European Tech Wire

Motricity Hires Form Vodafone Exec Irie Jenkins

London -- Motricity, a U.S.-based provider of mobile content
technology to the wireless industry, announced that former Vodafone
executive Irie Jenkins has joined the company as vice president of
programme management. Most recently, Jenkins served as vice
president of project and system management at ADP in Alpharetta,
Georgia. Prior to her position at ADP, she served as chief of application
delivery at Vodafone in London. Under her direction, Vodafone
delivered the Vodafone live! marketing application.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?J5B734C3C

Reports: Swiss Government Vows to Veto Move for Eircom

Dublin -- According to news reports, the Swiss Finance Ministry has
threatened to block any move by local telecommunications bellwether
Swisscom to acquire Eircom, the incumbent telecommunications
operator in Ireland. Swisscom, which is controlled by the Swiss state,
announced two weeks ago that it was in talks with Eircom about the
possible takeover of the Irish firm. A volte-face by the company last
week, however, has scuttled the deal. "We have told Swisscom that the
government does not want them to get involved there (with Eircom),"
ministry spokesman Dieter Leutwyler told Reuters. "The
(government's) board representative has been instructed to vote against
such an engagement." The news has caught many analysts and
investors by surprise, as many believed the deal was a foregone
conclusion; Eircom's shares fell by as much as 16% in late afternoon
trading.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?T2A021B3C
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X1B022B3C

Logicalis Group to Acquire HP Division of U.S.-Based Avnet

London -- Logicalis Group, a U.K.-based IT firm, announced that it has
agreed to acquire the U.S.-based HP enterprise end-user business unit
of Avnet Inc. (AVT), which last year reported revenues of £58.5
million ($100 million). Under the terms of the deal, Logicalis has also
agreed to a multi-year exclusive distribution agreement with Avnet.
"This announcement is part of Logicalis Group's continuing global
strategy, where expansion is achieved through both organic growth and
acquisition," said Logicalis CEO Jens Montanana. "Today's
announcement further strengthens (Logicalis's) strategic partnerships
with HP and IBM." Over the past year, Logicalis has acquired two IBM
Premier Business Partners in the U.S. (Solution Technology and Eisco),
as well as U.K.-based HP Storage Elite Partner Hawke Systems and
IBM Premier Partners Notability Solutions and TBC, also based in the
U.K.
http://www.uk.logicalis.com/

Ireland's Data Electronics Wins Deloitte's "Fast 50" Award

Dublin -- Data Electronics, an Ireland-based data centre operator, has
won this year's Deloitte "Technology Fast 50" award, which ranks the
fastest-growing technology companies in the Republic of Ireland and
Northern Ireland. Over the last five years, the company's revenues have
grown by approximately 4,376%. Digiweb, a local broadband provider
using wireless, satellite and DSL technologies, came in third place,
with a revenue growth rate of about 2,384%. "We are delighted to see
the Technology Fast 50 go from strength to strength, and (the) finalists
provide us with a great barometer to assess the state of the emerging
technology sector in Ireland," said Deloitte partner David O'Flanagan.
"Performance indicators from this year's list are very positive,
representing an impressive average increase in revenue of almost 190
percent on last year."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?M45B52A3C

U.K.-Based Easy Convey Secures £3-Million Investment

London -- Easy Convey Ltd., a U.K.-based developer of electronic
conveyancing products and services, announced that it has secured £3
million in venture-capital financing. RemoteLaw Online Systems
Corp., a Canada-based conveyancing software system, led the round.
Easy Convey said it would use the funding for additional recruitment
and expansion and a more aggressive product-development
programme. "Canada is probably two or three years ahead of the U.K.
in terms of e-conveyancing, which means that RemoteLaw can offer us
a peek into the future, whilst also giving us the benefit of hindsight,"
said Easy Convey Managing Director Dominic Cullis. "RemoteLaw's
extensive experience of this market will be invaluable to us, both in
terms of knowing what to do, and also what not to do." Under the terms
of the funding, RemoteLaw CFO Martin Johnson will join Easy
Convey's board.
http://www.remotelaw.com/news-102405

U.K.-Based ISP PlusNet Acquires Parbin for £1.7 Million

London -- PlusNet, a U.K.-based Internet service provider (ISP),
announced that it has acquired Parbin Ltd. for approximately £1.7
million. Parbin -- which recently topped a Which? magazine survey
evaluating customers' satisfaction with their broadband ISPs --
currently has more than 16,000 broadband customers. PlusNet said it
would offer Parbin customers a wider choice of broadband services,
including Internet telephony. "The acquisition of Parbin gives us access
to a business with a strong reputation and a growing broadband
customer base," said PlusNet CEO Lee Strafford. "We plan to broaden
product choice and enhance customer support including 24/7 coverage
for Metronet's customers." (Parbin trades as Metronet).
http://makeashorterlink.com/?N49B32A3C

U.K.-Based Telcogames Acquires France's Magic Productions

London -- Telcogames Ltd., a U.K.-based mobile-gaming firm,
announced that it has bought Magic Productions, a France-based game
developer and publisher and creator of games for Symbian- and
Microsoft Windows-powered mobile Smartphones. Financial terms
were not disclosed. "We think (Magic Productions) is making some of
the best mobile games in the world at the moment," said CEO Jamie
Conyngham. "We want to supplement our world leading J2ME & Brew
portfolio from over 100 publishers with our own high-end games aimed
at the serious and experienced mobile gamer who demands an
extremely high quality product." Telcogames said it expected to
integrate the companies and complete the deal sometime early next
year.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K20D51A3C

Progressive Gaming Acquires EndX Group

London -- Progressive Gaming International Corp. (PGIC), a Las
Vegas-based supplier of integrated casino management systems
software and games for the gaming industry, announced that it has
acquired EndX Group, a U.K.-based gaming management systems
software company, for an undisclosed sum. EndX's Intelligence
Product Suite is installed in more than 175 gaming centres in more than
20 countries worldwide. "Our two organisations have been well
connected over the past three years on many fronts, and together, as
one enterprise, we expect to maximise the value of their outstanding
technology and the world-class team they have assembled," said PGIC
CEO Russ McMeekin.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I3CC32A3C

Oxonica CEO Wins Business Leader Award

London -- Oxonica, a U.K.-based nanotechnology firm, announced that
Oxonica CEO Kevin Matthews has won Small Times magazine's "Best
of Small Tech Business Leader of the Year" award. "It was easy to
point to Oxonica's July IPO (initial public offering) as a key
achievement for (Matthews), but (he) also oversaw the rollout of
Oxonica's materials into products as diverse as cosmetics and diesel
fuel, and in locations from Europe to the Philippines," said Small
Times Associate Editor David Forman. Small Times is a source of
business news and analysis about the "small tech" industry, which
includes nanotechnology, MEMS and Microsystems.
http://www.oxonica.com/press.asp

cBrain Technology to Float on Copenhagen Exchange

Copenhagen -- cBrain Technology, a Denmark-based IT consultancy,
announced that it is planning an initial public offering (IPO) on the
Copenhagen Stock Exchange. The company offers business process
applications and community platforms. When the flotation is completed
sometime near the end of the first quarter of 2006, cBrain will be the
first IT company to float its shares on the Copenhagen exchange in
more than four years. cBbrain, which counts Carlsberg, Sonofon and
TDC among its customers, said the IPO would open doors for
cooperation partners and increase its international expansion.
http://www.cbrain.dk/article.aspx?aid=16446