Telecoms, IT & Media
MediaWorks reprieve on tax case
PATTRICK SMELLIE - BusinessDesk
Cash-strapped TV3 and Radio Live owner MediaWorks has had a reprieve from its pursuit by the IRD.Commission acts to remove barrier
TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
The Commerce Commission says it will act quickly to prevent mobile phone companies charging more for calls and texts.Christchurch Telecom call centre homely
This may sound like a contradiction in terms, call centre staff working from home, but Telecom intends to have 200 in Christchurch doing just that by the end of the year.
Telecom sees 'life either way' with UFB
It makes little difference to Telecom economically whether it participates or stands aside from the Government's ultrafast broadband scheme, but the company wanted to be lined up with its and New Zealanders' desires, chief executive Paul Reynolds said.
Vodafone says plan would improve performance
TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
Vodafone says the service it will offer rural homes if it wins a $285m government tender to improve rural broadband will provide superior performance to its existing 3G service
Welcome news as TV ad revenue increases
BY WILLIAM MACE - © Fairfax NZ News
OPINION: Television advertising is back with a vengeance according to numbers released by the Television Broadcaster's Council [TBC] this week.Telecom cellphone outlets to close
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
The axe is set to fall on a few dozen Telecom phone dealers, putting more than 100 jobs at risk.'Cannibalise' ruling upsets TelstraClear
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
TelstraClear may appeal a High Court ruling that allows Kordia to upgrade a fibre-optic network jointly owned by the two firms.Australian gridlock raises doubts on broadband project
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER AND AFR - © Fairfax NZ News
Communications Minister Steven Joyce has brushed off suggestions that uncertainty over Australia's broadband policy could have a knock-on effect in New Zealand.Chorus offers deal to rewire for better internet
Telecom's network arm Chorus is offering to partially rewire houses that are getting poor quality broadband because of substandard wiring – for a fee – at the same time as "future proofing them" by providing dedicated connections for internet telephones and net-connected televisions.
TelstraClear future uncertain despite result
TelstraClear turned in a respectable annual result, earning $16 million before interest and tax, but said the industry faced an "uncertain and unstable" future.
Government to shave $5m off civil service mobile bill
Internal Affairs has slashed up to $5 million off public sector mobile phone bills after renegotiating government-wide contracts with Telecom and Vodafone.
Vector considers UFB alternative
Vector may be ready to consider throwing its lot in with Chorus to secure a piece of the action from the Government's $1.35 billion ultrafast broadband investment initiative.
IPhone software delivers dinner deals direct
An iPhone application is gunning to become the world's most convenient voucher book.
Datacom chief, 46, dies of heart attack
The 46-year-old group chief executive of Datacom, Michael Browne, died of a heart attack on Saturday, less than a fortnight after he was promoted to head the Wellington information technology company.
IT industry at odds over Kiwi jobs bill
Industry groups are at odds over a bill that could see local IT firms given preference over international bidders in Government tenders.
TelstraClear snares contract
TelstraClear has signed a telecommunications contract with Customs worth up to $10 million over five years.
Reynolds leaning towards full 'de-merger'
Telecom could be spilt into two businesses by August next year, chief executive Paul Reynolds told analysts at a briefing in Sydney yesterday.
Aussie opposition stands by plan to scrap fibre network
Australian federal opposition spokesman Tony Smith has hit back at criticism of the resurgent Liberal-National coalition's policy of scrapping Australia's proposed national broadband network.
From Bulls to Silicon Valley like Wildfire
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
Kiwi Victoria Ransom has joined Silicon Valley's elite after securing US$4 million (NZ$5.6m) from "tier one" venture capital group Summit Partners and angel investors for a minority stake in social media marketing company Wildfire Interactive.Telecom may get $100m XT compo
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
Alcatel-Lucent is rumoured to have agreed to credit Telecom $100 million to compensate it for the shortcomings of the XT mobile network, which it built and operates for Telecom.TelstraClear looks to cut up to 120 jobs
TelstraClear will cut up to 120 call centre jobs in New Zealand, moving the service to Manila, Philippines.
Govt oversight for XT review
BY JOHN HARTEVELT
The Government will get oversight of an independent review into the Telecom XT mobile network failures.Telco services berated as 'Third World'
Telecom customers in Manawatu-Rangitikei say they are sick of "Third World" phone and internet services.
Broadband to cost Telecom
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
Telecom has warned that a Government-ordered splurge on rural broadband and changes to the Telecommunications Service Obligations would wipe up to $168 million off its pre-tax earnings over three years.Finally, internet users are leaving dialup in the dust
BY CLAIRE MCENTEE - © Fairfax NZ News
Kiwis are ditching dial-up internet for broadband, according to a study.IBM tight-lipped on possible NZ job redundancies
IBM New Zealand has refused to comment on rumours it is making 34 staff redundant in Wellington and merging its northern and southern region sales teams.
Software sales help cut loss by $13.5m
BY ALAN WOOD - © Fairfax NZ News
Diligent Board Member Services' full year loss narrowed to US$4.1 million from US$17.6m helped by software product sales with the firm expecting to become cashflow positive this fiscal year.Cavotec buoyed by sales opportunities in Asia and Middle East
BY ALAN WOOD - © Fairfax NZ News
Cavotec MSL Holdings is targeting a return to its 2008 pre-economic crisis trading in fiscal 2010, as it eyes further sales opportunities for its engineering products particularly into Asia and the Middle East.Telecom signals international call overhaul
Telecom has signalled it will overhaul its international call charges this year and offer more product bundles to encourage consumers to put all their business with Telecom.
Telcos backtracking on termination rates deal
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
Vodafone wants to delay significant cuts to mobile termination rates until October, while 2degrees has walked away from negotiations over a voluntary deal to cut the fees.Competitors get look at Telecom 'accounts'
© Fairfax NZ News
Telecom has published accounts ordered by the Government as part of the company's operational separation undertakings, complete with a 323-page manual on how they should be interpreted.42,000 transfer cell numbers to 2degrees
© Fairfax NZ News
Forty-two thousand people have transferred a cellphone number to 2degrees since the firm launched its network in August, giving an indication of the number of regular mobile users who have switched to 2degrees.Rural plan 'will hurt Telecom'
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
Telecom would be $340 million worse off over six years under a proposal that would force it to fund the bulk of the Government's $300m promise to improve rural broadband.Discounts breach may cost Telecom
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
Telecom faces a possible fine of $10 million after a watchdog ruled that "loyalty discounts" it offered wholesale customers breached its undertakings on operational separation.Engineers send Telecom a message
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
Striking telecommunications engineers picketed Telecom buildings and shops during a national "day of action".Broadband demand lifts profit for Telstra
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
TelstraClear chief executive Allan Freeth says he has yet to see any "green shoots" in the economy but strong demand for broadband helped the company increase its revenues and profits.Telecom 'lucky' during strike
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
A strike by hundreds of telecommunications engineers enters its second day today.Guide updates telco rules
BY CLAIRE MCENTEE - © Fairfax NZ News
The Commerce Commission has issued draft guidelines detailing how it regulate the telecommunications industry.NZ Post picks Google over Microsoft
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
NZ Post has embraced ''cloud computing'', choosing Google over Microsoft as its provider of email and messaging software.Twitter hacked, website to publish leak
Reuters
A popular website plans to publish sensitive internal documents belonging to microblogging site Twitter, including financial projections.Freeview uptake rising slowly
BY ADRIAN CHANG - © Fairfax NZ News
The offer of free digital television with extra channels has been taken up by less than a fifth of New Zealand’s households.2degrees chief stepping down
© Fairfax NZ News
The chief executive of new mobile entrant 2degrees, Mike Reynolds, will be stepping down after the network's launch in August.Microsoft fires back at Google
Reuters
Microsoft will release three versions of its dominant Office software that users can access over the web, catching up with products that rival Google launched three years ago.Eyede merger a 'smart' move
© Fairfax NZ News
Lower Hutt technology firm Eyede has merged with Auckland card-maker PTC Enterprises, possibly accelerating banks' moves towards chip-based smart cards.Trade Me holds off on Google lists
© Fairfax NZ News
Trade Me has no immediate plans to upload its property listings to Google Maps, says chief executive Jon McDonald.Spin muddies the waters
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
A fresh effort is under way to break Southern Cross Cable Network's near-monopoly over New Zealand's international telecommunications.Another broadband cable for NZ?
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
A fresh effort is under way to break Southern Cross Cable Network's near-monopoly over New Zealand's international telecommunications.InternetNZ markets its domain
BY TOM PULLAR-STRECKER - © Fairfax NZ News
InternetNZ has launched an online marketing campaign to promote ".nz" internet addresses as growth in website registrations slows and fresh competition from new "top-level domain names" looms.Air NZ adopts open-source SilverStripe
© Fairfax NZ News
Air New Zealand will jettison Microsoft software used to manage its websites in favour of an open source content management system developed by Wellington firm SilverStripe.
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