Computing articles from June 2007

Computing archives from June 2007

Time to salute individual excellence.(2007 Computing Awards for IT)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick Time to salute individual excellence The 2007 Computing Awards seeks to reward the UK's best IT teams and their leaders z This year's Computing Awards for Excellence will again recognise the best...

IT takes a remote viewpoint.(working from home)(Datamonitor research)
June 7, 2007... Byline: John Malachy IT takes a remote viewpoint The financial and lifestyle benefits available to companies and employees are encouraging fast growth in working away from the office. John Malachy reports The exact number...

What the experts say about remote working.
June 7, 2007... Byline: John Malachy What the experts say about remote working z The return on investment comes from the fact that we were not previously able to introduce home workers. Now that we have adequate remote visibility and reporting into...

Case study: Camping and Caravanning Club.
June 7, 2007... Byline: John Malachy Case study Camping and Caravanning Club z Founded in 1901, the Camping and Caravanning Club (CCC) runs more than 100 sites throughout the UK, and 21 sites in conjunction with the Forestry Commission. The...

Case study: BT.
June 7, 2007... Byline: John Malachy Case study BT z BT employs 110,000 people in the UK, of whom 60,000 engage in some form of flexible working, whether as roaming employees or home workers. To help those workers access company email and...

metrics.(broadband demand)(botnets)(survey on internet service providers)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Tom Young 1 metrics Botnet criminals wait for the weekends 1Botnet activity peaks at weekends as cyber criminals try to avoid detection, according to figures from software supplier Secure Computing. The number of...

Music companies should be adapting to new technologies.
June 7, 2007... Byline: David Evans Music companies should be adapting to new technologies The industry risks alienating its customers if it continues to use enforced compliance, writes David Evans z Most people accept the premise of intellectual...

Qinetiq looks to future.(profits)(Brief article)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Qinetiq looks to future Chief executive is positive despite patchy performance, reports Dave Friedlos z Defence specialist Qinetiq is bullish about UK sales prospects despite a two per cent fall in profits in...

Recreating bricks and mortar in cyberspace.(online businesses)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Recreating bricks and mortar in cyberspace The biggest lesson companies learned from the dot com crash is that business is the same online or offline, says Sarah Arnott z Commentators are warning of a...

Advantage programme.
June 7, 2007... Advantage programme Early-bird entry for learning how to fuse business and IT z This summer the Oracle IT Fusion Conference will be one of the hottest tickets in town -- and Computing readers can guarantee an early-bird place. The...

feedback.(Letter to the editor)
June 7, 2007... feedback Business must kick its carbon habit OBusinesses are responsible for 40 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions and must behave responsibly immediately if we are to make any progress in saving the planet from the effects of global...

talking point.(police It management and database development)(green computing)(Column)
June 7, 2007... talking point On police IT More delays arrest police intelligence sharing plan, computing.co.uk/2190553 z I sympathise with the frustrations vented by the government and taxpayers on the continuous delays and cancellations of IT...

Google's battles are breaking new ground.(data protection law)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Google's battles are breaking new ground But the privacy debate may be part of the hype, writes Tom Young z Google admitted last week that elements of its privacy policy are 'vague', following claims from Europe's...

financial world.(Company overview)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos financial world Vodafone z Mobile phone giant Vodafone exceeded analyst expectations to post preliminary annual sales of [pounds sterling]31bn and profits of almost [pounds sterling]12bn. Shares surged to a...

Competition arrives for London trading.(TradElect of London Stock Exchange PLC)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Competition arrives for London trading European regulation and falling technology costs are behind changes in the capital markets sector, reports Lara Williams z After four years in development, the London...

News agency gains ISO certification.(Reuters Group PLC)(International Organization for Standardization)(Brief article)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Tom Young News agency gains ISO certification Tom Young z Reuters has met global information security standards for its Geneva technical centre, which supports all the firm's media and financial services. The news...

Online services in demand.(Socitm research)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Lisa Kelly Online services in demand Lisa Kelly z Lack of commitment from local authorities is slowing the progress of electronic government, despite citizens' appetite for online services, according to council IT user...

Suppliers sought for [pounds sterling]6bn database.(Police National Database)(Brief article)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Suppliers sought for [pounds sterling]6bn database Sarah Arnott z Suppliers are being invited to tender for the [pounds sterling]6bn database at the heart of the national police intelligence...

Get the Met onto e-crime.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Get the Met onto e-crime z It should not be a surprise if the security software industry paints a picture of phishing that best serves its commercial aims. That is what business does. What is surprising is...

Justice agencies share data.(using EzGov Tracker software)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Lisa Kelly Justice agencies share data Pilot systems to be rolled out to 12 Magistrates Courts Lisa Kelly z The government is rolling out an information sharing system to courts in England and Wales as part of...

UK broadband growth slows down.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Tom Young UK broadband growth slows down Tom Young z The UK broadband market faces upheaval as take-up slows and a high proportion of new customers are being won by media giants offering bundled services. The number...

bulletin.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams online Oracle amends lawsuit against SAP z Database giant Oracle has amended its lawsuit against rival SAP, alleging the German software firm copied its software and support materials, including...

Major IT firms cut staff in face of competition.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Major IT firms cut staff in face of competition Dave Friedlos z The axing of more than 13,000 jobs at three major IT firms is testament to increasingly stiff competition, both globally and within the...

EU set for finance directive.(Markets in Financial Instruments Directive)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams EU set for finance directive But firms will have to move fast to comply with Mifid guidelines Lara Williams z Final guidelines for the European financial services directive were issued last week, just...

Backbytes.
June 7, 2007... backbytes Hit a car when it's down z 'I would like to claim the title of "saddest car" in IT Britain,' says Jim Bassett at Allied Irish Offshore. 'You may recall an occasion when Jeremy Clarkson was so incensed by a car that...

Airline wants RFID to offer personal touch.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Airline wants RFID to offer personal touch Silverjet plans to issue travellers with their own tag for customised services Dave Friedlos z Business class airline Silverjet wants to use radio frequency...

online.(Detica PLC earnings)(government IT projects failures)(IT green issues)(Brief article)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams online Government IT needs better management z Lack of programme management skills and experience is jeopardising the success of government IT projects, says the Public Accounts Committee. ...

Asian IT investors catching EU.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Asian IT investors catching EU Europe must take steps if it is to compete in the global economy Lara Williams z Technology venture capital (VC) investments in emerging economies are set to outstrip...

Extension for e-ticketing deadline.(International Air Transport Association)(airlines)(Brief article)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Extension for e-ticketing deadline Dave Friedlos z Airlines have an extra five months to install electronic ticket issuing systems, after the global industry body extended the deadline. The International...

HSBC questions online security tool.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Tom Young HSBC questions online security tool Tom Young z Efforts to standardise online banking security could be undermined by HSBC's refusal to adopt two-factor authentication for access to its web accounts. Some...

UK IT projects running late.(Economist Intelligence Unit research)(Brief article)
June 7, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams UK IT projects running late Lara Williams z Only one in 10 UK IT projects are delivered on time, according to research group the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The findings are particularly...

London traffic cameras set for switch to digital.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos London traffic cameras set for switch to digital Dave Friedlos z Transport for London (TfL) is switching its traffic enforcement systems from analogue to digital so it can use more mobile cameras to monitor...

Phishers escaping the net.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Phishers escaping the net Hyped statistics from suppliers make police less likely to investigate Tom Young z Security software companies are endangering efforts to target phishers by skewing the statistics...

A square deal.(trends in outsourcing )(Column)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Mark Amsden and Margaret Harvey A square deal Mark Amsden and Margaret Harvey discuss the legal aspects of drawing up reliable outsourcing contracts The squeeze is on. Analyst TPI recently announced that the final...

Outsourcing development of CRM software.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Outsourcing development of CRM software z In 2002, Dan Marovitz spent a year working as chief information officer of corporate finance in Deutsche Bank's technology group, during which time he was tasked with...

CV: Dan Marovitz.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams CV: Dan Marovitz z After finishing university in 1994, Marovitz launched Gateway Computers' internet business in Japan. He then went on to develop Gateway's web business in the US. z Marovitz subsequently...

Taking all the right risks.(Dan Marovitz of Deutsche Bank AG (Frankfurt, Germany))(Interview)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Taking all the right risks Lara Williams speaks to Deutsche Bank's chief operating officer of technology for global banking, Dan Marovitz, about the importance of understanding IT in business When Dan...

Web site hosting.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Mark Samuels Web site hosting z Peter Fellows, head of IT at Sport England, recognises that selecting the right outsourcing partner is absolutely crucial. When the organisation recently came to select a strategic partner...

Up and running.(Peter Fellows of Sport England of United Kingdom)(Interview)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Mark Samuels Up and running Mark Samuels speaks to Peter Fellows, the head of IT at Sport England, about getting the infrastructure just right Peter Fellows left his role as head of IT at UK Sport on 6 July 2005, the day...

Personal services.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tony Lock Personal services Deployment of new PC operating systems will allow organisations to develop alternative ways to deliver IT services, says Tony Lock The launch of Microsoft's Vista operating system and Office...

CASE STUDY.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lisa Kelly CASE STUDY Bradford College z Bradford College is getting a makeover. It will have a new college building with ultra-modern facilities as part of a plan to deliver 'world-class teaching in world-class...

A support strategy.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lisa Kelly A support strategy Lisa Kelly looks at two organisations using personal computing to develop services Tower Hamlets Council is exploring the benefits of developing a thin client-based personal computing...

IT service management and Vista adoption.(Freeform Dynamics' research)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tony Lock IT service management and Vista adoption z The results of Freeform Dynamics' recent research on Vista adoption offers an insight into better management of desktop/laptop machines. In answer to the question: 'How...

financial world.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos financial world Detica z UK technology consultancy Detica has increased its annual sales by 54 per cent to [pounds sterling]156m, with profits up 50 per cent to [pounds sterling]16m. Analysts attribute the...

metrics.(optimization.com survey on Canadians web surfing)(Computacenter survey on database problems)(storage devices market share)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tom Young metrics Storage market continues to rise 1IBM won 22.2 per cent of the $28.2bn ([pounds sterling]14.1bn) storage market in 2006, according to analyst IDC. HP was the second most successful supplier with 20.9...

Advantage programme.
June 14, 2007... Advantage programme Pep up your Java knowledge with access to white papers z InterSystems Corporation, in partnership with Computing, is offering Computing readers free access to two detailed white papers that look in detail at the...

Broadband battle hots up.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Broadband battle hots up Carphone Warehouse is confident despite [pounds sterling]72m losses, reports Dave Friedlos z The launch of a free broad- band service contributed to mobile phone retailer Carphone...

The X-factors.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick The X-factors Bryan Glick reports on a Computing roundtable debating the key factors that will influence personal computing The demands of modern business mean that many IT directors are being forced to...

China hot on UK skills' heels.(Microsoft-commissioned Developing the Future report on IT skills)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams China hot on UK skills' heels The UK must educate its workforce to compete in the global knowledge economy, writes Lara Williams z A skills crisis in the software development sector could seriously damage the...

Germany rewrites law to nab cyber criminals.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Germany rewrites law to nab cyber criminals But anti-hacking legislation is tricky to get right, reports Tom Young z The German parliament voted earlier this month to amend the country's anti-hacking laws and...

Tesco turns up heat on queue busting.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Tesco turns up heat on queue busting Dave Friedlos z Tesco wants to use thermal imaging to predict how long its checkout queues will be, half an hour in the future. The supermarket giant already uses the...

McDonald's to test wave and pay system.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos McDonald's to test wave and pay system Computing reports from this year's Retail Solutions conference in Birmingham Dave Friedlos z McDonald's is considering letting customers pay by waving a credit or...

The IT world stage takes another turn.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick The IT world stage takes another turn Outsourcing venues favoured by Western IT companies are themselves adopting an offshoring strategy, says Bryan Glick z There are few things that frustrate the leading...

online.
June 14, 2007... online MIT unveils wireless power technology z US scientists have developed a way of wirelessly powering electrical equipment from a distance. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) refer to the wireless...

Debenhams in mobile trials.(self-service kiosks)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Debenhams in mobile trials Dave Friedlos z Debenhams is planning to extend trials of self-service kiosks and mobile devices that allow customers to communicate with staff and pay in the fitting room. ...

EasyJet takes flight with finance system.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos EasyJet takes flight with finance system Dave Friedlos z Budget airline EasyJet is replacing key financial systems as part of a major data integration project (Computing, 24 May). The company has...

A balance needs to be struck.(information technology graduates skills)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott A balance needs to be struck z The statistics do not seem to make sense. One in five companies say they are wary of recruiting IT graduates because of a lack of business skills. And a massive 70 per cent of...

Computing blogs -- your comments on privacy.
June 14, 2007... Computing blogs -- your comments on privacy z The appeal to balance and compromise always drags policy in the direction that the initiator wants. By looking for a compromise you are affirming the fallacies embedded in the proposals. Those...

Magic mirror A mirror that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to give customers fashion tips and product details while they are trying on clothes could revolutionise use of the technology in retail. RFID is most commonly used to improve back offi.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Magic mirror A mirror that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to give customers fashion tips and product details while they are trying on clothes could revolutionise use of the technology in retail....

Commons inquiry to.(data collection devices)(United Kingdom's Parliament House of Commons)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Commons inquiry to look at surveillance Has data collection on UK citizens gone too far, asks Home Affairs Committee Tom Young z MPs have started a major inquiry into the UK 'surveillance society'. The House...

backbytes.(data encryption, information technology management, queues)(Column)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tim Phillips backbytes Stepping into the firing line z Our job of the week this week is Computing's 'Job of the week' itself, which last week carried a double-edged opportunity that was spotted by many of you. ...

System speeds brain analysis.(Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre research on supercomputers)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lisa Kelly System speeds brain analysis Lisa Kelly z A supercomputer that analyses images of the brain is providing scientists with more detailed data 24 times faster than previously possible. Scientists can more...

What price individual privacy.(United Kingdom. Data Protection Act 1998)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tom Young What price individual privacy if personal data means better service? Tom Young z Data collection is everywhere. There are more than four million closed circuit TV cameras in the UK, the police fingerprint...

London wireless use rockets.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lisa Kelly London wireless use rockets Take-up exceeds New York levels and access point security improves Lisa Kelly z The availability of wireless networks in central London has increased 160 per cent in the past...

online.(Carillion PLC signed contract with British Telecommunications PLC)(government introduced taskforce to reduce the carbon footprint of IT)(Capgemini UK PLC profits)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... online Government launches green IT taskforce z The government has set up a taskforce to reduce the carbon footprint of IT by addressing the production and efficiency of computer hardware. www.computing.co.uk/2191771 ...

ISP service aids email delivery.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tom Young ISP service aids email delivery Tom Young z Four of the largest ISPs in the US are to offer a service that charges businesses for guaranteed delivery of their emails to bypass spam filters. Comcast, Cox...

Employers want IT graduates with business skills.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Employers want IT graduates with business skills Lara Williams z One in five employers are not recruiting IT graduates because they lack business acumen, despite a rising demand for skill- ed...

Bury patients join NHS records pilot.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Lisa Kelly and Sarah Arnott Bury patients join NHS records pilot Lisa Kelly and Sarah Arnott z Bury NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) is joining the pilot of the electronic care record system at the heart of the [pounds...

IT's economic value too low.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott IT's economic value too low Software investment figures would add two per cent to UK output Sarah Arnott z Treating software spending as an investment rather than a cost could add the equivalent of ...

Management holds the key to UK's future in the global economy.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Geoff Winn Management holds the key to UK's future in the global economy Our record as a nation of innovators needs renewed encouragement, says Geoff Winn z We often hear that the UK must respond to globalisation by...

case study.(AccordMP installed vehicle management and telematics system from APD Communications )
June 21, 2007... Byline: Cath Everett case study AccordMP z Highways management service provider AccordMP has introduced a vehicle location and tracking system to help enhance road safety, improve passenger journey times and keep down costs. ...

CASE STUDY.(Go-Ahead Group PLC implemented smartcard ticketing system )
June 21, 2007... Byline: Cath Everett CASE STUDY The Go Ahead Group z The Go Ahead Group intends to implement an IP-based smartcard ticketing system in its Brighton buses by October, with the aim of boosting customer satisfaction and reducing...

Travel plans.(implementation of IT in the public transport)
June 21, 2007... Byline: Cath Everett Travel plans As the use of public transport increases, IT will play a vital role in keeping the system going, reports Cath Everett The biggest issues for public transport companies over the next...

Expert view.(on the technology trends in the transportation industry)
June 21, 2007... Byline: Cath Everett Expert view z Two things will be important over the next five to 10 years. The first is to simplify travel so that people have access to improved passenger information and don't have to understand which ticket...

A drive for efficiency.(IT implementation in transportation industry)
June 21, 2007... Byline: Jim Mortleman A drive for efficiency The transport industry is changing fast, and firms will be looking for skilled personnel who can manage the IT challenges, says Jim Mortleman In common with most industries, the...

Top tips: how transport can keep on track with skills.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Jim Mortleman Top tips: how transport can keep on track with skills Build competency centres NYK Logistics' Myron Hrycyk says: 'We're looking to set up competency centres bringing together best practice and associated...

metrics.(demand for information technology students)(broadband subscribers increased)(report on information security)
June 21, 2007... metrics Businesses improve security 1Organisations have slightly improved their security standing in the past 12 months, according to security vendor NTA Monitor. The company's annual security report says that the average number of...

Enjoy the recognition your skills deserve.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick Enjoy the recognition your skills deserve Deadline approaches for Computing Awards for Excellence nominations z The deadline for entering this year's Computing Awards for Excellence is rapidly approaching, so...

financial world.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos financial world CSC z Computer Sciences Corporation says restructuring costs and errors in its accounting practices that delayed fourth-quarter results are to blame for flat sales. Total sales rose four per...

Fujitsu to expand horizons.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Fujitsu to expand horizons But analysts question its future success in Europe, reports Dave Friedlos z Fujitsu Services wants to expand beyond its traditional UK government market after reporting a solid, if...

Whose responsibility is it anyway?(IT skills)(Lord Leitch's report on skills)
June 21, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Whose responsibility is it anyway? Literacy and numeracy levels are being addressed by the government. But what of high-level skills such as IT, asks Sarah Arnott z The government's response to Lord Leitch's...

Airline security hard to get off the ground.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Airline security hard to get off the ground Measures will be expensive for budget airlines, reports Dave Friedlos z Airline security measures due to come into effect in Europe in the coming year will increase...

Global outsourcing arena heats up.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Global outsourcing arena heats up As more players enter the field, Indian firms face more complex pressures, reports Lara Williams z Research released last week from sector skills body e-Skills UK echoes the...

The end of a tempestuous era.(Richard Granger of United Kingdom's National Health Service)(Brief article)
June 21, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott The end of a tempestuous era z After years of rumour and speculation, Richard Granger is finally leaving the [pounds sterling]12bn National Programme for NHS IT (NPfIT). It has been a rollercoaster ride for the...