Rumor mill: Will Apple become a network operator? ... When to cut the help desk loose

TOP STORY
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Analysts: Apple network doesn't make much sense
Google Inc. and Intel Corp. have already expressed interest in the forthcoming 700MHz spectrum auction. Now, speculators say Apple Inc. may throw its hat into the ring.


IN THE NEWS
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Microsoft antitrust: States ask for five-year extension of judgment
A group of state plaintiffs in the U.S. Microsoft antitrust case will ask for a five-year extension of a large portion of the 2002 judgment against the company, the group's lawyer said Tuesday.

Startup may sue FCC over handling of wireless plan
M2Z Networks Inc. may sue the U.S. Federal Communications Commission after the agency turned down its request for radio frequencies for a national broadband wireless network.

Mobile advertising prepares for takeoff
Spending on mobile search and display advertising will skyrocket in the coming years in the U.S., finally making cell phones a viable vehicle for this type of online marketing, according to research firm The Kelsey Group Inc.

Microsoft releases Patch Tuesday security updates
Microsoft Corp. has released its security patches for September, fixing known vulnerabilities in its MSN Messenger software and Unix services for Windows as well as a critical bug in Windows 2000.

Microsoft, EC prepare for ruling next week
As judgment day in the nine year-long antitrust battle between Microsoft Corp. and the European Commission draws near, neither side in the protracted dispute knows for sure how it will react to the news on the day.

VMware buys Dunes Technologies
VMware has acquired Dunes Technologies, a Swiss company that provides virtual environment automation technology.


OPINION
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When to cut the help desk loose
I can see companies bringing in consultants to help build service oriented architectures or to properly virtualize their servers, but if you can't install your own word processing or calendaring software by now, something is wrong with your IT department.


CAREER
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The benefits of job rotation in IT
Experts say that there are benefits in establishing formalized job rotation programs, but few IT organizations have formally instituted them.