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According to Comreg, spectrum allocated for wireless broadband providers is maxed out for Dublin. That means that punters had better like the current offerings, because there won't be any new entrants to the market soon. A spokesman did say, however, that it was in the process of looking for new spectrum for the sector.
People using iTrips, the small radio-transmitting gadgets used for connecting iPods to car stereos, will soon be law-abiding citizens. Comreg, the telecoms regulator, has revealed to this blog that it is to soon decriminalise the use of such short-distance transmitters. The only catch is that the items will have to have the 'CE' mark, indicating that they conform with EU standards (meaning that models imported from the US will remain illegal). iTrips were sold in Irish shops for a short while until Comreg clamped down on retailers, pointing out the rather anachronous broadcasting legislation.
Tonight sees the launch of Sky's new high definition television (HDTV) service. With the World Cup, Premiership and dozens of films and documentaries shot in the format (the Americans have been using it for some time), it could prove a feast for the lucky few with the set-top boxes and the tellies (you have to buy a new one of each) to receive it. Unfortunately, Sky's Irish 0818 ordering line appears not to recognise lots of touchtone phones. Which is crucial, seeing as that's how you order. There have also been reports of delays in installations in Britain.
The predictable scamming of desparate Heineken Cup final fans on Ebay is well underway. Two naive gullible unlucky Munster supporters from Cork lost €160 each when they 'won' an auction on Ebay and paid the seller via Paypal, only for the latter to scarper with the tickets. The seller had no feedback comments, which didn't appear to deter the raging fans. And on it continues. As I write, this auction has a ticket for €200 -- and no feedback comments on the seller. Only a mug would buy it.
Ever had an impulse to seize control of the airwaves, a la Dr Evil? Wondering where or how you’d go about it? Helpfully, the Department of Communications has posted floor-plans and other sensitive information (battery pack locations, nature of backup power etc) pertaining to two of the most important broadcasting transmission sites in Ireland. Schematics and contents of Three Rock and Clermont Carn are available on PDF files on the department's website, here. So that’ll be one meellion dollars for someone, then.
How many mobile phone plans are there in Ireland? My guess is that the big two operators have over 100 each, bearing in mind promotions, add-ons and other gimmicks. Over the next week, I'm going to try and count them up. It's a fun life.
Get ready for cut-price deals on whatever remaining iBooks are out there. Apple has just launched its new replacement, the Intel-based MacBook (in either black or white). Starting at €1,120, it now means that Apple's cheapest laptop is over twice the price of an entry-level PC laptop.
Motorola has launched a special red Moto Slvr phone as part of the expanding 'Red' retail campaign that has seen the likes of American Express, Gap, Converse and Armani pledge percentages of sales to charity. €10 of the phone's price will go to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which is backed by the UN and (invariably) Bono.
O2 is cutting all its roaming charges within Europe and the US to 60 cent per minute for both pre-pay and post-pay customers. The new tariff takes effect on June 1st. However it's still not cheapest, at least not for people going to Britain. 3 has a rate of 30 cent per minute, far cheaper than any of the others. Shame that it's more expensive than most of the others for those in other European countries. Of course, roaming 'charges' are a bit of a scam anyway, especially from operators (ie Vodafone, O2) which have networks in the countries where the 'roaming' charges apply.
