WebProNews

U.S. Testing Online Travel Approval Plan

Travelers who do not need a visa to fly to the United States will have to answer questions about their health and criminal background under a new electronic system launched today.Starting January 12, 2009, people traveling to the U.S. from the 27 visa waiver countries will be required to fill out an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form online three days before departure.

Microsoft Calls EU Fine "Excessive"

Microsoft has informed a European Union court that an antitrust fine of $1.4 billion against it is excessive and disproportionate.In February the European Commission said that Microsoft used high prices to reduce competition and did not follow through on sanctions imposed against it as part of the case. Microsoft is appealing the fine it received in February.

EU Calls On Mobile Carriers To Reduce Fees

The European Commission has introduced a proposal to reduce the cost of mobile phone calls by lowering the fees carriers charge for using each others networks."Disparate termination rates across the EU and large gaps between fixed and mobile termination rates are serious barriers to achieving a Single European Telecoms market that benefits competition and consumers. The consumer pays the price for these gaps between national regulatory policies," said Viviane Reding, EU Telecoms Commissioner.

eBay Challenges EU Trading Laws

eBay is lobbying the European Parliament over trading laws it calls "last century" that are preventing its customers from potential savings.The online auction company said that traditional manufacturers  are using outdated regulatory laws to restrict the impact of online trading.

EU Pushes For IPv6 Adoption

The European Commission said today that it is setting a goal to get 25 percent of EU industry, public authorities and households to use IPv6 by 2010.

Microsoft Appealing Record Fine From The EU

Microsoft said it is appealing a record $1.39 billion (899 million euro) fine from the European Commission for using high prices to reduce software competition."Microsoft today filed to the (EU) Court of First Instance an application to annul the European Commission decision of February 27,"the company said in statement. "We are filing this appeal in a constructive effort to seek clarity from the court."

Europe Votes Against Online Copyright Law

The European Parliament shot down the proposal to ban file sharing by private individuals and dropped the idea to bar copyright abusers from the Internet.In a close vote, 314 Members of the European Parliament voted to reject an amendment that would have protected copyright on the Internet and 297 voted against throwing out the amendment.

EU Sets Broadband Goal Of 30 Percent By 2010

In order to stimulate economic growth top regulators of the European Commission said they want to increase broadband coverage in the European Union from 20 percent to 30 percent by 2010.Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding said eight of the EU's 27 member states have surpassed the United States in broadband penetration, with Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden leading the way with penetration rates over 30 percent at the end of 2007.

EU Seniors To Get Help Staying Connected Online

The European Parliament has given its approval to provide funding for research into using technology like the Internet to keep the elderly connected.

Google's Acquisition of DoubleClick Complete

Finally Google has successfully completed the acquisition of DoubleClick, a leading Internet advertising service providers. And even EU has given a green signal to the merger and therefore from now onwards DoubleClick would be owned by Google unchallenged.