Stories by Rust Reporters

Corporate quarters: The cuts continue

While few US companies announced their quarterly results last week, the gloom continued and, if it is not yet affecting Europe, it is certainly affecting the US operations of European companies

ERG maintains the pace in Europe

West Australian smart card specialist ERG has chalked up its fourth European contract in the space of a month in the form of a $A6 million deal in Norway. At the same time, the company has gone live with a $A1.5 million pilot for a transport ticketing system in South Wales

Computershare know-how drives global interest rate trades

Technology developed by Australian company Computershare is to be used by global broking company Garban-Intercapital as the basis of an electronic platform for interactive trading and the confirmation of interest rate swaps. The deal, which involves licence and development fees, is valued at $A19 million

Catuity wins over big North American customers

Catuity, the Australian developer of software for customer loyalty programs that is listed on both the ASX and NASDAQ, has chalked up a number of solid orders from large North American corporations to add to the relationship it entered with Visa USA last June. Catuity is aiming to cash in on status -- still -- as the only certified supplier of loyalty programs for the smartVisa card

Upwards movements change Yahoo!'s top team

Big changes will be in force at the Australia and New Zealand operation of Internet player Yahoo! in April when the company's regional operations are shifted Down Under

Dick Simpson to lead Telstra's new international focus

Telstra has achieved something of a coup in recruiting former IBM managing director David Thodey to become group managing director of its OnAir group, where he will replace Dick Simpson who has been appointed president of the telco's newly formed international operation

Bullock grabs reins at IBM Australia

IBM veteran Phil Bullock has been appointed managing director of IBM Australia and New Zealand following David Thodey's resignation in order to join Telstra

Peg appointments boost US operation

Peg Technology has added some muscle to its activities in the US by appointing a president of US operations and adding a US lawyer to its board

Directors flee CBD Online

Four directors, including former Liberal Party identity Dr John Hewson, have jumped from CBD Online, a listed company that was formed in 1999 to create building-specific Web sites for commercial properties in the CBDs of the world's major cities

Sofcom dumps distribution deals in favour of Aussie package

Listed Web development and content company Software Communication Group (Sofcom) has terminated agreements with a number of overseas developers in order to seal a distribution agreement with Australian financial services provider Online Trading Systems

NetComm turns to Uecomm for bandwidth

As it busily makes the transition from modem manufacturer to broadband carrier, NetComm has signed up for the supply of bandwidth services from Victorian carrier Uecomm for use in a pilot project on the north side of Sydney.

Open Telecommunications wins big US contract

Open Telecommunications has won a multi-million dollar contract for its openCI management solution from US fibre optic network operator Williams Communications. Williams will deploy openCI software across its entire North American network, as well as on points of presence in Europe and Asia that interconnect with the North American network

Corporate quarters: The bad news continues unabated

While economists this week found some heartening signs of an upturn in the US marketplace, the IT industry continued to suffer. Hewlett-Packard's CEO Carly Fiorina illustrated the mood with comments she made while launching a range of new mobile computing products at the CeBIT trade show in Hanover. "It is like navigating through a thick fog," she said.

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