Yahoo completes takeover of Overture

Internet portal, Yahoo Inc, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of the pay-per-position specialist Overture. The announcement follows the approval by Overture's shareholders which was given on 7 October. The deal which was announced in July is one more step towards Yahoo's goal of providing a one-stop solution for search services. ...more

Microsoft schools offer rejected

Judge J Frederick Motz has rejected Microsoft's proposal to donate '$1 billion' of computers, cash and software to US schools in order to settle more than 100 anti-trust cases brought by customers who were overcharged for Microsoft software. The judge ruled that Microsoft's offer 'appears to provide a means for flooding a part of kindergarten through [to] high school market,' a market in which the company has not traditionally been strong, particularly in relation to Apple. He also agreed with some of the deal's critics, saying that were he to approve the deal, the effect could be seen as 'court-approved predatory pricing'. ...more

Emailing to stop torture

Amnesty International, the human rights organisation, is extending its campaign of letter writing to the Web. Amnesty hopes that people will register to be part of a new alert network. The idea is that participants will be alerted to log onto Amnesty's Web site and sign email messages. ...more

Confusion over Tiny and Time brands binds administrators

Administrators handling the liquidation of Granville Technology and its Time and Tiny computer brands says it has had interest from 'sensible' people interested in a number of assets, but is unable to determine who owns the Time and Tiny brands. Grant Thornton UK LLP said it has fielded 300 enquiries into the group's various assets, including remaining stock, the Computer Shop high street chain and its client list, according to the Evening Standard. However The Independent reports that the administrators are unable to find out who owns the group's greatest assets: the Time and Tiny brands. ...more

Live Connection Center Wi-Fi Beta slips out

Microsoft has invited beta testers of Office 2007 to try out its new Live Connection Center Wi-Fi Beta. The Live Connection Center is part of a rumoured WiFi suite that includes client, wireless network locator and security elements such as parental controls. The product consists of two components. ...more