankruptcy. The council was rated by the...

The wrong trousers We delight in bringing you useless inventions, but we're not sure what to think of Levi Strauss's decision to launch a pair of jeans that can control your iPod. This obviously addresses the needs of the silent majority who suffer the h.(Levi Strauss & Co.)
February 2, 2006... The wrong trousers We delight in bringing you useless inventions, but we're not sure what to think of Levi Strauss's decision to launch a pair of jeans that can control your iPod. This obviously addresses the needs of the silent...

HSA strengthens network security.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas HSA strengthens network security Healthcare firm restricts employee use of USB devices Daniel Thomas HEALTHCARE company HSA is strengthening its network security to protect sensitive data from theft and...

Recycling firm makes mobile systems secure.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Recycling firm makes mobile systems secure Daniel Thomas RECYCLING and refuse disposal firm LondonWaste has installed mobile security systems to keep information on its PDAs safe. The company, which...

High price of laptop data The average estimated value of data stored on a laptop exceeds half a million pounds, according to a report from software vendor Symantec. Nearly eight out of 10 laptop users polled said that the data on their computer is of.(Federal Trade Commission agreed for the settlement with the ChoicePoint Inc.)(International Business Machines Corp. acquires CIMS Lab Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2006... High price of laptop data The average estimated value of data stored on a laptop exceeds half a million pounds, according to a report from software vendor Symantec. Nearly eight out of 10 laptop users polled said that the data on...

Cinema chain boosts online capabilities.(Vue Entertainment signed a contract with Rackspace Managed Hosting)(Brief article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Miya Knights Miya Knights Cinema chain boosts online capabilities Miya Knights CINEMA operator Vue Entertainment has signed a new contract for hosted data services to cope with fluctuations in demand for its online and...

Middlesbrough FC introduces CRM tactics.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Mortleman Middlesbrough FC introduces CRM tactics Premiership club improves data about customers' spending habits James Mortleman MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club is introducing an integrated customer relationship...

Bank insider charged Police have charged a former Lloyds TSB employee with corruption and theft after he allegedly helped criminal gangs set up fraudulent bank accounts. The arrest is the latest in a two-year investigation by City of London police into.
February 2, 2006... Bank insider charged Police have charged a former Lloyds TSB employee with corruption and theft after he allegedly helped criminal gangs set up fraudulent bank accounts. The arrest is the latest in a two-year investigation by City...

Better to be safe than sorry.(corporate networks security)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Linda More Better to be safe than sorry Linda More reports on how a lack of user awareness can compromise corporate network security CONSULTANTS conducting a random survey in London and Oxfordshire recently found 234...

Software assurance firm recruits testers.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Miya Knights Software assurance firm recruits testers Miya Knights SOFTWARE assurance firm Tescom is to recruit 100 UK staff to cope with increased demand for its testing services. The company says it needs new staff...

Benefits data lost in system transfer.(Jobcentre Plus customer management system )
February 2, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Benefits data lost in system transfer Missing data leads to 'terrifying' benefits mix-up, says MP Sarah Arnott Just one in three new benefits applications is being successfully transferred using the...

Banks urged to stay ahead of the MiFID game.(Markets in Financial Instruments Directive)(Brief article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson Banks urged to stay ahead of the MiFID game Financial companies must ensure early compliance with directive, warn experts James Watson The forthcoming Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID)...

Microsoft announced.
February 2, 2006... Microsoft announced record second-quarter revenue of $11.84bn ([pounds sterling]6.7bn), a nine per cent increase on the same period last year. Net income was $3.65bn ([pounds sterling]2.1bn), up five per cent. SAP announced...

MPs blame IT system for tax credits fiasco.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Parliamentary correspondent MPs blame IT system for tax credits fiasco Report says system is root cause of payments problems Parliamentary correspondent THE technology used by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to administer...

Smart metering for businesses reviewed.(E.ON UK PLC)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Miya Knights Smart metering for businesses reviewed Miya Knights E.ON, the organisation that runs Powergen, is to test computer-based smart metering technology with some of its large business customers. The utility is...

Search boom led by data explosion.(Deloitte report "TMT Trends: Predictions, 2006")
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson Search boom led by data explosion Report predicts companies selling goods online will have particular need of robust search technologies James Watson SOME 20 exabytes of new digital data...

LSE sees growth in automatic trading.(London Stock Exchange PLC)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson LSE sees growth in automatic trading James Watson MORE than 40 per cent of all trades conducted on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) are now based on automated, algorithmic trading, compared with virtually none...

Specsavers tries a new focus for IT upgrades.(selected ThoughtWorks Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Miya Knights Specsavers tries a new focus for IT upgrades Miya Knights Specsavers has invested in systems development consultancy and training to improve upgrades to the IT in its shops. The high-street...

Six Nations tackles data analysis.(2006 RBS Six Nations Championship is using business intelligence software from SAS)(Brief article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Brown Six Nations tackles data analysis James Brown The 2006 RBS Six Nations Championship is to use business intelligence software to collate match statistics. The software, from vendor SAS, will supply TV...

Police share stolen property data online.(North Wales police deploying IT system with Swift-Find)(Brief article)
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Mortleman Police share stolen property data online James Mortleman North Wales police is making information on missing valuables available automatically across the country via an online registry. It is the first...

IT helps bank focus on customer service.
February 2, 2006... Byline: James Watson IT helps bank focus on customer service A&L introduces state-of-the-art cash machines in branch trials James Watson ALLIANCE & Leicester is to pilot seven concept branches across the UK that will use...

Facing up to the new threats in IT security.(Gene Hodges of Websense Inc.)(Interview)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Facing up to the new threats in IT security Computing talks to Websense chief executive Gene Hodges about the changing nature of e-crime Daniel Thomas GENE Hodges resigned from his post as president of...

Clamping down on the cyber criminals.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Clamping down on the cyber criminals Businesses welcome the government's plans to amend the outdated Computer Misuse Act Daniel Thomas LAST week's decision by the government to introduce stiffer...

Can supply meet government demand?(government information technology management)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Can supply meet government demand? Sarah Arnott THERE is no longer any doubt about technology's central role in everything the government does, and everything it plans to do in the future. With the...