IT PRO's 2007 News A - Z: A - I

In 2007 we witnessed somewhat of a roller coaster ride for the IT industry with the many highs of product launches and innovative pilot activity set against the backdrop of lows in the form of a multitude of data breaches, a mobile roaming pricing scandal and the continuing threat of cyber crime and identity fraud.

Here's the run down of the tech stories that hit the headlines in 2007, starting with A - I:

A

Acquisitions aplenty

This year was another bumper year for acquisitions with attempts and successes from Google, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle who each spent their fair share of time queuing in the tech-buying check out.

Brocade buys Silverback Systems

Microsoft adds aQuantive to its ranks in $6bn acquisition

Steria snaps up Xansa for £472 million

IBM buys Cognos for $5 billion

Oracle offer fading as BEA hits out at Ichan

European Commission to probe Google's DoubleClick deal

B

BT's 21CN

In June this year, BT announced that it had finished testing its much anticipated 21st Century Network and was ready, willing and able to start rolling it out across the UK.

Nortel and Siemens win PBT contracts with BT

BT to start rolling out 21CN after trial success

Birmingham picked for BT 21CN trials

C

Cyber crime

Many of the benefits of the electronic world are often overshadowed by the threats from both those motivated by criminal financial gain and those with malicious intent who want to get a name for themselves by causing trouble.

In 2007 the issue of cyber crime was once again high on the agenda, fuelled by notable data breaches and recognition that companies must protect themselves from both internal and external threats. Towards the end of the year, IT security experts compiled an e-petition calling on the government to set up and support a centralised e-crime policing unit with the aim of tackling this very real and growing problem.

Make cyber crime reporting easier, Lords told

Cyber crime not a police priority, peer warns

UK and US plays host to most malicious code

Security experts petition for e-crime unit

Met Police push for new e-crime unit

D

Death of dial-up

Broadband hogged much of the spotlight during 2007, with talk of investigations into advertised versus actual speeds, increased focus on wireless cities benefiting from high-speed versions of the technology and growth in the number of businesses and consumers who will be connected over the coming years.

Alas, as we celebrate broadband's rising star, it is likely we will soon mourn the passing of dial up, according to industry experts' predictions.

BT takes aim and hits broadband connectivity targets twice over

2007 will be a more prosperous year for broadband

uSwitch fortells of dial-up's demise

BT reaches Wireless Cities target ahead of schedule

Four out of five UK internet connections via broadband

UK remains broadband-hungry nation

London leads Europe in Wi-Fi rankings

UK broadband lines swell to 21 million by 2013

Dial-up to be defunct by 2010

E

EC intervention

The European Commission (EC) has been called on many times in the past 12 months to intervene in industry squabbling and allegations of far from fair play.

EC opening doors for ultra wideband

EU caps mobile roaming charges

Report urges EC to unbundled Windows

Google's DoubleClick deal under scrutiny

Microsoft "finally agrees" to EC antitrust ruling

EU proposes radical telco market reform

EU launches mobile climate control application

Microsoft defends Opera antitrust browser claims

F

Flexible working

Flexible working, whether the ability to work in the field or remotely from an airport, home or hotel room, was the focus of much debate during 2007.

Most people agree that the technology and supporting infrastructure is in place to facilitate this more modern approach to the world of work. However, barriers to success, many of which are cultural, still remain and are set to be debated again during the coming 12 months.

Stop wasting talent and start flexible working urges EOC

British have right to flexible working

Companies ready for flexible working

A quarter of IT professionals have turned down jobs over flexible working

Nine out of 10 SMBs allow flexible working

Mobile, flexible working benefits the public sector

Flexible working worth £180 billion to UK economy

Work Wise Week

UK lags Europe in flexible working

Remote working is major network security concern

Work from home to battle germs

G

GPhone waiting in the wings?

There was a great deal of speculation that Google was readying itself for a mobile phone debut this year. After keeping fairly tight-lipped on the rumours, it finally made an announcement, but it wasn't the kind of news industry soothsayers had been predicting. Instead of unveiling a new mobile device, it launched a new, open mobile software platform for developers, dubbed Android.

Google unlikely to build mobile device, just software says analyst

Google pumps big money into GPhone

Google tipped to enter mobile market

Google acquires micro-blog Jaiku

Google announces Android software platform for phones

H

HMRC's slipped discs

It hasn't been the best of years for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), with it admitting in October that reports of a laptop theft the previous month were indeed true and then in early November announcing that a CD containing the personal details of 15,000 Standard Life pension holders had gone missing.

As if two data breaches in as many months weren't bad enough for both the HMRC and the people affected by the losses, many were left gob smacked when it emerged in November this year that it had lost two CDs containing the details of up to 25 million individuals relating to child benefit.

HMRC investigates laptop theft

15,000 Standard Life customers' data put at risk

Revenue head quits after massive data breach

HMRC data breach affects 25 million

HMRC blunder calls ID cards into question

HMRC reports raise more questions

Email trail of missing HMRC discs

Child database delayed by HMRC breach

Consumers want personal data protected

Most distrust local authority IT security

Reports of more missing discs

ICO wants more power, money

I

iPhone cometh

After much debate, development and discussion, the iPhone finally hit the UK in November this year as part of an exclusive network deal between Apple and O2.

Many people queued overnight to get the handset from day one and initial sales indications look quite promising but it won't be until next year that we'll really see the impact the iPhone has had on the UK market and it may take some time before businesses are convinced that the device is the right tool for corporate, as well as consumer, use.

The iPhone cometh

iPhone News Roundup: Crumbs ahead of launch

Long lines for iPhone despite availability

Apple iPhone buyers queue through the night

UK iPhone users report connectivity problems

T-Mobile to sell iPhone without a contract in Germany

iPhone arrives in France

Google launches iPhone app

SAP goes Web 2.0 with iPhone-friendly software

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