Manchester rated best city for IT firms

Manchester is the best place in the UK to base an IT company, according to a survey of business leaders. The poll conducted in May asked 100 company and managing directors to list their criteria when selecting a location for their business headquarters. Edinburgh and Bradford were rated the second and third most suitable cities, while London only managed 26th place in the final rankings. Sutton Coldfield is regarded as the worst location for an IT company.

Apple warning on unlocked iPhones

Apple has warned that anyone attempting to unlock their iPhone to use with an unauthorised mobile network could find their phones irreparably damaged. The company said that modified mobiles would become "permanently inoperable" once Apple updates were installed more...

Anger at YouTube stammer clips

The British Stammering Association has strongly protested to the YouTube website over videos showing people struggling to speak which have been classified by the website as comedy. Leys Geddes, director of the association, said a number of YouTube videos show people fighting to make themselves understood, including three which he said appeared to be "malicious and stereotypical" more...

Five million hours wasted looking for email

UK IT managers are spending more than five million hours per year searching for lost emails, according to a survey. The wasted effort equates to more than £140m in staff costs, says the poll from e-Media, commissioned by email management specialist Mimecast. Email is the most important communication method between businesses, but too often filtering systems are weeding out valid messages. Sixty per cent of the survey's 100 respondents said they had lost important emails. More than half check their mail quarantines daily and another 22 per cent check it a few times a week.

Mobile service offers free calls for students

Cash-strapped students will be able to save their money for books and beer with the launch yesterday of a mobile service which offers free calls and texts if customers receive advertising on their phone. Blyk, a start-up run by the former president of Nokia, is targeting 16-to-24-year-olds with 217 free texts and 43 minutes of talk time every month more...

Regulation crucial to broadband growth

Regulatory involvement, infrastructure competition and price wars are the most significant factors shaping the world's fastest-growing broadband markets. Broadband ISPs in Greece, Turkey, Ireland and Russia all offer cheap services relative to the average disposable income in order to make broadband attractive to greater proportions of the country, says research from analyst Ovum more...