Under a state government program, Victorian companies can apply for vouchers worth up to $250K to support projects aimed at implementing cutting-edge technologies. [ + ]

Telecom NZ has used a submission to a government review of wholesale copper access pricing to argue for a regulated price at the bottom of the proposed NZ$37.50-NZ$42.50 range. [ + ]

Incoming Prime Minister Tony Abbott has revealed his new ministry, confirming who will oversee the ICT-related portfolios in the new Coalition government. [ + ]

The Australian retail sector is expected to spend just shy of $2 billion on ICT products and services this year, according to IDC Australia. [ + ]

Kylie Minogue has supplanted her sister Dannii as the most dangerous Australian celebrity to search for information about online, a McAfee study shows. [ + ]

Call recording is gaining momentum around the globe. Given the existence of regulation, it's important CIOs understand the complexity and nuances of call recording and customer security. [ + ]

Telstra's fixed-line rivals want the ACCC to directly regulate access to Telstra's facilities, but Telstra has dismissed the calls as "unwarranted" and "unnecessary". [ + ]

The widespread use of smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks and various other electronic devices means flash storage has become part of everyday life for many people, but it is also playing an important role in the data centre. [ + ]

Traditional bitter rivals in the IT vendor space appear to be putting their differences aside and forming partnerships with one another in a bid to expand their cloud footprints. [ + ]

Voice biometrics contact centre technology provides a way for banks and financial institutions to improve security and customer engagement. [ + ]

Chinese networking vendor Huawei has accused the United States of taking "illegal action", after the release of a report claiming the NSA targeted the vendor for surveillance. [ + ]

Telecoms experts will gather in November for 'The NBN: Rebooted', a workshop to discuss the Coalition's planned changes to the NBN and how to maximise the project's success. [ + ]

Michael Dell has succeeded in buying back the company he founded in 1984, with Dell shareholders approving his joint bid with private equity firm Silver Lake to buy out the company and take it private, in a US$24.9 billion (approx AU$27 billion) transaction. [ + ]

Optus has become the first Australian telco to operate both FDD and TDD LTE networks simultaneously, following the launch of its new 4G Plus network in four capital cities. [ + ]

Sky Software CEO Nick Stanley will head up ICT Geelong, the advocacy group formed to promote the region as a major Victorian ICT precinct. [ + ]