Firms 'mishandle sensitive data'
About a third of UK employees throw sensitive documents in the bin instead of shredding them, research suggests. The study also found almost three quarters of workers felt their organisations could do more to protect their customers' sensitive information. The data was compiled for National Identity Fraud Prevention Week.
BBC News

Broadband deal could delay merger of Orange and T-Mobile
The merger of Orange and T-Mobile faces a major regulatory hurdle after a last-minute deal thrashed out by the government with all five wireless networks designed to realise Gordon Brown's vision of broadband for all by 2012. The deal, to be announced this week, is likely to involve the Office of Fair Trading calling on EU regulators to allow the UK authorities to investigate the proposed merger, which has prompted howls of protest from consumer groups as it would create the UK's largest mobile phone operator. The combined group would have a 37 per cent share of the market.
The Guardian

Sky guns for iTunes market with new music download service
Sky is to join the digital music marketplace when it launches a subscription download service that it hopes will persuade millions more consumers to switch to buying albums digitally and threaten the dominance of Apple's iTunes. Subscribers to the new "Sky Songs" service – who will not have to be existing Sky customers – will pay a fixed fee of up to £7.99 a month, entitling them to download one album or up to 10 songs, and to stream as much music as they like. Downloading more songs will cost extra.
The Guardian

Oracle guarantees investment in Sun core systems
Speaking at the Oracle OpenWorld opening keynote on Sunday in San Francisco, Sun Microsystems founder and chairman, Scott McNealy, said Oracle would boost developer spending. Meanwhile Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison joined McNealy on stage to discuss the two firms’ product roadmap going forward.
V3

New Android vulnerabilities disclosed
Security researchers have disclosed two new vulnerabilities in Google's Android mobile platform which could lead to denial-of-service attacks. The Open Source Computer Emergency Response Team (oCert) warned of two flaws in version 1.5 of the increasingly popular platform, both of which have been patched by Google. The first involves Android's handling of text messages, according to the oCert security advisory.
V3

European mobile broadband subscribers on the grow
Mobile broadband subscriptions are on the rise and expected to hit 600 million worldwide by the end of this year. A report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) showed mobile broadband subscribers had overtaken fixed line subscribers in 2008, with Europe – along with the Asia and Pacific market – having the largest number.
IT Pro

Google to meet with book trade reps
Representatives from the world's book trade will meet in Frankfurt, German this week as the industry braces itself for a long-feared transformation of the industry for which few are well prepared. Electronic reading devices like Amazon's Kindle - which was given a UK debut date of 19 October just last week - are set to enter the mass market, starting with a surge in sales this Christmas, helped by lower prices, rising consumer confidence and better distribution outside the US.
IT Pro

Orange launches Asda concession
Orange has entered a strategic partnership with Asda to trial Orange concessions in its Supercentres. The first outlet opened in Eastlands, Manchester on Thursday (8 October). The deal provides a dedicated Orange space, which is staffed by Orange employees. If the trial is successful, the concession will be rolled out across Asda’s 30 other UK Supercentres. Orange director of retail Sian Doyle told Mobile: ‘We are trialling different types of retail concessions tailored to meet the retail habits and environment of local shoppers.
Mobile

INQ launches Mini 3G today
INQ's new Mini 3G handset goes on sales today in 3 mobile high street stores. The Mini 3G comes with Facebook, IM, Skype and Twitter functionality along with a 2.2-inch display and 2-megapixel camera. The handset will be free on £15 per month 'Internet Texter' contracts with free internet, free 3-to-3 calls, free voicemail and 75 minutes talk-time. It is also available on Pay As You Go. The Mini 3G will be closely followed by the INQ Chat 3G, which has a full QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry-like form factor, which is out later this year.
Mobile

AT&T to deliver Amazon ‘Kindle’ in UK, say sources
Amazon has ditched plans to hook up with a UK operator to deliver its ‘Kindle’ ebook reader, say sources. Instead the company has forged an international roaming deal with US operator AT&T which will allow Kindle ebook readers to roam into any network in the UK, sources claim. The Kindle is due to be launched in the UK on October 19. It will be sold via Amazon.com, which is already taking orders. The Kindle will retail for $279 and comes with a 6-inch display and the ability to wirelessly download books and other content.
Mobile