Newspaper to begin testing electronic-paper technology
A Belgian financial newspaper, De Tijd, has started testing versions of electronic paper, a device with low-power digital screens embedded with digital ink – millions of microscopic capsules the width of a human hair made with organic material that display light or dark images in response to electrical charges.
Other e-paper trials are being undertaken by the Paris paper Les Echos, by the newspaper trade group IFRA in Germany and, in the United States, by The New York Times.
Sony will introduce its version of an e-reader with the microcapsule technology this year. The devices, which will be able to download books, newspapers and podcasts, are expected to cost about $400.
The screens on the new hardware are made to reflect rather than transmit light, making them more like paper. The devices are lightweight at 13 ounces.
IRVINE, Calif.
U.S. foreclosures rise sharply in 1st quarter
RealtyTrac, an online provider of foreclosure data, reports that foreclosures nationally jumped 72 percent during the first quarter 2006 compared to the same period a year ago. During the quarter, 323,102 properties nationwide entered some stage of foreclosure.
Colorado reported a total of 13,267 properties in some stage of foreclosure in the first quarter, a 96 percent increase from the first quarter of 2005.
DENVER
Wisper keeps quiet on wireless purchases
Denver-based Wisper Telecommunications is negotiating to buy four smaller wireless Internet service providers, president Barry Pier said Monday.
WisperTel made a deal with Silicon Valley Bank for a $700,000 line of credit to help finance the purchase plan, said Pier, who declined to name the companies or what they might cost.
WisperTel has about 3,000 customers. It also offers Internet calling service.
WASHINGTON,D.C.
3-month T-bill rates hit five-year high
Interest rates on three-month Treasury bills hit the highest level in more than five years Monday, while rates on six-month bills declined.
The Treasury Department auctioned $14 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 4.635 percent, up from 4.6 percent last week. Another $13 billion in six-month bills was auctioned at a discount rate of 4.735 percent, down from 4.75 percent last week.
DENVER
Tourism fund passes Senate
The state Senate on Monday approved House Bill 1201, which would send more than $19 million annually into the state’s tourism-promotion fund and $1.5 million to the Council on the Arts out of state gaming taxes. The bill now will likely go to a conference committee to reconcile House and Senate versions, said Rep. Tom Plant, D-Nederland, co-sponsor of the bill.
SHANGHAI
First Data expands services in China
First Data International announced Monday it signed a VisionPlus processing agreement with Cetelem in China. First Data will provide credit card and unsecured lending processing services to Cetelem’s clients in China including China Unionpay cards, Visa and MasterCard services and unsecured and installment loans.
NEW YORK
Cendant may sell off Orbitz, CheapTickets
Cendant Corp. announced Monday it would consider a sale of its Travel Distribution Services division to an outside buyer. The company had earlier said it planned to spin off the division, which includes Orbitz.com and CheapTickets.com, to shareholders in October, but several potential buyers expressed interest in purchasing it.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Feds issue terror alert to small-plane owners
The federal government is asking private jet owners and airports to boost security after a message posted in Arabic on a Web forum last week urged Muslims to destroy Gulf Stream, Lear Jet, and other small aircraft. The Transportation Security Administration issued a security advisory that said the posting explained how to identify U.S. airplanes and revealed the tail number of a plane allegedly used by the CIA.
DENVER
Venture dollars down while total deals climb
Venture capital firms invested $132.3 million in 21 Colorado firms during the first quarter of the year, according to the Money Tree Report released Monday by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Thomson Venture, and the National Venture Capital Association. Software firms garnered the largest share of the venture dollars – $59.8 million spread across nine deals.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
Former LendingTree executive indicted
David Anderson, a former senior vice president with LendingTree Inc., has been indicted on federal charges of insider trading related to USA Interactive’s purchase of the financial services company in 2003.
The indictment alleges Anderson improperly disclosed information to others that caused them to purchase thousands of shares of LendingTree stock and options between April 30 and May 5, 2003.
PHILADELPHIA
Comcast to rename OLN sports network
Comcast Corp., the world’s largest cable-television provider, is changing the name of its OLN sports network to Versus in September as the next National Hockey League regular season begins. Versus better represents the network’s focus on competition, Stamford, Conn.,- based OLN said in a statement Monday.
NEW YORK
Mavericks owner gets satellite radio show
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is getting his own two-hour weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., adding an outspoken personality to a stable of hosts that includes shock jock Howard Stern.
Cuban, who drew the ire of Commissioner David Stern for saying the Kobe Bryant rape case would bolster the league’s popularity, will host a weekly talk show this summer.
DENVER
Cimarex reports oil, gas production up
Cimarex Energy Co., the Denver-based petroleum company, announced Monday that oil and gas production volumes jumped 91 percent in the first quarter.
