MS ups stake in Internet telephony

Microsoft is expected to announce plans to move further into the voice over Internet Protocol market through the acquisition of a Zurich-based software firm that will enable it to offer premium services to business customers, reports Guardian Unlimited.

The latest acquisition follows an announcement earlier this week by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates that the software maker would push more aggressively into the development of online services, a move he described as the most important shift in five years.

Nokia has created an open source mobile Web browser and a new portal about its open source activities, reports PCWorld.

The company announced in June that it was developing an open source browser for phones that use its S60 smart-phone software platform. The browser, now available to licensees of S60 Third Edition, relies on the WebCore and JavaScriptCore components of Apple`s Safari Web kit.

Games publisher Electronic Arts (EA) has won the rights to create video games based on the successful The Simpsons franchise, reports Gamesindustry.biz.

The firm has signed a long-term deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television and Gracie Films which gives it the rights to create next-generation titles based on the cartoon family, taking over from current Simpsons game publisher Vivendi Universal Interactive.