Tellme produce voice recognition software, companies like FedEx utilise their technology.
MS are likely to integrate the Tellme voice recognition software into their an on-line collaboration service or even LCS (live communication server) which was released in beta this week.
Tellme had solutions for Linux and other open source variants, but will MS now kill these as it has done in the past with other companies it has acquired.
2007/03/16
Cisco buys WebEx
Cisco bought WebEx the on-line conferencing company for $3.2bn, which values each of WebEx's 28,000 customers at $145,000.
Cisco certainly didn't buy them for the customers, but for the services and services revenue.
Cisco are now likely to be very interested in the IMS space.
Cisco certainly didn't buy them for the customers, but for the services and services revenue.
Cisco are now likely to be very interested in the IMS space.
2007/03/15
Award of available spectrum: 10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 40 GHz—10 GHz and the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games | Ofcom
Award of available spectrum: 10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 40 GHz—10 GHz and the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games | Ofcom
Ofcom are planning to auction the 10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 40 GHz bands and have held various consultations on these bands and are proposing to make them available via various auctions (200 MHz of the 10 GHz band is utilised by the MoD).
The Olympic Games are due to be held in East London in 2012 and 10 GHz is suitable for video links and wireless cameras. Ofcom (as part of guarantees made by the UK government) is to make spectrum available for the Olympics free of charge.
Since there will be many broadcasters at the Olympics in 2012 and in test events in 2010, Ofcom are looking at making 10 GHz available, so if Ofcom issue a license or licenses the license(s) will have to take this into account.
Ofcom are holding a consultation and comments should be submitted by 12 April 2007.
Ofcom are planning to auction the 10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 40 GHz bands and have held various consultations on these bands and are proposing to make them available via various auctions (200 MHz of the 10 GHz band is utilised by the MoD).
The Olympic Games are due to be held in East London in 2012 and 10 GHz is suitable for video links and wireless cameras. Ofcom (as part of guarantees made by the UK government) is to make spectrum available for the Olympics free of charge.
Since there will be many broadcasters at the Olympics in 2012 and in test events in 2010, Ofcom are looking at making 10 GHz available, so if Ofcom issue a license or licenses the license(s) will have to take this into account.
Ofcom are holding a consultation and comments should be submitted by 12 April 2007.
2007/03/13
1785-1805 MHz in Northern Ireland
Ofcom are holding an auction for a license in Northern Ireland for spectrum in 1785-1805 MHz.
Applications must be submitted to Ofcom on 21st march 2007 between 10.00 and 15.00. They can be made to Ofcom's London office at
Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA
or their Northern Ireland office at
Landmark House, 5 Cromac Quay, The Gasworks, Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2JD
Applications must be submitted to Ofcom on 21st march 2007 between 10.00 and 15.00. They can be made to Ofcom's London office at
Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA
or their Northern Ireland office at
Landmark House, 5 Cromac Quay, The Gasworks, Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2JD
Conditions regulating Sexual Entertainment Services
Ofcom statement
Ofcom has published a statement that will force all operators of sexual entertainment services (SES) to move from 08 numbers to a new 098 number range.
Currently there are also SES running on 0908 and 0909. Existing services can remain on those numbers, though the numbering of the range will facilitate migrating to the new numer range. No new SES will be allocated on 0908 and 0909.
All premium rate services (PRS) are regulated by ICSTIS and therefore 098 services will be covered by them (currently not all 08 services are covered). Though the ICSTIS regulations come into force imediately, SES migrating from 08 numbers will be given 4 weeks to comply (to ensure they have time to complete the registration process).
This should make it clearer for consumers that they are using a PRS service and there's a standard complaints procedure for misuse.
Ofcom has published a statement that will force all operators of sexual entertainment services (SES) to move from 08 numbers to a new 098 number range.
Currently there are also SES running on 0908 and 0909. Existing services can remain on those numbers, though the numbering of the range will facilitate migrating to the new numer range. No new SES will be allocated on 0908 and 0909.
All premium rate services (PRS) are regulated by ICSTIS and therefore 098 services will be covered by them (currently not all 08 services are covered). Though the ICSTIS regulations come into force imediately, SES migrating from 08 numbers will be given 4 weeks to comply (to ensure they have time to complete the registration process).
This should make it clearer for consumers that they are using a PRS service and there's a standard complaints procedure for misuse.
802.11n draft 2.0 approved
The IEEE 802.11 working group has reached consensus after 2 months of balloting by achieving over 75% majority.
Now that the draft is approved, it will go on sale by the IEEE and companies can start to modify existing equipment to ensure compliance.
Though the draft was approved there were 3,163 comments to the draft of which 1,441 are editorial and another 1,635 technical. This means that the draft is sound, though some changes may occur before it's ratified as a standard. Future revisions will still require a 75% majority vote.
This is good news for consumers who can start to buy 802.11n draft 2.0 equipment, knowing that the final version shouldn't be too different.
Now that the draft is approved, it will go on sale by the IEEE and companies can start to modify existing equipment to ensure compliance.
Though the draft was approved there were 3,163 comments to the draft of which 1,441 are editorial and another 1,635 technical. This means that the draft is sound, though some changes may occur before it's ratified as a standard. Future revisions will still require a 75% majority vote.
This is good news for consumers who can start to buy 802.11n draft 2.0 equipment, knowing that the final version shouldn't be too different.
2007/03/08
'Online Photoshop' details emerge News - PC Advisor
'Online Photoshop' details emerge News - PC Advisor: "'Online Photoshop' "
Adobe is planning an on-line version of Photoshop, though it's aimed at consumers not professionals.
They've also announced their Remix service for video users.
Adobe is planning an on-line version of Photoshop, though it's aimed at consumers not professionals.
They've also announced their Remix service for video users.
2007/03/07
Sony debuts video Walkman
Digit Online
Sony has announced a Walkman that can play video. It comes in 2, 4 and 8GB versions.
It supports ATRAC and MP3, though battery life is better with ATRAC and it comes with software to convert various formats into ATRAC.
Videowise it supports MPEG4 (H.264/AVC) and has a QVGA 240 pixels by 320 pixels display.
The 2GB version costs around £120, the 4GB £155 and 8GB £200.
Sony has announced a Walkman that can play video. It comes in 2, 4 and 8GB versions.
It supports ATRAC and MP3, though battery life is better with ATRAC and it comes with software to convert various formats into ATRAC.
Videowise it supports MPEG4 (H.264/AVC) and has a QVGA 240 pixels by 320 pixels display.
The 2GB version costs around £120, the 4GB £155 and 8GB £200.
Adobe Creative Suite 3 to launch March 27
Adobe has said it will release Creative Suite v3 on the 27th of March, however no details have been given about what will be in CS3.
They've been running a web video (available on YouTube) called "What's in the Box" for a while.
Currently standard Adobe CS2 contains Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, InDesign CS2, Version Cue CS2 and Bridge and the Premium version adds adds Acrobat 8, GoLive CS2 and Dreamweaver 8.
They've been running a web video (available on YouTube) called "What's in the Box" for a while.
Currently standard Adobe CS2 contains Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, InDesign CS2, Version Cue CS2 and Bridge and the Premium version adds adds Acrobat 8, GoLive CS2 and Dreamweaver 8.
Availability of Numbering Resource | Ofcom
Availability of Numbering Resource | Ofcom
Ofcom are holding a consultation on reducing the number block allocations on certain exchanges were numbers are running out.
Ofcom normally allocate blocks of 10,000 numbers. Ofcom are proposing to reduce this to allocations of 1,000 numbers where numbers are becoming scarce.
This affects 59 new geographics codes (as well as the 79 existing conservation areas). There are also another 32 that, though are not at risk at present will be in the future.
Ofcom are proposing 2 options: -
Option 1: take conservation measures now on all 91 geographic area codes
Option 2: take conservation measures now on the 59 geographic area codes with the
additional 32 geographic area codes to be given conservation status in January 2008.
The consultation ends of 5th April 2007.
Ofcom are holding a consultation on reducing the number block allocations on certain exchanges were numbers are running out.
Ofcom normally allocate blocks of 10,000 numbers. Ofcom are proposing to reduce this to allocations of 1,000 numbers where numbers are becoming scarce.
This affects 59 new geographics codes (as well as the 79 existing conservation areas). There are also another 32 that, though are not at risk at present will be in the future.
Ofcom are proposing 2 options: -
Option 1: take conservation measures now on all 91 geographic area codes
Option 2: take conservation measures now on the 59 geographic area codes with the
additional 32 geographic area codes to be given conservation status in January 2008.
The consultation ends of 5th April 2007.
BT Public Call Boxes | Ofcom
BT Public Call Boxes | Ofcom
BT have to provide call boxes under their Universal Service Obligations, this is something they'd rather not do.
Some call boxes are situated in remote regions and BT wish to trial varying pricing depending on the location of the phone box itself.
BT will have to publish what they are going to do in the trial and proposed tarrifs.
Ofcom wish to allow BT to trial this but are holding a consultation on the matter.
BT have to provide call boxes under their Universal Service Obligations, this is something they'd rather not do.
Some call boxes are situated in remote regions and BT wish to trial varying pricing depending on the location of the phone box itself.
BT will have to publish what they are going to do in the trial and proposed tarrifs.
Ofcom wish to allow BT to trial this but are holding a consultation on the matter.
Proposal to make the Radio Frequency Identification Equipment (Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 | Ofcom
Proposal to make the Radio Frequency Identification Equipment (Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 | Ofcom
Ofcom is holding a consultation with regards the 865-868 MHz band which is used for RFID systems. Ofcom have previously made this band license exempt and CEPT (EU ITU) wants member states to make this permanent, which requires a law change.
Ofcom as part as CEPT (and under EU harmonisation rules) is proposing to make this happen.
Ofcom is holding a consultation with regards the 865-868 MHz band which is used for RFID systems. Ofcom have previously made this band license exempt and CEPT (EU ITU) wants member states to make this permanent, which requires a law change.
Ofcom as part as CEPT (and under EU harmonisation rules) is proposing to make this happen.
2007/03/05
PNY launches Quadro FX 4600 for 3D pros
Digit Online
PNY had released the Quadro FX4600 which is an upgraded version of the FX 4500. It has 128 parallel 1.35GHz cores and 768MB of RAM a core clock speed of 500MHz and memory speed of 600MHz and the memory interface is not 384-bit.
The chip supports Vista's DirectX 10 graphics system. It also supports CUDA, nVidia's computing platform (where the GPU can be used for computational tasks, that may not be graphics related).
Frame and gen-lock are available through a daughter card (the Quadro G-Sync board). There's also a version of the card supporting 12-bit HD SDI (the Quadro 6400SDI).
Hopefully Apple will adopt this chipset as their high-end offering for the MacPro which currently uses a Quadro 4500.
PNY had released the Quadro FX4600 which is an upgraded version of the FX 4500. It has 128 parallel 1.35GHz cores and 768MB of RAM a core clock speed of 500MHz and memory speed of 600MHz and the memory interface is not 384-bit.
The chip supports Vista's DirectX 10 graphics system. It also supports CUDA, nVidia's computing platform (where the GPU can be used for computational tasks, that may not be graphics related).
Frame and gen-lock are available through a daughter card (the Quadro G-Sync board). There's also a version of the card supporting 12-bit HD SDI (the Quadro 6400SDI).
Hopefully Apple will adopt this chipset as their high-end offering for the MacPro which currently uses a Quadro 4500.
DVD download specification approved
The DVD Copy Control Association has had its protection scheme approved by the DVD Forum who met near Japan for downloadable content that can be burnt on to DVDs. It will require a new disk that's similar to a DVD-R disk which should work on most consumer DVD players.
Initially it's expected the technology will be used in controlled environments such as kiosks rather than on PC's, though if it works out it could be used on general PC systems.
Initially it's expected the technology will be used in controlled environments such as kiosks rather than on PC's, though if it works out it could be used on general PC systems.
3D virtual world Kaneva coming soon
Digit Online
Kaneva is sort of like Second Life, but a social networking (think MySpace) version.
Currently you can sign-up, but there's no guarantee that you'll actually be invited to participate in the 3D World. However on sign-in'ing up you'll be inundated with "friend requests".
There's no real view of how they're going to make money, maybe advertising in the 3D world itself, whether it competes with traditional social networking sites only time will tell.
Kaneva is sort of like Second Life, but a social networking (think MySpace) version.
Currently you can sign-up, but there's no guarantee that you'll actually be invited to participate in the 3D World. However on sign-in'ing up you'll be inundated with "friend requests".
There's no real view of how they're going to make money, maybe advertising in the 3D world itself, whether it competes with traditional social networking sites only time will tell.
2007/03/01
Replicability: the regulation of BT's retail business exchange line services | Ofcom
Replicability: the regulation of BT's retail business exchange line services | Ofcom
Ofcom is holding a consultation on whether BT can set its own pricing on certain business exchange line services to high value customers (£1m sales per annum).
Other telcos objected to this, as they still felt BT had SMP (significant market power) in this area. Ofcom has made BT change certain products so there is greater competition. Products affected are WLR (wholesale line rental), CPS (Carrier Preselect) amongst others.
This only affects a small part of the market, but they have significant spend power.
BT are making big inroads in being allowed to bunded retails products where one may susbisidise another.
BT Wholesale has been forced to maintain broadband pricing at a relatively high level to allow competition from new LLU entrants, but this is all going to change when 1.5m exchange lines are unbundled and ith will put further pressure on LLU operators.
Ofcom is holding a consultation on whether BT can set its own pricing on certain business exchange line services to high value customers (£1m sales per annum).
Other telcos objected to this, as they still felt BT had SMP (significant market power) in this area. Ofcom has made BT change certain products so there is greater competition. Products affected are WLR (wholesale line rental), CPS (Carrier Preselect) amongst others.
This only affects a small part of the market, but they have significant spend power.
BT are making big inroads in being allowed to bunded retails products where one may susbisidise another.
BT Wholesale has been forced to maintain broadband pricing at a relatively high level to allow competition from new LLU entrants, but this is all going to change when 1.5m exchange lines are unbundled and ith will put further pressure on LLU operators.
Licensing in the 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz and 64-66 GHz bands | Ofcom
Licensing in the 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz and 64-66 GHz bands | Ofcom
Ofcom is making these bands available for short-haul fixed links on 8th of March 2007. They could allow very high bandwidth point to point links.
Ofcom will maintain a database/registry of links so interference issues can be minimised, however it's expected industry will self-regulate.
Unfortunately there's very little radio equipment available that operates in these bands and equipment costs will be prohibitive for all but high end users (the spectrum available will allow gigibit or greater link speeds), so it's more suited to intra-building applications (LAN extensions) rather than any kind of backhaul network. The license cost is also relatively high - £50 per link - again suiting more to very short-haul LAN extension links rather than a multi-hop backbone network.
Ofcom is making these bands available for short-haul fixed links on 8th of March 2007. They could allow very high bandwidth point to point links.
Ofcom will maintain a database/registry of links so interference issues can be minimised, however it's expected industry will self-regulate.
Unfortunately there's very little radio equipment available that operates in these bands and equipment costs will be prohibitive for all but high end users (the spectrum available will allow gigibit or greater link speeds), so it's more suited to intra-building applications (LAN extensions) rather than any kind of backhaul network. The license cost is also relatively high - £50 per link - again suiting more to very short-haul LAN extension links rather than a multi-hop backbone network.
2007/02/27
Tiggdo - Mobile personalization and other services for your mobile cell phone
Tiggdo - Mobile personalization and other services for your mobile cell phone
Another site that want promotion. At least their service seems sensible and they've already worked with the BBC to offer mobile personalised news to WAP enabled mobile devices.
The have developed sites in multiple languages based on BBC news.
http://ara.tiggdo.com - Arabic
http://aze.tiggdo.com - Azeri
http://car.tiggdo.com - Caribbean
http://chi.tiggdo.com - Chinese
http://fre.tiggdo.com - French
http://hin.tiggdo.com - Hindi
http://ind.tiggdo.com - Indonesian
http://kyr.tiggdo.com - Kyrgyz
http://mac.tiggdo.com - Macedonian
http://per.tiggdo.com - Persian
http://por.tiggdo.com - Portuguese
http://rus.tiggdo.com - Russian
http://ser.tiggdo.com - Serbian
http://spa.tiggdo.com - Spanish
http://tur.tiggdo.com - Turkish
http://urd.tiggdo.com - Urdu
http://uzb.tiggdo.com - Uzbek
http://vie.tiggdo.com - Vietnamese
Could be useful for your site.
Another site that want promotion. At least their service seems sensible and they've already worked with the BBC to offer mobile personalised news to WAP enabled mobile devices.
The have developed sites in multiple languages based on BBC news.
http://ara.tiggdo.com - Arabic
http://aze.tiggdo.com - Azeri
http://car.tiggdo.com - Caribbean
http://chi.tiggdo.com - Chinese
http://fre.tiggdo.com - French
http://hin.tiggdo.com - Hindi
http://ind.tiggdo.com - Indonesian
http://kyr.tiggdo.com - Kyrgyz
http://mac.tiggdo.com - Macedonian
http://per.tiggdo.com - Persian
http://por.tiggdo.com - Portuguese
http://rus.tiggdo.com - Russian
http://ser.tiggdo.com - Serbian
http://spa.tiggdo.com - Spanish
http://tur.tiggdo.com - Turkish
http://urd.tiggdo.com - Urdu
http://uzb.tiggdo.com - Uzbek
http://vie.tiggdo.com - Vietnamese
Could be useful for your site.
Create your Free mobile website today with zinadoo - Create your FREE mobile service today.
Create your Free mobile website today with zinadoo - Create your FREE mobile service today.
A template driven mobile site generator. They keep SPAMing to write something about them so here it is.
Mobile sites are growing in popularity, but mainly for bigger operations and I'm not convinced there's a big consumer market out there how want such a service. Zinadoo seem to make their money selling .mobi domains and SMS services (where links can be put on a site to text friends and such like).
The basic service is free so have a look and maybe it'll have some kind of interest.
A template driven mobile site generator. They keep SPAMing to write something about them so here it is.
Mobile sites are growing in popularity, but mainly for bigger operations and I'm not convinced there's a big consumer market out there how want such a service. Zinadoo seem to make their money selling .mobi domains and SMS services (where links can be put on a site to text friends and such like).
The basic service is free so have a look and maybe it'll have some kind of interest.
Tandberg TV go for $1.39bn
Ericsson is trying to buy Tandberg for $1.39bn, though ARRIS may yet up their bid.
Tandberg used to specialise in videoconferencing systems, though have moved in to the IPTV world and that's where the big money is going to be. Everyone will be watching TV through an internet connected set top box and everyone wants to be in that space.
Cisco bought Scientific Atlanta for the same reason.
Though IPTV is in its infancy, it's the future and everyone knows it - though the business models (and infrastructure) are still big unknowns. However the big players know they've got to do something now so they're in a position to grab the market when it does take off.
It's a big gamble, but one that is likely to pay off in the long term.
Tandberg used to specialise in videoconferencing systems, though have moved in to the IPTV world and that's where the big money is going to be. Everyone will be watching TV through an internet connected set top box and everyone wants to be in that space.
Cisco bought Scientific Atlanta for the same reason.
Though IPTV is in its infancy, it's the future and everyone knows it - though the business models (and infrastructure) are still big unknowns. However the big players know they've got to do something now so they're in a position to grab the market when it does take off.
It's a big gamble, but one that is likely to pay off in the long term.
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