News

Data centre hardware

November 07, 2005 07 Nov'05
Server costs set to rise, warns IDC

The cost of servers is likely to rise next year, analyst firm IDC has warned.
November 07, 2005 07 Nov'05
Home of the semantic web goes up in flames

A major fire has partially destroyed the computer labs at Southampton University.
November 07, 2005 07 Nov'05
HP launches new blade PC

Hewlett-Packard is using processors from AMD for a new “blade PC” to help companies cut their enterprise computing costs.
November 07, 2005 07 Nov'05
Man charged for building commercial botnet

A 20-year-old Californian has been charged by federal investigators for building and managing a botnet of PCs numbering around 400,000 machines, some owned by the US Department of Defense.

November 07, 2005 07 Nov'05
Internet protocol developers given presidential medals

The developers of the TCP/IP protocols, used to transmit data traffic across the internet, are to be given the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil award.
November 04, 2005 04 Nov'05
IBM breakthrough could slash price of optical PCs

IBM scientists have developed a system to slow down the speed of light and plans to use it as an optical power source to drive components in a PC.
November 04, 2005 04 Nov'05
Server costs will rise next year, users warned

Analyst firm IDC has warned technology buyers that server costs are likely to rise across the board next year.
November 03, 2005 03 Nov'05
Nokia targets mobile TV

New Nokia handset aimed to tap into growing mobile TV market
November 03, 2005 03 Nov'05
Court shock: denial of service attacks not illegal

A judge has ruled that denial of service attacks are not illegal under the UK's outdated Computer Misuse Act.
November 01, 2005 01 Nov'05
Hitachi posts first-half loss

Hitachi has made a £57m loss for the first half of the year, on lower display sales and falling prices in servers and PCs.

November 01, 2005 01 Nov'05
Europe drives world PDA growth

Worldwide personal digital assistant (PDA) shipments were up almost 21% in the third quarter, helped by big European growth, said analyst Gartner.
November 01, 2005 01 Nov'05
IBM blades to support Solaris

IBM’s BladeCenter servers are to support Sun Microsystems’ Solaris 10 operating system to give users more options for handling their data traffic.
November 01, 2005 01 Nov'05
Dell warns of profits slump

Dell has announced that its third-quarter sales and profits will fall well short of its forecasts, because of lower than expected US and UK consumer sales and a faulty component in its Optiplex desktop PC range.
October 31, 2005 31 Oct'05
Exchange builds real-time system on .net

The London Stock Exchange has launched a real-time information broadcast system based on Microsoft .net technology and a SQL Server 2000 database.
October 31, 2005 31 Oct'05
News in brief

Short takes from this week's news
October 31, 2005 31 Oct'05
UK IT directors group shares Gates' vision of the future

Despite rumours that he would be held up by a one-to-one with Gordon Brown, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates was punctual for his breakfast address to British Computer Society IT directors group Elite last week.
October 31, 2005 31 Oct'05
Spend per PC figures show public sector gap

IT spend per PC in the public sector is about half of that in banking, motor manufacturing or construction, according to the latest Computer Weekly IT Expenditure Survey, produced by Kew Associates.
October 31, 2005 31 Oct'05
Further trials to tackle challenges of biometrics

The government is planning further trials of the biometric technology behind its £5.6bn ID card programme.
October 31, 2005 31 Oct'05
Help the Aged uses satellite tracking

Internet-based satellite tracking is allowing Help the Aged to improve the efficiency of its van fleet, which collects donated clothes and delivers them to its shops.
October 31, 2005 31 Oct'05
Mobile web made easy

Volantis has developed server software that converts website content in real time into a format that can be read on mobile devices.
October 31, 2005 31 Oct'05
Fire hits computer research at Southampton

A major fire has partially destroyed the world-class computer labs at Southampton University.
October 25, 2005 25 Oct'05
Cisco offers integrated two-way radio communication system

Cisco has announced a new communication system that can integrate two-way radios with voice, video and data devices.
October 24, 2005 24 Oct'05
Bailiffs adopt mobile devices to boost service and transparency

Debt collection firm Bristow & Sutor has equipped 200 of its bailiffs with mobile devices to make its work more transparent to the councils it works for.
October 24, 2005 24 Oct'05
E-business projects to drive spending growth

E-commerce projects are set to drive UK IT departments' spending growth in 2005-2006, according the latest Computer Weekly IT Expenditure Survey, produced by Kew Associates.
October 24, 2005 24 Oct'05
Initiative aims to put Linux on handsets

Open Source Development Labs is working on an initiative to address demand for Linux on mobile devices.
October 24, 2005 24 Oct'05
Waiting for the WiMax wireless revolution

WiMax promises to reduce costs and extend the range of mobile internet access. But with many obstacles still to overcome, it will not be viable for business just yet .
October 24, 2005 24 Oct'05
Civil servants may block release of ID card review

Civil servants have signalled their intention to stop a government minister publishing Gateway reviews of work carried out so far on the ID cards project.
October 24, 2005 24 Oct'05
RIM could face US Blackberry bar

Research In Motion is facing the possibility of an injunction that would bar it from selling its Blackberry mobile devices in the US, after losing a legal battle to suspend a patent lawsuit brought against it.
October 18, 2005 18 Oct'05
IT industry enjoys a night at the movies in aid of children's charity

More than 400 IT industry professionals turned up for this year's Intellect ICT Charity Ball. The turnout helped ensure proceeds were well in excess of last year's £50,000.
October 18, 2005 18 Oct'05
Will users see benefits of switch to 64-bit?

Intel may only have been playing catch-up with the rest of the market at its Developer Forum this year, but the company's future direction still provides some insights into how hardware manufacturers and users will be utilising processors in the ...
October 18, 2005 18 Oct'05
PC sales leap 17.1% in third quarter

PC shipments jumped 17.1% in the third quarter of the year, helped by the increasing popularity of laptops and low-cost desktops.
October 18, 2005 18 Oct'05
US IT approaches bring more success

Workers in US firms are 40% more productive than their UK counterparts, according to a report.
October 17, 2005 17 Oct'05
Whitbread to split its IT operations

Leisure group Whitbread is to reallocate its 140 head-office IT staff between a new business division and a shared IT services operation covering its remaining brands.
October 17, 2005 17 Oct'05
IT staff welcome Voca's switch to Java

Payment clearing house Voca is preparing its IT systems to handle up to a 100 million transactions a day from 2007.
October 17, 2005 17 Oct'05
Government IT strategy to focus on better management of supplier relationships

The government's new IT strategy, to be announced later this year, will focus on beefing up Whitehall's handling of IT suppliers, according to documents seen by Computer Weekly.
October 17, 2005 17 Oct'05
Best council IT project named today

IT leaders from councils in Cumbria, Lambeth and Leeds will today (18 October) find out which has won the Best Local Government IT Project of 2005 award.
October 17, 2005 17 Oct'05
HP recalls faulty laptop battery packs

Hewlett-Packard has recalled around 135,000 lithium ion rechargeable battery packs after several burned owners’ laptops.
October 14, 2005 14 Oct'05
Adobe cleared to take over Macromedia

The US Department of Justice has cleared Adobe Systems' proposed £2bn acquisition of Macromedia.
October 13, 2005 13 Oct'05
Orange Customer Fact Sheet

CMS is an award-winning Engineering Service Provision company specialising in the supply of high quality customer orientated engineering services to various industries.
October 13, 2005 13 Oct'05
Nokia counters malware threat to data on its smartphones

Nokia and Symantec are working to improve mobile security on Nokia smartphones.
October 11, 2005 11 Oct'05
Intel launches first dual-core server product early

Intel has launched its first dual-core server processor ahead of schedule, and Dell, IBM and Hewlett-Packard have announced a number of servers that will carry it.
October 11, 2005 11 Oct'05
Kelvin Hughes leads the way with move to 64-bit Linux ERP system

Nautical equipment manufacturer Kelvin Hughes has become one of the first UK firms to implement an enterprise resource planning system based on 64-bit Linux.
October 10, 2005 10 Oct'05
Windows-free Dell PC aids Linux adoption

Dell has launched a desktop PC that does not have Windows pre-installed for users wanting to run Linux on their machines.
October 10, 2005 10 Oct'05
Suppliers form alliance to drive adoption of Itanium applications

Nine server manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu-Siemens and Unisys, and several software suppliers have formed an alliance to drive adoption of applications that run on Intel's Itanium processor.
October 10, 2005 10 Oct'05
Aspiring to a culture of professionalism

Collaboration between National Computing Centre, BCS and Intellect is combating the IT industry's negative image among business leaders
October 10, 2005 10 Oct'05
How to bridge the communications gap

CW500 to discuss the appropriate communications between the business and IT
October 07, 2005 07 Oct'05
Getting the blues from Bluetooth

It seems as if security goes in one ear and out of the other when supposedly 'security- aware' office workers leave their buildings and turn on their mobiles and PDAs.
October 03, 2005 03 Oct'05
Oracle CSO urges radical IT standards improvement

Mary Ann Davidson, chief security officer of Oracle, has condemned the quality of IT products and practices.
October 03, 2005 03 Oct'05
Linux advances in datacentre but poses no desktop threat to Microsoft

Linuxworld: The open source operating system is becoming more widespread within the enterprise for use on servers. But even its advocates believe desktop Linux is some way off
October 03, 2005 03 Oct'05
Sun high-end server chip to ship early

Sun Microsystems has said it is ahead of schedule for delivering a chip for its high-end servers that will have eight processor cores to speed performance.
October 03, 2005 03 Oct'05
Met Office scraps chief information officer role to focus on end-users

The Met Office, a user of some of the most advanced IT in the UK, has scrapped the role of chief information officer.
October 03, 2005 03 Oct'05
Whitbread to simplify the IT function

Leisure group Whitbread will announce the restructuring of its IT function when it publishes its latest results this month.
October 03, 2005 03 Oct'05
Intel Xeon dual-core chips power Dell performance-boosting range

End-users are finally being offered performance-boosting dual-core 32-bit processors from Intel with the first dual-core Intel Xeon-based servers and workstations from Dell.
October 03, 2005 03 Oct'05
Tech briefs

Short takes from this week's tech news
October 03, 2005 03 Oct'05
How to break into a computer that is right at your fingertips

Stressing the importance of physical security, Joel Dubin explains how a hacker can bypass a BIOS password and break into a computer.
September 29, 2005 29 Sep'05
BlackBerry maker harvests 57% rise in profits

RIM, the manufacturer of the BlackBerry push e-mail mobile device, has posted a 57% jump in second-quarter profits as it fights off increasing competition in the market.
September 29, 2005 29 Sep'05
Find out how to bridge the communications gap

Communications between the business and IT will be the subject of the next meeting of the Computer Weekly 500 Club (CW500).
September 27, 2005 27 Sep'05
AMD cranks up dual-core speed

AMD has increased the speed of its dual-core Opteron server processors in an attempt to stay ahead of Intel in the market.
September 27, 2005 27 Sep'05
Big Blue updates IBM Director

IBM has unveiled IBM Director 5.10 to help companies manage complex IT environments more easily.
September 27, 2005 27 Sep'05
Intel promotes cool with more single-core Xeons

Intel has introduced more single-core Xeon processors, which consume less power and reduce overheating in datacentres.
September 27, 2005 27 Sep'05
Major suppliers combine in Itanium software push

A number of major companies have formed a partnership to speed up the development of software for servers equipped with Intel Itanium processors.
September 26, 2005 26 Sep'05
Financial advisers battle to file online returns

Thousands of independent financial advisers have spent the past 10 weeks battling to file online regulatory returns with the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
September 26, 2005 26 Sep'05
PDAs and mobiles left open to 'Bluesnarfing'

Businesses are at risk of losing confidential data to hackers asoffice workers leave their Bluetooth-enabled PDAs and mobile phones unsecured.
September 26, 2005 26 Sep'05
Marketing campaign can't mask difficult times for the national programme for IT

The government's Connecting for Health agency has launched a publicity campaign for IT modernisation of the NHS, but major questions remain unanswered
September 26, 2005 26 Sep'05
Gates to be guest speaker at BCS Elite Group event

Microsoft founder Bill Gates will be guest speaker at a specially convened meeting of the British Computer Society Elite Group of IT directors and senior user-oriented IT professionals.
September 26, 2005 26 Sep'05
Online shopping growth goes on as public sharpen computer skills

Online shoppers are starting to desert the High Street, according to a new BCS study - but it also shows that many people are being excluded from electronic services.
September 22, 2005 22 Sep'05
Sun pulls ahead on eight-core Niagaras

Sun Microsystems says it is ahead of schedule for delivering a high-end server chip with eight processor cores to speed up performance.
September 21, 2005 21 Sep'05
Apple unwraps internet groups service

Apple Computer has launched an internet groups service to rival those from the likes of Yahoo.
September 20, 2005 20 Sep'05
Intel plugs laptop power leaks

Intel has announced a new power technology to reduce battery power wastage and allow users to run laptops and other mobile devices longer.
September 20, 2005 20 Sep'05
Vodafone to surpass 3G network speeds

Vodafone says it plans to introduce data access technology that is faster than 3G to its networks early next year.
September 19, 2005 19 Sep'05
Doctors and nurses may not use national IT systems, studies show

Two independent studies of the health service's IT-based modernisation plan suggest that some costly systems may go unused by many doctors and nurses - a risk little mentioned by officials when the programme was launched in 2002.
September 19, 2005 19 Sep'05
BDO boosts workforce mobility with 3G system

Accountancy firm BDO Stoy Hayward is rolling out a £2m system to increase the mobility of its workforce and boost productivity. BDO's 2,500 partners and staff will be equipped with a range of products supplied by Orange and Research In Motion.
September 19, 2005 19 Sep'05
Sun unveils Opteron servers

Sun Microsystems has launched the first of its Galaxy servers, which use AMD Opteron processors rather than Sun's own Sparc chips.
September 19, 2005 19 Sep'05
Security is a culture thing, says Cisco

Network equipment supplier Cisco told the ISSA conference that creating a security culture is a more important factor in protecting an organisation from cyber attacks than earmarking a specific budget for IT security.
September 19, 2005 19 Sep'05
Spy vs. Spy

Excerpt from Chapter 6 of Spies Among Us: How to Stop the Spies, Terrorists, Hackers, and Criminals You Don't Even Know You Encounter Every Day.
September 16, 2005 16 Sep'05
Dell to phase out Itanium servers

Dell is phasing out its Intel Itanium-based servers, as it chooses to concentrate on lower-cost models.
September 15, 2005 15 Sep'05
Microsoft shows web design tools

Microsoft has unveiled a suite of website design and graphics software that gives .net developers a set of tools that rival those already available from companies such as Adobe and Macromedia.
September 14, 2005 14 Sep'05
Vodafone offers shared 3G laptop data card

Vodafone has launched a system to allow users of its 3G/GPRS Mobile Connect laptop data card to share their connection with up to four other users.
September 13, 2005 13 Sep'05
Product roundup: Security tools abound in wake of new Microsoft offerings

Here's a collection of this week's product and service announcements for small and midsized companies.
September 13, 2005 13 Sep'05
Publish reports on troubled tax credits IT system, demand MPs

MPs from the three main political parties have called for Gateway reviews of the tax credits system to be published after the Commons Public Accounts Committee released a highly-critical report on the scheme last week.
September 13, 2005 13 Sep'05
Your shout: Kneejerk reactions, thin clients save the world, and when is a crank a genius?

Readers' views on the week's news
September 13, 2005 13 Sep'05
Questions that could provide vital lessons for future major projects

Computer Weekly has put a series of questions to HM Revenue and Customs on issues arising from last week's Public Accounts Committee report into the administration of the tax credits scheme. We will analyse their replies in future issues. Here we ...
September 13, 2005 13 Sep'05
BDO adopts £2m mobile data system

Top five accountancy firm BDO Stoy Hayward is rolling out a £2m mobile data system to mobilise its workforce and increase productivity.
September 13, 2005 13 Sep'05
Plans into action

IT managers must provide clear usage policies and address issues of infrastructure, training and support if mobile operations are to run smoothly. John Kavanagh reports.
September 13, 2005 13 Sep'05
EBay to acquire Skype for up to £2.4bn

EBay is acquiring the world’s biggest voice over IP operator for up to $4.1bn (£2.41bn) to improve connectivity between buyers and sellers on its network.
September 12, 2005 12 Sep'05
Hidden dangers: Careless mobile use could jeopardise company data

Viruses are yet to become a major threat to mobile devices, but careless users and poor configuration could jeopardise company data. Helen Beckett reports
September 12, 2005 12 Sep'05
Sun launches first Galaxy servers

Sun has announced the first members of its new Galaxy server family, which use Opteron processors from AMD instead of Sun’s own Sparc processors.
September 11, 2005 11 Sep'05
VoIP turns up the heat on firewalls

New research shows that many organizations are increasingly concerned about VoIP security and plan to augment their firewalls within the next year, changing the landscape of the firewall market.
September 09, 2005 09 Sep'05
Intel maintains third-quarter revenue forecast

Intel is predicting third-quarter revenues of between $9.8bn (£5.34bn) and $10bn, in line with earlier estimates.
September 08, 2005 08 Sep'05
Cisco patches IOS flaw

A serious flaw in Cisco Systems’ switch software puts computer networks at risk of cyber attack.
September 07, 2005 07 Sep'05
Linux starting to deliver says Gartner

Linux is now an established enterprise operating system, but it still has to do more to convince users that it is suited for more demanding business areas, analyst Gartner has said in a report.
September 06, 2005 06 Sep'05
Performance per watt becomes growing issue in the datacentre

Power consumption in the datacentre has come under the spotlight following last month's Intel Developer Forum, where it was a key theme.
September 06, 2005 06 Sep'05
Newham benefits from strategic partner

A year has gone by since Richard Steel, head of ICT at Newham Borough Council, began a 10-year strategic partnership with Microsoft to refresh the council's IT infrastructure.
September 06, 2005 06 Sep'05
Automatic online fault reporting for printers

Canon has launched an automatic fault reporting service that sends incident reports from users' printers to its Japanese headquarters.
September 06, 2005 06 Sep'05
IT industry prepares to 'bop at the Palais'

The IT industry is gearing up for this year's Intellect ICT Industry Charity Ball, which was postponed to October 4 following the London bombings on 7 July - the day it was to have taken place.
September 06, 2005 06 Sep'05
Barnet social staff get mobile data sharing

Barnet Council has equipped more than 200 social workers with mobile devices for sharing data on the move.
September 05, 2005 05 Sep'05
Users warned of mobile virus threat

IT security consultancy F.Secure has issued an alert regarding a virus that targets mobile devices. Called Commwarrior-B, it affected one of F.Secure's clients in Scandinavia.
September 05, 2005 05 Sep'05
Extending perimeters

The news that, up until 2006, 70% of successful wireless local area network (WLAN) attacks will be because of the misconfiguration of WLAN access points and client software is disquieting on a number of levels.
September 02, 2005 02 Sep'05
Drowning detection system saves swimmer

A computer-aided detection system has helped lifeguards rescue a teenager from drowning at a swimming pool in Wales.
August 31, 2005 31 Aug'05
Canary Wharf to offer full Wi-Fi coverage

London business district Canary Wharf will go live with one of Europe's largest Wi-Fi zones, spanning a 97 acre site, at the end of September.