3G mobile boat rocked, says Forrester Third generation mobile phone technology will encounter major stumbling blocks in the UK and rest of Europe, according to a report by analyst firm Forrester. In Japan mobile telcos, especially NTT DoCoMo, have made strong profits from using their current cellular and web technology, called i-mode. But Forrester is dubious about the potential success of high-bandwidth services in Europe. “The mobile internet won’t pay for [3G] investments,” says the report....

TheStreet.com UK shuts down The troubled financial site TheStreet.com has announced it is closing its UK operation, ending its joint newsroom agreement with the New York Times and laying off 20 percent of its staff. The company suggested the strong steps were necessary to preserve the rest of the company. The New York-based public company slashed 40 positions from its workforce in a cutback that affected all locations and departments....

Ericsson pitches WAP to youth Ericsson launched its latest Internet-enabled mobile phone, the T20, this morning. Ericsson enlisted the help of girl band All Saints, because the T20 is aimed at the ‘yoof’ market – defined as “anyone who thinks young” in Ericsson’s lexicon. Unlike any of All Saints, the T20 is curved like a dumpy Coke bottle. It has wireless application protocol (WAP) capabilities, letting people use WAP-ready Internet sites....

Super-budget PC company Smartalk ceases trading Smartalk has been forced to cease trading. The company that offered PCs for £100 under the info4c.com name, is now in the hands of the Official Receiver after an application to the High Court by the Department of Trade and Industry. The DTI petitioned the High Court for a winding-up order on Smartalk in the public interest. The Official Receiver has been appointed as provisional liquidators pending the hearing of the petition on 22 November....

Small businesses to get better, cheaper IT training The government has announced it will throw money at training and drop-in centres in a bid to switch on millions of technophobes to computers. But it may need to heed its own advice. The government is to grow its network of business internet centres as part of a campaign known as UK Online. It also plans to offer online courses through the centres as well as to businesses....