Conspiracy Theories and the 'Smoking Gun'

By Katherine Noyes
LinuxInsider
Part of the ECT News Network

Is Microsoft behind a conspiracy to keep Linux-powered netbooks off the market? "If this is true, it will make everything the EU has investigated to date seem like an act of sainthood in comparison," said Montreal consultant and Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack. "It's not a conspiracy when there are no partners," observed Slashdot blogger drinkypoo.

Linux bloggers are never shy about laying blame at Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) door, but in recent days the accusations seemed to be flying faster than ever.

First, Groklaw published a post entitled, "Linux on Netbooks: The Smoking Gun."

Referring to a post from earlier this month by ZDNet's Dana Blankenhorn, Groklaw zeroed in on comments made by Li Chang, vice president of the Taipei Computer Association, in response to a query at Computex about "where the Linux went," as Blankenhorn put it.

"In our association we operate as a consortium, like the open source consortium," Chang reportedly said. "They want to promote open source and Linux. But if you begin from the PC you are afraid of Microsoft. They try to go to the smart phone or PDA to start again."

'Mystery Solved'

Groklaw's reaction: "Mystery solved. Totally blatant... next time you hear Microsoft bragging that people *prefer* their software to Linux on netbooks, you'll know better. If they really believed that, they'd let the market speak, on a level playing field."

So that was the smoking gun, and by Friday it had drawn more than 460 comments on Groklaw and 170 on ZDNet. It drew 400 on Slashdot, where the debate was taken up soon thereafter.

"Microsoft continues their predatory ways," lamented Anonymous in the Groklaw comments. "I often wonder if the rumored cooperation between MS and NSA is a factor."

On the other hand: "This leaves a huge opportunity for a maverick entrepreneur," wrote PolR. "If you are willing to sell low cost linux devices, you are guaranteed an exclusive access to the Linux market for quite a while since Microsoft won't let anyone else get into this market but other entrepreneurs using the same strategy as you."

'I Don't Buy It'

Another blogger argued that Groklaw had misinterpreted Chang's words.

"To me, Mr. Chang's quote could be paraphrased as, 'We are a hardware consortium, just like the Open Source Consortium. They [the OSC] want to promote Open Source and Linux. But when you [again, the OSC] attempt to start that promotion on the PC, you have to contend with Windows, which is scary. So they [once again, OSC] avoid the PC platform for now, and try start with PDAs and smartphones, where Windows isn't so much of a threat'," Anonymous asserted.

"In other words, he is not saying the hardware manufacturers refrain from bringing GNU/Linux netbooks to market because they are scared of Microsoft, but rather putting the guilt on OSC's hands," Anonymous added. "Under this interpretation, the reason for the absence on GNU/Linux on netbooks would be that OSC chooses not to compete in that arena, but rather on the smartphone and PDA."

Of course, "I don't buy it," Anonymous added. "It would surprise me very much if OSC were chicken to confront Windows in the netbook market. I am afraid that Mr. Chang may have just been doing a pretty good job of weaseling out of an uncomfortable question, but I don't think this quote is anywhere near a smoking gun..."

'Completely Untrue'

Fuel was only added to the fire, of course, when a post on the "Linux and Free software" blog asserted that 90 percent of the world's desktop computers are controlled by Microsoft.

"Completely untrue" was tuxchick's assessment on LXer, for example, and the protests proceeded from there.

Perhaps most intriguing of all, however, was Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols' recent assertion that Linux stories get deliberately buried on Digg.

"I became aware of this because in the last few weeks I've had several stories that were pro-Linux and anti-Microsoft," Vaughan-Nichols wrote. After becoming popular on Digg, the stories had been buried -- effectively removed -- an hour later," he charged.

'Buries Should Be Exposed'

"Digg admits that groups of users -- say, Microsoft employees, partners, and supporters -- can 'abusively bury content'," he wrote. "I'd add, not just 'can', but 'do.'"

Besides making this LinuxInsider reporter feel a whole lot better about her own Linux stories (so *that's* what keeps happening!), the notion also drew 90 comments on Vaughan-Nichols' blog and was picked up on LWN and on Digg itself, where bloggers were quick to respond.

"Let's bury this one too [grin]," quipped antdude.

On the other hand: "I thoroughly agree that Buries should be exposed just as Diggs are," wrote Carpy. "Why is one public & the other private? Makes no sense."

'Asus Was Bought Out'

So what's actually going on here? Does it all add up to so much paranoia, or is there something to these conspiracy charges? The enquiring minds at LinuxInsider want to know.

"M$ has a long history of no-holds-barred 'Technology Evangelism'," blogger Robert Pogson told LinuxInsider. "M$ trained people how to infiltrate/buy-out/co-opt people to spread the word that competitive platforms were junk. This has been pretty well demonstrated in the news media, blogs, conferences and the web -- one need look no further than Desktoplinux.com forums or Digg to see that this is so."

The much-discussed 'apology' by Asus for "the showing of a netbook with SnapDragon CPU is proof enough that Asus was bought out by M$," Pogson asserted. "There is never a business case for apologizing for innovation."

Microsoft can buy out or intimidate "the big guys" because "they have a lot to lose if they lose the blessing of M$," he added. "But, with ARM (Nasdaq: ARMHY) and the netbook, there are 10 little guys waiting in the wings for the business the big guys pass up."

'The Penalties Would Be Huge'

Chang's response at Computex doesn't yet constitute a smoking gun, "but it sure is a signal to the antitrust authorities in several jurisdictions that they need to take a closer look," Montreal consultant and Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack told LinuxInsider. "If this is true, it will make everything the EU has investigated to date seem like an act of sainthood in comparison. If this is ever proven, I expect the penalties for Microsoft would be huge."

On the other hand: "It's not a conspiracy when there are no partners," Slashdot blogger drinkypoo opined. "These companies aren't Microsoft's partners; that would imply a two-way street. In actuality, there is no complicity; Microsoft is exerting the same control over OEMs that they did regarding forcing them to bundle IE."

The results of that have already been seen -- "the EU is going after them for fines every other Thursday, while the US DOJ gave them a free pass (thanks, Ashcroft!)," drinkypoo told LinuxInsider. "I suspect that in five or 10 years, it will come out that Microsoft forced OEMs to neglect Linux, and nothing at all will happen to them because of it."

Regarding Digg, "You don't need a conspiracy to bury anything on Digg," drinkypoo charged. "Just allow the users to comment, and they will bury the story in nonsense themselves. I used to think Slashdot was bad like that, then I checked out Digg. Just wow."

'Sorry, Linux Guys'

At least one blogger felt that conspiracy has nothing to do with it.

"There is actually a simple reason why OEMs aren't supporting and selling Linux -- it is the same reason I don't," Slashdot blogger hairyfeet told LinuxInsider. "It is because it costs too much money compared to MSFT.

"I'm sorry, Linux guys, but your OS is not ready for the home consumer," hairyfeet charged. "If you want proof, just go to Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) or Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) or Staples.com and see how many items there have Linux support. If you don't research, the odds are zero that you will get full functionality in Linux, if anything works at all."

In other words? "No contest," hairyfeet said.

'The Movement Is Too Large'

Not everyone, however, is quite so sure.

"Unfortunately for M$, the strategy that worked so well against Netscape, OS/2 and other commercial technologies cannot succeed against GNU/Linux and Free Software," Pogson said. "The movement is too large, too diverse and is not dependent on just a few supply lines.

"M$ can delay ascendance of GNU/Linux, which does bring in more money," he added. "But that is the best they can do."

Content Source : www.technewsworld.com

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Can The Mobile Industry Go Green?

The mobile phone industry seems to be lagging behind the rest of the tech world in going green. What does it need to do to catch up?

By Jennifer Scott

Green technology is being embraced more and more within the tech industry.

Big players such as Dell, HP and Intel are all citing it as a driver for their new products, be it lower power consumption on a server or the materials that build it.

Businesses buying the hardware are also taking up the green gauntlet, seeing it as a badge of honour to draw an environmentally-conscious customer base, as well as a way to help cut costs.

Greening the mobile world

But what of the mobile phone industry? The handset is a piece of hardware we all use on a daily - or more likely, hourly - basis, but how green is this industry and what does it need to fix to become so?

Some steps have been taken. Manufacturers are starting to market phones as eco-friendly, suggesting there's a place on the shelves and consumer pockets for such devices.

As more and more old handsets pile up in our homes, services are popping up to recycle them. Some manufacturers are looking at ways to cut down on packaging, and shipping manuals built into the phones to save paper, while others are looking at green power for base stations.

One major move the industry has taken recently is to agree on a universal charger. Across Europe over the next year, major phone makers including Nokia will start producing their phones to work with a mini-USB charger, meaning we won't need a new power connector every time we pick up a new handset.

But are such steps enough, or are they merely the beginning of the transition to a green mobile industry?

Sony Ericsson's first steps

Sony Ericsson recently launched its attempt at green handsets.

Its global marketing director said at the time: “It’s not about making normal phones green, it’s about making green phones normal.”

However, journalists quickly turned the meeting aimed to promote Sony Ericsson's green credentials into an interrogation about why the firm had only just made the moves - and what more they could do.

David Aeron-Thomas from Forum for The Future was in attendance. While he clearly approved of the new green handsets, even he openly condemned the company for not doing enough.

He said: “Sony Ericsson hasn’t gone far enough yet, but they are doing great things towards this. The thing is you need to take customers and suppliers with you in long term partnerships.”

At Forum for the Future, Aeron-Thomas works with many companies such as BT and Vodafone on green initiatives but to get on board they need to fit in with strict guidelines.

He said: “Companies approach us but we don’t always approve them. We also have regular conversations as to whether to keep them on.”

But what specifically must these mobile companies do to address the environmental issues of their products?

Chemicals

Nardono Nimpuno, the international chemical secretariat for ChemSec, believes the main obstacle is the chemicals that are used to make the phones in the first place.

In an interview with IT PRO, Nimpuno said: “It is hard for anyone to accept a daily consumer product is harmful, as well as hard to prove. People and companies find it easier to go fair trade or eco-friendly with food as mobiles are complex enough as it is.”

“However, in themselves the chemicals used to make the phones disrupt hormones and can disrupt reproduction. Yes, they are encased in the product, but what about during production if there are leaks, and what do you do at the end of a phone’s life?”

So the phone manufacturers should be looking to remove these chemicals from production, as well as disposing of them safely.

But Nimpuno revealed that even when you return your phone to be recycled, only 54 per cent are accounted for afterwards.

He said: “When consumers do the right thing only half is managed in the proper way. It is a cost issue for companies. For example to recycle a phone safely in Sweden costs €10 but in India you can do it for €1.50 inappropriately.”

Greenpeace has also raised the issue of toxic chemicals in mobiles through campaigns over several years, even posting a diagram on its website showing the chemicals used and the effects they have.

For example, it highlights the lead used in circuit boards and soldering. “In many developed countries, lead is banned from landfills, but mobiles containing lead are still dumped in countries like China and dismantled by hand.”

What progress so far?

There is some progress being made however. EU legislation on the proper disposal and recycling of mobile phones and components is becoming more prominent and there is a rise in the collection of electrical waste.

And manufacturers are starting to get on board. Nokia has taken steps to make its phones charge in more efficient ways, as well as to cut packaging. It claimed using new smaller boxes removed 5,000 trucks from the road in one year.

And, O2 has made several claims to its green credentials, admittedly achieving the accolade of the first mobile phone operator to be certified with the Carbon Trust Standard following its 15 per cent energy consumption reduction over the past three years.

However, it is still selling phones, such as its popular and well-selling iPhone, which has been criticised for green reasons.

Indeed, both the phone consumer and mobile businesses need to get on board for these policies to work and reduce damage to the environment.

As Aeron-Thomas warns: “Sustainability is not a green fluffy nice to have thing, but vital.”

Click here to find out how to recycle your mobile phone - and make cash doing it.

Content Source : www.itpro.co.uk

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Information Security 101: an Introduction to Being Compliant and Protecting Your Assets

by Jane Affleck

E-mail, Internet access, and collaborative tools (whether a phone system’s conferencing capabilities, or document-sharing applications) are “must-haves” for most businesses today.

But by now many managers know that you shouldn’t stop at just implementing these tools and then going ahead, footloose and fancy-free, with using them. As with any other asset, you need to protect not just the technology that enables these tools and applications, but also the information that these tools allow users to share.
To ensure the confidentiality of private information—and help ensure compliance with regulations and internal policies—information security software is now also a “must have.”

A recent survey by Milford, Massachusetts (US)-based Enterprise Strategy Group revealed that the majority of organizations (59 percent of those that responded) do not even have a formal policy in place to define the sharing of data, particularly intellectual property.

What does this mean? Many companies “are flying by the seat of their pants and hoping not to get burned,” when it comes to data breaches, says Jon Oltsik, senior analyst with ESG.

But those who do get a little too close to the fire may find that not only the seats of their pants get scorched, but that they come close to losing the shirts off their backs too, as costly compliance violations add up. And never mind the costs that result from trying to stay on top of compliance by continually checking internal controls. And never mind the possibility of serving time in the slammer if the compliance violation is severe enough.

And, oh, never mind the damage that can be done to the reputation of your company in the face of public disclosure of your compliance violations.

It follows, then, that one of the first steps in boosting your security measures is to create a security and compliance policy. This internal policy should be a working document that clearly states your company’s security and data classification policies, (and that includes, depending on your industry or business activities, a functional definition of intellectual property).

Once that’s done, you need to make sure all employees know about those policies. One of the final steps to ensuring your assets are covered (think of it as flame-retardant for the seat of your pants) for data breach: install an up-to-date information security system that helps you enforce those policies and that helps maximize data protection.

In order to choose the right information security system, you’ll need to identify the ways that users may currently be allowing sensitive information beyond the confines of your organization. And with e-mail, Internet access, and other collaborative tools, the ways data can be leaked, manipulated, or lost are numerous.

And as for compliance—many organizations are still struggling to get their heads around the cumbersome (and potentially costly) US Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002.

Which Companies Need to Be Particularly Concerned with Data Security?

Companies in any manufacturing industry that need to ensure the confidentiality or secrecy of recipes or processes

· Companies in any industry known for innovation or thought leadership

· Enterprises in any industry needing to maintain records for auditing in accordance with SOX

· Hospitals and other health care facilities dealing with thousands of pieces of confidential patient data on a daily basis.

· Companies at the end of the supply chain, involved in accepting credit card payment by phone or Internet

How Can Information Security Specifically Address Your Data Confidentiality and Compliance Needs?

· Create levels of authorized access to vulnerable data, and ensure limited access with private passwords

· Establish secure communication channels between terminals or remote offices with electronic data interchange (EDI) and virtual private networks (VPNs)

· Mitigate the risk of both internal and external data breach with firewalls and data encryption methods

· Automatically analyze potential new threats to the system, and send alerts to the appropriate administrators

· Aid in compliance with SOX, and other regulations, such as the requirements created by the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), or in Japan, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law (J-SOX) and the Protection of Personal Information Law

· Capture, monitor, and keep financial file logs (from financial reporting systems) for at least one year, for SOX audits

Information Security Slip Ups—or Why Chains around Your Computer Hardware Won’t Keep Your Data Safe

* When hackers access the credit card numbers (or other confidential personal information) of your customers, it can cost you from $90 to $305 USD for each breached record. For US-based retail chain TJX, which let nearly 100 million credit card numbers get into the virtual sticky fingers of hackers, the damage has been dear indeed. (This may happen more often than you realize… bought jeans or a watch over the Internet lately? Lingerie? Books? How about a CD or DVD? In addition to the company cited above, the same or a similar issue has plagued Guess, Victoria’s Secret, Barnes & Noble, Tower Records, Eli Lilly, and even—gasp!—Microsoft, to name but a few. )
* Never underestimate the wrath of an employee spurned… a woman employed as an administrative assistant recently deleted $2.5 million (USD) (and seven years’) worth of architectural drawings to seek revenge (or would that be pre-venge?) on her employer, whom she believed was planning to fire her. The woman used her own account credentials to access the files, which it took her about four hours to delete. The files have since been restored. But clearly, this firm could have benefited from an information security package that would have ensured that the administrative assistance did not have authorization to access the files in question.
* The spouse of an employee at Pfizer performed an unauthorized installation of a peer-to-peer (P2P) protocol on a company laptop, which led to a flood of exposed employee data. In attempt to make amends, the company felt obliged to offer the more than 17,000 affected employees a years’ free credit monitoring, at a reported cost of $25,000 (USD). Again, had the company been aware of the potential risks of mobile devices such as laptops, and the need for not just passwords but security features that prevent the download of unauthorized programs or applications, this breach could have been prevented. Pfizer is probably thanking its lucky stars the damage wasn’t more costly, and that customer information was not part of the breach.

What an Information Security System Can Do to Tackle These Risks:

* Strengthen encryption methods, so that even remotely hosted private or confidential data cannot be (so easily) cracked
* Make sure that your information security solution can protect you against structured query language attacks, and that the vendor agrees to provide upgrades that will help protect you against new viruses, trojans, and malware.
* Limit or deny use of vendor-supplied password defaults, to minimize the possibility of password breaches
* With data forensic abilities, information security solutions can respond to threats and analyze events in order to better predict potential future security breaches

Want More Information about How to Find the Best Information Security Software for Your Needs?

* Visit Technology Evaluation Center’s (TEC’s) Information Security Evaluation Center to find out more benefits of implementing info security
* Find out about the ways firewall software can target your security needs
* Download sample request for proposal (RFP) templates for information security and firewall
* Read articles about information security by industry experts

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Lenovo Offers Green ThinkStation Workstations

With the new S20 and D20 models

Lenovo has recently announced two new workstations, the ThinkStation S20 and the D20, designed to meet the requirements of specialized professionals. In addition to the new ThinkStation models, the company has also announced that it will showcase its new e-commerce platform, the Lenovo eLounge, designed to provide its customers with a new, interactive way to experience Lenovo computing solutions online, from anywhere in the world.


“Designers, engineers, developers and scientists require the highest levels in computing performance to help them produce breakthrough innovations,” said Tom Tobul, executive director, Enterprise, Software and Peripherals, Lenovo. “The new ThinkStation workstations will deliver not only the utmost in performance, but also a user-centric design with an emphasis on quiet operation, even during heavy processing.”

According to the PC vendor, the new ThinkStation systems have been “turbo-charged for performance,” providing users with a choice for the upcoming Intel Xeon processors featuring Intel Turbo Boost technology for extra performance in peak processing. In addition, the new ThinkStations offer a choice for the latest NVIDIA Quadro line of professional graphics cards, or one of ATI's FirePro solutions. There's also an option for an additional NVIDIA Tesla C1060 GPU to the ThinkStation platform.

Aside from providing its customers with two high-performance workstations, Lenovo is also offering a green computing solution, by using recycled materials with both models. According to the company, these workstations use 50 percent recycled content, while in the D20 model approximately 30 percent of the recycled content comes from post consumer recycled materials. In addition, the new ThinkStation workstations have been certified for GREENGUARD specifications.

As far as pricing and availability are concerned, the ThinkStation D20 and S20 will be available starting next month, via the PC vendor's site and select business partners, with prices starting at approximately £980 and £780, respectively, not including VAT.

All Notebooks Brands (Netbooks, Thinkpads, Value Line)

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The Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Cable-Manage Your Business

When you’re running a business, there’s no shortage of things to manage: time, employees, productivity, budgets… but have you ever thought of cables? Just about every business depends on cables for essentials like data and electricity, and cable management is the perfect solution for keeping those cords safe, functional and organized! So whether you oversee an office, data center, production studio or retail space, read on to find out how cable management can benefit your business!

1. Safety first. When you own or operate a business, it’s up to you to keep the premises up to code and safe for employees and customers. Prevent cable-related liabilities like tripping hazards by using floor cord covers to anchor foot-snagging cables to the floor. Cord covers offer you twofold protection: they prevent tripping accidents around the workplace, and they also keep valuable cables from being crushed underfoot by pedestrian traffic.
   
2. Cut down on wasted time and frustration. At one time or another, we’ve all wanted to pull our hair out in frustration while trying to untangle and differentiate between computer cords. Likewise, when it comes time to replace or perform routine maintenance on network equipment, the last thing you’ll want to be faced with is digging through a web of identical cables to find the one you need! Products like wire markers and label printers take the guesswork away by neatly identifying each cord, and save you precious time (and sanity) for more worthwhile tasks!
3. Save money. Cable management not only provides you with a cleaner and more organized business space, it can also extend the life and maximize the performance of your cables! Cords that are allowed to pile up on the floor or hang slack behind equipment are likely to suffer damage from crushing or sagging. By introducing a cable management system like the Neat Patch into your workplace, you can ensure that you won’t need to repeatedly spend money on replacement network cables.
4. Keep your work environment cleaner. Nothing hangs on to dust like piles of tangled cables: just take a look under your desk! Chances are, those dust balls aren’t enhancing your business… but they’re probably making you sneeze! Tackling excess cord length with a product like the Cable-Safe Complete Cable Manager, which lifts wires and peripheral devices off the floor, makes it easier for you to clean, and helps to prevent dirt from collecting in the first place.
5. Look better to your clients. Always remember that first impressions count extra in business! Even if you’re great at what you do, a cluttered and disorganized workspace can give potential business partners the wrong idea. Let’s face it: an office full of messy cables just makes you look bad, so if you’re likely to receive drop-in visits from customers or prospective clients, invest in a cable management solution like surface raceway and put your best foot forward.

If you decided to manage cables in your business, visit link bellow and you will get $10 off.

CableOrganizer.com- Thousands of Wire Management Products! $10 Off Orders of $300 or More. Coupon Code "tenoff250cj"! Click here!

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Job Hunters: Mind Your Tech Manners

Job seekers today face stiff competition. However, they also have an array of tech tools at their disposal: mobile email, social networking Web sites, advanced search capabilities, etc. These can all aid in the search for a new job, but failure to observe the proper etiquette when using them can be costly.

If there's any small solace when starting a job search in this recession, it's the proliferation of digital technology to help you re-enter the working world.

Web sites like Indeed.com and LinkedIn.com have multiplied the number of job openings you can track and the professional contacts you can make. Email and smartphones make it easier to pitch yourself and set up appointments.

But think twice before picking up that BlackBerry and thumb-typing a message to the hiring manager whose email address you so slyly uncovered online. In the end, landing the right job hinges on old-world skills.

An Electronic Foot in the Door

"The electronic piece usually just gets your foot in the door," said Dave Willmer, executive director of Robert Half Technology, a tech industry recruiting division of Menlo Park, Calif.-based staffing consultant Robert Half International.

"But you still have to present yourself well face-to-face in an interview, and you have to have good references," he said. "I think some job candidates lose sight of that because of all the technology options and capabilities that get your name out there."

Willmer and Kate Wendleton, president of The Five O'Clock Club, a New York-based career counseling company, advise that job seekers -- especially the young and tech-savvy -- frequently misuse electronic gadgets and the Web and run roughshod over professional etiquette.

Do's and Don'ts

Some of their advice:

1. Avoid Email Blasts: Resist the temptation to respond to each online job listing in your field, and focus on those that fit the best. Only about 6 percent of jobs are filled by candidates recruited through advertisements, said Wendleton, whose firm also conducts career research. If you can use personal contacts to learn about an opening that's not widely publicized, your chances of landing the job increase because you've got fewer rivals. Instead of blast emailing, use the Web to research potential employers and put yourself in position to recite key facts about that company should you land an interview.

   "Too many people are sitting there all day hitting that send button on their computer, answering ads, answering ads," Wendleton said.

2. Embrace snail mail: In your first contact with a prospective employer, you're unlikely to stand out if you join the legions of job seekers sending 'hire me' pitches via email with resumes attached. Emails also are too easy for a hiring manager to delete. With snail mail, you control the appearance of your carefully crafted cover letter and resume. With email, the user's machine can control settings for fonts and spacing. And managers can be wary of opening attached resumes for fear of unleashing a computer virus.

3. Get personal: If you resort to email pitches, make them personal. If you're introducing yourself to a hiring manager you've identified via a professional colleague, type that colleague's name in the email's subject line and succinctly explain the link (e.g. "John Doe referred me") so the manager is less likely to hit delete.

4. Avoid follow-up foibles: If you land an interview, pay close attention if the hiring manager specifies how to make any follow-up contacts. Email can be a good option because of its speed; if you send a follow-up note via snail mail, it may arrive too late in the hiring process to make a difference. If the hiring manager is OK with email, send a message that addresses any unanswered questions from the interview and state that you're also mailing a hardcopy. In the snail mail message, reference that you also sent the email.Whatever you do, don't follow up on an interview with an email sent via a handheld gadget -- there's too great a chance you'll thumb-type a typo-ridden message. Only use handhelds to send brief, timely emails confirming an appointment or advising you're running late for a meeting. Don't type without regard to grammar and capitalization, and resist including smiley faces or other emoticons in electronic messages. "There is no circumstance where that is appropriate," Wendleton said.

5. Observe boundaries: Even if you managed to track down a hiring manager's cell phone number, don't call it unless given permission. "Cell phones are considered private," Wendleton said.

6. Stick with land lines: For any phone contact with a prospective employer, try to use a land line. With cell phones, there's too great a risk that you'll get a spotty connection, lose it altogether, or end up with excessive background noise if you're in a public place. If you lack a land line, call from a quiet place like a hotel lobby. Have a pen and pad ready so you can jot down information.

7. Network the smart way: If you identify a hiring manager or other professional you'd like to connect with on an online networking site, don't merely send an electronic invitation without explaining why you want to get in touch. An out-of-the-blue request will likely be ignored. "Write something like, "I was intrigued by your LinkedIn posting. I see you have 10 years of international experience. I too have 10 years of international experience,'" Wendleton said.

8. Manage your digital footprint: Hiring managers can be expected to go beyond your resume and references, and perform a background check online. So be judicious about what you post on social networking sites such as Facebook, and limit access to friends and family if it's something you wouldn't want an employer to see. Likewise, think before posting political opinions or personal information in blogs or other online forums. Consider posting under a pseudonym rather than your name. "As a job candidate, I would encourage people to be conservative," said Willmer. "Assume that anybody has access to anything."

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