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Top 10 IT News Stories of the Week

IBM and energy efficiency, Apple and virtualization, Microsoft and SOA, Google search ratings hanky panky, and more...

November 02, 2007 — IDG News Service —

1. "IBM to Let Customers Sell Server Energy Savings on Carbon Markets,"
Computerworld, November 1

IBM customers will be able to document server energy savings and trade them on carbon markets for cash under a new program that initially targets mainframes. Eventually, IBM will expand the program to all of its server and storage lines. Under the program, customers could, for instance, consolidate distributed systems (so much for that IT trend) onto a mainframe for energy savings that will be calculated by Neuwing Energy Ventures, an independent company that verifies and trades energy efficiency certificates on carbon markets. Customers will also have the option of keeping the certificates as proofs of corporate responsibility.

2. "Apple to Allow Mac OS X Server Virtualization,"
Computerworld, November 2

The Apple server software license now permits users to run it in virtual machines. That loosening could indicate that Apple will set its sites on businesses, according to a company developing Mac virtualization software. The new licensing agreement allows OS X Server to run in VM if each VM has a different license and operates in an Apple machine. The change marks the first time Apple has permitted virtualization, according to Ben Rudolph of Parallels, which makes Parallels Desktop for Mac. The move gives Parallels and its rival VMWare the go ahead to enter the Mac virtualization market, he said.

3. "Google Denies Ranking Hanky-Panky,"
Infoworld, November 1

A screenshot of a Google search results list with dollar values noted at each link that is making the Internet rounds is a tool for the Adwords sales team to help prioritize efforts to acquire new customers. Google issued that explanation in response to Internet speculation that the spreadsheet indicates commercial considerations do play a role in search rankings. "We consider the objectivity of our search results to be paramount to our success and would never compromise that in any way," Google software engineer Matt Cutts said.

4. "Cisco to Have a Fifth of Its Top Executives in India,"
Infoworld, October 30

Cisco will have a fifth of its top executives in India by 2012, moving toward making the country a hub for technology development and emerging-markets business models. Sixty percent to 70 percent of Cisco's growth is expected from emerging markets, Chairman and CEO John Chambers said at the opening of a new center in Bangalore that will work with partners in the Middle East, Africa, China, Asia and Latin America. Senior vice presidents, vice presidents and directors across all corporate areas will be based in India as a way to nurture talent there. Overall, Cisco plans to have 10,000 employees in India by 2010. Its Globalisation Centre East Campus will grow from its current 900 workers to 3,500 by next October.