Tories hit in new tabloid spy claims

THE British Opposition Leader David Cameron has been drawn into a fresh media scandal over claims his PR chief, Andy Coulson, was still editor of the Murdoch tabloid News of the World. when the newspaper hired a private eye who had recently been released from a seven-year prison sentence for blackmail.

THE HARD QUESTION

Would you back a proposed ban by consumer watchdog ACCC on high-priced text messages that consumers pay to receive, sent by mobile providers?

Vodafone Hutchison, Telstra unite against consumer watchdog

ONE of Telstra's largest competitors has lined up alongside it, backing its calls for the consumer watchdog to be kept on a tight leash under the proposed telecommunications regime.

Telstra shareholders fear they will be the bunnies

The Australian telecommunications network was built and paid for by taxpayers over many years, starting with a small population and a very big country. We did a good job €“ Australia had a first-class network. It was privatised and the money paid back to the government.

Optus Releases New BlackBerry Plans

Optus has just released two Blackberry plans that offer unlimited email from just $9.99.

People plug in to electric power

ALMOST half of Australians say they are ready to replace their petrol-engine cars with hybrid or all-electric vehicles, according to the company behind a global electric car-recharging network.

Key to war is preserving Afghans

With a new strategy, thousands of additional US troops, a local army in training and an 18-month deadline the war in Afghanistan has entered its most crucial phase since the 2001 invasion. Brendan Nicholson reports.

Confidence redux, or why space in menswear is at a premium

New retail sales, or shopping as we used to call it, has just exploded. Don't worry about news of recessions; that's recessing into ancient history.

Well, would you credit it? The recession is receding into ancient history

'WILL you take my credit card or can you change a $900 note?" New retail sales, or shopping as we used to call it, have just exploded.

Your Call Is Well Downour List Of Priorities

"YOUR call is important to us" has become one of those automatically suspect phrases, joining "the cheque's in the mail" and "your bank is pleased to announce service improvements". The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has announced a crackdown on phone companies that do not respond to complaints quickly or effectively. Is this a sensible use of resources? The problem here, surely, is not the technology, which is always going to be fiddly, or the contracts, which are incomprehensible by ...

One-shop Stopping For Regular Payments

SWITCHING banks can be a time-consuming hassle. There are the payments to electricity, gas, water utilities and to insurers and mobile phone companies, and then there are the payments such as share dividends that go into our accounts. No wonder most of us do not bother to switch transaction accounts and stick with the devil we know. But now switching between banks, credit unions and building societies has been made easier with the introduction of an obligation on financial institutions to provide ...

Now There's A Mobile Phone For Each And Every One Of Us

THERE is now a mobile phone service for every man, woman and child in Australia - and less than one public phone for every 400 people.

Phone Fee Surge Sparks Scrutiny

THE telecommunications industry watchdog is seeking powers to investigate escalating late-payment fees charged by phone companies.