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Motorola, Microsoft take on BlackBerry

By Warwick Ashford, ITWeb London correspondent
Johannesburg, 28 Jul 2005

Motorola, Microsoft take on BlackBerry

In what has been described as an aggressive push towards dethroning Research In Motion (RIM), Motorola and Microsoft have formed an alliance to take on BlackBerry.

A Globe and Mail.com report says RIM is unconcerned about Motorola`s move to take the basic design of its Razr slim phone and build a BlackBerry-like communications device called "Q" that delivers e-mail and other data on-the-go, using new Windows mobile software from Microsoft.

The report says the Q device, which Motorola says it plans to ship in the first quarter of 2006, is one of many hitting the market, but hopes to take advantage of corporate customers that like Microsoft`s new Windows mobile software because it eliminates the need to run extra servers inside an organisation to serve data to BlackBerry devices.

Microsoft makes piracy checks compulsory

Microsoft has gone live with its blocking technology that will require people to validate their copies of Windows before being allowed download access to updates, reports Techworld.

The Genuine Advantage 1.0 program will check that anyone accessing Windows Update, Microsoft Update for Windows or the Microsoft Download Centre has a genuine Windows operating system before allowing any downloads, but security updates will be exempt from the ban.

Microsoft has been testing the program since September 2004 and has validated more than 48 million systems. Until now the program has been voluntary.

Microsoft says customers who discover they have a counterfeit copy of Windows either will be given a free version of the operating system or can purchase it for a discounted price.

Encryption guru works on VOIP

Encryption guru Phil Zimmermann is to demonstrate a new telephony-oriented encryption program at this week`s Black Hat security event in Las Vegas, reports Techworld

The new encryption software, currently known as "Zfone", has been designed to stop voice-over-IP (VOIP) traffic from being snooped on, especially across broadband links. It sits on top of the open source Shtoom VOIP client software, with Zimmermann`s encryption integrated into the program.

Techworld says Zimmermann has confirmed the software uses a Diffie-Hellman -based public key design. This is session-based, with keys generated for exchange between clients on a per-call basis. Both VOIP clients would need to run the program to set up such a secure link.

According to Techworld, Zimmermann has rejected a full Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) approach to security, fearing it would add layers of complexity to the software.

XM, Samsung, Napster form partnership

XM Satellite Radio has announced a partnership with Samsung for a new satellite-radio-ready MP3 player and with Napster to create an online music download service.

PCMag.Com says XM plans to expand its reach beyond the traditional satellite radio platform and open up a new way for music fans to access all the music they want any time.

Samsung plans to roll out two flash memory music players in the coming months that will come with a home kit that enables users to play and record content from XM satellite programs.

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