MANCHESTER Technology Management Centre, in association with Manchester City Council, is running a trip to Halifax, Canada.

Organisers are inviting IT/software related businesses to take part in a delegation to the Softworld 2000 "forum for deal-making" from October 15 to 18. Companies may be eligible for assistance towards the cost of the event. Further information is available from Glenn Burrows on 0161-908-0529.

Softworld's web site (www,softworld2000.com) is already in operation to identify companies and arrange meetings in advance of the event itself.

More than 1,000 delegates are expected from 40 countries.

The MTMC is a consultancy which advises small and medium businesses across Greater Manchester. *********************************************

Debtlist.com (www.debtlist.com) has launched a service which allows companies to issue speedy county court claims

*******************************************Widex, manufacturer of Senso digital hearing aids, has launched a new website -- www.widex.com.

It contains information useful to relatives and healthcare professionals on sound and hearing, the various types of hearing loss, analogue and digital sound processing, maintenance of aids and links to relevant sites.

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Research by global information solutions company Experian claims internet retailers are proving to be easy prey for credit card fraudsters.

It suggests there is an absence of online fraud detection systems and that the police are failing to tackle this new type of crime.

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Dot.com companies will be represented at the

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's exhibition at the Harrogate International Centre from October 25 to 27.

Technology-based organisations are growing following the rise in e-learning, web-based recruitment and other on-line human resources services.

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According to FT.com, business travellers are increasingly carrying mobile telephones, laptop computers and electronic organisers.

But many do so in addition to paper documents, files, diaries and notebooks -- creating duplication on a significant scale.

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The National Federation of Builders in the North-west says consumers surfing the web for a local builder should keep their wits about.

The organisation, which represents more than 800 companies throughout the region, has raised concerns about the screening procedures used by websites signing-up firms to their services.

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