Consumers already under stress from rising prices are about to face another double whammy from two of our biggest companies.

Telecom has been hit with a $12m penalty, the highest imposed under the Commerce Act, for anti-competitive conduct dating back to 2001. The High Court found that from 2001 to 2004 Telecom unlawfully charged disproportionately high prices

Telecom executives' salaries are 'unacceptably high', says a shareholders group. 'They are blaming everyone but themselves for the company's faltering financial position', the group claims.

Soaring wholesale power prices last week have prompted complaints from 14 organisations, including ASB bank, Telecom, Vodafone and the owner of the Marsden Point oil refinery.

Internet plan set to replace one monopoly with another.

Attempts to develop phones for the female market have included a pink clamshell which opened to reveal a makeup mirror.

Connections to start at an estimated $47 a month.