Path: ptownson From: TELECOM Digest Editor Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Telcomine - October, 1999 Message-ID: <991014.erfgm35@telecom-digest.org> Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 16:07:00 EDT Sender: ptownson@massis.lcs.mit.edu Approved: [comp.dcom.telecom/17c50f8f6f69adfe524dbad28bc8de3e] Reply-To: TELECOM Digest Editor Organization: TELECOM Digest, PO Box 765, Junction City, KS 66441-0765 Lines: 867 X-URL: http://telecom-digest.org X-Submissions-To: editor@telecom-digest.org X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@telecom-digest.org Here is the October, 1999 issue of Telecomine. It, along with back issues can be found in the Telecom Archives for review at http://telecom-digest.org/archives/telcomine.e-zine PAT ================================ From: Seema Dhawan Subject: Telcomine Summary October'99 Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 16:16:39 +0530 Please find enclosed the summary and the full issue for the month of October'99 Best Regards Seema Dhawan Infozech -- Software for Telecom Service Providers Tel: +91-11-6416624/25, US Voicemail: +1-408-490-2842 Fax: +91-11-6411455, +1-408-490-2840 (US auto forward) Microsoft Certified Solution Provider Visit us at http://www.infozech.com **************************** Telcomine: A Telecom & Technology Newsletter http://www.infozech.com/telcomine.html *************************************************** Telcomine (http://www.infozech.com/telcomine.html), a monthly newsletter from Infozech. Telcomine brings you the latest trends and developments in frontline IT Technologies. To subscribe mail to nl@infozech.com To advertise mail to telcomine@infozech.com ************************************************ *****TELCOMINE********************************** Bringing Trends in Technology and Telecom Volume 2, No 10, October 1999 =================================================== HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE Europe - US to be short of 1.85m IT Staff in 2002, Firms Face closure Microsoft Launches Two point Remedial Campaign After Star Wars It is Cyber War for America: All Round Threat to National Security Optical Switching by 2001- A Big Leap in High Bandwidth Networks Y2K Fright Stops Flights As UK, US Caution Citizens on Travel ================================================= 1. EUROPE- US TO BE SHORT OF 1.85M IT STAFF IN 2002. FIRMS FACE CLOSURE MICROSOFT LAUNCHES TWO POINT REMEDIAL CAMPAIGN By 2002, Europe and America will be short of around 1.85 million software professionals. This could lead to closure of a large number of Telecom firms, specially the small ones. Microsoft has launched a major "initiative" to meet the threat. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct199.shtml 2.AFTER STAR WARS IT IS CYBER WAR FOR AMERICA: ALL ROUND THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY An important national security staff document warns of possible cyber attacks on strategic US computer systems from foreign nations. Further, with 50 million "Hotmail" accounts "exposed" by hackers and similar security breaches all round, America might have to prepare itself for another star-war like operation to face the threat. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct299.shtml 3. OPTICAL SWITCHING BY 2001- A BIG LEAP IN HIGH BANDWIDTH NETWORKS A white paper by Communication Industry Researchers Inc. (CIR), United States, suggests that Optical switching on Internet and other networks could become operational within two years. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct399.shtml 4. Y2K FRIGHT STOPS FLIGHTS AS UK, US CAUTION CITIZENS ON TRAVEL British and American governments have warned their citizens through websites to avoid travel at the turn of the millennium to places that are Y2K vulnerable and take abundant precautions elsewhere. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct499.shtml 5. INDIAN IN AMHERST BUILDS ONE DOLLAR MINI COMPUTER In a revolutionary research, a tiny computer has been built that would connect home appliances, VCRs, coffee machines, small cameras, controlled over the Internet from almost anywhere. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct599.shtml 6. HP-UCLA TEAM PUTS MANY PENTIUMS ON A GRAIN OF SAND The development of a molecular based logic circuitry by the researchers from Hewlett Packard Co. and the University of California at Los Angeles has opened up new vista of molecular-scale sensors, computers and machines. Though this is the first step towards building molecular computer, the team is envisioning a world where supercomputing power will become so pervasive and inexpensive that it would become an integral part of every manmade object. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct699.shtml 7. CIA ESTABLISHES VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY IN SILICON VALLEY To remain at the cutting edge of IT advances and capabilities, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has formed a venture capital company in Silicon Valley. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct799.shtml 8. BT - AT&T TO GIVE VOICE-DATA MOBILE SERVICE TO GLOBE-TROTTERS AT&T Corp and British Telecom have concluded a strategic pact to provide voice and data services for globetrotters and multinationals sick of incompatible technologies. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct899.shtml 9. SILICON VALLEY'S POSITION AS INTERNET INDUSTRY LEADER THREATENED Silicon Valley may no longer hold monopoly control over the Internet industry if a new study by Silicon Valley network and management-consulting firm A.T.Kearney is to be believed. Growing operational and infrastructure costs and increasing competition from other U.S. regions is limiting further growth of the valley. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct999.shtml 10. MICROSOFT MASS MAILS 80M USERS ON Y2K BUG CURE In one of the largest mass mailing campaigns, Microsoft has mailed its 80 million customers to get their PC s ready to ward off the millennium date bug. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1099.shtml 11. FTC CRACKS DOWN ON SITES THAT HIJACK USERS TO PORN WEB PAGES While cracking down on one of the most outrageous Internet swindle, FTC has shut down an international porn ring that hijacked 25 million legitimate Web pages and redirected Web surfers to explicit pornography. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1199.shtml 12. COMPAQ TO RECHARGE LAPTOP BATTERY BY TYPING In one of its latest discoveries, Compaq has patented an ingenious device that can harness the kinetic energy of a laptop's keyboard to recharge the battery. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1299.shtml 13. WHITE HOUSE CALLS FOR TOUGH LAWS AGAINST NET SPIES The latest report released by the US Department of Justice has called for strong federal and State laws against cyberstalking to safeguard online privacy. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1399.shtml 14. CLINTON EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER INTERNET CRIME AND SABOTAGE White House has announced a special task force to look at the unlawful use of the global open information network and examine if existing laws are sufficient to prosecute Internet crimes. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1499.shtml 15. AVID SURFING IS NOT ADDICTION BUT BEHAVIOR DISORDER: EXPERTS The European Union Psychologists regard net surfing as a serious behavior disorder enough to warrant intensive counseling under the new medical guidelines. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1599.shtml 16. NEW FIRM TO PAY ALL YOUR BILLS VIA INTERNET To satisfy the glaringly obvious need for online bill payment, a California start-up- called "Paymybills.com", has jumped to start the electronic-bill payment market with a decidedly non-tech approach. For $9.95 a month that include an insurance policy against fraud for upto $100,000, the site is aimed at the customers and not at the banks. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1699.shtml 17. MAILBOX HOW CORDLESS PHONES AFFECT BRAIN http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1799.shtml ============================================================== HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE Europe - US to be short of 1.85m IT Staff in 2002, Firms Face closure Microsoft Launches Two Point Campaign After Star Wars It is Cyber War for America: All Round Threat to National Security Optical Switching by 2001- A Big Leap in High Bandwidth Networks Y2K Fright Stops Flights As UK, US Caution Citizens on Travel ==================================================== EUROPE- US TO BE SHORT OF 1.85M IT STAFF IN 2002. FIRMS FACE CLOSURE MICROSOFT LAUNCHES TWO POINT REMEDIAL CAMPAIGN By 2002, Europe and America will be short of around 1.85 million software professionals. This could lead to closure of a large number of Telecom firms, specially the small ones. Microsoft has launched a major two point "initiative" to meet the threat. A high profile research report prepared by the International Data Corporation, estimates that in 2002 alone Europe will need to hire one million new IT people and America another 850,000, to bridge the gap. IDC- MICROSOFT'S TWIN REMEDIES Both Microsoft and IDC have identified two remedies to face the crisis: First preventing staff attrition which mean large numbers of skilled workers getting fed up with the poor wages and hard working conditions and leaving their jobs or moving to altogether different professions. Providing higher wages and better human relations, welfare facilities and working environment could savethe industry from impending disaster. Secondly, the large numbers of non-IT employees in companies, should be induced to switch to the Internet -Telecom stream. They should be retrained intensively and given liberal incentives to feel attracted towards it. Microsoft has launched a campaign it calls and "initiative" in America and Britain to make employers and employees aware of the problem and of their own vast untapped resources to deal with it. Millions of people are visiting the websites created by it, for this purpose. Microsoft and its chairman Bill Gates have made it their mission to draw more and more people into the IT stream. The shortfall will have a great effect on small and medium sized companies, which will increase their spending on IT from 1.5% of turn over to 4.5% by 2002. Wages will be forced up and staff turnover will increase, raising operating costs and cutting into profits of these companies. For more information at IDC, contact: Michael Boyd- mboyd@idc.com and Kara Murphy - kmurphy@idc.com ==================================================== AFTER STAR WARS IT IS CYBER WAR FOR AMERICA: ALL ROUND THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY An important national security staff document warns of possible cyber attacks on strategic US computer systems from foreign nations. Further, with 50 million "Hotmail" accounts "exposed" by hackers and similar security breaches all round, America might have to prepare itself for another star-war like operation to face the threat. According to a copy of the draft document obtained by "The Washington Times" and published as a report, foreign intelligence agents are trying to glean U.S. secrets at an unprecedented pace. In addition, foreign governments are creating "sophisticated, well-organized capabilities" to launch cyber attacks on strategically important information networks. "ROGUE" NATIONS A Global Strategy has been suggested as a Road Map of how the 21st century policy-makers should use the economic, diplomatic and military strength of the U.S. to influence developments overseas and at home. It maintains that easier access to sophisticated technology has meant that the destructive power available to "rogue nations" and terrorists is greater than ever and stresses that adversaries may be tempted to use "information attacks" to threaten citizens and critical national infrastructures. ==================================================== OPTICAL SWITCHING BY 2001- A BIG LEAP IN HIGH BANDWIDTH NETWORKS A white paper by Communication Industry Researchers Inc. (CIR), United States, suggests that Optical switching on Internet and other networks could become operational within two years. Currently high-speed fiber optic transmission is handicapped by the fact that all switching at the numerous cross - connections along the way is electronic. Optical switching will remove the electronic bottleneck. True optical cross-connects for backbone applications could appear by 2001, starting at 256 ports and growing to more than 1,000. Although the "all optical network" (AON) will not be entirely commercialized for more than a decade, optical switching - a critical part of AONs- will become mainstream in the next few years. Indeed, major carriers already are deploying optical cross-connects. According to the CIR white paper, even if they are not optical, the introduction of these large switches will revolutionize the optical network even more than dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) has. The paper adds, "it is a less-expensive solution, and a strategy that is going to change the balance between electrical and optical technology in networks, and that is a key part of it". =================================================== Y2K FRIGHT STOPS FLIGHTS AS UK, US CAUTION CITIZENS ON TRAVEL British and American governments have warned their citizens through websites to avoid travel at the turn of the millennium to places that are Y2K vulnerable and take abundant precautions elsewhere. To avoid any problems from Y2K woes, Singapore Airlines has decided to cancel 60 flights and Reschedule another 40 at millennium eve. In France, Eurotunnel has decided not to run Passenger trains through the tunnel under the English Channel during the night of Dec 31. In Russia, four hundred out of the country's 600 airports would have difficulties caused by the millennium glitch, the site noted. Poor Hotel reservations in tourists' site suggest That more people worldwide will celebrate the dawn of the new millennium at home. In some countries, stock markets are nervous about the impact of the millennium bug on the economy and many shares may remain subdued till the panic is over. A British official site has advised travelers to Carry additional cash, in case ATMs break down; to be prepared for long delays at airports; and to keep on hand possessions like passports, eyeglasses and medicines. The site has given country wise suggestions to tourists. The finance, banking, power, transport, defense and social sectors could all be vulnerable in Ukraine. It named three Indonesian airports where air traffic control was not yet compliant; travelers to Egypt should bring "enough cash to cover contingencies". USA has issued bug warnings through a new Transportation Department Web Site that will also serve as the federal government's clearinghouse for year 2000 traveler information during the next three months. The website gives detailed information on the Y2K status of numerous countries. According to Rodney Slater, Transportation Secretary, " the top three travel destinations from the United States - Canada, Britain and Japan - report that they will be fully Year -2000- ready by the end of the year." More information can be had from the British website- (http://www.fco.gov.uk/) and the American site -(www.y2ktransport.dot.gov/fly2k/). ================================================= INDIAN IN AMHERST BUILDS ONE DOLLAR MINI COMPUTER In a revolutionary research, a tiny computer has been built that would connect home appliances, VCRs, coffee machines, small cameras, controlled over the Internet from almost anywhere. H. Shrikumar, who is studying specialized machine automation at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, has developed the computer that is slightly larger than the head of a match. The computer includes a tiny 4-megahertz processor and a small 32-KB memory chip that stores World Wide Web pages and other data. Although these numbers are insignificant compared to the speed and storage of modern personal computers, yet it is more powerful than a typical computer built a decade ago. According to Shrikumar, his computer can be built for less than $1, making it practical to install the devices in a variety of home electronics and appliances. This internet computer lets consumers use the web browser on an office computer to program their VCRs, turn on their porch light, even activate cameras to check on the baby sitter. ===================================================== HP-UCLA TEAM PUTS MANY PENTIUMS ON A GRAIN OF SAND The development of a molecular based logic circuitry by the researchers from Hewlett Packard Co. and the University of California at Los Angeles has opened up new vista of molecular-scale sensors, computers and machines. Though this is the first step towards building molecular computer, the team is envisioning a world where supercomputing power will become so pervasive and inexpensive that it would become an integral part of every manmade object. According to James Heath, professor in UCLA who is leading the research, "the ultimate goal is -to build a computer with approximately the power of 100 high end work stations on a platform the size of a grain sand". The Hewlett Packard researcher Philip Keukes supporting this belief says, "Many Pentiums on a grain of sand is no exaggeration. We could have a prototype of a molecular computer in five years and something you might imagine buying in ten." The basis of all digital processors is an "on-off Switch". In this case the researchers have built their switch by simply sandwiching a custom- designed molecule called rotaxane- a synthetic compound created by chemists at UCLA- between two criss-crossed wires. With the rotaxane, electrons can cross from one wire to the other. This means that the current can flow easily. However, on applying an electric field between the wires, the rotaxane breaks, and the electrons cannot jump. This is the open position of the switch. "We hope that within the next couple of years, we will have developed molecular based memories and molecular-based communication networks," says Heath. As the molecular switches, are easy and cheap to produce, its use will also be wide-ranging medical sciences to military applications. ===================================================== CIA ESTABLISHES VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY IN SILICON VALLEY To remain at the cutting edge of IT advances and capabilities, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has formed a venture capital company in Silicon Valley. Known as In-Q-It, the company is a private, independent, non-profit corporation and will initially target four areas: use of Internet, information security, knowledge generation and distributed architecture. With an initial capital of $28m, it will be headed Gilman G. Louie. According to the Director Central Intelligence, George J. Tenet, "In-Q-It is revolutionary, although it will work with CIA, it is not tied to the CIA's organizational structure and style". The rapid and unprecedented pace of technological change and the evolution of our national security environment dictate a change in the way the intelligence community does business, he added. The aim is to ensure that intelligence services Have access to the latest technology, much of which is developed by small startups companies at California. The step is remarkable, as it will provide a platform to the brightest brains to work on some of the nation's toughest problems. ================================================= BT - AT&T TO GIVE VOICE-DATA MOBILE SERVICE TO GLOBE-TROTTERS AT&T Corp and British Telecom have concluded a strategic pact to provide voice and data services for globetrotters and multinationals sick of incompatible technologies. Although mobile products have become one of the world's biggest growth industries, their use has been frustrated by a string of different international standards that do not allow subscribers to pick up messages, find data and communicate easily across national boundaries. The alliance aims to eventually provide the customer those 'anytime, anywhere' capabilities on their mobile phones. The two companies' wireless businesses currently cover 17 countries with a total market population of more than one billion and a customer base of 41 million. The alliance builds on an announcement earlier this year that nine global leaders in wireless communications, including BT and AT&T, would support the development of next generation wireless services, including enhanced voice, high-speed data and Internet access, imaging and video conferencing on an all IP-based network architecture. ================================================== SILICON VALLEY'S POSITION AS INTERNET INDUSTRY LEADER THREATENED Silicon Valley may no longer hold monopoly control over the Internet industry if a new study by Silicon Valley network and management- consulting firm A.T.Kearney is to be believed. Growing operational and infrastructure costs and increasing competition from other U.S. regions is limiting further growth of the valley. In its August' 99 issue, Telcomine described the striking contrast between the news of 'Time' and 'Newsweek' on life in the Silicon Valley, and other similar IT complexes in America. The A.T.Kearney report based on a survey of more than 100 Internet executives around the nation presents a third view. Seven U.S. regions have been identified as emerging leaders of the Internet industry: Seattle's Silicon Forest, San Fransisco's Multimedia Gulch, Los Angele's Digital Coast, Austin's Silicon Hills, Boston's Route 128, New York City's Silicon Alley and Washington D.C's Silicon Dominion. Lack of skilled talent has been cited as a major factor influencing company location decisions. The Silicon Valley's domestic high-tech force numbering 450,000 people is far short of pace with the industry's demand. Further, it has been observed that Silicon Valley venture capitalists are often not investing enough in start-ups that require 'seed level' investment. =================================================== MICROSOFT MASS MAILS 80M USERS ON Y2K BUG CURE In one of the largest mass mailing campaigns, Microsoft has mailed its 80 million customers to get their PCs ready to ward off the millennium date bug. Microsoft decided to mail after Focus Group Research told them that more customers planned to concentrate heavily on the Y2K issues millennial date. The three-paragraph message directed users to its web site for bug fixes. " In order to work properly in the year 2000, some products may require a year 2000 software update," it said. ==================================================== FTC CRACKS DOWN ON SITES THAT HIJACK USERS TO PORN WEB PAGES While cracking down on one of the most outrageous Internet swindle, FTC has shut down an international porn ring that hijacked 25 million legitimate Web pages and redirected Web surfers to explicit pornography. Referring the ploy as "page-jacking" FTC described it as the most pernicious example it has discovered in the 100 cases of Internet deception it had investigated. The FTC has charged Carlos Pereira, Guiseppe Nirta and WTFRC Pty. Ltd. for digitally copying popular websites, including its "metatags" and then hosting the counterfeit pages on the web. The result would be that surfers using search engines would choose sites with legitimate names and descriptions, but be instantly redirected to porn sites. Once there the defendants used another trick, "mouse- trapping". When users tried to backtrack or close their browser, hidden code on the Web pages disabled the user's software and displayed more pornography, forcing the surfer to shut down their computers to close the session. Pereira is believed to reside in Portugal, while Nirta and WTFRC are based in Australia. The Australian law enforcement Agencies raided the WTFRC premises and seized servers as evidence. The authorities have searched eight different sites along the eastern coast of Australia, gathering information for possible criminal prosecution or civil action. The defendants apparently hoped to increase traffic to their sites and thus, increase ad revenues and membership fees. =============================================== COMPAQ TO RECHARGE LAPTOP BATTERY BY TYPING In one of its latest discoveries, Compaq has patented an ingenious device that can harness the kinetic energy of a laptop's keyboard to recharge the battery. Adrian Crisan, inventor of the keyboard has come up with a conversion mechanism that uses tiny magnets that are attached to the shaft of each key and the wire coils surrounding it. Every time a key is depressed, the magnet moves through the coils, inducing a tiny current that is used to charge a capacitor. When the capacitor has a high enough charge, it recharges the battery. According to Crisan, " We will not know the economics of this keyboard until it is produced, but it could mean a 1-kilogram notebook instead of a 1.5 Kg machine or one that would last for 10 hours on one charge, as long as you keep typing. Given the instant-message habits of some users, the technique could lead to a kind of perpetual typing motion machine. =================================================== WHITE HOUSE CALLS FOR TOUGH LAWS AGAINST NET SPIES The latest report released by the US Department of Justice has called for strong federal and State laws against cyberstalking to safeguard online privacy. The DOJ's report, titled "CYBERSTALKING: A NEW CHALLENGE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT" has asked the states to examine their existing laws and ensure that they are tough and flexible enough to combat the problem. In addition, federal laws should be amended to make it easier to track stalkers (who secretly obstruct or destroy information networks) and other online criminals. "Cyberstalking is a very serious problem confronting us in the information age," Vice President Al Gore said in a statement. As stalking takes place via Internet, E-mail, pager and other electronic communications, the report has called on Internet companies to launch a website that could educate and advise people on actions against cyberstalking. It has also suggested that the law enforcement officials too should be trained in cyberstalking. ======================================================== CLINTON EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER INTERNET CRIME AND SABOTAGE White House has announced a special task force to look at the unlawful use of the global open information network and examine if existing laws are sufficient to prosecute Internet crimes. The force especially created by President Clinton is headed by Attorney General Janet Reno. The force would comprise of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement administration. This team will look at issues such as illegal sale of guns, explosives and prescription of drugs online, fraud and child pornography. ================================================== AVID SURFING IS NOT ADDICTION BUT BEHAVIOR DISORDER: EXPERTS The European Union Psychologists regard net surfing as a serious behavior disorder enough to warrant intensive counseling under the new medical guidelines. Net has become such an obsession not only among young middle-class men, but among women and retired people too. It has become an addiction similar to gambling and alcohol. In an interesting policy drafted by the health advisers in Brussels, it was stated that all those who surf the net for more than four hours a day are clinically ill and need medical treatment. Internet addicts will be regarded the same way as alcoholics and gamblers and receive treatment on the UK National Health Service. It shares all the behavior traits associated with other destructive addictions such as deceit, neglecting friends and repeated vows to cut back. There are certain symptoms, which refer that constant surfing creates high brain levels of the drug 'dopamine', an adrenaline. In an earlier issue (March 99), Telcomine had said that Internet has emerged as a main culprit in the increasing number of divorce cases. The intensity of this - is so high that a mother in Florida lost her children in a custody court battle because of her inability to keep off the computer. ======================================================= NEW FIRM TO PAY ALL YOUR BILLS VIA INTERNET To satisfy the glaringly obvious need for online bill payment, a California start-up- called "Paymybills.com", has jumped to start the electronic-bill payment market with a decidedly non-tech approach. For $9.95 a month that include an insurance policy against fraud for upto $100,000, the site is aimed at the customers and not at the banks. For $9.95 a month, the site will receive customers' bills, scan the paperwork into the network, wait for an e-mail authorization from the customer and then pay the bill on the customers' behalf via snail mail. The cost allows up to 15 payment transactions, with a 50 cents per transaction fee thereafter. Though this is a fairly hefty charge, but according to Jupiter Communication, a research firm, it will save $190 a year that an average household spends on stamps, cheque and so forth. In addition, the savings in late payment penalties could be valuable too. The service claims to secure the customers Information and account data through data encryption and the combined use of user ID's and Personal Identification Numbers. ================================================== MAILBOX HOW CORDLESS PHONES AFFECT BRAIN Please send me information concerning your research on the brain with cordless phones. - Teresa Adamzak The report in Telcomine of July was a summation of the studies done by scientists at the University of Warwick and The British Royal Infirmary. - Editor Thank you, very much for this gesture, this is really an informative magazine. - Babar Nawab What a great article (Optical Fiber revolution will sweep away present telecom systems- Telcomine, September). I really enjoyed it. Expecting the boom to happen fast. Really a new exposure to me. - S. Mohan Please send me new info on Telecom - Robert White, USA ========================================================= If you have found Telcomine useful, please consider telling somebody else about it. Executive Editor: Seema Dhawan Technical Editor : Pragya Singh E-mail: Telcomine@infozech.com Internet: http://www.infozech.com/telcomine.html Fax: 408-490-2840; Voice Mail: 408-490-2842 Please visit us at http://www.infozech.com *************************************************** Telcomine (http://www.infozech.com/telcomine.html), a monthly newsletter from Infozech. Telcomine brings you the latest trends and developments in frontline IT Technologies. To subscribe mail to nl@infozech.com To advertise mail to telcomine@infozech.com ************************************************ *****TELCOMINE********************************** Bringing Trends in Technology and Telecom Volume 2, No 10, October 1999 =================================================== HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE Europe - US to be short of 1.85m IT Staff in 2002, Firms Face closure Microsoft Launches Two point Remedial Campaign After Star Wars It is Cyber War for America: All Round Threat to National Security Optical Switching by 2001- A Big Leap in High Bandwidth Networks Y2K Fright Stops Flights As UK, US Caution Citizens on Travel ================================================= 1. EUROPE- US TO BE SHORT OF 1.85M IT STAFF IN 2002. FIRMS FACE CLOSURE MICROSOFT LAUNCHES TWO POINT REMEDIAL CAMPAIGN By 2002, Europe and America will be short of around 1.85 million software professionals. This could lead to closure of a large number of Telecom firms, specially the small ones. Microsoft has launched a major "initiative" to meet the threat. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct199.shtml 2.AFTER STAR WARS IT IS CYBER WAR FOR AMERICA: ALL ROUND THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY An important national security staff document warns of possible cyber attacks on strategic US computer systems from foreign nations. Further, with 50 million "Hotmail" accounts "exposed" by hackers and similar security breaches all round, America might have to prepare itself for another star-war like operation to face the threat. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct299.shtml 3. OPTICAL SWITCHING BY 2001- A BIG LEAP IN HIGH BANDWIDTH NETWORKS A white paper by Communication Industry Researchers Inc. (CIR), United States, suggests that Optical switching on Internet and other networks could become operational within two years. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct399.shtml 4. Y2K FRIGHT STOPS FLIGHTS AS UK, US CAUTION CITIZENS ON TRAVEL British and American governments have warned their citizens through websites to avoid travel at the turn of the millennium to places that are Y2K vulnerable and take abundant precautions elsewhere. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct499.shtml 5. INDIAN IN AMHERST BUILDS ONE DOLLAR MINI COMPUTER In a revolutionary research, a tiny computer has been built that would connect home appliances, VCRs, coffee machines, small cameras, controlled over the Internet from almost anywhere. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct599.shtml 6. HP-UCLA TEAM PUTS MANY PENTIUMS ON A GRAIN OF SAND The development of a molecular based logic circuitry by the researchers from Hewlett Packard Co. and the University of California at Los Angeles has opened up new vista of molecular-scale sensors, computers and machines. Though this is the first step towards building molecular computer, the team is envisioning a world where supercomputing power will become so pervasive and inexpensive that it would become an integral part of every manmade object. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct699.shtml 7. CIA ESTABLISHES VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY IN SILICON VALLEY To remain at the cutting edge of IT advances and capabilities, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has formed a venture capital company in Silicon Valley. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct799.shtml 8. BT - AT&T TO GIVE VOICE-DATA MOBILE SERVICE TO GLOBE-TROTTERS AT&T Corp and British Telecom have concluded a strategic pact to provide voice and data services for globetrotters and multinationals sick of incompatible technologies. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct899.shtml 9. SILICON VALLEY'S POSITION AS INTERNET INDUSTRY LEADER THREATENED Silicon Valley may no longer hold monopoly control over the Internet industry if a new study by Silicon Valley network and management-consulting firm A.T.Kearney is to be believed. Growing operational and infrastructure costs and increasing competition from other U.S. regions is limiting further growth of the valley. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct999.shtml 10. MICROSOFT MASS MAILS 80M USERS ON Y2K BUG CURE In one of the largest mass mailing campaigns, Microsoft has mailed its 80 million customers to get their PC s ready to ward off the millennium date bug. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1099.shtml 11. FTC CRACKS DOWN ON SITES THAT HIJACK USERS TO PORN WEB PAGES While cracking down on one of the most outrageous Internet swindle, FTC has shut down an international porn ring that hijacked 25 million legitimate Web pages and redirected Web surfers to explicit pornography. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1199.shtml 12. COMPAQ TO RECHARGE LAPTOP BATTERY BY TYPING In one of its latest discoveries, Compaq has patented an ingenious device that can harness the kinetic energy of a laptop's keyboard to recharge the battery. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1299.shtml 13. WHITE HOUSE CALLS FOR TOUGH LAWS AGAINST NET SPIES The latest report released by the US Department of Justice has called for strong federal and State laws against cyberstalking to safeguard online privacy. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1399.shtml 14. CLINTON EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER INTERNET CRIME AND SABOTAGE White House has announced a special task force to look at the unlawful use of the global open information network and examine if existing laws are sufficient to prosecute Internet crimes. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1499.shtml 15. AVID SURFING IS NOT ADDICTION BUT BEHAVIOR DISORDER: EXPERTS The European Union Psychologists regard net surfing as a serious behavior disorder enough to warrant intensive counseling under the new medical guidelines. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1599.shtml 16. NEW FIRM TO PAY ALL YOUR BILLS VIA INTERNET To satisfy the glaringly obvious need for online bill payment, a California start-up- called "Paymybills.com", has jumped to start the electronic-bill payment market with a decidedly non-tech approach. For $9.95 a month that include an insurance policy against fraud for upto $100,000, the site is aimed at the customers and not at the banks. http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1699.shtml 17. MAILBOX HOW CORDLESS PHONES AFFECT BRAIN http://www.infozech.com/articles/oct1799.shtml If you have found Telcomine useful, please consider telling somebody else about it. Executive Editor: Seema Dhawan Technical Editor : Pragya Singh E-mail: Telcomine@infozech.com Internet: http://www.infozech.com/telcomine.html Fax: 408-490-2840; Voice Mail: 408-490-2842 Please visit us at http://www.infozech.com ========================================================