Magnet Networks is about to launch a video-on-demand service over its Irish broadband network. Details of what exactly will be downloadable are sketchy, although it's understood that the BBC's Casualty will be one of the programmes. It already offers triple play (broadband+TV+phone no one line). A spokesman said that the new service has already gone live in Dunboyne, Meath.
An Irish company has set up a movie portal for mobile phones. Wildwave has set up Wildlight.tv, on which it has put a bunch of film shorts that made it to a shortlist in a recent Irish competion sponsored by it and Nokia. It's hoping to get contributions from other aspiring hopefuls. Here's the site. Perhaps it might become Ireland's version of Atom Films.
A mobile phone for four year olds, shaped as a teddy bear, was launched in Britain yesterday. The Teddyfone has no screen and just four buttons for calling pre-set numbers. Some parents groups are outraged, but Teddyfone Ltd's boss says that a quarter of seven-to-10-year-olds already have a mobile.
"This is a basic parental decision," Paul Liesching told The London Times. "If you see the utility and benefits of your child having a mobile phone are greater than any potential risks, give your child a mobile phone. If you don't, then don't. One million children under 10 already have mobile phones which potentially puts them at risk from text-bullying, excessive charges and inappropriate material. Teddyfone is a response to clear demand in the market."
Yanks return to work, immediately start e-shopping
Yesterday was 'Cyber Monday' in America where a third of the entire US workforce reportedly bought something online (according to the London Times). The spree came as Americans returned to work after their Thanksgiving weekend. Many Americans now use the holiday to browse shops and supermarkets. Meanwhile, although there are no estimates as to how many Irish people will shop online this Christmas, British analysts claim that up to €8 billion will be spent by British web shoppers in December.
If you're thinking of an LCD telly this Christmas, Dell's 26 inch model is probably thte best value around at €565 (including delivery). In fact, no-one we're aware of else comes even close to this price. It's a sale price, so best get in there fast. (Sorry for the dodgy imaging.)
Except you'll pay. Oh, you'll pay...
Want to make calls over wi-fi? Talk Telecom and Cicero Networks have done a deal where Talk's subscribers get a Qtek phone (left -- the 8300 or 8310) with software on it to make calls over the nearest wireless lan. This isn't that remarkable, as some of the newer smartphones and PDAs can already do this with a bit of tweaking and downloading. What is new is the ability to seamlessly roam from the wi-fi signal to the mobile signal without dropping the call, which Cicero claims is the case. The phone costs €420, not including a subscription to Talk Telecom.
Magnet's electricity deal: Magnet Networks has taken a shortcut to national coverage by doing a deal with the ESB to use its power lines* as broadband carriers. The agreement will take Magnet's potential reach to 700,000 homes by early next year, according to the outfit. The plan is to piggyback on ESB's lines and then hook up with several of the government-built Metropolitan Area Networks. It still doesn't bypass Eircom, though -- Magnet still has to work with its exchanges and the whole unbundling rigmarole. Magnet recently launched an ADSL2+ 24Mbs broadband package.
*CORRECTION: This should read: "...doing a deal with the ESB to use its fibre optic network as broadband carriers." I mixed up the power lines and the fibre optic network.
When it's a gimmicky stretch limo. This was seen today in the front yard of Craw Daddy (bar and club) at the top of Harcourt Street -- no idea what it's promoting. Bizarre stretch limos are becoming something of a trend in Dublin.
You'll need a pass, mate: Want to visit Tallaght's South Dublin County Council? You'll need an electronic bar-code pass, which the council is using instead of its old-fashioned badge passes. It's called Safe Pass and automates the list of whoever is in the building at the time (in case of a fire).
Visiting Glasgow soon? The Scottish Tourist Authority has launched a podcast to guide you around. It's the first one of its kind in the world. The feed is at www.visitscotland.com/citybreaks.
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