Toshiba plans to tell 12,000 workers at its semiconductor division not to come in for two to four days, due to production being deemed not to be necessary.

Kyocera Mita's operations in the Asia-Pacific will be focused through a Sydney regional headquarters.

Estimates of the PC industry show annual spending is set to decline for the first time.

The TMP Worldwide Job Index says a net gain of 12% of companies intend to create new jobs in the next quarter.

PC manufacturers are risking supply shortages by continuing to receive inputs on a just-in-time basis.

Global sales of semiconductors totalled $20 billion in September, a drop of 45% from a year ago, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.

Alcatel has announced it is cutting another 10,000 jobs (9% of its work force).

The International Telecommunications Union has updated its global standard for very short reach optical interfaces.

The Australian Computer Society has just released a report claiming that Australia's ICT trade deficit had reached almost $16 billion in the year to 2001.

Seven organisations have been recognised for their excellence in smart manufacturing, commercialising R&D, energy efficiency, product stewardship and exporting at the gala Excellence Awards hosted by the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association Ltd.

Talks between Motorola and Siemens regarding merging their wireless operations have broken down, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The University of Montreal in Canada has just announced that it has developed an iron phosphate material to replace the expensive and volatile cobalt used in making electrodes for mobile phone Li-Ion batteries.

Unisys has just disclosed plans to cut 3000 jobs as it reported that its earnings slumped 50% in the last quarter.

Commander Communications has sacked 110 workers and halved growth estimates for 2001.

Siemens has announced 2000 job cuts in its mobile networking unit, and 5000 further cuts at the land-line Information and Communication Networks division.