BT cuts prices to drive SDSL take-up

BT is to halve the connection charge for SDSL broadband services for a limited period. Between 21 October 2004 and 24 February 2005 the activation fee will be cut from ?450 to ?225. The announcement follows the doubling of the number of exchanges that can provide synchronous services, bringing the total to 300. ...more

NTL swallows Virgin.net

NTL has acquired the 51 per cent of shares in Virgin.net that it did not own to become the sole owner of the ISP. Best known for its cable broadband and TV, NTL has made no secret of its intentions to expand into the ADSL arena. ...more

Sony Blu-ray prototype reads legacy media

Three for the price of one is the promise of a new Sony prototype - a device that uses a three-wavelength laser to record and playback Blu-ray Discs (BD), DVDs and CDs. Not only is the reader capable of processing multiple formats, but it also shrinks the size of the optical head. As well as reducing the number of parts involved in optical readers, Sony claims the new design will increase operational reliability. ...more

Apple countersues Creative Technology

Apple has responded to Creative Technology's attempt to stop sales of iPods by countersuing the rival MP3 player maker. Apple claims that the US division of Singapore-based Creative has infringed four patents pertaining to portable music players. The lawsuit was filed the same day that Creative sued Apple over an alleged violation of its patent. ...more

Online gambling ads face crackdown

The Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell warned online gambling companies to clean up their act when it came to advertising. Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the British Casino Association she said that she was concerned by the increase in potentially illegal advertising for the online gambling operators and warned that any company caught flouting the laws would be prosecuted. Under the Gaming Act of 1968 it is illegal for an advert to offer any incentive, inducement or encouragement to gamble. ...more