IT News Review - Week Ending Monday 25/1/1999

GST compliance adds to Y2K woes

Advanced Software Engineering (ASE) is warning Australian companies that the limited vision they have of Y2K conversion as being the sole dilemma facing IT departments is unrealistic and dangerous in the face of the upcoming goods and services tax (GST).

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/arndb.NSF/Current/NT0000A882ACCC rejects Telstra's interconnect plansIndustry players have until February 26 to comment on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) draft determination on Telstra's proposed interconnection charges. The ACCC yesterday rejected the telco giant's undertaking containing proposed interconnection charges for competing carriers.

The commission claimed the charges need to be halved to reach an acceptable level.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/CWT1997.nsf/CWTCurrent/NT00006D1ACA launches Y2K assistance programComputer Associates International (CA) launched a free, global program yesterday to assist users in completing their year 2000 conversion projects.

The program, called Millennium Watch, includes the possibility of having a CA staffer on-site to assist with year 2000 issues from December 30, 1999 until January 4, 2000.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/CWT1997.nsf/CWTCurrent/NT00006D16CSC wins $200M IT deal from Budget GroupBudget Group Inc in Florida, US, is outsourcing virtually all its information technology to Computer Sciences Corp (CSC) under a $US200 million, five-year contract. Terms of the deal call for El Segundo, California-based CSC to hire Budget's IT staff of about 130 people. CSC will also create an IT project office, which will coordinate IT projects at Budget's car and truck rental units and car sales group.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/CWT1997.nsf/CWTCurrent/NT00006D02Apple plans aggressive push into corporate OzAfter a year back in the black, Apple Computer is planning an aggressive push to regain ground in the enterprise market later this year. Apple, which this month revealed its fifth consecutive quarter of profit, with a $US152 million result for the December quarter, claims it has already made inroads with major sales to corporate clients including Optus, Bank of New Zealand and law firm Phillips Fox.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/CWT1997.nsf/CWTCurrent/NT00006D06Oracle announces $US100million innovation fundOracle announced this week the availability of a $US100 million fund to proponents of Oracle 8i, in a bid to help develop some innovative products and services from companies around the world that can be based on the Oracle platform.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/arndb.NSF/Current/NT0000A8F6Manugistics reorganises, drops buyer planSupply-chain software vendor Manugistics Group hopes to address its balance-sheet problems with a massive reorganisation announced on Tuesday, including getting rid of 30 per cent of its workforce and replacing CEO William Gibson. The company also announced that despite statements it made in its preliminary third-quarter earnings release last month that it was looking for a sympathetic buyer, it is now no longer for sale.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/CWT1997.nsf/CWTCurrent/NT00006D3ANetwork computing no panaceaNetwork computing does have a place in enterprise architectures - but is no panacea for enterprise-wide personal computing cost headaches, a leading consultancy claims. A report by Deloitte Consulting into the potential for network computing to lower desktop costs for the Queensland government found network computing would only deliver significant benefits for niche groups of users.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/CWT1997.nsf/CWTCurrent/NT00006D2AFranklin Covey revamps ITLocal subsidiary of organisational development company, Franklin Covey is revamping its IT infrastructure, with e-commerce trading opportunities at the heart of the overhaul. Delivered by Dialog Information Technology, Franklin Covey's new IT model consists of Winframe thin client technology, MS Office, Lotus Notes Groupware and Navision enterprise business solution.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/CWT1997.nsf/CWTCurrent/NT00006D72IDC: Services rise slightly in Asia-PacificThe market for IT services in Asia-Pacific, excluding Japan, last year grew a slight 2 per cent year on year in value terms, according to a report released by International Data Corp (IDC).

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/arndb.NSF/Current/NT0000A952Australian companies earn global recognitionTwo Australian businesses have been recognised with Beacon Awards from Lotus Development here at Lotusphere. FishTech and Partners won the best Lotus partner for Asia Pacific and Sentor Communications was a finalist in two global categories. FishTech managing director Nick Fish said only five Lotus partners around the world received the regional award.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/CWT1997.nsf/CWTCurrent/NT00006D42Intel worried about Taiwan's Y2K complianceTaiwan's PC makers need to step up their efforts to make their computer systems year 2000 ready, said Intel's Asia-Pacific chief here last week.

Click on the link below for the full storyhttp://www2.idg.com.au/arndb.NSF/Current/NT0000A996