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The improved SpamGuard introduced by Yahoo Tuesday could block up to 40 percent more unwanted email than the old version, the company claims. Spam has become one of the biggest issues for email service providers, including America Online and Microsoft’s MSN, with customers consistently ranking it as their No. 1 complaint. Yahoo says that a link it launched last August allowing users to identify spam helped with the production of the new SpamGuard. The tool automatically casts spam into a separate bulk folder that’s easily emptied. The company says that five times more spam was detected last month versus February 2002 thanks to the improved technology. New capabilities for Yahoo users include the ability to block up to 100 addresses and employ up to 15 filters. In a release introducing the new product, Yahoo reaffirmed its support for anti-spam legislation that’s becoming quite popular among state governments. Last week Minnesota passed an anti-spam bill; Texas has one under consideration. Twenty-five states have passed or are considering such measures.
Yikes! Feds says AOL may be in even deeper
America Online may be in more trouble than it originally thought. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), already investigating the internet service provider for accounting irregularities, has reportedly widened its probe. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that federal investigators suspect AOL and two former executives of aiding and abetting efforts by other firms to artificially inflate revenues. Those involved in such scams could be held accountable not only for AOL’s creative accounting but also for the financial creativity of the other firms, including Homestore. America Online restated earnings for a 24-month period last year after learning of potential problems. The company has cooperated fully with the investigators, who will likely charge AOL with civil sanctions. Justice Department officials also have been eyeing AOL.
New: Get face time while you chat with MSN IM
Microsoft has added face to its interface program. The new MSN Messenger 5.0 has webcam capabilities, allowing instant messengers to communicate via streaming live video. Hosted by Logitech, the video streams will have a resolution of three to five frames per second for 56K modems and 15 frames per second for broadband. Instant messaging is one of the most competitive markets for internet service providers right now. Microsoft recently began targeting IM capabilities to businesses. Last week’s Greenwich launch, for example, allows secure IM exchanges behind a corporate firewall. Microsoft did include an OS-based IM service with the 2001 Windows XP system, which included video conferencing capabilities via Windows Messenger. Yahoo also offers a webcam application, a high-speed version that transmits at 20 frames per second. The world’s most popular free IM service, America Online’s AIM, does not have video service.
Profs take the guesswork out of March Madness
Wish you could get a head start on filling out your NCAA bracket for the office pool? A pair of professors from University of North Florida and Mercer University claim to have figured out a formula to predict which 65 teams will be invited to the men’s basketball tournament that begins next week. While a certain number of teams earn automatic bids by winning their conference tournament, many others worry until the Sunday deadline whether they will make it in or not. The Dance Card, as the professors call it, eliminates the guess work. They say that by using software from a North Carolina company, their formula predicts the at-large teams with a high degree of accuracy. Last year UNF’s Jay Coleman and Mercer’s Allen Lynch used the Dance Card to correctly predict 63 of the 65 teams, missing Wyoming and Missouri. Missouri also tripped them up in 2001, the Dance Card’s debut year, when 64 of 65 teams were correctly projected. Coleman and Lynch hope that this year will be the first 65 for 65 Dance Card.
Company makes Sirius bid to overtake XM Radio
Satellite radio provider Sirius has introduced two new services. One provides live coverage of NBA games, similar in concept to the webcasts that have long been available for individual teams. Broadcasts have already begun. Another is the service’s first all-gay and lesbian station, which will launch next month. Sirius’ president said Tuesday that his company is closing the technology gap with competitor XM Radio. Not surprisingly, XM also holds a subscriber edge. Sirius hopes to reach 300,000 subscribers by the end of the year. Though the company has struggled financially, a recent $1.2 billion recapitalization should give it enough to stay in business through mid-2004.
March 13, 2003© 2003 Media Life
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