Apple brokers deal to make three quarters of US cars iPod-ready

Apple has announced it has teamed up with Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Mazda to deliver iPod integration with the stereo systems in the majority of their car models. As a result, more than 70 per cent of 2007-model cars in the US will now have iPod integration options. Ford and General Motors will feature iPod integration in the majority of their 2007 models in the US beginning later this year, while Mazda's entire global 2007 lineup of cars and SUVs will offer iPod connectivity. ...more

Pipex buys Freedom2Surf

Pipex has acquired fellow ISP Freedom2Surf in a deal worth ?10mn. The combination of both companies' user bases will make Pipex the fifth largest provider in the UK. It has recently begun unbundling 60 exchanges, with 40 more to come, and the acquisition of F2S should help ensure that is has enough customers to make the LLU investment worthwhile. ...more

Microsoft attempts to invalidate electronic signatures

Microsoft has reached for its lawyers in its bid to quash an attempt to persuade Californians from claiming part of a $1.1 billion fund set up following an antitrust settlement. As we reported, the trouble started when desktop Linux vendor, Linodows. ...more

Reflective colour LCDs for new mobiles

After Seiko announced it was opening a factory in China to make LCD components, the company is to exhibit its new range of reflective colour LCD panels for mobile phones at CEATEC Japan 2000. The company is already providing reflective monochrome panels for mobile phones but the new colour panels are the first steps into the colour market. The new LCDs are 1. ...more

Napster blames Microsoft for iTunes dominance

Napster's CEO has blamed Microsoft for the music service's failure to close the gap on Apple's iTunes. Chris Gorog told a Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit in New York that Microsoft's 'execution has been less than brilliant' over the past year. 'Our business does rely on Microsoft's digital rights management software and our business model also relies on Microsoft's ecosystem of device manufacturers,' he said, adding that the software giant has to accommodate a host of service providers and device makers. ...more