A round-up of other stories in brief
Wii wins war of games in Japan
Nintendo's Wii gaming console trounced sales of PlayStation 3 in Japan in December and for the whole of last year, outselling Sony's console by three to one, according to data published yesterday.
Sony's pioneering PlayStation 3 is showing signs of growing sales momentum: in November it outsold the Wii in Japan for the first time.
However, analysts expect Nintendo's Wii to have outsold its rival in Asia, Europe and the US over the crucial holiday period .- (Financial Times service)
Sony strikes deal with Skype
Sony Computer Entertainment has struck a deal with Skype, the internet telephony group, that will enable the PlayStation Portable to function as a handheld device capable of making and receiving telephone calls.
Skype allows its 246 million registered users to make free telephone calls to each other over the internet.
The Sony deal will allow PSP owners to make free calls to other registered Skype users by installing a software update, which will be released this month.
PSP owners will also be able to call fixed-line and mobile phones by buying Skype credits. - (Financial Times service)
Former retailers disqualified
Two former operators of discount retail outlets were yesterday disqualified from operating as company directors for two years.
Sean Crowe, with an address at Rochfort Downs, Leixlip, Co Dublin, and Gary O'Brien, with an address in Kiltipper Road, Dublin, were found to have been in breach of five-year restriction orders issued against them in 2003.
They had been involved in the formation of a company, Ultimate 2 Euro Ltd, with an address at Patrick Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Survey reveals consumer goals
Almost a quarter of consumers said their biggest concern in the new year was fixing their finances, according to a survey conducted for the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority.
The regulator launched a new campaign yesterday on the back of its survey to encourage consumers to "makeover their finances". Sorting out personal finances rated as the biggest concern among consumers in the survey (with 23 per cent), followed by getting fit (16 per cent), enjoying a better diet (8 per cent), quitting smoking (7 per cent) and getting on the property ladder (5 per cent).
Capital takes Kingspan stake
Global fund manager Capital Research and Management has taken a 3.5 per cent stake in Irish building materials and insulation specialist Kingspan.
According to a statement issued yesterday, Capital research holds just over 5.8 million shares in the Irish group, about 3.44 per cent.
Elan reports on Tysabri figures
Biotech group Elan reported yesterday that more than 21,000 people are now being treated with Tysabri.
The figures are broadly in line with projections and show a accelerating trend in both the US and Europe.
Elan and its US partner Biogen also told a healthcare conference in the United States that no cases of the lethal brain condition progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) had surfaced since the relaunch of the multiple sclerosis drug in July 2006.
Caledonian Life
Contrary to a report on December 31st, Caledonian Life did not close its direct sales unit in Ireland in 2006. It was Caledonian's parent, Royal Liver Assurance, that closed its Irish direct sales operation that year.
