Online advertising grows

A study predicts the annual value of pan-European online advertising is set to reach 16 billion euros by 2012, more than double that of 2006, reports BBC News.

The report by research firm Forrester said online adverts would leap to 18% of market share, up from 9% currently.

It said 52% of people are now regularly online, spending more time doing so than watching television. The UK will continue to see the most online advertising in the next four years, ahead of Germany and France.

Multinational firms like Wal-Mart, Target and Tyco International have endorsed a new Web site where companies and individuals can report bribery and corruption in countries where they do business, reports News.com.

Bribeline.org, launched by Trace, a US-based non-profit group that represents multinational companies, lets anyone volunteer information about incidents of corruption or bribery in the US or abroad.

The information compiled from Bribeline will help companies determine where corruption is most prevalent and will help governments strengthen their ability to tackle corruption.

Microsoft has used its annual Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) to stress it is working to solve stubborn compatibility problems between Windows Vista and partner products, reports The Register.

COO Kevin Turner told 8 000 WPC delegates that management had "rallied the team" and worked "very hard" after partners and customers made it clear application compatibility for Windows Vista "needed to be better".

Turner joined with vice-president of Microsoft's Windows business group Mike Sievert to claim that 1 900 applications are now converted, with 10 000 devices certified either Windows Vista Ready or Windows Vista Capable.

Nokia has introduced Skype Internet-calling software for its N800 WiFi tablet, providing another alternative to using a cellphone. This development arrives as a debate in the US over what networks such devices may be able to use in the future heats up, reports PC World.

When the N800 was introduced at the International Consumer Electronics Show in January, Nokia and eBay's Skype division said they were working on including the popular software in the device.

Nokia delivered it yesterday with an upgrade to the N800's software. Current owners of N800s can download the software from Nokia's site.