THE information and communication technology sector has produced 30 per cent of Australia's productivity rise since the commercialisation of the internet in 1995, according to a new book.
Co-author Professor Steve Burdon said many people were unaware of the importance of the ICT sector. "I don't think there is an understanding of how much of our wealth is driven by that sector and why it's important for all of us in terms of schooling, training and everything, because if we want to have a good standard of living it's pretty clear what the biggest single factor is," he said.
The book, Productivity and Organisational Transformation: Optimising Investment in ICT, was published by the National Office of Information Economy recently.
Professor Burdon is working on a new subject, management of ICT.
It is to be taught next year at the University of Technology, Sydney, as part of the School of Management's revised masters program.
MICROSOFT and Sony have hit the Australian game console market with identical price cuts as the Xbox reels in PlayStation 2's sales lead.
Both Microsoft and Sony cut the recommended retail price on their respective consoles from $399 to $329, with the announcements made within hours of each other.
Microsoft said the Xbox price cut brought Australian pricing into line with Europe and the US. Similarly, Sony computer entertainment managing director Michael Ephraim said: "Local market conditions have allowed us to facilitate more affordable prices in Australia".
Microsoft's Xbox has been making steady progress against the PlayStation 2 (PS2) in the Australian market, said Phil Burnham, research director with market analyst Inform.
Where the PlayStation had been outselling the Xbox by 3 to 1 in mid-February, the ratio was now closer to 1.5 to 1, he said.
Xbox had also been making gains in software sales. In February, PS2 games accounted for 49 per cent of all sales, compared to 15 per cent for Xbox. May figures indicated PS2 software sales had dropped to 43 per cent, while Xbox had climbed to 20 per cent, Mr Burnham said.
Both manufacturers plan to release online gaming services by the end of the year. Sony has already begun beta trials of its service, while Microsoft will commence trials in June, with a commercial release scheduled for October.
Sony, meanwhile, has unveiled the latest version of the PlayStation, to be known as the PSX. Based on the PS2, the PSX will include a built-in DVD recorder and hard drive. The console will go on sale in Japan before the end of the year.
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,6516761%5E15321%5E%5Enbv%5E15306,00.html
