Cellular phones blew their chance at last week’s Wimbledon tennis championships. Russian teenager Maria Sharapova borrowed her father's cell phone to call Mom from Center Court with a worldwide television audience watching. The line umpires kept a stiff upper lip as Sharapova punched in the numbers just like any excitable teenager -- but the phone didn't work. "Come on technology," said a frustrated Sharapova. She explained that the connection kept shutting off and she then just put down the phone and accepted her trophy. Fans had been asked to turn off their cell phone during the tournament.

Coffee company Starbucks has added wireless service to 110 stores in five states ( Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Wisconsin), the company recently reported. That brings the total number of Starbucks stores offering hot-spot service to 3,100. The service allows customers to wirelessly access the Internet using Wi-Fi devices. Starbucks has been working with T-Mobile USA HotSpot to set up high-speed connections in its stores to support the wireless service. T-Mobile USA HotSpot customers visit Starbucks stores eight times per month and spend an average of one hour using the service, according to the companies. About 90 percent of connections to the service occur during off-peak store hours, or after 9 a.m.

The dramatic tightening of export regulations, included in the National Defense Authorization Act, could have a devastating impact on the computer industry. "It would bring exports to a grinding halt," said Dan Hoydish, director of trade, public policy and government affairs for Unisys and chairman of the Computer Coalition for Responsible Exports, a trade group that counts many major technology companies as members. Today, computer sellers are required to get a license to export any computer with performance equal to or greater than a system with 32 Intel Itanium processors. The current version of the defense authorization act would lower that limit to systems deemed "militarily critical" by the Department of Defense. That level is currently set to the equivalent of a computer using a Pentium 3 processor running at 650MHz, state of the art in 1999 but considered feeble today. Moreover, the proposed rules would apply to exports destined for any country, including U.S. allies. A congressional staff member familiar with the House and Senate bills said it's likely Section 1404 will be changed or dropped.

Computer security experts warned this week of another new Internet threat that can steal the passwords and account information of people who bank online. Users can pick up the latest bug, which doesn't yet have a name, from pop-up ads that secretly download software capable of capturing their keystrokes. The pop-ups originate at Web sites that receive their ads from certain online ad services, which apparently had themselves been hacked to spread the malicious code. The bug targets users of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. Experts said users can protect themselves from the bug by using a non-Microsoft browser or by using software to block pop-ups. Internet Explorer users are immune if they download and install a patch that was released in April. Internet Explorer users are also being advised to set the security setting for their browsers to "high," a level that makes it more difficult to interact with some Web sites. The bug apparently attempts to send the stolen information to a Web site based in Estonia. The bug is not widespread; the first instance was reported last Friday by the Internet Storm Center, a warning system established by an organization for computer security professionals called the SANS Institute.

E-COMMERCE RELATED EVENTS AND INFORMATION

The following are links to upcoming seminars and other events that our readers might have an interest in and/or other information related to e-commerce.

Kutztown SBDC Introduces its new E-Referral Network

The Kutztown Small Business Development Center introduces its latest feature, the E-Referral Network. The Referral Network represents the collective interest of its members by promoting, informing, and supporting small businesses in our service territory that conduct business to business enterprises.

The E-Referral Network is expected to grow significantly in the near future and will include thousands of B2B businesses. All B2B businesses are afforded the opportunity to list their business in our E- Referral Network. Join our E-Referral Network and search our database to find information on other small businesses in our service area.

Become a member of our Success Network and market your B2B goods and services in our coverage area consisting of nine counties ( Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks, Chester, Lancaster, York, Adams, Franklin, and Cumberland). KUSBDC's Success Network strives to promote, improve, inform and support B2B businesses. 1-877-4PA-SBDC (472-7232) post@kutztown.edu
http://www.kutztownsbdc.org

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:

The Department of the Air Force is soliciting proposals for funding under Technology for Agile Combat Support to develop technologies to improve flight line maintenance. Technologies should take the form of computer-based job performance aids and logistics command and control, primarily in the form of information integration and human-factored displays to improve decision making. Approximately $8.1 million over fiscal years 2004-09 is expected to be available for one award. Eligibility is unrestricted. White papers are due July 8, 2004; proposals are due Aug. 16, 2004. More information is available at: http://www1.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLWRS/PRDA%2D04%2D07%2DHE/listing.html

The Department of the Army is soliciting proposals for experimental and theoretical development of quantum computers. Proposals are sought in four categories: (1) Quantum Computing Concept Maturation, (2) Short-Term, Innovative Concept, (3) Quantum Algorithm and (4) Quantum Computing Graduate Research Fellows. Each proposal should indicate how the proposed work conforms to or extends beyond the quantum computing roadmap, which is available at http://qist.lanl.gov. White papers are due Aug. 25, 2004; proposals are due Nov. 2, 2004. More information is available at: http://www1.eps.gov/spg/USA/USAMC/DAAD19/W911NF-04-R-0009/listing.html

The Department of the Army also will be soliciting proposals for Next Generation Software and Vetronics technologies. Requested technical engineering services include post-deployment software support, lifecycle software engineering support, and support of crew integration and automation testbed robotic follower technology. One contract award is anticipated. The solicitation is expected to be released on or about July 6, 2004, with proposals due Aug. 10, 2004. More information is available at: http://www1.eps.gov/spg/USA/USAMC/DAAE07/W56HZV04R0681/listing.html

DOT also is soliciting proposals for funding to support innovative small research projects for transportation planning. This may include new or improved planning applications; expanding planning applications to new audiences; or identifying and testing new channels for disseminating information and expertise. Four awards of up to $50,000 and having a project period of up to 12 months are anticipated. Organizations interested in partnering with the Federal Highway Administration should submit proposals by July 27, 2004. More information is available at: http://www1.eps.gov/spg/DOT/FHWA/OAM/DTFH61-04-RA-00004/listing.html

TREAS
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
National Office Procurement (OS:A:P)
D -- Consulting Services for Information technology services
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/TREAS/IRS/NOPAP/Reference%2DNumber%2DM4M10637A04/
listing.html

DOI
U. S. Geological Survey
U. S. Geological Survey
D--D-- Software Design and Implementation
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOI/USGS/USGS/04CRSS0017/listing.html

DOI
U. S. Geological Survey
U. S. Geological Survey
D--Telecommunication Services, High Speed connectivity to MAX, University of Maryland Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOI/USGS/USGS/04HQ16%2DNoSolicitation/listing.html

DISA
Acquisition Directorate
DITCO-Scott
D--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DISA/D4AD/DITCO/VARIOUS%2D06%2DJul%2D2004/listing.html

DISA
Acquisition Directorate
DITCO-Scott
D--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/DISA/D4AD/DITCO/VARIOUS%2D06%2DJul%2D2004/listing.html