SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- A slimmer, lighter PSP introduced at an E3 news conference here will list for the same $169.99 price as the current version, said Kaz Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) chief operating officer and president. SCE America (SCEA) expects “a smooth transition at retail” between the new PSP’s September arrival and phaseout of the old, a spokesman said.
Land Line Magazine reports that officials from the Transportation Security Administration have confirmed that the federal government is delaying implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) until fall. Enrollment for the program was originally to begin in March, and later in July, and now in the fall. TSA officials said that the TWIC delay was necessary to ensure the network behind the system is functional, secure, integrated, sustainable and does not interrupt the free flow of commerce. TSA officials added that they had tested employees for a prototypical TWIC enrollment process that included 4,000 applicants and took several weeks. (Land Line Magazine, dated 07/09/07, available at http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2007/Jul07/070907/070907-01.htm)
In April 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted to its Web site a notice announcing the phased enforcement of mandatory Automated Commercial Environment electronic manifest: Truck for advance cargo information purposes at all land border ports in New Hampshire and Vermont as well as the remaining land border ports in North Dakota - St. John, Fortuna, Ambrose, Carbury, Noonan, Dunseith, Sherwood, Antler, Northgate, Westhope, and Portal, beginning July 12, 2007.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted to its Web site both a brief and a detailed summary of the trade promotion agreement (another term for free trade agreement) with Colombia. The U.S.-Colombia TPA was signed in November 2006 and revised on June 28, 2007 to reflect the bipartisan consensus on trade reached in May 2007. (U.S.-Colombia TPA summaries, posted 07/06/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Colombia_FTA/Fact_Sheets/Section_Index.html)
VoIP companies hoping to win cost-conscious iPhone buyers last week pushed inexpensive global long-distance services sidestepping AT&T’s international plan. Jajah Inc. and Raketu Communications followed AT&T’s iPhone launch by pushing VoIP alternatives to AT&T’s World Connect service. AT&T adds $3.99 a month to users’ contracts for discounted per-minute rates, but callers to the U.K. still pay 8 cents a minute to dial a land line and 26 cents to a mobile number. Jajah and Raketu Web-based services charge less per minute with no monthly fee. To call the U.K., Jajah users pay 3 cents per minute to dial a land line and 18 cents for mobile, and Raketu users pay 1 cent and 12 cents. AT&T said it will not guarantee either long-distance option will work as well as the AT&T plan.
VoIP companies hoping to win cost-conscious iPhone buyers last week pushed inexpensive global long-distance services sidestepping AT&T’s international plan. Jajah Inc. and Raketu Communications followed AT&T’s iPhone launch by pushing VoIP alternatives to AT&T’s World Connect service. AT&T adds $3.99 a month to users’ contracts for discounted per-minute rates, but callers to the U.K. still pay 8 cents a minute to dial a land line and 26 cents to a mobile number. Jajah and Raketu Web- based services charge less per minute with no monthly fee. To call the U.K., Jajah users pay 3 cents per minute to dial a land line and 18 cents for mobile, and Raketu users pay 1 cent and 12 cents. AT&T said it will not guarantee either long-distance option will work as well as the AT&T plan.
The Tracer 3 data monitoring and GPS-assisted location tracking modem using Globalstar’s simplex data network is being made available by systems integrator Guardian Mobility, the companies said. The Tracer 3 can be encased in a weatherproof rugged enclosure and powered with external input batteries. A backup battery option is available enabling at least 2 years of operations when the device is disconnected from external power. Tracer 3 performs tracking functions on land like those Guardian Mobility’s Skytrax does for aviation, the companies said. The Tracer 3 can be used for remote monitoring and alarm applications with data such as location coordinates, status and sensor information sent directly to customers, they said. The onboard data logger can be used to analyze travel patterns and speeds, and the modem counters can be used to schedule maintenance cycles, they said.
The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have issued a proposed rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that would require a passport or other secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the U.S.
What could be the first infringement lawsuit concerning conduct in Second Life was filed in the U.S. District Court, Tampa, this week. Eros sells “virtual adult-themed objects” within Second Life, including SexGen code that purchasers can use to engage in sexually explicit actions with avatars on a virtual bed. The SexGen mark is awaiting Patent and Trademark Office consideration, an Eros filing said. The items, sold on a “no copy” basis in-world, can be transferred among users but not copied, similar to record labels’ terms with digital purchasers. An avatar known as Volkov Catteneo cracked the copy protection on Eros goods and has been selling the code to Second Life users in Georgia, West Virginia, Great Britain and other places, the complaint said. Eros wants Second Life owner Linden Lab to turn over information to help identify Catteneo’s creator. Linden probably has the person’s name, phone number, and e-mail, postal and IP addresses, activity logs and credit card information, considering the avatar’s currency and land purchases in the virtual world, the filing said. Catteneo also has a PayPal account under the name “Aaron Long,” so the eBay-owned company must have financial data and transaction logs from the person behind the avatar, Eros said. Neither Linden nor PayPal has revealed information on Catteneo in response to Eros requests, despite language in their terms advising users that their personal information can be turned over to third parties at company discretion, the filing said. A message sent to an e-mail address that Eros said it traced to Catteneo bounced back to us.
The following are documents which CBP updates frequently (weekly, monthly, etc.):