Broadband Internet access through asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) is much anticipated as being a cheap panacea for networking and access woes. Industry experts are wary; ADSL will certainly not be everything for everyone.

With Internet address space running out under Internet protocol version 4 (IPv4), IPv6 appears to be the saviour of the Net. However, with only a small percentage of addresses needed in SA, IPv6`s necessity remains in doubt.

The financial services industry is on the road to transformation, with technology in the driving seat. ITWeb finance editor Iain Scott gives an overview of technology issues in the industry, explores how innovations are changing the sector, and looks at what the future is likely to hold in store.

You`ve just spent millions on a VPN, anti-virus shields, firewalls and encryption. What if, tomorrow, someone just throws a brick through the window and walks off with your servers? Or kidnaps the CEO?

South African banks have to look beyond delivering basic facilities on their Internet sites if they do not want to lose online clients to more savvy financial services companies, says Rubico director Jay van Zyl.

Compaq Computer has announced the availability of several third-party solutions for its iPAQ Pocket PC.

RSA Security and Sony have entered into an alliance to enable secure Internet communication and data storage on the PlayStation 2 game console.

Telecommunications in Africa is seeing a great deal of liberalisation, and many companies are involved in projects to roll-out infrastructure. However, there is less action in the Southern African Development Community.

With its .Net strategy, Microsoft hopes to make the Internet experience richer, and development and deployment of new services and applications faster and easier.

"Tough times ahead" is a familiar prediction for resellers. For many, this does not constitute change. But although vendors actively invest in the success of their channel partners, a long-predicted shakeout is closer than ever.

The Quintus call centre suite of products is to be rebranded as Avaya eContact due to the buyout of Quintus in the US by Avaya.

The AST Group has formed a Workflow and Electronic Document Management Solutions division.