The central SCRUTINIZER
Central Company Brain organizes client information, security

Just say 'no' to bundles
TALKING TECH

BILL GATES' CZECH AGENDA
Microsoft frontman announces new security measures, partnerships, EU funding portal

Phoning For Free
Internet-based phone services are quickly replacing the role of traditional telephone companies

Sitting Pretty
Nokia's latest phone combines style and substance

Ministry promotes support for film
Television stations balk at proposed tax to support state cinema

Surfing at Christmas
Online retailers expect biggest sales spike before the holidays

Government sets timetable for telecom sale
Tender chosen for state's 51 percent stake, stock market offering still an option

PURRFECT SYSTEM
Linux-based operating system: Small, simple, elegant and free

Moving toward service sectors
German software company to open local administrative office

Tech & Telecom[Nov. 11, 2004]
Siemens' new S65 mobile features a powerful, integrated digital camera

State rolls snake eyes against Web gambling[Nov. 11, 2004]
Foreign bookies ignore law against cyber bets

Digital TV [Oct. 28, 2004]
Investors ready but authorities disagree on who has legitimate right to distribute digital TV licenses

Protecting software [Oct. 14, 2004]
First Czech firm joins anti-piracy alliance protecting software producers from theft

Third time's a charm [Sept. 30, 2004]
State sets timeline for third attempt to privatize Cesky Telecom

Drained: Laptops limited by portable power [Sept. 30, 2004]
Batteries haven't kept pace with computer innovations

Best of the Web [Sept. 16, 2004]
Contest promotes internet by ratung the best commercial online sites

Focus too high on creating new laws [Sept. 16, 2004]
Developing countries advised to start with basic infrastructure

The price is right [Sept. 2, 2004]
Mobile providers drop tariffs to steal customers from competing carriers

Lost In translation [Aug. 19, 2004]
Ambiguous anti-spam legislation would do little to curb the prevalence of junk e-mail

U.S. act threatens high-tech advances [Aug. 19, 2004]
'Induce Act' could call established innovations into copyright question

Hogging the fast lane [Aug. 5, 2004]
T-Mobile urges European Commission to intervene in decision to allow Eurotel right to provide high-speed mobile Internet via CDMA technology

Keywordconflict the latest litigation [Aug. 5, 2004]
The use of targeted advertising pits search engines against firms

Phone sex [July 22, 2004]
3G mobiles widen market for adult content

Web site takes a swipe at offshoring [July 22, 2004]
American launches site to track which companies are moving operations overseas

Main stream [July 8, 2004]
Forget your iPod -- streaming audio leaves downloads in the dust

BITS & BYTES LICENSE • Oskar decided it would purchase a UMTS license for 2 billion Kc ($88.2 million) to be paid in the next five years. The service must be launched by January 2008, and the license is good for 20 years. Eurotel paid 3.54 billion Kc and T-Mobile 3.81 billion Kc for their licenses in 2001. PROJECT • Microsoft, Fujitsu Siemens, Cisco, Deloitte and CSOB will sponsor a seven-member team for an eStat plan to reduce the size of state bureaucracy. The Civic Democrats said the plan, worth 12 million Kc, is not part of their partform but Hospodarske noviny has suggested that the companies are funding ODS campaign research. PRESS • Computer Press publishing house increased its sales by 34 percent to 662.5 million Kc in 2004, said Hana Frankova from company's marketing section. Operating profit was up about 25 percent to 64.7 million Kc. The company sold more than a million units in one year for the first time. SALES • InWay, a unit of the PPF financial group, raised its sales 12 percent to 100 million Kc in 2004. Sales increased thanks to the voice and data services provided by the company's own optical and laser lines. The company operated on 60 kilometers (37 miles) of network in Prague. It also leased telecom lines and a wireless microwave network. SHOPPING • The Czech Web site Internet Mall sold products worth 834 million Kc to 80,866 online customers last year, an increase of 465 million Kc over 2003 sales. Customers saved about 147 million Kc over traditional outlets, according to Internet Mall. PORTABILITY • Number portability for mobile phones will be possible from January 2006, Parliament decided with its e-communications bill, which it passed Feb. 22. Operators other than Cesky Telecom will become eligible to provide universal phone services. CONNECTION • Members of the Association of Operators of Public Telecom Networks agreed to regulate dialer services rules that switch dial-up Internet connections to expensive 976 numbers. Operators will have to disconnect after 60 minutes or when the bill exceeds 4,200 Kc.