Playford Capital’s new investment manager, Shane Cheek, a keen kayaker, believes that South Australia is ideally placed to capitalise on global demand for clean technology innovation, especially in the area of water management.

Shane, who joined Playford from the Australian Institute for Commercialisation (AIC), said the “clean tech sector” was an emerging investment area worldwide. “SA has a competitive advantage in this area, especially through companies developing technology in the water management field,” he said.

“Playford Capital already has an investment in this sector, through Waterfind, but the opportunity is much broader as clean technology covers a broad range of solutions that provide both commercial and environmental benefits including renewable energy, recycling and waste and low emission technologies.  SA has a wide range of companies developing solutions in this space.  We can also draw on excellent research from our public research organisations.”

National broadband company Internode now offers ADSL2+ broadband services from more than 100 telephone exchanges where its own DSLAM equipment is installed.

As well as delivering national coverage with first generation ADSL broadband, Internode provides high-speed ADSL2+ Internet access services at 106 exchange service areas in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA and Tasmania. Internode also has more than 50 more exchanges on its ADSL2+ rollout schedule. The locations of Internode’s DSLAM-equipped exchanges are:

•     NSW              21
•     VIC               12
•     QLD              10
•     WA                 3
•     ACT              13
•     TAS                2
•     SA                45

Through a network agreement with Optus Wholesale, Internode also offers "Naked ADSL2+" services at 350 exchanges nationally, delivering high speed ADSL2+ broadband over a dial tone-free phone line.

Internode managing director Simon Hackett said Internode was committed to providing customers with the best Internet access experience possible. “With our ADSL2+, ADSL1 and Naked ADSL2+ services, we provide customers with a great range of options for Internet access,” he said.

Empower Masterpay has extended the opportunity for corporate collaboration with its new owner, Jade Software, by establishing a shared office in Melbourne.

Located on Level 12 at 468 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, the new office is double the size of Empower’s previous premises, containing two boardrooms and sweeping views of Albert Park Lake. Conveniently, Empower’s Melbourne phone numbers remain the same.

In October last year, Empower Masterpay was acquired by Jade Software from New Zealand, giving it access to the resources and perspective of a dynamic multinational group. While Empower has continued to operate as a standalone organisation, it has sought to leverage the Jade relationship.

The shared office provides accommodation for 12 people from Jade Software and eight people from Empower. As well as an attractive area for staff activities and customer entertainment, the building has plentiful parking, both at street level and in nearby carparks.

Adelaide-based website host Alltraders has embraced the latest iteration of the Joomla! content management system, Version 1.5, to provide its customers with the most up-to-date web technology.

After more than two years of redevelopment by the global Open Source community, Joomla! 1.5 ushers in a new era for the software, with its code base rebuilt into a carefully organised, object-oriented framework.

Most obviously, the user interface is completely renovated to make it easier on the eye and easier to use. Joomla! 1.5 also simplifies life for website designers by allowing meticulous control over core markup as well as a  new template configuration interface. 

Alltraders director Michael O'Loughlin said Joomla 1.5 was a major step forward for the website content management system. "Joomla! has always been easy to use, but early version templates were a bit old-fashioned looking," he said.

"Version 1.5 adds real pizzazz to the look and feel of Joomla!-based websites. More importantly, the site management tools are simplified and the underlying software is totally redeveloped. We think the value offered by Joomla! 1.5 is undeniable, so we are suggesting it to all new customers and supporting existing customers to examine upgrading their sites to Joomla! 1.5 technology."

Alltraders is the trading name for State Web Services Pty Ltd. For more information about Joomla 1.5, visit www.alltraders.com  

In a market where a computer can cost less than the sum of its parts, JOHN HARRIS offers some rules of thumb to help you chooe a good computer.