Richard Maven

Richard Maven helps run the E-consultancy blog as well as contributing to our Buyer’s Guides and other reports. He’s 29 and has several years’ experience in the telecoms/media/ecommerce space, both in the UK and the Middle East. You can contact him at richard@e-consultancy.com.

Web blamed as Powerhouse shuts shop

Administrators of electronics chain Powerhouse have blamed rising competition from e-tailers after the firm closed its UK stores yesterday.

"Internet retailers and increased competition on the high street, coupled with the ongoing deterioration in the UK electrical retail market, has led to Powerhouse being unable to sustain its position in the retail marketplace," BDO Stoy Hayward said in a statement.

by Richard Maven 04 August 2006 10:32am 0 comments

Kids to get online ID card

Manufacturers have launched a virtual ID card aimed at protecting children on the web.

Its makers hope the NetIDme system, which will cost £9.99-a-year, will reduce opportunities for paedophiles to hide their age when online.

by Richard Maven 03 August 2006 10:36am 2 comments

T-Mobile offers mobile internet access for £1 per day

T-Mobile has started offering its pre-pay customers web access from their mobiles for a maximum of £1 a day.

by Richard Maven 02 August 2006 15:39pm 1 comment

Wippit hits back over Apple's Coke deal

Coke’s announcement of a partnership with Apple’s iTunes yesterday has received a show of support from one unlikely source: Wippit, the UK’s second largest music download site.

An email sent out by the firm said it welcomed the Coke and iTunes promotion, arguing that it will drive more people to its service.

by Richard Maven 02 August 2006 15:41pm 1 comment

Search engines to form anti-click fraud alliance

Search engines including Google, Yahoo and MSN have teamed up with The US’ Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) to develop ways of better measuring click fraud, according to the Associated Press .

Set to be announced later today, the initiative will attempt to develop guidelines that would introduce more accountability into PPC advertising.

by Richard Maven 02 August 2006 14:15pm 1 comment

Online card payments rise in UK

More than 50% of UK adults made an online purchase with their credit or debit cards last year, according to new research .

Payments association Apacs says 25 million adults (52% of all adults and 74% of internet users) bought goods online during 2005, an 11% rise over the previous year.

by Richard Maven 01 August 2006 13:31pm 1 comment

Ex-BetonSports boss pleads not guilty

Former BetonSports chief executive David Carruthers pleaded not guilty in his illegal gambling trial yesterday.

The 48-year-old, arrested two weeks ago in Texas and subsequently fired by the web gaming firm, is now being held in custody until negotiations over his bail arrangements are complete.

by Richard Maven 01 August 2006 11:51am 0 comments

YouTube overtakes Myspace

YouTube has overtaken Myspace and risen to the top of the community website league, according to new research.

The study, compiled by internet analysts Alexa and covered in The Guardian, shows that the video-sharing portal has taken a 3.9% share of global internet visits a day, compared with 3.35% for News Corp’s social networking site.

by Richard Maven 01 August 2006 11:56am 1 comment