CMA unveils telecoms manifesto

The Communications Management Association (CMA) unveiled a five-point action plan that it said is vital to kick-starting the UK economy, reports vnunet.

The membership body for the communications industry is calling for converged ICT policy-making by the government, in contrast to the current situation which the CMA said is spread between many Whitehall departments and suffers from a lack of continuity and stability in ministerial appointments.

“Disjointed government policies, a weak regulator and a negative, lethargic approach to local provision of infrastructure and services could leave British competitiveness, enterprise and innovation trailing other G8 countries,” says CMA chairperson, Carolyn Kimber.

Microsoft kicks off its new BizSpark programme to assist SMEs in Tunisia, according to TunisiaMag.

This initiative, designed to support and accelerate the development of small businesses, is specifically focused on newly-established firms and young promoters of projects in the field of computers, software creation, and Web design.

The programme will allow recipients to benefit from Microsoft applications and technology, as well as Microsoft's technology support programs, to assist in helping small businesses to market their projects through their inscription on the Microsoft portal.

Paul Bettison, executive member of the Local Government Association in the UK says UK local councils have to improve the way they use technology to provide better services or residents will hold them to account, according to GovNet Communications.

Speaking at the recent launch of the Society of Information Technology Management's (Socitm's) IT Trends report, he warned that voters in different parts of the country will inevitably discuss the quality of local services and will be less than impressed if their council is falling behind.

“I think we now have a much more informed and educated electorate, who are able to verbalise their expectations and judge how well a council performs against those expectations,” he explained.