European Tech Wire

U.S. OKs Proposed Merger between Axalto and Gemplus

Paris -- Axalto, a Luxembourg-based SIM and smart-card maker,
announced that U.S. competition authorities have approved its
proposed merger with Gemplus, a France-based smart-card
vendor. If the deal ultimately goes through, it will create the largest
smart-card maker in the world and one of the largest makers of
mobile phone cards and electronic passports. The European
Commission is still investigating the deal, which has been
challenged by France-based rival Oberthur Card Systems. "Our
confidence in the favourable reception to the merger by the other
competition authorities has been further reinforced," said Axalto
CEO Olivier Piou.
http://www.axalto.com/

U.K.-Based Candover Buys Thales HTO for £151 Million

London -- Thales, a France-based electronics and systems
group, announced that it has sold its optical components (HTO)
activities in the U.S., Singapore, Germany, Hungary, Singapore,
the U.K. and the U.S. to Candover, a U.K.-based private-equity
firm, for approximately £151 million (220 million euro). Thales
HTO designs and manufactures optical components and
modules for military and civil applications, particularly in the
areas of infantry night vision, optical components, optical
modules and optical coatings. "HTO fits Candover's investment
criteria perfectly," said Candover Managing Director Cyrille
Chevrillon. "It is a global leader in its field, has a niche position in
an industry with significant growth potential, enjoys long-
established relationships with its large customer base and is led
by an experienced and well-respected management team."
http://www.thalesgroup.com/home/home/

Eircom Shares Soar on Rumours of Swisscom Takeover Bid

Dublin -- Shares in Eircom Group Plc rose by as much as 10% in late
afternoon trading on the ISEQ after new reports linked Swisscom, the
largest telecommunications company in Switzerland, with a possible 3-
million-euro bid for the Irish telecommunications company. A report in
the Irish Independent suggested that Eircom, which recently returned to
the Irish mobile market, was a perfect target for Swisscom, whose bid
for Telekom Austria was scuttled last year by political interference. For
its part, Eircom has denied an approach by Swisscom or any other
company.
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O12823EEB

European Tech Wire - July 12, 2005

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - July 12, 2005
============================================
Attention: Date Change for Networking Event
http://www.techwiremedia.com/londonevent.html

o European Officials Raid Intel Offices as Part of Ongoing Probe
o ICANN Approves ".mobi" Suffix for Mobile-Phone Websites
o European Commission to Take Action on Roaming Charges
o Denmark-Based Wireless Firm Zensys Raises 13 Million Euro
o More than Half of Teens in U.K. Shop Online, Survey Says
o U.K.-Based Screen Technology to Float on AIM in August
> Attention: Date Change for Tech Wire Networking Event
o Briefly Noted: Department of Trade & Industry-Small and
Medium Enterprise Development Fund, Moscow CableCom-
Andrew O'Shea, Blackwell Publishing-Atypon Systems,
Better Energy Solutions-Solar Powered Battery Charger
_____________________________________________

o European Officials Raid Intel Offices as Part of Ongoing Probe

Brussels -- According to news reports, EU antitrust officials have
raided the offices of Intel and a number of other large computer makers
as part of an ongoing antitrust investigation of the world's largest
computer chipmaker. "I can confirm that (European) Commission
officials, accompanied by officials from national competition
authorities, have conducted on-site investigations at several premises of
Intel Corporation in Europe, as well as a number of IT firms
manufacturing or selling computers," Commission spokesman Jonathan
Todd said. More than four months ago, the Commission announced that
it launched a joint investigation with Japanese authorities of Intel's
business practices. Japan's Fair Trade Commission recently ruled that
Intel violated antitrust laws by offering rebates to Hitachi, Sony, NEC,
Fujitsu and Toshiba for agreeing either not to buy or to limit purchases
of chips made by AMD or other rivals.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?V58B21A6B
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y29B32A6B
_____________________________________________

o ICANN Approves ".mobi" Suffix for Mobile-Phone Websites

Paris -- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(ICANN) announced that it has approved the new ".mobi" suffix,
which will be specially designed for mobile-phone websites. mTLD
Top Level Domain -- a joint venture comprising Hutchison 3, the GSM
Association, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung, Syniverse
Technologies, TIM, Telefonica Moviles, T-Mobile and Vodafone --
will handle the registration of names on the ".mobi" domain, ICANN
said. The mTLD joint venture, which hopes that consumers will be
more likely to upgrade mobile phones if more websites are optimised
specifically for handheld devices, lobbied heavily for the new suffix.
"As .mobi will encourage the usage of advanced functionalities in
mobile devices, the market potential for those devices will increase,"
mTLD said. ICANN said the first websites for mobile devices would be
ready by next year.
https://www.mtldinfo.com/news.aspx
_____________________________________________

o European Commission to Take Action on Roaming Charges

Brussels -- The European Commission announced that it is taking
measures to reduce international roaming rates -- the fees charged by
mobile-phone operators when customers use mobile phones abroad.
The Commission said it plans to launch a website this fall that will
provide details of all the tariffs in the EU in order to encourage
operators to offer "better and fairer" prices. Roaming prices among EU
members states currently vary between at little as 58 euro cents per
minute to as much as 5 euro per minute. "Using your mobile phone
while on holiday abroad can still lead to very unpleasant surprises,"
said EU Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane
Reding. "We need to get to a stage where consumers can benefit from
better deals than they are currently getting."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U2A821A6B
_____________________________________________

o Denmark-Based Wireless Firm Zensys Raises 13 Million Euro

Copenhagen -- Zensys A/S, a Denmark-based wireless mesh
networking specialist, announced that it has raised a further 13 million
euro in first-round venture-capital financing. Bessemer Venture
Partners led the round, with existing investors Palamon Capital Partners
and Vaekstfonden also participating. Zensys said it would use the funds
to further develop devices for the Z-Wave 900MHz wireless
technology that the company is pushing as an alternative to Zigbee for
lighting and home automation. Zensys said the new investment would
also help increase consumer awareness for Z-Wave interoperability and
allow it to acquire new partners.
http://www.zen-sys.com/index.php?page=327
_____________________________________________

o More than Half of Teens in U.K. Shop Online, Survey Says

London -- According to a survey by Scottish bank Halifax, more than
half of seven- to 16-year-olds in the U.K. have made a purchase online.
Overall, about 53% of U.K. teens shop online, up from the 43%
reported last year. Teenage boys are particularly avid online shoppers,
with more than 60% of respondents having made a purchase on the
Internet, compared to teen girls (46%). More than half of the survey's
respondents (61%) said they preferred online shopping to shopping on
the High Street, up considerably from the 52% reported last year.
Online teen shoppers chiefly spend their money on CDs (45%),
computer games and equipment (45%) and DVDs and videos (43%),
Halifax said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?T58626A6B
_____________________________________________

o U.K.-Based Screen Technology to Float on AIM in August

Cambridge, England -- Screen Technology Ltd., a Cambridge-based
technology firm that develops area display screens, announced that it is
planning an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock
Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) within the next few
weeks. Screen Technology said it expects to raise as much as £10
million with the IPO, valuing the company at approximately £25
million. Over the past decade, Screen Technology has raised about £9
million from venture-capital firms MTI, Thomas Swan & Co, TTP
Ventures and Qinteiq. The company already has more than a dozen
patents either granted or pending.
http://www.screentechnology.com/news.shtml
_____________________________________________

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Dear readers,

Thank you for your responses to our request for feedback regarding the
event originally scheduled for tomorrow evening (Wednesday, July
13).

Unfortunately, many readers are still experiencing problems travelling
in London, and so it seems appropriate to postpone the Thames Tech
Wire and European Tech Wire networking event for a couple of weeks.
We have therefore re-scheduled the event to take place on Wednesday,
July 27 -- same time, same place (6pm to 9pm at The Samuel Pepys
pub, Blackriars). We sincerely regret any inconvenience this
rescheduling may have caused.

We will send a reminder shortly before the event. Meanwhile, if you
are planning to attend on the 27th, please reply to confirm.

Many thanks,

Jim Robinson

For full details and directions, visit
http://www.techwiremedia.com/londonevent.html

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_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) The U.K. Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) announced
that applications for the fifth round of the Small and Medium
Enterprise Development Fund would be open until Aug. 31. The DTI
said that all non-profit-distributing support organisations, trade and
industrial organisations, professional bodies and research institutes
were invited to submit funding proposals to help improve the
competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). What's
more, each applicant may submit as many as four applications in the
current round. Approved projects will receive a maximum of £1.1
million, or 90% of the project's cost, whichever is less, the DTI said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K1FD4286B 

(New York) Moscow CableCom, the New York-based parent company
of a Russia-based company of same name that provides access to pay-
TV and Internet services, announced that it has named Andrew O'Shea
as its new chief financial officer. O'Shea joined Moscow CableCom in
1995 as the CFO of the J. M. Ney Company, the company's former
operating subsidiary. O'Shea served as CFO from 1999 to January 2005
and has since been active with the company in an advisory role.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050711/nym169.html?.v=16

(Santa Clara, California) U.K.-based Blackwell Publishing announced
that it has signed a new three-year deal with Santa Clara-based Atypon
Systems to renew its license of Atypon's e-publishing software
platform, as well as the hosting service that currently powers
Blackwell's Synergy journals platform. Blackwell said the new deal
would allow room for the potential growth of Synergy. Blackwell
Synergy is a journals platform for researchers, students, professors,
librarians and practitioners across a broad range of subject areas.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050711/115620.html?.v=1

(Los Angeles) Better Energy Solutions, a U.K.-based eco-friendly
technology firm, announced that it has developed a solar-powered
battery charger for portable devices like Apple's iPod and mobile
phones. The £57 Solio captures solar power to charge the iPod battery
and plugs into a wall outlet when no sunlight is available. British rock
band Coldplay recently offered a limited edition of 200 branded Solio
devices on its website.
http://www.solio.com

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> Senior Broadcast Engineer

Min. two years exp. in installing and maintaining video gear in a
television facility, preferably in news. Experience in broadcast studio
operations. Must be familiar with documentation software including
CAD, Excel spreadsheets, and word processing programs. Must be
familiar with current television technology and emerging technologies.
Must have a working knowledge of satellite, fiber and microwave
transmission technologies. The position is based in Washington, D.C.
The Associated Press is an equal opportunity, affirmative action
employer. Send your resume to APbroadcastHR@apjobs.org
_____________________________________________

> 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
price. Reach 80,000 subscribers from technology and emerging growth
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:
http://www.techwiremedia.com/europe

Questions, comments, news tips, press releases. Send email to:
jim@europeantechwire.com

Copyright: CapWire Inc. 2005

European Tech Wire - July 11, 2005

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - July 11, 2005
============================================
Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event
http://www.techwiremedia.com/londonevent.html

o Report: Bo Vesterdorf to Take Over Microsoft Antitrust Appeal
o Misys Acquires France-Based Almonde for £10.3 Million
o LDA Launches Programme to Develop London Technology
o Newnham Research Raises £4.6 Million in Second Round
o U.K. Metes Out First-Ever Conviction for Console Modification
o Intelsat to Provide Content Distribution for Israel-Based RR Sat
o Semiconductor Capital Equipment Sales Set to Fall by 11.9%
> Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event
o Briefly Noted: Calyx-Convergent Systems Ireland, Ofcom-New
Chairs for Advisory Committees, Opera Software-BitTorrent, Tiger
Telematics-Jordan Grand Prix
_____________________________________________

o Report: Bo Vesterdorf to Take Over Microsoft Antitrust Appeal

Brussels -- According to a report by Reuters, Microsoft's antitrust
appeal will be heard not by Hubert Legal -- the judge who has handled
the case to date -- but rather Bo Vesterdorf, president of the Court of
First Instance. "I can confirm that the case has been moved to the
Grand Chamber," an unnamed court official told Reuters. Pundits say
the decision to remove Legal, who will not sit on the new 13-judge
panel led by Vesterdorf, may be a reaction against a recent interview
Legal gave to French journal Concurreces in which he criticised some
of the court's assistants. Concurreces quoted Legal as saying that some
of the assistants, dubbed "ayatollahs of free enterprise", had a tendency
to argue in favour of overturning Commission rulings. Legal, however,
has insisted that what he said in the interview was not meant as attack
on the way the Commission operates.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L3D04196B
_____________________________________________

o Misys Acquires France-Based Almonde for £10.3 Million

Paris -- Misys Plc, a U.K.-based software and services provider,
announced that it has acquired Almonde SA, a France-based regulatory
risk-management software firm, for approximately £10.3 million (15
million euro). Misys said the deal would expand its Banking Systems'
risk-management capabilities. "This acquisition is a significant
development for risk-management in the international banking market
and is an example of our company strategy of organic growth
complemented by product and market enhancing acquisitions," said
Misys Banking Systems CEO Ivan Martin. Founded in 2000, Almonde
is backed by California-based venture-capital firm Benchmark Capital,
technology consultancy Accenture and Canadian Imperial Bank of
Commerce.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050708/ukf004.html?.v=17
_____________________________________________

o LDA Launches Programme to Develop London Technology

London -- The London Development Agency (LDA) announced that a
£3-million Gateway to Investment (g2i) scheme has been launched in
London to boost the capitol's position as a global centre for science and
technology companies. The LDA said that a group led by Grant
Thornton and including E-Synergy, Library House, the Innovatory and
Quo-Tec would pool its resources in order to help technology start-ups
to secure investment in the £50,000-to-£2 million range. The scheme
will focus on companies in the biotechnology, medicine,
pharmaceuticals, healthcare, IT, electronics, telecommunications,
energy, environment, science, engineering and new materials sectors,
LDA said. The g2i scheme will also provide an online portal giving
access to resources including business planning, "finance readiness"
advice and training and even a "virtual investor".
http://www.g2i.org/
_____________________________________________

o Newnham Research Raises £4.6 Million in Second Round

Cambridge, England -- Newnham Research, a U.K.-based technology
firm, announced that it has secured £4.6 million in second-round
venture-capital financing. Atlas Venture and Benchmark led the round.
"We're delighted to welcome Atlas Venture and Benchmark as
shareholders in Newnham," said Newnham Research CEO Michael
Ledzion. "Between them, they have been investing in leading
international technology companies for more than 35 years." Ledzion
said his company would use the investment to accelerate its
development and commercialisation plans. Newnham Research, which
is currently developing new ways of connecting displays to computers,
said it was also preparing to launch its first products with a selected
group of international partners.
http://www.newnhamresearch.com/news/index.htm
_____________________________________________

o U.K. Metes Out First-Ever Conviction for Console Modification

London -- A 22-year-old U.K. man has been convicted of illegally
modifying and selling Xbox videogame consoles. The ruling marks the
first ever conviction under a provision of the EU Copyright Directive,
which prohibits circumventing copyright protections. The unidentified
man modified Xbox consoles so they could play pirated games, adding
a 200GB hard drive and 80 pre-installed games. He was given 140
hours of community service and ordered to forfeit all hardware and pay
a £745 fine. "This case sets a major precedent which marks a milestone
in the fight against piracy and in protecting the games industry's
intellectual property," said ELSPA, a European videogame trade group.
"It sends a clear message to anyone tempted to become involved in
'chipping' consoles that this is a criminal offence and will be dealt with
accordingly."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?B29B5186B
_____________________________________________

o Semiconductor Capital Equipment Sales Set to Fall by 11.9%

Stamford, Connecticut -- Worldwide semiconductor capital equipment
sales are on pace to decline by 11.9% in 2005, with sales totalling 27.6
billion euro (£19 billion) in 2005, according to a new report by
technology market research firm Gartner. "While the first quarter of
2005 marked the peak of the last upcycle, declining orders over the past
few months and quarters paint a picture of slower sales for the rest of
the year," said Klaus Rinnen, research vice president for Gartner's
semiconductor manufacturing and design research group. All segments
of the semiconductor capital equipment market are projected to decline
in 2005, the firm reported.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050707/75264.html?.v=1
_____________________________________________

o Intelsat to Provide Content Distribution for Israel-Based RR Sat

Washington, DC -- Intelsat, a U.S.-based provider of satellite
communications services with primary operations in Washington, DC,
announced that RR Satellite Communications (RR Sat), an Israel-based
broadcast service provider, has selected the company to provide two
new content distribution platforms in the U.S. and Asia. In one of the
new contracts, RR Sat has chosen the Intelsat Americas-5 satellite to
distribute Asian, European and Middle Eastern content through a new
direct-to-home platform in the U.S. In the other, the company has
launched a new Pan-Asian distribution platform through Intelsat on the
APR-1 satellite.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G53C2156B
_____________________________________________

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Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event

Meet dozens of other Thames Tech Wire and European Tech Wire
readers at the Samuel Pepys pub in Blackfriars, London, on July 13.
The event will be very casual, running from 6pm to 9pm. Attendance is
free, and you are welcome to bring colleagues and associates. Please
RSVP by emailing your name and contact information to:
londonevent@thamestechwire.com 

The Samuel Pepys
Stew Lane
London EC4V 3PT
6pm to 9pm, Wednesday, July 13

For full details and directions, visit
http://www.techwiremedia.com/londonevent.html

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_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Dublin) Calyx, an Ireland-based IT firm, announced that it has
acquired Convergent Systems Ireland Ltd. for approximately 600,000
euro (£413,000) in cash. Calyx, which recently completed a successful
initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange's
Alternative Investment Market, offers IT network design, sales,
installation, training and support. Convergent provides consultancy,
project management, installation and support of voice and data
products. Calyx said the deal would increase its skills set in
professional services and systems integration, as well as bring in a
healthy client portfolio and a "positive, ambitious approach to the
converging voice and data market".
http://www.calyx.ie/promo_article.asp?content_rid=76

(London) Ofcom, the U.K. telecommunications regulator, announced
that it has appointed four new chairs for its Advisory Committees for
the Nations and Regions. The committees were established to provide
advice on the interests and opinions of people living in England,
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on communications matters.
Suzy Brain has been appointed chair of the Advisory Committee for
England; Wallace Ewart, the chair for Northern Ireland; Evan Jones,
the chair for Wales; and Joyce Taylor the chair for Scotland. Each
committee will report directly to the Ofcom Board and publish its own
annual report, Ofcom said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D2EF2186B

(Oslo) Norway-based Opera Software announced that the newest
version of its web browser will include support from the BitTorrent
peer-to-peer file-sharing network. In addition to distributing the Opera
browser through BitTorrent, the company said BitTorrent could be used
to download Linux software and videogame demos. "While BitTorrent
has been on Opera's radar screen for more than a year, the true value of
the technology became evident when the company launched Opera 8 in
April this year," said Opera's Christen Krogh. "The massive response,
with more than 100 downloads per second, dealt a technical knock-out
to Opera's servers."
http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2005/07/07/ 

(London) Tiger Telematics, the developer of the Gizmondo multi-
functional handheld video game device, announced that it has settled a
dispute with Jordan Grand Prix Ltd. over a racing sponsorship. Under
the terms, Tiger will pay £860,000 in cash and 30,000 shares of its
stock to Jordan. Tiger has already released its Gizmondo in the U.K.
and is currently gearing up to market and launch the Gizmondo in
North America and continental Europe in August.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050708/ukf008.html 

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> Senior Broadcast Engineer

Min. two years exp. in installing and maintaining video gear in a
television facility, preferably in news. Experience in broadcast studio
operations. Must be familiar with documentation software including
CAD, Excel spreadsheets, and word processing programs. Must be
familiar with current television technology and emerging technologies.
Must have a working knowledge of satellite, fiber and microwave
transmission technologies. The position is based in Washington, D.C.
The Associated Press is an equal opportunity, affirmative action
employer. Send your resume to APbroadcastHR@apjobs.org
_____________________________________________

> 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
price. Reach 80,000 subscribers from technology and emerging growth
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

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

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

To subscribe, go to:
http://www.techwiremedia.com/europe

Questions, comments, news tips, press releases. Send email to:
jim@europeantechwire.com

Copyright: CapWire Inc. 2005

European Tech Wire - July 8, 2005

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - July 8, 2005
============================================
Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event
http://www.techwiremedia.com/londonevent.html

o European Commission Takes Action against 11 Member States
o Telefonica Buys China Netcom Stake for 240 Million Euro
o Report: Technology Firms Win 90% of Irish VC Financing
o Millipore to Buy Sweden's NovAseptic for 76 Million Euro
o Report: U.K. Website Performance Falters after Explosions
o Report: DVD Sales in Top European Countries Set to Boom
> Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event
o Briefly Noted: Lloyds TSB Internet Banking-U.K. Passwords,
MicroOptical-Orange-Binocular Video Eyewear, Whale
Communications-Mike Betz
_____________________________________________

o European Commission Takes Action against 11 Member States

Brussels -- The European Commission announced that it has taken
action against 11 member states for failure to implement rules on
electronic communications. The member states in question include the
Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta,
Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Finland. The Commission said the key
issues at stake were the independence of national telecommunications
regulators, number portability and comprehensive subscriber
directories, designation of "universal service" providers and the
availability of the European emergency number 112. "The EU rules
opening up national telecommunication markets must be fully and
correctly implemented if European consumers and business users are to
get the full benefits of competitive electronic communications
services," said EU Information Society and Media Commissioner
Viviane Reding. "Our aim is to get the job done and to complete the
internal market in this key sector of the economy as soon as possible."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?P2B82656B
_____________________________________________

o Telefonica Buys China Netcom Stake for 240 Million Euro

Madrid -- Telefonica, a Spain-based telecommunications group,
announced that it has entered the Chinese telecommunications market
after it agreed to acquire a 3% stake in Hong Kong-based China
Netcom for approximately 240 million euro. The Spanish company,
which ultimately hopes to increase its stake to 5% and gain a seat on
China Netcom's board, also announced that it has signed a strategic
alliance with the Chinese firm, currently the second-largest fixed-line
operator in the country. Under the terms of the agreement, the
Telefonica and China Netcom will cooperate on equipment purchasing,
research and development, marketing and business strategies,
Telefonica said.
http://www.telefonica.com/home_eng.shtml
_____________________________________________

o Report: Technology Firms Win 90% of Irish VC Financing

Dublin -- According to PricewaterhouseCooper's European Technology
Investment Report, Ireland-based technology firms received nearly
90% of local venture-capital financing last year. Total investment by
venture capitalists in the country came to more than 166 million euro,
56% of which was poured into IT firms and about 25% of which was
invested in medical and health companies. By comparison, European
technology companies last year received only a fifth -- or 6.4 billion
euro (17%) -- of total VC financing, down from 19% the year previous.
However, the report also found that the average amount invested in
each Irish company came to just 510,000 euro, well below the average
amount reported in the rest of Europe or the U.S.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?P21B1356B
_____________________________________________

o Millipore to Buy Sweden's NovAseptic for 76 Million Euro

Stockholm -- Two days after announcing that it acquired a Dutch
provider of contract laboratory testing services, Millipore, a U.S.-based
bioscience company, announced that it has entered into an agreement to
acquire NovAseptic, a Sweden-based provider of processing
applications for biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
The all-cash acquisition as priced at about 76 million euro.
NovAseptic's disposable sampling system is used by biotech and
pharmaceutical companies to take fluid samples from their drug
manufacturing processes. The company's other processing components
include high-performance mixers and valves, designed for performance
and reliability in stringent drug production environments.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X3EA2356B
_____________________________________________

o Report: U.K. Website Performance Falters after Explosions

London -- Many popular web sites in the U.K. experienced significant
performance problems following Thursday morning's terrorist attacks
in London, according to information released by Keynote Systems. The
websites of Sky News, the Financial Times and the BBC all
experienced what the firm called "significant slowdowns" in the hours
after the explosions, as people flocked to them for news. The
company's index of speed and reliability for 40 key U.K. sites showed
that average page-download times increased by about four times.
Naomi Luland, a spokeswoman for the BBC, which runs by far the
most popular website in the U.K., said that Thursday was most likely
the BBC website's busiest day in history.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G6BA3156B
_____________________________________________

o Report: DVD Sales in Top European Countries Set to Boom

Dublin -- The value of DVD sales and rentals in the five major
European markets -- the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Spain -- will
grow from 7.8 billion euro (£5.3 billion) in 2004 to more than 14
billion euro (£9.6 billion) in 2009, according to a report from Dublin-
based Research and Markets. Fighting for consumers' attention with
DVD will be digital TV services, including cable, satellite and free-to-
air digital terrestrial services. While growth of cable TV is expected to
remain flat to slightly negative through 2009, satellite TV is expected
to grow by 6%. Free digital terrestrial services will jump from 4.9
million subscribers in 2004 to 23.7 million in 2009. "New digital
delivery services such as digital terrestrial and IPTV are not likely to
supplant the DVD business, but rather bring digital entertainment to
people by adding … convenience, mobility or improved accessibility,"
the firm said.
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c20397 
_____________________________________________

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event

Meet dozens of other Thames Tech Wire and European Tech Wire
readers at the Samuel Pepys pub in Blackfriars, London, on July 13.
The event will be very casual, running from 6pm to 9pm. Attendance is
free, and you are welcome to bring colleagues and associates. Please
RSVP by emailing your name and contact information to:
londonevent@thamestechwire.com 

The Samuel Pepys
Stew Lane
London EC4V 3PT
6pm to 9pm, Wednesday, July 13

For full details and directions, visit
http://www.techwiremedia.com/londonevent.html

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) When it comes to choosing safe passwords, Brits still just
don't get it, according to a new report by Lloyds TSB Internet Banking.
The report found that as much as a fifth of U.K. Internet users select
their own names as passwords. Worse still, more than 70% of the
survey's respondents admitted that they use the same passwords on
several websites. Much to the delight of hackers worldwide, about 20%
of Brits said they kept their passwords on their PCs instead of
memorising them. And perhaps worst of all, Lloyds found that the most
commonly used words for passwords included pet names (17%), family
names (12%) and first names (12%).
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G5BB2456B

(Taunton, Massachusetts) MicroOptical Corp., a U.S.-based maker of
"binocular video eyewear", announced that France-based wireless
network operator Orange SA will distribute its video eyewear along
with Samsung SGH-D600 handsets as part of its Orange World
wireless multimedia service. The video eyewear, which contains two
full-colour, QVGA microdisplays made by Kopin, will allow users to
view TV, movies, photos and broadband Internet content with "a big
screen viewing effect". The service will be offered to Orange
subscribers from October.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050707/75402.html 

(London) Whale Communications, a U.S.-based provider of virtual
private network (VPN) technology, announced that it has appointed
Mike Betz as managing director of the company's operations in Europe.
Betz most recently served as vice president of Central Europe
Operations for SMARTS. Whale has been growing its EMEA sales
over 65% annually, has tripled its European channel partner base over
the past six months and is increasing its presence throughout the region,
which currently accounts for more than 45% of the company's global
sales.
http://www.whalecommunications.com

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

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Copyright: CapWire Inc. 2005

European Tech Wire - July 7, 2005

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - July 7, 2005
============================================
Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event
http://www.techwiremedia.com/londonevent.html

o U.K. Networks Struggle to Cope with Aftermath of Explosions
o EU Report Calls for Reform of Internet Licensing for Music
o Microsoft and France Telecom to Offer Array of Mobile Services
o Report: Mobile Content Downloads Set to Triple Next Year
o Philips Agrees to Pay 235 Million Euro for U.S.-Based Stentor
o Millipore Acquires Dutch Firm MicroSafe for 7.8 Million Euro
o MCI Completes Acquisition of U.K.-Based ICF Software Line
> Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event
o Briefly Noted: The Welsh Development Agency-Gareth Wilson,
Loudeye-Exabre, Spot Image-Herve Buchwalter
_____________________________________________

o U.K. Networks Struggle to Cope with Aftermath of Explosions

London -- London's mobile and fixed-line networks suffered severe
congestion after a series of explosions rocked the capitol early
Thursday morning. U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair said the explosions
appeared to be the work of terrorists, although their exact cause was
still unclear at midday. London's mobile networks were overwhelmed
for large periods of time after thousands of frightened people began
phoning friends and family. "There are so many people making calls at
the moment, it is taking a while for people to get through," said a
Virgin Mobile spokeswoman. "The volume of calls has really surged."
Vodafone Group, the largest mobile-phone operator in the world, said
its London mobile network was running at full capacity. The company
said it planned to free up part of its capacity for emergency services and
that some of its customers might experience "temporary problems".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4659737.stm
_____________________________________________

o EU Report Calls for Reform of Internet Licensing for Music

Brussels -- The European Commission has published a report
proposing a number of reforms for the way that music is licensed for
use on the Internet. The Commission said it concluded that the main
obstacle to the growth of legitimate online content services was the
difficulty of securing attractive content for online exploitation. The
Commission said that the present structures for cross-border collective
management of music copyright particularly prevented music from
fulfilling its "unique potential as a driver for online content services".
The report said "entirely new structures" for cross-border collective
management of copyright were required and that the most effective
model for achieving that would be to allow right-holders to authorise a
collecting society of their choice to manage their works across the
entire EU.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?S3FF1336B
_____________________________________________

o Microsoft and France Telecom to Offer Array of Mobile Services

Paris -- Microsoft announced that it has forged a partnership with
France Telecom in which the two companies will offer Windows-based
mobile services. The U.S.-based software giant said the first products --
which will deliver voice, data and video services over phone networks -
- would be available in 12 to 18 months. The two products currently
under development are LivePhone -- a mobile phone with Wi-Fi
wireless capability -- and Homezone -- a device with mobile, Wi-Fi and
Internet-telephony protocol technologies. "This is about accelerating
convergence to provide consumers and enterprises with much richer
and simpler experiences," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
"Innovating together, we will deliver new digital devices and better
integrated end-to-end services that combine Microsoft's expertise in
software with France Telecom's expertise in broadband and mobile
networks."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X3F32346B
_____________________________________________

o Report: Mobile Content Downloads Set to Triple Next Year

London -- Consumer demand for downloadable mobile-phone content
is expected to triple over the next year, creating a 7.6-billion-euro
global market for mobile content, according to a report from U.K.-
based market research firm LogicaCMG. About 20% of the world's 1.5
billion mobile users have already downloaded content to their phones, a
figure expected to rise to 60% over the next year. Ringtones, games and
music are currently the most popular downloads, with subscribers
spending an average of $7.54 per month on mobile content. About 10%
of mobile users also expect to be able to download video to their
phones within the next year. "Mobile phone users are starting to
experiment with their phones' capabilities but, drawing a parallel with
the popular SMS experience, it is clear that the service needs to be
simple, safe and intuitive from initial browsing through to payment and
download," said LogicaCMG COO Paul Gleeson.
http://www.logicacmg.com 
_____________________________________________

o Philips Agrees to Pay 235 Million Euro for U.S.-Based Stentor

Brisbane, California -- Royal Philips Electronics, an electronics giant
based in the Netherlands, announced that it will acquire Stentor, a
California-based provider of picture archiving and communication
systems (PACS) used for storing, managing and distributing digital
radiology images throughout hospitals and healthcare facilities. Under
the deal, Philips will pay approximately 235 million euro in cash for
Stentor in a deal already approved by Stentor's shareholders. Stentor
expects 2005 sales to grow to approximately 42 million euro and 2006
sales to increase another 50%. Stentor will be incorporated into the
Healthcare IT business of Philips's Medical Systems division, with
California becoming the global headquarters of Philips's overall PACS
business.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050706/55782.html?.v=1
_____________________________________________

o Millipore Acquires Dutch Firm MicroSafe for 7.8 Million Euro

Billerica, Massachusetts -- Millipore, a U.S.-based bioscience
company, announced that it has paid 7.8 million euro to acquire
MicroSafe, a Dutch contract laboratory that develops assays and
provides a range of testing services. The company employs 30
professionals and is based in Leiden, the Netherlands. "(MicroSafe has)
a loyal client base and the expertise that will help us expand the scope
of service we offer to our biotech and pharmaceutical customers,
particularly in the area of virus and mycoplasma testing," said
Millipore CEO Martin Madaus. "Their application knowledge will also
help us accelerate development of products and systems for rapid
process monitoring."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050705/55472.html?.v=1
_____________________________________________

o MCI Completes Acquisition of U.K.-Based ICF Software Line

Ashburn, Virginia -- MCI, a U.S.-based telecommunications firm that
has agreed to be acquired by Verizon, announced that it has completed
its acquisition of the ICF (Interactive Content Factory) software line
from TWI, the media arm of U.K. production company IMG. Though
financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, MCI said the deal would
give it a remote editing platform built to consolidate the work processes
of the broadcast, iTV, broadband, web and mobile mediums. MCI plans
to continue to sell ICF as a software product and support current ICF
customers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050706/nyw057a.html?.v=1
_____________________________________________

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event

Meet dozens of other Thames Tech Wire and European Tech Wire
readers at the Samuel Pepys pub in Blackfriars, London, on July 13.
The event will be very casual, running from 6pm to 9pm. Attendance is
free, and you are welcome to bring colleagues and associates. Please
RSVP by emailing your name and contact information to:
londonevent@thamestechwire.com 

The Samuel Pepys
Stew Lane
London EC4V 3PT
6pm to 9pm, Wednesday, July 13

For full details and directions, visit
http://www.techwiremedia.com/londonevent.html

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Cardiff) The Welsh Development Agency (WDA) announced that
Gareth Wilson has been named managing director of the e-Business
Support Programme in Mid Wales. The WDA said Wilson would assist
companies with their applications to receive high levels of e-business
support and specialist consultancy services to help improve their
business efficiency and profitability. "Hundreds of businesses across
Wales have already benefited from the programme, and as such, I am
totally committed to ensuring that businesses in Mid Wales are given
the same opportunities to apply and transform their business processes
using IT," Wilson said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?W2601346B 

(Seattle) Loudeye, a U.S.-based provider of branded digital music
stores, announced that it has partnered with U.K.-based Exabre to
incorporate the company's music recommendation technology into its
network of digital music stores. Exabre's recommendation system takes
a mix of users' search, sampled, streamed and purchase history and
compares it with other users' data and external information. "We
believe this personalised music technology can be valuable for assisting
consumers in finding and discovering new music they may want to
purchase through an intuitive and engaging experience," said Loudeye
Europe General Manager Ed Averdieck.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050706/sfw045.html 

(Chantilly, Virginia) Spot Image, a France-based supplier of
geographic information derived from optical and radar satellite
imagery, announced that it has named Herve Buchwalter as its new
chairman and chief executive officer. Buchwalter succeeds Jean-Marc
Nasr, who has accepted a new position within the EADS group.
Buchwalter most recently served as the head of international business
development at the Earth Observation, Navigation and Science
Business Division of Astrium.
http://www.spot.com/html/SICORP/_401_473_486_890_.php

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

> Reach Beyond Your Local Metro Area for Event Attendees

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

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Questions, comments, news tips, press releases. Send email to:
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Copyright: CapWire Inc. 2005

European Tech Wire - July 6, 2005

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - July 6, 2005
============================================
Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event
londonevent@thamestechwire.com

o European Parliament Rejects Controversial Patent Directive
o Sigma Sells Mobile Technology to PCTEL for 22 Million Euro
o Oger Telecom to Pay 5.5 Billion Euro for Turk Telecom Stake
o smartFOCUS Acquires France-Based AIMS for 1.5 Million Euro
o High Integrity Raises 3.7 Million Euro in Second Round
o Mobile-Imaging Company Cognima Raises 10 Million Euro
o Briefly Noted: Goldman Sachs-Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi Energia-
Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi Telecom, Be Unlimited-24Mbps Broadband
Service, Vodafone Germany-Friedrich Joussen, Premier Farnell-
John Hirst, Vecta Software-Martin Mackay
_____________________________________________

o European Parliament Rejects Controversial Patent Directive

Brussels -- In a landmark ruling, the European Parliament on
Wednesday rejected a proposed law that would have created a single
way of patenting software across the EU. Lawmakers overwhelmingly
rejected the highly controversial software patent directive (648 to 14),
arguing that human knowledge could not be patented and claiming that
the measure would have stifled innovation in Europe. "Patents will
continue to be handled by national patent offices ... as before, which
means different interpretations as to what is patentable, without any
judiciary control by the European Court of Justice," said EU External
Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The decision, which
will be seen as a blow to many of Europe's larger technology groups,
marks the first time in history that parliament has rejected a position
already approved by all of the EU member states.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?V2B95126B
_____________________________________________

o Sigma Sells Mobile Technology to PCTEL for 22 Million Euro

Dublin -- PCTEL, a U.S.-based wireless broadband firm, announced
that it has acquired assets of Sigma Communications Group, an Ireland-
based mobile and telecommunications firm. Under the terms of the
agreement, Sigma sold its mobile network antennae "tilting" unit,
dubbed Sigma Wireless Technologies (SWT), to PCTEL for
approximately 22 million euro (£15 million). Sigma said its
shareholders could receive an additional 7.5 million euro depending on
whether the company is able to meet revenue targets over the next year
and a half. SWT's technology allows mobile operators to tilt base
station antennae, thereby allowing them to be directed toward high-
density locations to increase coverage in the area.
http://www.pctel.com/news-index.php 
http://www.sigma.ie/frame.html
_____________________________________________

o Oger Telecom to Pay 5.5 Billion Euro for Turk Telecom Stake

Istanbul -- Oger Telecom, a newly created joint venture controlled by
the Saudi-Lebanese group Saudi Oger Ltd. and Italy-based
telecommunications firm Telecom Italia, announced that it has won the
battle for a 55% stake in Turk Telecom, the telecommunications
company formerly owned by the Turkish government. Under the terms
of the privatisation, Telecom Italia and Oger Telecom will sign a four-
year Technical Assistance Agreement with Avea, the Turkey-based
mobile operator in which Telecom Italia owns a 40% stake; Turk
Telekom, a 40% stake; and IsBank, a 20% stake. Oger Telecom said
that the partnership between Saudi Oger Ltd. and Telecom Italia would
focus on the mobile business, "given that Oger Telecom … will
continue its cooperation in fixed-line telephony with BT Telconsult".
http://makeashorterlink.com/?B3EA2126B
_____________________________________________

o smartFOCUS Acquires France-Based AIMS for 1.5 Million Euro

Bristol, England -- smartFOCUS Ltd., a Bristol-based marketing
software firm, announced that it has acquired AIMS Software, a
France-based campaign-management software group, for
approximately 1.5 million euro (£1 million) in cash and new shares.
"The combination of AIMS's excellent reputation, leading software
solutions and knowledgeable local staff with smartFOCUS's existing
operations offers a number of synergies to the enlarged group, our
customers and partners," said smartFOCUS CEO Chris Underhill.
Under the terms of the deal, smartFOCUS, which is listed on the
London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market, will issue 3.2
million shares and make a cash payment of about £400,000. An
additional payment of £500,000 in either cash or shares will be made
next July, the company said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y6281526B
_____________________________________________

o High Integrity Raises 3.7 Million Euro in Second Round

Hampshire, England -- High Integrity Solutions Ltd., a U.K.-based
software firm, announced that it has received £2.5 million (3.7 million
euro) of second-round venture-capital financing. Albany Ventures led
the round, with Foresight Venture Partners and Enterprise VCT Plc
(advised by Noble Fund Managers) also participating. High Integrity
said it would use the funds to market its software-development
framework for major engineering projects worldwide, particularly in
the avionics and transport industries. "Albany Ventures, Foresight
Venture Partners and Noble Fund Managers have proved themselves to
be astute investors in technology companies with the habit of picking
winners," said High Integrity Managing Director Ron Stewart. "We can
now shift our sales and marketing into top gear."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?J3952626B
_____________________________________________

o Mobile-Imaging Company Cognima Raises 10 Million Euro

London -- Cognima, a U.K.-based mobile-imaging firm, announced
that it has raised £6.8 million (10 million euro) in venture-capital
financing. Crescendo Ventures led the round, with existing investors
Atlas Venture, TLcom Capital Partners and TTP Ventures also
participating. "Cognima's technology is uniquely able to transfer photos
and videos on and off mobile phones in a completely non-intrusive and
totally reliable way, with just a single key press," said Crescendo
Partner Ian Jenks. "The technology was designed to deal with the
adverse real-world conditions of moving data over mobile networks
whilst making the consumer experience effortless." Cognima said it
would use the funds to "build on its current commercial traction" and
"seize a global leadership position" in the mobile-imaging industry.
http://www.cognima.com/
_____________________________________________

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Thames Tech Wire/European Tech Wire Networking Event
6pm to 9pm, Wednesday, July 13
londonevent@thamestechwire.com

Meet dozens of other Thames Tech Wire and European Tech Wire
readers at the Samuel Pepys pub in Blackfriars, London, on July 13.
The event will be very casual, running from 6pm to 9pm. Attendance is
free, and you are welcome to bring colleagues and associates. Please
RSVP by emailing your name and contact information to:
londonevent@thamestechwire.com 

For full details and directions, visit
http://www.techwiremedia.com/londonevent.html

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

o Briefly Noted:

(Milan) The European Commission announced that it has approved the
proposed acquisition of the telecommunications cable businesses of
Italy-based Pirelli by Goldman Sachs, a U.S.-based investment bank.
The two divisions in question -- Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi Energia and
Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi Telecom -- are active in the production and sale
of cable systems in the energy and telecommunications sectors. The
Commission said that no company controlled by Goldman Sachs was
engaged in the EU in the same markets as those in which the acquired
businesses were active and that the acquired businesses faced strong
competition from companies such as Corning and DrakaComteq.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?P3B56326B 

(London) Be Unlimited, a U.K.-based Internet service provider (ISP),
announced that it plans to launch a 24Mbps broadband service in the
U.K. within the next three months. "The deregulation of the market
makes this a very exciting time for the U.K., and Be is here to make the
most of it, offering customers the full capability of ADSL2+ from
launch," said CEO Boris Ivanovic. "There is no reason to drag out the
increase in speed and launch in steps of 1Mb or 2Mb when the
capability is there to offer the maximum speeds available." Although
the new service would dwarf the current top speed of 8Mbps, industry
analysts have questioned the demand for such a service.
http://www.bethere.co.uk/news_release.html

(Frankfurt) U.K.-based Vodafone Group Plc, the largest mobile-phone
company in the world, announced that it has appointed Friedrich
Joussen as the new chief executive of its Germany-based operation,
effective Oct. 1. Vodafone said that Joussen, currently Vodafone
Germany's chief operating officer, would replace Jurgen von
Kuczkowski, who will retire from Vodafone in October. Vodafone
CEO Arun Sarin said that Joussen, who will sit on Vodafone's
executive committee, had extensive experience in the mobile industry
and had been instrumental in the successful growth of Vodafone's
German division.
http://www.vodafone.de/start.html

(London) Premier Farnell Plc, a U.K.-based component distributor,
announced that chief executive officer John Hirst has resigned from the
company's board of directors and that acting chairman Peter Gershon
would assume all executive responsibilities, effective immediately.
According to Premier Farnell, Hirst resigned after the board decided
that it was in shareholders' interest to seek a new chief executive to
"drive the performance of the business". Analysts say Hirst is being
held responsible for reduced profits and anaemic first-quarter sales in
the U.S. market.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?A1772326B

(Oxford, England) Vecta Software Corp., a U.K.-based software firm,
announced that it has appointed Martin Mackay, who boasts more than
15 years of experience in the European technology industry, as its new
chief executive officer. Prior to joining Vecta, Mackay was as a partner
and board member at Add Partners, a venture-capital firm focusing on
the European technology sector. He also held a number of positions at
Peoplesoft over an eight-year period, Vecta said. Vecta's sales-
intelligence software helps make sales teams more effective by
analysing customer buying patterns.
http://www.vecta.net/about_vecta.htm

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

> 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
price. Reach 80,000 subscribers from technology and emerging growth
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|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

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

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http://www.techwiremedia.com/europe

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jim@europeantechwire.com

Copyright: CapWire Inc. 2005

European Tech Wire - June 30, 2005

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - June 30, 2005
============================================

o Motorola Acquires U.K.-Based Sendo for Undisclosed Sum
o T-Online to Acquire Spain-Based Albura for 61.5 Million Euro
o Report: U.K. Venture Capitalists Increasingly Looking Abroad
o Sequoia Raises 165-Million-Euro Fund for Israel Tech Firms
o German Prosecutors Target Buyers of Pirated Movies, Software
o EU Approves IBM Acquisition of Italy's GV and GV Services
o Report: Wave of Trojan Attacks on U.K. Originated in China
o Briefly Noted: Smart Holograms-Andrew Williams, Suomen
3G-Finnish Government, Groove Mobile-PTC
_____________________________________________

o Motorola Acquires U.K.-Based Sendo for Undisclosed Sum

Birmingham, England -- Motorola, a U.S.-based mobile-phone
company, announced that it has acquired the research and development
operation and IP portfolio of Sendo, a U.K.-based mobile firm.
Financial details were not disclosed. Sendo's R&D unit currently
employs about 200 engineers, 170 of whom are based in the U.K., with
the rest based in Singapore. Motorola said it planned to integrate the
engineers into its Mobile Devices business, while preserving the team's
focus on designing technologies that allow wireless operators to deliver
value-added services. The U.S.-based firm also acquired Sendo's entire
IP portfolio, including 50 existing and 40 pending patents. The
remainder of Sendo has been put in administration.
http://www.motorola.com/
_____________________________________________

o T-Online to Acquire Spain-Based Albura for 61.5 Million Euro

Madrid -- T-Online International, a division of Germany-based
telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, announced that it has
agreed to acquire Albura, a Spain-based network operator. T-Online
said it would pay Spanish group Red Electrica de Espana
approximately 61.5 million euro, including debt, for the company.
What's more, a long-term usage agreement with Red Electrica will
guarantee T-Online access to a modern network infrastructure in Spain,
the German company said. T-Online said it would pursue its goal of
60% DSL-network demand coverage by the end of next year. The
company's existing network currently covers about 40% of the Spanish
market, including six metropolitan and 50 regional areas.
http://www.t-online.net/c/46/78/53/4678536.html
_____________________________________________

o Report: U.K. Venture Capitalists Increasingly Looking Abroad

London -- According to a new survey by Portman Travel, a U.K.-based
business travel management consultancy, venture capitalists in the U.K.
are increasingly looking abroad for new business ideas and
opportunities to invest. Portman's survey of 50 U.K.-based venture-
capital and private-equity firms found that were looking for new
opportunities mostly in South America and Eastern Europe, especially
in Brazil, Hungary, Romania, Russia and the Ukraine. "We have found
that the VCs we surveyed would travel to the U.S. and China if offered
a plane ticket today, but that many favoured the long-term prospects of
countries that are less crowded in the overseas 'gold rush' for real
business opportunities," said Bob Govan, Portman Travel's marketing
and development director.
http://www.portmantravel.co.uk/
_____________________________________________

o Sequoia Raises 165-Million-Euro Fund for Israel Tech Firms

Jerusalem -- Sequoia Capital, a California-based venture-capital firm,
announced that it has raised approximately 165 million euro for its third
Israeli fund, bringing the total amount of funds under management in
the country to 323 million euro. Sequoia Managing Partner Haim
Sadger said demand for the fund was more than double the amount
raised and that most of the participants were return investors drawn by
the Sequoia name and the prospect of investing in Israel. "It was a
relatively short and easy round, and everybody took part with
enthusiasm," he said. Sequoia, which targets early stage Israeli
companies in the components, systems and software industries, said it
would use the funds to invest in new companies to its portfolio.
http://www.sequoiacap.com/
_____________________________________________

o German Prosecutors Target Buyers of Pirated Movies, Software

London -- Prosecutors in Germany have begun criminal proceedings
against the first of some 15,000 users who allegedly knowingly paid to
download pirated movies and software on the Internet, The Register
reported. Authorities last year arrested two brothers operating a
download service called Ftpwelt.com, alleging the men had profited
more than 1 million euro from sales of pirated movies, games and
software on the site. In addition to pressing charges against the
operators of Ftpwelt.com, German prosecutors have also narrowed a
list of consumers who purchased pirated content from the site from
45,000 to 15,000. Those consumers now face potential lawsuits, fines
and even prison time.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/06/28/german_warez_case
_____________________________________________

o EU Approves IBM Acquisition of Italy's GV and GV Services

Brussels -- The European Commission announced that it has approved
the proposed acquisition of Global Value (GV) and Global Value
Services (GV Services) of Italy by IBM Italia, the local subsidiary of
U.S.-based technology giant IBM. GV Services is active in the design
and operation of IT infrastructures and IT application development and
maintenance, while GV takes care of the marketing and distribution of
GV Services's output, predominantly in Italy. GVEntity is currently
jointly controlled by IBM Italia and Business Solutions, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Italy-based Fiat. The Commission said the
proposed acquisition was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y50552DA8
_____________________________________________

o Report: Wave of Trojan Attacks on U.K. Originated in China

London -- According to U.K.-based email security firm MessageLabs,
the flood of "industrial-strength" malicious programmes that has
overwhelmed as many as 300 U.K. businesses and government offices
over the last few weeks originated in China. The company, however,
added that it would be wrong to conclude that Chinese hackers were
responsible for the Trojan horse attacks. "MessageLabs can confirm
that the source of the IP addresses originates in China, but there's a
much bigger and broader problem here," said MessageLabs CTO Mark
Sunner. "The 'China' word is not meaningless, but it doesn't mean they
are the perpetrators."
http://www.messagelabs.com/home/default.asp
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Cambridge, England) Smart Holograms Ltd., an early stage sensor-
hologram technology company based in the U.K., announced that it has
appointed Andrew Williams as its new chief financial officer. Prior to
joining Smart Holograms, Williams served as vice president of finance
at Cambridge Antibody Technology. "(Williams) combines extensive
Blue Chip financial experience which, with his demonstrated ability at
CAT, shaped and executed a financial strategy that enabled rapid
development of this emerging biotech firm to become a highly
successful, international, publicly-quoted company," said Smart
Holograms CEO Frank Craig.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?J61621B5B

(Helsinki) The Finnish government announced that it has cancelled a
3G licence awarded to operator Suomen 3G, a subsidiary of Sweden-
based Tele2, because the company did not build its network in time.
"We cancelled Suomen 3G's licence because we found out that they
don't have (a) network, and, according to the licence terms, they should
have (had one)," said Riku Ahola, Finland's Minister of Transport and
Communications. "At the end of last year, we … gave them a last
chance, but they did not do it." Ahola said the frequencies would either
be allocated to Elisa, Finnet and TeliaSonera -- the three other
companies with 3G licenses -- or be kept in reserves.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I1C321B5B

(Andover, Massachusetts) Groove Mobile, a U.S.-based provider of
mobile music download services, announced that it has partnered with
Polish wireless carrier PTC to launch Poland's first full-track mobile
music download service. Groove Mobile's library of tracks from labels
including EMI, Warner and V2 will be available to PTC's nearly 9
million subscribers. With the deal, Groove Mobile further extends its
reach to more than 33 million mobile-phone subscribers worldwide, the
company said.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050629/law017.html?.v=15

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Copyright: CapWire Inc. 2005

European Tech Wire - June 29, 2005

============================================
EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - June 29, 2005
============================================

Would you like to meet other members of the local technology
community? For details about our free networking event in London on
July 13, send an email to jim@europeantechwire.com  and write "Tech
Wire Networking Event" in the subject header.

o Report: EU Pursuing Antitrust Investigation of Chipmaker Intel
o T-Mobile Teams Up with Google to Offer Internet Services
o Medical Informatics Firm dbMotion Raises 8.4 Million Euro
o U.K. Inward-Investment Surge Boosts Technology Sector
o IVCA: Irish VC Investment in Local Companies Falls Sharply
o London Deputy Mayor Launches £15-Million Technology Fund
o Briefly Noted: Google Earth, British Library Digital Project, France
Telecom-Wanadoo-Orange, Vocera Communications-U.K. Office,
NTL-Universal Music Group
_____________________________________________

o Report: EU Pursuing Antitrust Investigation of Chipmaker Intel

Brussels -- According to a report in the Financial Times, the European
Commission is pursuing its antitrust investigation of U.S.-based Intel,
currently the largest computer-chip maker in the world. "We are
actively pursuing our investigation into possible violations of EU
competition rules by Intel, particularly as regards its policies on
rebates," a Commission spokesperson told FT. The Commission has
been looking into a complaint filed by rival AMD -- which claims Intel
abused its dominant position by offering rebates that prevented rivals
from entering the market -- for the last five years. If EU antitrust
regulators ultimately determine that Intel has in fact abused its position,
the Commission could fine the company as much as 10% of its global
annual turnover.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L2951595B
_____________________________________________

o T-Mobile Teams Up with Google to Offer Internet Services

Frankfurt -- T-Mobile, the wireless division of Germany-based
telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom, announced that it has
teamed up with Google, a U.S.-based search-engine company, to
provide mobile Internet services. Under the terms of the partnership, T-
Mobile will use Google as the starting point for surfing the Internet on
its mobile phones. "With the Google homepage, we want tell our
customers from the first moment that they are carrying with them the
Internet they know from home," said T-Mobile board member Ulli
Gritzuhn. The deal represents a significant shift in T-Mobile's wireless
strategy, as most European mobile users remain largely uninterested in
advanced mobile services.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D2E36395B
_____________________________________________

o Medical Informatics Firm dbMotion Raises 8.4 Million Euro

Jerusalem -- dbMotion, an Israel-based provider of medical
informatics, announced that it has raised 8.4 million euro of second-
round venture-capital financing. dbMotion's technology allows
healthcare organisations to share medical information, regardless of
format or geographical location of the data. Gemini Israel Funds led the
round, with existing investors Vertex Venture Capital and Pitango
Venture Capital also participating. dbMotion, which was spun off of
Ness Technologies last year, said it would use most of the funds to
boost expansion efforts in a number of overseas markets. The
remainder will be used for marketing, sales and R&D, the company
said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q1942295B
_____________________________________________

o U.K. Inward-Investment Surge Boosts Technology Sector

London -- A new report by the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) shows that the local technology sector has been the main
beneficiary of a record 31% surge in inward investment. The DTI
found that IT, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and R&D projects
accounted for nearly half of the 1,066 projects that created
approximately 40,000 jobs last year. U.K. Trade and Industry Secretary
Alan Johnson attributed the surge in inward investment to the United
Kingdom's economic performance, emphasis on research and
technology and skilled, flexible workforce. "We must ensure that we
maintain our momentum by adding value and exploiting technology,"
he said. "In an increasingly global market place, established economies
like the U.K. cannot compete on the basis of low labour costs."
http://www.ukinvest.gov.uk/investmentreport/index.cfm
_____________________________________________

o IVCA: Irish VC Investment in Local Companies Falls Sharply

Dublin -- A new report by the Irish Venture Capital Association
(IVCA) shows that the amount of money invested by Irish venture-
capital companies in local companies last year fell sharply from about
255 million euro in 2003 to just 61 million euro last year. "We estimate
that, at the end of 2004, we have enough capital to service investment
needs over the following 12 to 18 months," said IVCA Chairman
Desmond Fahey. "But the implication of this is that Irish VCs will
require significant funding in 2006 if the venture capital sector is to
continue to develop and support Irish entrepreneurs and industry." The
IVCA said the decrease was disappointing, but added that the local
technology sector was generally performing well, having received
about 87% of overall investments.
http://www.ivca.ie/
_____________________________________________

o London Deputy Mayor Launches £15-Million Technology Fund

London -- London Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron announced that the
English capitol has launched a £15-million venture-capital fund that
will focus on technology investments. Gavron said the new London
Technology Fund would be funded by the London Development
Agency and the European Regional Development Fund and that it
would support technology start-ups throughout the Greater London
area, "helping to turn world-class research into world-class business".
The deputy mayor said London decided to launch the fund in order to
bridge an "equity gap" for technology start-ups, "where traditional
venture capitalists are deterred from investing by the risks and
uncertainties relative to other opportunities".
http://www.lda.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.1155
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) Google, a U.S.-based search-engine giant, announced that it
has launched Google Earth, a free download that starts with a view
from earth as seen from space and allows users zoom down to detailed
street-level maps for virtually any location on the planet. 3D features
include actual representations for buildings in major U.S. cities, plus
video playback of driving directions. With the new service, users can
type in an address and "zoom right in"; search for schools, parks,
restaurants and hotels; get driving directions; tilt and rotate the view to
see 3D terrain and buildings; save and share searches and favourites;
and even add their own annotations.
http://earth.google.com/

(London) According to a new report by the British Library, nearly 90%
of newly published work in the U.K. will be available in digital form by
the year 2020. By comparison, only half of newly published work by
that same year will also be available in print form, with just 10% of
new titles available only in print, the report said. The British Library
said the new collection would include both digital-born works and
previous works that have been digitised. British Library Chief
Executive Lynne Brindley described the project as a "seismic shift" in
the publishing world.
http://www.bl.uk/news/2005/pressrelease20050629.html

(Paris) France Telecom, the France-based telecommunications
bellwether, announced that it has decided once again to rename
Wanadoo, its U.K.-based Internet service provider (ISP). Wanadoo,
which used to be known as Freeserve, will now become Orange, the
company said. Under the terms of the rebranding, Wanadoo will
become the umbrella brand for all mobile, broadband and other
converged telecommunications services. Once the change takes place
next year, Wanadoo customers will be able to get their mobile,
broadband, video-on-demand and fixed line services charged on the
same bill, France Telecom said.
http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/

(Reading, England) Vocera Communications, a U.S.-based wireless
communications firm, announced that it has opened a new office in
Reading. The Vocera system, which has been available in the U.S.
since 2002, allows mobile workers to communicate instantly with one
another using wearable Vocera communications badges. "Vocera is a
new paradigm in speech communication," said Vocera CEO Julie
Shimer. "We have researched the customer needs and technology
adoption for each region we expect to enter, and the (U.K.) was the
most natural choice for our first European market."
http://www.vocera.com/news/press062905.shtm 

(London) NTL, a U.K.-based cable TV and broadband provider,
announced that it has signed an agreement with Universal Music Group
to offer Universal music videos on its video-on-demand service. Music
video content will feature multi-platinum selling acts such as U2,
Scissor Sisters, Keane, Eminem, Nelly, Gwen Stefani, Ashanti, Ronan
Keating, Girls Aloud, Daniel Bedingfield, McFly and The Bravery.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. NTL currently has more
than 3 million cable TV and 1.4 million broadband subscribers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050628/285534.html 
http://www.ntl.com

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Product Planning, Rollout And Demo Workshops from ZIGZAG
Marketing

Complex processes made simple. Market sizing, product roadmap,
simple techniques for problem-based product requirements, working
with product development, product positioning, pain-based demo
scenarios, building references into your processes, sales and marketing
materials, rollout planning and execution, internal training, marketing
programs. FastTrack learning means you learn adopt and benefit faster.
http://www.zigzagmarketing.com/workshops.asp
Send inquiries to jmansour@zigzagmarketing.com
_____________________________________________

> 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
price. Reach 80,000 subscribers from technology and emerging growth
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

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

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

To subscribe, go to:
http://www.techwiremedia.com/europe

Questions, comments, news tips, press releases. Send email to:
jim@europeantechwire.com

Copyright: CapWire Inc. 2005