European Tech Wire - June 9, 2005

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EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - June 9, 2005
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To Subscribe: http://www.techwiremedia.com/europe

o Microsoft Planning to Sell Windows "N" in EU on June 15
o 3i Group Sells dtms to D+S Europe for Undisclosed Sum
o InterActiveCorp Sells Vivendi Stake for 2.8 Billion Euro
o 3i Invests in Sweden-Based GNSS Receiver Firm NordNav
o Disney Acquires Minds Eye Productions for Undisclosed Sum
o Report: Smart Telecom Included among Bidders for Meteor
o Briefly Noted: BT Group-"Bluephone", SAP-Global Support
Centre in Ireland, PrimeQ Solutions-London Office-Simon
Wajcenberg, Arteris-Charles Janac
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o Microsoft Planning to Sell Windows "N" in EU on June 15

Brussels -- Having complied with a number of EU antitrust sanctions,
U.S.-based software giant Microsoft announced that it plans to start
shipping the so-called "N" editions of its Windows XP operating
system, which come without Windows Media Player, to European PC
makers by June 15. Windows XP Home Edition N and Professional
Edition N -- the names chosen by the European Commission from nine
options -- will be available to retail outlets on June 1. Microsoft said
the new stripped-down operating systems would initially be available in
English, German, French, Italian and Spanish, but added that additional
versions in other European languages would be ready by July 15.
Microsoft said consumers who purchased the N versions and still
wanted Media Player would be able to download a Media Pack from
Microsoft's web site.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?A5F012B3B
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o 3i Group Sells dtms to D+S Europe for Undisclosed Sum

London -- U.K.-based 3i Group Plc, the largest publicly traded venture-
capital firm in Europe, announced that it has agreed to sell Deutsche
Telefon and Marketing Services AG (dtms), a Germany-based
telecommunications provider, to D+S europe AG. dtms, which last year
reported more than 200 million euro in revenues, is currently the largest
independent provider of telephone service numbers in the German
market. "3i saw the potential for dtms early on, investing in 1998 and
subsequently throughout the telecommunications downturn of 2002,"
said 3i Director Achim Lederle. "The firm has outperformed the
competition in the service telephone number business and is second
only in the market to incumbent Deutsche Telekom." Although
financial details of the deal were not disclosed, 3i did say that it sold
the company for a "mid double-digit-million" figure.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?M28112B3B
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o InterActiveCorp Sells Vivendi Stake for 2.8 Billion Euro

Paris -- InterActiveCorp (IAC), a U.S.-based company run by media
tycoon Barry Diller, announced that it has agreed to sell its 5.4% stake
in France-based media group Vivendi Universal Entertainment to NBC
Universal for about 2.8 billion euro. The deal effectively ends a long-
running legal dispute between Diller and Vivendi executives over tax
issues stemming from the companies' connections to one another. "We
have put a definite end to any kind of relationship between Vivendi
Universal Entertainment and Barry Diller's company InterActive," said
Vivendi CEO Jean-Bernard Levy. Under the terms of the agreement,
IAC will receive 82 million euro in advertising for its companies across
NBC Universal's networks over the next three years.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050608/76288.html?.v=1 
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o 3i Invests in Sweden-Based GNSS Receiver Firm NordNav

Stockholm -- NordNav Technologies, a Sweden-based company that
develops Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers for the
mobile and automotive markets, announced that it has secured an
undisclosed amount of venture-capital financing. U.K.-based venture-
capital firm 3i Group Plc and Germany-based Innovationskapital and
Siemens Acceleration led the round. "It is always exciting to find a
company with technology that can significantly change the market
dynamics," said 3i Nordic Director Kimmo Korpela. "NordNav has a
sizeable global opportunity and team that can deliver growth and value
increase for shareholders." NordNav was founded in 2002 by
researchers from Stanford University.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C58221B3B
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o Disney Acquires Minds Eye Productions for Undisclosed Sum

Milton Keynes, England -- Walt Disney Internet Group announced that
it has acquired Minds Eye Productions, a U.K.-based developer of
interactive TV games. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded in 1995, Minds Eye has created interactive TV versions of
"Monopoly" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire", in addition to the
Disney-branded interactive TV games available on the "Disney
Channel Play" channel on U.K. satellite TV service Sky. Minds Eye
will maintain its 20-person staff and current offices in Milton Keynes.
"This acquisition allows us to build on our successful Disney branded
iTV game service and shows our commitment to this market," said
Disney Executive Vice President Mark Handler.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050608/85463.html 
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o Report: Smart Telecom Included among Bidders for Meteor

Dublin -- According to a report in the Irish Independent, Smart
Telecom has been named as a new bidder for Meteor, currently the
third-largest mobile operator in Ireland, with about 11% of the
domestic market and more than 400,000 customers. With the news,
Smart Telecom joins Irish telecommunications incumbent Eircom and
local entrepreneur Denis O'Brien in the running for Meteor, which was
put up for sale by parent company Western Wireless earlier this year.
The Irish Independent said Smart Telecom was preparing a 300-
million-euro bid for Meteor, notwithstanding the fact that many
analysts are predicting the three-horse race will eventually push the
mobile firm's price up to more than 400 million euro.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D20332B3B
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o Briefly Noted:

(London) BT Group Plc, the largest telecommunications company in
the U.K., announced that it is planning to launch a new mobile handset
called "Bluephone" that will work like an ordinary handset when users
are outside, but then relay calls using a fixed-line connection whenever
users are at home or in the office. "(The Bluephone) removes the need
to own more than one phone, as customers will be able to use a single
device that can switch seamlessly between networks, giving more
convenience, a better service with more guaranteed coverage and lower
overall costs," BT said. Mobile Product Director Ryan Jarvis said BT
plans to launch the phone in the "next few weeks".
http://www.btplc.com/Innovation/Strategy/spearheads/

(Dublin) Micheal Martin, Ireland's Minister for Enterprise, Trade and
Employment, announced that German business software giant SAP has
opened a new Global Support Centre in Galway. The new project,
which was partly funded by IDA Ireland, will provide technical support
across Europe and the U.S. for SAP's business management product
"Business One". "Progress at the Galway Centre has been excellent and
is in line with planned targets," Martin said. "200 of the 350 people
planned for recruitment over four years are already in place, and
operations such as technical support, customer interaction, license
auditing, telemarketing, translation services and technical writing are
up and running."
http://www.entemp.ie/press/2005/20050609.htm 

(London) PrimeQ Solutions Inc., a U.S.-based provider of online
advertising technology and services, announced that it has opened a
subsidiary in London. The company said the new office would house
sales, administration and client services, as well as design and
technology developers. "We see London as the launching point for all
of Europe for us," said PrimeQ President and CEO Jason McClain.
"The marketplace is strong and very receptive to new and innovative
ways of reaching consumers and businesses alike." Simon Wajcenberg
has been appointed as managing director of the new office, PrimeQ
said.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050606/65936_1.html
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X1EF21A3B 

(Paris) Arteris SA, a France-based network-on-chip start-up, announced
that it has appointed semiconductor industry veteran Charles Janac as
its new chief executive officer. Over the last 20 years, Janac has held a
number of executive positions in several semiconductor-related
industries, including EDA, capital equipment, nanotechnology,
industrial polymers and venture capital. Prior to joining Arteris, he held
several marketing and sales positions at Cadence Design Systems.
Alain Fanet, founder and former CEO of Arteris, will become the
company's chief technology officer.
http://www.arteris.com/release_060705.html

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