Submissions are open for public comment on the Australian federal government’s Convergence Review initiative, following the release of a document framing the review’s core principles. [ + ]

Research from analyst firm IDC reveals that more than 60% of Australian SMBs allow staff to work from home. However, many don't believe they are making the most of the mobility solutions available to them. [ + ]

Media specialist Louise McElvogue has taken the third and final spot on the federal government’s Convergence Review Committee, which will review Australia’s media and communications regulatory framework. [ + ]

The New Zealand Goverment has approved a joint proposal for rural broadband from Telezom NZ and Vodafone NZ. Work on the network is expected to commence in July. [ + ]

Vocus Communications, a telco wholesaler, will acquire 59 km of dark fibre in Sydney and Melbourne from Digital River Networks for a sum of $3.95 million, in order to expand into the supply of metro fibre services. [ + ]

Following a hacking attack on RSA Security, which may have compromised the integrity of RSA’s SecureID two-factor authentication tokens, CA Technologies is offering all RSA SecurID token customers an opportunity to trade their RSA tokens for CA ArcotID secure software credentials in a one-for-one swap. [ + ]

Global IT services company CSC will acquire Australian e-health solution provider iSOFT in order to strengthen its existing products and its healthcare integration and services portfolio. [ + ]

An Australian symposium on the role of social media during disasters will assess the role of tools such as Twitter and Facebook in the recent Queensland floods, Christchurch earthquake and in future crises. [ + ]

The earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan in recent weeks will cause disruptions to the Australian and New Zealand ICT markets and supply chains, according to IDC. [ + ]

Symantec researchers have detected a new phishing scam that targets job seekers, turns them into inadvertent money launderers and hands unlimited access to their bank accounts over to cybercriminals. [ + ]

Under a three-year contract with NBN Co, IBM Australia will build and manage business operational support systems for the Australian National Broadband Network. [ + ]

A new compliance campaign from ACMA will help stop telemarketing scammers purporting to be from antivirus companies who infect consumers’ computers with malware and steal users’ personal information. [ + ]

Eaton’s Blackout Tracker report identifies Queensland as the state reporting the greatest number of power outages in 2010. [ + ]

Following the introduction of the Product Stewardship Bill into federal parliament, the Australian Information Industry Association and Product Stewardship Australia have agreed to create a new product stewardship group to oversee the national e-waste recycling scheme. [ + ]

The small but influential voice logging industry is undergoing change. Australian customers will still have options. [ + ]