News and Analysis to 7^th October 2004

Microsoft unruffled by Linux

Bill Gates has reportedly stated that Linux is not a threat to Microsoft’s Windows operating system because they do not compete against each other. He claims Linux is taking market share from other flavours of Unix and not from Windows. This suggests that the software giant is puling out of web based IT and has no interest in the market for reliable operating systems. Perhaps presciently, Mr Gates made this statement from Silicon Valley’s Computer History Museum.

Ask Jeeves nudge nudge

A biology lesson in an English secondary school took a surprising turn when the teenagers were asked to use UK search engine ‘Ask Jeeves’ to gather information about that important organ known as the heart. Oddly ‘Ask Jeeves’ decided that there were more important organs to know about and presented the sixth formers with an array of links to hardcore porn. Apparently Heart is the surname of an acclaimed actress in the pornography sector. Ask Jeeves explained that the problem arose through teething problems they are having with their new filtering system. It’s enough to make even the most stoic butler blush.

Worldpay under zombie attack

Internet payment service provider Worldpay is undergoing a sustained distributed denial of service attack, which is causing it problems in respect of processing the orders of its 30,000 merchant customers. The orchestrator of this attack is as yet unknown because they have cleverly commandeered the PCs (aka zombies) of unknowing victims to launch a distributed email storm against the Royal Bank of Scotland subsidiary. They might well rename themselves Worldpray, as that is what they will need to do to stop their customers taking their payment-processing elsewhere. This is the second attack in under a year

PeopleSoft – Craig Gonaway

PeopleSoft recently fired its CEO Craig Conway citing that the board of directors had lost confidence in him. PeopleSoft are under pressure as Oracle’s salivating founder Larry Ellison hovers with a view to a kill. It would appear that Mr Conway’s enthusiasm for thwarting the Oracle takeover did not fully take into account what was best for the shareholders.

Microsoft applies radar jammer

In a vein attempt to take the EU commission ‘off the scent’, Microsoft has focused its appeal (against a recent antitrust ruling) on how revealing its APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) would hinder its business. Not revealing how its APIs work would effectively exclude all non-Microsoft software developers from leveraging Window’s functionality. This seems a tad unfair and will have a choice-reducing effect on users of Windows.

HP – Connecting people?

HP recently secured a $0.5bn five year managed services contract with wireless giant Nokia. The agreement will cover Nokia’s entire IT infrastructure. This is the third biggest deal for HP this year, the biggest worth $0.8bn. It shows that HP can certainly do more than sell printers. Interestingly IBM has the contract to manage the IT help desk. What incentives will IBM put in place to ensure that the help desk staff provide HP’s people with all the information they need to perform well?

Motorola to offer 1,000 staff seamless mobility

Mobile phone maker Motorola is to untether 1,000 workers. This relates to the unfortunate timing of its IPO in July of its chip subsidiary, now known as Freescale.

Off with his perks!

Ex Computer Associates CEO Sanjay Kumar, who is facing up to 100 years in prison if convicted on all counts of accounting fraud, will find that clicking the ‘Support’ menu button on CA’s website will display very few options. CA recently reported that they are revoking their agreement to provide Mr Kumar with an office, an administrative assistant, telephone and network services and support, and "certain home security services", as a result of his indictment. This seems premature given that a verdict has not been reached. Unless of course they know something that the market doesn’t.