When Google announced that it would test a free Web-based e-mail service that offered users vastly more storage space than its rivals, it included a twist--the ads that users see when they read their mail would be related to the subject mentioned in the email. So if your friend sends you an email about his vacation, you will see text ads for beach resorts. If someone writes to you about a new digital camera, photography ads will appear. Google will not display ads on e-mail messages with words related to sex, guns, drugs and other topics it considers off limits. Google will not show any ads on Gmail for dating sites, one of the most lucrative categories for other Web-based e-mail services. And it will not even show ads related to squirt guns. Gmail is available by invitation only, but the company says it hopes to introduce it to the public by the end of the year.

British defense contractor BAE Systems has developed a stealth wallpaper designed to stop electronic eavesdropping on Wi-Fi networks. These panels prevent outsiders from listening in on the Wi-Fi traffic but let other traffic through, including radio and mobile phone signals. They are made in the same way as printed circuit boards, with layers of copper on Kapton polymer, materials also used in stealth bombers and fighter jets. The panels come in two varieties: passive, which is permanently turned on, and active, where various areas can be switched on and off to enlarge or limit the area of the network; the panels can be applied to most surfaces, including glass.

Web sites maintained by government institutions are getting better each year, a trend that roughly mirrors the increased level of investment governments are making in the various channels constituents use to interact with public agencies. The growing level of satisfaction was noted in the latest findings of the American Customer Satisfaction Index which showed a significant improvement in the quality of e-government over the past nine months. Conversely, though, it also reports that there continues to be a very wide disparity among agencies and types of sites in terms of how well they deliver overall user satisfaction. The Department of State's student site and the Federal Aviation Administration’s main site improved the most, according to the study; the Office of Personnel Management's main government-recruiting site, USAJobs, and the Department of State's careers site also showed strong improvement.

Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM) is continuing the proliferation of its BlackBerry wireless platform, announcing a new partnership with Novell Inc. and an expansion of its relationship with Vodafone Group PLC.

Both deals aim to net more enterprise customers for the company, which is already seeing strong demand for its BlackBerry wireless e-mail devices. The company reported that it gained over 200,000 new subscribers last quarter, for a total of over 1 million subscribers. RIM hopes to grow this number by adding support for Novell's GroupWise 6.5 collaboration and communication software to its forthcoming BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.0, due out later this year. The partnership will offer companies using GroupWise the ability to perform a managed rollout of BlackBerry devices, which allow users to access their e-mail and other corporate data wirelessly. BlackBerry Enterprise Server already integrates with the Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Domino platforms.

The California Secretary of State's office published an eight-page summary of guidelines for adding a paper trail to electronic voting machines, a system required in all direct recording electronic voting machines in the state by July 1, 2006. The system would require that touchscreen voting machines print out a paper receipt that the voter could see but not touch. The receipt would be stored in case a recount is necessary, and designates the paper copy as the official vote of record.

PROCUREMENT AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The following is a listing of recently published technology procurement or Federally funded opportunities with various governmental entities. We hope our readers take the opportunity to investigate these postings and increase their business :

USA - U. S. Army Materiel Command
US Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Corporate Management / Acquisition Center A--Research and development. Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/USA/USAMC/DAAE07/W56HZV04R0681/listing.html

USAF - Air Force Materiel Command
Hill AFB OO-ALC
A -- Sources Sought - ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATING ACCELEROMETER (ATIA)
Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/OOALC/FA8204%2D04%2DR%2D68815/listing.html

DISA - Acquisition Directorate
DITCO-Scott
D--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DISA/D4AD/DITCO/VARIOUS%2D21%2DJun%2D2004/listing.html

ODA - Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
D -- Server & Network Components
Combine Synopsis/Solicitation
http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DTRA/DTRA01/BDT040000668/listing.html

DON - Naval Supply Systems Command
FISC NORFOLK DETACHMENT PHILADELPHIA
R -- Technical Services to support Fleet Assistance and Shipboard Training Amendment 01
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSUP/FISCDETPHILA/N00140%2D04%2DR%2D0011/
listing.html

DHS-DR -Office of the Chief Procurement Officer
Office of Procurement Operations
D -- Request for Information to support the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Office of the Chief Information Officer Modernization Initiative Request for Information 01, Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/DHS%2DDR/OCPO/DHS%2DOCPO/Reference%2DNumber%
2DHSHQPA%2D04%2DRFI%2D00001/listing.html

Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA invites applications for funding under the Value-Added Producer Grant program. Support is available for (1) planning activities needed to establish a viable value-added marketing opportunity for an agricultural product and (2) acquiring working capital to operate a value-added business venture that will allow producers to better compete in domestic and international markets. Approximately $13.2 million is expected to be available for 78 awards of up to $500,000; required matching funds must be at east equal to the amount of grant funds requested. Applicants must qualify as an independent producer, agricultural producer group, farmer or rancher cooperative, or majority-controlled producer-based business venture. Applications are due July 30, 2004. Moe information is available at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422 /06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-13392.htm