3 Ireland faces price controls by ComReg

ComReg ruled earlier this month 3 Ireland is totally dominant in the market for 3G mobile voice termination for three reasons: its 100 per cent share of the 3G market in Ireland, “the high and non-transitory barriers to entry” and “a lack of sufficient countervailing buyer power”.

It added that the European Regulatory Framework obliges ComReg to impose obligations on networks with significant market power, including price control.

Payzone shares suspended

Shares in electronic payments group Payzone were suspended in London after a boardroom bust-up following the December reverse takeover of Cardpoint by Irish company Alphyra to form Payzone, a new Irish-based e-payments company.

News of the spat first broke in mid-January when a statement was released to the London Stock Exchange (Payzone is listed on the AIM) that chief executive John Nagle and chief financial officer John Williamson had resigned, and that former Cardpoint chairman Bob Thian would assume executive responsibilities.

Nagle and Williamson immediately denied this and applied for a High Court injunction to prevent their removal, stating Thain and other non-executive directors were involved in a ‘conspiracy’ to achieve their removal.

The company said it would fully defend the action.

A source noted the decision to remove Nagle and Williamson was unanimously supported by other board members and directors, and also by 40.5 per cent majority shareholder Balderton Capital.

Payzone shares have fallen more than 30 per cent since its flotation on AIM in December.

Mobile driving offences rising

It is more than 18 months since legislation was passed outlawing mobile phone use behind the wheel, but figures released at the end of 2007 saw it leap into third place in the list of common driving offences in Ireland. Only speeding and driving without seat belts were placed higher.

Irish law doesn’t discriminate between talking or texting; merely being seen holding a phone has been sufficient for conviction. When stopped, there is an automatic €60 (£45) fine plus two penalty points. Should the fine not be paid within 28 days, it can be increased to a maximum of €2,000 with the points doubled to four.

Some 25,000 drivers received penalty points for mobile phone usage during 2007.

Court protection for mobile data firm

An ‘official examiner’ (receiver) has been appointed to oversee Dublin technology outfit MobileAware Ltd.

The company, formed eight years ago, provides innovative software products to develop 2.5G WAP services.

But WAP’s failure to take off saw a number of its clients folding, while one of its biggest trading partners, Ericsson, recently acquired a competitor, resulting in the firm being unable to meet its financial obligations. The Irish tax office heads the list of those demanding payment.

MobileAware has almost halved its Dublin workforce to 14 and closed its offices in Australia and China.

Top talent at the 2008 Meteors

Pop sensation Westlife and former X Factor winner Shayne Ward will join the Saw Doctors to perform at this year’s Meteor Ireland Music Awards at the RDS on February 15, hosted by Irish comedian Dara O’Briain.

The Saw Doctors are celebrating more than 20 years in the music business, having received international acclaim with hits such as N17 and I Useta Love Her, which holds the record for being Ireland’s biggest selling single of all time.

The group is to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony.
Music fans are being urged to vote by text for their favourites in eight categories; Best National DJ, Best Regional DJ, Best Irish Band, Best Irish Male, Best Irish Female, Best Irish Pop Act, Best Irish Album and Best Irish Live Performance.

Meteor customers who signed up for ‘free texts for life’ can text their entry at no cost. Other Meteor customers will pay around 7p per text.

Fans can also vote online by visiting www.meteor.ie