Monday, July 30, 2001		Lens on IT

Struggling telecommunications equipment giant, Lucent Technologies Inc., posted a massive third-quarter loss, far wider than expected, and said it would cut another 15,000 to 20,000 jobs in a bid to return to a profit in fiscal 2002. Lucent Technologies chairman and chief executive officer Richard McGinn (L) speaks at a press conference in New York file photo, while Ascend Communications Inc President and Chief Executive Mory Ejabat looks on.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates grimaces as he mimics use of a hand-held computer during an address at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, last week. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings in September into Microsoft's business practices that are the subject of a 4-year-old antitrust case against the company. If Microsoft officials testify, it would be the second time they have had to answer to senators for their business practices. At issue is the company's upcoming Windows XP operating system. Critics say it bundles too many features that were once separate products, forcing customers to use Microsoft's products.

A prototype of ElectroTextile's keyboard for personal digital assistants or mobile phone text messaging is demonstrated in London. The soft and flexible keyboard is expected to be on the market later in 2001.

Israeli youngsters surf the Internet at a McDonalds restaurant near Tel Aviv. Along with their Big Macs and fried, customers can bay a $2 token to connect to the Internet for 20 minutes. The restaurant, the worldwide fast-food giant's first cyber-branch, has 20 computers linked to the Web.

— Reuters photos