More Singaporeans

More Singaporeans
visit online banking

SINGAPORE (DPA): Almost one in three Internet users in
Singapore are banking online, but spending less time at these
sites than previously, a NetValue survey showed.

Banking websites in the city-state attracted 293,500 home
Internet users in July, a 50 percent jump from the 195,000
registered in January, according to latest statistics from the
French firm.

Users spent less time on average at these sites, the survey
also found, about 27 minutes compared with 31 minutes six months
ago.

"Perhaps people are getting used to the sites and could
quickly locate their source," said Jack Loo, NetValue's manager
for Singapore on Monday.

Although more high-income customers are visiting bank
websites, the survey disclosed fewer women are banking online.

Loo suggested banks beef up their efforts at targeting working
women by incorporating shopping, beauty or fashion-related
content in their offerings.

Sweden topped the list in the survey on online banking usage
in 12 European and Asian countries. Singapore emerged eighth,
behind South Korea but ahead of Hong Kong.

;DPA;
ANPAc..r..
Inbox-Britain-Animals
Voice box will make dogs bow-wow-lingual
JP/13/INBOX

Voice box will make dogs bow-wow-lingual

LONDON (DPA): Dog lovers may soon enjoy Dr Dolittle's ability
to talk with the animals by using a device developed by Japanese
scientists to convert barks, growls and whines into human
language, according to a British press report Sunday.

From "I can't take much more of this" to "I'm annoyed" or
"this is fun", man's best friend will tell his owner what he
thinks of him, or the food and entertainment on offer, when the
device is launched in February, said the report in The Sunday
Times.

Costing about US$100 the device -- to be marketed under the
name Bow-lingual -- consists of a unit attached to the dog's
collar to decode the animal's sounds. The results are sent to a
hand-held display and to a speaker in the form of phrases such as
"I've done it", "I'm happy" or "I'm bored".

Researchers analyzed 2,000 sounds made by 100 dogs from 14
breeds. Using voice print analysis these were divided into
frustration, amusement, sadness, intimidation, aggression and
desire and were then converted into 200 words and 100 phrases to
relate canine feelings in human terms.

Takara, the manufacturer, expects 90 percent accuracy and says
Bow- lingual will express a dog's emotions in a way that owners
will easily understand.

"We are getting a lot of interest," manager Norio Suzuki told
the paper. "Pets are important friends for many people. We hope
Bow-lingual will lead to better communication between owners and
their pets."

People who work will be able to find out what sort of day
their dog had by using a "Bow-wow diary" to provide a summary
such as "today was a good day" or "it was boring".

If Bow-lingual is a success Takara plans a feline version.

;DPA;
ANPAc..r..
Inbox-US-RealNetworks
RealNetworks introduces RealOne Platform
JP/13/INBOX

RealOne Platform
introduced

SEATTLE, Washington (DPA): RealNetworks, Inc., the global
leader in Internet media delivery, unveiled RealOne Platform, a
new integrated media platform for connecting consumers to
content.

At the core of the platform is its media engine, RealOne
Player, which combines and reinvents the industry-leading
RealPlayer and RealJukebox and adds to them a powerful new media
browser to give consumers an unmatched, multi-dimensional media
experience.

RealOne Platform enables content providers to easily author
content using standard Internet languages, extending their
current Web sites to create an immersive multimedia experience
which features audio and video playback with contextual
information.

The new platform is compatible with a wide-range of
development tools and services that enable content providers and
technology partners to create secure, compelling digital media
content, and to supplement it with contextual commerce.

More than 150 content providers and technology partners
worldwide have already announced their endorsement of the RealOne
Platform, the Company reported Monday.

"RealOne Platform will empower our partners to create a new
generation of digital media businesses," said Rob Glaser,
chairman and CEO, RealNetworks, Inc.