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European Commission presents IPv6, the new
Internet protocol
(27/11/2003)
IPv6, the new version of the Internet Protocol,
is ready for implementation. After almost 20
years of service the current version of the
Internet Protocol IPv4 is gradually being phased
out and the new version - the IPv6 - will
increasingly take over. On that occasion,
Information Society Directorate-General of the
European Commission organises The Global IPv6
Service Launch Event in Brussels on January
15-16, 2004. The event will showcase the new
protocol as well as a number of research
projects that have shown the actual deployment
of the IPv6 and developed a number of
complementary applications. Among other things
the new Internet speed record set by the GÉANT
network in October 2003 was achieved using the
IPv6 protocol. The goal of the event is to
highlight the importance and impact of IPv6 to
spur the deployment of the new protocol in all
sectors. One of the main problems of IPv4 is
concerned with its limited address space. IPv4
only supports 4 billion IP addresses and as a
result the world is slowly running out of the
addresses needed for every computer to access
the global network. IPv6 will not only square
the number of available IPv4 addresses two times
over. It will also provide encryption
functionality by default and make life easier
for the users by automatic network configuration
of new devices. Another huge benefit of IPv6 is
to restore pure end-to-end connectivity of
devices on the Internet.
e-Interpretation: Computers breaking language
barriers
An intelligent multilingual translation system
helps users and companies from different regions
communicate their needs and services live,
online and in their native language.
Ministers approve plans for European Network and
Information Security Agency
The EU's telecommunications ministers endorsed
in principle on 5 June plans to create the
European Network and Information Security
Agency. The UK and Germany abstained in the
voting. The new body would function as an
advisory body on how to combat hacking, virus
attacks and threats to information networks, and
it would also formulate pan-EU guidelines.
E-business legal portal for SMEs
Enterprise Europe, Brussels, - A 12-language
on-line information service on legal aspects of
e-business has been launched by the Enterprise
DG, in co-operation with Euro Info Centres.
24 - 25 June 2003
Virtual Reality World Congress
Room M6, Jean Monnet Building, Luxembourg City
"Visions of Virtual Reality and Interactive 3D
in European Commission Supported Projects"
Email:
workshop@mva.co.uk
EU - Commission selects Registry to run Dot EU
Top Level Domain
The European Commission has decided to designate
EURID - the European Registry for Internet
Domains as the Registry for the dot EU (.eu) Top
Level Domain (TLD).The .eu is intended to become
the distinctive pan-European identification of
websites and e-mail addresses, comparable to
.org or .com. The three founder members of EURID
are currently managing the country codes .be
(Belgium), .it (Italy) and .se (Sweden). Two
associated members are from acceding countries.
EURID has committed to consult stakeholders from
the European Internet Community and to ensure
contacts with regional and international
organisations involved in the Internet.
New Council of Europe response to the regulatory
challenges posed by the Internet
(Council of Europe: 30/05/2003)
On 28 May 2003, the Committee of Ministers of
the Council of Europe adopted a Declaration on
freedom of communication on the Internet. The
main objective is to strike a balance between
freedom of expression and information on the
Internet and other rights guaranteed by the
European Convention on Human Rights, such as the
protection of children against unsuitable online
content.
http://press.coe.int/cp/2003/291a(2003).htm
Information and networks security
The "telecommunications" council has decided to
set up a European Agency for Information and
Networks Security, a consultative organisation
whose role it will be to fight computer piracy
and to establish European conduct rules.
Yahoo! Has Acquired Inktomi
On the 19th March YAHOO! Inc. announced
completion of its acquisition for Inktomi.
Inktomi is now a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of
Yahoo! Below is an excerpt from their full press
release...
"Bringing together a powerful combination of
Yahoo!'s global audience and unmatched breadth
and depth of services with Inktomi's leading
search technology, will allow us to create one
of the most relevant, comprehensive and Hi ghest
quality search offerings on the Web for both our
affiliate partners and Yahoo!," said Terry Semel,
Yahoo! chairman and CEO.
"The acquisition enables Yahoo! to integrate
Inktomi's world-class technology throughout the
network as well as offer more value to consumers
and businesses through programs such as paid
inclusion, which provide higher-quality
commercial search results," Semel added.
INDUSTRY CANADA RELEASES E-COMMERCE CODE OF
PRACTICE
Industry Canada has released the Canadian Code
of Practice for Consumer Protection in
Electronic Commerce. The Code establishes
benchmarks and best practices for companies that
sell goods or services to consumers via the
Internet. The Code is undergoing pilot testing
in a number of sectors, and the reviewed code
will be available for endorsement from July to
September 2003. The revised Code will be
published in the fall of 2003.
Wireless Internet
The European Commission has adopted a
recommendation that calls upon Member States to
facilitate the use of Radio Local Area Networks
(R-LAN) for accessing public services. The
Recommendation encourages Member States to allow
deployment of public R-LAN access networks
without sector specific conditions and subject
only to general authorisations. The Commission
thereby implements the policy objective set by
the European Council to foster multiple
broadband access platforms in support of the
Information Society. R-LANs (also referred to as
W-LAN and Wi-Fi) are currently operating mainly
in licence-exempt frequency bands. They are a
fast-developing, innovative and promising means
of implementing broadband wireless access to the
Internet. Developed initially for private usage
(e.g. corporate Intranets), these R-LAN
platforms are now increasingly revealing their
market potential for accessing the public
Internet when in areas such as airports, train
stations an! d shopping malls.
FBI seeks Internet
telephony surveillance
The Justice Department and the FBI ask
regulators for expanded technical capabilities
to intercept Voice Over IP communications... and
anything else that uses broadband.
http://www.securityfocus.com/news/3466 | 
