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Construction needs cloud flexibility

Australia’s embattled construction sector could benefit from cloud based information systems that can be switched on and off in lockstep with individual projects – with the exception of those organisations based in remote areas like the Kimberleys.

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Uncertain future for Telstra directories according to printer

IT Industry - Development

McPherson's Limited has announced the sale of its telephone directory printing subsidiary McPherson's Enterprises to a subsidiary of PMP Limited for $16 million. MEPL produces 50% of Telstra's telephone directories with a contract which runs to June 2009.

McPherson's managing director, David Allman, said that McPherson's had received a very attractive offer and it was undoubtedly in shareholders' interest to accept it. He added that directors had taken into account the lack of growth prospects for the business and uncertainty about the business after June 2009 when the current Printing Agreement with Telstra expires.

We wonder if the uncertainty that Allman is talking about concerns the viability of the future of printed telephone directories in the wake of the online era. Our view is that big fat telephone books are about as archaic and wasteful of our planet's resources as big fat newspapers in an age where information is available at the touch of a keyboard.