@ Tech News - What's Fido Saying? 'Bowlingual' Will Translate

CNN-- A high-tech dog collar called 'Bowlingual' is being promoted to pet owners in east Asia as a device that translates barks into human words.

A Japanese language version of the technology will launch in Japan and Hong Kong later this month, and the manufacturer eventually wants to add an English translation model, too.

Want to know what your dog does while you're away? Bowlingual can record barking from a dog that has been left alone all day and analyze the sounds for the owner. The device will also remind owners when their pets are due for their health shots.

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@ Tech News - AT&T Won't Offer Fla. Local Service

MIAMI (AP) - AT&T Corp. decided Tuesday that it won't offer local phone service in Florida because it would be too expensive to use BellSouth Corp.'s infrastructure throughout the state.

The company blames Florida's Public Service Commission for not setting the rate rival BellSouth charges low enough last week.

In a press release Tuesday, AT&T said the new wholesale prices are as much as twice as high as those of other large states like California, Michigan and Illinois.

AT&T said it would reconsider entering the local service market in Florida if the state "0sets appropriate discounts that allow competitors to profitably offer consumers a choice."

BellSouth officials said they are disappointed AT&T won't be entering the local market but there are already other local competitors.

"The issue here isn't if AT&T would make money from offering residential service, it would, but apparently not enough for the company to enter the market," BellSouth spokesman Spero Canton said.

On Monday, AT&T said it would oppose BellSouth's application to the Federal Communications Commission to enter Florida's long-distance market.

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@ Tech News - Intel to Offer New Security Features

By Matthew Fordahl - AP Technology Writer

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - In the latest attempt to protect digital information from viruses and hackers, Intel Corp. will integrate advanced security features into its microprocessors and other hardware.

The security features, announced Monday at the Intel's conference for developers, will be implemented in processors as early as next year, said Paul Otellini, Intel's president and chief operating officer.

Code-named LaGrande Technology, the features will create a "vault" in which data is safely stored and processed. Intel also will secure the pathways within the computer, such as between the vault and the display or keyboard.

"It's a new level of safer computing," Otellini said during a keynote address.

The company did not release many details about LaGrande but said it will work in conjunction with other hardware and software-based security efforts such as Microsoft Corp.'s Palladium.

Such technologies will not only keep hackers and viruses from infiltrating data stored or being processed on a computer but also could lock music or video files onto a particular computer, preventing unauthorized sharing.

In other developments at the conference, Intel said it will soon start selling Pentium 4 processors with a new technology that effectively tricks software into thinking it is running on two processors instead of one.

The technology, called "hyper-threading," is already in production in processors used in servers. Otellini said it will be included in Pentium 4s running at 3 gigahertz by the end of the year.

Intel also said it will continue to boost the speed of its processors. During one demonstration, a Pentium 4 set a new speed record - 4.7 GHz.

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• Did you know: 77% of Canadian households witn an income of $100,000 are online?
• Did you know: Over 1 in every 4 Canadians have made purchases online?
• Did you know: Canadians often type in ".ca" before they type in ".com"?
• Did you know: .ca is Canada's national domain extension?

Fact: 9 out of the top 10 Web Properties in the United States own their .ca domain name.

If you would like your business to expand into Canada, own your own .ca domain name! 3W can help you.

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Florida Technology Week

Governor Jeb Bush recently pronounced September 16-20 as Florida Technology Week. 3W Studios is marking the event by supporting the Florida Government Technology Conference for a second year. The conference web site (www.fgtc.com), including online registration processes, was developed and is hosted by 3W Studios.

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$ Marketing News - Study Details Impact of Web Ads On Business Execs

Internet Now Preferred Medium for Reaching Decision Makers

By Tobi Elkin

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- The Internet is the preferred and most effective form of media for advertisers trying to target business decision-makers, according to a survey.

The research, conducted online by Nielsen/NetRatings' @plan and Minnesota Opinion Research, in conjunction with washingtonpost.com, surveyed nearly 1,000 business decision-makers and found that 60% of those polled said the Web is the best way for advertisers to reach them. Nearly 50% of participants said the Web has influenced them to make a purchase or obtain a service for their business, and 50% of the respondents who increased their Web usage in the last year said they decreased TV viewing.

Web trumps other media

Other traditional media were also affected, the study found: 47% of those polled decreased their newspaper readership; 45% magazine readership; and 18% decreased radio listenership. Of those polled, 77% said the Web is the place they find out about new products and companies.

Excluding e-mail, 92% of respondents said they read general news during the workday; 45% read financial news and checked stocks. Research conducted earlier this year by Forbes.com and also by the Online Publishers Association revealed similar findings about the growing importance of Internet media to business decision-makers. The new survey goes a step further by examining Internet usage across diverse disciplines ranging from human resources and legal to marketing and business consulting professionals.

Finding them at work

The survey also found that Internet advertising hits business decision-makers at a crucial time: when they are at work. "[Business decision-makers] are focused on the task at hand, so that when ads are served to them they're engaged," said Chris Schroeder, CEO-publisher of Washington Post/Newsweek Interactive. "If I'm an advertiser, I want the business decision-makers when they're engaged and making decisions." For Mr. Schroeder, the Web essentially becomes an influencing tool.

"[Internet] content serves a task or business decision" and is not a "discrete activity," said Chris Charron, research director, Forrester Research. "It's a strategic and tactical need" that drives business decision-makers to the Web for information to support key decisions.

29% of online audience

Business decision-makers comprise 29% of the total Web audience, and their online media consumption habits may have implications for all consumers.

"I think it's happening across the board. ... Consumers use the Web to plan their day, vacation and so forth," Mr. Schroeder said.

"Consumers looking to buy a flat-screen TV are looking for a review of the product" so they go to the Web, Mr. Charron said.

"Consumers are also much more strategic about how they use the Web." With this in mind media companies, Mr. Charron added, will "have to rethink the way they create, package and deliver content. That's the bottom line."

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