Robert Andrews

Le Web 3: France 'behind' in web commerce, culture

France is lagging behind in online innovation because the government has not created good enough conditions for entrepreneurs, according to French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy.

Staking out his e-commerce credentials in the 2007 presidential election race, Mr Sarkozy on Tuesday told 1,000 bloggers and web professionals France had come late to the internet party, and he painted a bleak picture.

by Robert Andrews 13 December 2006 11:26am 2 comments

Le Web 3: Mainstream bloggers sometimes need prompting

One in 10 posts on new blogging service Vox are the result of prompts from owner Six Apart.

Mena Trott, co-founder of the blogging software provider best known for Movable Type, told the Le Web 3 conference here in Paris that the new service's Question of the Day feature encouraged users to write blog posts when their creativity was running on empty.

by Robert Andrews 12 December 2006 16:44pm 0 comments

Le Web 3: Second Life firms 'not yet strong enough'

Despite a raft of headlines about its potential as a shopping environment in recent months, Second Life creator Linden Labs has conceded that few of its resident stores are yet making fortunes in the virtual world.

"Most of the brands that have come in have not created a strong enough presence to create a significant business for them at this moment in time," Linden Labs marketing director Glenn Fisher told the Le Web 3 conference in Paris this afternoon.

by Robert Andrews 12 December 2006 15:01pm 0 comments

Le Web 3: Open source reflects French election desire

A candidate in the French presidential race has proposed a social "revolution" founded on free, open source software.

Francois Bayrou, leader of the centrist Union for French Democracy (UDF), spoke of his appreciation for wikis and said he wants to create "a society based on shared culture, science and knowledge".

by Robert Andrews 12 December 2006 12:02pm 0 comments

Le Web 3: Israeli PM beckons startups for peace

Israeli vice premier Shimon Peres has told a gathering of internet entrepreneurs they can help bring peace to the Middle East using capitalism and innovation.

by Robert Andrews 12 December 2006 11:36am 0 comments

Le Web 3: Web 2.0 is overcrowded, says Index Ventures

Too many people are starting up Web 2.0 companies, according to the man who has funded the likes of Fon, Last.fm and Spot Runner.

Index Ventures UK partner Danny Rimer told the Le Web 3 conference here in Paris that there is room to innovate but because ideas are so easily replicated, creating an advantage is difficult.

by Robert Andrews 11 December 2006 12:20pm 0 comments

Le Web 3: Web 2.0 stronger but vulnerable, Skype founder says

Skype founder Niklas Zennstrom has said the 'Web 2.0' phenomenon is built on more solid foundations than the first dotcom explosion - but a crash could be on the way.

Speaking to delegates at the Le Web 3 conference here in Paris today, Zennstrom said: "The big difference this time from six years ago is that we have the infrastructure built out now - in 2000, very few people had computers."

by Robert Andrews 11 December 2006 09:58am 1 comment

Tories weed out inner tosser with budget web spot

The UK's Conservative party has launched an online campaign against consumer debt, featuring an odious overspending character they dub "the inner tosser".

Created by Karmarama, the Sort-it website includes money-saving tips and a mini manifesto on fiscal responsibility. A short video features a flash, suited American encouraging an English shopper to overspend on consumer items from shoes to a sports car.

by Robert Andrews 23 November 2006 18:10pm 0 comments

YouTube views boost CBS ratings

US TV network CBS has attributed a boost in viewing figures to a content-sharing joint venture with YouTube.

The broadcaster announced its Late Show with David Letterman had added 200,000 new viewers (5%) and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson was up by 100,000 (7%) since it launched the CBS Brand Channel on the video website in mid-October.

by Robert Andrews 23 November 2006 11:20am 0 comments

BK markets flamers to gamers

Fast-food chain Burger King has begun selling BK-branded video games along with its burgers and fries, in an effort to build customer loyalty through digital entertainment.

Three titles for Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles will sell for $3.99 each with Value Meals purchased at US restaurants.

by Robert Andrews 23 November 2006 11:21am 1 comment