Airspeed Telecom, the telecommunications company which operates a nationwide licensed wireless radio transmission network, has expanded their WiMAX service for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) customers in Cork. WiMAX is the next-generation of wireless technology designed to enable pervasive, high-speed mobile Internet access.

ComScore, a web ratings agency released statistics on the way men and women use the web which proved very enlightening. While men and women in developed countries are almost equally split in the numbers using the web, the survey shows we're using it differently. We can get plenty of stats on numbers, searches, repeat users and time spent on our web properties but it becomes harder when you turn those numbers into human beings.

Loc8 Code, a revolutionary new all-Ireland digital address code, providing precise address information was recently launched at the The Science Gallery, Trinity College, Dublin. The innovative business initiative, which has the support of Enterprise Ireland, and references map data from Ordnance Survey Ireland and Land & Property Services Northern Ireland (the official mapping agency of Northern Ireland).

It's better to cross the river in a group so that the crocodile doesn't get you. This African proverb still holds water in today's business community and is the basis, directly or indirectly, for the upsurge in networking and support groups seen in Cork in recent years. Peter Tobin talks to some people involved in this popular activity and sees that there is more than meets the eye to the world of business networking

In 2009, a total of 87 investments with a value of €52m were made by partnership funds supported under the Enterprise Ireland Seed and Venture Capital Programmes 2007-2012 and 2000-2006. This represents a 53 per cent increase on the value of funds invested in 2008, which was €34m. Feargal O Morain, Director of Corporate and Investment Services at Enterprise Ireland, launched the Enterprise Ireland Seed & Venture Capital report for 2009.

Labour Party Spokesperson on Agriculture and Food and Cork TD, Seán Sherlock has said there is potential to create 5000 new jobs in rural Ireland through alternative energy initiatives. Deputy Sherlock said: "There is huge potential for the domestic production of Renewable and Sustainable energy crops.

A call has been made for a nationwide initiative to help kick start business for local companies. Fine Gael Small Business Spokesman John Perry TD has called for a national campaign to support local businesses and encourage consumers to spend more locally.

The minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey and his senior officials met representatives of 40 local action groups from around the country at a special meeting in the Tipperary Institute, Thurles to discuss how the LEADER programme can be accelerated in order to ensure that the funding of €425m is taken up and the potential to deliver 12,000 jobs to rural areas is realised by the end of 2014.

In 2009 the SuperValu Getaway Breaks scheme contributed over €30m in direct revenue to the Irish Tourism industry. Cork was among the counties that experienced particular success in tourism with over €2.9m in revenue delivered to hotels in the county. Over the past number of years, more and more Irish people have chosen to holiday at home and great value holiday offers.

A major retailer announced recently that it has listed three new artisan suppliers in its stores, all of whom hail from County Cork. Just Food, Shellfish De La Mer, and Posh Nosh have been listed by Superquinn as a result of its in-store Artisan Festival.