Don't forget to check out http://auda.org.au/domain-news/ for today's edition of the complete domain news, including an RSS feed - already online! Headlines from the February 18 edition of the news include: What will the Net bring to the developing world? OECD discussion by Kieren McCarthy | Your Internet: Open or Closed? | Global Net Blackout No Easy Feat for Potential Saboteurs | Unclogging the Tubes: ISPs Search for Solutions to Overburdened Lines | ICANN panel questions Network Solutions on frontrunning by Jacqui Cheng | Panel: No evidence of domain snatching | Non-English domains still unsettled | .Asia Sunrise Completed with Over 30,000 Domain Applications | Regensburg is the New German Domain Stronghold according to Denic analysis | .nz Dispute Resolution Service - Policy Review | Google finds evil all over the web | Athletes allowed to blog at Olympics And see my website - http://technewsreview.com.au/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** ICANN Opens 31st International Public Meeting in New Delhi http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-11feb08.htm Proposal: Yes to Dot-Pdf, No to Dot-123 [AP] http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/02/13/financial/f122706S63.DTL au: Domain Administration Needs Dispute Resolution Process http://www.cio.com.au/index.php/id;343691454 nz: InternetNZ members back name-change http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/34F15DEF8300566BCC2573E9000B2B2B DNS Inventor Warns of Next Big Threat http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=145663 Phishing attacks could be undetectable http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsid=11405 UDRP: Lack of Use of a Domain is NOT Always a Defense http://tcattorney.typepad.com/anticybersquatting_consum/ What's in a name? Cybersquatting case has an answer http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9062559 The Futility of IPv4 Address Recycling by Larry Seltzer http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/The-Futility-of-IPv4-Address-Recycling/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN Opens 31st International Public Meeting in New Delhi Internet issues from around the world are front and center in India as ICANN opened its 31st International Public Meeting today in New Delhi. ?This year is an important one for the future of ICANN. The U.S. government is in the middle of its Midterm Review of its Joint Project Agreement with ICANN, and we?re arguing it?s time to take the final step to originally envisioned private sector model for ICANN,? said Peter Dengate Thrush, ICANN?s Board Chairman. ?In fact the public comment period closes on the final day of this meeting ? so we expect plenty of discussion about this in New Delhi, and we will be encouraging everyone who believes in the ICANN model of coordination not control to make their thoughts known.? http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-11feb08.htm ICANN Meeting Opened by Shri Jainder Singh, Secretary, India's Department of Information Technology ICANN opened its 31st International Public Meeting in New Delhi yesterday with an address from Shri Jainder Singh, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, the Government of India. In his address to the told the crowd at the meeting's welcoming ceremony Monday morning, Secretary Singh made a number of comments about the work ICANN is doing, including its Strategic Plan. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-3-12feb08.htm Asia-Pacific Internet Users Big Part of ICANN's New Delhi Meeting Individual Internet users from Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands have direct input into the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a fact recognized today with the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ICANN and the Internet user groups who participate in the Asia-Pacific Regional At-Large Organization (APRALO). http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-14feb08.htm ICANN and Iron Mountain Complete Registrar Data Escrow QA Testing and Begin Accepting Escrow Deposits Executive Summary: The Registrar Data Escrow (RDE) program is an ICANN initiative designed to enhance protection of registrants by requiring ICANN-accredited registrars to escrow critical registration data so that it can be released to ICANN upon termination of the registrar's accreditation agreement. ICANN has performed tests of the RDE system, including a "process test" and "stress test" designed to ensure effectiveness of the program's technical specifications and test the data-release procedures used by escrow agents in the event of registrar termination. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-13feb08.htm ICANN: Background Information Regarding Previous New GTLD Application Rounds In planning for implementation of the new gTLD policy recommendations, and in response to inquiries form the ICANN community, ICANN is conducting a review of the status of applications from the New gTLD round in 2000 that were not selected for negotiations. http://icann.org/topics/background-info-newgtld-apps-13feb08.htm Translation Programme Put Out for Community Review - ICANN unveils multi-language approach for organisation The draft translation programme that will be used by ICANN to communicate and interact with non-English speakers has been put out for community comment today. The programme has two main aims: to inform people about ICANN as an organisation, including its history, processes, component parts and evolution; and to allow people to participate effectively in the organisation's ongoing decision-making and policy work. The mission of the programme is to provide those who are not fluent English speakers with an equal level of access to influence and participate in the work of the organisation. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-13feb08.htm ICANN Explores India's Pioneering Work on IDNs The Indian experience with Internationalized Domain Names and possible lessons for global implementation of IDNs will be front and center at a workshop at the ICANN 31st International Public Meeting slated for 13 February 2008 at 11 am local time. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-12feb08.htm Senior Leaders of India's IT Sector to Address ICANN Meeting Some of the most prestigious names in the Indian IT industry will share their insights and experiences with the global audience at a session at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 31st International Public Meeting in New Delhi today. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-12feb08.htm ICANN: TLDs could end with EXE. Confused? Users may be too ICANN is in the process of hammering out its new generic top-level domain (gTLD) policy, and has begun to address technical issues that could pop up once the new round of applications is open later this year. As part of a discussion on how to manage DNS stability during this potentially huge expansion of the TLD system, an organization within ICANN has proposed a few basic rules for what can and can't be used as a domain extension. Put simply, new domains will be able to make use of nearly any string of letters?including common file extensions such as .exe, .doc, and .pdf?but there will be a number of other restrictions. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080214-icann-tlds-could-end-with-exe-confused-users-may-be-too.html Proposal: Yes to Dot-Pdf, No to Dot-123 [AP] Internet addresses ending in ".pdf" or ".mp3" could appear under a new proposal, while domain name suffixes consisting entirely of numbers would likely be rejected. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/02/13/financial/f122706S63.DTL http://www.thestate.com/technology-wire/story/316212.html http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/feb/14/proposal-yes-to-dot-pdf-no-to-dot-123/ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004180361_aptechbitnewdomainnames13.html http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/166530/icann-clears-pdf-domain-names.html What?s in a ?.pdf? Domain Name? Internet addresses ending in ?.pdf? or ?.mp3 could appear under a new proposal by ICANN, while it likely would prohibit endings made entirely of numbers. http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/hdw/?p=1655 Observation v. Participation by Bret Fausett In response to my post yesterday, ICANN's Manager of Public Participation asks if I've gone mad. No, not all. The problem is that ICANN's postings from Dehli are coming too late to be meaningful to those half a world away. When I wrote yesterday's post, no transcripts from Monday's sessions had been posted. The Real Video and Audio files aren't archived, so if you don't catch a session live -- in the middle of my night, here in Los Angeles -- the files aren't available later. http://blog.lextext.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/12/3519571.html Karl Auerbach's comments to NTIA's "mid-term review" of its ICANN "JPA" agreement. Karl Auerbach's comments to NTIA on "The Continued Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System: Midterm Review of the Joint Project Agreement" are now online at: http://www.cavebear.com/archive/public/ntia-jpa-2008.html ICANN: Contribute to the ALAC Review by Wendy Seltzer Every three years, ICANN?s bylaws call for the review of its component parts. The GNSO review produced many good recommendations for restructuring of the GNSO Council and its Policy Development Process. http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2008/02/14/icann-contribute-to-the-alac-review.html ICANN Thursday by Susan Crawford Today was the public forum - huge relief to do it differently, no longer in the form of approaching a priesthood from a great distance, but now as an actual public forum, with everyone on the same level and all comments addressed at everyone. (I agitated for this a while ago but it couldn?t happen until now.) Now all we have to do is make sure that it?s actually a forum during which we all hear from unfamiliar voices. Translation is also making a difference, but, again, not yet complete. Steps, anyway. http://scrawford.net/blog/icann-thursday-2/1116/ ICANN Wednesday by Susan Crawford The best part of today, for me, came in the evening when I went to a meeting of the New Delhi chapter of the Internet Society. They had just formed - just three months ago - and they were full of ambition and enthusiasm. They were also having a lot of fun, burbling around and making jokes about each other. They are adopting schools for the blind, getting them equipment and training, and doing it very quickly. They?re trying to find members from all walks of life. They think they?ll be able to influence policy in India. It was a joy to meet them. http://scrawford.net/blog/icann-wednesday-2/1115/ ICANN Tuesday by Susan Crawford ... Tuesday was Constituency Day. I spent the morning with the gTLD registries, the afternoon with the Board and the Government Advisory Committee, and the evening with everybody at the gala dinner put on by our hosts. There are so many imponderables at this meeting. There is discussion about a post-MoU (most recent version is called the ?Joint Project Agreement?) ICANN, as that agreement will expire unless renewed in September 2009. That agreement runs between ICANN and the U.S. Department of Commerce, and is the source of ICANN?s contractual authority to make agreements with domain name registries and registrars. http://scrawford.net/blog/icann-tuesday-2/1114/ ICANN Monday by Susan Crawford This will be brief, because connectivity has been tricky in the main meeting hall and I?m running out of battery. Petty technical difficulties. The report for Monday is that ICANN Chair Peter Dengate-Thrush ran a lively session on the Joint Project Agreement (the latest MoU) between ICANN and the Department of Commerce this morning - as Bertrand de la Chapelle says, there are three questions: http://scrawford.net/blog/icann-monday-2/1113/ ITIF Comments on the Midterm Review of the Joint Project Agreement between NTIA and ICANN ITIF recently submitted comments to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on the Midterm Review of the Joint Project Agreement (JPA). In its commentary, ITIF states that the U.S. government should continue its historic role in providing oversight to the Internet?s domain name and addressing system. The U.S. government has had and continues to play an important role in maintaining the security, stability, and openness of the Internet. Without the JPA providing an effective backstop to ICANN?s original operating principles, there would be no mechanism in place to stop foreign governments from interfering with ICANN?s operations. http://www.itif.org/index.php?id=125 Is Whois Toast? SSAC pushes ICANN toward new IETF standard by Brenden Kuerbis The Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) has added a new wrinkle to the ongoing domain name Whois saga. In a document released late last week, it identified some well known and other less talked about problems with the Whois protocol and it called on ICANN and its community to pursue a more holistic approach involving policy recommendations. Interestingly, it also called for consideration of a new ?formal directory service for the Internet? standard to serve domain name interests. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2008/2/11/3517716.html Don't count on ICANN for adult supervision If there any industry that needs a code of ethics, it is domain name registrars. Let?s face this fact up front: Domain name registrars make a lot of money from people who are less than ethical. They collect fees from customers who are clearly infringing trademarks. The registrars say they don't have much choice. If they take any type of name approval role it may expose them to litigation and charges of censorship. But, still, it's a wonderful thing to make money from both the high and the low roads. http://blogs.computerworld.com/dont_count_on_icann_for_adult_supervision India to host first ICANN public meeting India will be hosting the first public meeting of ICANN - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, the body charged with overseeing Internets addressing system at Delhi from today. http://www.ciol.com/News/News-Reports/India-to-host-first-ICANN-public-meeting/11208103555/0/ ICANN meeting begins in New Delhi with call for IPv4 - IPv6 interoperability news The 31st international public meeting of ICANN got underway in New Delhi with a call to make IPv4 and IPv6 interoperable since the pool of IPv4 addresses may be exhausted in the next 3 to 4 years. http://www.domain-b.com/infotech/itnews/20080211_ipv4_ipv6.html ICANN mulls technical feasibility of Indian language domain names news At its 31st public meeting currently underway in New Delhi, ICANN said that it was exploring the possibility of introducing top level domain names in local language and local scripts. http://www.domain-b.com/infotech/itnews/20080214_domain_names.html http://www.indlawnews.com/82946BACD94325203AF4C937065C7FF0 ICANN to explore Domain Names in local languages ICANN will tomorrow discuss the India's demand for Domain Names in Indian languages. It is presently working on a programme which includes developing several characters from the languages all over the world available at the top level. http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=21636 Govt working on introducing domain names in regional languages Aiming to make internet accessible to all linguistic groups in the country, the IT Ministry is working with Internet corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to introduce domain names in regional languages. http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1090555/ ********************** - (cc)TLD NEWS ********************** .Asia helps celebrities protect their cyber identity The DotAsia Organization has announced signups from India for its groundbreaking Celebrity Pioneer Program. The Celebrity Pioneer Program offers Indian celebrities the priority to register their domain name with .Asia. http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/39478 au: Domain Administration Needs Dispute Resolution Process Australian Domain Name administrator auDA got it right last year when it decided against opening up the .au domain space for direct registration, but regulators should consider instigating domain registration dispute resolution processes and clarifying areas of responsibility across our multiple tiers of government. http://www.cio.com.au/index.php/id;343691454 dotMobi Launches DeviceAtlas, an Industry-Leading Mobile Development Tool [news release] dotMobi announced the launch of DeviceAtlas, the definitive source of mobile handset information for mobile content developers. http://mtld.mobi/node/961 dotMobi Looks to Iron Out Mobile Web's Many Wrinkles A big bugaboo standing in the way of making m-commerce a bankable asset is about to be squashed. Until early this morning, enterprises had to crawl their way through hundreds of handset specs to develop mobile Web sites to fit each. Today they can hit the ground running. dotMobi has launched a low-to-no cost, comprehensive database of global mobile handset information to assist Web developers in creating "device-aware" content. http://ecommercetimes.com/story/dotMobi-Looks-to-Iron-Out-Mobile-Webs-Many-Wrinkles-61627.html DotMobi launches database for mobile-Web developers [Reuters] DotMobi, the industry group that registers domain names for the mobile Web, launched a database of cell phone specifications on Tuesday to help software developers better design Web sites for mobile phones. http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSL1181088820080212 http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6230202.html http://www.news.com/2100-1025_3-6230202.html nz: InternetNZ members back name-change Meetings of InternetNZ members held last month were broadly in support of a change of the organisation?s registered name, The Internet Society of New Zealand. No formal vote was taken, but there were some ?straw polls? at the meetings, says executive director Keith Davidson. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/34F15DEF8300566BCC2573E9000B2B2B ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** DNS Inventor Warns of Next Big Threat The industry is just one multi-million-dollar corporate data breach away from waking up to the serious and often-silent threat of corrupted DNS resolution servers, says DNS inventor Paul Mockapetris. http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=145663 Phishing attacks could be undetectable Companies and users are at serious risk from a loophole in the the DNS that could make financial scams such as phishing attacks practically undetectable, according to a study presented this week by researchers from Georgia Tech and Google. http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsid=11405 Use of Rogue DNS Servers on Rise [AP] Mendacious machines controlled by hackers that reroute Internet traffic from infected computers to fraudulent Web sites are increasingly being used to launch attacks, according to a paper published this week by researchers with the Georgia Institute of Technology and Google Inc. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004180454_aptechbitserversthatlie13.html Next CT Blog Event: "Meta-Terror: Terrorism and the Virtual World" On Friday, February 29, at noon, I will moderate a panel titled, "Meta-Terror: Terrorism and the Virtual World" in room B339 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Our panelists will be Ken Silva, Chief Technology Officer for VeriSign, the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the digital world; Contributing Expert Roderick Jones, Vice President of Concentric Solutions International; and Contributing Expert Evan Kohlmann, a world-reknowed expert on jihadists' use of the Internet and a Senior Investigator for the NEFA Foundation. A limited number of boxed lunches will be served. The event is co-sponsored by the Counterterrorism Foundation and the GAGE International consulting firm in Washington, DC. http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/02/next_ct_blog_event_metaterror.php Spear The Phishers--Not The Fish To fight cybercrime on the Web, security experts have tried "good cop" tactics. They've worked to teach users to spot and avoid the "phishing" sites that spread malicious software and steal bank codes. They've tried tweaking Web browsers and search engines to make scam sites more apparent. But as the dark side of the Web continues to grow and evolve, they're considering a harsher strategy: wiping crime sites off the Web altogether. http://www.forbes.com/enterprisetech/2008/02/12/phishing-cyber-crime-tech-security-cx_ag_0213phish.html The Future of Cyber Warfare by Kurtis Lindqvist Every now and then I get emails from readers of my blog. I mostly reply to them in private, but I recently got one question where I thought my reply might be of general interest. I took the liberty of editing the question somewhat, but in essence it was: If you have any insight you can share with my class on cyber warfare and security, I would be delighted on hearing it. http://www.circleid.com/posts/821411_the_future_of_cyber_warfare/ Phishing for domains It appears that all TrafficZ customers have received a notice by email today they may be the target of a phishing attack. This particular website was hosted in China (Beijing - Chinanet Jiangsu Province Network). I did some research on my own and it appears that not only are TrafficZ?s customers targets but so are GoldKey?s customers. A Registrant Search on the phisher quickly showed the other target was GoldKey customers. Below is a copy of the email I received from TrafficZ: http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/02/phishing-for-domains/ ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** UDRP: Lack of Use of a Domain is NOT Always a Defense The mere holding of an infringing domain name without active use can constitute use in bad faith under the UDRP. Despite this, all too often trademark owners watch as domains are registered that incorporate their trademark. Unfortunately for the trademark owner, they think costly litigation under the ACPA is the only means of redress for what appears to be clear cybersquatting. http://tcattorney.typepad.com/anticybersquatting_consum/ What's in a name? Cybersquatting case has an answer It's not often that a domain-name holder accused of cybersquatting actually prevails in a dispute with the party that filed the complaint. It's rarer still for that entity to then win a counterclaim of attempted reverse domain-name hijacking. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9062559 Champagne.ie UDRP Decision The former registrant of the domain champagne.ie probably doesn't feel like celebrating, as he lost the UDRP against him. http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2008/02/11/champagneie-udrp-decision/ Typosquatting: A Solution by Alex Tajirian Typosquatting?s negative effect on the surfing experience can be easily eliminated, and in a way that allows all parties to make money. What?s called for is an affiliate program. You would not be happy if you typed a domain name into your browser and wound up in nowhere land because of a simple misspelling. That?s the negative surfing effect of typosquatting. http://www.circleid.com/posts/typosquatting_a_solution/ Bounty Hunters to Track Down Cybersquatters? Rick Schwartz has been warning other domainers for some time about the dangers that lurk ahead. One lawyer at Out-law.com is proposing that trademark holders band together to track down and police cybersquatters worldwide. This effort would be funded by large global corporations. http://tcattorney.typepad.com/anticybersquatting_consum/2008/02/bounty-hunters.html ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** The Futility of IPv4 Address Recycling by Larry Seltzer The powers that be for IP address allocation are gathering old space that was wastefully allocated long ago, but it won't make much difference. Some time ago I wrote somewhere about Geoff Huston and his projections for the depletion of what remains in the IPv4 address pool. I was intrigued by his work and suggested to him that there were a lot of wasteful class A addresses out there, and perhaps they could be reallocated to better purpose. http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/The-Futility-of-IPv4-Address-Recycling/ Could IP address plan mean another IPv6 delay? Internet policymakers are considering sweeping changes to the way they distribute IP addresses that could allow network operators to make money by transferring unused blocks of IPv4 address space to others in need. One result could be lessened incentive to move to IPv6 any time soon. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/021308-ipv6-delay.html?t51hb http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1780085522;fp;2;fpid;1 http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1780085522;fp;2;fpid;1 VeriSign Strengthens DNS For IPv6 Sitting at the heart of the Internet itself are the key A and J root DNS servers (define) that help to ensure that Internet traffic goes where it's intended. So it only makes sense that for the coming IPv6 adoption to actually occur, those two root servers need to be on-board. Fortunately, that's exactly what's happening. http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3727661 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** VeriSign expands Internet infrastructure in India VeriSign announced its intentions to locate to a new Regional Internet Resolution Site (RIRS) in India, one of the most rapidly expanding Internet nations in the region. The new site will help support Internet traffic for .com and .net, and help provide Internet users in India with enhanced performance and greater stability. The move is part of Project Titan, VeriSign's multi-year initiative to strengthen the critical Internet infrastructure and expand its capacity tenfold by the year 2010. These upgrades are vital to managing the surge in Internet interactions and helping to protect against cyber attacks that are growing in both scale and sophistication. http://computerworld.com.sg/ShowPage.aspx?pagetype=2&articleid=7563&pubid=3&tab=Home&issueid=124 Afilias and CERT-In Sign MoU to Improve Internet Security in India [news release] Afilias, a global provider of registry services, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to share critical information and resources to enhance Internet security in India and world-wide, increase awareness of important security issues, and to cooperate in emergency response to critical threats. http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/398614.html Prince Andrew Gets 'Royal Tour' Of Go Daddy - Promotes UK Trade His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, spent part of Tuesday touring The Go Daddy Group, Inc. headquarters, as part of a trip designed to improve economic ties between Britain and the United States. The Duke of York, who is fourth in line to the British throne, made the trip as the United Kingdom?s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/news/release_view.asp?news%5Fitem%5Fid=144&app%5Fhdr= Dot Asia gives Kapil Dev a cyber identity & website In the backdrop of ICANN's (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) 31st International Public Meeting in New Delhi in association with Department of IT and National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), the DotAsia Organisation announced the launch of Kapil Dev's website www.KapilDev.asia. http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb164.php Kapil Dev's website launched Legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev's fans can now reach out to him through his website www.KapilDev.asia. "I lost out on securing KapilDev.com and KapilDev.in. However, KapilDev.asia will be my home on the internet. DotAsia is doing commendable work through its Celebrity Pioneers Program," the former India captain said at the launch here. http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=22012 http://www.calcuttanews.net/story/327272 Country domain names - Part 1 If you were to type the web address "www.jamaica.com" into the address bar of your Internet browser, you might expect to be taken to a site owned or operated by a department of the Government of Jamaica, containing information about the civic affairs of Jamaica. Instead, however, you would be taken to a site which is owned by a private Canadian-based company, Caribbean Online, which sells vacations to the Caribbean. The corporate head office is in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the website describes the corporation as "a privately funded, start-up company incorporated in the state of Delaware that has as its principal business the creation, communication, facilitation and management of travel research, planning and booking for the Caribbean." http://jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20080212T200000-0500_132471_OBS_COUNTRY_DOMAIN_NAMES___PART__.asp ISOC launches Strategic Global Engagement programme [reg req'd] http://www.telecom.paper.nl/news/article.aspx?id=203687 ********************** - DOMAINING ********************** Yahoo Kills Domain Arbitrage: Fallout for Google, Others In a major move sure to have ramifications across the online advertising industry, Yahoo has told its advertising partners that it will no longer accept ?arbitraged? traffic as of this Friday. Here?s a look at what this means for domainers and even the revenue of big online advertising companies. http://domainnamewire.com/2008/02/12/yahoo-kills-domain-arbitrage-fallout-for-google-others/ Yahoo?s Arbitrage Bomb: One Day Later One day after Yahoo dropped a bombshell that it would no longer accept arbitrage traffic to its advertising feed, the reaction has been swift and loud. I?ve been monitoring domain forums and this is what people have to say: http://domainnamewire.com/2008/02/13/yahoos-arbitrage-bomb-one-day-later/ Yahoo! to enforce Anti-Arbitrage rules for Domain Parking Companies As per an email we just received from Parked.com, Yahoo! has warned the parking companies using a Yahoo! feed that they need to enforce the anti-arbitrage (?no paid traffic?) rules in the future. http://www.domainnamenews.com/ppc-industry/yahoo-to-enforce-anti-arbitrage-rules-for-domain-parking-companies/1433 ********************** - AFTERMARKET ********************** Cruises.co.uk Changes Hands for Over $1 Million in Largest .co.uk Sale Ever Reported The operators of Great Britain's Cruise.co.uk website have purchased the plural version of that domain, Cruises.co.uk, from German travel company Nees Reisen in the largest .co.uk sale reported to date. The price was ?560,000 ($1,099,798). http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2008/domainsales02-12-08.htm No Credit Crisis for Domain Names With all the attention on the credit crisis and subprime mortgages these days, I was curious if domain financing companies might be tightening standards and raising interest rates. I reached out to the authority on domain financing ? Domain Capital president Robert Alfano ? to find out if the domain financing business is changing. http://domainnamewire.com/2008/02/14/no-credit-crisis-for-domain-names/ Threats to the Domain Name Industry What keeps you up at night? As a business owner, I have lots of worries. If you are sleeping comfortably at night, assuming everything in the domain industry is swell, you might be in for a rough 2008. http://domainnamewire.com/2008/02/11/threats-to-the-domain-name-industry/ TRAFFIC down under 2008 DNCalendar and TRAFFIC have reported that the domain name industry's premier conference T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is coming to Australia in 2008. http://www.geekzone.co.nz/domainspace/4577 Iraq.com, Iran.com, Kosovo.com, and Arabia.com for sale Sedo, a domain-name auctioneer, is holding an auction for three big Web addresses. Got deep pockets? For the right price, one of these could be yours: http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/8157 http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2008/02/14/iraq-com-iran-com-domain-names-up-for-grabs/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Vodafone: 'mobile internet must improve or perish' Vodafone issued a stern warning to the world?s mobile operators today, saying that they had to improve dramatically the experience of using the internet on phones or risk losing out to the likes of Google and Facebook. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3357194.ece Film star sex scandal causes internet storm in China An unlikely coalition of pop idols, communist censors, Hong Kong police and a Catholic bishop are fighting to stifle the biggest celebrity sex scandal in the history of the Chinese internet. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/12/china.internet Arrests over sex videos fuel Internet debate in Hong Kong A series of arrests of Internet users in Hong Kong, for posting photos and videos of what appear to be some of Asia's best-known singers engaged in sex acts, has triggered a debate over free speech and whether the police here are selectively enforcing anti-pornography laws. http://iht.com/articles/2008/02/12/asia/hong.php http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/business/worldbusiness/13internet.html Russia to become No2 in number of internet users in Europe By 2008 end the number of internet users in Russia might exceed 40 mln, the new study of the eMarketer research company reads. Thus, Russia might become the second in Europe by the size of its internet audience being inferior only to Germany. http://eng.cnews.ru/news/top/indexEn.shtml?2008/02/11/287595 ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** How Sticky Is Membership on Facebook? Just Try Breaking Free Are you a member of Facebook.com? You may have a lifetime contract. Some users have discovered that it is nearly impossible to remove themselves entirely from Facebook, setting off a fresh round of concern over the popular social network?s use of personal data. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11facebook.html BBC warns staff over internet pictures BBC editorial staff have been told to be cautious over the use of photos from social networking websites, saying the practice raises a number of legal and ethical issues. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/11/bbc.medialaw ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Pocket battleships v pipes in the air: mobile players vie for $600bn prize After a decade of promises, the mobile internet has arrived. So too have the giants of online business, which see the coming of reliable internet on the move as a lucrative mass consumer market that cannot be left to the mobile phone operators. The mobile industry is worth ?300bn a year and with more than half the world's population now owning a mobile phone, that figure will only grow. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/feb/11/mobilephones.telecoms Nokia cements its lead, leaving rivals far behind The Finnish cellphone leader dominates the market, but an expensive foray into mobile services could pose a challenge ahead. http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/12/technology/handsets.php ********************** SPAM ********************** Russia emerges as spam superpower, as Asia and Europe overtake North America Sophos details dirty dozen spam-relaying countries for Q4 2007 [news release] IT security and control firm Sophos has published its latest report on the top twelve spam-relaying countries over the final quarter of 2007. Experts at SophosLabs scanned all spam messages received in the company's global network of spam traps, and have revealed a dramatic rise in the proportion of the world's spam messages being sent from compromised Russian computers. The country has stormed into second place, accounting for 8.3% of the world's spam, or one in twelve junk mails seen in inboxes. Russia's rise is echoed in Sophos's research into which continents make the greatest contribution to the spam problem - with Asia and Europe overtaking North America. http://sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2008/02/dirtydozfeb08.html Russia becomes 'spam superpower': survey [AFP] Russia has become a a "superpower" of spam email, becoming the second most prolific country after the United States in producing junk emails, a computer security firm says. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/12/2160296.htm Spam, spam, and more spam [AAP] Spammers appear to be more concerned about our health than our wealth, as the number of spam emails continue to rise, according to a recent report. Internet security provider Marshal has released the findings of its latest Threat Research and Content Engineering report for the second half of 2007, which found that the total volume of spam increased by more than 50 per cent. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/02/13/1202760372360.html http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/02/13/1202760372360.html ********************** DIGITAL DIVIDE ********************** Technology and development: The limits of leapfrogging-The spread of new technologies often depends on the availability of older ones Mobile phones are frequently held up as a good example of technology's ability to transform the fortunes of people in the developing world. In places with bad roads, few trains and parlous land lines, mobile phones substitute for travel, allow price data to be distributed more quickly and easily, enable traders to reach wider markets and generally make it easier to do business. The mobile phone is also a wonderful example of a ?leapfrog? technology: it has enabled developing countries to skip the fixed-line technology of the 20th century and move straight to the mobile technology of the 21st. Surely other technologies can do the same? http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10650775 Technology in emerging economies: Of internet caf?s and power cuts-Emerging economies are better at adopting new technologies than at putting them into widespread use Within a few months China will overtake America as the country with the world's largest number of internet users. Even when you factor in China's size and its astonishing rate of GDP growth, this will be a remarkable achievement for what remains a poor economy. For the past three years China has also been the world's largest exporter of information and communications technology (ICT). It already has the same number of mobile-phone users (500m) as the whole of Europe. http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10640716 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** E.U. Regulators Raid Intel Offices [AP] Antitrust regulators raided the Munich office of Intel Corp. searching for evidence that the company may have broken cartel or monopoly rules, the European Commission said. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-EU-Intel.html Spanish police detain 76 in major Internet fraud probe Police in Spain have detained 76 people acrosss the country as part of what they described Sunday as their biggest-ever probe into Internet fraud. The suspects defrauded their victions of over three million euros (four million US US dollars), police said in a statement. http://news.smh.com.au/spanish-police-detain-76-in-major-internet-fraud-probe/20080211-1rex.html Australian cybercrime goes under the microscope The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has launched a new study into the effects of cybercrime on Australian commerce by commissioning a survey of more than 10,000 businesses across the country, seeking information about their experiences with online transgressions and what is being done to prevent them. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Australian-cybercrime-goes-under-the-microscope/0,130061744,339285903,00.htm Cyveillance Reports Over 100 Percent Increase in New Phishing Targets in 2007 [news release] Cyveillance, the world leader in cyber intelligence, today announced its latest ?Online Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Report,? highlighting the latest changes in phishing scams and the shift in malware attacks increasingly targeting users outside the United States. Specifically, Cyveillance?s intelligence indicates that in 2007, over 900 new brands were first time targets of phishing attacks, representing a more than 100 percent increase in new phishing targets compared to 2005 and 2006 combined. The report also identified the global expansion of malware attacks targeting previously untapped economically developed international countries. http://cyveillance.com/web/news/press_rel/2008/2008-02-11.asp ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Database tracking British students causes privacy concerns The government has devised an electronic database to track every teenager from the age of 14, recording their personal details, every exam result and exclusions. http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2256044,00.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** China launches new internet purge China has started another official crackdown on online games, pornography and internet cafes as part of a campaign against juvenile crime, a state news agency said today. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/12/china.censorship China Targets Internet in Crime Sweep [AP] Seeking to ferret out online games considered overly violent or unhealthy, China has targeted illegal Web sites, computer markets and Internet cafes as part of a campaign to rein in juvenile crime. http://news.smh.com.au/china-targets-internet-in-crime-sweep/20080212-1rt1.html http://news.theage.com.au/china-targets-internet-in-crime-sweep/20080212-1rt1.html au: Underbelly ban 'useless' online VICTORIAN internet users won't have to wait long to see illegal versions of the Nine Network's new crime TV series Underbelly, despite a court order banning its showing in the state. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23202284-16123,00.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Let's listen to children: They know how to make the Internet a safer place! [news release] On 12 February, 100 organisations in over 50 countries worldwide celebrate Safer Internet Day. In Brussels a first ever pan-European Youth Forum on Safer Internet is organised by the European Commission with the participation of Meglena Kuneva, the EU's Consumer Commissioner. The purpose is to increase dialogue between children and decision makers on safer Internet issues and to raise awareness of the best ways for protecting minors online. Safer Internet Day is organised under the patronage of the EU's Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding. http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/207&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en Mobile phone operators join forces to block child sexual abuse websites Europe's mobile phone operators are joining forces to obstruct access to child sexual abuse websites. Leading operators, including Vodafone, Orange and 3, will announce plans today to install technology in their networks that will bar access to thousands of blacklisted sites. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/telecoms/article3346151.ece Mobile firms to block child porn Mobile firms from across the world have launched a new alliance which aims to block paedophiles using phones to send or receive child sexual abuse images. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7238739.stm Mobile operators team up against child abuse Mobile operators across Europe are teaming up against the use of mobile internet services to distribute child pornography images. The GSM Association is launching "the Mobile Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Content" made up of most of the major operators including Orange, Telecom Italia, Telefonica O2, TeliaSonera, T-Mobile, Vodafone and dotMobi. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/11/mobile_alliance_content/ GSMA Launches Mobile Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse [news release] The GSM Association, the global trade association for mobile operators, has launched the Mobile Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Content to obstruct the use of the mobile environment by individuals or organisations wishing to consume or profit from child sexual abuse content. While the vast majority of child sexual abuse content is today accessed through conventional connections to the Internet, there is a danger that the broadband networks now being rolled out by mobile operators could be misused in the same way. http://gsmworld.com/news/press_2008/press08_09.shtml http://mobileworldcongress.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=199 Online sex predators prefer IM, chat rooms to social networks Quick, picture an Internet sex predator. If you're like many members of the public, you probably pictured a middle-aged man clicking away on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace as he lies to kids he meets about his age and intentions. Such a picture doesn't survive an encounter with data, though; social networking sites are actually safer than chat rooms and instant messaging, while most perpetrators are upfront about both their ages and desires. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080206-online-sex-predators-prefer-im-chat-rooms-to-social-networks.html Porn studio wants Google, Yahoo to help protect kids The world's leading adult film studio is calling on internet giants Google and Yahoo to "erect stronger barriers" to keep children from viewing online pornography. Vivid Entertainment co-founder Steven Hirsch said he planned to make his case publicly during a lecture at Yale's School of Management on February 16, during the Ivy League university's "Sex Week." http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Porn-studio-wants-Google-Yahoo-to-help-protect-kids/0,130061733,339285963,00.htm NYC may ban sex predators from online social sites [Reuters] New York City prosecutors on Tuesday endorsed the United States' first proposed law to ban registered sex offenders from social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, officials said. http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN1225336020080212 nz: Netsafe is launching an initiative against cyber bullying and harassment, to mark Internet Safety Day To help mark Internet Safety Day today, the group Netsafe is launching an initiative to help teachers in the war against cyber bullying and harassment. http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=81623 Aussies reminded to play it safe online Australians are being reminded to make their internet experience safe and not become a victim of online crime. http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/aussies_reminded_to_play_it_safe_online_540242 http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=458765 http://news.smh.com.au/aussies-reminded-to-play-it-safe-online/20080212-1rp6.html http://news.theage.com.au/aussies-reminded-to-play-it-safe-online/20080212-1rp6.html au: The internet is another area for police to patrol The Australian Federal Police (AFP) encourages the public to exercise the same precautions on the Internet as they do in the ?real world? on Safer Internet Day today. http://www.australia.to/story/0,25197,23040466-721,00,00.html Safer Internet Day [12 Feb 08]: Online risks to children on the increase across Europe, evidence shows Evidence that more children across Europe are being exposed to risks online and are increasingly distressed by them was revealed this week by EU Kids Online to mark Safer Internet Day. http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=14131 Safer Internet Day highlights web risks Safer Internet Day is being marked around Europe with events to educate children and parents about net dangers. Themed events will reveal the risks of sharing too much personal data and warn children that their virtual friends may not be who they say they are. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7239395.stm Half of UK kids have seen Internet porn More British children who have been on the internet have seen porn there, according to figures released by EU Kids Online, a survey of the London School of Economics. http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/02/11/uk-kids-love-bit-porn ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** au: New government, new year, new promises Why government Internet filtering raises more questions than it answers. What better way to kick off the new year as Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy than to equate freedom of speech with watching child pornography, as did freshly appointed Federal Broadband Minister, Stephen Conroy. http://www.itnews.com.au/Feature/4207,new-government-new-year-new-promises.aspx eu: Price of texting from abroad set to fall The cost of sending a text message from abroad is poised to plummet after the European telecoms commissioner, Viviane Reding, today warned she would impose regulations if mobile phone companies do not cut their prices by the summer. ... Reding added that the cost of using the mobile internet while abroad was also too high. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/feb/11/mobileworldcongressbusiness.mobilephones1 us: Senate Passes Bill to Expand U.S. Spying Powers After more than a year of heated political wrangling, the Senate handed the White House a major victory Tuesday by voting to broaden the government?s spy powers after giving legal protection to phone companies that cooperated in President Bush?s warrantless eavesdropping program. The Senate rejected a series of amendments that would have restricted the government?s surveillance powers and eliminated immunity for the phone carriers, and it voted in convincing fashion ? 69 to 29 ? to end debate and bring the issue to a final vote. That vote on the overall billwas an almost identical 68 to 29. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/washington/12cnd-fisa.html ********************** FILE SHARING ********************** British internet users could be banned over illegal downloads People who illegally download films and music will be cut off from the internet under new legislative proposals to be unveiled next week. ISPs will be legally required to take action against users who access pirated material, The Times has learnt. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article3353387.ece Internet users could face disconnection for illegal downloads Internet users who illegally download music and films could lose their access to the web under legislation aimed at cracking down on those who flout piracy laws. Powers being drafted by the government will compel internet service providers to take action against customers who access pirated material. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/feb/12/piracy.politics Internet body opposes policing role The body representing internet service providers has cast doubt on the viability of government proposals to make them responsible for identifying and punishing illegal music and video downloaders. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6d0480ae-d9c0-11dc-bd4d-0000779fd2ac.html The sound of (free) music People who illegally download films and music are apparently to be cut off from access to the internet under the terms of a green paper to be published next week. Well that's a change of heart for Britain's music industry. At first they started suing customers who indulged in excessive downloads. Now they seem to have persuaded the government make ISPs - who are merely the conduit for all this traffic - into police who monitor offenders on a "three strikes and out" basis. According to the story in the Times, a warning email would be sent for the first offence, followed by suspension from the service and finally termination of the internet contract. What an interesting idea. Maybe the government should have thought of that during the Great Train Robbery and made British Rail responsible. After all it happened on their tracks. http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/victor_keegan/2008/02/the_sound_of_free_music.html Plundering the pirates The government has taken the first steps toward enforcing a ban on illegal internet downloads - with the prospect of cutting broadband services for persistent offenders. Owen Gibson asks whether such a move is practically enforcable http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/feb/12/piracy.politics1 Illegal downloaders 'face UK ban' People in the UK who go online and illegally download music and films may have their internet access cut under plans the government is considering. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7240234.stm US might stop ISPs blocking content - by law Legislation designed to prevent broadband internet providers from unreasonable interference with subscribers' access to content was introduced by a senior US lawmaker. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10492451 Inside Net Neutrality: Is Your ISP Filtering Content? Your ISP acts as a gateway between you and the Internet. It's the pipeline that allows you to access everything from your e-mail to remote file servers where you back up your important data--not to mention browsing the Web. But what happens if, instead of a pipeline, your ISP instead acts as a filter? In some cases, that scenario is beginning to play out as ISPs increasingly seem to be moving toward favoring some types of traffic over others. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,142474-c,broadband/article.html Comcast Defends Role As Internet Traffic Cop Comcast said yesterday that it purposely slows down some traffic on its network, including some music and movie downloads, an admission that sparked more controversy in the debate over how much control network operators should have over the Internet. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR2008021202778.html ********************************* COMMENT, MICROSOFT & DEVELOPMENTS ********************************* Murdoch rescue bid for Yahoo sets up showdown with Gates Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is negotiating to rescue the embattled internet company Yahoo through an alliance that could set up a heavyweight business showdown between the Australian-born media mogul and Microsoft's Bill Gates. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/14/newscorporation.yahoo News Corp 'in secret Yahoo talks' Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is reportedly in talks with Yahoo about a possible deal that would stave off an approach from Microsoft. The Wall Street Journal said that News Corp was eyeing a move that would see MySpace and other of Murdoch's web interests merge with Yahoo. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7244178.stm Yahoo seen in News Corp. talks, but analysts dubious [Reuters] Yahoo is in talks on a possible deal with News Corp., but analysts said an alternative was unlikely to emerge to rival Microsoft's bid for Yahoo, now valued at $42.1 billion. http://www.news.com/2100-1030_3-6230534.html Is Yahoo Flirting With News Corp. to Make Microsoft Jealous? Yahoo has held talks with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. about a partnership, merger or similar arrangement, according to reports. Such a deal would help fend off Microsoft's unsolicited $44.6 billion bid to take over the portal and create an Internet force capable of rivaling Google. News Corp. would offer significant benefit to Yahoo, most notably in the form of the MySpace social networking site. http://ecommercetimes.com/story/Is-Yahoo-Flirting-With-News-Corp-to-Make-Microsoft-Jealous-61677.html News Corp and Yahoo: how a tie-up could work Last week Rupert Murdoch was keeping his options open when asked about swapping some of News Corporation's online properties for a stake in Yahoo. "I think that day has passed, but you never know," the News Corporation chairman said. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/14/yahoo.yahoo Little Room for Yahoo to Maneuver Can Yahoo avoid being gobbled up by Microsoft? Many analysts say it is increasingly unlikely. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/technology/14yahoo.html Yahoo Chief Explains Rejection of Microsoft Bid Jerry Yang, the chief executive of Yahoo, explained his company?s rejection of Microsoft?s buyout offer in a letter to shareholders late Wednesday outlining why he believed the bid, initially valued at $44.6 billion, was too low. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/technology/14cnd-yahoo.html Microsoft Vs. Google: Who's Got More Antitrust Issues? In the fall of 1997, I was interviewing Bill Gates at a conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. Suddenly the door to the boardroom we were using sprung open, and Bill Neukom, then Microsoft's general counsel, rushed up to Gates and pulled him from the room. http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/02/14/antitrust-microsoft-yahoo-tech-enter-cx_sl_0214antitrust.html Office Killers Microsoft's all-out effort to acquire struggling Web portal Yahoo! isn't about selling banner ads. Sure, short term, the Redmond software giant wants the Sunnyvale, Calif., Internet company so that it can finally get a grip on the booming online advertising business. Long term, however, Microsoft wants Yahoo! so that it doesn't lose its hold on the far more lucrative market for desktop applications. http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/02/14/microsoft-yahoo-google-tech-intel-cx_bc_0214office.html Yahoo! To Shareholders: Trust Us In letter, CEO Jerry Yang says management has investors' best interests in mind in rejecting Microsoft. http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/02/13/yahoo-shareholder-letter-tech-cx_wt_0213techyahoo.html After Rejection by Yahoo, Microsoft Hints at a Fight The war of words between Yahoo and Microsoft has begun. Hours after Yahoo officially rejected Microsoft's takeover offer on Monday, calling it too low, Microsoft described Yahoo's response as "unfortunate" and said its own proposal was "full and fair." http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/technology/12yahoo.html What Microsoft Should Do While Yahoo! Dithers Yahoo! may be dithering over its future, but Microsoft is not. Microsoft announced Monday that it had bought cellphone vendor Danger, presumably to strengthen its mobile position and counter the Android agenda of Google. Chances are Microsoft will make other moves while waiting for Yahoo! to surrender. At the top of Chief Executive Steve Ballmer's list should be a different sort of deal: acquiring Facebook. http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/02/11/mitra-yahoo-microsoft-tech-intel-cx_sm_0212facebook.html After Spurning Microsoft, Yahoo Reaches Out to AOL Now that Yahoo has formally rejected Microsoft's unsolicited $44 billion buyout bid, the Internet company has set its sights on its own deal with AOL. Yahoo reached out to AOL to gauge the Internet pioneer's interest in some sort of deal, according to someone familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are private. Yahoo is contacting a number of possible partners, the source said, and it is unclear whether the company seeks a buyout or partnership with AOL. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/11/AR2008021100785.html Yahoo Officially Rejects Offer Yahoo officially rejected Microsoft?s $44.6 billion takeover offer on Monday, calling the bid too low. ?After careful evaluation, the board believes that Microsoft?s proposal substantially undervalues Yahoo including our global brand, large worldwide audience, significant recent investments in advertising platforms and future growth prospects, free cash flow and earnings potential, as well as our substantial unconsolidated investments,? the company said in a statement. The company said it would continue to evaluate all its options. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11cnd-yahoo.html Yahoo rejects Microsoft takeover bid Yahoo formally rejected Microsoft's unsolicited $31-a-share takeover bid today, claiming the offer - which values it at around $41bn (?21bn) - was too low. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/feb/11/microsoft.technology Yahoo! sparks $45bn bid fight with Microsoft Yahoo! formally rejected Microsoft's hostile $45 billion (?23 billion) bid today, claiming that despite the 62 per cent premium offered by the software giant, the bid "substantially undervalues" the world's No 2 search engine. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article3350858.ece ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** ACMA tells Dodo to clean up its act or face penalties The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has told telecommunications provider Dodo to comply with industry codes of practice or face penalties, after receiving an unusually high number of complaints from the ISP?s customers. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/NewsStory.aspx?story=70124 http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;862920958;fp;2;fpid;1 http://www.cio.com.au/index.php/id;862920958 http://www.smarthousenews.com.au/Computing/Broadband_And_Web_Hosting?Article=/Computing/Broadband%20And%20Web%20Hosting/F9L4T6K5 ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Battle lines are drawn for the future of 4G A key battle that could determine the shape of next- generation 4G wireless broadband networks across the globe is playing out behind the scenes at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona this week where the backers of competing standards including WiMax and LTE (Long Term Evolution) are rallying supporters. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/399b1508-d9d8-11dc-bd4d-0000779fd2ac.html ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN ********************************** ca: Ontario police crack down on child pornography The Ontario Provincial Police on Tuesday laid 73 criminal charges in a massive child pornography sweep that led to the arrest of 22 people in Ontario, including the apprehension of one youth. http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=392a7d0f-e5dc-4e5b-b163-ef34711a9994&k=79268 ca: 23 nabbed in child porn bust A massive child porn sweep that netted 23 people across the province this week is just the tip of the iceberg and a harbinger of many more arrests to come, police say. http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/303118 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2007 --------- David Goldstein address: 4/3 Abbott Street COOGEE NSW 2034 AUSTRALIA email: Goldstein_David §yahoo.com.au phone: +61 418 228 605 (mobile); +61 2 9665 5773 (home) "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address. www.yahoo7.com.au/y7mailReceived on Mon Feb 18 2008 - 12:21:07 UTC
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