Week in Review: Microsoft cuts ties with Yahoo
Microsoft finally gives up on its long and protracted takeover bid. We also looked at ID cards, sewer broadband, lie detectors, future wireless, and a new botnet king is crowned.

Microsoft walks away, Yahoo looks at options
Microsoft finally walks away from the Yahoo bid after the two companies failed to agree on a valuation. As a result Yahoo shares fall sharply, with shareholders demanding reasons for its collapse and possible alternative strategies.
ID scheme costs rise further
It might not be a huge surprise, but an IPS biannual report has revealed that the initial cost of setting up a National Identity Card Scheme has risen by 37 per cent, from 245 million to 335 million.
Bournemouth wins fibre broadband sewer network
Bournemouth is the first whole city which will receive super-fast broadband delivered through its sewer system. When implemented, H2O Networks claim it has the potential to offer speeds of over 100Mbps.
Lie detectors to combat benefit fraud
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Funding of 1.5 million is announced by the Department for Work & Pensions for lie detector technology that detects changes in speech to catch out possible benefit cheats. It has already been trialled successfully in Harrow.
'New wireless devices will save lives' says Ofcom
An Ofcom report reveals some of the wireless devices that we may be able to see in the next two decades. The technology has a lot of potential, including uses in healthcare, transport, entertainment and commerce.
Srizbi now the dominant spam botnet
As malware removal tools decimate Storm numbers, it seems that Srizbi now has the title of the world's largest spam botnet.
-
Security experts issue warning over the rise of 'gray bot' AI web scrapers
News While not malicious, the bots can overwhelm web applications in a way similar to bad actors
By Jane McCallion Published
-
Does speech recognition have a future in business tech?
Once a simple tool for dictation, speech recognition is being revolutionized by AI to improve customer experiences and drive inclusivity in the workforce
By Jonathan Weinberg Published
-
Ofcom net neutrality update dismisses calls for big tech contributions
News Ofcom’s net neutrality stance has been criticized by some industry stakeholders
By Emma Woollacott Published
-
UK 5G spectrum auction will finally go ahead this week
News The much awaited auction will involve companies bidding for frequency in two bands
By Zach Marzouk Published
-
Almost one million Brits still suffer with appalling broadband speeds, Ofcom report finds
News A new Ofcom report reveals a massive 925,000 people are still on downloads speeds of less than 10Mbps
By Alex Lee Published
-
ISPs now have 30 days to fix net speeds or face null contracts
News Ofcom confirms customers will soon be able to walk away if their service dips
By Dale Walker Published
-
More than a million UK properties don't have access to 'decent' broadband speeds
News Ofcom's Connected Nations report finds broadband is still lacking across 4% of the UK
By Roland Moore-Colyer Published
-
BT offers to invest up to £600m to provide universal high-speed broadband
News The company's offer would replace new regulation proposed by the government
By Zach Marzouk Published
-
Ofcom caps EE and BT's spectrum bidding
News Regulator will limit how much spectrum a single mobile operator can own
By Nicole Kobie Published
-
Ofcom caps BT's Openreach prices
News Regulator limits the amount that rivals can be charged for leasing the company's superfast broadband
By Adam Shepherd Published