Well known companies to avoid
Quicklinks:BT - British Telecommunications
Symantec (Norton Antivirus)
Photo-Me International
Siemens Motorola
Toshiba
Fujitsu
IBM
Sharp
Panasonic : note that Panasonic supplied iris scanning equipment for the UK biometric passport trials held between 2004-05. Panasonic sells a variety of biometric surveillance equipment. The company does not appear on the national identity card tender list, however, it is best to play safe an avoid their products.
BT - British Telecommunications
BT is bidding for all areas under the UK national identity card and biometric passport scheme. The implementation of this scheme involves the procurement of biometrics (finger, face, iris) by coersion and social exclusion. BT provides telephone and internet services to a large number of British consumers; if it's bid is succesful, this puts it in a unique positions to monitor individuals lives in private, online, and in public.
Products: telephone services, internet provider, and telephone handsets
Alternatives: Tiscali currenlty provides comparitively cheap combined broadband and weekend call packages. Existing BT line required, however line rental can be transferred from BT to Tiscali. Virgin Media (which merges NTL, Telewest and Virgin Mobile) provides bundled services via cable or phone line. See also: Orange combined broadband and mobile phone; Pipex cheap broadband-only services.
AOL is not included as its broadband requires BT service.
Avoid Colt Telecom, this company has also applied to the governments compulsory biometric identification scheme.
Symantec Corporation - Products: norton internet security, norton anti-virus
Well known provider of anti-virus software, Symantec Corporation is a bidding for areas of the UK biometric ID card and passport scheme. There is a wide range of alternatives to Symantec products. Some provide free evaluation periods so you can try their anti-virus before you buy, others provide free versions.
Symantec Internet Security comes pre-installed on many PCs and laptops (for example those from PC World). These run out after a few months. Don't be tempted to renew the subscription.
Products: Norton Internet Security and Norton Anti-virus
Alternatives: Grisoft AVG (free anti-virus); Kaspersky (free one month trial); Zone Alarm (free trial); Trend Micro
McAffee is not included as it has strategic alliances with IBM (see below).
Photo-Me International - photo vending machines in Post Office, Woolworths, etc.
Surrey-based Photo-ME International provide photo booths in shops, public buildings, and shopping centres that we normally would use when needing some passport-sized photos. You will be suprised to find how common their booths are. They are easily identifiable, just look for the obvious 'Photo-Me' logo on the booth. This company is tendering for business under the UK biometric ID card scheme.
Products: self service passport photo booths (as found in Post Office and shopping centres)
Alternatives: Jessops provide a walk-in service for passport photographs. This takes no longer than using a photo booth. Click here to find your local Jessops shop.
Siemens - mobile phones, washers, cookers, in-car navigation and entertainment, computers
Siemens offers an extensive range of consumer goods and services including washers, cookers, cooling systems, home and mobile phones, and central heating systems. Siemens Energy Services provides gas and electricity meter reading services in SE England, E Anglia, and E Midlands. Siemens products are so widespread that you are very likely to come across them.
Motorola - mobile phones, headphones, car accessories, wireless broadband solutions, WiMax
Look out for Motorolas mobile phones and in-car products. You will also come across them if you are building a wireless network for small business.
Products: MOTOFONE F3, RAZR V3, V8, and RIZR Z3; in-car: MOTOROKR T505
Toshiba - Mobile phones, LCD TVs, DVD players, laptop computers, surveillance equipment
Toshiba sells consumer goods from mobile phones to PCs, and home entertainment products. Look out for mobile phones (e.g Portege) and the Satellite, Qosmio, Tecra, and Portege range of laptops. Toshibas Corporation is bidding for 5 of the areas under the UK compulsory biometric ID scheme.
Products: home electronics: TV, DVD players, laptops.
Fujitsu - Lifebook laptions, desktop computers, handheld navSat (GPS) systems
Best known for its Lifebook range of laptops, Fujitsu also sells desktop computers and handheld navigation systems (GPS). Fujitsu Services Ltd has applied for 8 areas under the UK compulsory biometric identification scheme.
Products: home electronics: TV, DVD players, etc
IBM - Products: ThinkPad Laptops, Lotus and Tivoli software, home PCs, printers
Provider of the ThinkPad range of laptops; Lotus and Tivoli software (e.g. Lotus SmartSuite); desktop and business computers; and home PC printers. IBM is bidding for all areas under the UK compulsory biometric ID scheme.
Products: computers and associated services
Sharp - TVs, DVD Recorders, Calculators, Audio Systems, Microwaves, Fax, Projectors
Well known to the UK consumer, Sharp products can be found in most electrical and home appliance stores. Look out when buying TVs, recorders, and microwaves. If your kids want to take part in protecting their future, then get them to start today by boycotting Sharp's calculators!
Products: home electronics: TV, DVD players, calculators, etc