MS certifies phones

Microsoft is launching a qualification project for phones that are compatible with its unified communications products, reports PC World.

On Monday, Microsoft will show off 15 phones made by a variety of vendors including Samsung, LG-Nortel, NEC, Plantronics, Asus, GN, Polycon, Tatung and Vitelix. The handsets will carry a sticker alerting customers they are certified for use with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007.

The Microsoft communications software is available to users that are part of a public beta program.

LG Philips LCD has developed the world's first A4-size colour electronic-paper, a paper-thin and bendable viewing panel, the company said.

The e-paper measures 35.9cm diagonally, is 0.3mm thick, and can display up to 4 096 colours.

According to Forbes.com, it is designed to be energy-efficient, using power only when the image changes on the display.

News Corporation-owned social networking site MySpace has launched software to prevent users from reposting copyrighted content to their homepages, says SiliconRepublic.com.

This move comes after MySpace was sued in November, by Universal, for copyright violation, in light of users unlawfully uploading video and audio clips belonging to the media company.

Universal alleged MySpace had aided the violation of copyright by making it easier for its users to reformat and share clips.

Microsoft's threat to sue open source software users who allegedly violate its patents could be hardest on start-ups and smaller companies unable to take on the software giant, business and legal observers say, reports ComputerWorld.

Start-up companies with business models based on open source software, or other small businesses, would least be able to afford the legal costs of defending against a patent infringement claim by Microsoft, said Matt Asay, VP of business development for Alfresco Software, a maker of open source enterprise content management software.

Asay and others in the industry are reacting to a Fortune Magazine article that appeared on Monday in which Microsoft executives claim open source software violates as many as 235 Microsoft patents. The company said it would pursue patent violators for payment of royalties.