Lawrence Casiraya

The latest draft version of a cybercrime bill that will be filed to The Philippines' Congress next year will cover not only computers and computer networks but mobile devices as well.

More Asia-Pacific telecommunications operators are interested in joining a consortium that promotes a single network for fixed-line and mobile services, Alcatel regional executives told a conference held here last week.

The Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) of the Philippines has developed an open-source "thin-client" solution for users who want to extend the serviceable life of old computers instead of buying new

Next to the U.S., Japan maybe the biggest IT outsourcing market for the Philippines. But if the country's IT outsourcing capabilities are not properly promoted among Japanese businesses, the Philippines may lose this huge market to outsourcing rivals India and China.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is set to release this week a circular that will define exact and uniform guidelines on taxes imposed on software firms and local distributors that remit royalties abroad.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) will roll out its

Call centre seats in the Philippines will grow from 20,000 to 60,000 by 2004, the fastest growth rate by any nation including India, the country's biggest rival in the global outsourcing industry.

Although the government has yet to issue licenses to mobile operators, a global wireless industry body is already advocating the use of the 2.1GHz frequency for the deployment of third-generation (3G) mobile services in the Philippines.