Cisco buys social networking vendor ... Vodafone launches YouTube mobile

HIGHLIGHTS
News: Cisco buys social networking vendor
News: Vodafone launches YouTube mobile
News: Alcatel-Lucent fourth-quarter results disappoint
News: Big set of Microsoft security patches coming Tuesday
Product Review: A first look at Windows Mobile 6
Opinion: Technological (non)predictions for 2007
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update


NEWS UPDATES

Cisco buys social networking vendor
Cisco Systems Inc., the biggest vendor in IP (Internet Protocol) networking, has agreed to acquire Five Across Inc., a social-networking software company in San Francisco. Terms of the acquisition, which was announced late Thursday in California, were not disclosed.

Vodafone launches YouTube mobile
In the third content deal in as many days, Vodafone Group PLC announced a service that will allow its mobile customers to view and upload videos to YouTube Inc.

Alcatel-Lucent fourth-quarter results disappoint
Alcatel-Lucent SA's revenue fell for the fourth quarter, and the company plunged into loss. The performance was disappointing, but the long-term prospects of the merger of Alcatel SA and Lucent Technologies Inc. remain positive, the company said.

Big set of Microsoft security patches coming Tuesday
Microsoft Corp. plans to release 12 sets of security patches next Tuesday fixing critical vulnerabilities in a number of its products, including the company's new security software.

Premium Vista PCs fare well in first week
Microsoft Corp.'s wish that consumers purchase the premium versions of Windows Vista rather than the most basic version of the OS may be coming true, according to the findings of a research report released Thursday.

Survey: SMBs to boost spending less this year
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in North America expect to increase their IT spending by an average of only 2 percent this year after going on a 8 percent spending spree in 2006, according to a Forrester Research Inc. survey.

Emergency responders ask lawmakers for more spectrum
Police and fire organizations called on the U.S. Congress to give them more radio spectrum for communications interoperability than the 24MHz they're due to get in early 2009.

Wall Street Beat: Vendor creativity rewarded
Market indices have declined as traders brace for a slowdown after corporate share prices rose steadily over the past seven months. But IT investors are still jumping on the bandwagon for companies that are seen making wise investments and restructuring decisions.

New pretexting bill introduced in Congress
Representatives Jay Inslee and Marsha Blackburn have introduced a law that would give the Federal Trade Commission the authority to investigate and prosecute imposters who gain access to other people's private telephone records.


PRODUCT REVIEW

A first look at Windows Mobile 6
By Sumner Lemon

Microsoft Corp.'s recently announced Windows Mobile 6 software for smart phones is a step forward for the company, offering some important improvements over previous versions of the software. But just how good is the new software? On Thursday, Microsoft offered me the chance to play with Windows Mobile 6 ahead of the 3GSM show in Barcelona, Spain, next week.


OPINION

Technological (non)predictions for 2007
By Sean McGrath

The early part of any new year sees its fair share of prediction
lists. You know the sort of thing : 'In 2007, X will go mainstream'
or 'Y will finally grind technological opponent Z into the dust'.

For grins, I have taken a different tack. Here is a list of things
that I predict will not happen in 2007.


PODCAST

Daily IT News Audio Update
Mike Volpi, head of Cisco's routing business, resigns ... Microsoft to announce Windows Mobile 6 ... Microsoft set to issue more patches next week