Alison Birrane

KWINANA Technology Business Incubator has signed an agreement with one of South-East Asia's highest profile technology centres as part of a plan to establish a regional technology network.

TAKING on the world's largest multimedia companies has paid off for Nedlands-based company PIVoD Technologies, which has carved a niche by developing industry-specific applications

IINET managing director Michael Malone has secured the top individual honour at this year's Western Australian Information Technology and Telecommunications Awards.

UNIVERSITY of Western Australia offshoot Vitrostone has experienced a significant setback in its commercialisation process, revealing that it is confronting issues related to its technology and cash-flow problems.

WOODSIDE Energy Ltd and the Department of Foreign Affairs are in discussions to win approval from the East Timorese Government for the development of large natural gas reserves in the Timor Sea.

CAMBRIDGE Media has merged its print division with Optima Press in a move designed to propel the Leederville-based publisher into a new business phase.

LOCAL nanotechnology developer Advanced Powder Technologies has accelerated plans for an Australian Stock Exchange listing, advertis

WESTERN Australia has the highest proportion of tech-savvy farmers in the nation, according to the latest statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

PERTH businessman Steven Goh is working on an SMS-based business venture industry sources say is close to being taken to the market.

WESTERN Australian ICT organisations, in conjunction with the State Government, are planning a joint study into the needs of ICT employers with regards to graduates and employee tra

salaries in Western Australia's information technology sector are increasing on the back of an industry turnaround.

BIOTECHNOLOGY firm Ozgene Pty Ltd has secured an $US8.5 million contract with the National Institute of Health (NIH), a major research institute in the US.

A FREE trade agreement with China would cement Australia's place as a long-term strategic and trade partner with arguably the world's fastest growing economy, according to one of the Federal Government's top trade negotiators.

LESS than 15 per cent of information technology university graduates are women, according to figures from the tertiary education sector.

DATA communications and Internet provider Swiftel Limited has announced its intention to merge with privately owned voice services company, people telecom, in a scrip deal worth an estimated $50 million.

PERTH-BASED e-span Solutions is planning a national expansion under the ownership of education technology provider, Didasko Limited.

THE recently launched joint State and Federal government National Broadband Strategy has received a lukewarm reception from industry observers.

JOB sentiment in Western Australia's information communication technology sector has been buoyed by two separate reports indicating a significant improvement in the employment levels for ICT professionals.

CHINA'S growing reliance on the Pilbara's iron ore stocks was emphasised this week when BHP Billiton signed a 25-year, $11.6 billion ($US9 billion) deal with four of China's biggest steel producers.

TRADE relations between Western Australia and China have been boosted by this week's announcement by BHP Billiton of a 25-year $11.6 billion ($US9 billion) deal with four of China's largest steel producers.

WA'S Internet service providers have continued their criticism of Telstra for alleged anti-competitive behaviour despite the telco responding to regulatory and market pressure to cut its wholesale prices.

THE cost of software project failures to business is estimated to run into many billions of dollars each year.

INTERNET service providers in Western Australia have condemned Telstra BigPond's new entry level pricing for ADSL broadband, with some filing complaints with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and legal action discussed.

WIRELESS specialist Memo Communications is developing a niche market for its products to assist hearing-impaired workers gain employment and work more effectively.

THE management of WA-based technology services company Alphawest could put some lean years behind them with the proposed float of the company.

SINCE its acquisition, Perth-based Sealcorp has been considered the jewel in the crown of parent company St George Bank.

WESTERN Australian producers are the target of State and Federal government initiatives aimed at encouraging exports to the evolving consumer markets in Asia and the Middle East.

SOUTH African businesses will implement technology developed in Western Australia as an electronic crime-fighting tool in a bid to tackle the problem.

BUSINESSES and residents in the centre of Belmont can now access Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line broadband after Telstra announced the completion of a telecommunications network upgrade in the area.

THE Western Australian Fishing Industry Council has voiced its support for Australia's free trade agreement with the US, with the State's fishery exports to benefit from the removal of tariffs.

AFTER several years of less-than-impressive growth, online advertising looks ready to make a comeback, with revitalised interest in the medium leading to multi-million dollar jumps in expenditure in the past year.

THE South West Development Commission and Connect South West Association are leading the push to have Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line broadband made available in the State's South West region.