The Year
2001
Telias mobile customers to send e-mail via SMS
Today, Telia's three million mobile customers will have a new e-mail address
linked to their mobile. With the Mobil Mejl (Mobile Mail) service it is
now possible for all Telia's mobile customers to send and receive e-mail
using their mobile phone.
Subscribing
to the Mobile Mail service is of no charge and sending an e-mail message
costs the same as sending an ordinary SMS text message.
"Up to now, only some of our customers, or those with WAP phones,
have been able to send e-mail from their mobiles. But now all of our three
million customers will get their own e-mail address on their mobile,"
said Anders Bruse, head of Telia Mobile Sweden.
All Telia mobile phone customers will get their own e-mail address
including their mobile phone number such as 0706999119@mobilmejl.com.
Receiving e-mail on the mobile is free and sending e-mail from it will
cost the same as sending an SMS text message. The service works for all
three million of Telia's mobile customers.
To send an e-mail from their Telia mobile, customers have to do the following:
1. Write a text message starting with the recipient's e-mail address
2. Put in a space and then type the text of the message you want to send
3. Send the message to 1515
More information
Nicholas Mead
Boliden rescued by Carl Bennet
Swedish mining giants Boliden have been rescued by a financial package
put together by Elanders and Getinge entrepreneur Carl Bennet.
Nothing
official has been released by Boliden but company spokesman Leif Öberg
told Scandinavia Now:
"Carl Bennet has been involved in a brief refinancing programme of
Boliden. He will become chairman of an advisory board to the board of
directors in June. The intention is for this advisory board to
eventually replace the board of directors."
In
response to recent articles in the media about the plight of the
previously financially sound company, Boliden announced that it will
later today provide information relating to the refinancing initiative
including restructuring of the Company's credit facilities, equity
offering and the decision of the board of directors regarding the sale
of Chilean Assets.
Nicholas Mead
Volvo under investigation for alleged fatal break fault
Swedish car-maker Volvo, famed for it's safety, is facing a manslaughter
investigation for allegedly covering up a fatal defect in the brakes of
thousands of cars, according to The Independent newspaper.
The
case involves a horrific road accident two years ago when two
children were crushed to death by a Volvo 850 TDI which ran out of
control in a narrow street in France.
The pledge promises to make Denmark the most developed technological nation
in Europe as its closest Scandinavian neighbours still struggle to implement
a widespread broadband infrastructure. In Stockholm alone, a capital of
some 1.5 million people, it was recently estimated that only 117,000 households
currently have broadband access despite wild promises by operators.
An
investigating magistrate has decided that the driver was an innocent victim
of Volvo's failure to correct a serious problem in the braking system
of 180,000 cars, sold worldwide.
Representatives
of Volvo France have been summoned to a meeting with the magistrate on
30 May. It is expected that the company will be placed under formal investigation
and if found guilty, will face a charge of involuntary homicide or manslaughter.
Volvo
documents seized by police at a Strasbourg dealership indicated that the
manufacturer was indeed aware of a brake defect of "very great importance"
in some Volvo 854s. A rubber pipe in the hydraulic braking system was
found to be capable of tearing or detaching itself.
However,
instead of recalling cars, it is alleged that Volvo asked its
dealers in July 1997 to correct the fault during routine service visits.
A Strasbourg garage is reported to have carried out the work without
informing the driver.
But investigators say that the instructions from Volvo were so vague
that the work was carried out incorrectly and as the driver drove at
about 25 mph down a street in Wasselonne, the pedal failed to respond.
The car subsequently collided with a Renault and half flipped over, crushing
three children against another car. Two died, the third was seriously
injured.
Volvo denies covering up a serious fault in its cars. It says the fault
reported in the July 1997 memorandum to dealers was relatively
innocuous. One of the company's lawyers, stated "A plastic water
bottle could have been rolling about in the car and got stuck under the
brake pedal."
Nicholas Mead
Ericsson announces 4,000 job cuts in Sweden
Ericsson announced on Friday that it will lay off 4,000 employees in Sweden
this year as part of the company's previously announced downsizing.
Spokeswoman
Aase Lindskog said that it will also reduce the number of consultants
in Sweden from 6,000 to 4,000, adding that no exact dates were available
since consultants are hired on an hourly basis.
Ericsson
said 2,700 employees, including 2,600 in the Stockholm region, will receive
their notices before the end of June. The remaining 1,300 employees who
are to be laid off will be informed by September at the latest, according
to a statement.
Analysts who had been waiting for details about Ericsson's cost-cutting
plans welcomed the news. The company's shares rose 4.6 percent to 68 kronor
($6.64) in midday trading on the Stockholm bourse.
Nicholas Mead
Norske Skog aquires Pan Asia newsprint manufacturer
Norske Skog and Abitibi Consolidated have signed an agreement to acquire
Hansol Paper's 1/3 ownership in Pan Asia Paper Company (Pan Asia). The
two companies will each own 50 per cent of Pan Asia after the transaction,
and Norske Skog will pay USD 175 million (NOK 1.6 billion) for the increased
equity. The agreement also provides for the possibility of a USD 5 million
earn-out. The transaction is expected to close in July 2001, subject to
regulatory approvals.
"This
transaction will give Norske Skog an even stronger presence in
important growth markets," said Jan Reinås, President and CEO
of
Norske Skog.
"Pan Asia was established in early 1999, and has since then demonstrated
high profitability and contributed strongly to a better balance in the
Asian market. We are very optimistic on the future development,"
added Reinås.
Norske
Skog will consolidate Pan Asia on a 50 per cent proportional basis from
the time of closing. In addition to payment for the increased
equity, Norske Skog will also consolidate an additional part of Pan
Asia's net interest-bearing debt. Total enterprise value is approx. USD
1,100 per tonne of capacity.
Pan
Asia is Asia's leading newsprint manufacturer, headquartered in
Singapore and with four modern newsprint mills in Korea, China and
Thailand. Pan Asia's total capacity is 1.45 million tonnes, and the
company's market share in non-Japanese Asia is about 25 %.
Nicholas Mead
Skanska to expand Czech TV manufacturing plant
Skanska's Czech subsidiary, IPS Skanska, has secured a contract to expand
Philips Picture Tube Technology Centers' plant for the manufacturing of
television tubes in the Czech Republic. The contract is valued at approximately
SEK 380 M.
The
contract demonstrates continued confidence in IPS Skanska, which recently
completed the first phase of Philips' plant at Hranice na
Morave, near Olomouc in the central Czech Republic. This assignment was
valued at approximately SEK 150 M. The two assignments have a combined
total value of SEK 530 M in buildings and systems.
The new 40,000-square-meter plant will contain a facility for the
manufacture of picture tubes and logistics distribution premises.
Work on the new phase is to commence immediately. Certain sections of
the plant will be brought into use in the spring and completion is scheduled
for June. IPS Skanska will be responsible for construction, installation
work and infrastructure in the area that has been designated for further
expansion. Philips plans to invest a total of approximately USD 180 million
in the plant - the largest foreign greenfield investments in the Czech
Republic in recent years. Philips was recently awarded with the Investor
of the Year award in the Czech Republic by the Ministry of Industry and
Trade.
Nicholas Mead
Tele Danmark pledges 95% broadband coverage in one year
TDC Tele Danmark has pledged that by this time next year, 95% of the country
will have access to broadband Internet connections.
The
company claims that by July 2005, 95 per cent of Denmark will have a minimum
internet access speed of 256kbits per second, 90 per cent will have 512kbits
per second and 70 per cent will have 2mbits per second.
The pledge promises to make Denmark the most developed technological nation
in Europe as its closest Scandinavian neighbours still struggle to implement
a widespread broadband infrastructure. In Stockholm alone, a capital of
some 1.5 million people, it was recently estimated that only 117,000 households
currently have broadband access despite wild promises by operators.
Nicholas Mead
Sweden slashes defence forces
Sweden has decided to make further cuts in its defence industry by confining
warships to port in a 50 million pound costcutting move.
In
addition, Naval officers will only work during the day and overtime
has been banned in the army and air force. Major exercises have been
scrapped and new conscripts will be allowed to leave early to save on
the food bill.
"Sweden is entering the biggest restructuring of its armed forces
in 100 years,” defence expert Stefan Wineger told The Times newspaper.
"We are abandoning the model built up during the Cold War when we
were preparing for a large scale military attack from the east.”
Funds will be used to modernise equipment and any surplus will be used
to try and cut unemployment.
Nicholas Mead
Finnish media group take control of Baltic News Service
The Baltic Times has reported that Finnish business daily Kauppalehti,
a member of the Alma Media group, has acquired a 58.5 percent stake in
the only Pan-Baltic news agency, The Baltic News Service. The move increases
Kauppalehti's stake in the agency to 85 percent.
In
the course of the deal, Kauppalehti purchased, at an undisclosed
price, shares from several owners with local and international interests
in the news service, which included Sweden's Dagens Industri business
daily and the Direkt business news agency. The remaining fifteen percent
of BNS remains in the hands of the U.S. based Bridge-Telerate.
"If someone wants to play a big game and make an investment, we are
a good bite," BNS Board Chairman George Shabad told The Baltic Times.
"BNS has a very good market position in the Baltic states. It's a
growing structure which is profitable and transparent - since 1996 BNS
has had Swedish co-owners," Shabad added.
Nicholas Mead
Telenor and TeleDanmark talks off
The merger talks between Norwegian telecom group Telenor and Danish rival
TeleDanmark have broken down, according to The Telecom Paper.
Quoting
The Financial Times, it reported that discussions ended after
the Danish group and its biggest shareholder, U.S. group SBC
Communications, failed to reach an agreement over the future of the
company.
Telenor, which briefly merged with Sweden's Telia in 1999 before the
deal broke down in, conceded earlier this week that contacts with SBC
might lead nowhere. It was forced to release a statement to the Oslo
stock exchange after a report by London's Financial Times revealed the
two companies had been in talks.
Nicholas Mead
Icelandic minister tries to lure film makers
Iceland’s minister of trade, Valgerdur Sverrisdóttir, is attending
the Cannes Film Festival this week in order to lure foreign filmmakers
to Iceland, according to The Iceland Daily News.
Sverrisdóttir
is outlining Iceland’s new law, which will partially
reimburse production costs for those foreign filmmakers producing movies
in the country.
The Minister told Morgunbladid that she hopes these paybacks will bring
more foreign filmmakers to Iceland, further strengthening the country’s
film industry.
"This is not unlike what other nations have been doing to attract
film
investment to their countries,” Sverrisdottir said.
“If we are going to compete against other nations, this is something
we
have to do.”
The repayment laws are temporary and will be re-evaluated in the year
2006.
Nicholas Mead
Government break fishing strike in Iceland
The six week long fishing strike which has threatened to cripple
Iceland's economy is over, according to the Iceland Daily News. Fishing
vessels began sailing out of Reykjavík harbour at 22.00 last night,
as the strike came to an end yesterday afternoon, despite the fact that
seamen are still without contracts.
The
strike, which began on 1 April, was terminated by an act of
parliament on Wednesday night at around 19.00, when parliamentarians voted
33-20 in favour of outlawing strikes by seamen.
Saevar Gunnarsson, leader of the Icelandic Seamen’s Federation, told
Icelandic daily Morgunbladid that he was disappointed by the action of
Parliament, and that the resolution banning strikes by seamen only
benefits the owners of the vessels and trawlers.
"It’s clear that the fishing vessel owners and ship owners were
waiting
for this. It was exactly what they wanted.”
The managing director of the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel
Owners, Fridrik J. Arngrímsson, told Morgunbladid that it was a
disappointment that none of the unions, except for the Association of
Icelandic Marine Engineers, could negotiate contracts.
He added that these unions the Merchant Navy and Fishing Vessels
Officers Guild and the Seamen’s Federation still have the possibility
to negotiate a contract.
The Association of Icelandic Marine Engineers broke ranks and signed a
contract on 10 May.
In Morgunbladid, Grétar Mar Jónsson, leader of the Officers
Guild, said
that it marked a sad day for Iceland when a law is passed forbidding
seamen to negotiate for their salary.
Nicholas Mead
Telenor confirm TDC talks
Norwegian phone giants Telenor AB confirmed on Wednesday that it is discussing
buying a large minority stake in Danish counterpart TDC, according to
thedeal.com.
Analysts
are sceptical about the success of such a deal however. In a
statement to the Oslo Stock Exchange, Telenor said it had held
discussions with SBC Communications about whether the San Antonio-based
telecom group was interested in selling its 41.7% holding in TDC, which
changed its name from Tele Danmark A/S in April, according to thedeal.com.
Rumours about the deal first surfaced after The Financial Times reported
that the companies were in merger talks to create a mega-group worth around
$15.8 billion.
Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland are served by around 17 telecom companies
in the fixed-line consumer, corporate data and wireless markets, covering
around 25 million people but analysts believe the markets can no longer
sustain so many operators.
Nicholas Mead
Telia to offer full GPRS by September 11
Telia have announced that by the 11th of September, all three million
of it's Swedish mobile customers will have access to GPRS, the next generation
of mobile telephony.
GPRS
will offer users new features such as the fact that they will not
have to pay for the time they spend online, but for the amount of data
they send and receive.
"Our tests have been a great success, and once the summer is over,
we'll be offering GPRS to all three million of our mobile customers,"
said Anders Bruse, head of Telia Mobile's Swedish operations.
February saw the launch of Telia's GPRS service, Telia Mobile OnLine.
This is not a new kind of subscriber offer, but a supplementary service
which all of Telia's GSM customers can activate as long as they have
GPRS telephones. Telia Mobile OnLine has two different tariffs to choose
from so that customers can benefit from the service regardless of whether
they use it frequently or less frequently.
For instance, Telia Mobile OnLine will allow customers to send and
receive e-mail and use a large number of Internet-based services. Telia
Mobile OnLine will also give WAP a boost as users will not have to pay
for the time they spend online, but for the amount of data they send and
receive.
More information
Nicholas Mead
Mobile car parking payment launched in Stockholm
A new way of paying for parking has been launched in Stockholm. In keeping
with the technological savy of the Swedish capital, residents can now
pay their parking fee via their mobile phone.
The
city's parking authority has teamed up with an Irish start-up application
provider called Parking Partners who are launching their new service 'park&dial'
in the Swedish capital.
Chief executive officer David Andrew believes that the new service could
become the first mass market mobile commerce application in one of the
world's most advanced wireless cities.
Ease of use has been a central concern in the design of the park&dial
service, according to Andrew. Initially, a driver has to register his
or her details by phone or online. They will then be sent a barcode which
they must place on the windscreen of their car which parking wardens check
with a barcode scanner.
Stockholm has two categories of parking zone, denoted by the colours red
and blue. To pay for one hour's parking in the red zone, for example,
a motorist can send a SMS message containing the text 'r60' to a central
number. A thirty minute extension can be obtained later simply by sending
'+30' in a follow-up text message. The same phone number - 0730- 300 000
- also supports voice and IVR calls and can be accessed from any mobile
network in Sweden.
Telia Mobile and Europolitan Vodafone, which is 71 per cent owned by Vodafone,
are promoting the initiative whilst SEB Bank is providing transaction
settlement services. Customers will initially receive a parking account
statement seperate from their mobile phone bill.
More information
Nicholas Mead
Nokia announces soccer and golf for 9210 Communicator
Nokia announced on Wednesday two new games - Mobile Soccer and Golf for
the Nokia 9210 Communicator. The games are designed specifically for the
communicator's high-resolution color screen and the Symbian platform.
Owners of the Nokia 9210 Communicator will be able to download both games
from Club Nokia.
Mobile
Soccer is the second published add-on game for the 9210 Communicator.
The 1st published add-on game was a Virtual Snowboarding game which was
launched in March 2001.
The two games will be available to the public in the 2nd half of 2001.
"This is an indication of the great games experience now available on
mobile phones," said Graham Thomas, General Manager of Games, Nokia Mobile
Phones.
In the past year, Nokia's entertainment offering has grown to include
a large portfolio of games from developers such as Rage, Eidos, iomo,
Kuju Entertainment, and Springtoys.
Rage, Kuju Entertainment, Springtoys, Eidos, iomo and Quiz Supplies are
all members of Forum Nokia, which is an on-line community for third party
developers creating mobile applications. Registered members are given
access to development tools and supporting documents as well as other
developers on-line. The Forum (www.forum.nokia.com)
was established in 1995 and currently has maround 400,000 members.
Nicholas Mead
Skanska secures largest phase of Gothenburg city tunnel link
Skanska has secured a contract to construct the largest phase of the Gtaleden
road system, the new underground traffic route in Gothenburg. The contract
amounts to more than SEK 800 M, approximately USD 80 M. The customer is
the Western Region of the Swedish National Road Administration. Skanska's
order is the Road Administration's largest single purchase order ever.
The
assignment is for a tunnel under the Rosenlund Canal close to Järntorget
square in central Gothenburg. Skanska's project comprises a total stretch
of approximately 500 meters, of which 380 meters will be a concrete tunnel
and 40 meters will be rock tunnel, as well as troughs and approaches.
The Götaleden road system, which is part of national route 45, is
one of Sweden's most densely trafficked roads. The new underground road
will create open areas and increased access between the central districts
of Gothenburg and the Gta River. The Gtaleden road system project, which
is part of the Gothenburg agreement, will have a total length of 3,000
meters.
"In order to find good technical solutions and ensure production methods
for the design-construct contract, we have organized close cooperation
that combines expertise from Skanska Road Construction, Skanska Underground
Construction and Bridges, and Skanska Teknik," says Leif Gustavsson, District
Manager at Skanska Road Construction.
Work at the site will commence in the summer and the tunnel is scheduled
to open to traffic on October 1, 2005.
Nicholas Mead
Securitas acquires Loomis Fargo to form cash handling giant
Securitas acquired the remaining 51 percent of the shares in the cash
handling company Loomis Fargo & Co. ("Loomis") in the USA on Wednesday.
The
acquisition makes Securitas the second largest cash handling services
provider in the U.S. and one of the biggest cash handling companies in
the world with annual sales of SEK 8.6 billion (USD 855) and with a market
share of 18 percent in the U.S. and 16 percent in Europe.
The US market for cash handling services is estimated to be worth MSEK
22,200 (MUSD 2,200). Transport, growing at approximately 4 percent per
year, accounts for the largest share, about 60 percent, of the total market.
ATM related services is the fastest growing area, with about 10 percent
annual growth.
Loomis, based in Houston, Texas, has operations in 220 locations in the
U.S. with 2,200 employees and 2,600 vehicles.
The transaction will double the sales of the Cash Handling Services business
area in Securitas from SEK 4.3 billion to SEK 8.6 billion on a full year
pro-forma basis. The full year operating income in the business area will
increase by MSEK 355 pro-forma, corresponding to an operating margin of
9 percent.
Nicholas Mead
Kone and Nokia to improve elevator safety
Kone, one of the world's biggest elevator and escalator companies, announced
on Tuesday taht they are to collaborate in developing a wireless voice
and data technology system for improving the reliability and safety of
elevators and escalators.
The
application, based on GSM technology, will be used globally in Kone escalators
and elevators for remote monitoring and emergency telephone communication.
According to KONE's Senior Vice President, Service Business, Michel Chartron,
"This new platform significantly upgrades our ability to monitor passenger
safety as well as the performance of equipment we maintain in service.
For our customers, this translates into the peace of mind that comes with
knowing that we are watching out for their best interests."
Hannu Huttunen, Vice President of Special Products at Nokia added: "Our
goal is to offer our customers, such as Kone, wireless solutions that
allow them to extend their business processes to control machines through
the existing cellular network. These kinds of solutions offer users new
significant business opportunities in today's Mobile Internet."
Nicholas Mead
Nokia to provide Philippine GSM network
Nokia has signed a contract worth approximately USD 310 million with Globe
Telecom's Handyphone service, the company's GSM based Cellular Mobile
Telephone System, for the expansion of its GSM network in the Philippines.
Nokia
will expand Globe's existing GSM 900 and 1800 network and services nationwide.
This expansion will enable Globe to meet the rapid growth in the market
place and bring enhanced capacity, coverage and quality to its customers.
Under the agreement, Nokia will supply and install a full range of telecommunications
services. Equipment to be supplied will include Mobile Switching Centers,
Home Location Registers, Transit Switching layer and Base Station Controllers.
Nokia will also provide its UltraSite base station solution, which provides
capacity for increased demand for high voice and data traffic volumes.
The contract is Nokia's 24th turnkey global delivery putting it ahead
of its major rivals in turnkey network implementation.
Nicholas Mead
Cell Network to develop interactive Swedish pension
Cell Network Sweden has won a contract to develop an e-learning solution
for the Premium Pension Authority (PPM) during the spring and summer of
2001. The objective is to develop an education that will teach pension
savers and information carriers about long term savings in funds in relation
to pensions.
"Together
with Cell Network we are developing an interactive premium pension school
at www.ppm.nu,' confirmed Anna Walter,
Project Manager at PPM.
"The project aims to teach pension savers the importance of acquiring
knowledge about one's own premium pension savings even though retirement
may be several years away.'
After an intensive period last autumn before the first premium pension
choices, PPM is focusing on the provision of information with the aim
of giving an insight into long-term fund saving in relation to pension
savings.
"Working with PPM presents an exciting challenge,' said Sven Holmér,
Project Manager at Cell Network Sweden.
"It is a great project which we are looking forward to."
More information
Nicholas Mead
Sweden most wired nation according to survey
Sweden is the most wired nation on Earth according to The Globe and Mail
online. The study by Ipsos-Reid was released on Tuesday and showed that
only Canada equals Sweden in terms of Internet penetration.
The
international study called The Face of the Web, surveyed 30 countries
and concluded that 73 percent of Canadians and Swedes used the Internet
in 2000 - marginally ahead of the United States, where 72 per cent were
on-line.
Overall, the study showed that European nations have gained ground on
both Canada and the United States, where Internet penetration rates have
been the highest since the birth of the Web.
When the study looked at respondents who had used the Internet in the
past 30 days, Sweden recorded the highest usage with 65 percent on-line
compared to 60 per cent in Canada and The United States with 59 per cent.
Nicholas Mead
Motorola and Sait-Stento to develop new Danish digital network
Motorola and Sait-Stento announced today that the Danish Telecom Authority
has granted them a licence to establish and operate a new digital mobile
network in Denmark. The network - based on the TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked
Radio System) standard - will provide a suitable wireless communications
solution for Danish public safety services, public authorities and private
business customers.
The
TETRA network will initially be rolled out in the Copenhagen area and
is expected to cover 75% of Denmark before the end of 2002 and with 98
% coverage before the end of 2003. So far Motorola and Sait-Stento form
the consortium that has been granted the license to establish and operate
the system. Other partners may be included at a later stage.
The TETRA standard represents a revolution within radio communications
and the introduction of the network is an important element in the digitalisation
and convergence of IT and communication systems. The new network will
replace the old analogue radio systems and makes it possible for public
safety services like the police, alarm centres, fire brigades and others
to communicate with each other in a manner which is not possible with
the current radio systems.
The new radio network is not only aimed at public safety services. It
may also be useful for supply services like electricity and water suppliers,
private constructors, the transport industry and others.
Sait-Stento are one of the biggest European system integrators and service
suppliers for the wireless market. It was formed in May 2000 with the
merger of Belgian company Sait-RadioHolland and Norwegian Stento ASA,
and employs 1925 people worldwide. Stento Denmark is the Danish affiliate
of Sait-Stento and is a research and development centre for TETRA and
GSM-R solutions.
More information
Nicholas Mead
Icelandic government to end fishing strike
The Minister of Fisheries, Arni M. Mathiesen, held a meeting with representatives
from the Icelandic Seamen's Association and Merchant Navy and Fishing
Vessels Officers Guild on Saturday, in which he announced that the government
was planning to legislate an end to the seamen's strike.
According
to The Iceland Daily News, the proposed bill to end the six-week strike
will be discussed in parliament on Wednesday. If successful, the bill
will force all sides into mediation, giving union leaders a deadline date
of 1 June, by which they will have to reach an agreement.
"It would be negligence on my part if I did not put an end to this strike
as quickly as possible," Mathiesen stated in daily Morgunbladid.
"The strike has affected the financial markets here and the biggest seasons
[red fish and herring] are about to get underway."
Union leaders from the Seamen's Association and the Officers Guild responded,
saying that they would probably end the strike just before the bill was
passed in parliament and added that they believe mediation would only
deliver an agreement equal to the contract signed by the Association of
Icelandic Marine Engineers on 10 May.
Saevar Gunnarsson, leader of the Seamen's Association, told daily Morgunbladid
that their old contracts are better than the outcome that they anticipate
from this forced mediation.
Nicholas Mead
Nokia launch open source website ostdev.net
Nokia today announced the launch of a new website, ostdev.net, dedicated
to supporting developers in the open source community as well as the promotion
of collaborative development of the OST.
The
OST (Open Standards Terminal) is a platform for home entertainment applications.
It is based on open source technologies such as, Linux, Xfree86 and Mozilla
and provides a platform for developing applications for a variety of electronic
devices including: broadcast and digital TV, digital video recording,
web browsing, gaming etc.
Ostdev.net is the coordination point for the development and testing of
OST software projects such as the SDK project. It will also feature the
source code for the platform as well as, documentation, examples and project
hosting related to the OST platform. In addition the CollabNet SourceCast
platform provides the development environment for ostdev.net that includes
tools for: revision control, issue tracking, mailing list creation and
management, Web-based administration, custom branding, and content.
Nokia's first OST-based product is the Media Terminal; an innovative infotainment
device that seamlessly combines digital video broadcast service, full
Internet access, and personal video recorder (PVR) technology.
Rickard Nelgér, Head of Product Management, Nokia Home Communications
said, "We are convinced that openness is the way forward. With the OST
platform Nokia aims at initiating the creation of an open standard for
IP-based home entertainment. By making source code and other tools available
to these developers all over the world we want to give maximum support
to developers and stimulate a widespread creation of applications."
"The home entertainment industry has traditionally been very proprietary
with its technology. By working with CollabNet to create an Open Source
Network around the OST Platform, Nokia is giving the worldwide developer
community a unique opportunity to create new and innovative applications
for this market,' said Bill Portelli, president and CEO of CollabNet.
Nokia will demonstrate both the Media Terminal and ostdev.net at the upcoming
E3 exhibition in Los Angeles 16-19 May.
Nicholas Mead
Telenor and NRK team up for 3G in Norway
Telenor Mobil and Norwegian state broadcaster NRK's telecom department
are to cooperate in developing mobile services for WAP and the third generation
mobile network, UMTS.
The
first mobile service from the partnership will be launched in the autmun
and will be a WAP/GPRS-service based on a number of brands and programs
from NRK.
"It is important both for the operator and for the service provider that
we cooperate to build the new industry which the mobile Internet represents,"
said Head of Programs in NRK Futurum's telecom department, Anne Halvorsen.
On December 1st, Telenor Mobil will launch its third generation mobile
network, UMTS. NRK will supply the multimedia contents for this based
on the most popular entertainment programs.
"We will use our strong market position as Norway's leading multimedia
producer to play a leading part as a content provider for the mobile Internet.
A strategic agreement with market leader, Telenor Mobil, is an important
step in the right direction to achieve this goal," said Halvorsen.
Telenor Mobil is will be developing its mobile Internet portal, djuice.com,
to make it as broad and manifold as possible.
"We want to offer our customers the best mobile services in the future,
and to achieve this, a tight-knit cooperation with the best content providers
in the market is of paramount importance," said Ric Brown, head of Mobile
Internet and Commerce Services in Telenor Mobil.
Nicholas Mead
Icelanders and Norwegians to build hydro-electric plant
The National Power Company of Iceland and the Norwegian Hydro Aluminium
company Reidaraál hf will be presenting their plans to create a
hydro-electric powered aluminium plant in the East Fjörds to the
Norwegian media today in.
According
to the Iceland Daily News, the project has been named Noral and according
to daily Morgunbladid, those with environmental reservations and members
of the local community have been invited to take part in this press conference.
Nicholas Mead
Ericsson to sell more European properties
Ericsson is close to signing a £200 million sale and leaseback of its
European properties with a consortium of investors led by Japenese Bank
Nomura, according to The Times newspaper.
Ericsson
wants to sell a number of buildings across Europe, many of which will
be redeveloped. The exclusive Mayfair headquarters in the UK are not expected
to be sold though.
The Times claim that Ericsson are desperately hanging on to the prestigious
St James's Square headquarters in the hope that it can achieve a better
price for the property by selling it separately.
Project manager Josper Svensson told the paper: "It is a matter of
allowing us to focus on our core business as well as creating financial
flexibility."
Last month, Ericsson announced a first-quarter loss of £337 million and
12,000 job cuts. The company has already raised nearly £400 million from
the sale of its Swedish properties, which accounted for about half the
value of its overall estate.
Nicholas Mead
Assa Abloy launches lock technology
Assa Abloy, the world's leading lock company, has developed a new "intelligent"
lock technology that offers improved security and convenience by combining
mechanical solutions with the latest advances in microelectronics.
The
technology, named CLIQ is a concept that integrates electronics and mechanics
to create a more secure lock. To open the lock, the key must not only
fit mechanically, its identity, stored on a microchip, must also be approved
by the lock. As every key is unique, individual access rights can be entered
for each key holder. Which means that access rights can be withdrawn for
keys that have gone missing.
Electromechanical products are enjoying the strongest growth and highest
invoicing per product in today's lock market. It is also the product sector
where most innovations are being made, both by ASSA ABLOY and its various
established and recent competitors.
"CLIQ is the result of extensive international development work involving
the skills of leading engineers within the Group and external specialists
round the world. Technical progress in precision engineering, electronics
and miniaturisation has made it possible to make manufacturing of the
locks commercially viable. It would not have been possible a few years
ago", says ke Sund, Group Vice President Market Development of ASSA ABLOY.
"CLIQ puts us at the forefront of technological developments. It offers
an excellent opportunity to win market share and achieve continued growth.
Products incorporating the CLIQ technology will now be launched step by
step in a number of countries", says ke Sund.
Nicholas Mead
Framfab sells Framfab Technology
Today, Framfab has sold its shares in Framfab Technology AB to Bure Equity
AB for SEK 17 million. The transfer takes effect as of today, Thursday,
10 May.
Framfab
Technology AB is a company within the Framfab Group and employs approximately
50 people. It is a company that commands spearhead competencies in the
field of technology, and its activities include embedded systems and IP-based
solutions for biotechology and communication.
"Framfab is continuing its policy of refining its core businesses with
a view to focusing exclusively on Internet consultancy operations. This
sale demonstrates that there is value within Framfab which can and will
be capitalised," explains Johan Wall, CEO of Framfab.
Framfab has previously made it clear that the Group would be selling off,
discontinuing or finding external financiers for non-core activities.
This applies, for example, to Framfab Labs, Bredbandsbolaget and investments
in UMTS licences.
In connection with the transfer, Framfab Technology will be changing its
name to Erda Technology AB.
Nicholas Mead
Icelandair to increase fares by six percent
Icelandair will increase fares by up to six per cent for the domestic
market on15 May in response to the dropping Icelandic krona, according
to The Iceland Daily News.
Quoting
Icelandic daily Morgunbladid, the site reports that fares for the international
market will remain unchanged.
A company representative explained that since the majority of products
and services that Icelandair purchases are in US dollars, the company
has been forced to increase fares to absorb the rising cost of these products
and services.
The move comes at time when Icelandic travel agencies are planning to
raise their prices by up to 11 per cent.
Nicholas Mead
Carlsberg to close down Gothenburg brewery
Carlsberg Sweden is to begin negotiations with trade unions to phase out
its production and warehouse activities at its brewery in Gothenburg.
Carlsberg
claim a thorough investigation of the production structure carried out
over the last few months has shown that concentrating production of beer
and soft drinks at its two breweries in Stockholm and Falkenberg is the
economically correct decision. The Ramlösa business near Helsingborg
will not be effected by the decision.
Carlsberg hope to have completed negotiations by August at the latest
and that brewery production at Gothenburg will be phased out by April
2002 and the warehouse by October 2002.
As a result it is expected that around 280 of Gothenburg's 440 employees
will lose their jobs. Of these, 100 will be offered new jobs in Falkenberg
and Stockholm. An outplacement programme will be put into action to help
the surplus workers find new employment.
The Danish brewing giants said that the reason for the move was becasue
of 'significant overcapacity' in the Swedish brewing industry.
Total beer sales in Sweden have fallen by 15% since 1994, primarily because
of growth of legal and illegal private imports, estimated to be around
1.2 million hectolitres a year, from neighbouring countries that have
significantly lower duty rates - double the amount of beer produced in
the Gothenburg brewery.
At the same time, Carlsberg Sweden now has two breweries on the west coast
of Sweden after the merger of Falcon and Pripps.
Nicholas Mead
Scandinavia Online to axe quarter of staff
Scandinavia Online (SOL), not to be confused with Scandinavia Now, has
announced it is to lay off a quarter of its staff after another quarter
of poor results. The company reported on Wednesday a loss of 73.3 Norwegian
Kronor and 70 people will lose their jobs, according to Aftenposten.
SOL
is based in Norway and operates one of Norway's biggest Internet portals
with a staff of 274 people, 84 within the country.
The company claim the main cause for the job cuts was declining revenues
from advertising which had fallen by 15% in the first quarter last year.
However, despite the downturn, SOL's market share has risen and it's number
of monthly users was up 11 percent in the first quarter. Daily page viewings
are reportedly up 20 percent.
Nicholas Mead
Ruined art not a drop in the ocean for Icelandic gallery
Four paintings destined for the National Gallery in Iceland have been
ruined whilst in transit from Canada to the tiny nation according to the
Iceland Daily News.
The
paintings fell into the ocean whilst in Canada and Olafur Kvaran, head
of the National Gallery confirmed the accident is a terrible loss for
the gallery.
"It's a terrible loss for the gallery. The works that were destroyed were
often shown at exhibitions, and they were important works for the artists
concerned,"said Kvaran.
Kvaran conceded that the financial loss to the Gallery would be millions
of Icelandic kronur.
The works were by the acclaimed Icelandic artists Jóhannes Kjarval,
Thorvaldur Skúlason, Asgrímur Jónsson, Jóhannes
Jóhannesson and had been on loan to Svavar Gestsson, the honorary
consulate in Winnipeg, Canada.
Nicholas Mead
Norwegian retailers to establish Scandinavian distribution centre
Reitan Narvesen ASA, the Norwegian-based retailing group, will establish
a center for distribution of magazines in Scandinavia by 2002.
Reitan
Narvesen currently distributes magazines in Norway through Narvesen Distribusjon
and in Sweden through Svenska Interpress AB. A letter of intent has also
been signed on acquiring, Dansk Centralagentur AS DCA, a Danish distributor.
This acquisition will make the group a substantial player in distributing
magazines to the Scandinavian market.
The company claim the planned centre will be modern and efficient, saving
the costs currently incurred by running the operation from three different
locations.
Existing sales and marketing organisations in Norway, Sweden and Denmark
will continue to be responsible for serving their respective markets in
the best possible way.
The deal should mean that retail chains, dealers and publishers will receive
a better service through access to a more efficient system for magazine
distribution.
Nicholas Mead
NCC to build apartment hotel in Sweden's silicon valley
NCC's Board of Directors has approved acquisition of land for the construction
of Kista Residence Tower, a 37-story apartment hotel in Kista, north of
Stockholm.
The
investment will total approximately SEK 770 million. Kista Residence Tower
will contain 30,000 square meters of floor space, of which potential tenants
have already indicated an interest in approximately 80 percent. The skyscraper
will be built close to central Kista and will contain such premises as
a 250-unit apartment hotel and 350 to 400 office workplaces.
The approximately 18,500-square-meter apartment hotel is mainly intended
as accommodation for guest employees at Kista Science Park - rated as
the second most important technological development ground after Silicon
Valley in California.
Each apartment will have its own kitchenette and a functional workstation.
One-room units with slightly more than 30 square meters of floor space
will account for half of the total number of apartments, with 40-square-meter
two-room units accounting for the remainder.
A café will be built at the entrance level and A spa facility containing
saunas, a gym and heated outdoor pools is planned at the penthouse level.
Kista Residence Tower's close proximity to an approximately 6,700-square-
meter office hotel will provide tenants with an opportunity to rent their
own fully equipped workplaces, supported by office services and access
to meeting/conference premises. The building will also include an approximately
6,000-square-meter shopping mall/leisure complex.
Nicholas Mead
Norway set up new oil regulator
Norway's Oil and Energy Ministry is setting up a new company to manage
the state's giant stake in the country's offshore oil assetts.
According
to the Scotsman newspaper, the new company will be called Petoro and will
control what is called the State Direct Financial Interest (SDFI), part
of which is being sold off to various oil companies.
6.5 percent of the SDFI will go to Norsk Hydro which is also partly state
owned.
Petoro's role will be to ensure that disposals are smooth. The SDFI was
formed in the 1960's by the Norwegian government to ensure a fair deal
for the country from multinational oil companies. It was prompted after
a company offered just one million US dollars to take control of all of
Norway's offshore oil reserves.
Today SDFI holds 5.1 billion barrels of oil, 50 trillion cubic feet of
gas but the aim of selling 20% of the oil shelf is to make Norweigan oil
more attractive to multinationals.
Nicholas Mead
Danes to legalise MP3 downloads
The Danish government is preparing to pass a law that will legalize the
downloading of music from the Internet setting off a torrent of abuse
from copyright holders.
CNN.com,
quoting IDG.net, claim that Elsebeth Nielsen, the Danish Minister for
Culture, wants to relax the country's private copying law. Danes are currently
not allowed to make any copies of digital media but the proposed changes
will give Danes more rights.
"We will make it legal to make digital copies for personal use," said
ministry spokesman Kenneth Jørgensen.
Jørgensen said Danes would be allowed to make a copy of a CD for
use in their car for example, a form of copying already allowed in many
countries. However, the proposed law would also make it perfectly legal
for Danes to copy music from the Internet to their PC.
Currently, the downloading of copyrighted material without the consent
of the rights holder is illegal in most European countries as is the sharing
of copyrighted material.
However, offering songs online to others, which is popularly done through
Napster still won't be legal in Denmark, Jørgensen said.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which
represents the worldwide recording industry, said it would be "shocked"
if Denmark allows digital downloads of copyrighted files.
"I can't believe you can make a lawful copy from a completely illegal
Internet copy," said Allen Dixon, general counsel for IFPI.
He added: "In our view that would be against the European copyright directive
and violate World Trade Organization rules, as it would interfere with
normal trade."
Nicholas Mead
Norway set up new oil regulator
Norway's Oil and Energy Ministry is setting up a new company to manage
the state's giant stake in the country's offshore oil assetts.
According
to the Scotsman newspaper, the new company will be called Petoro and will
control what is called the State Direct Financial Interest (SDFI), part
of which is being sold off to various oil companies.
6.5 percent of the SDFI will go to Norsk Hydro which is also partly state
owned.
Petoro's role will be to ensure that disposals are smooth. The SDFI was
formed in the 1960's by the Norwegian government to ensure a fair deal
for the country from multinational oil companies. It was prompted after
a company offered just one million US dollars to take control of all of
Norway's offshore oil reserves.
Today SDFI holds 5.1 billion barrels of oil, 50 trillion cubic feet of
gas but the aim of selling 20% of the oil shelf is to make Norweigan oil
more attractive to multinationals.
Nicholas Mead
Metso sign AssiDomän pulping deal
Sigma College - Sigma's IT-educational training for high-school students
of the natural sciences - has now been expanded to include Vasalund High
School in Solna. The educational training program will begin in the autumn
in cooperation with the Solna-Sundbyberg Educational Association.
Metso
Paper of Finland has received an order of approx EUR 20 million from AssiDomän
Frövi mill in Sweden. Metso Paper's chemical pulping lines will supply
a digesting process for the production of pulp for bleaching. The rebuilt
process is scheduled to operate in the summer of 2002.
The current annual capacity at the mill's bleaching line is approx. 100,000
tonnes bleached pulp of birch and softwood. The new cooking process, comprising
of three 300 m3 digesters, is designed for an annual capacity of approx.
175,000 tonnes hardwood or softwood pulp in campaigns. The delivery is
a turn-key package excluding civil works and the DCS (distributed control
system) hardware.
The investment will enable the mill to improve the high quality of the
bleached pulp and also the possibility of future capacity increases. The
investment will also lead to cost reductions such as lower energy requirements,
lower chemical consumption and higher pulp yield.
AssiDomän's production is focused on packaging paper, packaging,
sawn timber and wood processing. The Group is one of Europe's largest
listed forest-owning companies with 2.4 million hectares of productive
forest land. In 2000, the net turnover were SEK 24, 643 millions and the
employee headcount was some 12,000.
Nicholas Mead
Lundbergs buy 20 percent stake in Stadium stores
Lundbergs has reached an agreement with Ulf and Bo Eklöf, the owners
of Stadium, regarding a private placement of Stadium shares, whereby Lundbergs
will acquire a 20% interest in Stadium.
The
private placement will be based on the value of all of the current shares
in Stadium, which amounts to SEK 1 billion, or on the debt-free value
of the operations, which is approximately SEK 1.2 billion. Lundbergs will
pay SEK 250 million in cash in return for 20% of the total number of new
shares after the private placement. All of the Stadium shares will carry
identical voting rights. The intention is to list Stadium on the stock
exchange within a period of 5 - 7 years.
During the past five years, Stadium has increased its sales by an average
of 20% per year. During the company's current fiscal year (September-April),
Stadium has shown total sales growth of more than 20%, or slightly more
than 10% for comparable units. Stadium currently has 60 outlets in Sweden,
of which 10 were opened during 2000 and 2001. Further expansion in Sweden
is planned.
Stadium opened its first outlet outside Sweden, namely in Copenhagen,
in October 2000, and plans to open a number of additional new outlets
in the Copenhagen region. The company's first outlet in the city of Helsinki
was opened in April this year and will be followed by the establishment
of two more stores in the region in September and October.
Stadium currently has annual sales of approximately SEK 2.6 billion, with
2000 employees.
Nicholas Mead
Sigma College established in Stockholm area
Sigma College - Sigma's IT-educational training for high-school students
of the natural sciences - has now been expanded to include Vasalund High
School in Solna. The educational training program will begin in the autumn
in cooperation with the Solna-Sundbyberg Educational Association.
Martin
Vang, Principal of Vasalund High School, emphasizes the school's aim to
provide to high-school students with access to the latest developments
in IT-technology.
"Vasalund High School is focused on technical training courses, and our
experience of Sigma College in Malmö has been good. The training
is concentrated on computer knowledge, whereby the school contracts Sigma
consultants for all instructional services. Some of the educational training
will be conducted in the form of Sigma's e-learning concept. The program
also includes plans to establish working teams comprising different teachers,"
says Martin Vang, and adds that students who wish to change course and
apply to Sigma College must do
so not later than May 10.
Sigma College is operated as a subsidiary of Sigma Education AB, which
conducted its first College training program at Pauliskolan in Malmö
in the autumn of 2000.
Henrik Thorsell, President of Sigma Education, comments: "As a knowledge
company, it is important for us to maintain a dialogue with different
educational institutions, ranging from high schools to colleges and universities.
All of our own instructors are active in private industry and are able
to contribute their experience as a supplement to the regular curriculum.
Our goal is to establish Sigma College in other cities."
Kongsberg Gruppen signs MNOK 360 contract with General Motors and General
Dynamics of the USA
Kongsberg Gruppen, through its subsidiary Kongsberg Protech, has signed
a contract worth approximately MNOK 360 with General Motors Defense and
General Dynamics Land Systems (GMD/GDLS) for the delivery of weapons control
systems for the first 298 new Light Armored Vehicle being made for the
US Army.
"Having
won against competition from major international suppliers, we are very
pleased about being chosen to subcontract for GMD/GDLS," comments CEO
Jan Erik Korssjøen. "The American contract proves that it is still
possible for relatively small cutting edge technology enterprises to win
international contracts. This contract will boost for Kongsberg Gruppen's
export share even further. In 2000, no less than 74 per cent of the Group's
output was exported', comments Korssjøen.
'The contract also shows that we have a good technological solution, and
other customers have also shown a great deal of interest in it. This could
be the start of a big new wave of activity related to such weapons control
systems', adds Egil Haugsdal, president of Kongsberg Protech.
This contract will boost for Kongsberg Gruppen's export share even further.
In 2000, no less than 74 per cent of the Group's output was exported',
comments CEO Jan Erik Korssjøen.
Saab
acquires Ericsson's share in jointly owned company
Saab AB and Ericsson Microwave Systems AB have agreed on the acquisition
by Saab of Ericsson's share (49.9%) in Ericsson Saab Avionics AB. This
will take place by Ericsson Microwave System AB exercising an option in
the Shareholders' Agreement to transfer its stake in the company to Saab
AB.
The
merger in 1997 was an initial step in an active structuring of the two
companies' operations in avionics and electronic warfare. This process
is now being concluded through Saab's acquisition and will contribute
to further concentration of the two companies' core areas.
Saab will pay SEK 225 million for the shares.
Ericsson Saab Avionics is the leading supplier of electronic systems for
the JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft. It has a total of 750 employees. Sales
in 2000 amounted to SEK 1,028 million.
NCC builds residential houses for American embassy staff in Berlin for
SEK 100 million
NCC Deutsche Bau GmbH has been awarded the contract by the United States
Department of State for the construction of 14 two-family houses and 3
semi-detached houses comprising a total of 34 residential units. This
amounts to 6,600 m2 living area. The value of the contract amounts to
DEM 20.7 million (SEK 100 million).
The
contract comprises the complete planning work for the architecture, statics,
landscaping and media, the turnkey construction of the houses, the preparation
of the complete external facilities such as lawns, the planting of trees,
parking places, footpaths and accesses, and the demolition of 20 existing
family houses. The houses are equipped with built-in kitchens in accordance
with American standards including high- quality built-in cupboards and
parts.
Commencement of construction works is planned for the end of May.
The construction period will be 18 months. NCC Deutsche Bau took part
in the international competition together with the Berlin architects'
firm Beider and Schlör and won the contract against a number of competent
competitors.
The project will be built in a top Berlin situation, in Grunewald.
Telia
launches first Pan Nordic mobile service
NetCom ASA, Telia's subsidiary in Norway, has introduced the first Pan
Nordic mobile service to its customers. From the autumn this year Norwegian
corporate customers will be able to make calls from and to all over the
Nordic countries with a unified price plan.
"We're
very proud to present Telia's first Pan Nordic service and we aim to offer
several Pan Nordic services to all our customers in the Nordic countries',
said Kenneth Karlberg, President and Head of Business Area Telia Mobile.
The Pan Nordic service, NetCom Nordic Price is available to NetCom's customers
from the autumn this year. The service lowers the cost for calls accross
borders in the Nordic countries, the country where the customer is making
the call from as well as for calls to Norway from the other Nordic countries.
Corporate customers are the main target group for NetCom Nordic Price.
More and more companies have businesses in all Nordic countries and therefore
needs a unified communication solution and pricing to go with it across
borders.
With a Pan Nordic Roaming agreement, a subscriber can make calles to any
mobile in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland for 1,50 NOK/minute compared
to the current cost of between 2,40-5,69 NOK/minute
More information is available at www.telia.com
Nicholas Mead
IconMedialab
launch Spanish basketv.com
IconMedialab, one of the world's biggest e-business integration firms,
is cooperating with Interactive Media of Media Park to develop basketv.com
- the official portal of the Spanish basketball federation.
www.basketv.com
focuses on facts, stories and personalities of 8 major basketball leagues
and 251 teams in Spain, Europe and the United States. A virtual store
offers online shopping for a host of basket-related products; the entertainment
and community sections include games, chats, forums, and humour; the multimedia
section allows users to view photos and videos, listen to interviews and
commentary, and even watch live broadcasts of games.
"Thanks to a dynamic relationship with Media Park, Icon Medialab was able
to develop the basketv.com site according to client's time-frame. By clearly
defining and designing all the functional, graphical, and technical details
of the site before starting the development process, IconMedialab reduced
the programming phase to an absolute minimum. The end result is a well-valued
site that meets all the expectations of the client," said Enrique Jungbauer,
Managing Director of the Barcelona office of IconMedialab.
Marc Subias, Director of Interactive Media of Media Park added: "With
the experience gained in the launch and operation of futvol.com (www.futvol.com),
the official site of the Spanish football federation, and La Liga (www.liga.es),
the official site of the Spanish professional football League, we've now
in basketv successfully included the best contents and the finest technology.
Our goal is to transform basketv into the reference platform for all Hispanic
basketball fans."
More information is available at www.iconmedialab.es
Nicholas Mead
Volvo
claim 'no recovery in sight'
Volvo claimed on Wednesday that it sees no signs of recovery in the North
American market and warned of weakness in Europe due to economic slowdown
both in Germany and the UK.
The
announcement followed the release of the company's first quarter figures
which showed a dramatic decline in profit. In the three months to March
31, Volvo made a pre-tax loss of SKr1.25bn ($122m) compared with a profit
of SKr1.89bn at the same time last year.
Volvo has cut 1400 jobs in addition to the 1600 it shed last year. However,
Scania, one of Volvo's biggest rivals has also felt the heat and announced
1600 jobs are likely to go in Europe.
The company has so far been thwarted in its attempts at restructuring
to save costs. Its planned takeover of Scania was blocked by the EU and
it was also forced to pull out of a deal with Mitsubishi. The firm still
has set itself a target of saving 3.5 billion Swedish Krona.
Nicholas Mead
Icelander to receive Danish furniture award
Eyjólfur Pálsson, furniture designer and owner of the design
store 'Epal', will receive the Danish Furniture Award for his promotion
of Danish design in Iceland, according to the Iceland Daily News.
The
award will be handed over to Pálsson on Thursday by Fredrek, Crown
Prince of Denmark, at the opening ceremony for the Scandinavian Furniture
Fair 2001, in the Bella Centre, Copenhagen.
Pálsson will receive ISK 825,000 (USD 8,420) with the award.
The awards are awarded annually by Dansk Møbelindustris Fond (the
Danish Furniture Industry Association) in an effort to support and encourage
the initiative and efforts of individuals working towards the development
of the Danish Furniture industry. This is the thirtieth award ceremony.
Pálsson is the most respected furniture designer in Iceland and
has been working in the industry for over 25 years.
Nicholas Mead
Swedes and Norwegians to develop maritime satellite system
Swedish firm Adcore and Norwegian satellite provider Nera Satcom are to
develop a new satellite traffic system for sea-faring vessels.
Nera
is the world's largest provider of satellite communications systems for
freight vessels, aircraft and portable terminals which enable communication
by voice, fax and data worldwide and are a critical tool for journalists,
international aid organisations and embassies but also in more high-profile
contexts such as the Whitbread Around the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean
Race).
The deal is expected to generate total revenues of some SEK 10 m for Adcore
who will undertake system development, project management and support
functions (tools support and development methodologies) for Satcom LES
(base stations).
The project is expected to be completed between 2003 and 2006. More info
is available at www.adcore.com.
Nicholas Mead
TJ Group to axe 150 Finnish employees
TJ Group Plc has announced it is to sell its Finland-based Resource and
Document Management, Internet Based Learning, and Branding & Advertising
units, and to give notice to around 80 employees 'for productive and financial
reasons'.
The
measures will reduce the number of the TJ Group personnel in Finland by
150 people and the company expects expenses will go down by 2 million
euros per quarter, starting from July 2001. The company claim the main
reason for reducing the number of personnel is to focus on 'extended customer
relationship management (CRM) solutions'. The strategic customer solutions
consist of marketing and sales systems and their integration into the
existing systems used by customers.
More information is available at www.tjgroup.com.
Nicholas Mead
Eivind Reiten becomes Norsk Hydro CEO
Eivind Reiten has today taken up the position of President and CEO of
Norsk Hydro ASA.
Reiten
(48) holds a degree in economics from the University of Oslo. His relationship
with Norsk Hydro goes back to 1986, since which time he has held managerial
positions within several of the company's business areas, including periods
as head of division for Hydro Energy (1988 - 1990), Refining and Marketing
(1992 - 1996) and Hydro Aluminium Metals (1996 - 1999).
From 1999, Reiten has been part of Hydro's corporate management with particular
responsibility for the company's Light Metals operations. Reiten has also
sat on the boards of other Norwegian companies; as chairman of Norway
Post (1995 - 1999), chairman of Telenor from 1999, as a member of the
executive board of the Central Bank of Norway and as board member of Dyno
and Norske Skog.
Reiten has also held several major political appointments, most recently
as Minister for Oil and Energy (1990 - 1991).
Egil Myklebust (59), who has been succeeded by Eivind Reiten as President
and CEO, has taken up his new position as chairman of the board of Norsk
Hydro ASA.
Nicholas Mead
Cell Network to develop Norwegian Air Traffic Control
Cell Network Norway has received an order to develop a new invoicing system
for the Norwegian Air Traffic and Airport Management (NATAM). The order
will keep 6-8 consultants occupied full time for one year.
Cell
Network is to develop the Norwegian Air Traffic and Airport Management's
system for invoicing the fees for all air traffic in Norway. The system
will be integrated with Oracle Application.
"The new project will increase the efficiency of NATAM's invoicing routines.
In addition we will produce a web solution for all the airports in Norway,
to be used in calculating airport fees", said Hans-Petter Olsen, head
of the public sector department at Cell Network Norway.
The new project is based on a preliminary study Cell Network did for the
NATAM last fall, in competition with several other large consultancies
in Norway. The project starts immediately, and will involve all departments
of Cell Network, occupying 6-8 consultants full time for one year.
Nicholas Mead
Swedes to develop environmentally friendly rocket fuel
ECAPS, owned equally by the Swedish National Space Board and Volvo Aero,
has received its first order from the Swedish National Space Board. The
order, worth SEK 11 million, is for a demonstration of environmentally
friendly rocket fuel for satellite engines.
With
their extensive combined know-how in satellite systems and rocket engines,
respectively, the two companies claim they aim to develop an attractive
and competitive alternative to today's most commonly used fuel "hydrazine."
Since hydrazine is hazardous and carcinogenic, its handling is controlled
by strict safety regulations.
The foremost advantage of the new "green" fuel is that it is environmentally
friendly. Moreover, it is neither explosive nor particularly hazardous,
which means that it can be handled with rubber gloves, in contrast to
Hydrazin, which requires protective clothing that resembles a space suit.
It is expected that this will yield substantial cost savings as a result
of reduced handling expenses. The new fuel is based on a patent owned
by ECAPS.
"In addition to the definite handling advantages, the new fuel is characterized
by higher performance than hydrazine. As a result, interest from the space
industry is already considerable," says Ulf Palmnäs, President of
ECAPS.
Nicholas Mead
Europolitan Vodafone offers mobile Reuters news
Reuters and Europolitan Vodafone have signed a collaboration agreement
that will make Europolitan Vodafone the first mobile operator in Sweden
to offer its customers Reuters' financial news directly in their mobile
phones. The financial news will be delivered via SMS and will have a strong
focus on events that impact the stock market.
The
service is available to all Europolitan Vodafone's subscription customers
on Europolitan Vodafone's Hantera web site. Those interested can order
an SMS subscription to the service, and will subsequently receive the
day's five most important financial news items at different times during
the day. Reuters' editors assess which news items are most important,
evaluating news as soon as it arises. If a news item is deemed to be one
of the five most important items of the day, it is sent directly to the
subscriber's mobile phone.
"A key target group for this service is, of course, our corporate customers,
who have to keep updated about all major events affecting the stock market
during the day. However, our private customers with a great interest in
the stock market will also be able to use the service. Reuters is one
of the world's most reliable mediators of financial news, which guarantees
the high quality of the service," says Mikael Kluge, Director Mobile Internet
at Europolitan Vodafone.
Nicholas Mead
Aldata
sells barcode business to Informa
Aldata Industries Oy will sell its Barcode business to Informa Oy for
EUR 3.7 million. The transaction will take effect immediately and the
Barcode business will take place on 7 May 2001, when 29 Barcode employees
will be transferred to Informa Oy retaining their former status and benefits.
The divestment of this business forms part of Aldata Solution Oyj's action
to raise the profitability of its Data Collection business unit.
The
Barcode business does not fall within the scope of Aldata Solution's core
business. Aldata provides conventional as well as e- and m-commerce solutions
for retail sector. Furthermore, its divestment will reduce the volume
of hardware sales in the Group. On the other hand, Barcode supports Informa's
core business. Informa's current products are delivered to the same customers
as the Barcode systems and therefore Informa will derive significant benefits
from integrating these business operations.
Informa supplies industrial customers with labelling, marking and weighing
systems, along with related supplies and maintenance services. Informa's
services are based on barcode and thermal/thermal transfer technology,
as well as the company's own software design and production. The Informa
group's net sales in 2000 totalled EUR 5.9 million and it has 42 employees.
Nicholas Mead
Widerøe
Flyveselskap enters into Telenor ASP contract
Telenor Business Solutions has entered into a three-year contract with
Widerøe Flyveselskap to take over management of the company's IT
systems.
The
contract will be based on ASP (Application Service Provider) technology.
This entails that Telenor Business Solutions will take over operational
responsibility for the IT systems used by 1200 employees and 33 offices
and stations in Norway with a solution that will encompass around 750
ASP connection points.
The ASP solution will be one of the most extensive in Norway and entail
that Telenor Business Solutions will take over management of all the computer
programs in Widerøe's portfolio. A completely new network (WAN)
will be established, and the various computer programs will be installed
at Telenor's operation centers so that the various machine type, operating
system and database needs will be met. The contract's service and reliability
level will ensure Widerøe a high level of quality.
Nicholas Mead
SAS EuroBonus wins Freddie Award for fifth year running
For the fifth year in a row, SAS
EuroBonus has received the Freddie Award for best frequent flyer programme.
The award is presented by Inside Flyer, a magazine for members of airline
and hotel frequent- traveller programmes.
SAS were also awarded in further five categories;
- Best award
- Best newsletter
- Best website
- Best bonus promotion
- Best elite level.
Inside Flyer is an American magazine with a circulation of 140,000 in
one American and one international edition. The Freddie Awards were established
in 1988, but were initially limited to the American market.
Since 1995, the awards have been international, and enjoy high status
in the travel and hotel industry, since members of the bonus programmes
themselves decide who wins.
ASSA ABLOY acquires the remaining shares in Lockwood, Australia
In connection with ASSA ABLOY's acquisition of 50 percent of the shares
in Lockwood, an option was granted by EMAIL, the seller, to acquire the
remaining shares in the company after a three year period.
This
option gave ASSA ABLOY the right, in the event of a change of ownership
of EMAIL, to execute its right to acquire the remaining shares earlier.
As a result of the change of ownership at EMAIL, ASSA ABLOY has now acquired
the remaining 50 percent of Lockwood shares. The price of these outstanding
shares equals the equity in Lockwood whereby no additional goodwill has
been created.
Lockwood has developed very positively since the first tranche of shares
were taken over at the beginning of 1999. A successful job has been carried
out in order to create incremental cross-sales. New products such as cylinders,
padlocks and panic bars have together with different companies in the
Group been developed into local standards and subsequently successfully
launched.
Electrolux further expands outdoor business in Europe
Electrolux, the world's largest producer of outdoor powered products such
as chain saws, lawnmowers and garden tractors, is set to further expand
its outdoor business in Europe through the acquisition of the Italian
producer of lawnmowers and associated products, Marazzini Ernesto S.p.A
("Marazzini").
Electrolux
has signed an agreement to acquire the manufacturing assets and intellectual
property rights of Marazzini. The acquisition will be made by Electrolux's
outdoor products subsidiary in Italy. The aim is to close the acquisition
by the end of June after approvals have been received from the relevant
competition authorities.
The Marazzini operation is based in the Italian town of Parabiago and
currently produces in excess of 250,000 products per year with a turnover
of over 40 million Euros per annum and around 90 employees. The company
will continue to be managed by Bruno Marazzini, one of the current owners.
Following on from the acquisition of the European operation of McCulloch
North America Inc. in 1999, the addition of Marazzini to Electrolux will
further strengthen its position as the leading player in the powered outdoor
products business. Worldwide, Electrolux currently produces over 3 million
lawnmowers and 650,000 garden tractors per year.
Commenting on this announcement Johan Bygge, Head of Electrolux's Consumer
Outdoor Products business outside North America, said "The addition of
the Marazzini operation fits our existing business very well by giving
us the ability to further expand our European manufacturing facilities
and strengthen the product portfolio we can supply to our customers, especially
in the area of petrol lawnmowers.
"This investment also clearly demonstrates Electrolux's commitment to
remain the world's leading player in the powered outdoor products business".
Nicholas
Mead
Teaching
shortage looms over Iceland
The iceland Daily News has reported that Icelandic schools are facing
a major shortage of elementary school teachers.
In
the past three years, 350 teachers have graduated from the Icelandic teacher
Training College. However, according to the Reykjavík Department
of Education, 90 of these graduates have entered jobs outside the teaching
profession.
The department estimates that next autumn, the city will require 200 new
elementary school teachers. Of these positions, 100 will be created when
the state aims to replace people working as instructors (i.e. not academically
qualified to teach) with qualified staff. These instructors were hired
as a temporary measures due to a lack of qualified teachers.
A further 22 positions will be created on the opening of three new elementary
schools in the Reykjavík area. An increase of schooling hours is
also being introduced in the autumn which will call for an additional
20 staff and with an increase in student numbers requiring the creation
of a further ten positions. The remaining new staff will be taking over
from those that are retiring this autumn, or leaving the profession.
Nicholas
Mead
NCC to build and develop billion-krona Danish complex
NCC Danmark is to build Bruun's Galleri in Aarhus, one of the largest
building projects in Denmark. All of the rights to the project will be
sold to Steen & Ström Danmark A/S, which will generate a significant
dividend for the NCC Group.
NCC
will cooperate with Steen & Ström Danmark A/S - Scandinavia's largest
company in the development and operation of shopping malls and a subsidiary
of Steen & Ström ASA. Steen & Ström Danmark A/S will function
as both investor and building proprietor.
NCC Danmark A/S Ejendomme will account for the continued development of
the project, which has a contract value of SEK 850-950 million.
The municipality of Aarhus approved the definitive city plan on March
21 this year, and thus gave the go-ahead for the project.
The building project, located in the center of Aarhus, close to a central
junction for public transport services, comprises a total of approximately
90,000 square meters of space. There will be 29,500 square meters of retail
space, including a large 3,000-square-meter supermarket, five large retail
stores and about 70 smaller retail outlets. A cinema complex containing