Computing articles from October 2006

Computing archives from October 2006

The future calls.
October 5, 2006... Byline: John Malachy The future calls John Malachy looks at IP multimedia subsystem, the platform being championed as a linchpin of the next generation of networks IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) is being widely touted...

Case study: BT's 21st century network.
October 5, 2006... Byline: John Malachy Case study BT's 21st century network z BT is deploying IMS architecture as part of its 21st century telecoms network (21CN), a sweeping infrastructure upgrade designed to improve its operational efficiency and...

What the experts say.(telecommunications industry)
October 5, 2006... Byline: John Malachy What the experts say Most European telecoms firms still have a lot of questions about IMS because it is far from mature in terms of either technology or standards. There are many issues with classification, for...

Securely does it.
October 5, 2006... Byline: John Malachy Securely does it Clientless software can ensure private data is not compromised while users work on PCs away from the company network, reports John Malachy Few knowledge workers remain tied to their desks...

Case study.(CRU International )
October 5, 2006... Byline: John Malachy Case study CRU International z CRU International is a London-based economic analysis and research company with subsidiary offices in the US, Chile and China. It conducts economic analysis and research on...

What the experts say.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: John Malachy What the experts say z SSL VPNs are pretty secure; the biggest problem is caused by spyware invading the client device itself to capture user names and passwords before they are sent down the wire. When you look at...

Router limits.
October 5, 2006... Byline: John Malachy Router limits John Malachy looks at the development of open source router software With so many companies reliant on the internet as a foundation of business operations, the router now plays a role that is at...

Five easy steps to professionalism, recognition and respect.
October 5, 2006... Byline: David Clarke (BCS chairman) Five easy steps to professionalism, recognition and respect A new initiative is aimed at ensuring the IT profession is well perceived, writes David Clarke z The future of IT will be populated by...

The changing tides of IT procurement.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick The changing tides of IT procurement Savvy CIOs will take note of IT services industry changes, using outsourcing opportunities to improve their own profiles, says Bryan Glick z About three or four years ago,...

Advantage programme.
October 5, 2006... Advantage programme Cycle Kenya with Computer Aid International z Computing is offering readers the chance to take part in a unique IT industry cycle challenge from Mount Kenya to Lake Victoria in February next year. Computing...

OSRs in core networks.(open source routers)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: John Malachy OSRs in core networks z Internet and telecoms consultant Steve Kennedy says open source routers may have a place in the business environment where the packet per second counts are low, but in core networks they...

metrics.(briefs)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Tom Young metrics Large firms dependent on data links 1Larger workplaces feel more threatened by data connections failures, according to analyst firm Point-topic's Business Survey. Some 61 per cent of firms with more than...

Case study: Ubiquisys.
October 5, 2006... Byline: John Malachy case study Ubiquisys z Fixed mobile convergence (FMC) specialist Ubiquisys plans trials of its femtocell system with several UK mobile operators and communications service providers early next year, and...

Blue Sky ideas bring costs down to earth.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Blue Sky ideas bring costs down to earth BMI is the latest airline exploiting technology to remain competitive. Dave Friedlos reports z Traditional airlines are increasingly putting IT at the centre of...

Red Hat sales rocket.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Red Hat sales rocket Reseller channel significantly boosts open-source sales. Dave Friedlos reports z Open-source software specialist Red Hat's second-quarter sales of $99.7m ([pounds sterling]52.8m) show a...

financial world.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos financial world Red Hat z Open-source software provider Red Hat's second-quarter sales grew by 52 per cent from last year. This was driven by 90 per cent year-on-year growth in sales of Red Hat Enterprise...

Long-term outsourcing deals maintain lead.
October 5, 2006... Byline: James Brown Long-term outsourcing deals maintain lead But smaller, multiple deals are becoming more popular, writes James Brown z The [pounds sterling]100m IT-enabled business transformation contract announced by utility...

How IT can reduce its power use.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Tom Young How IT can reduce its power use Tom Young looks at how firms can reduce their energy consumption to cut carbon emissions z Tony Blair told the Labour Party conference last week that the government will 'ensure...

feedback.(computer industry)
October 5, 2006... feedback Why are PCs so power hungry? OYour Green Computing report on power saving (Get switched on about switching off, 14 September) points out that laptops use 15W-25W, as opposed to the 300W-plus for a desktop PC. This raises...

Accenture loses health deals.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Accenture loses health deals NHS IT supplier Accenture stands down as CSC takes over [pounds sterling]2bn worth of contracts. Sarah Arnott reports z The replacement of Accenture with CSC in the [pounds...

Innovative Project of the Year.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick Innovative Project of the Year Army on Everest z An Army marketing campaign using cutting-edge web technologies such as mobile video feeds, podcasts and Google Earth has become the benchmark for how the...

Voluntary Sector Project of the Year.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick Voluntary Sector Project of the Year The Scout Association z The Scout Association has introduced an innovative, web-based resource that enables its adult volunteers to develop a balanced weekly programme of...

Finance IT guzzles most power.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Finance IT guzzles most power Lara Williams z Financial services firms are the worst culprits when it comes to IT's consumption of energy, says analyst Gartner. In a new report Rakesh Kumar, vice...

Talking point.(briefs)(network security)(using modules for road charging)(instant messaging threat)
October 5, 2006... talking point On instant messaging threat Experts warn of AOL botnet threat, computing.co.uk/2164531 z The real issue is that companies do not know how many staff are using Instant Messenger (IM), or the associated threats. In...

Networking takes off at Newcastle Airport.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Networking takes off at Newcastle Airport Lisa Kelly z Newcastle International Airport (NIA) has deployed networking technology to tighten security and improve performance of critical applications. NIA...

Mobiles to receive jam data.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Mobiles to receive jam data Traffic information sent to drivers' mobiles aims to cut congestion Dave Friedlos z The Highways Agency (HA) is considering new technologies to inform drivers of road...

Boots sends health results via text message.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Boots sends health results via text message Dave Friedlos z High-street retailer Boots is using the latest communication technology, including voice and text messaging services, to deliver confidential health...

Ageism Act a blow for justice.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick Ageism Act a blow for justice z If certain IT employers are not quaking in their boots this week, they should be. Those outdated, prejudiced employment practices that for years have led to rampant ageism...

HSBC cost cuts allow focus on innovation.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams HSBC cost cuts allow focus on innovation Bank reduces running costs to less than half of overall IT budget Lara Williams z Banking giant HSBC is increasing the amount it spends on IT innovation because of...

Banks bypass new customer-focused technologies.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Banks bypass new customer-focused technologies Lara Williams z Retail banks are failing to invest in new customer-focused technologies such as wireless and radio frequency identification (RFID) applications,...

backbytes.(Symantec Corp.)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Tim Phillips backbytes Locked out z Charles Etchells at ProjectMandate writes to warn us about Symantec's use of visual metaphor. 'The Symantec advert running in Computing recently shows an old gate with a padlock....

RFID tracks Jaguar car parts.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos RFID tracks Jaguar car parts Unipart uses tags to monitor progress of cargo from UK ports Dave Friedlos z Logistics firm Unipart is using radio frequency identification (RFID) to track Jaguar car parts...

Web safety initiative set up for UK schools.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Web safety initiative set up for UK schools Pupils to be taught about internet security Tom Young z An influential group of IT security professionals has launched an education programme for UK pupils...

Whitehall report warns on skilled supplier shortage.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Whitehall report warns on skilled supplier shortage Sarah Arnott z Government chief information officers (CIOs) should establish skills working groups to address issues with the supply of expertise, says a...

Sensor data to fight pollution.
October 5, 2006... Byline: James Brown Sensor data to fight pollution Experts to measure pollution in bid to cut levels in busy cities James Brown z UK scientists are working on a [pounds sterling]3.5m, three-year study into creating huge...

Ageism law takes on old prejudices.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Ageism law takes on old prejudices New regulation will see companies make more use of available IT skills Lara Williams z Nearly three-quarters of IT workers believe ageism is rife in the sector, says...

HSBC banks on mobile phones.(Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams HSBC banks on mobile phones Lara Williams z HSBC and First Direct have launched a mobile phone banking service offering mini-statements and balance enquiries through users' handsets. The service,...

Banks wary of two-factor model.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Banks wary of two-factor model Tom Young z More UK banks have expressed concerns over industry plans for a standard card reader to be used for authenticating online banking transactions. Industry body Apacs...

Online.(British Olympic Associations upgrades its infrastructure)(Liverpool Victoria outsources to 3i Infotech)(HMV Digital service)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... online Computing.co.uk's most popular stories this week Olympic infrastructure upgraded for 2012 z The British Olympic Association (BOA) has upgraded its infrastructure ahead of the London Olympics in 2012 to improve...

Scottish Water agrees IT purchasing framework.
October 5, 2006... Byline: James Brown Scottish Water agrees IT purchasing framework James Brown z Scottish Water is planning for the next phase of its IT development by agreeing a framework deal with Oracle for future purchases of business...

London tests satellite tracking.
October 5, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos London tests satellite tracking TfL could use satellite technology for more flexible road-use charge Dave Friedlos z Transport for London (TfL) has completed a London-wide test of satellite tracking...

Granger signals new approach on NHS IT suppliers.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Granger signals new approach on NHS IT suppliers Sarah Arnott z Government agency Connecting for Health (CfH) wants to create a catalogue of suppliers to draw on for extra capacity to help deliver the [pounds...

What the experts say.(IT budget management)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Sally Flood What the experts say z If half your IT budget is being spent with technology suppliers, then that should certainly be worth some more of your management time. If you look at how management allocates resources and...

Case Study.(Lewis Silkin philosophy for IT procurement)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Sally Flood Case Study Lewis Silkin z London-based law firm Lewis Silkin's philosophy for IT procurement is to deal with as few suppliers as possible while maintaining a degree of competition. 'All the evidence...

Out with the old.(consolidation can help chief information officers to manage their IT department more effectively)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Sally Flood Out with the old Working with multiple suppliers can be complex and expensive. Sally Flood looks at how consolidation can help CIOs to manage their IT more effectively Just a year ago, high-street retail chain...

Case study.(Pearl Group PLC)(Company overview)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Linda More Case study Pearl Assurance z With four million policies and [pounds sterling]27bn worth of funds, Pearl Group represents almost a fifth of the UK long-term insurance sector. One of the biggest challenges of...

Reverse trend.(companies are looking to bring outsourced services back in-house)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Linda More Reverse trend An increasing number of companies are looking to bring outsourced services back in-house, says Linda More Many companies are starting to refine their sourcing strategies to capitalise further on...

What the experts say.
October 12, 2006... Byline: Linda More What the experts say z Price remains the overriding factor offering competitive advantage and margin improvements that can be passed on to customers. Taking your research and development budget offshore...

CASE STUDY.(Kingspan Insulation)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly CASE STUDY Kingspan Insulation z Kingspan Insulation, a manufacturer of building materials, is using business intelligence (BI) software to increase the productivity of its sales force and improve strategic...

Everything is going to plan.(companies using business intelligence tools to cut costs and to increase efficiency)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Everything is going to plan Lisa Kelly reports on two companies using business intelligence tools to cut costs and to increase efficiency Manufacturer Newell Rubbermaid is using business intelligence...

Many happy returns.(IT decision-makers to discuss the best practice in maximising the return on information)(Discussion)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Peter Judge Many happy returns A special Computing roundtable explored how to make the most of your vital information. Peter Judge reports Organisations are swamped with data. Turning that data into valuable information...

Metrics.(China leads broadband growth)(Private sector IT spend continues to rise)(US hardest hit by denial of service attacks)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Tom Young metrics China leads broadband growth 1 Western Europe, Asia Pacific and the US were the only regions that failed to meet the worldwide average broadband growth of 7.1 per cent in the last quarter, according...

Social work.(social computing technologies are being used to share information and technical help)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Social work Lara Williams looks at how social computing technologies are being used to share information and technical help Gone are the days when the support team answered users' technical queries from a...

The new social computing technologies.(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams The new social computing technologies Web 2.0 The term used for advanced internet technology and applications including blogs, wikis, really simple syndication (RSS) webcasts and social bookmarking. All...

Advantage programme.(MarketIntelligence marketing its new directories)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Advantage programme Get market intelligence at a special discount price z Computing MarketIntelligence (MI) tells you everything you need to make your sales calls or research your market, and ensures the marketing you send hits...

What the experts say.(to integrate the business data and security)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Peter Judge What the experts say z There is a difference between where the data lies and how it is presented to a user in the form of reports. The responsibility to ensure that data is safe, secure and of high integrity -- that...

financial world.
October 12, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos financial world Accenture z Accenture announced good fourth-quarter and annual results, despite its exit from two NHS outsourcing deals. Sales rose eight per cent for the quarter, excluding a one-off...

Accenture survives NHS.(National Health Service)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Accenture survives NHS Sales revenue rises, despite halting NHS mega-deals, writes Dave Friedlos z Global consultancy Accenture has posted positive fourth-quarter and annual results, despite pulling out of...

Airport makes return trip to trials of RFID.(radio frequency identification)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Airport makes return trip to trials of RFID Liberalisation of cheaper, UHF tags has renewed interest. Dave Friedlos reports z Manchester Airport is to resume trials of radio frequency identification (RFID)...

NHS IT must recover from supplier ills.(National Health Service contracts with Computer Sciences Corp. and Accenture)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott NHS IT must recover from supplier ills Recent events have highlighted the importance of the contractor-supplier relationship to the NHS technology programme, writes Sarah Arnott z After weeks of speculation,...

HSBC banks on automation.
October 12, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams HSBC banks on automation Technology to automate everyday transactions will free up banking staff for sales, writes Lara Williams z Banking giant HSBC is testing an electronic queueing system in 20 of its...

Banking branch of the future.(Retail banks are increasingly automating routine to improve customer services)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Banking branch of the future Retail banks are increasingly automating routine customer transactions to improve customer services and give staff time to sell more complex products. Electronic queueing...

Intelligence quotient.(business intelligence tools can help organisations in their decision-making)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Mike Davis Intelligence quotient Mike Davis looks at how business intelligence tools can help organisations in their decision-making Last week I was asked: 'What is the definition of business intelligence (BI)? Is it...

Green hardware is a growing priority.
October 12, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Green hardware is a growing priority Business needs to press suppliers to use fewer toxic chemicals, writes Tom Young z In his speech at the Conservative party conference last week, Tory leader David Cameron...

Talking point.(Business makeing cost savings from streamlined IT systems)
October 12, 2006... talking point On data integration The joiner's craft, 28 September z With all the recent high-profile merger and acquisition activity, it is clear that companies can certainly make cost savings from streamlined IT systems. But...

Feedback.(Letter to the editor)
October 12, 2006... feedback Go solo to beat discrimination OSimon Pascall (Letters, 5 October) seems set to join the growing number of experienced workers leaving the IT profession. Many people who leave give reasons such as ageism, and the lack of...

IT Leader of the Year.(Alan Ovenden, Rorie Devine, Al-Noor Ramji)(Ramji, Al-Noor)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortleman IT Leader of the Year Rorie Devine Betfair z Betfair is the world's leading online betting exchange. Over the past year, the company has seen customer transactions double, with more than six million bets...

IT Department of the Year.(Berwin Leighton Paisner)(Northumberland County Council)(Waitrose)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortleman IT Department of the Year Berwin Leighton Paisner z The IT team at law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner is proud of providing a robust and resilient service to its users, with core applications always available....

Business Manager of the Year.(Adrian Blundell, Carol Groves, James Warn)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortleman Business Manager of the Year Adrian Blundell DFID z Adrian Blundell is manager of the Department for International Development's Catalyst business change programme. A key part of this programme was...

IT Professional of the Year.(Chris Berry, Paul Briddock, Tom Cadman, Tim Needham, Jay Saw)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortleman IT Professional of the Year Chris Berry Royal Bank of Scotland z Compliance is a huge issue for the financial sector, and the Basel 2 Accord, recently incorporated into EU law, fundamentally changed the...

Energy Star: efficient office equipment.(Energy Star is a joint European Union and USA initiative to identify and promote energy-efficient office equipment)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Energy Star: efficient office equipment z Energy Star is a joint European Union (EU) and US initiative to identify and promote energy-efficient office equipment. It is a voluntary scheme and, in the EU, will initially...

Vodafone aims to cut costs with IT outsourcing deals.
October 12, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Vodafone aims to cut costs with IT outsourcing deals Dave Friedlos z Within the next five years, Vodafone expects to save [pounds sterling]150m annually by outsourcing some of its software development and...

IT benefits still underexploited.(business enterprises failing to capitalise on the business benefits of IT projects)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Tom Young IT benefits still underexploited Tom Young z Companies are making the same mistakes they were 10 years ago in failing to capitalise on the business benefits of IT projects, according to a survey of UK and Benelux...

Asda tools spot theft trends.(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Asda tools spot theft trends Dave Friedlos z Asda is using new software tools to analyse crime statistics at more than 300 stores, assess the risk of theft and determine security costs. The retailer's...

Insurer opens up pay-per-drive.
October 12, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Insurer opens up pay-per-drive But a new infrastructure was needed to store vast data Lara Williams z Norwich Union has implemented a 100TB data warehouse to support the launch of the UK's first...

Green Computing.(energy-saving devices that were produced in an environmentally conscious )(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Green Computing The sixth point of the charter is: when purchasing IT equipment, chose energy-saving devices that were produced in an environmentally conscious fashion. z Be aware of the Energy star label,...

All for one and one for all in the need to save energy resources.
October 12, 2006... Byline: Malcom Wicks, energy minister All for one and one for all in the need to save energy resources Every company and individual must join the fight against excessive energy use, says Malcolm Wicks z Climate change is one of the...

E-crime is a mainstream issue.(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick E-crime is a mainstream issue z Tackling e-crime involves piecing together a complex jigsaw of issues. There is little disagreement over what those pieces are, but fitting them all together seems to be an endless...

Firms failing to educate staff on PC shutdown.(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Firms failing to educate staff on PC shutdown Tom Young z Nearly nine out of 10 employees have never been asked to shut down their PC at night, according to a survey by the National Energy Foundation (NEF) and...

backbytes.(Letter to the editor)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Tim Phillips backbytes Careers advice from the job pub z A reader who signs herself only as 'Fiona' was recently at a pub in Burghfield, taking a break from her job as a web developer. 'My beer-mat had a...

E-crime deters online banking.(users fear personal information will be misused)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams E-crime deters online banking Users fear personal information will be misused, says report Lara Williams z More than one-fifth of computer users will still not manage their finances online because of...

Police force combines IT management deals.
October 12, 2006... Byline: James Brown Police force combines IT management deals Single contract to open up access to criminal data James Brown z The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is looking for an IT supplier to manage its computer...

Train firm to automate ticket sales.(Association of Train Operating Companies get contract from UK railway board)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Train firm to automate ticket sales Dave Friedlos z The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) has signed a 12-year outsourcing deal worth more than [pounds sterling]30m to automate the processing of...

PDAs help music institution conduct recruitment.
October 12, 2006... Byline: James Brown PDAs help music institution conduct recruitment James Brown z The Royal Academy of Music is using secure handheld computers to help in the global recruitment of top students. Recruiters use the system to...