Enterprises are moving toward custom development and away from the wholesale implementation of enterprise applications packages such as SAP, PeopleSoft and Siebel, according to global technology consulting group, Capgemini.

Christmas greeting messages are being used by a new variant of the mass-mailing Zafi virus (Zafi.D) to reach its victims.

Victorian radiology company Lake Imaging has launched what it claims to be the world's longest commercial broadband wireless link, with an 86km "hop" between regional centres Ballarat and Geelong.

Oracle Corporation today announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire PeopleSoft, Inc., for US$26.50 per share (approximately US$10.3 billion). The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and should close by early January.

Shares in wireless networking hardware provider, Cape Range Wireless (ASX:CAG), have skyrocketed more than 30% on news the Australian vendor has won a US$66 million deal in Bangladesh.

Listed IT and finance recruitment agency Ambition Group Limited (ASX:AMB) has flagged its intention to re a private recruitment company for $3 million cash.

Telstra claims that the latest ACCC mandated cost accounting separation report relating to the carrier show that it is actually losing money on the provision of wholesale access to its copper network.

LogicaCMG has implemented a multi-million dollar supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system in an 18 month development project for Victorian water wholesaler Melbourne Water's sewerage, drainage and water supply systems.

A team of La Trobe University computer science and computer engineering students, have developed a mobile digital travel information system for guide books publisher Lonely Planet.

The Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) has announced a national initiative aimed at exploring the creative potential of mobile devices.

In the US, a Federal judge is today hearing opening arguments in a case that pits Geico, the auto insurer, against Google. Geico sued Google in May for trademark infringement, saying that by allowing competing insurance companies to buy ads linked to searches for "Geico" and "Geico Direct", Google directs web surfers seeking Geico to its competitors' sites.

Yahoo, in a step to keep pace with chief rival Google, plans to start testing a downloadable desktop search application in early January. Yahoo says it will introduce free software in partnership with XI Technologies that helps consumers search the contents of their hard drive, including email, Word documents, PDF files, music and photos.

There's no doubt that going to university is a pleasant way to spend the next three or four years after leaving school. In terms of building a future in the IT industry, however, is it really a productive use of time? There are many who would argue otherwise.

The AIIA has released a new report on offshoring, based on interviews with a little less than 50 CIOs and IT decision makers. The report basically says that, while Australian CIOs are more cautious than their US and Euro counterparts, they are gradually warming to the idea of doing development work offshore.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has announced that it did not intend to oppose the third generation (3G) mobile radio access network (RAN) infrastructure sharing arrangement between major carriers Hutchison and Telstra.

The word we have from the our sources on the ground is that the nearly 200 staff working for IBM in Australia on the company's personal computer related business are extremely concerned about their future, in light of the news that they will soon no longer be IBM employees.