NEWS&ANALYSIS
the
buzz
DEVELOPMENT
Microsoft expands
source code access
MICROSOFT HAS EXPANDED THE
Source Licensing Program under
which its Most Valued Professionals get access to the
source code for Windows. The
company said last week that all
MVPs in the Microsoft platforms
community that live in the 27 eligible countries will be able to access
the source code at no cost.
The code covers Windows
2000; Windows XP; Windows
Server 2003; and future versions
of Windows, including service
packs and betas. —Peter Galli
WIRELESS
Verizon to launch its
first Bluetooth phone
VERIZON WIRELESS LAST WEEK
announced plans to sell the
Motorola V710 phone, marking
the first time the carrier will offer
a device that supports Bluetooth
technology.
In addition to Bluetooth, the
phone includes a 1.23-megapixel
camera, speech recognition technology and support for Qualcomm’s Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless application
development platform. The Motorola V710 is due in Verizon stores
next month for $249.
—Carmen Nobel
LEGAL
Dell accessorizes its
Axim X30 handheld
Oracle-DOJ trial
wraps up
DELL IS SHIPPING TWO BLUETOOTH-
AFTER FOUR WEEKS OF TESTIMONY
compatible accessories for its
Axim X30 handheld computer: a
GPS navigation unit and a QWERTY keyboard.
The Global Positioning System
unit, priced at $249, includes
Navteq maps of North America
and software for voice-prompted,
turn-by-turn directions. The $99
in a trial to determine if the U.S.
Department of Justice can block
Oracle’s proposed $7.7 billion
buyout of PeopleSoft, both sides
fielded one last barrage of questions from U.S. District Judge
Vaughn Walker during their closing arguments last week.
Walker expressed doubts
about the DOJ’s definition of
the “high-function” enterprise
software market, a key definition in the government’s claim
that the deal would violate
antitrust law.
The judge
called the
government’s
definition
“unwieldy and awkward” and
asked a DOJ attorney, “Is this a
definition that has ever been
used outside of this litigation?”
Walker also questioned
Oracle’s attorney, asking him to
explain why the company couldn’t
invest $7.7 billion in research and
development to improve its competitive position, rather than buy
PeopleSoft. A ruling isn’t expected
for at least four weeks.
—John Pallatto, eweek.com
A keyboard
adds functionality to Dell’s
Axim X30.
AT&T rolls out 3G
AT&T WIRELESS SERVICES HAS
rolled out its third-generation, or
3G, high-speed wireless service
in San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix
and Detroit, with service in Dallas
and San Diego planned by year’s
end. For $25 a month, subscribers can transfer data at
speeds of 220K to 320K bps on
the Motorola A845 or Nokia 6651
mobile phones, AT&T officials said
last week. Subscribers can also
purchase a streaming audio and
video service from RealNetworks
for an additional $5 a month.
In addition, AT&T Wireless is
offering an $80-per-month version of the service targeted at
businesses; it lets users access
the high-speed service on PDAs
or laptops with a modem codeveloped by Lucent and Novatel.
—Shelley Solheim
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Why don’t these people speak English
in this case?
U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, expressing his frustration
with the highly technical jargon used by all participants in the
Oracle vs. DOJ case
w w w. e w e e k . c o m
MOBILE COMPUTING
keyboard is based on Think
Outside’s Stowaway Portable
Keyboard and weighs about 8
ounces. It can fold up to be palm
size. It comes with a stand that
can hold a handheld in landscape
or portrait mode.
The Axim X30 supports Wi-Fi
as well as Bluetooth wireless connectivity, letting users send e-mail
using the keyboard while connected to a Wi-Fi network.
—Shelley Solheim
BY THE NUMBERS
Quarterly earnings roundup
COMPANY
NOTABLE NUMBERS
Sun
Sees fiscal Q4 income jump to $795 million and
Microsystems sales rise to $3.11 billion
EMC
A leap in software sales fuels a Q2 increase in
income to $193 million on sales of $1.9 billion
Siebel
Reports a dip in Q2 revenues to $301 million
and a drop in profit to $8.2 million
SAP
14 percent jump in Q2 profit of $249 million
($305 million), up from $219 million
Sprint
Says a 17 percent increase in mobile services business led to a $233 million Q2 profit
on $6.9 billion in sales
J U LY 2 6 , 2 0 0 4 n e W E E K 19