A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
New Lenovo PCs aimed at small business
Lenovo, the Chinese computer maker that bought IBM's assets last year, yesterday unveiled the first PCs to be sold worldwide under its namesake brand.
The Lenovo 3000 product line, aimed at operators of small businesses, features several new desktop and notebook models and has built-in tools designed to help reduce IT expenses at small firms. Small and medium-sized companies spent more than $400 billion (€336 billion) worldwide on computer-related products and services last year, Lenovo said, citing the Gartner Group.
Cap Gemini returns to profit
Technology services group Cap Gemini returned to profit last year for the first time since 2001 after it won large outsourcing contracts and cut costs.
The Paris-based company, which also provides consultancy services, posted net income of €141 million in 2005, compared with a year-earlier loss of €534 million.
Cap Gemini plans to distribute almost half of its net income to shareholders through a dividend payment of 50 cent a share.
Ibec emphasises broadband benefits
Small Irish firms need to be made more aware of the benefits that broadband can bring to their business, as higher demand will lead to increased investment, according to Tommy McCabe, director of Ibec's Telecommunication and Internet Federation.
Ireland needs a new market development plan, backed by both government and industry, Mr McCabe said in response to the European Commission's 11th Report on the Implementation of the Telecommunications Regulatory Package.
The plan should include measures such as reducing the VAT rate on broadband services to 13.5 per cent from 21 per cent.
OmniPay in First Data, HSBC deal
OmniPay, an Irish provider of payment processing services to banks worldwide, has signed a three-year global merchant processing agreement with First Data and HSBC. Under the terms of the agreement, OmniPay will enable HSBC to acquire merchants with a pan-European or global presence on a single processing platform.
This will consolidate HSBC's treasury, reporting and support requirements.
