InternetPolicy.net

Governments snub Microsoft's source-code

According to Informatics Online (UK), only 12 out of 59 eligible national governments have signed up for Microsoft's Government Security Program, which provides online access to the source code for Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003 and CE. However, discussions are said to be underway with another 35 countries. "The apparent reluctance of governments to take up Microsoft's offer will come as a blow to the software maker, which had been hoping to use the programme to stave off the threat from open source software," Gareth Morgan observed.

China developing new online payment system

ChinaDaily.com.cn reports that the country's major banks are working with China Mobile Communications Ltd. to "connect mobile phone numbers with credit cards to offer a new payment method that could be used to buy everything from online services to home appliances at traditional department stores." Until recently, Chinese Internet users were able to pay for email services, software downloads and online games by charging them to their cellphone accounts. A growing number of websites accepted mobile phone numbers much as Western websites accept credit card numbers. The website would reply with an SMS containing a password which, when entered in a form on the website, would approve a fee from the website to be added to the users' phone bill. This system worked well, but China Mobile recently told ISPs that it would no longer collect fees for Internet activities. According to Wang Hua, assistant marketing manager for the Shanghai branch of China Mobile, "the practice has caused some problems..." For example, children allegedly charged fees for online games to their parents' mobile numbers without permission. In any case, the new payment system for Internet services is expected to debut "in the near future."

Online ads boom could delay content charges

MediaSavvy cites several recent reports of high growth in online advertising revenues at websites specializing in news and asks, "who is going to be willing to jeopardize their seat on the gravy train by charging for content?"