Samantha Perry
A new worm has hit the wires. Called SQL (Sequel), this little beauty (which caused havoc in the Asia-Pacific region over the weekend) is associated with the Microsoft SQL Server Monitor.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
AspenTech highlights R & D commitment
Zarina Parak, reporting from AspenTech Africa Conference, SA
The first ever AspenTech Africa Conference, currently taking place at the Wild Coast Sun, has highlighted the company's commitment to research and development.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
DiData locks down ICC World Cup Stadiums.
Iris Herz
As the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 approaches, one remembers the problems which occurred in 2002 with the United Cricket Board-Dimension Data (UCB-DiData) Multi-sales channel Ticketing System, when the Web site for purchasing ticket packages had to be shut down to alleviate system traffic for the ticket booth and call centre purchase channels.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Datacentrix to implement Microsoft Great Plains at SA National Parks
Datacentrix has almost completed the implementation of its Microsoft Great Plains business solution at SA National Parks (SANParks).
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Peribit reduces bandwidth needs
Nicolas Callegari, Computing SA
Peribit Networks yesterday introduced its range of sequence reducers, which aim to reduce the bandwidth need for companies running network-intensive applications.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Microsoft announces road map to enhance its BI platform
Microsoft SA today announced plans to extend its SQL Server business intelligence (BI) platform to include reporting capabilities. Microsoft expects to release a beta test version of the software in the first half of this year. Microsoft's intention to deliver enterprise reporting functionality demonstrates its commitment to bringing improved business insight to every employee, at every level.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Acer adopts new structure and strategy
Acer has transformed its business strategy to focus more on the sales, marketing and support of the Acer brand in Africa.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Acer adopts new structure and strategy
Acer has announced that it has transformed its business strategy to focus more on the sales, marketing and support of the Acer brand in Africa.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
FNB inContact reaches 100 000 user mark
First National Bank now has over 100 000 users for its free e-mail and SMS service, inContact. Launched a year ago, the free e-based messaging service enables FNB customers to keep up with transactions taking place in their accounts.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Prism and MTN strengthen ties
With the wave of m-commerce sweeping across the world, MTN, in conjunction with Prism, has decided to book front-row seats on the ride for its subscribers.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Users urged to crack down on the Slammer
UUNET SA has sent out a statement urging all customers who were affected by the MS-SQL Server Worm (also known as Slammer and Sapphire) to apply the appropriate patches to all copies of Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft Desktop Engine (MSDE) 2000 as this is the only way to eliminate the worm.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
No bid says ICASA
Samantha Perry
The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has recommended to the Minister of Communications that neither bidder be awarded the 51% Strategic Equity Partner (SEP) stake in the SNO (or Nowhere Network Operator as it has recently been named). ICASA has recommended that the SNO process continue without a SEP, and that the SEP stake be shelved until a ‘later date’, says ICASA chairperson Mandla Langa.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Oasis releases draft of free e-commerce data standard
David Legard, IDG News Service (Australia Bureau)
The industry-wide consortium Organisation for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (Oasis) has released the first draft of a royalty-free data representation standard for electronic commerce, the group said yesterday.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Bechtel buys $500 000 Spescom licence
Spescom Software, the US subsidiary of Spescom, today announced that Bechtel National has purchased a site licence valued at approximately $500 000.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Western Digital introduces "Drivezilla"
Western Digital has beefed up its offering with the introduction of Drivezilla, its 200GB capacity hard drive to the Caviar Special Edition product family.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Sun and Orcom build VAR partner base
Sun Microsystems and channel partner Orcom have announced the signing of new VAR partners. These include MB Worksoft, CapStone, Iocore, Global Makana, Datrix Solutions and Sybase, which will all now deploy Sun technology. This will be done by offering bundled solutions built on Sun.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
A learnership programme developed in line with the growing trends towards public-private partnerships has been launched in an effort to assist government to develop local competencies for the global market by equipping ICT professionals with practical business and people skills.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Iocore focusing on BEE
Iocore has announced the appointment of Innocent Khumalo to its executive committee. Khumalo heads up Iocore's sales and marketing and, the company says, his appointment marks a major step in Iocore's strategy of achieving black economic empowerment (BEE) status.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
BakBone and Sony enter into OEM agreement
BakBone Software has entered into an OEM agreement with Sony to provide customers with storage solutions designed for faster and more reliable network file-sharing and backup and recovery services.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Oracle and Nokia to collaborate
Oracle and Nokia have announced a joint initiative to install Oracle Collaboration Suite on Nokia mobile handsets, signalling the companies' intention to deliver integrated mobility solutions to enterprise workforces.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Syspro clinches R6,5m deal in Zimbabwe
Syspro has been awarded a R6,5m contract with Delta, to provide it with its new business enterprise solution.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Macromedia ColdFusion MX supports Sun One
Local Macromedia distributor and Web enablement specialist, Dax Data, has announced the immediate availability of an update to Macromedia ColdFusion MX for Sun Open Net Environment (Sun ONE) to support the Sun ONE Application Server 7.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Workforce Management forum launched
In an effort to raise the profile of workforce managers within the industry, a User Group for Aspect e Workforce Management software users has been launched.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Maxtec receives IBM top achiever award
Maxtec has been awarded IBM's top achiever award for 2002 at its black tie Business Partner Gala Dinner, held recently at Caesars Palace, to mark the end of IBM's African Business Partner Conference.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
UCS Software lands a R3,5m deal
UCS Software, part of the JSE Securities Exchange-listed UCS Group, has landed an export deal worth R3,5m.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
nVision IT chief appointed to Microsoft Regional Director Programme
Graham van Zijl, MD of nVision IT, has been appointed to be a member of the Microsoft Regional Director programme.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Oracle's HTB helps improve efficiency in hospitals
Oracle has released a new offering to the health sector which is aimed at enabling healthcare organisations to integrate disparate systems and create a central repository for patient information and clinical services.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
SMC Networks restructures sales and marketing
In the light of the restructuring of the marketing team that has been going on over the past year, SMC Networks has today announced the appointment of George Zervos as its new sales and marketing director for Europe and Africa.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Dell president says company is soul searching
Ashlee Vance, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)
Dell Computer is trying to replace its once soaring stock price with company pride, in a campaign to improve morale despite the sour economy, president and COO Kevin Rollins said last week.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Goldleaf commits to new SNO process
In the light of the new process announced by the Minister of Communications, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, to appoint a 51% Strategic Equity Partner (SEP) for the SNO, Goldleaf will no longer pursue plans to institute a legal review of Icasa's recommendation.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
SNO process outlined
Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri yesterday outlined her plans for the 51% stake in the SNO. As per her statement of 31 January 2003, the Minister will be exercising her powers relating to alternative methods of licensing as contained in Section 35 A (a) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as amended.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
IBM's Neil Woolley heads down under
Durban correspondent
Neil Woolley, territory manager at IBM East Coast, has left the company and is heading for Sydney, Australia to pursue his ICT career on that continent.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Monopoly rates hurt business, consumer (again)
While the Independent Communications Authority (Icasa), apparently reluctantly, approved Telkom's new tariff structure late last year, Communications Users Association of South Africa's Ray Webber says the latest rates provide possible evidence of the inflationary dirty tricks available to monopolies.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
WebTec appoints new CEO
Subscription-based software services company WebTec has announced the appointment of Paul Dinsmore as its CEO.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
SA Post Office settles case with BSA
The SA Post Office has been instructed to remove all traces of Network Associates' McAfee anti-virus software from its computers and pay the BSA an amount of R711 392 in respect of civil damages.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
IBM SPDE re-uses components
Telecommunications operators and content suppliers can take new services to market much more quickly and affordably if their technology architecture is designed to re-use components.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
PPS upgrades security with Symetrix.
Symetrix Information Technologies has recently replaced the legacy Checkpoint Firewall security system for the Professional Provident Society Insurance Company (PPS Insurance) to Cisco's PIX 515 Firewall. This implementation was prompted by PPS Insurance's need for an improved security system for its latest Virtual Private Network (VPN) infrastructure.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Fujitsu Siemens appoints RTI as Enterprise Partner
Risc Technology Integration (RTI) has been appointed to represent the Fujitsu Siemens Computers Primepower range in the enterprise market.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
MS Business Solutions partner develops business solution for wine industry
Cape Town-based Microsoft Business Solutions partner BS3 Technologies has developed a revolutionary new vertical business solution for the wine industry called AgriVision Wine using Microsoft Business Solutions Navision.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Sam's Soapbox: More channel shenanigans?
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Hitachi, Mitsubishi get approval for chip venture
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service (Tokyo Bureau)
Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric both received approval from their shareholders Thursday for the establishment of a joint venture semiconductor company that will take over much of the semiconductor operations of each company.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Sam's Soapbox: Any bidders?
After much deliberation we, at the 'Department of ICT Media', have decided on a 'no-bid' situation as to who should write the Editor's Comment today and left it up to the government to decide.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
EMC announces Celerra NS600 server
EMC has announced the EMC Celerra NS600 network server, combining in one integrated package Celerra's enterprise NAS features with the high availability of EMC CLARiiON storage systems.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Cisco lawsuit may have far-reaching implications
Cisco's lawsuit against Chinese company Huawei has raised a number of issues in the networking industry. Most particularly, both companies will find themselves tied up in what looks to be protracted and, most importantly, expensive litigation, both in terms of finance as well as management resources.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Sam's Soapbox:
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
ICL, Information Builders partner to target SA insurance industry
Seven out of the ten leading insurance companies worldwide now use Information Builders' WebFOCUS as their business intelligence tool.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
DDS to distribute Corel products
Direct Distribution Services (DDS) have been appointed as the official distributor of Corel products in southern Africa.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Microsoft's European Retail Application Developer (RAD) Awards 2003 Programme is officially open for entries.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
United Devices looks for smallpox cure with DoD
Ashlee Vance, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)
The US Department of Defence (DoD) has turned to grid computing specialist United Devices for a new project that will help scientists search for a cure for the smallpox virus.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Study: Slammer was fastest spreading worm yet
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service (Tokyo Bureau)
A just-completed study into the Slammer worm that hit the Internet a week ago has concluded what many people already suspected: Slammer represented a significant milestone in the evolution of worms and was by far the fastest spreading worm yet seen.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
IBM and partners provide on-demand BPO services
Juan Carlos Perez, IDG News Service (Latin-America Bureau)
In what it sees as a growing strategy, IBM announced today that it has linked up with a pair of partners to provide business process outsourcing services to two joint clients. In both instances IBM will provide technology hosting, and its partners will provide business software and services.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
UK govt. gets access to Microsoft source code
Stephen Lawson, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)
The UK government last week agreed to participate in Microsoft's Government Security Programme (GSP), which gives agencies access to Windows source code in an effort to help ensure their systems are safe, says Microsoft.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
RIAA site attacked again, FBI investigates
Scarlet Pruitt, IDG News Service (Boston Bureau)
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Secret Service are investigating the latest attack on the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)'s Web site, which has been offline for days.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
PM Tech in joint venture with Nigerian ICT specialist
PM Tech has signed a joint venture agreement with B2B Solutions, a Nigerian systems integration storage networking and ICT distribution specialist. In terms of the agreement, B2B will market PM Tech's SA developed products and services in Nigeria.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Handhelds fail to impress ICT managers
Lauren Thomsen-Moore, Computerworld Today (Australia)
Twin issues of cost and complex hook-ups to corporate systems make ICT managers reluctant to embrace mobile devices and leave the once-hot handheld market hurting as it lags on adoption rates.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Gateway Media Center PC 500
Mick Lockey, PC World.com (US)
What's hot: On the outside, Gateway's entertainment PC looks identical to the company's other black and silver boxes. Inside, the Media Center PC 500 is a multimedia tour de force.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Anti-terrorism draft could expand spying
Grant Gross, IDG News Service (Washington Bureau)
A proposal that a government watchdog group says is being circulated in the US Department of Justice would expand the electronic surveillance powers of law enforcement and spy agencies within US borders, and that is raising concerns from civil liberties advocates and at least one US senator.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Intel to launch Centrino on March 12
Joris Evers, IDG News Service (Amsterdam Bureau)
Intel's Centrino bundle of a chipset, processor and wireless LAN module for portable computers will be released on March 12, says an Intel spokesman in Europe.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Oracle Japan bids farewell to Heidi
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service (Tokyo Bureau)
Company loyalty among Japanese employees is well known but software and database vendor Oracle Japan yesterday said goodbye to a special employee who took that idea to new levels.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
CCIA complains to EU about Windows XP
Paul Meller, IDG News Service (Brussels Bureau)
A computer industry lobby group filed a complaint about Microsoft's Windows XP operating system to the European Commission antitrust department yesterday, as the European regulator nears the end of an investigation into earlier operating system products from the software group.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
IBM to expand blade server line
IBM will continue to build out its blade server line throughout the course of this year, adding faster processors to current systems and delivering a new design that packs more computing power in a smaller space.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
European cyber security agency planned
Paul Meller, IDG News Service (Brussels Bureau)
The European Commission proposed the creation of a Europe-wide network and information security agency on Monday.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Sun files opposition to MS appeal in Java case
Ashlee Vance, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)
Sun Microsystems made a filing to a federal appeals court yesterday laying out its objections to Microsoft's request for more time to include Java technology in Windows operating systems.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Vendors bolster IM, e-mail management
Cathleen Moore, InfoWorld (US online)
At the annual Lotusphere conference this week, third-party vendors unwrapped a bevy of tools designed to bolster management and performance of messaging products from IBM Lotus Software. Targeting Lotus' IM and e-meetings software, DYS Analytics introduced Collaboration Control for Lotus Sametime 3, a metrics reporting and analysis tool that provides ICT managers with network-level visibility into IM environments, according to Andrew Wolff, vice-president of product marketing at DYS Analytics.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Vendors aim for non-stop Linux
Phil Hochmuth, Network World Fusion (US)
Intel and Fujitsu have announced plans to develop high-availability Linux servers for running applications such as bank ATM systems and wireless phone networks.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
ContentBarrier X 10.0 now available
Dennis Sellers, MacCentral.com
ContentBarrier X 10.0, Web filtering software for Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, is now available from Intego. Announced at the recent Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco, the new version builds on the capabilities of the existing ContentBarrier.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Office 11 becomes Office 2003, second beta due soon
Joris Evers, IDG News Service (Amsterdam Bureau)
The next version of Microsoft's Office, now known as Office 11, will likely be called Office 2003 from the release of the second beta version early next month, according to sources familiar with Microsoft's plans.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Intel puts StrongArm on death row
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service (Tokyo Bureau)
Intel has given developers notice that its SA-1110 StrongArm processor will not be available for much longer.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Sega plans to merge with game maker Sammy
Staff reporter
Sega's Tokyo headquarters today announced plans to merge operations with Sammy, Japan's largest maker of pachinko and slot machines, after cutting its profit forecast for 2002 by 90%.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
SA proposal cheers open source advocates
John Yarney, IDG News Service/West Africa bureau
Local open source advocates are saying that a new ICT policy framework proposal that advocates the use of open source software would, if approved, go a long way toward encouraging local developers to create and sell new products.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
IBM to offer expanded subscription levels
Ed Scannell, InfoWorld (US online)
IBM next week will announce a wider range of subscription levels along with new support options for its developerWorks Toolbox subscription, which offers access to 1 000 IBM products and technologies that programmers can use to create Web services and applications.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Cisco's loss is Juniper's gain
Jim Duffy, Network World Fusion (US)
The worldwide router market declined by as much as 32% in 2002, according to recently released market share data.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
Features
MS at open source conference may cause protest
Grant Gross, IDG News Service (Washington Bureau)
A group of free software advocates plan to protest at a Washington conference designed to promote open source and free software to governments, because a representative from Microsoft is scheduled to speak there.
[Issue:Thirty (26-01-03 - 31-01-03)]
