New legislation will make Ireland the "best place in the world to do e-commerce", according to Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce Noel Treacy. He said a draft Bill was being finalised which will give legal recognition to all electronic signatures, transactions, contracts and documents. He added that Ireland was a world leader in introducing such a regulatory environment for e-commerce activity.
The new regulations will aid progress in business-to-business transactions, particularly in banking which has been dragging its heels in this regard. The legislation, which is taken in part from an E-Commerce Directive being discussed in the European Parliament this month, was welcomed by the Irish Internet Association. It said it was in the interest of a "supple legislative framework for e-commerce in Europe".
Under Construction: Build-Online.com has estimated that its recent European expansion will drive e-commerce activity valued at £4 billion to its site, after it launched in Britain last week. The website, which began operating in Ireland last month, allows the construction industry to communicate and collaborate online. The Office of Public Works is using it to manage the redevelopment of the £23 million Farmleigh House in Dublin's Phoenix Park.
Horse Power: Irishman Andrew Daly won one of the top awards in the Hewlett-Packard/Jordan Grand Prix Design Challenge 1999 with a design based on the structure of racehorses' legs. His design involved adding a series of tendon-like strands to the side pods of a Formula One car that can be programmed to break under varying levels of stress on impact.
Controlling China: Chinese authorities have introduced new controls on websites to prevent state secrets being leaked. Under new rules that take effect today, all companies and individuals using encryption technology must register with the government. The move puts in jeopardy plans for the country to join the World Trade Organisation, despite reassurance from the Chinese government that foreign investment will not be affected by the new regulations.
Roaming Extension: Customers of Eircell can now use their mobile phones in China's main cities and towns, after a deal with China Mobile. In a reciprocal agreement, China Mobile customers visiting Ireland, can use their phones on the Eircell network.
Microsoft Accused Again: The US government has said Microsoft attempted to evade the findings in the antitrust case against it. Microsoft argued earlier this month that its actions have been lawful and that it lacks monopoly power. Oral arguments beginning February 22nd will consider whether or not Microsoft broke the law.
Amazon Jobs Loss: Amazon.com is to shed 150 jobs, 2 per cent of its workforce, immediately. The company said the move did not represent a change of its expansion strategy.
Quick Books: British book retailer WH Smith has signed a deal with BT which will bring it closer to its aim of 30 per cent of the online book market within three years. WH Smith Online will become BT's principal books retailer on all BT-controlled portals, while BT will become Smith's sole communications supplier.
Etoys Drops Case: Online retailer eToys.com has dropped its legal action against the group of Swiss artists which had been using the etoy.com domain before etoys opened shop. Etoy had fought back with a campaign by 1,400 "toy soldiers" recruited at www.toywar.com and etoy will now receive a reported $40,000 in legal fees.
Rampant Viruses: Virus writers use the Net and email systems to distribute their creations within days rather than months, according to the anti-virus software company Sophos. A study by the company highlighted three of the most common self-propagating viruses - Melissa, ExploreZip and Ska-Happy99 - which forward themselves via email attachments.
Surfing Abroad: US Net users are flocking to websites in other parts of the world according to Media Metrix. Portals, entertainment sites and free email services are particularly popular, according to November 1999 figures. The top two sites with US web users were British sites Demon and Freeserve. Swedish portal Swipnet came in third place, while the BBC news site was fourth most popular.
Past The Post: Email is becoming more popular than conventional methods of communication in the US, according to AmericanGreetings.com. In a survey it found that 60 per cent of US surfers prefer reading email to reading ordinary post and 34 per cent prefer to send an email than make a phone call. More than 1,000 US Internet users were interviewed for the survey.
Heart Talking: Heart patients will be able to converse with their doctors via the Internet, after a joint venture announced by Microsoft, IBM and US medical advice company Medtronic.
In Brief... Plaut Consulting Ireland has launched ERP ValueCheck, a review for companies using the SAP Enterprise Resource Planning software. . . Two Japanese government agency websites were hacked and had insulting messages posted on them last week. . . Odyssey Information Systems has developed software which will allow students to register online for places in third-level colleges. . . The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has blocked Telstra from purchasing OzEmail's residential customer division. . .