IT jobs on the rise, says survey

Job ads in the month of June were up 20 percent compared with June 2003, according to the Bank of Ireland Business Banking Unit's jobs survey. The most significant rises were in IT and manufacturing, where ads have trebled and doubled respectively. The data brings new focus on the question of whether Ireland will produce enough ICT graduates to fulfil demand in the sector. Bodies like the trade group ICT Ireland have repeatedly warned that the drop in applications for third level engineering and technology courses could lead to a skills gap in Ireland. The news of increased IT job vacancies could be a sign that demand is already beginning to resurge, a development that secondary school guidance counsellors should note. For more information on the jobs data see the press release in pdf format from Bank of Ireland.

eLearning deal highlights power of the Web

A landmark deal signed last week by a Japanese eLearning company underlines the fact that white-collar business is more mobile than ever. ECC Foreign Language Institute, which lets Japanese residents study English online over a broadband connection, is locating its first teaching centre outside Japan in Ireland. The deal will let ECC provide online lessons until late in the evening Japanese time; this lets the company avoid paying shift bonuses that would have been necessary if using workers in Japan. See the press announcement from IDA Ireland.

Vodafone launches 3G in Ireland

Vodafone has launched third-generation mobile services (3G) in Ireland, initially providing data services to business users, with plans for 3G handsets by the year's end. Vodafone's 3G/GPRS data card plugs into a customers' laptop and provides a higher-speed wireless connection to corporate networks or the Internet. Vodafone is touting a connection speed of 384Kbps, comparable to the 512Kbps provided by land-line bound DSL and well in excess of the maximum speed of 40Kbps available from existing mobile phone services in Ireland. However, not all areas are covered by the service. In areas where it is not available the data card will switch to the older and slower GPRS technology. Vodafone Ireland says that in other markets, 3G is proving popular not only with corporate customers, but also with SMEs and home office users. O2 Ireland is widely expected to light up its own 3G network later this year, while 3G-only player "Three" is expected launch its Irish service by mid-2005. For more details visit ENN or Vodafone.

Users warned of security flaw

Companies are being warned that a new threat may exist which can record a user's keystrokes, possibly revealing sensitive information. The original threat has been removed with the shutdown of the Russian website thought responsible, but experts warn that users of Internet Explorer remain vulnerable as security flaws in the browser currently remain unpatched. Microsoft advises Internet Explorer users to install the latest security patches and increase browser security to High. For more information see the Guardian and visit Microsoft's update site.

Irish software sector surges by nearly 6 percent

How will widespread broadband change the way we work?

Profile: Website Findability

eSecurity workshop - the Importance of an IT Security Policy

Case study -- Petworld.ie

Voice over IP

Voice calls delivered using the Internet Protocol (voice over IP, or VoIP) are more in the news than ever, promising to cut business telecoms costs. Costs are lower because a line doesn't need to be kept open between two callers at all times; instead, calls are delivered in data "packets," the same way that email and Web traffic travels. Check with your telecoms provider for the offerings available in your area.

National College of Ireland, Mayor Street, IFSC:Dublin 1, 09.15 - 17.15 This Irish Internet Association Web accessibility and usability seminar aims to provide a thorough introduction to creating an inclusive and user-friendly Web presence. This one-day workshop will also look at accessibility and why it matters. The event will also address best practices in usability, the characteristics of users and how they interact with a website. Discounts available for IIA members.

Instant mesaging has been a common feature of the ICT scene for many years but should it have a place in a business environment? The article above seeks to make the case, while this one argues the opposite.