British boardrooms lack technological understanding

There is a gulf in understanding between Chief Executives and Chief Information Officers in British boardrooms according to a new study. Only 19 per cent view their ICT infrastructure as 'excellent' and twelve per cent think their systems are poor value for money. According to the study carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit on behalf of Telewest, nearly two thirds of CEOs say that technology usually underperforms against expectations. ...more

IBM, Cisco team up to kick start corporate VoIP

IBM, IT supplier to the world's biggest corporations and Cisco, the manufacturers of much of the internet's infrastructure has signed a deal to develop corporate grade VoIP. The companies say that they will introduce new services and products aimed at kick starting the market for corporate VoIP. IBM also says it will be offering its consultation services to support Cisco's voice, video and conferencing products. ...more

'Disappointed' GSMA holds MPEG-4 off mobiles

The dispute over MPEG-4 licensing for mobile devices is no nearer a resolution after the GSM Association rejected new terms. The GSMA - which represents some 800 GSM network operators and device makers - described MPEG LA's revised licensing fees for its Open Mobile Alliance's Digital Rights Management technology for MPEG-4 content as a 'serious disappointment'. 'MPEG LA is missing a tremendous opportunity to unite the industry behind one solution,'said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA. ...more

Sony, NEC to merge optical disc subsidiaries

Japanese consumer electronics giants Sony and NEC have announced that they are to merge their optical disc businesses into a new joint venture. The new company to be known as Sony NEC Optiarc Inc will have around 350 employees and a combined turnover of 220 billion yen or just over a billion pounds. Shares in the company will be split 55 per cent for Sony with the remainder owned by NEC. ...more

AOL admits accounting impropriety

AOL Time Warner has admitted that its America Online (AOL) division may have overstated revenues. Three weeks ago the SEC, the US financial regulator, launched an investigation into allegations made by the Washington Post newspaper that AOL had boosted revenues with 'unconventional deals'. AOL has now said that it may have reclassified one-off payments received - totalling $49 mn over six quarters - as revenues from advertising and ecommerce. ...more