A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
3 Ireland to back Skype for foreign calls
Mobile operator 3 Ireland has announced that it will start supporting the use of Skype on mobile phones to make calls abroad.
The Call Phones Abroad feature of Skype (formerly known as Skype Out) can be used from any phone with a Skype client installed, including 3's Skypephone, and will cost €2.95 a month to access the service. Three different tariffs are available, all of which include unlimited calls to one or more international destinations.
Pick-up point for Komplett.ie buys
Online retailer www.Komplett.ie has opened a pick-up point in Dublin's Blanchardstown for purchases through the site.
The European retailer will charge €8 delivery for goods under 10kg and €13 for heavier items which are picked up from the centre. Items are available within two days if ordered before 1pm or three days if ordered later. Customers can request a text alert when orders are ready.
EC hosts activist blog conference
The European Commission Representation in Ireland host a conference for bloggers tomorrow on online social activism in Ireland.
The keynote speaker is Zack Exley from leading US political blog The Huffington Post. Mr Exley directed the online campaign for the British Labour Party's 2005 re-election and is currently working with Barack Obama's presidential election team.
A pre-conference seminar hosted by leading Irish bloggers Cian O'Flaherty (www.irishelection.com) and Damien Mulley (www.mulley.net) will ask what makes a good blog. Proceedings will be streamed live on the web at www.euireland.ie/conference
Siemens in 1.2m racing IT contract
The IT solutions and services division of Siemens has won a €1.2 million contract to develop a bespoke information management system for Horse Racing Ireland.
Due to be completed next summer, it will provide a single system for all HRI's key data.
Latest gaming tool suite from Havok
Havok, the Dublin-based provider of tools for game developers, has launched Havok 6.0, the latest version of its suite of physics engines and animation tools.
The release includes two new products, Havok Cloth and Havok Destruction, and significant upgrades of Havok Physics, Havok Behaviour and Havok Animation.
