Wanted: 007 wannabes

HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The James Bond lure is out again. The British overseas intelligence service has launched a new web site to enlist recruits "" so would-be 007s can sign up online. The MI6 website contains the history of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), as well as frequently asked questions and information on how to become an officer.

"We never talk about the size of the service, because that's giving the opposition some advantage, but we are actively recruiting," an MI6 representative said. In the first hour after its launch on October 13, the web site recorded an astonishing 1,700 visitors.

Failing to dispel the myth around the glamour of spying, as portrayed by the Bond movies, the web site reads: "Staff who join SIS can look forward to a career that will have moments when the gap narrows just a little."

Spielberg tries hand with games

Best remebered as the director who worked magic with ET, Steven Spielberg is now looking to do the same with computer games giant Electronic Art (EA).

Spielberg has agreed to develop three original games with EA's Los Angeles studios. Work has already started on the first of the three projects, which EA says will be a next generation game which appeals to a broad audience.

The Oscar-winning director is said to be a passionate and avid gamer. As per the deal, Spielberg will create three original games, rather than a title based on a movie. "Having watched the game industry grow from a niche into a major creative force in entertainment, I have a great deal of respect for EA's understanding of the interactive format," said the illustrious director.

IM providers hook up

The cyber world dons, Microsoft and Yahoo, have decided to link up their free instant messaging services, giving the two extra muscle to compete against market leader AOL. The Yahoo-Microsoft partnership allows users of the two services to exchange messages instantly.

The tie-up is the first major alliance between two of the internet's main providers of instant messaging (IM). Yahoo chief executive Terry Semel said the deal was "a turning point for the IM industry". This is the first time two of the top instant messaging systems have communicated directly with each other. Before now, 'interoperability' was restricted to users within each separate service.

AOL "" owned by media giant Time Warner "" is currently the market leader in instant messaging with a 56 per cent market share, according to research firm Radicati. But the Microsoft-Yahoo alliance could be a formidable threat to AOL's dominance.

Show axed after fallout

Fox Television has cancelled a fourth series of reality TV show The Simple Life after its two stars, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, had a much publicised falling out.

The show proved a success as the two socialites ditched their millionaire lifestyles to travel across the US. Its production company is hoping another network will pick up the show, despite the fact the former friends are still publicly feuding. Fox said it "did not see a place" for the show in its schedules.

Bunim-Murray Productions, which produces the show with 20th Century Fox, said it was still behind the show. "We're very excited about the creative plans for the next group of episodes, and are confident this situation will be remedied quickly," it said in a statement.