European Tech Wire

European Tech Wire - Oct. 29, 2004

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EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 29, 2004
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To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o EICTA: Europe Risks Becoming Software "Plagiarism" Haven
o Ofcom: U.K. Overtakes Germany in Broadband Penetration
o EU Approves Acquisition of Nortel Assets by Flextronics
o University of Cambridge to Hold Research-Funding Fair
o Report: NTT DoCoMo in Talks to Bring i-Mode to U.K.
o Sportingbet to Acquire Paradise Poker for £162.5 Million
o EU Approves Acquisitions for T-Mobile and Slovak Telekom
o Briefly Noted: McAfee-Ireland Software Operations Centre,
Marvelous Entertainment-Bergsala-Rising Star Games, Anti-Scratch
Technology Breakthrough, Telecom Italia-Frankfurt Stock Exchange
_____________________________________________

o EICTA: Europe Risks Becoming Software Plagiarism Haven

Brussels -- The European Information and Communication Technology
Association (EICTA) announced this week that it has sent a letter to the
European Parliament warning that the EU would become a haven for
software "plagiarism" if Parliament does not approve a sufficiently
strong directive on patent protection for computer-implemented
inventions. "Europe is a prominent player in software-enabled
inventions in many areas such as healthcare, telecommunications,
mobile phones, cars, aviation and consumer electronics," EICTA wrote.
"Europe needs patents to maintain and strengthen its leadership."
EICTA said Europe risked losing market share to rivals that do not
invest in R&D, but simply copy European innovations. The association
also warned Parliament that a water-down version of the directive
would risk thousands of IT jobs and "seriously threaten" research and
development in Europe. EICTA represents a number of the largest IT
and telecommunications companies in the world, including Microsoft,
SAP, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Ericsson and Nokia.
http://www.eicta.org/Content/Default.asp?
_____________________________________________

o Ofcom: U.K. Overtakes Germany in Broadband Penetration

London -- According to a new report released on Friday by U.K.
communications and media watchdog Ofcom, the U.K. has overtaken
Germany in broadband penetration. As of June of this year, the U.K.
boasted approximately 7.5 connections for every 100 people, compared
to 15.8 in the Netherlands, 15.6 in Denmark, 12.1 in Sweden, 8.3 in
France, 6.7 in Germany, 6.4 in Portugal, 6.3 in Italy and 6.1 in Spain.
The report also found that more than 55% of U.K. households received
digital TV as of June 2004, and that mobile and data revenues
continued to exceed those for fixed calls and access in the second
quarter, with £2.9 billion and £2.8 billion reported, respectively. Lastly,
the report found that 84% of all fixed-line customers and 87% of
mobile customers in the U.K. said they were "satisfied" or "very
satisfied" with their overall level of service.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y2F3126A9
_____________________________________________

o EU Approves Acquisition of Nortel Assets by Flextronics

Brussels -- The European Commission on Friday approved a proposed
deal between Singapore-based Flextronics International Ltd. and
Canada-based Nortel Networks Corp. in which Flextronics would
acquire some of Nortel's manufacturing assets, employees and supply
chain activities. Under the terms of the agreement, Flextronics would
also acquire some of Nortel's assets and employees relating to hardware
and software design for optical networking products. Furthermore, the
companies have been allowed to enter into a four-year outsourcing
agreement in which Nortel will source all of its manufacturing
requirements from Flextronics. The Commission ruled that, "regardless
of the market definition, the transaction does not give rise to any
competition concern". Flextronics is currently the world's largest maker
of electronics for other companies; Nortel is North America's biggest
phone-gear maker.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U297526A9
_____________________________________________

o University of Cambridge to Hold Research-Funding Fair

Cambridge, England -- The Research Services Division (RSD) of the
University of Cambridge announced this week that it is organising the
first-ever Research Funding Fair. "RSD has created this fair to give
researchers the opportunity to meet funding organisations and to
exchange information on funders' strategies and schemes," said RSD
Director David Secher. Attendees will have the chance to learn about
available funding opportunities and get advice on the technicalities of
writing proposals. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet
with the following organisations, among others: the Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council, the European Commission, the
U.K. Research Office, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Council,
the British Academy and the Royal Society. The Research Funding Fair
will be held on Nov. 9
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2004102801
_____________________________________________

o Report: NTT DoCoMo in Talks to Bring i-Mode to U.K.

Amsterdam -- Reuters reported on Friday that NTT DoCoMo, the
largest mobile operator in Japan, is currently in talks with KPN, a
telecommunications firm based in the Netherlands, and mmO2, a U.K.-
based mobile operator, to introduce NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile
Internet service in the U.K. "We're in regular discussions with
DoCoMo," a KPN spokesman Marinus Potman told Reuters. "This
issue is on the agenda." Reuters said that the Japanese firm was seeking
to license its technology to mmO2 and renegotiate an exclusive
licensing contract with KPN, which introduced i-mode to Europe two
years ago. Neither DoCoMo nor mmO2 have commented on the report.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?B2B4526A9
_____________________________________________

o Sportingbet to Acquire Paradise Poker for £162.5 Million

London -- Sportingbet, a U.K.-based online casino, announced this
week that it has agreed to acquire Paradise Poker, a U.K.-based Internet
poker website, for £162.5 million. The acquisition stands to make
Sportingbet the largest online betting firm in the world. "This more
than doubles us in size," said Sportingbet CEO Nigel Payne. "If we
believed we were number one before, then we certainly are today."
Sportingbet said that it currently has more than 1.2 million customers, a
30% increase compared to July last year. Sports bets increased by 36%
over the same period, the company said. Paradise Poker, which boasts
more than 97,000 active players, is currently the third-largest poker
website in the world.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C3E4236A9
_____________________________________________

o EU Approves Acquisitions for T-Mobile and Slovak Telekom

Brussels -- The European Commission on Friday approved the
acquisition of Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (Polska Telefonica), a Poland-
based mobile phone operator, by T-Mobile International AG, the
wholly owned mobile unit of German telecommunications bellwether
Deutsche Telekom AG. Separately, the Commission also approved the
acquisition of EuroTel Bratislava, a Slovakian mobile network, by
Slovak Telekom, also a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom. Both deals
were examined and approved using the EU's simplified procedure for
"unproblematic cases".
http://europa.eu.int/comm/press_room/index_en.htm
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Cork, Ireland) McAfee, a California-based security software firm,
announced on Friday that it plans to open a new software-operations
centre in Cork to service international markets. The company said that
it planned to create more than 150 jobs in Cork over the next three
years. McAfee Chief Operating Officer Stephen Richards said his
company chose Ireland because of its technological capability,
workforce and "flexible operating environment". "This investment also
shows that Ireland remains the location-of-choice for leading-edge
technology companies and is in line with the Government's policy and
IDA's goal of attracting high-value, knowledge-based operations and
investments from companies like McAfee to Ireland," said Micheal
Martin, Ireland's Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G1D3126A9
http://www.mcafee.com/us/

(London) Marvelous Entertainment, a Japan-based games publisher,
and Bergsala AB, a Sweden-based publisher, announced on Friday that
they plan to form a joint venture in London. The new company, called
Rising Star Games, will distribute and publish video game software in
Europe, as well as acquire merchandise rights and develop video-game
software in-house in the future. Under the terms of the agreement,
Rising Star Games will be a consolidated subsidiary of Marvelous
Entertainment, while Bergsala will provide financial support, the
companies said. The new office will open next month.
http://www.bergsala.se/index.html

(London) NewScientist.com on Thursday reported on new anti-scratch
technology for CDs, DVDs and cell phone and music player screens
developed by Japanese chemists working at recording media
manufacturer TDK. In a test, a CD coated with the transparent polymer
coating withstood both scratches from a steel wool scourer and ink
from permanent marker pens. The coating consists of two separate
layers of fine silica particles to prevent scratches, combined with
fluorine-containing resins in each layer to repel ink marks. The new
coating will be used on upcoming high-capacity Blu-ray DVD discs
being developed by Sony, Philips, Panasonic and others scheduled to
launch next year.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I1F2256A9

(Frankfurt) Italian telecommunications firm Telecom Italia announced
on Friday that it has applied to remove its ordinary shares from the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The company said that both its ordinary and
savings shares would still be admitted to the official markets in Italy
and the U.S. and that they would be traded on the Borsa Italiana S.p.A.
and the New York Stock Exchange.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U253126A9

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European Tech Wire - Oct. 28, 2004

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EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 28, 2004
============================================
To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o U.K. Government Describes Open Source as "Viable" Option
o Phoenix IT Group Sets Date for IPO on London Stock Exchange
o Belgium's Clear2Play Raises 6.1 Million Euro in Third Round
o Report: Song-Download Market to Reach 4.5 Billion Euro by 2009
o Scotland Grants Atmel Corp. 946,000 Euro for Chip Development
o Handheld Devices Market Declines for Third Quarter in Row
o Briefly Noted: The Vodafone UK Foundation-U.K. Department for
Education and Skills-e-Learning Foundation, Amazon.co.uk-Borders,
Cavendish Kinetics-Peter Hanley, Eircom-Providence, Kodak-
European Closures
_____________________________________________

o U.K. Government Describes Open Source as "Viable" Option

London -- The U.K. Office of Government Commerce (OGC)
published a report on Thursday describing open-source software as "a
viable desktop alternative for the majority of government users",
including U.S. software giant Microsoft. "These pilots have provided us
with valuable evidence on open-source software," said OGC Chief
Executive John Oughton. "They show it could support government
bodies by offering efficient and cost-effective IT solutions." The report
comes after the Government ran a number of pilot tests with IBM and
Sun using open-source software. The OGC lists interoperability and
"significant" cost savings as the two major advantages of using Linux.
The report also said that savings could be particularly great with server
consolidation and by delaying hardware replacement.
http://www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?docid=2190
_____________________________________________

o Phoenix IT Group Sets Date for IPO on London Stock Exchange

London -- According to the Guardian, Phoenix IT Group Ltd., a
Northampton, England-based managed services provider, plans to make
its initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange on Nov.
11. With the flotation, Alchemy Partners, a U.K.-based buyout firm,
stands to earn as much as £54 million (78 million euro) -- more than 10
times its original investment. Phoenix said it would issue more than
11.4 million new shares and nearly 28 million existing shares and set
the issue price between 235 pence and 290 pence per share, which
would give the firm a market capitalization of approximately £144
million. The company also said that it would use the £26.5 million it
expects to raise from selling 44% of the company to reduce its debt.
Separately, Phoenix announced that it has appointed former Azlan
Group CEO Peter Bertram as non-executive chairman and former
Misys Managing Director John Sussens as non-executive director.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G3B8143A9
_____________________________________________

o Belgium's Clear2Play Raises 6.1 Million Euro in Third Round

Brussels -- Clear2Play, a Belgium-based software vendor specialising
in payments services for financial institutions, announced on Thursday
that it has raised 6.1 million euro in third-round financing. Quest for
Growth led the round with a 2-million-euro investment, with existing
investors Technology Venture Partners, Koceram and Clear2Pay's
management also participating. The Belgian firm said it would use the
funds to finance its growth strategy. "This is Quest for Growth's second
investment in an unquoted company since the start of this fiscal year,"
said Quest Management Managing Director Rene Avonts. "We are very
happy that our first investment in a private technology company since
2001 is with a high quality Belgian player."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E3EC523A9
_____________________________________________

o Report: Song-Download Market to Reach 4.5 Billion Euro by 2009

Paris -- According to a new report by research and analysis firm
Generator, the digital-song-download market in Europe will reach 4.5
billion euro by 2009, a figure that would account for about 40% of the
total recorded-music market. The report also predicted that the mobile
channel will soon figure largely as a sales vehicle for digital music.
"Depending on how the mobile operators play their hand, European
consumers could spend as much as 610 million euro on song
downloads during 2009, about 13.5% of the total, and ringtones will be
on top of that," said Generator Research Director Andrew Sheehy. To
encourage the successful use of the mobile channel, however, Europe
will first need to change its usage-based mobile data tariffs and adopt
flat-rate 3G tariffs similar to those introduced in Japan by DoCoMo and
KDDI, Sheey said.
http://www.biz-lib.com/ZGNDM.html
_____________________________________________

o Scotland Grants Atmel Corp. 946,000 Euro for Chip Development

Glasgow -- Atmel Corp., a California-based maker and designer of
advanced semiconductors, announced this week that it has received a
946,000 euro grant from the Scottish government to develop chips for
SmartCards. Atmel also said that it was currently in talks with
Scotland's Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace on plans to expand the
company's semiconductor manufacturing facility in East Kilbride.
"Since the East Kilbride business was purchased in 1999, we have
already doubled employment at the site," said Andy Bear, director of
operations at the facility. "The continued expansion of our business is
contrary to the industry trend and has been driven by Atmel's rapid
customer acceptance in key Smart Card markets."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?F245123A9
_____________________________________________

o Handheld Devices Market Declines for Third Quarter in Row

Framingham, Massachusetts -- Worldwide sales of handheld devices
suffered their third straight quarter of decline, according to statistics
just released by IDC, a technology market analysis firm. Shipments of
handhelds decreased by 4.6% over the prior three months and fell by
8.7% year-on-year to 2.1 million units. The research firm said
consolidation in the worldwide handheld-device market continues with
the exit of top vendors Sony and Toshiba from international
competition nearly complete. "Meanwhile, lower barriers to entry are
enabling companies with established core competencies in electronics
design and manufacturing to enter the market and quickly gain share,
although this share comes at the expense of margins in the face of a flat
or slightly shrinking market," the report said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?S5B2233A9
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) The Vodafone UK Foundation and the U.K. Department for
Education and Skills announced on Thursday that they have donated
223,000 euro to the e-Learning Foundation, a local charity that aims to
bridge the "digital divide" by ensuring that disadvantaged children have
access to technology, both in and out of school. The e-Learning
Foundation said the funds would be issued initially to schools in
Liverpool, East Sussex and the North East. "Children who have greater
access at home are getting better GCSE results, and we need to ensure
all children have equal career and job opportunities," said e-Learning
Foundation Chief Executive Valerie Thomson.
http://www.e-learningfoundation.com/

(London) Amazon.co.uk announced on Thursday that it has teamed up
with Borders to launch a new ecommerce website for Borders
customers in the U.K. The U.S.-based firm said the new Borders.co.uk
store would sell books, music, DVDs and videos using Amazon's
technology. Financial terms for the multi-year agreement, similar to the
one Amazon currently enjoys with book chain Waterstone's, were not
disclosed. Amazon also declined to comment on media speculation
about the possibility of a similar agreement with Marks & Spencer.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?M174213A9

(Cambridge, England) Cavendish Kinetics, a Cambridge-based
developer of embedded non-volatile memory technology, announced
this week that it has appointed Peter Hanley, the former president of
Novellus, as chairman of its board. Prior to joining Cavendish Kinetics,
Hanley worked for Applied Materials and Varian Associates. "It is
great to be involved with a MEMS technology with such potential,"
Hanley said. "Overcoming the CMOS compatibility issues has given
Cavendish Kinetics a real edge, and I look forward to assisting the
commercial adoption of Nanomech in embedded applications."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U3F5123A9

(Dublin) Irish telecommunications firm Eircom confirmed on Thursday
that Providence has placed more than 27 million of its shares, about
3.5% of the company, with institutional investors, a move that will reap
the venture capital firm about 42 million euro. Providence, which plans
to keep about 8 million Eircom shares, was one of the investors that
took the telecommunications company private in 2002. Eircom
refloated on the Dublin and London stock exchanges last March.
http://investorrelations.eircom.net/

(Rochester, New York) Continuing its transition from traditional
photography to digital imaging, U.S.-based Eastman Kodak announced
this week that it plans to close three photo finishing labs in Spain and
Norway. The company said it would pay about 20 million euro in
severance in connection with the closings. "We are just reacting to the
decline in demand for traditional products and doing what we said we
would do," Kodak spokesman Dave Lanzillo told the Associated Press.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O2A2353A9

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> Reach Beyond Your Local Metro Area for Event Attendees

Hosting a webinar or seminar with a broad geographic appeal? Post
your event announcement on all of the Tech Wire publications for one
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companies, many of whom attend seminars and networking events on a
regular basis. A 5- day ad across all 7 Tech Wires is $750. For more
info, go to http://www.potomactechwire.com/Event_Form.html

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===================================================

To subscribe, go to:
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Questions, comments, news tips, press releases. Send email to:
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Copyright: CapWire Inc. 2004

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European Tech Wire - Oct. 27, 2004

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 27, 2004
============================================
To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o EU Unconditionally Approves Oracle Takeover of PeopleSoft
o TDC Buys 18.6% of Song and Takes Control of Company
o Report: Israeli Tech Firms Raise €343 million in Third Quarter
o U.K. Game Developer Argonaut Games Goes Up for Sale
o Norwich-Based One Way Circuits Buys Circast Electronics
o Varian Inc. to Acquire Oxford-Based Magnex Scientific Ltd.
o Apple Releases Photo iPod and Launches European iTunes
o Briefly Noted: BT-Digital Music Kiosks, Wanadoo-OD2,
Abebooks.com-Iberlibro.com-Casa del Libro, Hughes Network
Systems-JSC SatLine, Openet Telecom-Brazil Office
_____________________________________________

o EU Unconditionally Approves Oracle Takeover of PeopleSoft

Brussels -- The European Commission has unconditionally approved
the plans of U.S.-based software giant Oracle to take over U.S. rival
PeopleSoft. EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti, whose five-
year tenure ends on Nov. 1, had been investigating the case for about a
year on concerns that the takeover would leave only two major players
in the European business software market: Oracle and Germany-based
giant SAP. On Tuesday, however, the Commission confirmed media
speculation leading up to the ruling that it would give Oracle the green
light. "After a detailed probe, the Commission has concluded that there
is an absence of sufficient evidence of competitive harm, especially in
view of the fact that large and complex companies … have other
suppliers to serve their needs beside Oracle, PeopleSoft and SAP," the
Commission said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K13F620A9
_____________________________________________

o TDC Buys 18.6% of Song and Takes Control of Company

Copenhagen -- TDC, a Denmark-based telecommunications operator,
announced on Wednesday that it has acquired an additional 18.6% of
Song Networks Holding AB, bringing TDC's total ownership of the
Sweden-based Internet access provider to 51.6%. The move means that
TDC has gained control of Song Networks and that it will be able to
carry out the firm's planned integration with TDC Solutions. TDC also
announced that it has offered to buy the remaining shares of Song that
it does not already own at 95 Swedish crowns (€10.53) per share,
valuing the company at more than 5.5 billion crowns (€609 million).
"We are very pleased to have gained control of Song," said TDC
President and CEO Henning Dyremose. "Even with this increased
offer, we feel convinced that we are making a good and strategically
sound investment." The deal still must be approved by local regulatory
authorities.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?N2DF360A9
_____________________________________________

o Report: Israeli Tech Firms Raise €343 million in Third Quarter

Jerusalem -- According to a new report by the IVC Research Centre,
113 Israeli technology firms raised approximately €343 million in the
third quarter this year, a 30% increase compared to €265 million raised
by 91 companies in second quarter. The average financing round per
company was nearly €3 million. Third-quarter figures were 53% higher
than those of the same quarter the year previous. "Third-quarter capital
raising was at its highest level in three years," said IVC Director Efrat
Zakai. "The current figures reflect the continuous recovery of the
Israeli high-tech sector, as well as an increase in levels of capital
invested by both Israeli and foreign investors." The report also found
that the total amount raised over the first three quarters of the year
showed a 43% increase compared to the same period the year previous.
http://www.ivc-online.com/
_____________________________________________

o U.K. Game Developer Argonaut Games Goes Up for Sale

London -- Argonaut Games, a U.K.-based video game publisher that
developed titles based on "Harry Potter" for Electronic Arts, announced
that it is seeking a buyer for the company. Last week, Argonaut laid off
about 100 employees and shut its studio in Sheffield, England. The
company also announced that CEO Jeremy San and board member
Aaron San had resigned. Argonaut's three subsidiaries -- Argonaut
Software Ltd., Just Add Monsters Ltd. and Morpheme Ltd. -- were
placed on sale by administrators last Friday. "Administrators are
confident that an early sale can be finalised," said David Rubin &
Partners. "An early sale is always desirable in this sector to minimise
any disruption to ongoing games development, to the staff and to the
customers." Fellow U.K. game developer Eidos, known for its "Tomb
Raider" franchise, has also put itself up for sale in recent weeks.
http://www.argonaut.com 
_____________________________________________

o Norwich-Based One Way Circuits Buys Circast Electronics

Norwich, England -- One Way Circuits, a U.K.-based printed circuit
board (PCB) maker, announced that it has acquired Warwickshire-
based Circast Electronics, currently the longest-established
manufacturer in the U.K. Financial terms for the deal were not
disclosed. "This is a very exciting and testing time for the electronics
industry," said Open Way Managing Director Mike Urry. "Japanese
manufacturers, who have traditionally dominated the market, are now
under pressure in Europe." One Way said that both firms would
continue to trade under their separate names and that the combined staff
of 130 would not be affected by the acquisition. The Norwich-based
firm also said that it intended to expand its business both in the U.K.
and abroad in the near future. Earlier this year, One Way acquired
GTN, a PCB manufacturer based in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.
http://www.circast.co.uk/news/261004.html
http://www.onewaypcb.com/
_____________________________________________

o Varian Inc. to Acquire Oxford-Based Magnex Scientific Ltd.

Oxford, England -- Varian Inc., a California-based maker of scientific
instruments, announced that it has agreed to acquire Magnex Scientific
Ltd., an Oxford-based superconducting magnet specialist, for €25
million (£17.4 million) in cash and assumed net debt. Under the terms
of the agreement, Magnex, which makes magnet systems for magnetic
resonance imaging and spectroscopy devices, will become a wholly
owned subsidiary of Varian. "Magnex's expertise in the design of MR
imaging magnets will help Varian grow in the areas of pharmaceutical
and medical research," said Varian CEO Garry Rogerson. "In addition,
since magnet technology is core to both MR imaging and high-
resolution NMR, having this capability further supports Varian's efforts
to expand the use of these information rich detectors." The deal is
expected to close within the next 30 days.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E26B230A9
_____________________________________________

o Apple Releases Photo iPod and Launches European iTunes

Cupertino, California -- Apple has introduced the iPod Photo, a new
version of its digital music player that features a high-resolution colour
screen and allows users to upload and view up to 25,000 digital
pictures. A 40GB version of the device, which can also display photos
on a TV, will sell for €390 (£271), while a 60GB model will cost €468
(£325). Apple also introduced the U2 iPod, a €273 (£190) black and red
20GB iPod featuring the band's engraved autographs on the back. The
company also launched a European version of its iTunes Music Store,
which will sell digital-music downloads to residents of Austria,
Belgium, Finland, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Portugal and Spain. The company already operates iTunes Stores in the
U.K., France and Germany. The European store will offer tracks in
each country for €0.99 and offer the same personal use rights as the
U.S. and U.K. stores.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041026/sftu122_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041026/sftu123_1.html 
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) The BBC Online reports that incumbent U.K.
telecommunications firm British Telecom (BT) is in talks with a digital
music content provider to offer digital music downloads to portable
players from its 70,000 pay phones in the U.K., beginning as early as
next year. The service, which would bill songs to a credit card or BT
charge card, would initially be offered through a network of 1,200 BT
information kiosks, which already offer Internet access. "The payphone
business needs to diversify and offer new services if it is going to
survive," BT spokesman Les King told the BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3752782.stm 

(Paris) Wanadoo, the Internet service provider (ISP) division of France
Telecom, announced that it has extended its contract with OD2, a unit
of Seattle-based Loudeye, to provide digital music services for
Wanadoo in Europe. Under the terms of the agreement, Wanadoo will
expand its online Music Clubs, offered in France and the U.K., into
Spain and the Netherlands in November. The company also launched a
promotion offering its unlimited on-demand streaming service for €8
(£5.55) for a limited time.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041026/sftu093_1.html 
http://www.od2.com 
http://www.wanadoo.fr

(Victoria, British Columbia) Online bookseller Abebooks.com
announced that it has acquired Spanish-language antiquarian bookseller
Iberlibro.com, adding two million new titles to its 60-million book
inventory. The announcement comes a week after Abebooks.com's
signing of a partnership with Spain-based bookstore chain Casa del
Libro, which added 250,000 titles to its online marketplace. Canada-
based Abebooks said its Spanish-language book inventory has grown
400% since February to nearly 3 million titles.
http://www.iberlibro.com 
http://www.abebooks.com/espanol 

(Germantown, Maryland) U.S.-based Hughes Network Systems, a
provider of broadband satellite systems and services, announced that it
has signed a deal to supply JSC SatLine, a new Ukrainian satellite
services company, with a satellite system, including a network
operations centre and remote terminals. JSC SatLine said that it would
provide broadband satellite services to customers throughout Ukraine.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041026/dctu046_1.html

(Reston, Virginia) Openet Telecom, an Ireland-based developer of
software for network operators with its U.S. headquarters in Reston,
Virginia, announced this week that it has entered the Latin American
market with a new office in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The office will be
headed by Michel Robert, the company said.
http://www.openet.com/2004_10_26.htm

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European Tech Wire - Oct. 26, 2004

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 26, 2004
============================================
To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o Cable & Wireless to Sell Japanese Unit IDC for $130 Million
o Sainsbury Unveils New U.K. Technology Strategy Board
o Dicom Group Plc to Pay $15.3 Million for Neurascript Ltd.
o Germany's zetVisions Raises $8.9 Million in Second Round
o Report: IT Hardware and Software Sectors Spend Most on R&D
o Report: Mobile-Device Market Grows 38% in Third Quarter
o Briefly Noted: Marconi Corporation Plc-Wimax Forum, Cinven Ltd.,
Nokia-Preminet-Starcut, UbiNetics-James Maclaurin, Sony-
"Walkman" Digital Music Players, Phones that See through Clothes?
_____________________________________________

o Cable & Wireless to Sell Japanese Unit IDC for $130 Million

London -- Cable & Wireless (C&W), the second-largest
telecommunications company in the U.K., announced on Tuesday that
it has agreed to sell its Japanese unit, C&W IDC, to Internet investor
Softbank Corp. for approximately 72.4 million pounds ($130 million).
"IDC is a sound business operating in a highly competitive market,"
said C&W CEO Francesco Caio. "However, given our strategy to focus
on businesses with strong positions in their primary markets, we have
concluded that IDC is not a good strategic fit with our business going
forward, although it has value to the right owner." Caio emphasised
that C&W's operations in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Macau and
India would not be affected by the sale of C&W IDC, Japan's fifth-
largest fixed-line communications firm. IDC, which last year reported
revenues of 255 million pounds ($414 million), provides voice, data
and IP services to business customers in Japan.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?W2C712E99
_____________________________________________

o Sainsbury Unveils New U.K. Technology Strategy Board

London -- U.K. Science and Innovation Minister Lord Sainsbury on
Tuesday announced the full membership of the Technology Strategy
Board as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) organisation in
charge of directing the U.K. technology and innovation strategy.
Sainsbury said the new business-led group would be responsible for
identifying and backing key technologies that would give the U.K. a leg
up on its European and international rivals. "The Board has the
expertise and DTI funding to make a significant contribution to
ensuring that the U.K. exploits fully the creativity and potential of its
technology base," Sainsbury said. "It represents a major boost for U.K.
innovation." The Board, which will have 320 million pounds ($589
million) of DTI funding at its disposal between 2005 and 2008, will be
chaired by Graham Spittle, the acting director of IBM's Hursley
Laboratory.
http://www.dti.gov.uk/technologyprogramme/
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/dti/
_____________________________________________

o Dicom Group Plc to Pay $15.3 Million for Neurascript Ltd.

Cambridge, England -- Dicom Group Plc, a Basingstoke, England-
based information-capture specialist, announced on Tuesday that it has
agreed to pay as much as $15.3 million for Neurascript Ltd., a
Cambridge-based provider of software that automates the recognition,
extraction and indexing of information from business documents and
forms. For the year ended March 31, Neurascript reported a net income
of 43,000 pounds ($79,145) and revenue of 1.3 million pounds ($2.4
million). Under the terms of the agreement, Dicom will pay $4.4
million initially and an additional $1.1 million in a year's time
depending on the achievement of a number of performance targets. Last
month, Dicom acquired Topcall International AG, a Vienna, Austria-
based IT services firm, for $48.4 million.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z41815E99
_____________________________________________

o Germany's zetVisions Raises $8.9 Million in Second Round

Frankfurt -- zetVisions, a Germany-based developer of business
intelligence solutions, announced on Tuesday that it has secured a 7-
million-euro ($8.9 million) second round of financing. Ventury Equity
led the round, in which Dietmar Hopp, the founder of German business
software giant SAP, also participated. Founded in 2001 by Horst
Ziegler, zetVisions sells business intelligence services and counts
Mensch und Maschine Software, IBG Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen
and Kasolvenzia among its larger customers. "The study by Private
Equity International shows that we are taking the right course," Ziegler
said. "This new capital now allows us to market our products
accordingly after we develop them." zetVisions placed in the Top 10 of
the 2004 CyberOne competition for German technology companies.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z38152E99
_____________________________________________

o Report: IT Hardware and Software Sectors Spend Most on R&D

London -- According to a research and development (R&D) report
released earlier this week by the U.K. Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), the international IT hardware, software and
telecommunications sectors spent more last year on R&D -- about $102
billion -- than any other sector. The DTI's annual Research and
Development Scoreboard found that IT hardware accounted for the
lion's share of spending (20%), notwithstanding the fact that overall
spending decreased by 6% compared to the year previous. R&D
spending in the software sector in 2003 increased by 8% compared to
2002, while spending in telecommunications increased by 6%, the DTI
said. As far as companies were concerned, Finland's Nokia and IBM
spent the most last year -- about $5 billion each -- followed closely by
Microsoft ($4.6 billion), Intel ($4.3 billion) and Ericsson ($4 billion).
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z1C921E99
_____________________________________________

o Report: Mobile-Device Market Grows 38% in Third Quarter

Paris -- According to a report released by market analysis firm IDC, the
Western European mobile device market (namely smartphones and
PDAs) grew by 38% in the third quarter of this year. More than 1.8
million units were shipped in the third quarter, compared to 1.3 million
units in the same period last year. The report said the market was
largely driven by Series 60-based smartphones and RIM Blackberry,
which shipped approximately 120,000 units in Western Europe in the
quarter. As far as companies were concerned, Finland's Nokia
increased its market share from 43% to 45%, followed by Hewlett-
Packard, which increased its share from 11% to 13%, and
SonyEricsson, which increased its share from 8% to 9%.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?B2EA52E99
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) Marconi Corporation Plc, a U.K.-based telecommunications
equipment firm, announced this week that it has agreed to join the
Wimax Forum, which is developing wireless equipment that is
expected to carry data a distance of 50 kilometres at speeds of up to
75mbps. With the news, Marconi joins the likes of Intel, Proxim,
Nokia, Lucent, Nortel, Cisco, Siemens and Alcatel. "With companies
like Marconi, the Wimax Forum is able to represent all areas of the
wireless industry in bringing standards-based broadband wireless
access to the world," said Wimax Forum President Ron Resnick. The
first Wimax connectivity products are expected in Europe next year.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y2E522E99

(London) Cinven Ltd., a U.K.-based private-equity firm, announced
this week that it has appointed five new executives to its units in
London and Frankfurt. Valerio Massimo, previously of TDR Capital,
joins Cinven in London as a principal. Edward David, previously of
CSFB, joins the firm in London as an associate. Christoph Hobo, who
worked for UBS Investment bank in London, has been appointed to
Cinven Frankfurt as an associate, while Mark Taylor, who worked for
Boston Consulting Group, joins as an associate in Cinven's London
office. Supraj Rajagopalan, who also worked for the Boston Consulting
Group, joins Cinven in London as an associate.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I1D621E99

(San Francisco) Finnish mobile developer Nokia announced the launch
of Preminet, a worldwide wireless-content distribution service for
mobile network operators. The service includes a master catalogue of
games, ringtones, applications and other content, as well as a service
delivery platform. Preminet will offer Java and Symbian applications
through a single channel to mobile operators worldwide. Nokia said
mobile media publisher Starcut would offer its premium entertainment
content, from providers including Universal Studios and Warner Music
Group, through the Preminet service.
http://www.starcut.com 
http://www.nokia.com/preminet 

(Cambridge, England) UbiNetics, a U.K.-based 3G mobile terminal and
test and measurement firm, announced on Tuesday that it has appointed
James Maclaurin, a chartered accountant with more than 12 years of
experience in the telecommunications and manufacturing sectors, to the
board of directors as its new chief financial officer. Prior to joining
UbiNetics, Maclaurin was an independent financial consultant for
KPMG and held senior financial-management positions at AMEC,
GEC and Marconi in the U.K., the U.S., Europe and Asia.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?N27651E99

(London) Sony has launched two new digital music players in Europe
under its "Walkman" brand, which for the first time feature support for
the ubiquitous MP3 format. The $300 NW-E99 features a 1GB flash
memory card, and the $250 NW-E95 will offer a 512MB flash card.
While offering less storage capacity than hard-drive-based models from
Apple and others, Sony said its new players -- both smaller than a
credit card -- offer 70 hours of battery life. The company has no plans
to release the new MP3 players in the U.S. or Asia.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?M25462D99 

(London) Silicon.com has reported that Tokyo-based wireless
application developer Yamada Denshi is selling an accessory that
Vodafone camera-phone owners in Japan can reportedly use to see
through people's clothes. The $184 infrared night vision filter, released
to aid picture-taking in dark settings, was found to have the unexpected
side effect, in the right circumstances, of enabling users to see through
clothes and is reportedly "particularly effective on dark bikinis".
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K1E045E99

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European Tech Wire - Oct. 25, 2004

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 25, 2004
============================================
To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o EU to Approve Oracle-PeopleSoft Merger, Reports Say
o Quintet of U.K. IPOs Raises $1.6 Billion in Third Quarter
o Report: U.K. Leads Europe in FDI for First Half of 2004
o Swedish Systems Firm ServiceFactory Raises $7 Million
o Report: R&D Spending "Strengthening" U.K. Economy
o Liberty to Acquire Telenet Stake in Belgium's Callahan
o Report: U.K. Accounts for Most M&A Activity in Europe
o Briefly Noted: Naked News-European Service, easyMobile-
Dutch Launch, INPUT-U.K. Government, Transkaryotic
Therapies-TKT Europe
_____________________________________________

o EU to Approve Oracle-PeopleSoft Merger, Reports Say

Brussels -- According to media reports, EU regulatory officials meeting
in Strasbourg, France, are expected to approve the $7.7-billion hostile
takeover of U.S.-based software company PeopleSoft by rival Oracle as
early as Tuesday of this week. "I will make a proposal on (Tuesday)
and will not elaborate on what it will be," said EU Competition
Commissioner Mario Monti last week. The European Commission had
been expected to announce its ruling on Nov. 9, but the decision was
moved up by two weeks as Monti is set to step down at month's end.
The merger, which has been under EU investigation for almost exactly
a year and has already been approved by antitrust authorities in the
U.S., would create two major players for the European business
software market: Oracle and German giant SAP.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U2E025C99
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041025/323/f57ro.html
_____________________________________________

o Quintet of U.K. IPOs Raises $1.6 Billion in Third Quarter

London -- A new report released by KPMG on Monday shows that five
initial public offerings (IPOs) were reported in the U.K. in the third
quarter of this year, raising a total of 878 million pounds ($1.6 billion).
Notable technology IPOs this year included Virgin Mobile (138 million
pounds); e2V technologies (76 million pounds), a supplier of RF,
microwave and sensing components and sub-systems; and Paypoint (30
million pounds), an electronic-payment firm. The figures bring this
year's total to 12 IPOs raising a total of 2.1 billion pounds. Only three
IPOs, raising a total of 1.4 billion pounds, were reported at this time
last year. "Although 2004 has been better than 2003, it is still a nervous
market," said Neil Austin of KPMG Corporate Finance. "Only quality
companies are putting their heads over the parapet, and even then there
is often considerable debate about pricing, with issue prices very often
being at a discount to valuations which were indicated initially." Austin
went on to say that he felt there was no reason to believe the situation
would improve in the fourth quarter or next year.
http://www.kpmg.co.uk/news/detail.cfm?pr=2076
_____________________________________________

o Report: U.K. Leads Europe in FDI for First Half of 2004

London -- The latest European Investment Monitor has found that the
U.K. was the largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in
Europe in the first half of this year. Researched by Oxford Intelligence
on behalf of Ernst & Young, the report also said that the U.K. improved
its lead considerably compared to the other countries in the Top 5:
France, Germany, Russia and Spain. The report found that the U.K.
receives most of its investment from the U.S., while France's growth is
"largely accounted for through 'intra-Europe' investment". Oxford
Intelligence said there were 453 investments in the U.K., up from 370
last year, while in France there were 313 investments, up from 254 over
the same period. "The results so far for 2004 show a return to
substantial growth, following several years of decline in inward
investment," said Ernst and Young partner Marc Lhermitte. "2003
seems to have been a real turning point."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?J28E25B99
_____________________________________________

o Swedish Systems Firm ServiceFactory Raises $7 Million

Stockholm -- ServiceFactory, the largest European seller of Internet
access and service management systems, announced that it has raised
5.5 million euro ($7 million) in venture capital financing. The round
was led by POD Holding, with existing investors BrainHeart Capital
and TeliaSonera also participating. ServiceFactory said the round,
which brings its total funding since 1999 to more than 10 million euro,
was completed during the summer. The Swedish firm said it would use
the funds to continue its expansion in the Asia Pacific region and in
North America. "We welcome POD Holding as a new investor in
ServiceFactory at a time of increasing market growth," said
ServiceFactory Chairman Jan Stenberg. "This additional funding
increases our ability to pursue new market opportunities, strengthen our
board of directors and actively develop new segments in close co-
operation with existing and new partners."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C27016C99
_____________________________________________

o Report: R&D Spending "Strengthening" U.K. Economy

London -- According to a new report released on Monday by the U.K.
Department of Trade and Industry, research and development (R&D)
spending by the largest companies in the country declined by 1% last
year to 16.6 billion pounds ($30.5). Notwithstanding the decrease, the
Research and Development Scoreboard said that analysis of the
spending showed that "vigorous" growth and investment by mid-range,
"R&D-active" companies is strengthening the U.K. economy. "Growth
is not just in sectors where the U.K. is strong, such as pharmaceuticals
and health, but also where the U.K. has traditionally been weaker, such
as software and IT hardware," the report said. The report also found
that the U.K. software sector has improved its "R&D intensity" from
4.9% to 6.8%, helping the country to "close the gap" with the
international software sector.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L2CF36B99
_____________________________________________

o Liberty to Acquire Telenet Stake in Belgium's Callahan

Brussels -- Liberty Media International Inc., a U.S.-based cable and
media giant, announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire
preferred and common equity in Callahan Associates Holdings
Belgium (CAHB) -- a unit of Cable Partners Europe -- from Belgian
cable company Telenet. Liberty Media said its net cash investment in
the deal -- which will make it the control shareholder of CAHB --
would be $23 million. "Telenet's management and shareholders have
built a well-run cable operation that is successfully delivering video,
data and voice services throughout the Flanders region in Belgium,"
said Liberty Media President and CEO John Malone. "We are very
pleased we were able to constructively restructure (Cable Partners
Europe) so that we can work together with the management team and
other shareholders in support of the continued success and growth of
the business." Liberty Media said that it expects the deal to close by
year's end.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041025/nym075_1.html
_____________________________________________

o Report: U.K. Accounts for Most M&A Activity in Europe

Cambridge, England -- A new report released by Regent Associates
shows that the U.K. leads the rest of Europe when it comes to IT
merger and acquisition (M&A) activity. In the third quarter of this year,
the U.K. accounted for 28% of the overall 1,742 M&A deals reported
in Europe. The Nordic region, which reported 100 deals, came in a
distant second to the U.K., which reported 180 deals. The report
attributed the wide disparity between the U.K. and the Continent
mostly to "cultural issues". "Many European countries are undergoing a
cultural change … for example, until recently, it was regarded as a
failure in Germany to sell your business," said Regent Associates CEO
James Calvert. "In the U.K., (mergers and acquisitions) are just a
function of the capital market." The increased willingness of private
equity and venture capital firms to invest over the last two to three
years has also been a factor in the increase, the report said.
http://www.regent.co.uk/
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) Naked News, a company that broadcasts "naked news" to
mobile phones, recently announced that it plans to launch its service in
Europe. The Canada-based TV and Internet firm currently claims a
potential weekly TV audience of 34 million in the U.S. alone. "Naked
News is the most successful cross-over from the Internet to television
ever," said Naked News Executive Producer David Warga. "We will
begin with daily segments in the areas of News, Sports, Entertainment
and possibly Weather." The company did not specify in which
countries or languages the service would be launched, but it did say that
it would offer a programme "customised for the broader European
audience".
http://makeashorterlink.com/?W2BE12B99

(Amsterdam) According to a report by Reuters, discount airline easyJet
founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou is planning to launch the new easyMobile
cut-rate mobile service in the Netherlands. The report said the Dutch
service would be launched within the next few months, with launches
in 11 other European countries to follow soon thereafter. Haji-Ioannou
told Dutch news daily De Telegraaf that he was in talks with several
parties about purchasing call minutes from network operators, but he
declined to name the possible partners for the project, Reuters reported.
EasyMobile is a partnership between the Easy Group and TDC, a
Denmark-based telecommunications firm.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?A3A326C99

(Reston, Virginia) Virginia-based INPUT, a provider of government
market intelligence, announced an expansion of its government
database subscriptions for the U.K. central government market. The
company is now offering a web-based database of qualified IT
opportunities and contacts for the U.K. central government, in addition
to its existing database covering the U.K. local government market.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C56823899

(Cambridge, Massachusetts) Transkaryotic Therapies (TKT), a
Massachusetts-based biopharmaceutical company, announced that it
has completed the acquisition of a final 20% equity interest in its TKT
Europe subsidiary for $61 million. TKT now owns 100% of the
European business. TKT formed TKT Europe with the primary
responsibility of marketing, selling and distributing its enzyme
replacement therapy for the treatment of Fabry disease.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y1CB21B99

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European Tech Wire - Oct. 22, 2004

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 22, 2004
============================================
To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o FFII-UK Launches Campaign against Patent Directive
o Report: Top German Political Parties Oppose Software Patents
o Norway's Mobile Media Company Buys Telenor Interactive
o Equant Agrees to Sell Radianz to Reuters for $110 Million
o Atos Origin Sells Australian Operation to Fujitsu Corp.
o Bristol University Start-Up Argelcom Secures $456,000
o "Google in a Box" Launched in U.K. and Continental Europe
o Briefly Noted: T-Mobile-Microsoft-MDA III, BT Group-
T-Mobile-Wi-Fi Roaming Agreement, Memscap-Optogone,
Danaher Corporation-Linx Printing Technologies
_____________________________________________

o FFII-UK Launches Campaign against Patent Directive

London -- The U.K. Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure
(FFII-UK) announced this week that it has launched a campaign to
raise awareness about the dangers of software patents. Dubbed Protect
Innovation, the campaign is inviting testimonies and opinions from
U.K. companies that will be compiled and submitted to the U.K.
Department of Trade and Industry later this year. Opponents of the
directive on software patents, which is currently being weighed by the
European Parliament, fear that companies will be drawn into a
patenting race and that funds would be subsequently withdrawn from
research and development budgets. The FFII-UK said the software
patent directive would be especially harmful for small U.K. companies
for those reasons. "This is not an abstract issue or one solely relevant to
the software sector," said FFII-UK spokesman Rufus Pollock. "With
the large and growing role that software plays in the U.K., protecting
innovation in this area from the threat of patents is essential to a strong,
growing and resilient economy."
http://protectinnovation.ffii.org.uk
_____________________________________________

o Report: Top German Political Parties Oppose Software Patents

Frankfurt -- ZDNet UK reported on Friday that Germany's four main
political parties have joined the fight against the proposed European
software patent directive. The main opposition Conservative Party
earlier this week introduced to the German Parliament a motion that
called for a number of changes to the proposed law, and the country's
three other main partners have subsequently thrown their support
behind the motion, ZDNet said. "This is great news and will probably
mark a turning point for the EU Council," Florian Müller, director of a
newly launched campaign against the proposed directive, told ZDNet.
"Germany had a key role in the bogus compromise in May, and now
the German Parliament has shown a broad consensus against software
patents." Müller is the spokesman for an anti-patent group comprising
Linux and open-source provider Red Hat, Swedish open-source
software firm MySQL AB and German Internet firm 1&1.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?W38A52799
_____________________________________________

o Norway's Mobile Media Company Buys Telenor Interactive

Oslo -- The Mobile Media Company, a Norway-based provider of
wireless games, interactive entertainment services and mobile
marketing applications, announced on Friday that it has acquired U.S.-
based Telenor Interactive. Mobile Media, which serves customers in
more than 30 countries and boasts mobile connectivity to more than
500 million subscribers in Asia, Europe and North America, said the
new consolidated company would operate under the Mobile Media
brand. "We are delighted to add Telenor Interactive to our portfolio,"
said Mobile Media CEO Karsten Hauge. "They have become a
recognised leader in the provision of reliable and creative mobile
services to North American media and entertainment groups, enterprise
companies and consumer brands." Financial details for the deal have
not been disclosed.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?H16A62799
_____________________________________________

o Equant Agrees to Sell Radianz to Reuters for $110 Million

London -- Equant NV, a Dutch data services provider owned by France
Telecom, announced on Friday that it has agreed to sell its 49% stake in
Radianz to fellow shareholder Reuters Group Plc for $110 million in
cash. The deal is expected to be completed by year's end, Equant said.
Separately, Reuters on Friday confirmed its intention to sell the entirety
of New York-based Radianz to BT Group, the incumbent U.K.
telecommunications firm, for approximately $183 million. The deal
between Reuters and BT is still subject to due diligence, regulatory
approvals and the negotiation of definitive agreements, the companies
said. That deal is expected to be completed by the first quarter of next
year.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D26F52799
_____________________________________________

o Atos Origin Sells Australian Operation to Fujitsu Corp.

Paris -- Atos Origin SA, a France-based IT services firm, announced on
Friday that it has agreed to offload its Australian operation to Fujitsu
Corp., currently the seventh-largest IT services provider in Australia.
Under the terms of the acquisition, which includes a Melbourne-based
data centre that specialises in the delivery of managed business
application services, Atos Australia Managing Director Jean-Pierre
Deruddere will join Fujitsu as executive general manager of Enterprise
Solutions. Financial details for the deal were been disclosed. Atos said
its decision to sell the unit was part of its plan to reduce the company's
debt load, which fell from 700 million euro ($848 million) at the end of
last year to 676 million euro at the end of June. The company said it
expects that figure to drop below 550 million euro by year's end.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?N2EF12799
_____________________________________________

o Bristol University Start-Up Argelcom Secures $456,000

Bristol, England -- Argelcom, a University of Bristol start-up company,
announced on Friday that it has received 250,000 pounds ($456,000) in
a financing round led by venture-capital firm Quester. The firm said it
would use the funds to recruit sales and marketing staff to
commercialise its version of identity based encryption (IBE), an
encryption system that requires minimal infrastructure and is easily
distributed. "The potential to spread and distribute this (technology) is
just vast," said Argelcom CEO Andy Dancer. "It can roll itself out as
someone needs to use it." Argelcom has already received the same
amount in seed funding from the Sulis Fund, a joint venture between
the universities of Bristol, Bath and Southampton.
http://www.argelcom.com/
_____________________________________________

o "Google in a Box" Launched in U.K. and Continental Europe

Paris -- Google announced on Friday that it has begun to sell its Google
Search Appliance (GSA), dubbed "Google in a Box", in the U.K. and
Continental Europe. Google in a Box is an integrated hardware and
software device that allows large organisations and companies to
deliver Google-quality search results from their intranets and public-
facing websites, the company said. Google said Morgan Stanley, the
British Library and the United Nations are already using the device.
"Compared to our web search, the GSA remains a relatively small part
of the business, but it has still sold faster than any other enterprise
search vendor," said Dave Girouard, general manager of Goggle's
enterprise unit.
http://www.google.co.uk/press/pressrel/gsa_uk.html
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Frankfurt) T-Mobile, the wireless unit of Deutsche Telekom,
announced on Friday that it has teamed up with U.S.-based software
giant Microsoft to offer in the U.K. the MDA III, a Windows-based
Pocket PC Phone that provides a complete "office in your pocket". The
device will come equipped with a QWERTY keyboard and have Wi-Fi,
GPRS, GSM and Bluetooth capabilities. "By combining the expertise
of T-Mobile and Microsoft, we have created an integrated Wi-Fi,
GPRS and 2G device to give customers fast, simple and reliable access
while on the move," said T-Mobile UK Managing Director Brian
McBride. The MDA III, which retails in the U.K. for 279.99 pounds
($510), went on sale this week.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?A54723799

(London) U.K.-based telecommunications giant BT Group announced
on Friday that its Openzone subsidiary has entered into an agreement
with T-Mobile, the wireless unit of German telecommunications firm
Deutsche Telekom, that will allow both companies' customers to access
both Wi-Fi networks in the U.S. and Europe. Under the terms of the
deal, customers of T-Mobile and BT will be able to use both Wi-Fi
networks in the U.K., while BT will gain access to T-Mobile's networks
in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and the U.S.
The companies expect the roaming service, which will cover more than
10,000 hotspots worldwide, to be available in early November.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L1C646799

(Durham, North Carolina) Memscap, a provider of micro-electro-
mechanical systems (MEMS) technology, which has its U.S.
headquarters in Durham, announced this week that it has acquired
Optogone, a France-based developer of optical network components
using liquid crystal technology. Optogone is a spin-off from the French
"Ecole Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications-Bretagne"
(ENST) and France Telecom. Terms of the deal include about 12.9
million shares of Memscap and $4.8 million. Memscap said the
acquisition would consolidate its research and development operations
in France.
http://www.memscap.com.
http://www.optogone.com.

(London) Washington DC-based Danaher Corporation announced on
Friday that it has made a $158-million offer for St. Ives, England-based
Linx Printing Technologies, a supplier of non-contact coding and
marking equipment based on inkjet and laser technologies. Danaher,
which designs, manufactures and markets industrial and consumer
products, said the deal was still subject to shareholder approval and
other customary conditions. Linx Printing Technologies is quoted on
the London Stock Exchange.
http://www.danaher.com/news/news_detail.asp?key=149

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European Tech Wire - Oct. 21, 2004

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 21, 2004
============================================
To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o Firms Launch Campaign against European Software Patents
o European Commission Drops Legal Proceedings against France
o Industri Kapital to Acquire Eltel Networks for $239 Million
o Scotland Launches SME "Technology Transfer" Programme
o Report: Welsh IT Sector Growing Faster than TechMARK
o U.K. Game Developer Lionhead Studios Raises VC Funding
o Northbrook Technology to Expand Operations in N. Ireland
o Briefly Noted: Strathdon Investments-Peter Cowley, TTP Ventures-
David Connell, Visual Networks-European Headquarters, Swatch
Paparazzi-Microsoft MSN Direct
_____________________________________________

o Firms Launch Campaign against European Software Patents

Paris -- Linux and open-source provider Red Hat, together with
Swedish open-source software firm MySQL AB and German Internet
firm 1&1, on Thursday launched a campaign to fight the EU's proposed
software law. Spearheaded by Florian Müller of SWM Software-
Marketing GmbH, the group argues that a software patent law would
have numerous negative effects on the European market and that such
patents stifle innovation and are used for anti-competitive purposes.
"This is the first time that a group of companies (in Europe) has gotten
together to fight against the idea of software patents in general," Müller
said. "The issue needs to be solved at the political level." Müller also
pointed out that organisations such as Deutsche Bank Research,
PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Kiel Institute for World Economics
have also pointed out the negative implications of software patents for
Europe. The EU is currently deliberating a software patent directive. In
May, the EU Council announced a political agreement on a directive
that would set up a software patent regime similar to that in the U.S.
http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/en/m/intro/index.html
_____________________________________________

o European Commission Drops Legal Proceedings against France

Brussels -- The European Commission on Thursday announced that it
has ended legal proceedings against France for discriminating against
suppliers of telecommunications services on cable networks. The
Commission announced on June 15 that it was taking France to the
Court of Justice for maintaining a special authorisation scheme for the
supply of cable telephony services that penalised cable operators. Since
June, however, France has amended the legislation and adopted the
new Law on Electronic Communications. "The Commission has noted
with satisfaction the new provisions introduced by France and has
decided to terminate the proceedings initiated before the Court," the EC
said in a statement. Even so, the Commission said it would nevertheless
examine "very carefully" the decrees currently being prepared in
France, as well as the renegotiation of the agreements between the
cable operators and local authorities.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L16325599
_____________________________________________

o Industri Kapital to Acquire Eltel Networks for $239 Million

Oslo -- Industri Kapital, a private equity firm based in the Nordic
region, announced on Thursday that it has agreed to acquire Nordic IT
firm Eltel Networks Oy for 190 million euro ($239 million). Industri
Kapital said it planned to combine Eltel Networks with its portfolio
company Swedia Networks to create the market leader in Northern
Europe for installation and maintenance of infrastructure for electricity
and telecommunications. The new group, which will still be named
Eltel Networks, will be headed by Tuomo Rönkkö, Eltel's current chief
executive officer. "Swedia has gone through a major restructuring
process and is now well positioned for the future," said Swedia CEO
Jan Sjöqvist. "The timing is excellent to further strengthen the business
by combining Swedia and Eltel." Pending approval from local
competition authorities, Industri Kapital said it expected to close the
transaction by mid November.
http://www.eltelnetworks.com/sivu.php?lid=814&lan=1
_____________________________________________

o Scotland Launches SME "Technology Transfer" Programme

Edinburgh -- Scottish Enterprise announced on Thursday that it has
teamed up with the Scottish Optoelectronics Association to set up a
"technology transfer" programme that aims to move research and
development from universities into small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs). Together with the European Regional Development Fund and
the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise will provide about 500,000
pounds ($914,000) to kick-start the three-year programme. "What we
are trying to build is a step ladder to help SMEs develop world-beating
technology through partnerships with Scotland's higher education
institutions," said Scottish Optoelectronics Association Chief Executive
Chris Gracie. Gracie said the programme would make it easier for
SMEs to get from the idea stage to applying for grants -- a "big
commitment for a small operation".
http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/
_____________________________________________

o Report: Welsh IT Sector Growing Faster than TechMARK

Cardiff, Wales-- A new report by the Welsh Development Agency
(WDA) shows that the 10 largest companies in the Welsh software and
IT services sector boast a combined potential market value of 709
million pounds ($1.3 billion) and are growing seven times faster than
techMARK-listed companies. The report found that the Welsh
companies in question grew 27.5% annually, compared to the 3.9%
annual growth rate reported by techMARK firms. The WDA attributed
the marked difference to high innovation in the Welsh IT sector and
that Wales is especially "conducive" to technology start-ups. "This
research demonstrates the real value of Welsh software and IT services
companies," said the WDA's Neil James. "Over the past few years,
despite difficult trading conditions, the sector in Wales has grown
rapidly and is now playing a significant part in the strategic
development of the Welsh economy and the U.K. economy as a
whole."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I24323599
_____________________________________________

o U.K. Game Developer Lionhead Studios Raises VC Funding

Guilford, England -- Lionhead Studios, U.K.-based video game
developer, announced that it has raised several million dollars in new
financing from Ingenious Ventures, IDG VE and Add Partners,
GamesIndustry.biz reported. The company just released its Xbox-
exclusive title "Fable", which has sold more than 1.2 million copies in
its first month of release. "Capital investment is necessary for any
development studio wanting to create triple-A titles, and previously it
has been the industry norm for this investment to come from
publishers," said Lionhead CEO Peter Molyneux. "However, we were
attracted to a different source of funding as we felt this would give us
more flexibility for future product discussions with publishers."
Lionhead said it would use the funds for future product development.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=5039
http://www.lionhead.com 
_____________________________________________

o Northbrook Technology to Expand Operations in N. Ireland

Belfast -- Northbrook Technology, the software-developing unit of U.S.
insurance giant Allstate Corp., announced this week that it plans to
expand its operations in Northern Ireland. The company said it planned
to open new facilities in the cities of Belfast, Londonderry and
Strabane, creating at least 660 new jobs by 2006. Northbrook said
Invest Northern Ireland would provide approximately 5.5 million
pounds ($10 million) to support the company's expansion programme.
Barry Gardiner, the U.K. Minister for Enterprise, described the project
as an "exceptionally important investment" considering that
Londonderry and Strabane have long suffered from double-digit
unemployment.
http://www.northbrooktechnology.com/
http://www.investni.com/
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) TTP Ventures, U.K.-based venture capital firm that focuses
on early stage science and technology companies based in the U.K. and
Western Europe, announced this week that David Connell would step
down as executive chairman of TTP Venture Managers, effective Nov.
15. Connell has served as chief executive of TTP Ventures since its
formation in 1998, making 21 investments during that time. "Despite a
strong portfolio, market conditions over the last two years have made it
much more difficult to raise our second fund than originally
envisaged," Connell said. "As I am now approaching 57, I have
concluded that it no longer makes sense for me to continue to take an
executive role with responsibility for a new 10-year life fund."
http://www.ttpventures.com/

(London) Strathdon Investments, a U.K.-based technology venture-
capital group, announced this week that it has appointed Peter Cowley
as its chief scientific advisor. Strathdon said Cowley would advise the
firm and its portfolio companies on matters relating to the
commercialisation of new technologies. Prior to joining Strathdon,
Cowley served as chief scientist of research and technology at Rolls
Royce, and before that, worked for the U.K. Ministry of Defence. "We
believe that Strathdon and our portfolio companies will benefit greatly
from his significant experience of identifying key new technologies and
successfully exploiting their commercial applications," said Strathdon
CEO Hugh Stewart.
http://www.strathdon.com/

(London) Visual Networks Inc., a Maryland-based network and
application performance firm, announced on Thursday that it plans to
open a new European headquarters in Amersham, Buckinghamshire,
just outside London. The office will be headed by Colin Murray, who
has more than 20 years in sales, marketing and management. "While
we have been doing business for a number of years in Europe with
distribution partners such as AT&T International and Equant,
establishing a European headquarters is a significant milestone," said
Visual Networks CEO Larry Barker.
http://www.visualnetworks.com/events/2004/1021.html

(Zurich, Switzerland) Wristwatch maker Swatch has unveiled
Paparazzi, a new timepiece that can receive news, sports, weather and
entertainment data delivered through Microsoft's MSN Direct service.
What's more, a feature called Swatch City will offer content on local
bars, clubs and events through a partnership with Time Out. The $5-
per-month MSN Direct service, which uses Microsoft's SPOT
technology to send data wirelessly to wristwatches over a nationwide
FM radio network, was launched in January.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041020/sfw031_1.html 

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European Tech Wire - Oct. 20, 2004

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 20, 2004
============================================
To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o Report: European VC Activity Shows Modest Gain in 2003
o AOL Europe Drops Yahoo! for Google on Targeted Adverts
o EU Approves Venture-Capital Scheme for Northern Irish SMEs
o France's Steria Plans Merger with Germany's Mummert
o Cash-U Mobile Raises $15 Million and Acquires Niragongo
o Gay and Lesbian Auction Website egay Launched in U.K.
o AMEX, Citigroup Block Online Gambling Payments in U.K.
o Briefly Noted: Apple-U2 iPod, Golden Prosperity-Wales R&D
Operation, Numerical Control Computer Sciences-Digital Technium
Wales, Daleen Technologies Inc.-Protek Telecommunications
Solutions Ltd.
_____________________________________________

o Report: European VC Activity Shows Modest Gain in 2003

Brussels -- According to the latest report by the European Venture
Capital Association (EVCA), VC activity in Europe posted a modest
increase last year. Although the value of total investments increased by
40% from 337 million euro ($424 million) in 2002 to 470 million euro
($592 million) in 2004, the number of deals decreased from 337 to 315
over the same period. The EVCA said the lion's share of the value was
driven by the consumer, communications and computer sectors. "The
results of this survey are very encouraging for the corporate venturing
sector," said EVCA Director of Research Georges Noel. "With
confidence improving in the wider venture capital and technology
markets, and as the corporate venturing sector provides an important
contribution to early stage financing, we have a solid foundation for
potential growth in the sector in coming years."
http://www.evca.com/html/press_news.asp
_____________________________________________

o AOL Europe Drops Yahoo! for Google on Targeted Adverts

Paris -- Time Warner's AOL Europe announced on Wednesday that it
has dropped Yahoo!-owned Overture as a provider of advertiser-
sponsored search results in Europe, electing instead to go with Yahoo!
rival Google. AOL Europe currently has more than 6.3 million Internet
access subscribers in Germany, France and the U.K. alone. Until now,
AOL Europe had been using Google's search technology while at the
same time using Overture for targeted advertising search results. "With
this new agreement, AOL's European operations will benefit from the
revenue opportunity, while its users will enjoy an enhanced online
experience through the addition of relevant commercial information,"
said Google Senior Vice President Omid Kordestani. Financial terms of
the deal, which will run for at least one year, have not been disclosed.
http://www.google.com/press/pressrel/aol_europe.html
_____________________________________________

o EU Approves Venture-Capital Scheme for Northern Irish SMEs

Brussels -- The European Commission on Wednesday approved a
venture-capital scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
in Northern Ireland. The scheme, which the Commission said would
help to "bridge the financial gap" with other regions in the U.K., builds
on a umbrella scheme for VC financing to SMEs in the U.K. that was
approved by the EU last year. Initially, the Commission questioned the
U.K.'s request that the maximum investment tranche be set at 1.5
million pounds ($2.7 million), as opposed to the 750,000 pounds ($1.4
million) the EU recommended. However, after the U.K. submitted a
market study showing that the VC market in Northern Ireland is
particularly underdeveloped compared to the rest of the U.K., the
Commission concluded that the "Invest Northern Ireland Venture
2003" scheme was compatible with the common market.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?A22115399
_____________________________________________

o France's Steria Plans Merger with Germany's Mummert

Paris -- Group Steria SCA, a France-based IT services provider,
announced this week that it is in exclusive talks to acquire Mummert
Consulting AG, a privately owned IT services firm based in Hamburg,
Germany. While financial details for the bid have not been disclosed,
Group Steria said it has already made a cash offer. If the bid is
accepted, the merger would create one of the 10-largest IT services
providers in Germany. French acquisitions of German IT companies
and overall consolidation within the German market have been an
increasing trend over the last 12 months. Last July, France-based
Unilog acquired Avinci, while just last month, Atos Origin bought
Itellium, the IT services unit of KarstadtQuelle AG. Capgemini bought
the IT divisions of Draegerwerk AG last December. And a recent report
by Technology Partners International shows there are at least 20 other
IT units of German firms that are in the process of being sold.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I23043399
_____________________________________________

o Cash-U Mobile Raises $15 Million and Acquires Niragongo

London -- Cash-U Mobile Technologies, a developer of mobile gaming
and entertainment technology with dual headquarters in the U.K. and
Israel, announced this week that it has raised $15 million in new
financing. The company also announced that it has acquired Niragongo,
an Israel-based mobile applications developer, and changed the name
of the company to Unipier. Carmel Ventures led the investment in
Unipier, with participation from Greylock, Pitango and Fidelity
Ventures. "With this acquisition and corporate re-branding, we are
combining years of experience and product lines to create an exciting
and powerful suite of components that enable mobile service providers
to shorten time to market of their value-added services, while reducing
costs and complexity," said Unipier CEO Gabby Levy. Unipier said it
would use the new funds for product development, sales and marketing.
http://www.cash-u.com 
http://www.niragongo.com 
_____________________________________________

o Gay and Lesbian Auction Website egay Launched in U.K.

London -- A new auction website called egay that is aimed at the gay
and lesbian community has been launched in the U.K. this week. Craig
Busst, egay founder and managing director, said items could be
auctioned for free for the first two months and that the site, which will
charge thereafter, would be as much as 30% cheaper than auction
website giant ebay. "egay aims to provide not only a great service, but a
distinctive and credible website that serves the requirements of the gay,
lesbian, bi-sexual, transsexual and transvestite communities," Busst
said. "We plan to develop the site, introducing egay chat and egay
dating, but our main focus will continue to be the quality of service."
Busst also said that a percentage of egay's profits would be donated to
HIV and AIDS charity Terence Higgins Trust.
http://www.egay.co.uk/
_____________________________________________

o AMEX, Citigroup Block Online Gambling Payments in U.K.

London -- Citing concerns over fraud and high consumer debts, credit
card providers American Express and Citigroup have taken steps to
prevent U.K. cardholders from using their cards to open accounts at
online casinos, the Financial Times reported. Both card companies and
their rivals have blocked U.S. cardholders from using their cards to
gamble on overseas online sites, as online gambling is illegal in the
U.S. "We implemented this rule in the U.S. two years ago, but did not
have the right systems to do it in the U.K. until last month," a Citigroup
spokesperson told FT. The U.K. is currently examining whether it
should update its laws regarding gambling, in part to account for new
technologies such as the Internet.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q1D961299
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Dublin) According to media reports, U.S.-based computer maker
Apple has signed an agreement with Irish rock band U2 to release a
custom edition of its iPod digital music player. The black-coloured
device will come loaded with the group's new album, entitled How to
Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, as well as many of U2's older songs.
Apple said the U2 iPod would go on sale Nov. 23, the same day the
group plans to release its new album. An official announcement on the
partnership is expected next week.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K60031399
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K5EF12299
http://www.apple.com/itunes/

(Cardiff, Wales) Golden Prosperity, a China-based technology firm,
announced this week that it has set up an operation in the Technium
incubation network in Swansea to research and develop electronic
materials for high-end technical applications. Golden Prosperity said its
R&D activities in Wales would focus on improving the properties of an
electronic paste it produces that is used by the electronics industry for
connectors and other devices. The firm also said it planned to establish
a manufacturing plant in Wales in the long-term.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y27E52299

(Cardiff, Wales) Numerical Control Computer Sciences (NCCS), a
California-based software supplier for the aerospace, automotive and
heavy-machinery industries, announced that it has opened a customer-
service operation in Wales to expand its European business. NCCS
plans to set up the new division in the Digital Technium business
incubator centre at Swansea University, where university scientists will
work with the company on a number of research projects. The move to
Wales was assisted by the Welsh Assembly Government, which
allocated an undisclosed amount of grant aid for the project.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y5DE21299

(Boca Raton, Florida) Florida-based Daleen Technologies Inc.
announced this week that it has completed its merger with U.K.-based
Protek Telecommunications Solutions Ltd. to create a combined
company called Viziqor, which will provide technology for service
provider's back-office processes. The deal was backed by investors
Quadrangle Capital Partners and Behrman Capital. Under the terms of
the deal, Gordon Quick, Daleen's president and CEO, will continue to
serve as president and CEO of Viziqor, while former Protek President
and CEO Paul Beaumont will serve as Viziqor's president of
international operations.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X41A23299

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European Tech Wire - Oct. 19, 2004

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 19, 2004
============================================
To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o Report Praises BBC Efforts to Attract Digital Radio Listeners
o SanDisk Sues STMicroelectronics for Patent Violation
o Conference Aims to Link Women Entrepreneurs with Capital
o U.S.-Based Enpocket to Acquire Mobile-Content Firm Landmat
o Report: Finland and Italy Leading EU in Mobile Migration
o Norfolk Network Angel Investment Service Launched in U.K.
o Philips Launches Pilot for Interactive-TV Patient Monitoring
o Briefly Noted: EMI Music UK-The Carphone Warehouse-Robbie
Williams, Moliere-Stephen Humphreys, HOT Consortium-SeaChange,
SecureWave-North Carolina Office, Solectron Corporation-Matti
Virtanen
_____________________________________________

o Report Praises BBC Efforts to Attract Digital Radio Listeners

London -- An independent review by Tim Gardam of the BBC's efforts
to promote digital radio concludes that the broadcaster has gone "above
and beyond" the remit originally set out by the U.K. government. The
Department of Culture Media and Sport report released on Tuesday
reserved special praise for BBC7, a station offering children's drama
and comedy radio, for its success in attracting larger audiences to
digital radio. Gardam, the former director of Channel 4 TV, said that
BBC7 was "the most significant BBC service in driving digital
switchover" and that it had "reinvented" children's radio. Even so,
Gardam called on the BBC to make greater use of its radio archive and
suggested that it even be shared with commercial rivals. He also said
that the BBC must work more closely with media and communications
watchdog Ofcom to ensure the stations' uniqueness. "The challenge
now is to give the BBC's digital channels the room to evolve further
while ensuring they remain distinctive from the services offered by the
commercial radio market," Gardam said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?R2C921099
http://www.culture.gov.uk/default.htm
_____________________________________________

o SanDisk Sues STMicroelectronics for Patent Violation

Amsterdam -- SanDisk Corp., the world's largest maker of flash-
memory data-storage products, announced on Tuesday that it has filed
two separate lawsuits in the U.S. District Court in Northern California
against STMicroelectronics NV, a Franco-Italian semiconductor firm.
The Sunnyvale, California-based company argues that the NAND flash
memory chips manufactured by STMicroelectronics and its subsidiaries
infringes on a SanDisk patent. It has asked that the chips in question be
barred from sale in the U.S. "The ITC confirmed the validity of our
(patent) in 1997 in our action against Samsung Electronics," said
SanDisk Intellectual Property Counsel E. Earle Thompson. "We are
looking forward to a speedy decision." STMicroelectronics has not
commented on the matter, except to say that it plans to defend its
position "vigorously".
http://www.sandisk.com/pressrelease/20041018.htm
http://www.st.com/
_____________________________________________

o Conference Aims to Link Women Entrepreneurs with Capital

Paris -- The Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE), a networking
organisation for women building and leading high-growth companies in
North America and Europe, announced on Tuesday the upcoming
conference "Invest in Successful Women Entrepreneurs, USA/Europe".
Organisers said the conference -- which will take place in Paris on Nov.
18 -- would bring together investors and women entrepreneurs from
both sides of the Atlantic and focus on critical success factors in
entrepreneurship, accessing financial networks and the future of the
investment community. "In the business climate today, it is more
important than ever to establish links between women entrepreneurs
and investors on a pan-European, trans-Atlantic basis," said FWE
Europe President Susan Lucas-Conwell.
http://www.investinentrepreneurs.org/registration.php
http://www.investinentrepreneurs.org/press.php
http://www.investinentrepreneurs.org./
_____________________________________________

o Norfolk Network Angel Investment Service Launched in U.K.

Oxford, England -- The U.K.-based Norfolk Network this week
unveiled a new, informal investment service called Norfolk First, an
angel network designed to bring together high-growth companies and
private investors. "During our first year, we found that there were many
successful business people in East Anglia who wanted proper
introductions to potential investments" said Norfolk Network CEO Bev
Hurley. "More and more investors are becoming business angels to
provide both financial support and their considerable business
expertise." Hurley said Norfolk First aimed to build relationships
between small U.K. companies that are dependent on connections and
investment firms in Cambridge and London. Potential investors can
download a brochure and application form at the following website.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?N18752099
_____________________________________________

o U.S.-Based Enpocket to Acquire Mobile-Content Firm Landmat

London -- Enpocket, a New York-based mobile software firm,
announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire Landmat, the
market leader in mobile media applications.  "The new Enpocket will
be the only mobile media player with a complete understanding of how
mobile community development, content provision and effective
marketing work together," said Enpocket Chief Executive Officer
Jonathon Linner. Under the terms of the acquisition, Landmat Chief
Executive Officer Haukur Hardarson will join Enpocket's board of
directors. Landmat provides dating, chatting and mblogging
applications to such industry heavy hitters as Vodafone, Cingular,
Verizon, Telefonica, T-Mobile and Singtel. Financial details for the
deal have not been disclosed.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?S22624099
_____________________________________________

o Report: Finland and Italy Leading EU in Mobile Migration

Brussels -- A new report conducted by independent mobile consultancy
Northstream AB has found that Finland and Italy are leading Europe
when it comes to migrating voice traffic from fixed to mobile networks
and that only a fraction of total voice calls are carried over mobile
networks in Germany. About 46% and 40% of all voice traffic in
Finland and Italy, respectively, are carried over mobile networks, while
in Sweden and Germany, only 15% and 13% of all calls, respectively,
were made over mobile networks, the report found. The report went on
to predict that if Germany were to implement over the next three years
a number of initiatives that Finland undertook between 1997 and 2001,
the country would stand to boost mobile traffic by 300% and mobile
revenues by 200%.
http://www.northstream.se/
_____________________________________________

o Philips Launches Pilot for Interactive-TV Patient Monitoring

Andover, Massachusetts -- Philips Medical Systems, a unit of Philips
Electronics, recently announced that it has launched a pilot study to test
a secure, personalised healthcare communication platform that connects
chronic disease patients at home to their care providers through their
TV. Philips will be testing the platform, called Motiva, this fall with the
Cardiovascular Associates of the Delaware Valley (CADV), a
physicians group specialising in cardiovascular care. Comcast will
support the pilot study by providing an Internet data connection that
enables patients participating in the study to communicate with CADV
interactively and receive personalised information.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z5A312A89 
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) Major record label EMI Music UK announced this week that
it has partnered with U.K.-based mobile phone retailer The Carphone
Warehouse to sell artist Robbie Williams' new "Greatest Hits" album
on a flash memory card compatible with many mobile phones.
Carphone Warehouse, which also announced that it is currently holding
talks with EMI to distribute additional pre-loaded memory cards this
fall, will sell the Robbie Williams memory card albums in its 600 U.K.
retail locations.
http://www.emirecordedmusic.co.uk 
http://www.carphonewarehouse.com

(Manchester, England) Moliere Ltd., a Manchester-based IT
consultancy, announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Stephen
Humphreys, 39, as consultancy director and member of its board of
directors. Prior to joining Moliere, Humphreys was IT director for PSM
International, European MIS manager for Granada Plc and financial
controller for Courtalds Plc. "I am delighted to welcome Stephen on to
the board," said Moliere Managing Director Tim Hopper. "His
appointment will enable Moliere to accelerate its growth whilst
maintaining our legendary quality of service."
http://www.moliere.co.uk/news_page_3.html

(Tel Aviv, Israel) HOT, a consortium of Israeli cable TV providers
Golden Channels, Matav and Tevel, announced this week that it plans
to roll out video-on-demand services next month using services and
technology provided by Massachusetts-based SeaChange International.
The Israeli service will offer more than 1 million subscribers movies,
time-shifted broadcast TV, subscription services and localised content.
SeaChange also provides services to U.S. cable firms including
Comcast, Cox, Cablevision, Adelphia and Time Warner.
http://www.schange.com 
http://www.matav.co.il

(Herndon, Virginia) SecureWave, a European provider of security
software with its U.S. headquarters in Virginia, recently announced that
it is opening a new office in the Research Triangle Park near Durham,
North Carolina. SecureWave, whose world headquarters is in
Luxembourg, also announced that Dennis Szerszen has joined the
company as vice president of business development.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C13E23E89

(Milpitas, California) Solectron Corporation, a California-based
provider of electronics manufacturing and supply chain services,
announced this week that it has appointed Matti Virtanen to the newly
created position of senior vice president and president of the EMEA
region (Europe, the Middle East and Africa). He most recently served
as Hewlett-Packard's vice president and managing director of
international sales in Europe.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E3A351F89

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European Tech Wire - Oct. 18, 2004

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - Oct. 18, 2004
============================================
To Subscribe: http://www.europeantechwire.com

o IVCA: $250 Million in VC Available for Irish Companies
o The Cloud to Install Hotspots in Football League Stadiums
o French Database Firm Aureus Pharma Raises $3.7 Million
o Yorkshire Forward and AIM UK to Create RFID Network
o France's GFI Informatique to Acquire Conceptum Assets
o Report: Market for IP PBX Worth $2.25 Billion by 2008
o GEM Funds Management Buy-Out of Wavelength Solutions
o Briefly Noted: Apple-iTunes Sales, YouGov-U.S. Office,
Vintela-European Office, 3i Group-Investor AllStar Venture
Capital Award, ntl-SeaChange International
_____________________________________________

o IVCA: $250 Million in VC Available for Irish Companies

Dublin -- According to Shay Garvey, chairman of the Irish Venture
Capital Association, the Irish VC industry has as much as 200 million
euro ($250 million) set aside for private equity investments, 90% of
which will be earmarked for technology. Speaking at the IVCA's
annual dinner in Dublin last week, Garvey also issued a warning to the
Irish government not to rely so much on foreign direct investment
(FDI). "We have got to increase export growth from the indigenous
sector, where the only ray of growth in the last 10 years has been the
export of internationally traded services and technology, particularly
software," he said. Garvey also said that if Ireland wanted to increase
the number of local technology start-ups from 200 to 500 created per
year, the local VC industry would need to "internationalise" and
strengthen investment links with international VC firms.
http://www.ivca.ie/
_____________________________________________

o The Cloud to Install Hotspots in Football League Stadiums

London -- The Cloud, a U.K.-based wireless service provider,
announced on Monday that it has signed a deal with the U.K. Football
League that will see Wi-Fi hotspots installed at every soccer stadium in
the league over the next year years. The company said the deal would
"revolutionise photo journalism and Internet access" for the Football
League, which has 72 member clubs and is currently the largest single
body of professional clubs in European football. Under the deal,
stadium and staff will be the first to get Wi-Fi access, which will
gradually be extended to cover bars and conference facilities, according
to Football League Media Chief Chris Eagle. The Cloud, which now
runs nearly 5,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the U.K., said Football League
deployment had already begun with the stadiums of Nottingham Forest,
Sheffield United, Port Vale and Blackpool.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L2F121E89
_____________________________________________

o French Database Firm Aureus Pharma Raises $3.7 Million

Paris -- Aureus Pharma, a France-based provider of knowledge-
management databases for use in drug discovery efforts, announced on
Monday that it has raised 3 million euro ($3.7 million) in its third round
of financing. OTC Asset Management and AXA Private Equity led the
round, with existing investors BIOAM and CDC Enterprises-FP
Gestion also participating. Aureus Pharma said it would use the funds
to expand its international marketing and sales capabilities and extend
its products portfolio by developing new databases and software. "This
new investment is a strong endorsement of the value we have created at
Aureus Pharma over a short period of time," said Chief Executive
Officer Andre Michel. "The company is now well placed to become the
leader in drug target based knowledge management systems."
http://www.aureus-pharma.com/Pages/News/news_4.php
_____________________________________________

o Yorkshire Forward and AIM UK to Create RFID Network

Leeds, England -- The U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
has invited AIM UK, an independent industry association representing
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and barcoding technologies, to
develop the overall strategic plan for the development of the country's
RFID centres. The DTI's decision is part of its overall plan to set up a
network of specialist RFID centres around the U.K. The national
coordinating centre will be created and sponsored by Leeds-based
Yorkshire Forward, and will be based in the city of Halifax, West
Yorkshire, DTI officials said. "We are obviously delighted that the DTI
have agreed that this lead centre will be located in our region and
believe it will offer great add-value opportunities to many of our
businesses," said Jim Farmery, Yorkshire Forward director of
Technology Infrastructure.
http://www.yorkshire-forward.com/view.asp?id=2916&pw=
http://www.aimuk.org/
http://www.dti.gov.uk/
_____________________________________________

o France's GFI Informatique to Acquire Conceptum Assets

Paris -- GFI Informatique, the fifth-largest software and services
provider in France, announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire
the assets of Conceptum, a management and IT consulting firm based
in Montreal, Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, Conceptum's
50 consultants will join GFI's operations in Canada. GFI said the deal
would strengthen its position in the Canadian financial-services sector
and also enable it to offer offshore services from Canada to its other
markets. "The acquisition of these assets fits in with our growth
strategy and is based on our one-stop-shop approach," said GFI
President and CEO Jacques Tordjman. "It will greatly reinforce our
current presence in Canada." Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?T2B612E89
_____________________________________________

o Report: Market for IP PBX Worth $2.25 Billion by 2008

Paris -- According to a new study by research and analysis firm Frost &
Sullivan, the market for the Internet protocol private branch exchange
(IP PBX) showed strong growth last year, generating more than 589
million euro ($737 million) in revenue. What's more, the report
predicted the market would continue to expand at a greater than 30%
rate to reach nearly 1.8 billion euro ($2.25 billion) by 2008. The firm
attributed the increase to the fact that companies are increasingly
replacing time division multiplexing (TDM) voice networks with IP
voice data networks. "The adoption of IP PBX is largely being driven
by its advantages, such as cheaper inter-office and branch office
connectivity and the resulting enhanced productivity," said Frost &
Sullivan telecommunications analyst Shomik Banerjee.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E31431E89
_____________________________________________

o GEM Funds Management Buy-Out of Wavelength Solutions

London -- Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM), a New York-based
venture-capital firm, recently announced that it has funded a
management buy-out of Wavelength Solutions Ltd., a Milton Keynes,
England-based wireless broadband firm. With the deal, in which GEM
acquired the business and assets of the firm from Scipher Plc for an
undisclosed sum, Wavelength Solutions effectively leaves
administrative receivership. Scipher entered administrative receivership
on Sept. 27; Wavelength Solutions, Oct. 6. GEM said it did not foresee
any job losses as a result of the management buy-out.
http://www.gemny.com/index.html
http://www.wavelengthsolutions.co.uk/
http://www.scipher.com/
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Cupertino, California) Apple recently announced that its iTunes Music
Store has sold more than 150 million song downloads from its online
stores in the U.S., the U.K., France and Germany. NPD Group data
released earlier this week found Apple accounts for 70% of all music
downloads sold, compared with rival Napster, which accounted for
11%; and RealNetworks, Musicmatch and Wal-Mart, which accounted
for 6% apiece. Apple plans next to launch versions of iTunes across a
number of other European countries in the near future.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041014/sfth063_1.html

(London) YouGov, a London-based polling and online research firm,
recently announced that it plans to open an office in the U.S. Earlier
this month, the company opened its first overseas operation in Dubai to
service clients in the Middle East. "There's a huge appetite for research
and consultation in the Middle East, particularly from the government
side," said YouGov joint-CEO Nadhim Zahawi. Zahawi also said he
considered Asia to be another region with huge potential and that his
company would be looking to open an office there once the U.S. office
had been set up.
http://www.yougov.com/

(Salt Lake City, Utah) Vintela, a Utah-based provider of software that
allows different operating systems to work together, announced on
Monday that it has opened a European office in Oxford, England.
"Some of our earliest and most successful product implementations
were with European organisations," said Vintela CEO Chris Skillings.
"Placing dedicated staff in Europe will help us better serve this
important segment of our market." Vintela offers a range of platform
integration products that allow non-Windows operating systems to
integrate with Windows-centred ones.
http://www.vintela.com/news/articles/article15.php

(London) 3i Group, the largest publicly traded venture-capital firm in
the U.K., recently announced that it has won the Investor AllStar award
for best venture-capital fund of 2004. Sponsored by corporate finance
house GP Capital, the second-annual Investor AllStar award -- open to
all VC funds investing in high-growth companies -- singled out 3i
Group's impressive growth in both investments and exits, as well as its
track record for innovative fundraising.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?F2EF21D89

(Maynard, Massachusetts) ntl, a U.K.-based cable TV provider,
recently announced that it plans to use technology from Massachusetts-
based SeaChange International to launch its video-on-demand service,
slated for the first quarter of 2005. ntl's fibre-optic broadband network
currently covers more than 7.8 million homes in the U.K.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041013/135605_1.html 

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Hosting a webinar or seminar with a broad geographic appeal? Post
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companies, many of whom attend seminars and networking events on a
regular basis. A 5-day ad in the Potomac Tech Wire event section is
$325. A 5- day ad across all 7 Tech Wires is $650. For more info, go to
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===================================================

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Questions, comments, news tips, press releases. Send email to:
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Copyright: CapWire Inc. 2004

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