Caron Carlson

U.S. Goes to Bat for Microsoft

While they take issue with European sanctions, the litany of pro-Microsoft Corp. statements from the Bush administration and a handful of members of Congress are aimed at this side of the Atlantic as much as they are the European Commission, antitrust experts say. “Part of the rhetoric is directed at the D.C. Circuit [Court of […]

Microsoft Readies Appeal in Europe

Microsoft Corp. could spend the remainder of the decade embroiled in a European legal battle over its trade practices, but the events of the next 90 days could prove critical in determining the impact of the case. If Microsofts request to stay, pending appeal, a European Commission order to unbundle Media Player from Windows and […]

SMBs Get Crack at VOIP with New Offerings

The Voice on the Net Conference opens in Santa Clara, Calif., this week amid a redoubled VOIP buzz spurred in part by the federal governments interest in regulating Internet telephony. The momentum has numerous vendors offering simpler, less costly, standards-based alternatives to the major manufacturers voice-over-IP offerings, targeting the lower end of the market. Focusing […]

Microsoft to Appeal European Sanctions

Microsoft Corp. is appealing the sanctions the European Commission imposed today on Microsoft for anti-competitive behavior, giving the company 90 days to offer a version of the Windows operating system without Media Player and 120 days to disclose greater interface information so rival servers can interoperate with Microsoft products. /zimages/5/28571.gifFor more on the EUs decision, […]

GAO Outlines Gaps in Security

A little over a year after the Federal Information Security Management Act went into effect, government agencies continue to be dogged by network vulnerabilities and slow reform. To point agencies in the right direction, the U.S. General Accounting Office last week enumerated 18 technologies in five categories to better protect networks. With the GAOs advice […]

Microsoft Digs in for Legal Fight

Despite a last-ditch settlement attempt by its CEO, Microsoft Corp. once again finds itself facing protracted litigation and possibly stiff sanctions—this time in Europe. Rivals hailed the development as a victory for software interoperability and competition. CEO Steve Ballmer dropped plans to speak at Microsofts Management Summit in Las Vegas last week to fly suddenly […]

Testing Incentives Sought

Governments in Asia and Europe have taken concrete steps to encourage the private sector to adopt IPv6, but in the United States, most interested parties are lobbying for a laissez-faire approach. The attitude in the United States has some infrastructure vendors warning that the countrys economic edge could be in jeopardy if the nation doesnt […]

EC Ruling on Microsoft Looming

Microsoft Corp. will get one last meeting before the European Commission next week, with the board due to rule in its protracted investigation into the software vendors use of its market power before the end of next month. But Microsofts antitrust wrangling wont end there because rivals will continue to pursue legal remedies in the […]

The Path to Safety?

Later this month some of the largest companies in the United States, led by the IT sector, will publicize a set of recommendations on hardening cyber-infrastructure so that the government doesnt legislate the effort for them. The recommendations—all voluntary—are to include television advertising aimed at small businesses and data collection research with the federal government, […]

Legal Former Worldcom CEO Ebbers Indicted

Bernard Ebbers, former CEO of WorldCom (now doing business as MCI), was indicted last week for conspiracy and securities fraud for his alleged role in inflating the value of the companys stock in light of its weakening financial condition. The charges came shortly after the companys former chief financial officer, Scott Sullivan, pleaded guilty to […]