Packt is pleased to announce a new book “SOA Approach to Integration” which shows how to define SOA integration architecture, what technologies to use, and how to best integrate existing applications with modern e-business solutions.

Of all of the industies deploying Linux and open source software, financial services have been among the earliest adopters. But what do banks and brokerages see in these emerging alternatives besides possibly lower up-front costs?

The long-awaited release of the first service pack for Vista is now just around the corner. Software maker Microsoft is still planning a mid-March release of the update that is reputed to increase the security and stability of the operating system. But there have been challenges along the way.

People were already making a fuss about Nicholas’ claim that we’re working with Microsoft on supporting dual-boot with Windows XP, and now Bruce Perens writes a lachrymal — if entirely misinformed — missive about OLPC selling out to Microsoft.

In an unforseen move Microsoft has announced the release of the Windows 95, 98, Me and MS-DOS source code for today only. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said that "by releasing the code for these operating systems we are allowing software developers worldwide to create better applications for these systems".

Lakin Hospital, a long-term nursing facility operated by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, has adopted an open source electronic health record.

Sure, the low-cost computers developed by OLPC and Intel may look cute, but actually using one reveals a host of shortcomings. In the OLPC XO, software was complicated and buggy. For weeks neither my brilliant niece, nor her well educated parents, could figure out how to get it to connect online. The Intel Classmate was no miracle of modern design, either.

Want to be an Asterisk guru? Then sign up for the first bootcamp to be run by Asterisk gurus Connection Telecom. The five-day course costs a whopping R23 400 but if you can get your company to cover the fees the course will be well worth attending. Connection Telecom has been involved with Asterisk since it first broke onto the IT scene.