Archive for January 4th, 2008
According to the latest data from the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), the number of publicly reported data breaches in the U.S. rose by more than 40 percent in 2007.The ITRC cited 443 publicly reported breaches in 2007 as of December 24. That compares to 315 publicized breaches in 2006. In all, 127 million data records were exposed during 2007, compared to nearly 20 million in 2006. In 2005, the ITRC reported 158 publicly disclosed breaches exposing about 65 million records.
Identity theft continues to thrive despite efforts by governmental agencies, businesses, consumer advocates, and law enforcement. Identity thieves keep finding innovative new ways to steal, and are becoming more sophisticated and skilled at their craft.
On the positive side, there has been improved communication among businesses, consumers, and law enforcement as to the causes and possible solutions to reduce identity theft.
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January 4th, 2008
In a move to begin the New Year with a clean slate, Vonage took a major step toward settling another patent suit against it. Vonage and Nortel Networks said they have agreed to end the litigation between them.The settlement involves cross-licensing three Nortel and three Vonage patents, and does not include any monetary payments. The companies are dismissing claims relating to past damages and other patents not covered by the suit.
The settlement is subject to final documentation, but if it is finalized, it could mark the last of the string of patent suits against Vonage.
Just one week ago, the VoIP 
provider settled a patent dispute with telecom giant AT&T. AT&T had sued Vonage in October for using packet-based telephony products based on its intellectual property.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
January 4th, 2008
New research is turning traditional thinking about libraries on its head. More than half of U.S. residents visited a library in the past 12 months to use computers instead of search for books, according to a survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.Specifically, 58 percent of participants in a national phone survey said they used the Internet at home, work, a public library, or some other place to get help in solving problems during the past two years.
“These findings turn our thinking about libraries upside down,” Leigh Estabrook, Dean and Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois, and coauthor of a report on the results of the survey, said in a statement.
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January 4th, 2008
Watch out Google, ChaCha is doing a mobile search dance uniquely its own. ChaCha on Thursday announced a new service that allows users to text questions of any kind to 242242, which spells ChaCha on most mobile phones, and receive answers back by text.While the service might not look unique at first glance, it is actually a real human being that sends the answers back. The service is currently available as a free trial, although the company said it plans to offer subscriptions in the future.
Much like the 411 concierge-style services currently offered by most cellular services providers, ChaCha promises to answer questions that people can’t find easily while on the go.
For example, you could ask, “I’m at the corner of 42nd & Broadway in New York City. Where can I get a cup of coffee?” Or even “Where can I get some great sushi in Palo Alto, Calif.?”
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January 4th, 2008
On Thursday, Netflix and LG Electronics said they are joining forces to develop a set-top box for consumers to stream movies and other programming from the Internet to HDTVs — bypassing the need to use a PC.The collaboration is expected to yield fruit in the second half of 2008. Netflix said the partnership supports its core strategy of offering a service that gives its more than seven million members several ways to view movies and TV shows.
“Internet to the TV is a huge opportunity,” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement. He added that Netflix explored the possibility of offering its own Netflix-brand set-top box, but concluded that it would be better to offer devices from companies such as LG Electronics.
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January 4th, 2008
