European Tech Wire - June 13, 2005

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EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - June 13, 2005
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To Subscribe: http://www.techwiremedia.com/europe

o EU Approves Acquisition of Cesky Telecom by Telefonica
o EU Unveils Action Plan to Promote Nanotechnology R&D
o E-Payments Firm First Data Acquires Norway-Based EPI
o IFPI Hoping to Extend Copyright Term Lengths in Europe
o Axway Acquires Romania-Based Software Firm Crinsoft
o Mercury Computer to Acquire Sohard for 19.1 Million Euro
o Briefly Noted: Vodafone Group-The Extreme Sports Channel,
3 UK-Stephen Pilkington, Royal Philips Electronics-Future
Electronics
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o EU Approves Acquisition of Cesky Telecom by Telefonica

Madrid -- The European Commission announced that it has approved
the proposed acquisition of Cesky Telecom, the incumbent fixed-line
telecommunications operator in the Czech Republic, by Telefonica, the
largest telecommunications operator in Spain. After conducting its
investigation into the deal, the Commission concluded that it would not
significantly impede effective competition in any part of the European
Economic Area. "(The) examination of the transaction showed that
there are no horizontal overlaps between the activities of the parties in
their respective countries," the Commission said. "Furthermore, the
transaction does not raise any substantial vertical competition concerns
in the Spanish and Czech markets for wholesale international roaming
and fixed and mobile telecommunications."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?F2D52504B
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o EU Unveils Action Plan to Promote Nanotechnology R&D

Brussels -- The European Commission has issued a report detailing
measures to be taken at national and European levels to strengthen EU
research and development (R&D) of nanotechnologies.
"Nanotechnology has enormous potential for European industry and for
society in general, so a clear strategy and decisive action is needed for
research in this area," said European Science and Research
Commissioner Janez Potocnik. "At the same time, we must take into
account any possible health, safety and environmental risks and address
them as early as we can." The action plan's measures included boosting
funding for nanotechnology in the Seventh Framework Programme,
especially for certain key sectors such as nanomedicine,
nanoelectronics and sustainable chemistry.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z2965204B
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o E-Payments Firm First Data Acquires Norway-Based EPI

Prague -- First Data, a U.S.-based electronic payments provider,
announced that it has acquired EuroProcessing International, a Norway-
based card processor serving banks in Central and Eastern Europe, for
an undisclosed sum. First Data said it made the deal in order to increase
its presence in both the Nordic region and Central and Eastern Europe.
"Many of the banks that are growing rapidly through acquisitions in
Central and Eastern Europe now have multiple disparate processing
platforms and a strong and urgent desire for entering into regional
contracts," said First Data President Pam Patsley. "First Data is well
equipped and, through this acquisition, we are well positioned to assist
these banks in securing the efficiencies and value that such
consolidation will deliver."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D1D82104B
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o IFPI Hoping to Extend Copyright Term Lengths in Europe

San Francisco -- The International Federation of the Phonographic
Industry (IFPI), an international record label trade group, has launched
a campaign to extend copyright term lengths in Europe to bring the
region in line with U.S. laws, according to a report in Wired News.
Currently, U.S. creators are protected for the life of the author plus 70
years, while companies hold copyrights for 95 years. EU-based creators
enjoy rights lasting 70 years after their death, with a performer's
copyright lasting for just 50 years from the date of the first recording.
IFPI spokeswoman Francine Cunningham said that current EU laws
were discriminatory. "(U.S.-based record companies') assets are valued
much more highly because they have a much longer term of (copyright)
protection," she said. "When you have such a huge disparity, it's very
hard to do business."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C2FA51D3B
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o Axway Acquires Romania-Based Software Firm Crinsoft

Bucharest -- Axway, a France-based applications integrator and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Sopra Group, announced that it has
acquired Crinsoft, a Romania-based software research and development
company, for an undisclosed sum. Axway, which currently has
operations in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain,
Sweden and the U.K., said it acquired Crinsoft in order to establish
itself in the Eastern European market. The Sopra Group also said the
deal would help accelerate its current offerings and further extend its
indirect distribution network.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U2583204B
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o Mercury Computer to Acquire Sohard for 19.1 Million Euro

Chelmsford, Mass. -- Mercury Computer, a U.S.-based developer of
high-performance computer systems, announced that it has agreed to
pay about 19.1 million euro in cash to acquire Sohard, a Germany-
based developer of software for medical imaging systems. Sohard
produces a web-based image distribution, picture archiving and
communications systems technology that allows users to transfer,
visualise and edit medical image data throughout a hospital
environment. Mercury said the company, which employs 85 people,
was slightly profitable, with annual revenues of about 8.3 million euro.
The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050609/neth004.html?.v=11
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o Briefly Noted:

(London) U.K.-based Vodafone Group Plc, the largest mobile-phone
company in the world, announced that it has forged a Mobile Virtual
Network Operator (MVNO) deal with the Extreme Sports Channel. The
Extreme Group said it planned to launch ExtremeMob, a pre-pay
mobile phone brand, sometime this fall, initially selling phones and
mobile phone cards on its website before branching out into its 18
stores across the U.K. "(ExtremeMob) will deliver a service with an
edgy content offering that feels more like a lifestyle magazine, always
fresh and relevant," the company said. "A combination of stylish
handsets, value for money tariffs and a 24/7 customer call centre will
make ExtremeMob stand out in the mobile sector."
http://www.extrememob.com/

(Dublin) 3 UK Ltd., a U.K.-based mobile network operator and
subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa, announced that
it has appointed Stephen Pilkington as commercial director of its Irish
operations. Prior to joining 3 UK, Pilkington worked in the venture
capital industry in London and for Price Waterhouse in Dublin.
Pilkington has been overseeing the rollout of 3G services in Ireland --
scheduled for launch later this year -- since July 2003. "To date, the
Irish market has been dominated by a duopoly who have cashed in on
the lack of real competition," Pilkington said. "The arrival of 3 will
shake up the market to the benefit of the consumer."
http://www.three.co.uk/index.omp

(Hayes, England) Royal Philips Electronics, Europe's largest maker of
consumer electronics, announced that it has signed a pan-European
distribution agreement with Future Electronics. "Its strategy towards
design-in and value added services fully supports our ambitions," said
Philips Semiconductors Senior Vice President of Channel Management
Pascal Langlois. Future, which has a distribution centre in Hayes, said
it would use the franchise to target growth markets such as lighting,
metering and telecommunications technologies while expanding its
coverage into Eastern Europe and the Baltic States.
http://www.futureelectronics.com/news/philips.asp

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