Govts to take on 'oppressive` Microsoft

AFP reports that Japan, China and South Korea have agreed to jointly develop a new computer operating system based on Linux, as an alternative to Microsoft`s Windows. The three countries signed the agreement in Beijing yesterday, saying they would help their private sectors develop Linux and would separately promote the use of Linux for government computer systems.

The countries are making combined efforts to reduce reliance on Microsoft`s operating system, which they say has "oppressed" their business strength in the computer software industry.

EWeek reports that Sun Microsystems is expected to announce another management change today, following last week`s news that Jonathan Schwartz, who was executive VP of software, had been promoted to president and CEO. The firm is expected to announce today that John Loiacono, VP of its operating platforms group, has been promoted to executive VP of software.

Meanwhile, Washingtonpost.com reports that Sun Microsystems plans to cut 3 300 jobs, or about 9% of its workforce, because of huge losses.

IT law firm Buys Inc reports that a hacker defaced 27 South African sex sites in under 10 minutes at the weekend. IT attorney Reinhardt Buys says the hacker, apparently from Brazil, targeted the 'adult` sites yesterday.

"The attacks took place between 11.40 and 11.51, and all the sites ran on the Linux system and Apache Web servers," he says. "Most of the domain names of the defaced Web sites are registered in the name of Omnibill and the hacker might have succeeded in hacking into the server, giving him or her easy access to all the Web sites."

The world`s first soap opera TV show to be broadcast on cellphones has been launched. AFP reports that the soap opera drama, called Hotel Franklin, was launched by media giant News Corporation. Episodes are one minute long because this seems to be the "natural length" for cellphone viewers.

News Corp already makes clips of the popular Simpsons cartoons available for cellphone users to view on their phones or send to friends.

Delegates to the international MiPTV and MILIA trade shows in Cannes this week also heard that video-on-demand for cellphones is a growing market, with increasing numbers of programmes becoming available for download.