January 18th, 2012
As of 5am GMT this morning online database Wikipedia became inaccessible as the site stages a protest against internet piracy laws in the United States for 24 hours.
Wikipedia - the online home of 3.8 million articles - is used by 100 million Engish speaking people across the globe every day and remains the sixth most visited website in the world.
However, today’s visitors to the online encyclopedia will be greeted with the below message, encouraging them to join the protest and contact Congress.
Wikipedia is campaigning against SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act) alongside PIPA (the Protect Intellectual Property Act), the latter of which remains under legislation consideration by the U.S. Senate.
It is understood that those against SOPA and PIPA feel they impose unfair and unattainable responsibility on websites such as Wikipedia to check that material on their sites does not infringe copyright laws.
The law currently states that if a website removes pirated content once it has been notified by the copyright holder then they are not liable for damages incurred.
Interestingly, the legislation has received support from media giants such as Rupert Murdoch whilst Silicon Valley residents, e.g. Google and Facebook, remain against it.
Only time will tell which laws are passed.
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
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January 17th, 2012
Ahead of the anticipated festival season, microchipped wristbands have been trialled by more than 3000 music fans as part of the Eurosonic festival in the Netherlands.
The digital wristbands, created by Intellitix, are expected to combat ticket fraud and touting following their use at UK 2012 festivals.
They are also able to be pre-loaded with money, allowing people to pay for items such as food whilst at festivals.
Whilst the bands have been a big hit in America, some UK critics have suggested that the wristbands infringe people’s privacy and could make festivals, known for their free spirit feel, too commercial.
Interestingly, the wristbands look just like current festival tags with the only difference being they are fitted with a microchip.
The technology used within the wristbands has been likened to that of London’s pre-paid Oyster card for use on public transport.
It has been confirmed that the wristbands will be used for general admission at a couple of UK festivals this year.
Similar blog post - T-shirts to charge phones at festival.
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
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January 16th, 2012
The UK Government has received suggestions from the Royal Society regarding the proposed reform of information and communications technology (ICT) classes in schools.
The Royal Society, which is currently the governing body of UK sciences, has recommended splitting the complex subject into distinct areas e.g. computer science and digital literacy.
It has also stated that the Government should focus on recruiting more specialist IT teachers.
From Government statistics, it is understood that only 35% of ICT teachers are specialists, in contrast to 80% for core subjects such as Mathematics and English.
The body has suggested that computer science should be held as a “rigorous subject”, like Mathematics and Physics, whilst digital literacy should be level with the teaching of reading and writing.
It remains to be seen whether the Government will follow the body’s guidelines when it comes to the reform.
Similar blog post – Pupils too cool for school ICT classes
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
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January 13th, 2012
98% of the UK could now benefit from 4G coverage following a revision to proposals by telecoms watchdog Ofcom regarding the mobile spectrum auction.
The regulator has announced that the winning bidder is required to provide high-speed coverage to rural ”not-spot” areas.
Ofcom previously stipulated that the winning bidder would need to roll out a 4G network to 95% of the UK population.
However, following the revisions, this amount has now been extended to 98%.
It is hoped these guidelines will allow sections of the country that currently receive no service to benefit from fast mobile internet.
Ofcom’s revisions will now undergo a 10-week consultation, before the final decision regarding the spectrum auction is announced.
It is understood that the auction is still set to take place at the end of this year.
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
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January 12th, 2012
Virgin Media has announced that it is set to double the speed of its broadband offering for over four million of its current customers.
Due to start in 2012, the service upgrade will see speeds increase from 100Mbps to 120Mbps.
Expected to be completed by the end of June 2013, the move is reportedly costing Virgin Media the sum of £110 million.
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has hailed this step forward as a ”great boost” to the UK.
Many members of parliament are in agreement, particularly as the investment supports the Government’s policy to deliver super-fast broadband to 90% of the UK by 2015.
However, Virgin Media mostly services urban areas, with critics worried that rural areas may fall by the wayside when it comes to broadband availability.
Only time will tell whether the roll out will be successful.
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
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January 11th, 2012
From September 2012 the current information and communications technology (ICT) classes in England’s schools will be scrapped to make way for intensive and compulsory computer science programmes.
Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, is expected to announce plans at the BETT show for educational technology in London today, before beginning a consultation next week to discuss a new curriculum for computing.
It is understood that Mr Gove has labelled the current standard of computing education as ”harmful and dull”.
Many children in today’s schools are significantly ahead of the curriculum, which currently covers programmes such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
It is thought that pupils would benefit from studying computing as a science, learning to create their own applications, animation or programming language.
Many industry experts have said that correctly harnessing the ICT skills of younger generations could boost Britain’s economic growth.
It remains to be seen how the Government plans to inject enthusiasm into ICT education.
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
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January 10th, 2012
Samsung, the Korean technology giant, has revealed its latest invention; a ’smart’ internet-connected television with the ability to upgrade its hardware each year.
Since 2008, Samsung has released a range of smart televisions.
However, the latest model, known as the ES8000, has a slot which allows new hardware to be added, boosting the performance of its in-built processor, alongside updating other special features.
Interestingly, the ES8000 offers an in-built camera which allows users to browse the internet via gesture motion technology and also utilises facial recognition software, giving the television set the ability to recognise each individual user whilst automatically selecting their frequently used features.
Voice recognition also features heavily with the television set currently able to recognise 20 separate languages.
Today, Samsung is hailed as the world’s best-selling television manufacturer.
It is hoped that this move will futher secure this title.
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
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January 9th, 2012
Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung has reported that it predicts a rise in profits for the final quarter of 2011, largely accountable to smartphone sales.
The firm expects its operating profits for the last three months of 2011 to stand at 5.2 trillion (£2.9 billion).
This figure is indicative of a 73% rise when compared to last year.
In 2011, Samsung overtook its rival Apple to become the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer.
However, the two smartphone giants have been involved in a number of patent disputes over the last few months.
Industry analysts have said that Samsung’s profits are likely to rise again this year.
Later this month, Samsung is due to publish its official results for the final quarter of 2011.
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
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January 6th, 2012
A recent investigation by consumer watchdog Which? has revealed that people wishing to sell their unwanted laptops may be better off selling privately, rather than using trade-in websites.
According to a recent survey of more than 500 people, Which? found that 44% of those surveyed donated their unwanted laptop to a member of their family.
But, what happens when a laptop owner wants to make a profit from their unwanted item?
Which? requested online valuations for various laptops including a 2009 MacBook from five top trade-in websites – webuyanylaptop.co.uk, buymylaptop.co.uk, sellyourlaptops.co.uk, laptoptrade-in.co.uk and Asda’s Tech Trade-in.
Just three of the websites offered a price for the MacBook, originally valued at £1,125.
- Buymylaptop.co.uk £202
- Laptoptrade-in.co.uk £90
- Sellyourlaptop.co.uk £67
However, Which? suggested that the seller could potentially receive £350 for the laptop if they were to sell the item via online auction site Ebay.
Which? concluded that whilst selling an old laptop via an online trade-in website can be an easy way to gain some money, sellers are likely to receive more cash if they look around for the best deal and try online auction websites first.
Consumers are asked to be aware that when it comes to large technology items, they may be better off selling privately.
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
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January 5th, 2012
According to the bosses of leading car manufacturers, internet access inside vehicles is soon to become a reality.
A recent survey undertaken by KPMG has revealed that future trends including speech recognition and internet connection with the option of Wi-Fi and 3G services will soon become normality.
Interestingly, 37% of the 200 car executives surveyed think so-called in-vehicle ”info-tainment” is nearly as important as car safety.
It appears the idea of the “connected car” is continually gaining momentum.
It is expected that over the next five years, people looking to buy cars will have the option to take advantage of specialist in-vehicle technology and gadgets manufactured by big names including Google, Apple, Microsoft and LG.
At the end of 2011, Toyota and Intel announced their collaboration.
According to John Leech at KPMG, “Intel claims that the connected car is the third-fastest growing technological device, following smartphones and tablets”.
Similarly, Audi has also announced that the A7 will house in-built 3G connectivity with plans to extend this feature to other models.
So, when the time comes to upgrade your vehicle, will you consider a “connected car”?
Jamie Stokes is Marketing Assistant at Total Ltd – a business to business service provider, delivering genuine solutions across all core telecommunication services, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Total Ltd is a business that brings together and unifies all the component parts. For up to the minute business telecommunications news, please view the Total Ltd blog
Posted in Business Telecommunications, Internet, Telecommunications News, WiFi | No Comments »
