Stories by Chloe Herrick

HTC’s Desire Z smartphone has will be available exclusively on the Vodafone network following the Australian launch of the device which is currently scheduled for mid March.

A significant reduction in hardware spend in Tasmania has caused a drop in net profits for Australian IT company Anittel (ASX:AYG) of $13.46 million for the six months ended 31 December 2010.

Australian recruitment company Skilled Group is calling for applications to fill the role of CIO to oversee the end-to-end delivery of IT services to the business.

Australian internet lottery company Jumbo Interactive (ASX:JIN) has flagged plans to focus solely on its online lottery division with plans to pursue the overseas markets, following its software distribution subsidiary being put into voluntary administration in January.

UXC (ASX:UXC) will forge ahead with plans to demerge its IT and field solutions businesses into two listed entities, despite being unable to find a buyer for the latter group.

Macquarie Telecom’s (ASX:MAQ) hosting business continues to be one of the telco’s major profit contributors with the company posting an increase of 102 per cent on net profits after tax of $9.7 million for the half year to 31 December 2010.

Plagued with budget restraints and constant limits on available skill sets, St Laurence’s College IT manager, Anthony Kennedy, was forced to look for a simplified systems management solution to replace the vast majority of the school's IT support infrastructure.

CIOs should look to placing themselves into a more business-orientated role to gain a different perspective and better understand their organisation.

Major Victorian metropolitan water retailer, South East Water, is on the lookout for a new CIO to develop and build its IT strategic plan.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will be required to retain the browsing history of their customers for up to three months if the Australian Government accedes to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime.

Internet Industry Association (IIA) chief executive officer, Peter Coroneos, has announced his resignation from the role following 13 and a half years with the peak industry body.

New Zealand's incumbent telco is expected to pick up at least some of the contracts to build the country's equivalent of the National Broadband Network (NBN), with legislation governing the structural separation of Telecom New Zealand (ASX:TEL) progressing to cabinet.

Federal communications minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has denied the introduction of 4G wireless broadband technologies, such as the LTE network announced by Telstra this week, will pose any threat to the government's National Broadband Network (NBN).

IT workers should ensure their skills are up-to-date to remain competitive in the sector, despite the current skills shortage giving license to demand better roles and larger salaries, recruitment firm Chandler Macleod has warned.

Shadow communication minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has accused the Gillard Government of avoiding a cost benefit analysis through an independent review into NBN Co’s 30-year business plan.