However, Luzern Solutions, a Dublin-based firm that sells such goods via eBay, Amazon and ther online marketplaces, is looking to take them on on their own turf by heading over to the US.

The company's head of marketing Jackie Brannigan tells us how the web is shaping up as an overstock sales channel, and one that many manufacturers and retailers are still to exploit fully.

Many startups have failed in part because they couldn't successfully scale effectively and sensibly.

From Microsoft's attempted buyout of a struggling Yahoo to Cisco's disappointing financial outlook, it's clear that the Fun Train has left the station and the Reality Train is on its way.

Microsoft has totally failed to manage user expectations, to accommodate new Xbox users, and to cater for the spikes that were bound to appear over the holiday period. It’s a pity, since the Xbox Live experience, when it works, is nothing short of sensational, and should get better and better.

Complaints now outnumber service related queries, according to the study, while overall satisfaction levels have fallen nine points to an average of 645 out of 1000.

Microsoft plans to add a new social networking option to its Xbox Live platform, by allowing users of the service to connect with friends of friends.

The Dashboard Update will be introduced on December 4, to allow gamers to find friends, send messages and invites, and to compare games.

All of which prompts the question: Is Microsoft trying to become 'the new Facebook'?

Consumer electronics giant Philips has just launched a major redesign of its consumer website to improve usability and help shoppers “fully experience and interact with products as though they were right in front of them.”

The firm says it’s its biggest upgrade for three years. New features include a Google Maps mashup showing the location of retailers' outlets, as well as tools to allow greater interactivity on product pages. Philips also deployed technology to improve communication with retailers about stock availability and lead generation.

We spoke to Gilles Domartini, Philips Consumer Electronics’ VP & GM of online sales and marketing, to find out a bit more about how the company's e-commerce strategy is changing as brands seek to interact more closely with consumers.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 has overtaken the Wii as the most searched for games console in the US, according to figures from Hitwise.

The research group's Bill Tancer said the increase in searches was down to a combination of factors - hype about new games, rumours of a drop in prices, as well as 'red ring of death' issues.

The company has announced that it will be covering the costs of all repairs to the console, and has said that hardware failures will now be covered by a three-year warranty from the date of purchase.

We believe that the amount of noise in the blogosphere on this issue has to some degree forced Microsoft's hand.

Yahoo and ChannelForce surveyed 1,100 US adults in electrical stores, and found that the majority of electronics buyers researched their purchases online before visting the store.

Part of the google.org philanthropy project, RechargeIT is offering $1m to think-tanks looking at ways to drive up use of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Spammers last week managed to overcome security protections on the Italian ISP's computers to send large amounts of junk mail, resulting in many destination service providers barring mail from Tiscali users.

The issue exploded on Digg this week, when users began posting the code on the site. Digg initially responded to a cease and desist notice from the AACS by removing the posts and blocking some accounts, but then backed down in the face of user protests.

CNET News.com reports the companies are embarking on a "co-marketing initiative" that will give PC industry clients a one-stop-shop ad buying dashboard.