News In Brief: O2 Germany, Gartner, Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent, Apple, Rogers Wireless

O2 Germany is set to slash its workforce by a fifth to remove duplicate roles created by integrating Hansenet into the business, local press reports state. The carrier bought Hansenet a local broadband provider, from Telecom Italia for €900 million in February.
 
Businesses in Asia Pacific are confident IT budgets will grow in 2011, with 72% of firms surveyed by Gartner expecting a 10% rise. Globally, 39% of firms forecast increased budgets.
 
Cisco attempted to set a world record yesterday, using its technology to conduct the world’s biggest art lesson by connecting schoolchildren in Asia Pacific, Greater China, Japan and the U.S.
 
Alcatel-Lucent has supplied a digital storefront to Canadian carrier Telus, which will sell multimedia services including mobile apps, games, ringtones and wallpapers.
 
Apple has reportedly filed a patent application for an improved technology to switch a touchscreen into a basic display mode that could replace its current proximity sensor set up.
 
Canadian operator Rogers Wireless has kicked off an LTE trial, using equipment supplied by Ericsson.