Conversation-stopping SMS messaging is becoming a communication linchpin for young people, according to a new report published by Amarach Consulting. The report, TrendWatch Technology, Quarter 2, 2000, shows that one-third of 15 to 24-year-old mobile users regularly send more than 20 text messages a week. According to Amarach, the popularity of SMS may delay the development of WAP services in Ireland given its similarity to email - long considered to be the wireless technology's killer app.
On the road: The Information Society Commission has launched a technology training road show to visit all parts of the country over the next six months. The road show offers community and voluntary groups, as well as members of the public, free access to PCs and IT facilities. People will also be able to receive training in information technology.
Gateway giveaway: Gateway has initiated a computer ownership incentive for its 1700-strong workforce in Dublin. The Gateway4All scheme enables employees choose from one of three technology packages valued up to £1,600.
Half nothing: Online auction house eBay has agreed to pay more than $300 million, in stock, for Half.com, which sells used books, CDs, movies and video games at half price.
Pirates net profits: Pirate CD sales top $500 million a year and account for one in every five sold, the record industry's watchdog, the IFPI, has said. The IFPI warned that Net piracy was the latest menace with at least 25 million illegal files available and up to one billion downloaded annually.
Getting at napster: A US judge has been asked to shut down Napster. The Recording Industry Association of America has filed a brief asking for an injunction preventing Napster from "facilitating or assisting others in, the copying, downloading, uploading, transmission or distribution of copyrighted musical works".
High risk tech: Financial kingpin George Soros (left) believes hightech stocks have yet to hit the bottom of the barrel and is to withdraw from high-risk technology investments to concentrate on steadier investments and build an "an organisation that will outlive me".
MS appeal: Microsoft is within its rights to ask an appeals court to suspend its break-up, company attorneys have argued. The company is hoping to gain a stay of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's remedy order, which would break the company in two and from September 6th restrict the way it can do business
Seeing beauty: The domain name Beauty.cc has been sold for $1 million, reflecting the scarcity of prime names in the dotcom domain. This is good news for the tiny Cocos Islands, population 636, which owns the dot-cc domain. The amount paid for Beauty.cc is believed to be the most paid yet for an Internet domain name that doesn't end in dotcom.
In brief...Unitech has completed a £2.6 million contract with Usit World to upgrade its information technology infrastructure. . . Apple and RealNetworks have announced a new collaboration to help people switch between the two formats. . .