When anthrax attacks stopped Operation Dear Abby from forwarding good wishes to U.S. troops, the Pentagon set up an Internet site in 2001 to keep the messages coming.
As the war in Iraq winds down, OperationDearAbby.net is about to mark its 2 millionth message.
The site is receiving 20,000 to 30,000 messages a day during the Iraq war, up from the usual 2,000 to 3,000, according to a U.S. Navy spokesperson.
The original Operation Dear Abby campaign, designed to encourage Americans to send holiday greetings to the men and women in the U.S. armed forces, began in 1967 during the Vietnam War. Messages are not addressed to any individual but rather to all service members in a particular branch of the military.
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Wave to your buddy: AOL has started testing a feature that allows subscribers to transfer video and audio clips over instant messaging, which lets users chat in real time.
The feature lets members record video messages on a Web camera, then forward the short messages using instant messaging to others on AOL (AOL), who can then open it. As part of the test, the same type of transfer can be done with audio files.
If AOL decides to implement the feature after the test period, it will be available only to AOL members, not to those using its free AIM instant messaging service -- at least initially.
The offerings do not violate conditions the Federal Communications Commission put on AOL at the time of its merger with Time Warner in 2001 because it does not include streaming applications, an AOL spokesperson said.
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Microsoft pays up: Microsoft said it would pay up to $202 million to settle a class action lawsuit that claimed the world's largest software maker had abused its monopoly and overcharged for software.
Microsoft (MSFT) said it would offer vouchers to consumers and businesses that purchased licenses for Microsoft's Windows operating system, Office, word processing or spreadsheet software between 1995 and 2002 for use in Florida.
One-half of any unclaimed settlement vouchers, which can be used to buy products from any manufacturer or software maker, will be donated to Florida's school system.
Recently Microsoft settled a California lawsuit -- the largest claim of any state -- with an agreement to pay up to $1.1 billion to 13 million eligible California businesses and consumers. In that settlement, Microsoft agreed to pay two-thirds of any unclaimed settlement proceeds to California's school system.
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Playstation won't shock, awe: Responding to criticism that it was trying to take advantage of the Iraq war for commercial gain, Sony (SNE) said it will not use the phrase "shock and awe" for PlayStation videogames made by a subsidiary.
The application had been made shortly after U.S.-led forces began an attack on Iraq with a strategy of heavy aerial bombardment termed "shock and awe."
A U.S. unit of Sony has withdrawn an application with the Patent and Trademark Office to register the phrase for commercial use, a Sony spokeswoman said. While there had been no specific plans to use the phrase for a title of PlayStation software, the electronic giant now felt the application was inappropriate.
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Australian spam ban: Under proposed tough legislation to help control spam, Australia may ban the unsolicited sending of electronic junk mail.
Laws targeted at Australian-sourced spam would help cut the rising volume of junk email that clogs systems and often contains offensive content, according to the Australian Communications Minister.
A report recommended laws banning the sending of commercial electronic messages without the prior consent of the end user, unless there was an existing business-customer relationship. It said all commercial electronic messaging should also be required to contain accurate details of the sender's name and physical and electronic addresses.
But most spam originates outside Australia, and the issue would also need to be addressed internationally, the Communications Minister said. Two U.S. senators introduced an anti-spam bill recently, while AOL filed lawsuits against more than a dozen people and companies sending spam to its subscribers.
Compiled by Kari L. Dean AP and Reuters contributed to this report.
