Short takes on this week's news
Connecting for Health to address system
choice
Connecting for Health is today expected to announce its solution
to a long-running battle over GPs' choice of IT systems by offering
them a wider range of computer systems. GP leaders want family
doctors to be able to continue to run the IT systems they believe
are best suited to their clinical and business needs, rather than
being forced to choose from the offerings of their local service
providers. An extension to the range of service provider offerings
is CfH's anticipated compromise solution.
Outsourcing still driven by savings, says
Gartner
Short-term cost reduction is the main driver of outsourcing
according to research from analyst group Gartner. A survey of
almost 1,000 senior IT professionals worldwide looking at
outsourcing datacentre, desktop network and enterprise
applications, found that most firms are still focused on tactical
IT outsourcing to achieve short-term, cost-focused objectives. The
top two inhibitors to IT outsourcing focused on data security or
privacy issues and concerns around the potentially high costs.
Fujitsu launches eight socket server blade
Fujitsu Siemens Computers has launched its Primergy BX630
eight-socket server blade designed for server farms and datacentre
applications. Based on AMD Opteron processors, the new server will
allow users to switch to and from running two-socket servers to
four-socket or eight-socket servers - without investing in new
hardware.
Microsoft launches phishing legal campaign
Microsoft launched a legal campaign against phishing criminals
in Europe. The company issued civil legal proceedings against
suspected phishers in the UK and other European countries.
Microsoft launched 100 legal cases against suspected phishers in
the US last year. The company's legal campaign follows a rising
tide of phishing e-mails.
Northamptonshire signs four-year contract
Northamptonshire County Council has awarded a four-year payroll
services contract to services provider HBS. The deal, worth £1m a
year, will see HBS run the council's payroll on SAP-based
systems.
Test version of SQL Server SP1 released
With the first service pack for Microsoft's SQL Server 2005
database due out next month, Microsoft has released a Community
Technology Preview for users to test. New features in SP1 include
full database mirroring so administrators can carry out full
real-time data back-ups, and SQL Server Management Studio Express
to help run the free version of SQL Server 2005.
Cisco previews next gen video conferencing
Cisco has previewed the next generation of video conferencing: a
"telepresence" system, due out this year, that can transmit
full-size, high-quality video images capable of conveying body
language and high-quality sound. Cisco chief executive John
Chambers predicted that in three to seven years most interactions
within and between organisations would be video driven.
More potent denial of service attacks
emerge
A type of denial of service attack with more power to harm an
organisation's IT systems has emerged, according to security
supplier VeriSign's chief security officer. Ken Silva said the new
exploits send queries to DNS servers with the return address
pointed at the targeted victim, strengthening the attack.
Sun Microsystems opens hosted public grid
This week, Sun will open up its long-awaited hosted public grid,
allowing anyone with a web browser to use the power of 7,000 AMD
Opteron CPUs for $1 per CPU hour. Users will be able to put their
applications onto the grid and run their workloads, paying via
PayPal.
L'Oreal and Body Shop merger made easy
Global cosmetics firm L'Oreal is to buy The Body Shop for £652m
in cash in a merger that should be simplified as both companies are
large SAP users. L'Oreal has implemented R/3 ERP systems, and The
Body Shop has underpinned more than 2,000 stores with a global SAP
ERP infrastructure.
IT's views sought on project management
The Association of Project Management is undertaking a major
study among project managers from all sectors, and it is urging IT
professionals to participate. To take part in the survey, visit the
APM website.
www.apm.org.uk/survey.asp
Immigration office signs £6.7m Siemens deal
The UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate has awarded a
three-year contract to Siemens Business Services to manage its work
permits and leave-to-remain application process. The contract is
worth £6.7m, with a possible extension for a further two years.
Renfrewshire adopts CedarOpenAccounts
Renfrewshire Council has signed a £1.4m, five-year deal to
install a CedarOpenAccounts financial management system. The system
will improve financial reporting and replace a range of legacy
financial accounting, budgeting, accounts payable and receivable,
fixed assets, bank reconciliation and business intelligence
systems, the council said.
New Dimensions signs 8el in network deal
New Dimensions Group, one of the UK's largest providers of
support services to people with learning difficulties, has chosen
8el to provide a converged voice, data and ISP network in a deal
worth £750,000 over three years. 8el will deliver telephony, Wan
and ISP services, with the possibility in future of VoIP and future
Next Generation Services deployments.
Vale completes roll-out to meet Gershon
targets
Vale Royal Borough Council completed a four-month implementation
of Lagan's Frontline citizen relationship management system in a
bid to meet Gershon efficiency targets. The £145,000 contract is
the first phase of a three-year drive to improve efficiency through
the use of IT at the Cheshire council.
Nottinghamshire deploys Mapinfo system
Nottinghamshire County Council is installing Mapinfo Confirm as
the backbone of a new Highways Asset Management System. The
£275,000 system will initially cover customer services, asset
inventory, highways inspection, bridges and structures, and
roadworks information.
FMC signs deal for new SAP payroll system
Engineering company FMC, which supplies and manufactures sub-sea
production systems, has signed a £200,000 contract with Absoft for
the provision and support of an SAP payroll system. Absoft will
integrate the system with FMC's existing SAP implementation..