viernes, 17 de febrero de 2012

Information Society Newsroom Update Weekly - 17/02/2012

Weekly Issue - 17 February 2012

Latest News

PRESS RELEASE
EU funded project helps citizens compare and reduce their energy consumption via TV, PC and social networks applications

(17 February 2012) Citizens and business often waste energy because they do not realise which appliances and lighting use the most energy. An EU-funded project tested in the United Kingdom and Bulgaria is helping to change that - showing consumers reduced energy usage by an average of 8% when provided with an "information dashboard" about their energy use. The Digital Environment Home Energy Management System (DEHEMS) project shows that when a consumer receives more information about their energy use, and can share and compare this with neighbours and family, they are more likely to change their behaviour. The EU-funded system presents data every 6 seconds through a small digital display. The data can also be displayed in real time via a TV screen, mobile phone, PC or social media app.

PRESS RELEASE
Commission welcomes step forward for wireless broadband with adoption of Radio Spectrum Policy Programme

(15 February 2012) Radio spectrum supports 3.5 million jobs and more than EUR 250 billion of economic activity each year in Europe, including incredibly popular services such as wireless broadband. The Commission therefore welcomes the European Parliament's adoption of the five-year Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP) which will allow sufficient spectrum to be made available for wireless applications and services such as high speed 4th generation (4G) wireless broadband. The RSPP also supports entertainment/culture (mobile TV or wireless electronic books), transport systems, health (such as medical appliances and devices to assist disabled persons), research, civil protection, the environment and energy (including smart energy grids and smart metering systems), without affecting the requirements of other policies such as defence.

PRESS RELEASE
Plan to make EU the world leader in High-Performance Computing

(15 February 2012) High Performance Computing (HPC) is critical for industries that rely on precision and speed, such as automotive and aviation, and the health sector. Access to rapid simulations carried out by ever-improving super computers can be the difference between life and death; between new jobs and profits or bankruptcy.

PRESS RELEASE
Valentine's Day - time to hug your favourite robot?

(14 February 2012) On St. Valentine's Day, we want to be close to the ones we love. Researchers from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK are testing whether one day that special person in our life could be a robot. Experiments have shown that children, for example, can become extremely attached to a robot playmate, but can the robot in turn can develop a bond with a human being? Could we one day expect robots to develop a behaviour that resembles human attachment? That is the question being explored in the ALIZ-E project

PRESS RELEASE
Commission suspends Dutch proposal to raise wholesale rates for fixed & mobile telephony and starts an in-depth review

(13 February 2012) The European Commission has expressed serious doubts about a new proposal from the Dutch telecoms regulator (OPTA) regarding fixed and mobile termination rates which would negatively affect consumers in the Netherlands. Termination rates are the rates telecoms networks charge each other to deliver calls between networks, and each operator has market power over access to customers on its own network. These costs are ultimately included in call prices paid by consumers and businesses. In a previous filing in 2010, OPTA proposed to apply cost-oriented fixed and mobile termination rates, in line with the Commission's 2009 Recommendation under the EU telecoms legislation. Despite this, OPTA's decision was subsequently annulled in a national Tribunal ruling, which prescribed a different methodology that includes costs not directly related to call termination. Under OPTA's new proposal based on the national Tribunal's methodology, fixed and mobile termination rights would be twice as high as under the EU approach.

PRESS RELEASE
Commission suspends discriminatory Danish SMS price regulation and starts an in-depth review

(13 February 2012) The Commission has written to the Danish telecoms regulator, Danish Business Authority (DBA), to express its serious doubts about the compatibility with EU law of DBA's proposed regulation of SMS termination rates, the rates mobile networks charge each other to deliver SMS between networks. DBA's proposal concerns the text messages sent to customers of the mobile virtual network operator Lycamobile (terminated on Lycamobile's network), which entered the Danish market in the first half of 2010. The Commission is concerned that the price control DBA proposes might be discriminatory as it treats differently SMS coming from operators providing telecommunication services in Denmark. Such SMS are subject to (lower) price caps while SMS coming from operators providing telecommunication services in other Member States, are not regulated. The Commission, in close cooperation with the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) will, over the next three months discuss with DBA how to amend its proposal in order to make it compliant with EU law.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT
ICT Finance MarketPlace Venture Academy and Investment Forum for SMEs

25 March 2012 - 26 March 2012 Lisbon, Portugal

Designed specifically for SMEs operating in the ICT sector, the Venture Academy consists of a one-day coaching event where experienced coaches from relevant industry areas will help these SMEs to develop their pitching skills towards potential investors. It is a vital preparatory step for SMEs invited to attend the Investment Forum. This Forum offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their business in front of an international network of venture capital and corporate investors, strategic partners and expert advisors.

NEWS ARTICLE
Digital Agenda stakeholder registration

(16 February 2012) The Commission is updating its stakeholders base for the Digital Agenda for Europe. In case you wish to remain informed about new developments of the Digital Agenda or update your existing subscription, please go the Digital Agenda website.

See also: Digital Agenda stakeholder registration

NEWS ARTICLE
The hunt is on for Local Digital Inclusion Champions: E-Inclusion Awards 2012 now open for entries

(15 February 2012) Everyone's online right? Wrong, almost a quarter of Europeans aged 16 and over have never used the internet! If you've supported other people to get online through a project, service or product, we want to hear about it and the benefits it has provided. Established by the European Commission, the e-Inclusion Awards is on a mission to discover and celebrate the most innovative ways of plugging the digital gap and helping people to enjoy the benefits of the internet. Aimed at inspiring individuals, businesses, entrepreneurs, NGOs and governments the Awards reward those championing the way forward and exploiting the potential of technology in dealing with today's challenges. With almost a quarter of Europeans remaining offline, growth of the digital economy will be stunted as will access to the benefits achieved from access to online facilities. Europe's Digital Agenda includes a vision of 'Every European Digital' in which all people truly benefit from technology innovations, improving their well-being throughout their lifetime and contributing to economic recovery. For individuals, the sense of achievement, empowerment and connection can be priceless! Deadline for submission of entries is 4 May 2012.

NEWS ARTICLE
Public consultation on the accessibility of goods and services in the European market - deadline is 29 February

(14 February 2012) The Commission is reflecting on the development of a European Accessibility Act containing measures to improve the accessibility of goods and services in the European market. This consultation is part of the preparatory data collection that will underpin the assessment of the impact of the measures. The consultation - itself fully accessible -is aimed at gathering views from businesses, people with disabilities and the general public and will remain open until 29 February 2012.

See also: Press release: European Commission seeks public input on measures to break down barriers to disabled people

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