BSkyB snacks on ITV shares, casting a shadow over NTL takeover plans

BSkyB has taken an 18 per cent share in ITV in what is widely considered to be a spoiler to prevent a takeover of the terrestrial broadcaster by NTL Telewest. The satellite broadcaster's ?1 billion stake falls just short of the 20 per cent limit that the 2003 Communications Act places on cross-media ownership. BSkyB chief executive James Murdoch stressed that he was not interested in a place on ITV's board, though whether this will be enough to placate industry-regulator Ofcom remains to be seen. ...more

A mobile kit for Palm handhelds

Palm is to launch its Palm Mobile Internet Kit throughout Europe. The software, for Palm's OS 3.5, includes a WAP browser that packs 'web clipping' technology, allowing the browser to pare down information from Web sites, extracting only relevant parts. ...more

Mobile phones to topple PCs?

The CEO of leading mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia, claims that by the year 2002 mobile phones with Internet capabilities will outnumber PCs. The comments were made at Nokia's annual global analysts meeting where Nokia Chairman and CEO, Jorma Ollila, revealed revised performance forecasts. The company now projects that revenue during the first half of 2001 will rise 25-35 per cent. ...more

Microsoft's voucher pay back scheme approved

A US Judge has approved the settlement for a class-action suite brought in California to the tune of $1.1bn, to be paid out in vouchers. The suit was filed in February 1999, alleging that Microsoft had overcharged its customers for its Windows products bought between 1995 and 2001, with a settlement proposed in January of this year. ...more

Forecaster predicts 35 per cent broadband coverage by 2008

Forrester Research predicts that broadband coverage in the UK will have extended to 9.5 million households, 35 per cent, by 2008. While the UK's current two million broadband subscriber are currently divided half-and-half between ADSL and cable, Forester predicts that ADSL will be the dominant platform, not least because BT and other ADSL network providers 'benefit from superior financial positions, scale, scope and brand strength'. ...more