Corporate & Government IT

Coalmining simulator

24 May 2012 |

PRINT: 24 May 2012 | PAGE 6 | Coalmining simulator

The Virtual Reality Training System is a high-tech $1 million tool designed to teach coalminers how to deal with emergencies without putting them in danger.

Models for emergency planning

24 May 2012 |

PRINT: 24 May 2012 | PAGE 6 | Scenario control for disasters

This technology developed by the University of NSW blends video game technology and architectural models to replicate cities and plan for emergencies.

Apple fingered for app failure

24 May 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 24 May 2012 | PAGE 6 | Fingers point at Apple on apps

A senior Victorian public servant has warned that governments trying to design helpful apps for iPhones and iPads should expect Apple to act as a major hurdle.

Acute care is the loser

24 May 2012 | Claire Stewart

PRINT: 24 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Acute care

Health professionals told delegates at an eHealth seminar that although the online health database was a necessary infrastructure investment, more needs to be done to fix information provision to the sector.

Enough privacy checks, says India

24 May 2012 | Claire Stewart

PRINT: 24 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Enough checks, says India

As the number of IT graduates from Australian universities drops, shifting technology services offshore to countries like India has become more of a necessity than a cost-cutting exercise.

Dell chief defends transfer pricing

23 May 2012 | Brian Corrigan

PRINT: 23 May 2012 | PAGE 1 |

One of the country’s most senior technology executives has broken the industry’s silence as pressure mounts over the level of tax paid locally by global companies.

Why NBN Co may already be too big to stop

23 May 2012 | David Braue

PRINT: 23 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Why the NBN Co may already have grown too big to stop

Political broadsides, not logistical challenges, are shaping up as the major challenges confronting the company tasked with rolling out the national broadband network..

Tax Google like Twiggy, says Conroy

22 May 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 22 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Tax Google like Twiggy, says Conroy

Stephen Conroy says tech giants such as Google will be hit by tax laws designed to stop them transferring profits out of Australia, a step he compared with the government’s policy on wealthy mining entrepreneurs.

Technology One’s forecast fails to impress

22 May 2012 | Brendon Lau

PRINT: 22 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Growth forecast fails to impress

Shareholders hoping that Technology One’s better than expected half-year result would give the stock a fresh leg-up would be disappointed.

Technology outsourcing increases globally

22 May 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 22 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Outsourcing is in

Revenue for the Australian technology outsourcing market grew 6.4 per cent in 2011, to hit $7.2 billion, with IBM the most successful technology supplier, according to new data presented by research firm Gartner.

eHealth to save $11bn for budget

22 May 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 22 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | eHealth to save $11 billion

The Federal Government has claimed its troubled electronic health programs will save more than $11 billion over the next 15 years as its guns for a budget surplus.

Information is everything, no question

22 May 2012 | Brian Corrigan

PRINT: 22 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Information is everything, no question

Capturing and interpreting the increasing wealth of information is becoming the most crucial of business skills.

CeBIT faces demolition threat

22 May 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 22 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | CeBIT faces demolition threat

Giant computer trade show CeBIT Australia cannot guarantee that the event will remain in NSW as the convention area faces a $1 billion facelift.

Australia, US sign cyber security deal

18 May 2012 |

Australia and the United States have formalised closer relations on cyber security that will allow for greater sharing of information.

Hewlett-Packard to axe up to 30,000 jobs: reports

18 May 2012 | Ben Woodhead

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 1 |

Technology giant Hewlett-Packard set to cut a wide swathe through its workforce, laying off as many as 30,000 employees as part of a radical restructuring plans, according to a report.

Dicker’s debt and dividend dilemma

15 May 2012 | Brendon Lau

PRINT: 15 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Dicker’s debt and dividend dilemma

Dicker Data feels like a round peg in a square hole as it offers investors a very high yield and relatively low earnings growth.

Privacy restrictions to cost cloud users

15 May 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 15 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Privacy restrictions to cost cloud users

Australian customers will be forced to pay more for cloud services if new laws restricting the shift of data overseas are passed, according to technology chief executives and experts.

Fujitsu unveils $60m data centre upgrade

11 May 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 11 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Fujitsu unveils $60m data centre upgrade

Japanese technology giant Fujitsu has formally completed the $60 million expansion and refurbishment of its Melbourne data centre, Noble Park, which began eight months ago.

Intel chief plays down tech spending fears

11 May 2012 |

PRINT: 11 May 2012 | PAGE 1 |

Intel chief executive Paul Otellini said he is not seeing unexpected weakness in enterprise technology spending that Cisco CEO John Chambers cited when he forecast quarterly earnings below estimates.

Cost-cutting improves Cisco earnings

10 May 2012 |

PRINT: 10 May 2012 | PAGE 1 |

Cisco Systems reported higher earnings for the first quarter, as cost-cutting measures undertaken a year ago continued to aid profitability and demand for video over the Internet continued to climb.

Budget cuts ‘positive’ for IT suppliers

09 May 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 10 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Budget cuts ‘positive’ for technology suppliers

The federal budget has confirmed previously flagged cuts to information technology spending but still contains hidden gems for IT companies that put work into finding them.

Microsoft aims to be carbon neutral by mid year

09 May 2012 |

Microsoft has committed to going carbon neutral, joining the growing list of tech companies trying to reduce their environmental footprint.

Take the train? You’re taking the Myki

09 May 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 09 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Catch the train? You’re taking the Myki

Dunckley | I was a late adopter of Victoria’s new public transport smart card, but Me and Myki have already fallen out of love.

SMS continues to prove its worth

08 May 2012 | Trevor Hoey

SMS Management & Technology is a proven performer in the IT services sector that is priced on near-term industry conditions rather than the potential for growth as the cycle turns.

Time to put a brake on the accelerators

08 May 2012 | Jessica Gardner

PRINT: 08 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Put a brake on the accelerators

Concern is bubbling up about the rise in the number of local technology business incubators and accelerators.

Honest mistake, put it down to IT trial and error

08 May 2012 | Peter Moon

PRINT: 08 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Honest mistake, put it down to trial and error

We’ve got a few things wrong, so in a bid to come clean we’ve looked back at past columns to identify and correct blunders.

BlackBerry 10: Research in slow motion

08 May 2012 | John Davidson

PRINT: 08 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | BlackBerry 10: research in slow motion

BlackBerry has lost traction and so has Research In Motion. A new model’s in the making but all good things take time.

Headhunter who likes to keep things simple

08 May 2012 | Paul Smith.

PRINT: 08 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Headhunter who likes to keep things simple

The passion to be an early adopter of technology formed the backdrop to a career from teenage journalism to executive search.

Public service IT jobs at risk

08 May 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 08 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Public service IT jobs at risk

Thousands of technology staff working for the NSW government will know within 12 to 24 months whether their jobs are secure.

IT pain tipped to follow federal gain

08 May 2012 | Brendon Lau

PRINT: 08 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Pain likely to follow federal gain

Technology services could be one of the bigger losers outside of the resources space from tonight’s federal budget with the government scrambling to find more than $20 billion to fulfil its promised surplus.

AMP extends contract

07 May 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 08 May 2012 | PAGE 27 | AMP extends contract

AMP has signed a $220 million technology contract extension with Computer Sciences Corporation, for it to provide support to the merged operations of AMP and AXA Asia Pacific Holdings.

Oakton (OKN)

07 May 2012 | Brendon Lau

Morgan Stanley has downgraded Oakton to “underweight” from “equal-weight” and cut its price target to $1.05 from $1.30 a share following the technology services company’s earnings update.

NSW technology strategy released

04 May 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 04 May 2012 | PAGE 1 |

The NSW Government today released its final report on how it will buy and use billions of dollars in technology for the next ten years.

BlackBerry won’t kill off the keyboard

03 May 2012 |

PRINT: 03 May 2012 | PAGE 1 |

Research in Motion says future BlackBerry models will still offer physical keyboards, despite unveiling an iPhone-like touchscreen smartphone on Tuesday.

BlackBerry 10 revealed

02 May 2012 | John Davidson

PRINT: 02 May 2012 | PAGE 1 |

RIM shows off fancy new operating system, but still won’t say precisely when it will be out, and unfortunately it could be too little too late.

Jury begins deliberations in Oracle-Google trial

01 May 2012 |

A jury has started deliberations in a closely watched copyright infringement trial pitting Oracle against Google.

Arm up: a battle for reputation

01 May 2012 | Fiona Smith

PRINT: 01 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Arm up: a battle for reputation

It used to be that those with an overblown sense of entitlement would chest-up to a hotel reception and demand a room upgrade with a “Don’t you know who I am?” Today, they come armed with a threat to write a bad review on TripAdvisor.

Bad bosses’ secrets exposed

01 May 2012 | Fiona Smith

PRINT: 01 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Corporate spin gets a wake-up call

Aggrieved employees have two new websites on which to air their workplaces’ dirty secrets.

Digital life: Best of the blog

01 May 2012 | John Davidson

PRINT: 01 May 2012 | PAGE 36 |

For a sneak peak at an ultrathin tablet from HP, an insider’s view on what’s wrong at Nokia or predictions about the fate of the notebook, read the best of the blog.

Tech set for lean budget pickings

01 May 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 01 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | IT set for lean budget pickings

Experts have warned technology companies to get ready for a lean federal budget as the Labor government pushes for a surplus in 2012-13, due next Tuesday.

Silex System (SLX)

30 April 2012 | Qaiser Malik

PRINT: 01 May 2012 | PAGE 37 |

ASX-listed high technology innovation company Silex System’s share price has gained nearly 46 per cent in value since February.

HP’s Windows 8 tablet to take on iPad

30 April 2012 | John DAVIDSON

It’s like an iPad, only it runs Windows 8 and it may not actually exist.

CBA has positioned well and plans more of the same

30 April 2012 | George Liondis

PRINT: 30 April 2012 | PAGE 25 | Commonwealth has positioned well and plans more of the same

New Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ian Narev may be keen to put his stamp on the bank, but investors are comfortable that it is steady as she goes.

Is the market why Genworth dropped its IPO?

27 April 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

Genworth Australia pulled its planned IPO because of poor market conditions, but Merrill Lynch says there may be more to the story.

One tablet to rule them all

25 April 2012 | John Davidson

PRINT: 25 April 2012 | PAGE 1 |

The thin, portable, and not-very-powerful devices will become people’s preferred computer in the next few years.

Digital Life: Best of the blog

24 April 2012 | John Davidson

PRINT: 24 April 2012 | PAGE 2 |

Has LG finally found the killer application for 3D on TVs, the one that will have people lining up to buy a new TV?

Kerio helps to make light work of collaboration

24 April 2012 | Peter Moon

PRINT: 24 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | Kerio helps to make light work of collaboration

Beware the over-engineered solution, we say. Too often, simplicity is overlooked because of dogmatic insistence that every system must operate enterprise-wide, scale up to huge numbers and integrate with everything.

UXC turnaround story has more upside

24 April 2012 | Brendon Lau

PRINT: 24 April 2012 | PAGE 28 | Turnaround story has more upside

Tech stocks have been the best-performing group of the All Ordinaries Index since clocking a median return more than double that of the broader market.

Core surgery puts CBA in front – for now

24 April 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 24 April 2012 | PAGE 29 | Core surgery puts CBA in front – for now

The bank has taken every opportunity to talk up the edge its $1.1billion core banking system overhaul gives it. But not everyone agrees.

Change of pace for ComOps CFO

23 April 2012 | Shaun Drummond

Christopher Brooke will take over as CFO of business software company ComOps on April 30 following present finance chief Stuart Clark’s move into consulting an interim CFO work.

Microsoft’s Windows propels pleasant earnings surprise

20 April 2012 |

Microsoft produced a surprisingly strong quarter to start the year, pleasing investors looking forward to even bigger things from the software maker’s much-anticipated overhaul of Windows operating system later this year.

Playing the numbers game

20 April 2012 | Verona Burgess

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | Playing the numbers game

How do I cut thee? Let me count the ways. First and most obvious is the 4 per cent in efficiency dividend savings that most federal civilian agencies must find from their operating costs next financial year.

Narev hammers home CBA tech advantage

19 April 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 23 | CBA backs tech spend

Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief executive Ian Narev has hammered home the technology advantage he believes his bank holds over its rivals after the virtual completion of its $1.1 billion core systems modernisation.

NEXTDC roadshow set to end in raising

19 April 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

PRINT: 19 April 2012 | PAGE 24 | NEXTDC set to end roadshow in another raising

It won’t take long for NEXTDC to find out whether this week’s investor roadshow was worthwhile.

Intel earnings fall as Thai flood impacts end

18 April 2012 |

First-quarter earnings at Intel, the world’s largest chipmaker, fell 13 per cent as spending on research and marketing rose while sales were flat.

Reckon it’s all in the name

17 April 2012 | Brendon Lau

PRINT: 17 April 2012 | PAGE 32 | Reckon: the main game is the name

Lau | The biggest risk confronting Reckon is managing the brand name transition as it stops using the globally recognised QuickBooks branding.

The connective tissue of modern health

17 April 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 16 April 2012 | PAGE 30 | Connective tissue of modern health

As patients enter Western Hospital in the suburbs of Melbourne, it’s probably impossible for them to spot the electronic heart that helps keep them alive.

NSW technology ‘not revolutionary’

17 April 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 17 April 2012 | PAGE 29 | NSW strategy won’t be revolutionary

NSW Finance Minister Greg Pearce has warned the technology industry not to expect a windfall when its Information and Communications Technology strategy is finally released.

Intel lays down tablet commandments

16 April 2012 | John DAVIDSON

If Intel makes good on its Windows 8 tablet claims the devices could put a dent or two in Apple’s crown.

Networks key to Instagram’s success

16 April 2012 | Somini Sengupta

PRINT: 16 April 2012 | PAGE 25 | Networks key to Instagram success

To come up with an iPhone app that’s worth a billion dollars, just combine a risk-taking mindset with clever design and connections with venture capitalists.

RIM’s Balsillie sought deals with global telecoms

14 April 2012 |

Former Research In Motion co-chief executive Jim Balsillie sought to reinvent the BlackBerry smartphone maker with a radical shift in strategy before he stepped down, two sources have said.

JPMorgan is first up to report

13 April 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

Macquarie Group shareholders will get a read into global capital market volumes when JPMorgan kicks off first-quarter earnings season in the US tonight.

Former PR chief is new local Intel boss

13 April 2012 |

Computer chip maker Intel has appointed the company’s former public relations manager as its new general manager for Australia and New Zealand, following a promotion for former boss Philip Cronin.

HP shows recovery following PC flip-flop fallout

13 April 2012 |

Hewlett-Packard is showing signs of recovery as it strengthened its position as the world’s largest maker of personal computers and gained back some of the business it had lost while weighing whether to dump its PC division..

Call for unified map data network

13 April 2012 | Christopher Jay

PRINT: 13 April 2012 | PAGE 45 | Call for cohesive map data network

Australia is still lagging badly in providing a comprehensive, detailed and nationwide network of spatial data which is essential in most areas of government, according to an industry group.

BlackBerry Messenger comes to Twitter, Facebook

12 April 2012 | John DAVIDSON

Every little bit helps the struggling Canadian smartphone manufacturer but its next-generation operating system can’t come soon enough.

Whitman fails to impress Wall Street as HP wallows

12 April 2012 | Andrea Chang

Six months into Meg Whitman’s tenure as chief executive of storied technology giant Hewlett-Packard, analysts say they’ve yet to see real improvement at one of the world’s largest computer makers.

Westpac keeps tight rein on gadget use

10 April 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 10 April 2012 | PAGE 28 | Westpac keeps tight rein on gadget use

Westpac has decided against following the trend to allow employees to use their own technology devices for work.

Superpartners boss heads for exit

10 April 2012 | Sally Patten

PRINT: 10 April 2012 | PAGE 17 | Superpartners boss heads for exit

The chief executive who resided over a $130 million information technology cost blow-out at one of Australia’s biggest superannuation back-office companies, will step down at the end of August.

Hackers claim attack on Britain’s Home Office

09 April 2012 |

Hacking group Anonymous has claimed to have taken down Britain’s Home Office website with a cyber-attack announced days in advance.

Embattled RIM finds new local boss

05 April 2012 | David Ramli

BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion has picked an internal candidate to lead its Australian team – Ray Gillenwater – one month after the departure of former managing director Adele Beachley.

Defence bypassed intelligence agencies on China buy

05 April 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 10 | Defence bypassed agencies

Defence has admitted it did not consult intelligence agencies when buying communications gear from controversial Chinese vendor ZTE.

NBN Co appoints Robin Payne as new CFO

04 April 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 23 | NBN Co appoints Robin Payne as new CFO

The company rolling out the $36 billion national broadband network has picked an internal candidate to replace its controversial chief financial officer Jean-Pascal Beaufret.

Telstra to redeem buy back pledge

04 April 2012 | John McDuling

PRINT: 04 April 2012 | PAGE 17 | Telstra to keep pledge

In November 2010, Telstra shares were near record lows. As disgruntled shareholders gathered at the AGM, chairman Catherine Livingstone revealed the company would consider a share buyback.

NBN could hurt economy and customers: Optus

04 April 2012 | John McDuling

PRINT: 04 April 2012 | PAGE 4 | NBN could hurt economy and customers: Optus

Optus has warned that cost blowouts on the $36 billion national broadband network could damage the economy and squeeze consumers.

China’s hacking

03 April 2012 | Tony Letford

PRINT: 03 April 2012 | PAGE 57 | China’s hacking

Your “China’s cyber stealth” (Review, March 30) on the growing importance of cyber hacking and espionage was informative. I was in China two weeks ago when the leading Chinese English language newspaper, The China Daily, reported cyber attacks originating mainly from the US and Japan on Chinese computer systems. There was no mention of any attacks on American computer systems from China. Funny that.

Millions sign up to crack the codes

03 April 2012 | Jenna Wortham

PRINT: 03 April 2012 | PAGE 34 | Millions sign up to crack the codes

Forget French or Italian, the new language of choice is html.

It’s all systems go for JP Morgan WSS

03 April 2012 | Brian Corrigan

PRINT: 03 April 2012 | PAGE 30 | It’s all systems go for JP Morgan WSS

JP Morgan Worldwide Securities Services will spend $30 million upgrading Australian information technology systems to improve services for superannuation funds and other institutional investors.

Logica wins $33m Queensland Rail contract

02 April 2012 |

Queensland Rail has signed a $33 million contract with Logica that will see the information and communications technology services company move the state-owned rail operator’s infrastructure to a new platform.

China’s cyber stealth on new frontline

30 March 2012 | Adam Segal

PRINT: 30 March 2012 | PAGE 7 | CHINA’S CYBER STEALTH

Stealing secrets, and attempts to destablise national governments, are seen as the new frontline – and China has little interest in cracking down on hackers.

Face it, hacking is a real risk

29 March 2012 | Peter Deegan

PRINT: 29 March 2012 | PAGE 63 | Face up to it, hacking is a real risk

If your fear of hacking extends even to some suppliers of IT systems, are you paranoid or are you prudent? Sadly, it’s the latter.

Company briefs

29 March 2012 |

PRINT: 29 March 2012 | PAGE 26 |

Brambles as delayed a decision on the $2 billion sale of information management business Recall, as discussions with potential buyers drag on. The pallet and container pooling service provider had expected to have reached a decision on the auction by the end of March.

NZ’s opposition has its own security questions

29 March 2012 | Staff reporters

PRINT: 29 March 2012 | PAGE 4 | NZ’s opposition has its own security questions

The New Zealand government is being accused of stonewalling over cyber security after the minister in charge of the ultra-fast broadband roll-out confirmed there had been warnings about specific threats.

Foxtel says it jumps on wrongdoing

28 March 2012 | John McDuling

PRINT: 28 March 2012 | PAGE 13 | Foxtel says it jumps on wrongdoing

Foxtel says smartcard provider NDS, which is embroiled in a piracy scandal, is just one of many external service suppliers used by the company and highlighted its own efforts to combat piracy in the industry.

Pirates raise corporate security fears

28 March 2012 | Brian Corrigan

Updated | Revelations that a secret unit within Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp promoted high-tech piracy that damaged pay TV rivals will increase fears of corporate espionage in boardrooms across Australia and around the world.

Coalition fails to back Huawei call

28 March 2012 | Nick Minchin

PRINT: 28 March 2012 | PAGE 59 | Coalition fails to back Huawei call

It is a relief to see that our federal Labor government is still capable of making a good decision, as it has in banning [Chinese tech giant] Huawei from participation in the national broadband network. When Labor makes a rare good decision, like this one, the Coalition should welcome it. Is the Coalition really suggesting that the government should have rejected ASIO’s advice?

Just don’t mention the (cyber) war, NBN or govt bans

28 March 2012 | Lisa Murray

PRINT: 28 March 2012 | PAGE 61 | Just don’t mention the (cyber) war, or government bans

The timing is awkward but Wayne Swan will do his best to avoid any sensitive topics when he speaks at an Australia China Business Council breakfast this morning.

Huawei block splits opposition

28 March 2012 | Marcus Priest

PRINT: 28 March 2012 | PAGE 10 | Lib rift over NBN China block

The federal Coalition has split over blocking Chinese technology company Huawei from the national broadband network, with federal shadow attorney-general George Brandis and former Liberal numbers man Nick Minchin backing Labor.

Huawei’s growing US image problem

28 March 2012 | Ben Potter

PRINT: 28 March 2012 | PAGE 61 | Gorilla in our midst: Huawei’s image issue

Despite going to extraordinary lengths to win acceptance in the American telecoms market, China’s Huawei Technologies faces ever intensifying suspicion, verging on hostility, from the highest levels of the US government.

Spooks spoil Huawei spin party

27 March 2012 |

PRINT: 27 March 2012 | PAGE 60 | Spooks spoil Huawei spin party

Just when you thought lobbying counts when it comes to securing government contracts, along comes ASIO to throw a spanner in the works.

Nexbis shareholders face stark choice

27 March 2012 | Brendon Lau

PRINT: 27 March 2012 | PAGE 32 | Nexbis shareholders face stark choice

The success of the proposed takeover of Nexbis will ultimately come down to one thing - will investor anger give way to fear.

Westpac tech chief comes out swinging

27 March 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 27 March 2012 | PAGE 30 | Westpac comes out swinging

Westpac’s new technology chief says that, despite the spate of redundancies in his department, the bank is forging ahead with ambitious IT plans.

IT security experts back NBN ban on Huawei

27 March 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 27 March 2012 | PAGE 30 | Experts back ban on Huawei

Information technology security experts have largely backed the Australian government’s decision to block China’s Huawei Technologies from winning deals to work on the construction of the national broadband network.

Huawei a missed opportunity for Australia

27 March 2012 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 27 March 2012 | PAGE 14 | ‘Knee-jerk’ ban a missed opportunity

Banning Huawei from the NBN means that Australia will close itself off from one of the largest single inventors of telecoms intellectual property, according to Clinton Dines, chairman of Caledonia Asia.

Computershare (CPU)

26 March 2012 | George Liondis

PRINT: 26 March 2012 | PAGE 37 |

The world’s largest share-registry operator said in February that profits would be down by as much as 15 per cent in the year to June 30 because of the downturn on markets.

US exchange abandons IPO after launch

26 March 2012 |

The third-largest stock exchange operator in the US experienced a system meltdown the very day it launched its own initial public offering.

Designs on high-tech dominion

26 March 2012 | Dominic White

PRINT: 26 March 2012 | PAGE 24 | Designs on high-tech dominion

Huawei Technologies must be wondering just what else it has to do to prove it is worthy of a role building Labor’s $35.9 billion national broadband network.

ASIO forced NBN to dump Huawei

26 March 2012 | John McDuling

PRINT: 26 March 2012 | PAGE 15 | ASIO forced NBN to dump Huawei

Exclusive | NBN Co internally endorsed controversial Chinese equipment maker Huawei Technologies as a major supplier to the $36 billion national broadband network, but was blocked by the Gillard government on the advice of ASIO.

Reckon (RKN)

23 March 2012 | Brendon Lau

Deutsche Bank has raised its price target on Reckon by 4 per cent to $2.60 after the company said its licensing agreement with Intuit would end in February 2014.

Take care, Goldman is targeting muppets

23 March 2012 |

In an odd footnote to the Greg Smith fracas, Reuters reports that Goldman Sachs has started scanning internal emails for instances of the term ”muppet” and other derogatory phrases.

Goldman scans emails for Muppets evidence

23 March 2012 |

Goldman Sachs has begun scanning internal emails for the term “muppet” and other evidence that employees referred to clients in derogatory ways, chief executive Lloyd Blankfein says.

Reckon talks up changes

22 March 2012 | Brian Corrigan

PRINT: 23 March 2012 | PAGE 22 | Reckon talks up changes

Financial software provider Reckon’s shares plummeted 9.68 per cent after it announced its 20-year licensing agreement with software giant Intuit would end in 2014.

Melbourne IT (MLB)

22 March 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 23 March 2012 | PAGE 33 |

Technology firm Melbourne IT has enjoyed a rising share price despite falls in earnings and net profits at its most recent half-yearly results.

Market waits on Brambles’ sale

22 March 2012 | ANTHONY MACDONALD AND STEPHEN SHORE

The clock’s ticking for Brambles on the sale of its Recall document management business.

IBM sees big opportunity in “big data”

22 March 2012 |

IBM has launched three services to help companies sift and understand so-called “big data”, hoping to get some of the $US120 billion or more that businesses are expected to invest in data analytics by 2015.

HP to combine PC, printer units

22 March 2012 |

Hewlett-Packard has confirmed plans for a corporate overhaul that will combine two of its biggest divisions, printing and PCs, in an effort by new CEO Meg Whitman to turn the troubled tech giant around.

Oracle fights sex harassment claim

22 March 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 22 March 2012 | PAGE 18 | Oracle fights harassment claim

A sexual harassment lawsuit against technology giant Oracle in the Federal Court is set to involve senior executives from rival companies.

Government ‘struggling’ to manage tech shift

21 March 2012 | Brian Corrigan

Department of Defence CIO Greg Farr says government departments are struggling to keep up with technology changes being caused by rapidly evolving consumer demands.

Turnbull slams NBN, mining tax

21 March 2012 | Brian Corrigan

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull has used the mining tax and NBN as examples of why governments need to be more transparent and improve public consultation.

Oracle earnings top analyst forecasts

21 March 2012 |

Oracle’s sales of new software licenses picked up in its latest quarter, helping to ease concerns about the company’s future as it loses customers to rivals offering less expensive alternatives.

Goodbye broker, hello supercomputer

20 March 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 20 March 2012 | PAGE 33 | Computers that trade brokers out of a job

IBM’s Watson supercomputer can beat chess and Jeopardy! masters and make much more money than a broker. It also never wants a bonus and never shuts down.

BlackBerry stalwart suspects the ‘i’s will have it

20 March 2012 | Brian Corrigan

PRINT: 20 March 2012 | PAGE 31 | BlackBerry stalwart suspects the ‘i’s will have it

King & Wood Mallesons chief Stuart Fuller admits he is dreading the possible introduction of internet services to flights. It would be an intrusion into the only hours when he is not constantly checking emails on his BlackBerry.

Emerging IT tigers to watch

20 March 2012 | Jeanne-Vida Douglas

PRINT: 20 March 2012 | PAGE 30 | The ones to watch

Move over, India and China, because there other Asian nations have the talent and the resources needed to create major investment opportunities for the digital economy.

Another bid for Misys

20 March 2012 | Jonathan Browning

PRINT: 20 March 2012 | PAGE 27 | Another bid for Misys

San Francisco-based Vista Equity Partners proposes to bid about £1.3 billion for British financial software company Misys.

Records lost in transfer to securities register

20 March 2012 | Emma Connors

PRINT: 20 March 2012 | PAGE 29 | Lost in transfer to securities register

Government tech experts are racing to fix migration issues in the new national securities register that have frustrated many who either regularly search the new system or whose records reside there.

SMS Management & Technology (SMX)

19 March 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 20 March 2012 | PAGE 39 |

Technology service provider SMS Management & Technology is continuing to perform well despite suffering setbacks in NSW.

Nokia, Lenovo, Dell race for third place

19 March 2012 | John DAVIDSON

The launch of Windows 8 later this year will unleash a torrent of new Windows tablets. Let’s just hope one of them will be worth buying

Dell sees room for iPad challenge

19 March 2012 |

A growing dissatisfaction among office workers with the clunky computers their employers force them to use, in contrast to the sleek Apple devices many have at home, could yet benefit incumbent suppliers like Dell, a top Dell executive said.

Has Rupert pulled off another coup?

16 March 2012 | Tony Boyd

PRINT: 17 March 2012 | PAGE 64 | Murdoch pulls off $5bn coup

When someone like Rupert Murdoch sells a business he has owned for about 20 years, it inevitably leads to questions about his motivations.

Telcos poised for cloud gains

16 March 2012 | Christopher Jay

PRINT: 16 March 2012 | PAGE 45 | Telcos poised for cloud gains

Given the move to internet-based computing services, government departments should be planning for much more availability of value-added services from telecommunications organisations in 2012.

Data#3 secures key contract

15 March 2012 | Brian Corrigan

Technology service provider Data#3 has held onto a major tender to supply Microsoft licences to the Federal Government.

Liberals slate NBN study

15 March 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 15 March 2012 | PAGE 10 | Turnbull hits out at NBN study

A government-funded report that praised Labor’s $36 billion national broadband network was not allowed to consider a rival technology endorsed by the Coalition.

Rise in hacking a threat to national security

15 March 2012 |

During the five-month period between October and February, there were 86 reported attacks on computer systems in the United States that control critical infrastructure, factories and databases.

Brisbane leads mining technology charge

15 March 2012 | Dan Hall

Brisbane has emerged as a major innovation hub for the mining services sector as miners look for new technology and solutions to boost productivity.

NAB replaces 40-year-old tech system

15 March 2012 | Duncan Hughes

PRINT: 15 March 2012 | PAGE 31 | NAB replaces 40-year-old tech system

National Australia Bank’s technology tsar, Gavin Slater, has warned the bank’s $1 billion technology overhaul would continue to need upgrading to remain competitive.

Local inventor matches it with Microsoft

15 March 2012 | Peter Roberts

PRINT: 15 March 2012 | PAGE 3 | Local matches it with Microsoft

Australian inventor Ric Richardson is celebrating a technology deal with Microsoft that could potentially be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Tech stocks trundle as Nasdaq reaches post-dotcom high

14 March 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 15 March 2012 | PAGE 36 | Tech stocks trundle

Australian investors in technology stocks are unlikely to see any flow-on benefits after the heavily tech­-focused Nasdaq composite index rallied to levels not seen since the dotcom bubble burst in 2000, analysts say.

NAB admits IT transformation challenges

14 March 2012 | Brian Corrigan

One of the country’s most senior technology executives has compared attempts to modernise ageing technology systems to converting a passenger jet into a newer model while in the air.

Business demand for iPads growing: survey

14 March 2012 |

Survey results released have shown that growing numbers of businesses in the US plan to buy iPads as tablet computers make their way from personal lives into work places.

The six deadly sins, plus a lively seventh

13 March 2012 | Anthony Lloyd

PRINT: 13 March 2012 | PAGE 9 | Six deadly sins – plus a real lively seventh

Much has been written about the legal implications and risks associated with cloud computing. However, the level of due diligence, customised terms, and type of cloud solution you need depends on the complexity and business criticality of your systems.

Data management systems helps in war of weeds

13 March 2012 | Mahesh Sharma

PRINT: 13 March 2012 | PAGE 8 | Program helps in war against weeds

The wettest summer in recent memory brought plenty of joy for farmers, but it also threatened to unleash an epidemic of weeds and diseases. To counter this threat one West Australian property owner has turned to the cloud.

Deputy draws workers together via smartphone

13 March 2012 | Brian Corrigan

PRINT: 13 March 2012 | PAGE 4 | Deputy draws workers together via smartphone

With gadgets blurring the boundaries between personal and working lives, a Sydney-based start-up looks well placed to capitalise on the trend and is already gaining the attention of Silicon Valley.

Intel’s Ivy Bridge to appear this week

12 March 2012 | John DAVIDSON

A Bridge too far, or one right at our door? Rumours of delays of Intel’s hottest new chip may have been greatly exaggerated.

Tablets, smartphones stifle computer growth

09 March 2012 |

Personal computer shipments are expected to remain weak this year amid growing competition from tablets and even high-powered smartphones, research company Gartner says.

Solar storms could crash computer systems

09 March 2012 |

Scientists are warning of further solar storms this week after Earth was hit by one of the fastest clouds of energy to emerge from the surface of the sun in recent years.

Cloud over discovery of documents: IT experts

09 March 2012 | Rachel Nickless

PRINT: 09 March 2012 | PAGE 43 | Cloud over discovery of documents: IT experts

Cloud computing has introduced new risks to legal disputes, with litigants able to hide documents during the discovery process, information technology experts have warned.

Cheap iPads now an indefinite certainty

07 March 2012 | John DAVIDSON

Will the appearance of the iPad HD mean Apple will heavily discount the iPad 2 to match it with Amazon?

US charges members of hacking group Anonymous

07 March 2012 |

Six suspected leaders of the international hacking organisation known as Anonymous were charged by US authorities of computer crimes, dealing a major blow to the loose-knit group.

Vic Police CIO ... only the brave need apply

06 March 2012 |

Victoria Police faces an uphill struggle in recruiting a top level technology executive to take control of its troubled IT operations, after a series of damning reviews, a top corporate headhunter has warned.

Westpac hits back at FSU job cut fury

06 March 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 21 | Westpac hits back at job cut fury

Westpac has defended its decision to cut 119 permanent technology jobs as a necessary efficiency, after the FSU called the move a “completely unjustified” example of a “race to the bottom mentality”.

It’s hard to be beastly to a beauty

06 March 2012 | John Davidson

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 36 | It’s hard to be beastly to a beauty

You could buy a Lumia 800 and not regret it for a moment. And as an added bonus, you’d be helping out a couple of basket case companies out of the basket.

Much 2Do about getting things done

06 March 2012 | Peter Moon

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 35 | Much 2Do about getting things done

I have fought back against executive stress by adopting a to-do list so I can determine my own priorities rather than leave them entirely to the mercy of the machines.

Quick as a flash crash

06 March 2012 | The Economist

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 34 | Quick as a flash crash

High-frequency share trading is just the tip of the iceberg as ever-faster methods of trading and algorithms come into play.

Baptism of fire at beleaguered CSG

06 March 2012 | Brendon Lau

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 32 | Baptism of fire at beleaguered CSG

CSG’s new managing director, Julie-Ann Kerin, is scrambling to plug the holes that were left by the sudden departure of its former chief Denis Mackenzie.

NBN debate needs to pick up speed

06 March 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 33 | NBN debate needs to pick up speed

The federal government needs to keep the NBN in the news if it is to become a key policy issue at the next election.

Permanently connected chief executive

06 March 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 31 | Permanently connected chief executive

The head of KPMG, Geoff Wilson, knows one thing is certain about technology – change is constant.

Google privacy goes public

06 March 2012 | Paul Smith

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 30 | The Technology of

Last week Google implemented its all-new but not all-popular privacy policy, which sought to tie together as much data about individual users as it can possibly grab.

iPads used to boost executive egos

06 March 2012 | David Ramli

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 30 | Tablets used to boost egos, says survey

One in 10 legal and accounting professionals buys tablet devices like Apple’s iPad as status symbols, a Thomson Reuters mobile device usage survey found.

NSW revamps its procurement process

06 March 2012 | Emily Parkinson

PRINT: 06 March 2012 | PAGE 10 | NSW revamps its procurement process

The NSW government will scrap fees to businesses to deliver its contracts and give certain of its agencies new powers to buy goods and services direct.

Windows 8, meet Senator Sherman

05 March 2012 | John DAVIDSON

How long will it be before competitors cry foul over the new version of Windows? A month after it’s released? A day?