Dell unveils computer-recycling programme
San Francisco: Dell Computer has launched a recycling campaign aimed at businesses and consumers. America's largest computer maker will charge consumers $49 to dispose of computers safely, without dumping hazardous materials in landfills in the US or in developing countries. As part of an "Asset Recovery" program, Dell executives on Thursdaay reiterated their promise to stop using prison labour to recycle computers, which contain dangerous, brain-damaging chemicals. Until last week, Dell shipped used computers to UNICOR, a self-sustaining corporation that uses prison labourers, part of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Washington-based UNICOR employs 1,100 convicts in recycling, paying them 20 cents to $1.26 per hour.Kate Krebs, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition, said she was "thrilled" with Dell's program, which includes a Web site where customers can sign up and pay for recycling."We view this as a perfect step to help customers fulfill their environmental obligations in a simple, affordable manner," Krebs said yesterday during Dell's telephone conference.
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US, UK majors take the largest slice in Iraq oil tender
London: US and UK-based oil majors have taken the lion's share of Iraq's second post-Saddam crude oil sell tender, companies and Iraqi officials said on Wednesday, agency reports said. A Royal Dutch/Shell spokesman told reporters that the major had been awarded two million barrels of Basra Light crude in the tender, which closed on Monday, joining US ChevronTexaco and BP, who both confirmed winning earlier. The fourth cargo went to Swiss-based trading house Taurus, the first trader to win a cargo since the US invasion. Baghdad had expressed a preference for refiners in the tender. An official at Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) confirmed the four winners but declined to give any further details. It is the first time the British companies have been awarded Iraqi crude since the US-led invasion. ChevronTexaco won its first Basra Light cargo in the previous tender. Six million barrels of the crude are bound for US shores, two-thirds of that to the West Coast, while Shell is likely to take its cargo into northwest Europe, market sources say. Taurus will load the first cargo on July 10, followed by BP around July 13, Chevron in the July 20-25 window and Shell on July 26-28, they added.On Tuesday sources indicated that Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras, a frequent direct buyer of Iraqi crude under the old U.N. system, had won the fourth cargo, but that stem now appears to have been awarded to Shell. Iraq tendered to sell eight million barrels.
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Sony foresees shock risk in certain Vaio laptops
San Francisco: Sony Corp on Wednesday said that some of 3,000 laptop computers it shipped to the United States could pose the risk of a small electric shock to users in rare instances. The laptop affected is the Sony Vaio FRV, a mid-range model that starts at $1,500, said Mary McEvoy, a spokeswoman for Sony. The number of laptops that pose the problem is greater in Japan, but no precise figures were available, she said, adding that the problem is related to the laptop's modem. A user can receive a static-electricity-like shock if "you have connected your PC (laptop) to external power, you have disabled your phone line, (while) simultaneously being connected to a grounded peripheral, and you are touching a metal part of the PC, and your phone rings," McEvoy said. There have been no injuries, McEvoy said, adding that fewer than 10 complaints have been made. Registered customers will be notified by e-mail and a notice will perhaps be posted on Sony's support section of its Website, McEvoy said.
Modifications to correct the problem will be covered under warranty, and Sony will arrange to have the laptops picked up and shipped at Sony's expense, McEvoy said. "This is a voluntary request for return of product for immediate repair," McEvoy said.
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MSN to expand marketing links with eBay
New York: Microsoft Corp said on Thursday its Internet service, MSN, will broaden its e-commerce alliance with eBay by adding direct links to eBay and showcasing the online auctioneer's advertising. Customers of MSN will see links to eBay to buy items they have searched for on various MSN services, Microsoft said. MSN will also weave eBay's advertising throughout more of its network. The two companies plan to intergrate their offerings further later this year, Microsoft said.
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