You can`t surf two Internet pages these days without bumping into some form of social network. Is this pervasive phenomenon enhancing our online experience, or is something more sinister brewing?

The European Commission`s punishment of Microsoft dominated the international world of IT and telecommunications last week.

My entry into the personal wireless age proved to be more of a "Bluetooth ache", as brand leaders fail to deliver on promises and leave the market open for nimbler companies.

WiFi is either the best thing since the PC revolution, or nothing special at all yet, depending on who`s talking. As with all things in IT, it`s best to make up your own mind.

While the rebel generation wanted to grow up to be rockers, the benign new generation would rather become hackers - although this may not necessarily be a good thing.

When I hear that a company is installing a high-cost call centre, I shudder with the knowledge that the service I have enjoyed in the past is going to deteriorate.

Last week saw continued squabbling among the second national operator (SNO) shareholders.

SMS, flashmobs and blogging combined to change the face of Spanish politics as the information age matures into a political force.

A lot of people are asking serious questions about allegations that Microsoft is funding SCO`s fight against the Linux world. My concern is for the customer.

It`s been coming for a while, but recent headlines have confirmed that the time-honoured practice of researching projects in a dusty library is dead.

A recent UK court ruling against a cuckolded lover who posted dirty pictures of his girlfriend on the Internet has proved that yet again, where revenge has been exacted, everyone loses.

Last week saw the publication of the first draft of the black economic empowerment (BEE) ICT charter.

Government and business need to do more about legislation aimed at monitoring Internet use, otherwise the intelligence and law enforcement agencies will be out in the cold and business access frozen shut.