Stories by Adam Bender

Under fire from taxi industry, app developers look to courts, regulators

A fight brewing between mobile app developers and the taxi industry could end up in the courts and may result in new regulations, according to independent taxi app developers.

Mobile networks brace for New Year’s congestion

With high demand on mobile networks expected on New Year’s Eve, the top three Australian carriers will rely on apps and network enhancements to avoid failed calls and text messages at midnight.

Too much business influence on ID verification plan?

A proposed National Trusted Identities Framework (NTIF) appears to provide few benefits and “a number of risks” for consumers, according to the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN).

Tasmania seeks hosted private cloud for server, storage

The Tasmanian government revealed plans to gradually move to an infrastructure as a service (IaaS) model as part of its ICT strategy.

ACMA seeks 4G in rural Australia through 1800 MHz rule changes

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) wants to spur a greater number and variety of wireless services by changing spectrum licensing and regulatory arrangements for the 1800 MHz band in regional and remote Australia.

Australians would buy local if it wasn't cheaper overseas: MasterCard

Unless they have to pay more, most Australians prefer to buy from Australian websites when shopping online for the holidays, according to a MasterCard study released today.

Study to assess barriers to teleworking

Cisco and the University of Melbourne want to know why more Australian and New Zealand businesses and government bodies aren’t teleworking.

Webjet announces flight to Office 365 and Azure

Microsoft will lift Webjet into the cloud with Office 365 and Azure, Microsoft announced today. Webjet said it made the move as it prepares to expand its business in Australia and New Zealand.

BYOD not up to spec for Australian home builder

Porter Davis Homes is not allowing workers to use their own mobile devices due to high cost and lack of device control, according to the company’s group BIS manager, Felicity Nutter.

Telstra plans to finish Warrnambool repairs by Friday

Telstra CEO David Thodey personally apologised for outages in south-west Victoria following a fire that took out part of the telco’s Warrnambool exchange.

ACMA issues second paper on 803-960 MHz band

Seeking to maximise the value of 800 MHz spectrum for mobile broadband, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) today released a second discussion paper about how to replan the 803-960 MHz band.

Regulator orders Telstra to pay $8 million to iiNet

Telstra must pay iiNet $8 million as a refund for excessive internal interconnection cable (IIC) charges, according to an access determination by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Optus speeds 4G, 3G+ deployments

Optus is preparing 4G launches early next year in Adelaide and Canberra while simultaneously making enhancements to its existing 3G network, according to Optus managing director of networks, Guenther Ottendorfer.

Taxi industry at war with mobile app developers over cab booking

An independent taxi app maker has rejected claims by the taxi industry that its mobile app is not safe and should be banned.

Mandatory data breach notification urged after privacy law passage

The Australian privacy commissioner and a consumer group supported mandatory data breach notifications, in comments submitted today to the Attorney General.