DoubleClick, the world's largest Internet advertising company, is to establish its global headquarters in Dublin, employing 22 people, by the end of next year. The company, which positions advertising on the Net and markets technologywhich facilitates the tracking of Web users, currently has operations in 13 countries and plans to centralise its organisation in Ireland. According to DoubleClick's International President, Mr Barry Salzman, internationalbusiness has grown massively in the past 12 months resulting in the need to establish a separate, wholly-owned subsidary. He said that the company had been working closely with the IDA in recent months - although the paperwork has yet to be fully completed - and added that the company had chosen Irelandbecause of the "technical infrastructure" available here. Doubleclick, which currently has an exclusive advertising sales agreement with AltaVista, is also expected to develop an advertising sales capability within the Irish market.
Chip Implants: A Professor of Cybernetics in Reading University had a computer chip surgically implanted into his body last week. Professor Kevin Warwick, who recently developed a robot that could mix pop tunes (didn't Stock Aiken and Waterman reach that landmark first?), told a press conference that a glass capsule about 23mm long and 3mm wide containing an electromagnetic coil and a silicon chip was inserted into his arm last Monday. The chip emits a uniqueidentifying signal that a computer can recognise to operate various electronic devices, such as room lights, door locks or lifts. The implant could render car keys redundant, ensure that the oven goes on as soon as you arrive home and completely negate the need to carry either cash or plastic. It would alsohelp a range of organisations to keep track of people, which can only be a good thing. Can't it?.
Apple's Instant Access: The Irish iMac launch last week was immediately followed by the announcement that Apple had contracted WebLink to develop and supply an"all-in" Net access and support package for its new customers. All relevant software and technical advice, in addition to freephone and online support, is being provided. iMac customers just have to call the freephone number and will have their Internet connection set up instantaneously. A brave claim given that not even the established ISPs here can offer anything faster than a half-hour wait between first contact and connection. See this week's domestic ISP table.
Know Your Rights: Cosmedia has launched a free, and easy, guide to the legal issues surrounding the Internet in response to increasing concern regarding "Net law and the overall need to improve awareness of the legal consequences of 'virtual trading'". The guide is made up of five different sections: legal jurisdiction, ecommerce, intellectual property, employer liability and data protection; each section contains explanations of how Irish and international law applies to Web surfers. The site is available at http://www.cosmedia.ie
Oracle Takes On Microsoft: Oracle has announced a new software tool it hopes will attract users away from Microsoft's database program and which reinforces its determination to attract a broader customer base. The new program is now in a test phase and has the potential to make switching to Oracle8 from Microsoft's SQL Server easier.
Continental Cyberbreakfasts: Business managers are once more being asked substitute cyber-breakfasts for power breakfasts in the Temple Bar's Arthouse Gallery this autumn. Freshly baked croissants, orange juice and coffee, in addition to a relaxed introduction to the Internet will be served to up to 10 company professionals each weekday morning between 8 and 10 a.m.in the gallery's cafΘ. Arthouse promises that, through the cyber-breakfast wake-up call, "in just two hours, staff can learn what Net technology is all about and understand how the Web can work as a resource tool to meet Irish companies' business needs". But strictly no fry-ups.
Chip Wars: Intel plans to intensify its battle with rivals Advanced Micro Devices and National Semiconductor by launching a faster Celeron chip for the low-cost PC market. Intel is expected to introduce two improved versions of theCeleron chip in its biggest assault yet on the booming sub-$1,000 PC market. Intel has also introduced its fastest processor ever for mainstream performance PCs, entry-level servers and workstations, clocking in at 450 Mhz.
Banners Bad: A survey has shown that consumers are up to 63 per cent more likely to remember larger, more complicated ads than standard banner-type ads. Of course that may be because larger ads have a much slower download time and irritate the consumer considerably more than the banners.
Java War Rumbles On: Microsoft has vigorously rejected Sun Microsystems' push for a preliminary injunction against Windows 98, claiming an injunction would "cause immense harm" to Microsoft, its distributors, resellers, softwaredevelopers and end users. Last Thursday, Microsoft released court documents, arguing that they had complied with the Java license it has with Sun and that all its products are Java compatible.
The Mighty Quinn: An Irishman is using the Net to chronicle his journey across South America. "Tony Twotimes", a.k.a. Anthony Quinn from Patrickswell in Limerick, started his continent-jumping adventure in Quito, Ecuador and hisWebsite is tracking his movements. He uploads diary entries whenever he manages to get access to the Net, while a map on the site shows his progress. He is currently heading into "the big mountainy mountains of the Cordillera Blanca". Among the highlights so far have been volcanic eruptions, snake medicineand trouble with pesky border guards. http://www.ostlan.com/tonytwotimes/
Fingerprint Protection: Two out of five PC users choose their passwords based on the names of family or friends, which makes them easy targets for hackers whileanother third do not bother with a password at all, according to recent research. Addressing these findings, Compaq recently unveiled Compaq Fingerprint Identification Technology which replaces passwords with fingerprint identification, thereby tightening security and cutting costs when managingnetworks. The unit, a matchbox-sized device, is compatible with all Compaq products.
In Brief... 3Com's Irish General Manager, Mr Donal Connell has been appointed a non-executive Director of Xilinx Ireland with immediate effect... Trintech Group, the world's leading supplier of secure electronic payment solutions, hasappointed several top Silicon Valley and international executives to its growing U.S. operation... Philips Electronics Ireland has announced that figures for the first half of their financial year indicated a 30 per cent growth in consumer electronics business... Siemens has unveiled its first dual-bandphone - the S16 Globalband, which operates on 900Mhz and 1900Mhz frequencies... British mortgage provider, Northern Rock is to install a "state of the art" computerised customer management system, Clientwise, supplied by ManagedSolutions... Net Results has appointed Midia Limited as distributor of net.works, the award-winning "Internet-in-a-Box" solution...