First major speech as cabinet minister by Peter Mandelson calls for a third industrial revolution - the revolution of the...

CML targets dual-chip modem at wireless David Manners Consumer Microcircuits Limited (CML) of Witham has quietly moved into a new market – wireless modems. The 30-year-old specialist in low power chips for audio processing and signalling, has brought out a two-chip modem operating between 865MHz and 965MHz which brings wireless connectivity to a wide range of products from desktop computers ...

All clear for BT Richard Wilson BT’s $1bn acquisition of the remaining 25 per cent stake in the international corporate venture, Concert Communications, has been cleared by UK regulators. Former US partner MCI had to sell the stake after its takeover by Worldcom.

BT to follow Dixons lead with bargain Web access launch Steve Bush A new business model is allowing Internet service providers (ISPs) to offer bargain-basement Web access. First on the scene is Dixons with the launch of its Freeserve, and BT is about to launch something similar. Dixons’ Freeserve offers free Internet connection, apart for the cost of a local ...

Tactronic buys Richard Wilson Tactronic has completed its acquisition of the PCB manufacturing plant of Ipswich Electronics.

LAS winner ‘hours away’ Alex Mayhew-Smith An announcement on the winner of the ?300m contract for the Bowman military digital communications and data system is expected this week. Reports have suggested that the joint bid by Racal/Thomson CSF for the Bowman LAS contract is likely to succeed. However, a Racal spokesman said he had no idea which way the contract ...

Philips ties up review Richard Wilson Philips has completed a strategic review of its components group and is expected to make an announcement about the future of specific businesses within weeks. Speculation over a possible sale of the passive components business has continued with reports that a venture capital group, called Compass Partners International, is in talks with Philips about ...

Motorola, ST in chip venture? David Manners Motorola and STMicroelectronics are reported to be in talks over a possible $3bn joint venture into which Motorola’s Semiconductor Components Group will be absorbed. “I am aware of the rumours out there,” responded Rolf Espen Olsen, Motorola’s director of communications and public affairs, when asked about the plan, adding: “but I can neither ...

Where’s the set-top? Melanie Reynolds Philips is claiming a world first with a TV that includes an integrated digital terrestrial TV decoder. The 71cm (28in) widescreen set will retail at ?1,000 and, says Philips, will be up-gradeable to receive digital satellite services. Philips says that the TV will be capable of receiving all digital TV services. The satellite upgrade, in ...

Intel’s Barrett attacks European PC illiteracy Richard Ball Intel’s Craig Barrett, on his first visit to the UK as president and CEO, has accused Europe of a lack of digital literacy, IT skills and competitiveness. Changes must be made, said Barrett, to stop Europe lagging behind the US in adopting advanced technology. This is despite the latest figures which show ...