Eircom has signed a EUR10 million deal with Tesco Ireland that will see the telecoms firm roll out a next-generation network for the retailer.

As part of the five-year deal Eircom will implement the next-generation network, which is based on its MPLS (multi protocol label switching) platform — Business IP — across Tesco’s 110 retail and distribution sites around the country. The network will also connect all these sites with Tesco Ireland’s head office and will integrate with the retailer’s global IP platform in the UK.

Eircom will also be the exclusive supplier of data and voice telecommunications services to Tesco and will move the retailer’s existing systems onto a single IP network.

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The 8GB iPhone is being sold for €100 less around O2 stores in Ireland today as part of a promotional campaign which runs until 25 May.

“The special offer is designed to create additional momentum for the device beyond what has been a very successful launch period and to expand its reach by making it available to an even greater number of customers for a limited time.”

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Microsoft on Tuesday resumed the availability of Windows XP SP3 at its website. Last week, the company pulled the update from its public servers due to some compatibility issues; it delayed the general release of Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), due to a last-minute discovered incompatibility. The update, released to manufacturing two weeks ago, was expected to be generally available on April 29th and later in early Summer as an automatic update. Microsoft said it is now offering “hotfix” for the compatibility issues with its Dynamics Retail Management System, which it says should be installed first.

This third official XP service pack includes all previously released Windows XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes, and select out-of-band releases as well as new functionality such as Network Access Protection (NAP), an update of Windows Product Activation, and security improvements such as improved black hole router detection (those that are silently discarding packets).

The update is available via the Windows Update as a 67MB or as a direct download.

The Irish IT industry is producing more vacancies than qualified IT professionals can fill, according to a recent survey on industry salary levels carried out by Dublin-based Sigmar Recruitment. This shortfall of IT professionals is making Ireland an ideal location for qualified individuals coming from other countries within the European Union, said Barry Rudden, associate director with Sigmar Recruitment.

So while many jobs in the Irish tech industry based around manufacturing and call centres have moved towards economies with lower production and wage costs, including areas of eastern Europe and Asia, Sigmar said its research shows that “there is a continuous, steady increase in more high-value, highly skilled roles being brought into Ireland.”

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Microsoft has said it is delaying the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 because of a newly uncovered glitch.

The software maker said there is a “compatibility issue” between the XP service pack and Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, a retail chain management program for SMEs. Microsoft advised those running Microsoft Dynamics RMS to not install either service pack. The company said a “fix is currently in testing and will be available as soon as that process is complete”.

Telecoms provider Imagine have snapped up Irish Broadband in an overall cash and shares deal valued at EUR47 million. According to Imagine, the acquisition of Irish Broadband pushes the value of the group up to EUR187 million. The deal gives Imagine even greater reach into the Irish telecoms market, with the company claiming a 12 percent share of the SME market with 15,000 business customers, a 10 percent share of the broadband market with more than 80,000 customers, and 115,000 residential phone customers — 5 percent of the market.

The move is strategic one for Imagine, which will gain substantial network and spectrum assets. It could also mean relief for potential broadband customers. The acquisition of Irish Broadband’s wireless network could allow Imagine to become more flexible and offer services to many areas.

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Workers at Dell’s Cherrywood operation in Dublin this lunchtime received the unwelcome news that 250 permanent jobs are to be axed over the next nine months. The compulsory redundancies will primarily affect Dell’s Cherrywood operations. However, it is understood that approximately a quarter of the jobs to be cut will be at Dell’s Limerick operations.

A spokesperson for the company told siliconrepublic.com that the job losses have occurred due to “an EMEA-wide re-organisation to improve competitive advantage and long-term profitability.”

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