Computing articles from February 2008

Computing archives from February 2008

Five companies that could change network management.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Linda More Five companies that could change network management Nagios This is an open source network monitoring system designed to inform managers of employees about problems before clients or users. With the increasing...

Untangle the network.(network management services provided to IT)
February 7, 2008... Byline: Linda More Untangle the network In the first of a four-part weekly guide to network management, Linda More looks at the growing responsibility of networking experts z Network management has become more than just pinging...

Five network management technologies for the future.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Linda More Five network management technologies for the future Next-generation networks Integrate Ethernet with multi-protocol label switching and you get an IP-centric carrier-class network that can deliver rich multiple...

What the experts say about green initiatives.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney What the experts say about green initiatives z In the EU there is a top down approach, where the board says it needs to be greener and wonders what IT can do about it, whereas in the US it is a struggle to get...

Save the planet and the pennies.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Save the planet and the pennies Environmentally-friendly IT can reduce an organisation's carbon footprint and reap business benefits. Martin Courtney reports The environment is high on the list...

Five tips for more environmentally-friendly IT.(Brief article)
February 7, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Five tips for more environmentally-friendly IT Increase server and storage use in datacentres The latest servers and storage arrays pack the same amount of processing performance and disk capacity into...

CASE STUDY.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney CASE STUDY Virgin Games z Virgin Games, a subsidiary of Virgin.com and part of Richard Branson's Virgin Group, is a gaming web site offering online poker, bingo and casino to UK subscribers. The...

Wireless is a salvation for broadband connectivity.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Kenny Kamal (MLL Telecom) Wireless is a salvation for broadband connectivity BCS view: wireless has many benefits for next-generation broadband, says Kenny Kamal z An interesting debate about next-generation broadband...

IT needs to show it means business.(Viewpoint essay)
February 7, 2008... Byline: Mark Samuels IT needs to show it means business The IT industry must fight for the recognition it deserves if technology is to be taken seriously in the business world, says Mark Samuels z What is the IT...

Growing data laws increase storage needs.(Brief article)
February 7, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Growing data laws increase storage needs Tightened regulations surrounding data archiving and deletion drive up profits for storage giant EMC Martin Courtney z EMC's record-breaking profits are proof of...

The revolution is only just beginning.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Bill Gates The revolution is only just beginning The next 10 years will see IT transform the way we live our lives, writes Microsoft chairman Bill Gates z People often ask me if we're nearing the end of the digital...

Lite relief for project delivery.
February 7, 2008... Lite relief for project delivery Project management frameworks are all well and good, but they cannot guarantee success, says Peter Merrick z The technical community puts much store in project management frameworks, such as Prince2 or...

Brown intimate takes on e-commerce job.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Parliamentary reporter Brown intimate takes on e-commerce job Parliamentary reporter z Baroness Vadera A- known in Whitehall as "Gordon's representative on Earth" A- has been put in charge of IT industry policy. In...

Web 2.0 security forum launches.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Tom Young z A security forum for major companies concerned about the implications of Web 2.0 technologies such as social networking launched this week. So far 10 firms, including Credit Suisse, Reuters and...

SMS to replace token security.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari SMS to replace token security Angelica Mari z A text message-based network security system expected to cut costs by 20 per cent will go live at the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (LBKC) next month....

Will IT be affected by credit crisis?(Brief article)
February 7, 2008... Byline: Sarah Arnott Will IT be affected by credit crisis? Computing talks to experts from across the UK IT sector to gauge the impact of economic turbulence Sarah Arnott z Today's (Thursday's) interest rate decision from...

The CIO view.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Computing staff The CIO view z Deutsche Bank chief operating officer for technology Daniel Marovitz Businesses are involved in rigorous prioritisation exercises and are shortening investment horizons for IT...

Crunch raises contractorsi?1/2 pay.(Brief article)
February 7, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Crunch raises contractors' pay Angelica Mari z Salaries for IT contractors in the financial services sector are at their highest level in two years, despite uncertainty sparked by the credit crunch. ...

Gates outlines vision for future.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Sarah Arnott Gates outlines vision for future Sarah Arnott z The impact of IT innovation over the next 10 years will be even more profound than in the last decade, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates told an Institute of...

GMTV wakes up to the benefits of alert tools.(Brief article)
February 7, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly GMTV wakes up to the benefits of alert tools Neon Kelly z GMTV is launching a web service this week to update site users who have been alienated by spam and malware. As part of plans to encourage...

Train line gets i?1/235m upgrade.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Train line gets [pounds sterling]35m upgrade Complete new network and communication systems are planned Angelica Mari z Rail operator London Overground (LO) is spending [pounds sterling]35m on IT...

The battle for the web is hotting up.
February 7, 2008... Byline: Computing staff The battle for the web is hotting up z It's about advertising. It's about search. It's about Microsoft trying to take over the world. The $44.6bn ([pounds sterling]22.4bn) offer for Yahoo has been cast in many...

Thomson merger saves i?1/2150m.(Thomson Holidays )
February 7, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Thomson merger saves [pounds sterling]150m Streamlining IT prompts big savings as holiday firms unite Angelica Mari z Travel group Tui will save [pounds sterling]150m following last year's...

Case study: Capital and Regional.(Capital and Regional Properties PLC)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Lisa Kelly Case study: Capital and Regional z Richard Snooks, chief information officer of investment and property asset management company Capital and Regional (C&R), says the costs of wireless are worth the flexibility it...

No network nightmares.(Dreams Franchise Corp.)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Lisa Kelly No network nightmares In the second of our four-part weekly guide to network management, Lisa Kelly looks at best practice in business z With plans to open more than 50 stores nationwide this year to...

Key business process.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Lisa Kelly Key business process z Sharing plans with supplier CC is at the heart of Dreams' successful network. Initially the relationship between the two was characterised by frustration A- but now openness is guaranteed...

Case study: North Wales Police.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Lisa Kelly Case study: North Wales Police z North Wales Police (NWP) has upgraded its network to slash IT costs, improve force efficiency, underpin mobile working and cut carbon emissions. The force has nearly completed...

Activist sourcing is the future.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Andrew Parker Activist sourcing is the future A new approach will streamline service management and ensure no money is wasted, says Andrew Parker z For many years, the approach taken to IT supplier management focused on...

Low in morale, but in high demand.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Mark Samuels Low in morale, but in high demand Freelancing could be an attractive option for IT professionals, as firms are keen to avoid hiring permanent staff, says Mark Samuels z Cheer up, you miserable lot....

Technologies of tomorrow?(Accenture Ltd.)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Technologies of tomorrow? Neon Kelly reports from Accenture's innovation lab in France z Every year, 150 of the world's largest corporations join a series of technology workshops hosted by Accenture. The...

BT financial results disappoint the City.(British Telecommunications PLC. BT Global Services)(Financial report)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney BT financial results disappoint the City But the telecoms giant says that business is still strong, particularly in its Global Services division Martin Courtney z BT's revenue for the third quarter was...

Charitabledesigns for life.(Alzheimer's Society uses a digital content to treat dementia patients)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Charitabledesigns for life As Microsoft opens its DesignIT competition, Martin Courtney looks at how last year's winner has made a difference Microsoft this week launches its third annual DesignIT...

EU must educate SMEs on IT security.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Tom Young EU must educate SMEs on IT security Tom young z The European Union (EU) must co-ordinate efforts to educate the small business community about IT security if it is to keep its place as one of the world's most...

Businesses can learn from social web sites.(Website overview)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Businesses can learn from social web sites Neon Kelly z Firms running collaborative projects can improve their chances of success by copying trends from the consumer world, according to analyst Gartner. ...

National Express web service logs on.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Angelica Mari z A new National Express airport minibus shuttle is using a web service linked to real-time flight data to provide accurate pick-up times to passengers. Under the reservation and dispatch...

Police IT needs strong central co-ordination.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Police IT needs strong central co-ordination Key role for technology, says Sir Ronnie Flanagan's review of UK policing Tom Young z The National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) needs to play a vital...

Police pilot body-worn cameras.(Brief article)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Police pilot body-worn cameras Neon Kelly z Staffordshire Police are piloting networked, body-worn cameras as the latest weapon in the fight against crime A- and the battle against bureaucracy. Personal...

Couch potatoes move online.(trends in viewers watching television online)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Couch potatoes move online Success of BBC iPlayer drives on-demand TV, but revenue lags Neon Kelly z The online TV market is expected to double in size over the coming year, fuelled by the popularity of the...

IT spend sags as fears mount over US recession.(Brief article)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari IT spend sags as fears mount over US recession Angelica Mari z European IT investment will grow by just three per cent this year compared with the massive 15 per cent increase in 2007, according to research....

Computer Aid reaches 100,000 PCs.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Computing staff Computer Aid reaches 100,000 PCs z Adane Semaw, a 24-year-old Ethiopian, is the recipient of the 100,000th PC to be delivered by charity Computer Aid International. Semaw, who has been wheelchair-bound since...

Further smart meter delays.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Further smart meter delays The government is dragging its feet over energy meter mandate Tom Young z The energy sector is angry about yet more delays to government policy commitments on the national rollout...

Demand is strong for IT-enabled services.(Brief article)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Demand is strong for IT-enabled services Tom Young z The government must continue to use IT to improve public service delivery if it is to meet citizens' rising expectations. Despite considerable...

Law change will raise costs for local council IT.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Law change will raise costs for local council IT Tom Young z Proposals to extend freedom of information (FOI) laws to the government's suppliers will lead to rising local authority IT costs, warn experts. ...

Contactless cards trial begins.(Lloyds TSB Group PLC)
February 14, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Contactless cards trial begins Lloyds TSB scheme is first step to cash-free 2012 Olympics Angelica Mari z Lloyds TSB has started a multimillion-pound contactless card payments trial in London, ahead of...

Wising up with a subtler approach.
February 14, 2008... Byline: Computing staff Wising up with a subtler approach z Apart from the flaring of the identity cards debate in the aftermath of the data loss scandals, it has been a quiet time in the world of government technology. It had...

Case study: Hertfordshire County Council.
February 21, 2008... Byline: James Mortleman Case study: Hertfordshire County Council z As part of an ambitious project called The Way We Work, Hertfordshire County Council is consolidating 50 offices into three sites and enabling mobile and collaborative...

Minding the skills gap.
February 21, 2008... Byline: James Mortleman Minding the skills gap In the third of our four-part guide to network management, James Mortleman looks at the in-demand skills for networking experts z Network management is changing....

Specialist requirements for network managers.(Brief article)
February 21, 2008... Byline: James Mortleman Specialist requirements for network managers z Different sectors will have different priorities when it comes to network management, and such demands translate into particular skills requirements, says...

Top networking skills.
February 21, 2008... Byline: James Mortleman Top networking skills z Given that users and analysts agree that a broad base of skills is going to be vital for future network management professionals, what might emerge as the most critical competencies?...

Encourage chief executive talent.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Ashley Ward Encourage chief executive talent Venture capital firms are not giving company leaders enough chance to prove their worth, says Ashley Ward z Although becoming chief executive is seen by many technology leaders...

T-Mobile signs Yahoo as sole search provider.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney T-Mobile signs Yahoo as sole search provider Agreement replaces Google and could herald a higher profile for mobile advertising Martin Courtney z Yahoo's agreement to be the exclusive mobile search...

The next big thing in outsourcing?
February 21, 2008... Byline: Mark Samuels The next big thing in outsourcing? Gone are the days when management was simple. Outsourcing now breeds new ideas that just complicate things, says Mark Samuels z Let us look back and yearn for the days...

Taking chip-and-PIN further.(trends in usage of magnetic stripe cards for payment)
February 21, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Taking chip-and-PIN further Contactless payments and near-field communications are the next steps for card technology Angelica Mari z This month marks the two-year anniversary of chip-and-PIN credit and...

Heathrow pilots RFID bags.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Heathrow pilots RFID bags Airline joins forces with BAA to carry out six-month trial Angelica Mari z BAA and Emirates airline are testing radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to improve...

Hoo goes there? Some 260,000 images have been uploaded to the British Museum web site, with the rest of the seven million treasures to follow in phases over the next two years. The museum is using a six-server hosting platform from Vialtus Solutions to.(Website overview)
February 21, 2008... Byline: Computing staff Hoo goes there? Some 260,000 images have been uploaded to the British Museum web site, with the rest of the seven million treasures to follow in phases over the next two years. The museum is using a...

Credit crunch keeps primary focus of outsourcing on cost.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Credit crunch keeps primary focus of outsourcing on cost Long-term strategy overlooked in favour of shorter-term gains Neon Kelly z Nearly nine out of 10 IT outsourcing agreements produce a return on...

Online retailers urged to highlight security.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Janie Davies Online retailers urged to highlight security Janie Davies z A lack of detailed statistics on the risks associated with online shopping is denting the market's growth potential, according to experts. In...

Job confidence boost for IT executives.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Job confidence boost for IT executives Martin Courtney z Business confidence among IT executives remains high despite pessimistic economic forecasts following the US sub-prime mortgage crisis, according to...

Green technology will need incentives to take off.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Green technology will need incentives to take off Policy alone is not enough, government must provide the incentives to drive greener technology Tom Young z Technological advances such as intelligent...

Spotlight on smart technologies at theatre.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Spotlight on smart technologies at theatre z London's National Theatre hopes to reduce power use by a sixth at its South Bank site with the introduction of smart technologies. Energy use in buildings accounts for...

Satellites offer green alternative.(communications satellites uses solar energy)(Brief article)
February 21, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Satellites offer green alternative z Shifting the UK communications infrastructure from electricity-hungry masts to solar-powered satellites would help meet carbon emission targets. The use of space for phones,...

Deregulation gets green light.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Deregulation gets green light UK broadband market is competitive enough to cut fixed pricing Neon Kelly z The UK broadband market is now sufficiently competitive for BT to be allowed to set its own wholesale...

ISPs reject proposed law in call for self-regulation.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Tom Young ISPs reject proposed law in call for self-regulation Tom Young z Government proposals for legislation to tackle illegal downloading are unworkable and should be scrapped in favour of self-regulation, say ISPs....

Security experts doubt UK can tackle e-crime.(Brief article)
February 21, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Security experts doubt UK can tackle e-crime Tom Young z Not a single member of the UK's largest group of IT security professionals believes the country is adequately equipped to deal with electronic crime. ...

Innovation is vital for UK success.(Brief article)
February 21, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Innovation is vital for UK success Neon Kelly z New ideas in the technology sector will be vital to the future of UK manufacturing, according to science minister Iain Pearson. The manufacturing sector...

Public sector IT can lead green agenda.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Computing Public sector IT can lead green agenda z There is no longer any need to prove the point that technology has a major role to play in reducing carbon emissions A- not least since the publication of figures ...

Whitehall must push green IT.
February 21, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Whitehall must push green IT Environmental issues not considered closely enough in procurement Tom Young z The government's failure to include environmental factors in its technology spending criteria is...

Elonex heads back to school with One laptop.
February 25, 2008... Byline: Doug Woodburn Elonex heads back to school with One laptop Former PC giant re-enters the volume market with [pounds sterling]99 laptop for education sector Doug Woodburn System builder survivor Elonex has claimed it is...

A tough nut to crack.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Tony Lock A tough nut to crack Networks are the backbone of many organisations, and their successful management is vital. Tony Lock explains z Networking has always been complicated A- its management even more so. It...

The age of consent.(United Kingdom. Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000)
February 28, 2008... Byline: Dino Wilkinson The age of consent In the final part of our definitive guide to network management, Dino Wilkinson examines some of the legal concerns around communications and monitoring staff emails...

Key skills for public sector IT workers.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Robert Chapman Key skills for public sector IT workers Prince2 Prince2 A- Projects in Controlled Environments A- is a project management method covering the organisation, management and control of projects. Since its...

The lure of the public sector.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Robert Chapman The lure of the public sector Robert Chapman reveals the advantages for the IT professional of working in education It is a common misconception that work in the public sector lacks the dynamism, innovation...

High European sales boost HPi?1/2s figures.(Hewlett-Packard Co.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 28, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney High European sales boost HP's figures Almost half of the firm's business in the first quarter was in Europe, Middle East and Africa Martin Courtney z Strong European performance was a major contributor...

Creative industry is key to UK profit.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Computing staff Creative industry is key to UK profit Intangible assets from art to software are crucial to the knowledge economy COMPUTING STAFF z The concept of the knowledge economy is no intellectual fancy...

What an upbeat atmosphere.(Editorial)
February 28, 2008... Byline: Mark Kobayashi-Hillary What an upbeat atmosphere Mark Kobayashi-Hillary reports on the discussions at the annual Indian IT industry conference z So here we are at the Nasscom Leadership Forum in Mumbai. I have attended...

Shift on high-tech evidence.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Shift on high-tech evidence Government says the aim is to use intercept data in court Tom Young z The government is examining how law enforcement bodies may be able to provide intercept evidence in court...

SSL links supply chain with managed network.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly SSL links supply chain with managed network Neon Kelly z Healthcare manufacturer SSL's managed network linking UK offices with factories in the Far East went live last week. SSL A- which includes global...

Digital natives are changing business IT.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Digital natives are changing business IT Use of consumer technology at work is on the up , writes Angelica Mari z The IT sector is looking healthy, but business needs to adapt to the rise of the tech-savvy...

Council flexible work plan opens to business.(Westminster City Council)(Brief article)
February 28, 2008... Byline: Janie Davies Council flexible work plan opens to business Hammersmith & Fulham web scheme allows local people to sell hour slots Janie Davies z Local businesses are being invited to join Hammersmith and Fulham...

IT staff ignore prophets of doom.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Janie Davies IT staff ignore prophets of doom Janie Davies z IT professionals remain confident about UK job prospects, despite doom-mongering about a possible global recession. Only nine per cent of contractors are...

London traffic lights scheme run from web.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari London traffic lights scheme run from web Angelica Mari z Transport for London (TfL) is using a web-based system to manage traffic signal installation projects across all 33 of the capital's boroughs. ...

Revenue makes VoIP transition.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Sarah Arnott Revenue makes VoIP transition Sarah Arnott z HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has signed a [pounds sterling]47m four-year contract with Global Crossing to move its communications onto a single IP platform. ...

Microsoft unveils Server 08.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Microsoft unveils Server 08 Multiple software upgrades make biggest launch in firm's history Martin Courtney z Microsoft's unveiling of its Windows Server 2008 (WS08) operating system yesterday...

Stake a claim to your Asian domain.
February 28, 2008... Byline: Mark Samuels Stake a claim to your Asian domain The lukewarm response to the latest domain registration is misguided and a competitive edge will be needed, says Mark Samuels z Almost 120 years after the original land run...