FPT signs agreement with software giant Microsoft

The Vietnamese telecommunications and technology giant, FPT, signed an agreement with Microsoft on Thursday to allow the use of Microsoft based solutions such as Windows Server and Microsoft Office.

The agreement aims to support FPT's internet and intranet hosting capabilities, databases, enterprise-scale messaging and similar functions.

The US software giant will provide support in dealing with technical issues and allow the Vietnamese group to update new versions of its products for free.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, FPT general director Bui Quang Ngoc said that advanced technology application in production and business was crucial for enterprises, especially in the period of economic slowdown and intense competition.

More provinces get free internet access sites

Up to 665 free public internet access points became operational in 16 provinces on November 23 under phase two of a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

The benefited localities include three provinces in the northern mountainous region, four in the Central Highlands of Tay Nguyen, four in the central region and five in the southern region.

The 50 million USD project installed more than 4,600 sets of computers and internet access devices at local libraries and post offices.

The public access points have also been equipped with other supporting devices such as printers, projectors and headphones to benefit users.

The BMGF’s “Improvement of Computer Usage and Public Internet Access Ability in Vietnam ” project is being carried out by the Ministry of Information and Communications from 2011 to 2016.

Phone-app programmers to test their skills

Phone application programmers are being invited to register before November 30 for a competition that tests their app-development skills for the Windows Phone 8.

Organised by the Centre for the Development of Information and Technology in partnership with Nokia, Vserv and Microsoft, the competition aims to enhance knowledge and practical experience amongst students and programming aficionados.

Participants are required to upload their applications to the Windows Phone Store before December 24.

The organising committee will monitor the number of downloads from the store that each application attracts between December 25 and January 24, 2014, and will assign scores to each of the applications.

Botnets, viruses flagged as chief security risks

Check Point Software Technologies introduced its new Check Point R77 programme delivering ThreatCloud Emulation services yesterday at the Viet Nam Information Security Conference.

The service provides solutions through fast checks and detection, and blocks dangerous spyware from attached files and websites.

The Check Point 2013 Security Report said that botnet infections, the Anonymiser virus and data loss were the main risks for computerised organisations in 2013.

The Anonymiser application was detected in 43 per cent of surveyed organisations, and 63 per cent of organisations were infected with botnets.

Bkav introduces free software store online

Users will be able to access a range of free software synthesised by Viet Nam's leading security corporation Bkav in a single store from November 18.

The free-of-charge software includes popular browsers such as Internet Explorer 9 and Google Chrome, plus administration tools like Teamviewer and FreeMind.

Available applications have undergone tight security checks by Bkav to ensure user safety when downloading.

The website www.khophanmem.vn is designed for both PC and mobile internet access.

Nguyen Tu Hoang, vice director of Bkav software section, said: "The free software store aggregates free and essential software, allowing users to download them safely."

Can Tho starts construction of RoK-funded hi-tech centre

The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho started construction of a hi-tech scientific research centre funded by the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s government in Tra Noc industrial zone on November 23.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh said the project, within the framework of Vietnam-RoK cooperation on nuclear power, energy and industry, aims to support Vietnamese businesses to access and improve technology for farm and aquatic product processing.

It is also expected to promote investment attraction and economic development in Can Tho and other regional localities, he added.

The project, covering 11,000 sq.m, is scheduled to be completed in 2014 and put into trial operation in 2015.

RoK experts have been sent to Can Tho to assist in equipment installation and technology transfer, while the Vietnamese city has sent its staff to the RoK to learn more about how to manage and operate the facility.

The project is part of the agreements signed between the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade and the RoK Ministry of Knowledge Economy in March 2012.

Under the terms of the deal, priorities are given to farm and aquatic product processing, machinery manufacturing, biological technology, IT, chemicals, clean technology and shipbuilding in Can Tho city.

The centre is expected to help small- and medium-sized enterprises in the city overcome their weaknesses, such as backward technology, weak administration capacity and shortage of hi-tech staff, and create conditions for them to attract more foreign investors, especially those from the RoK, in the time to come.-

RoK helps VN develop auxiliary, atomic industries

Technologies were transferred from the Republic of Korea to Vietnamese organisations and companies on November 22 during the Korea-Vietnam Materials and Components Technology Transfer Seminar in Hanoi.

Since May 2011, the two countries have been co-operating in industry development and energy resources, including atomic energy, auxilliary industries, a 17 million USD industrial technology incubator park in Can Tho and human resources development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the park on November 23.

This year, the RoK Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MoTIE) and Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation in the auxiliary sector.

The technologies focus on electrical and electronics, automotive, machinery and textiles. The Korean counterparts surveyed 100 Vietnamese companies to discover which technologies were most in demand.

Kim Sun Min, director of MoTIE's Materials and Components Policy Division, said the RoK would help Vietnam train 280 people on short-term (two-week) and long term (five-year) courses.

The long-term courses are set for mechanical and electronic engineering training, while the short-term ones aim at industrial technology policies for officials from MoIT.

In addition, both ministries have agreed to host joint research and development programmes for materials and components with an annual budget of 942,400 USD.

"This event will open up more co-operation opportunities in the auxiliary industry for both sides," Kim said. "I hope it will contribute to the development of the sector in your country."

Vietnam had the resources and potential to develop the auxiliary industry, he added.

Nguyen Huy Hoan, deputy director of MoIT's Department of Science and Technology, said: "The transfer of the RoK technologies will help Vietnamese enterprises to enhance competitiveness, which in turn will attract more foreign direct investment and boost the economy”.-