A cloud over ICT policy making

Cloud computing paints a vision of a seamless, free market, global computing services nirvana, but what does this mean for the vitality of an individual country's ICT industry?, asks Ovum.

Policymakers need to pay attention and consider the risks of their country missing out on the magical cloud merry-go-round.

After recent discussions with a range of public sector ICT policy executives across the Asia-Pacific region, it is apparent that cloud computing is on their radar - and that it is viewed by many as more of a threat than an opportunity.

Amazon.com, the world's largest online retailer, was accused by Cordance of infringing three patents for buying goods on the Internet as a federal jury trial began, according to Bloomberg.

Cordance, a patent holder and software developer in Sammamish, Washington, is seeking unspecified royalties from Amazon based on an estimated $2.7 billion in sales since 2006 from so-called one-click transactions.

“We don't think we infringe” and the product ordering invention by Cordance's Drummond Reed involves two clicks of a computer mouse, not one, Amazon lawyer, Lynn Pasahow, told jurors.

Injazat Data Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority's UAE Computer Emergency Response Team initiative, Zawya reports.

Under the terms of the MOU, Injazat will be authorised to market and register .ae Web site domains in the UAE.

Although Internet use in the Middle East grew by approximately 1.3% from 2000 to 2008, Arabic content currently accounts for less than 1% of all online content.