Ever wonder why cell phones are advised to be turned off inside the hospital? Basically, that unassuming piece of communications equipment can kill. Not by radiation (a different matter entirely), but by the interference it causes other hospital equipment. In the worst cases, the interference can cause hazardous situations.

A study in the University of Amsterdam found effects of cell phone interference in 26 different hospital equipment. Some 48 kinds of disruptions were found, more than a half of them hazardous. Although the research studied "worst-case" scenarios, it asserts that hospitals should restrict cell phone usage in areas where it won't affect equipment.

Some effects weren't alarming, like causing monitor displays to display some interference, but others were potentially dangerous. Some of the effects they found include inaccurate measure of blood pressure, a mechanical ventilator completely switching off and then restarting, syringe pumps totally shut down without warning and without setting off an alarm, and causing an external pacemaker to pulse incorrectly.

The research suggests that cell phones should be used about a meter away from medical equipments or hospital beds.

Playlogic Entertainment Inc. has a new International Sales Director: Pierre Thiercelin, a games industialist with over 8 years of experience in European and UK sales working for such publishers as Novalogic, Ignition and Midway.

Playlogic VP Stefan Layer speaks of Thiercelin's appoinment thus;

We are glad to welcome Pierre in our team in Amsterdam and we are looking forward to working with him. His presence will help strengthen our relationships with distribution partners, especially with regards to our forthcoming line-up.

We know Playlogic as an independent publisher of entertainment software for consoles, PCs, handhelds, mobile devices, and other digital media. The company distributes products worldwide through online and offline channels. So far, it's produced the following titles; Infernal, Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales, World Racing 2, Knights of the Temple 2 and Gene Troopers.

Pierre Thiercelin sounds excited about working for Playlogic, saying that he is delighted to join Playlogic, especially since their upcoming line-up promises quality, quantity and variety. He will be handling the extension of Playlogic's sales activities towards local distribution partners.

The Amsterdam-based, electronics giant Philips is prepping to reduce its ownership share in its Semiconductors division in the course of the second half of 2006 to a minority stake through an initial public offering of the company and/or sale of shares to financial investors, while continuing to evaluate industry consolidation opportunities.

In December 2005, the company announced that its Semiconductors division would be legally separated in order to generate value to Philips’ shareholders and to provide better ability to the division to achieve its business renewal objectives and become a stronger company. It seems like the Philips' camp is prepping for an all-out war with semiconductor giants like AMD and Intel.

In an e-mail from Philips’ President and CEO Mr. Gerard Kleisterlee, he mentioned that "the future deconsolidation of Semiconductors is a further step for Philips in moving away from a focus on high volume electronics and implementing a strategy to build a Healthcare, Lifestyle and Technology company with a strong market focus around the brand promise of Sense and Simplicity." In English, they are widening their horizons and trying to branch out to other fields.

The new semiconductors company will continue its business renewal strategy as well as consider additional measures to strengthen its portfolio in Mobile & Personal, Home, Automotive & Identification and Multi Market Semiconductors. The new company's name will be announced in the coming months and preparations for a separate stock exchange listing have started. With that, let the semiconductors showdown begin.