Home Audio Segment Goes From Strength to Strength: Futuresource Consulting
LONDON, August 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Worldwide home audio shipments are on the up, according to a new quarterly research
programme from Futuresource Consulting. The latest Q1 report shows that the market for
home audio - Integrated Audio Systems (IAS), Wireless Speakers and Soundbars - only
declined 10% in Q1 2014 after the strong holiday season in Q4 2013.
"Wireless connectivity continues to remain an important feature as the share of
wireless products increased from 74% in Q4 2013 to 79% in Q1 2014," says Rasika Iyer,
Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. "The share of Bluetooth remains dominant at 82%
of overall wireless audio shipments as soundbars and IAS models increasingly feature
Bluetooth as a basic functionality in audio products."
Wireless speakers shipped six million units in Q1 2014 and accounted for 55% of global
shipments and grew by 11% in Q1 2014 vs Q4 2013.
As the home audio market develops, Futuresource research indicates that soundbars and
wireless speaker prices start to drop through to 2018, however IAS prices will remain
relatively flat during the same time period. As the market continues to fluctuate,
Futuresource will look to explore the different business opportunities within the music
and audio arena at a half day event in London in October, further details below.
"North America is the largest region, 33% larger than the next largest, the Asia
Pacific region. The Asia Pacific region was notable due to a substantial increase in
shipments in Q1 2014 from Q4 2013, up more than 50%, a complete contrast to the other
regions," says Iyer. "This is due to a large audio vendor shipping huge quantities for a
new product launch."
Looking forward, Q4 shipments are set to increase from 17.3 million units in 2014 to
33.5 million units in 2018, with wireless speakers accounting for 22.9 million units.
The Audio Renaissance: A new event exploring the business opportunities within music
and audio, and bringing together key industry influencers to discuss the services,
hardware and content plays that will shape the future landscape. The event will take place
in London on the 23rd October 2014. For more information, please click here>>
[http://www.futuresource-consulting.com/futuresource-conferences-events.html ]
This is latest update report published as part of the Futuresource quarterly Home
Audio Tracker service. This 13 page report and accompanying data sheet focuses on the key
trends and performance characteristics of the market for Q1 2014, as well as looking
beyond to 2018.
Notes
Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting
company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging,
entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a
heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and
forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive
forces and technological developments. http://www.futuresource-consulting.com.
Authorised use of information
All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that
belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as
outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by
any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource.
Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it
as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research
report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as "Source:
Futuresource Consulting" and all graphics are credited with "Futuresource Consulting,
copyright 2014".
Futuresource Consulting
CONTACT: Futuresource Media Contact: For industry comment, forecasting and trends contact Andy C Watson on: Direct Dial +44-1582-500169, Email andy.watson@futuresource-hq.com, Web http://www.futuresource-consulting.com
Introducing SentiBotics Mobile Robotics Development Kit from Neurotechnology
SentiBotics enables the rapid development and testing of mobile robots and comes with software, sample programs, a tracked platform and grasping robotic arm, 3D vision, object recognition and autonomous navigation capabilities.
VILNIUS, Lithuania, Aug. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurotechnology, a provider of robotics and high-precision object recognition and biometric identification technologies, today announced the introduction of the SentiBotics Development Kit. SentiBotics includes a mobile robotic platform with a 3D vision system, modular robotic arm and accompanying Neurotechnology-developed, ROS-based software with complete source code. Documentation features detailed descriptions of the robotics algorithms. The programming samples included in the robotics development kit demonstrate a number of capabilities, including how to teach the robot to recognize and grasp objects and how to use the robot to create a map of the local environment that the robot can then use for autonomous navigation in the learned environment.
Based on years of dedicated robotics research and algorithm development, Neurotechnology's SentiBotics Development Kit provides researchers, academic institutions, robotics developers and hobbyists with a "ready-to-go" mobile robotic platform that can dramatically reduce the time and effort required to create the necessary infrastructure, hardware, component tuning and software functionality required for research and development of robots. All platform components can be easily obtained from manufacturers and suppliers worldwide, so developers can use SentiBotics as reference hardware to build their own units or to incorporate different platforms and materials.
"We designed SentiBotics to be a compact, integral and computationally capable robotics system that allows our customers to rapidly test their ideas in real world environments," said Dr. Povilas Daniusis, leader of the Neurotechnology robotics team. "With the included software, SentiBotics not only provides working examples of autonomous navigation, object recognition and grasping algorithms, it also allows users to immediately concentrate on their own algorithm development."
SentiBotics robot hardware includes the following components:
-- Tracked platform, capable of carrying a payload of up to 10kg.
-- Modular robotic arm, capable of lifting objects up to 0.5kg.
-- Two 3D cameras that allow the robot to "see" and recognize objects at a
range of 0.15 to 3.5 meters.
-- Powerful onboard computer (Intel NUC i5 computer with 8GB of RAM, 64 GB
SSD drive, 802.11N wireless network interface).
-- Durable 20AH lithium battery with charger.
-- Control pad.
SentiBotics software includes source code with the following components that are tuned to work with the SentiBotics hardware platform:
-- Manual control of all degrees of movement via a control pad. For
example, the user can manually drive the robot, rotate the joints of
robotic arm and grasp objects.
-- Manual on-line environment map building. This functionality allows the
user to build a map of the environment while driving the robot manually
(via joystick). Among other things, the map may then be used by the
robot for autonomous navigation to that previously-visited place.
-- Environment exploration with obstacle avoidance. When switched on,
environment exploration mode drives the robot randomly, continuously
trying to recognize and avoid obstacles.
-- Object learning and recognition. The user may teach the robot to
recognize a previously unknown object by placing it in front of the
robot's 3D camera "eyes" and assigning an identifier to it (e.g. "cup").
Once learned, the robot can recognize the object from different angles
and distances.
-- Autonomous navigation to a specified, previously-visited place. This
functionality allows the robot to travel by itself, using a
previously-constructed map and information from its sensors, to a
location that is specified by the user.
-- Basic grasping of an object within reach. Once properly calibrated, the
robot can grasp simple objects if they are recognized by the object
recognition system and are reachable by the arm.
-- Seek and grasp an object when the object is located in a previously
visited place. The robot navigates through its previously-mapped
locations until it directly recognizes the assigned object and grasps it
using the robotic arm.
The SentiBotics Development Kit also includes:
-- Details of all algorithms used, including descriptions and full
documentation.
-- ROS-based infrastructure that allows users to rapidly integrate third
party robotics algorithms, migrate to other hardware (or modify existing
hardware) and provides a unified framework for robotic algorithm
development.
-- Programming samples that can be used for testing or demonstration of the
robot's capabilities, including:
-- How to drive the robot platform and control the robotic arm with a
joystick.
-- How to build a map of the environment by simply driving the robot
around.
-- How to use the map for autonomous robot navigation.
-- How to teach the robot to recognize objects.
-- How to grasp a recognized object that is reachable by the robotic
arm.
-- How to grasp an object that is located in a previously-visited
place.
SentiBotics and the entire line of Neurotechnology products for AI, robotics, object recognition and biometric identification are available through Neurotechnology or from distributors worldwide. For more information, go to: http://www.Neurotechnology.com.
About Neurotechnology
Neurotechnology is a provider of high-precision biometric fingerprint, face, iris, palmprint and voice identification algorithms, object recognition technology, artificial intelligence/robotics and software development products. Neurotechnology's identification algorithms have consistently earned the highest honors in some of the industry's most rigorous competitions. Today more than 2500 system integrators, security companies and hardware providers integrate Neurotechnology's algorithms into their products, with millions of customer installations worldwide.
Drawing from years of academic research in the fields of neuroinformatics, image processing and pattern recognition, Neurotechnology was founded in 1990 in Vilnius, Lithuania and released its first fingerprint identification system in 1991. Since that time the company has released more than 80 products and version upgrades for identification and verification of objects and personal identity.
In 2004 Neurotechnology founded its artificial intelligence (AI) division and the company began research and development of mobile autonomous robots, associated algorithms and software. In 2014 Neurotechnology began commercializing their robotics technology with the introduction of the SentiBotics Development Kit.
Bemobi Offers New Subscription Revenue Model For Premium Android App Developers
New App Store, Available Through Mobile Carriers, Gives Subscribers Unlimited Downloads Of Select Apps; Model Provides Recurring Payments for Participating Developers
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Bemobi, an innovator in the mobile apps marketplace, today announced the debut of its subscription-based app store concept that offers carriers, developers and consumers a better alternative for best-in-class Android mobile apps. Initially available in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America, Bemobi gives Android mobile device owners unlimited use of select mobile apps through carriers, providing premium developers with increased long-term revenue based on a recurring monthly payment model.
Especially attractive in countries where credit card and debit card penetration is low, Bemobi changes the payments dynamic through its partnership with local and regional carriers. Bemobi's apps store is currently offered on a subscription basis through Brazilian mobile carrier Oi as a branded service. Subscription fees can be charged against the user's prepaid balance or added monthly to their post-paid billing statements. Either way, subscribers have access to a limited number of high-quality apps through Oi's service powered through Bemobi, in categories such as Music, Games, Utilities, Kids, Health, Education, Entertainment and more.
Bemobi expects to announce other carrier partnerships both inside and outside Brazil in the coming weeks. In 2014 and beyond, the company will be aggressively expanding its concept to Asia, India and eventually to North America.
"In many places in the world, Android app developers face an uphill battle in regards to revenue," said Pedro Ripper, Bemobi's Chief Executive Officer. "A key factor is the limited penetration of credit cards which severely restricts initial payments. By offering a strong subscription-based app store, billed to users through their monthly carrier statements, we've created a 'Netflix-style' service that works extremely well even in countries where credit cards and debit cards are more widely used. The concept circumvents the multiple drawbacks of Google Play and gives developers of high quality Android apps a way to significantly increase their revenue over time."
The Bemobi App Store is limited to a maximum of 500 apps, giving developers a high degree of exclusivity in their category. Because subscribers can download and use as many apps as they wish without additional cost, they are incentivized to explore new apps. Moreover, Bemobi is the first service of its kind to integrate with Facebook so that users can discover and experience new apps free of charge based on what their friends use and recommend.
Apps included in the Bemobi app store are chosen based on their high ratings with users, along with their current price point or pre-existing subscription model. Participating carriers preload the branded app store in all their Android devices and promote its use in order to maximize customer participation.
Oi's new Bemobi-powered app store, called the Oi Apps Clube, is available for download from the Google Play Store with a 15-day free trial offer. It will soon come preloaded on Android handsets sold by Oi. For more about Bemobi, developers can go to http://www.bemobi.com.br/appsclube/developers.
About Bemobi:
Bemobi is changing the mobile app monetization model for developers of high-quality Android apps through its innovative, subscription-based app store, available through wireless carriers. Its "Netflix-style" app store allows subscribers to explore, download and use as many apps as they wish from their Bemobi-powered and carrier branded app store, with recurring revenues shared by developers. Bemobi puts carriers in the apps value chain while also giving subscribers an easy way to enjoy an the best apps in music, games, utilities, health and more, on an unlimited-usage basis. Initially available in Brazil, Bemobi's app store is expanding in countries around the world. To learn more, log on to the Bemobi developer site at http://www.bemobi.com.br/appsclube/developers.
SOURCE Bemobi
Bemobi
CONTACT: Steve Simon, SS|PR, 847-415-9347, ssimon@sspr.com
Toshiba Unveils TZ5000 ApP Lite(TM) Starter Kit For Web Application Development
Fully integrated kits shorten time to market for streaming media, IoT and other devices
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)*, a committed leader that collaborates with technology companies to create breakthrough designs, today announced the RBTZ5000-2MA-A1 and RBTZ5000-6MA-A1 starter kits for development of web applications using the Toshiba TZ5000 Application Processor Lite (ApP Lite(TM)) series. By providing various drivers for rich Internet applications using HTML5, the fully integrated kits enable users to easily introduce embedded development environments - and thus speed time to market - for IoT (Internet of Things), streaming media and other content-rich consumer devices.
"Development of varied embedded development environments requires easier debugging for improved performance and power management," said Nalini Ranjan, senior business development manager, Logic LSI Business Unit at TAEC. "With these starter kits, Toshiba has created a solution that accommodates these requirements while allowing customers to quickly and easily implement the TZ5000 processors for high-demand multimedia applications, using their OS of choice."
Both kits feature processors with a dual-core ARM(®) Cortex(®)-A9 MPCore /ARM(®) NEON(TM) CPU with Bluetooth(®) 4.0 connectivity and an embedded IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2Ã2 MIMO baseband engine for WiFi(®) connectivity. Both provide drivers for video playback using Wireless LAN and HDMI(®) output, with the RBTZ5000-2MA-A1 on Ubuntu(®) Linux(®), and the RBTZ5000-6MA-A1 on an Android((TM)) 4.4 platform.
The RBTZ5000-2MA-A1includes a general-use board with expanded I/O for various peripherals, such as cameras or microphones. The RBTZ5000-6MA-A1, developed for transmission of audio, video and other media for streaming delivery, features a stick-type board suitable for streaming media devices. In addition, by incorporating various optional units, the kit enables improved development efficiency for a broad range of devices targeting the fast-growing IoT market.
Introduced in February 2014, the Toshiba TZ5000 series are application processors integrated with NAND flash memory and are baseband engine compliant with the next-generation high-speed wireless LAN standard IEEE 802.11ac. The product line combines, in one package, a high-speed wireless LAN feature capable of delivering a high-quality movie experience and NAND flash memory, which keeps user programs and large-volume data in temporary storage. The reduced number of parts and decreased footprint make it suitable for small-form-factor designs.
Availability
The TZ5000 ApP Lite starter kit samples will begin shipping in October 2014.
*About TAEC
Through proven commitment, lasting relationships and advanced, reliable electronic components, Toshiba enables its customers to create market-leading designs. Toshiba is the heartbeat within product breakthroughs from OEMs, ODMs, CMs, VARs, distributors and fabless chip companies worldwide. A committed electronic components leader, Toshiba designs and manufactures high-quality flash memory-based storage solutions, solid state drives (SSDs), hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state hybrid drives (SSHDs), discrete devices, custom SoCs/ASICs, imaging products, microcontrollers, wireless components, mobile peripheral devices, advanced materials and medical tubes that make possible today's leading smartphones, tablets, cameras, medical devices, automotive electronics, industrial applications, enterprise solutions and more.
Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, Japan's largest semiconductor manufacturer and the world's sixth largest semiconductor manufacturer (Gartner, 2013 Worldwide Semiconductor Revenue, April 2014). Founded in Tokyo in 1875, Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of over 590 consolidated companies employing over 200,000 people worldwide. Visit Toshiba's web site at http://www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.
ApP Lite is a trademark of Toshiba Corporation. ARM, Cortex, and NEON are registered trademarks of ARM Ltd. Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Toshiba Corporation under license. Wifi is a registered trademark of the Wifi Alliance. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Ubuntu is a registered trademark of Canonical Ltd. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. HDMI is a registered trademark of HDMI Licensing, LLC in the United States and/or other countries.
Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.
AGENCY CONTACT: COMPANY CONTACT:
Lisa Gillette-Martin Deborah Chalmers
MCA Public Relations Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.
Kabam, Undead Labs Unite to Bring the Imaginative World of Moonrise to Mobile Gamers
New RPG to debut at PAX Prime in Seattle
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kabam, the leader in the western world for free-to-play games for traditional players, today announced it is working with Undead Labs to develop Moonrise, a brand new role playing game (RPG) for mobile devices.
This deal marks the first time the two companies have jointly worked on a game. Kabam is a global leader in the free-to-play and mobile games space creating such durable franchises as Kingdom of Camelot, Dragons of Atlantis, and The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth each generating more than $100 million in revenue. Undead Labs is the creator of State of Decay, the innovative zombie survival-fantasy game that was the fastest selling original game in Xbox Live Arcade history, and is now among the top sellers of all time on that platform.
"We are thrilled to partner with Undead Labs. They are a veteran team that has worked on some of the greatest game franchises of all time," said Aaron Loeb, senior vice president of Kabam's North American Studios. "Their new creation, Moonrise, will bring a truly next generation mobile experience to gamers around the world."
Seattle-based Undead Labs was founded by games industry veteran Jeff Strain, whose career in games includes work at Blizzard Entertainment programming for StarCraft and Diablo, as well as forming the team that kicked off development of World of Warcraft. Following that, Strain co-founded ArenaNet, where he was programmer and executive producer for the Guild Wars franchise, which went on to sell more than six million units.
"We're a gamer-focused studio with a great console pedigree," said Strain. "And Kabam is a world-class publisher focused on delivering console-quality games on mobile devices. It's a perfect match."
Moonrise will have its worldwide debut at the PAX Prime convention on August 29, 2014 in Seattle, Washington.
With offices throughout the U.S. as well as China, South Korea, England, Germany and Canada, Kabam delivers hit games to global audiences to create long-lasting franchises. Kabam games are routinely among the top 25 grossing games on the app store charts, and in 2013 Kabam had two of the top ten grossing apps in the App Store. Kabam closed 2013 with more than $360 million in revenues, a 100 percent increase over 2012.
In addition to hit first-party games, Kabam is uniquely positioned in the free-to-play industry with deep Hollywood partnerships that produce hit mobile titles such as The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth, Fast & Furious 6: The Game as well as the forthcoming The Hunger Games. Kabam also has a robust publishing platform that delivers hit games from Asia to global audiences.
About Kabam
Kabam is the leader in the western world for free-to-play games for traditional players with first and third party published titles available on mobile devices via the Apple AppStore, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, and on the Web via Facebook, Yahoo, Kabam.com and other platforms. Kabam is the fastest growing Internet media company in the San Francisco Bay Area and the 17th fastest growing company overall in the U.S., according to Deloitte LLP. Kabam's 2013 revenues exceeded $360 million, a 100 percent increase over 2012. The company is profitable and cash-flow positive, and has created four titles that have grossed more than $100M each in their life. Kabam's Kingdoms of Camelot franchise has grossed more than $250 million in less than four years, making it one of the top 10 strategy franchises of all time. In 2012, Kabam Publishing was launched to provide third-party developers access to Kabam's technology platform, distribution channels, data analytics and best practices that Kabam's in-house development teams use to bring wildly successful games to players worldwide. Kabam has approximately 800 employees around the world, with corporate headquarters in San Francisco. The company's investors include Google, Warner Brothers, MGM, Intel, Canaan Partners, Redpoint Ventures, Pinnacle Ventures and others. More information about Kabam can be found at http://www.kabam.com.
About Undead Labs
Undead Labs was founded in late 2009 by Jeff Strain around a crew of talented industry veterans, with a mission to take online gaming in bold new directions. The Lab's first game, the zombie survival-fantasy title, State of Decay, launched in June 2013 and sold over a million copies in its first six weeks, making it the fastest selling original IP ever to hit Xbox Live Arcade. Based on the continued success of the game, in January 2014 Undead Labs and Microsoft announced a multi-year, multi-title partnership to continue development of the State of Decay franchise. A second partnership with leading mobile publisher Kabam was announced in August of 2014, with the beautiful new role-playing game Moonrise coming soon to mobile devices.
Newly Patented Verve (TM) Illuminated Safety Vest Launches Across U.S.
Breakthrough level of safety for cyclists to construction workers
LEXINGTON, Ky., Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A new, patented LED-embedded illuminated safety vest, developed and made in America, promises to help save tens of thousands of lives lost annually along roadways around the world, according to the Kentucky-based creators and manufacturers of the one-of-a-kind, waterproof, and machine washable Verve(TM) vest.
Kevin Winzer and Seth McBee, creators of You Saw Me and inventors of the breakthrough safety vest are intent on "revolutionizing the way business and governments worldwide perceive visibility safety in daily living".
McBee, a former nuclear engineer and avid runner, cyclist, and concert goer, says what makes the vest unique is its proprietary integration of 60 waterproof light emitting diodes (LEDs), making it highly visible from the front and back from more than one mile. This feature was instrumental in not only obtaining U.S. Patent and Trademark Office protection (No. 8,449,133) but in its application for American Nationals Standards Institute (ANSI) retro reflective certification. The LEDs can either be steady, flash, or dimmed, and are powered by a 9-Volt battery that lasts for more than 30 hours of continuous use (a rechargeable option is available). The vests are fully waterproof and machine washable, and include a front and back pocket for cell phones, or other belongings. The RGB Verve has 20 dimmable steady-state colors and 19 speed-controlled color-changing modes.
In October 2013, McBee resigned from his position as a nuclear engineer and went to Lexington, Kentucky to couch surf with his former college roommate to give the Verve the full-time attention it required. Equipped with prototypes built in Winzer's basement, McBee won several "Shark Tank" style pitch contests, including a $25,000 investment from an angel group. He set up manufacturing in Liberty, Kentucky, using former Oshkosh seamstresses that were furloughed when the company moved operations to Taiwan; and McBee and Winzer launched the Verve.
The vest is easily customized for numerous safety-first applications: recreational users (walkers, runners, and overall attention seekers), industry users (emergency personnel, construction crews, and anyone working in low-light conditions) and motorcyclists; their motoVerVe is a patented technology for integrating the vest's LEDs to transmit the rider's running, brake and signal lights, exponentially improving safety. For more information, please visit http://www.yousawme.com.
AVT customer is grabbing market share in $2 trillion travel and tourism industry
CORONA, Calif., Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AVT, Inc. (OTC Markets: AVTC) (http://www.autoretail.com), a leader in automated systems for the marijuana industry, announced today that the three systems their customer has in place at the famous Emerald Grande Resort in Destin, Florida are generating profits that are exceeding forecasts.
OpticWash is the world's first automated kiosk that cleans and sanitizes eyeglasses, sunglasses and jewelry to perfection in a matter of moments. The famous resort has three Opticwash systems in different locations throughout the property.
According to Bryan Myers, CEO of Opticwash, the units are turning a profit by simply sitting there. "People are attracted to the unique design of the system," he said. "We have not done any promotion or marketing whatsoever, so all of these hundreds of customers are simply walking near the machine and becoming captivated, so they give it a try."
The Opticwash system uses Reverse Osmosis water, which is filtered to the point where it has no minerals or organics, and can attack and absorb dirt on contact. Additionally, an ultraviolet light source kills up to 99.9% of bacteria. This is especially important with the many concerns about contagious diseases that have invaded America lately.
Over 4 billion people worldwide need or wear some type of corrective glasses. Over $18 billion dollars is spent on eyewear each year, and the Opticwash kiosk is the only convenient way to remove the bacteria around the nose bridge or frame areas and protect eyewear from the scratches caused by hand cleaning.
Opticwash recently placed a purchase order worth over $6 million with AVT for the manufacturing of new systems.
"We are extremely confident about the future," Myers commented. "Our target placement universe includes top retailers, optical centers, hotels, hospitals, factories and even movie theaters," he added. "There are well over 500,000 ideal locations just in the United States for our remarkable system."
Sagemcom Launches a Portfolio of GPON and EPON Gateways Supporting the Industry's Fastest Gigabit Services Over Fiber
RUEIL-MALMAISON, France, August 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Sagemcom extends its leadership in communication terminals with a high-value add by
launching a portfolio of solutions enabling Internet Service Providers to support greater
than 1GBPS speeds to their subscribers.
Sagemcom presents its portfolio of PON Gateways supporting GPON, EPON and preparing
for 10-Gig EPON. These new solutions provide Internet Service Providers a cost effective
way to offer the most advanced Gigabit services including the support of advanced features
such as IPTV, RF Video, best in class WiFi services with Wave 2 802.11ac, and
voice-over-ip (VoIP).
Leveraging Sagemcom's middleware which is currently deployed worldwide, these PON
gateways bring together the highest broadband speeds along with the fastest in home
networking. This combination of high speed internet and high speed home networking all in
one device ensures that subscribers truly experience the benefit of Gigabit services.
"Our customers are demanding integrated devices supporting greater than 1Gibabit
speeds that can both satisfy their subscribers' bandwidth requirements and be easily
managed in their eco-system. Leveraging a common software platform widely deployed and our
experience integrating multiple technologies in a single cost effective product, I am
pleased to announce the availability of this new portfolio," quoted Ahmed Selmani, Deputy
CEO of Sagemcom Broadband.
Sagemcom models include:
Fast 5360 - Wireless Home Gateway with integrated SFP module
Fast 5655 - GPON Wireless Home Gateway with RF Overlay
Fast 5656 - EPON Wireless Gateway
About Sagemcom
A French high-tech group of international dimensions, Sagemcom operates on the
broadband (digital home, set-top boxes, Internet routers, telephony and multimedia
terminals), telecoms and energy (smartgrid and energy management) and retail.
With a revenue of around 1.3 billion euros, Sagemcom employs 4,600 people on five
continents; currently a European leader on most of its key markets, Sagemcom aims to
become a world leader in communicating terminals with high added value.
Procera Networks Launches Groundbreaking RAN Perspectives Solution for Mobile Network Operators
Real-time mobile location and RAN QoE awareness deliver enhanced subscriber experience
FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Procera Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: PKT), the global Subscriber Experience company, today announced the launch of RAN Perspectives, a ground-breaking new Subscriber Experience solution for mobile broadband operators that delivers real-time location and RAN QoE awareness. RAN Perspectives is a software solution that provides real-time location and radio access network (RAN) quality of experience (QoE) data that can be leveraged to enhance the mobile broadband experience for consumers.
RAN Perspectives adds valuable RAN awareness to a mobile operators' network intelligence, dramatically reducing their deployment of probes and the costs associated with drive testing while expanding their visibility into the RAN in real-time to gain insight and take action.
"Mobile operators exist in an extremely competitive environment that makes customer experience very important, both to reduce churn and also to rollout and assure the quality of high-value services that consumers will pay extra for," said Anil Rao, senior analyst, service assurance at Analysys Mason. "RAN data and intelligence on roaming customers' service quality is of critical importance for operators looking to improve the subscriber experience and further monetize their infrastructure investments."
"RAN Perspectives was developed to solve one of the biggest challenges for mobile operators, providing real-time location and quality information in a cost-effective manner that they can use to deliver higher quality mobile broadband services," said Alexander Haväng, CTO of Procera Networks. "RAN Perspectives is the first Procera product designed specifically for mobile Subscriber quality of experience, and integrates tightly into our existing PacketLogic solutions, including our Customer Care Insights offering that can now deliver real-time forensics on the RAN connection as well as on the data connection for mobile devices."
"The proliferation of mobile devices coupled with the expanding use of data-intensive applications such as mobile video has led to increasing congestion in the RAN that can dramatically reduce subscriber QoE," said Shira Levine, directing analyst, Service Enablement and Subscriber Intelligence at Infonetics Research. "A device-based solution such as RAN Perspectives has the potential to more effectively manage congestion while enabling a broad array of additional services, solutions and applications, which could have dramatic implications for mobile networks."
RAN Perspectives is a Subscriber Experience solution that integrates into a PacketLogic(TM) deployment providing real-time location and RAN quality information that can be leveraged to enhance the mobile experience. Unlocking real-time location awareness and RAN signal quality measurements opens up a number of operational and service opportunities that Procera will roll out over the next 12 months, with the initial offerings including:
-- Customer Care Insights solution with integrated RAN and IP mobile
broadband-centric subscriber diagnostics for customer care teams.
-- RAN Perspectives-based view for Insights that delivers analytics for
quality, congestion, applications, and out-of-coverage hotspots in the
mobile network for marketing and engineering teams.
-- RAN congestion management based on real-time location awareness to
identify and take action on congested areas, enhancing subscriber QoE.
-- Location-based service plan offerings including location-specific policy
enforcement and charging for marketing teams.
-- Crowd-sourced minimized drive testing and out of coverage registration
for RAN engineering teams.
RAN Perspectives is available for beta testing, and is expected to be generally available in the first quarter of 2015.
About Procera Networks, Inc.
Procera Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: PKT), the global Subscriber Experience company, is revolutionizing the way operators and vendors monitor, manage and monetize their network traffic. Elevate your business value and improve customer experience with Procera's sophisticated intelligence solutions. For more information, visit http://www.proceranetworks.com or follow Procera on Twitter at @ProceraNetworks.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements related to Procera Networks, Inc., including statements relating to the introduction of a new product and solutions, the potential new applications for Procera's products, the performance of and demand for Procera's new products and solutions, the timing of general availability and the ability to generate revenue from new products and solutions, and the ability of its products and solutions to interoperate effectively with other technologies and meet the requirements of customers. Statements in this release that are not historical or current facts are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to the acceptance and adoption of Procera's products and solutions; the Company's ability to service and upgrade its products; its dependence on a limited product line and key customers; its dependence on key employees; its ability to compete in our industry with companies that are significantly larger and have greater resources; its ability to protect its intellectual property rights in a global market; its ability to manufacture product quickly enough to meet potential demand; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in the Company's documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. More information about these and other risks that may impact Procera Networks' business are described in the "Risk Factors" sections of its Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2013 and its Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, and other reports filed with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov or on Procera's website at http://www.proceranetworks.com. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Procera as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statement for any reason.
Press Contact
Bob Eastwood, Engage PR for Procera Networks, 510-748-8200 x215,
beastwood@engagepr.com
HGST Research Demonstrates World's Fastest SSD At Flash Memory Summit
Technology Demonstration Highlights New HGST Architecture for Future Non-Volatile Memory Components, Enabling PCIe-attached SSD to Deliver Three Million I/Os per second and 1.5us Access Time
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Flash Memory Summit 2014 (HGST Booth #316) - Enterprise storage leader HGST, a Western Digital company (NASDAQ: WDC), today is previewing a new architecture for solid-state drives (SSDs) that enables applications to provide faster insights to the data-intensive questions of tomorrow. The demonstration shows unprecedented SSD performance levels that are achieved by utilizing a combination of HGST's new, latency-optimized interface protocols with next-generation non-volatile memory components.
The SSD demonstration utilizes a PCIe interface and delivers three million random read IOs per second of 512 bytes each when operating in a queued environment and a random read access latency of 1.5 microseconds (us) in non-queued settings, delivering results that cannot be achieved with existing SSD architectures and NAND Flash memories. This performance is orders of magnitude faster than existing Flash based SSDs, resulting in a new class of block storage devices.
"The PCM SSD demonstration is a great example for how HGST sets the pace of the rapidly evolving storage industry," said Steve Campbell, chief technology officer, HGST. "This technology is the result of several years of research and advanced development aimed at delivering new levels of acceleration for enterprise applications. The combination of HGST's low-latency interface protocol and next-generation non-volatile memories delivers unprecedented performance, and creates exciting opportunities for new software and system architectures that HGST is exploring with our customers and industry partners."
Applications for Future Non-Volatile Memory in SSDs
The memory used in this SSD consists of Phase Change Memory (PCM) components with a capacity of 1Gb. PCM is one of several new classes of high-density, non-volatile memories that exhibit dramatically faster read access times when compared to NAND Flash memory.
In order to fully expose the capabilities of these new memory technologies to the server system and its software applications, HGST has also developed a low-latency interface architecture that is fully optimized for performance and is agnostic to the specific underlying memory technology. HGST used its controller expertise to integrate the 45 nm 1Gb PCM chips to build a prototype full height, full length PCIe Gen 2x4 SSD card.
To achieve latencies close to 1us, HGST devised, in conjunction with researchers at the University of California, San Diego, a new communication protocol. This new interface protocol was introduced earlier this year at the 2014 Usenix conference on File and Storage Technologies (FAST).
A New Class of Storage
"Three million IOPs is exceptional, but that is not the most exciting part of the demonstration," said Dr. Zvonimir Bandic, manager of Storage Architecture at HGST Research. "What is really exciting is to be able to deliver latencies close to 1us for small block random reads. This is something that just cannot be done with NAND Flash and current controller and interface technologies."
The most dramatic advantage these emerging NVMs have over NAND Flash is that their read latency is shorter by more than two orders of magnitude. In order to harness this intrinsic advantage, new controller and interface technologies are needed. Current state-of-the-art NVMe protocol is not a problem in the context of NAND Flash but will be inadequate for these emerging NVM technologies that will introduce a new class of storage into the data center ecosystem.
The HGST PCM SSD will be demonstrated in the HGST booth #316 at the 2014 Flash Memory Summit in the Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 and Thursday, August 7, 2014.
For more information about Research & Development at HGST, please visit the Science of Storage section at http://www.hgst.com.
Follow HGST on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and #HGSTStorage
About HGST
HGST, a Western Digital company (NASDAQ: WDC), develops innovative, advanced hard disk drives, enterprise-class solid state drives, external storage solutions and services used to store, preserve and manage the world's most valued data. HGST addresses customers' rapidly changing storage needs by delivering intelligent storage devices that tightly integrate hardware and software to maximize solution performance. Founded by the pioneers of hard drives, HGST provides high-value storage for a broad range of market segments, including Enterprise, Cloud, Datacenter, Mobile Computing, Consumer Electronics and Personal Storage. HGST was established in 2003 and maintains its U.S. headquarters in San Jose, California. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.hgst.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to expected demand for certain categories of SSDs and our ability to deliver and availability dates for SSD products. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including changes in markets, demand, technology challenges and limitations, global economic conditions and other risks and uncertainties listed in Western Digital's recent SEC filings, to which your attention is directed. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak on as of the date hereof, and HGST/WD undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
One GB is equal to one billion bytes, and one TB equals 1,000 GB (one trillion bytes). Actual capacity will vary depending on operating environment and formatting.
All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
HGST Leads The Expanding Enterprise Flash Storage Market With New Offerings For Application Acceleration
HGST Rolls out New PCIe SSD and Flash Caching Software that Provide Industry-leading I/O Performance
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 2014 FLASH MEMORY SUMMIT (Booth #316), -HGST, a Western Digital company (NASDAQ: WDC), today announced the launch of its new FlashMAX(TM) III family of PCIe accelerators, which deliver a dramatic improvement in price/performance for today's most demanding database and cloud workloads. Also introduced today is the new HGST ServerCache(TM) software that allows IT administrators to inject acceleration into their existing storage infrastructure by quickly and easily deploying a hybrid flash environment with any SSD.
"For businesses to remain competitive, application performance matters. Data needs to be instantly accessible for real-time processing, analytics and insights," said Ulrich Hansen, vice president of SSD product marketing, HGST. "To address this need, enterprise customers are actively looking to add flash into their storage infrastructure. Whether focused on peak application acceleration with an all-SSD environment, improving lagging performance by tiering or using caching to leverage combined HDD and flash environments, our new hardware and software solutions help strike that balance among performance, complexity and cost."
HGST's new FlashMAX III PCIe SSD and ServerCache software are suited for performance-intensive applications including databases, SQL servers, data warehouses, big data deployment and video post-production applications. Each address distinct needs for flash storage solutions based on performance, capacity, cost and deployment time requirements.
Key benefits of FlashMAX III PCIe accelerators include:
-- New levels of application performance - Built for extreme application
performance, FlashMAX III delivers up to 540,000 Random Read IOPS (4K)
and up to 200,000 Mixed Sustained Random IOPS (70:30 R:W) from a single
half-height, half-length PCIe SSD.
-- Dramatic improvements in price/performance - With up to double the
price/performance, FlashMAX III offers new levels of value over its
prior generation.
-- Support for the latest generation of servers - FlashMAX III supports PCI
Express 3.0, the latest version of the PCI Express interconnect
supported by today's newest server platforms.
Key benefits of ServerCache server software include:
-- Increased storage I/O performance - Eliminates storage bottlenecks by
creating an SSD cache of the most frequently used data with up to a 10x
improvement in performance utilizing any SSD.
-- Low cost adoption and simplicity - Delivers high performance with fewer
SSDs, with little ongoing monitoring or expense, and absolutely no
changes to existing storage infrastructure, applications and backup
systems.
-- Compatible with a large variety of block-based storage - Runs on any
server application hosted on either a Storage Area Network (SAN) or
Direct Attached Storage (DAS) system running Windows Server or Linux.
Driven by accelerated customer demand, and backed by customer endorsed, field-proven technologies as well as HGST's commitment to quality, the new FlashMAX III PCIe SSD delivers leading enterprise-class specifications such as 2M hours MTBF and includes a five-year limited warranty. Along with ServerCache, this product family continues to broaden HGST's flash portfolio.
FlashMAX III will be available in Q3 2014, and is currently being qualified by select OEMs. ServerCache is available now for a free 30-day live trial download and for purchase at $995 per physical server.
Follow HGST on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and #HGSTStorage
About HGST
HGST, a Western Digital company (NASDAQ: WDC), develops innovative, advanced hard disk drives, enterprise-class solid state drives, external storage solutions and services used to store, preserve and manage the world's most valued data. HGST addresses customers' rapidly changing storage needs by delivering intelligent storage devices that tightly integrate hardware and software to maximize solution performance. Founded by the pioneers of hard drives, HGST provides high-value storage for a broad range of market segments, including Enterprise, Cloud, Data Center, Mobile Computing, Consumer Electronics and Personal Storage. HGST was established in 2003 and maintains its U.S. headquarters in San Jose, California. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.hgst.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to expected demand for certain categories of SSDs and our ability to deliver and availability dates for SSD products. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including changes in markets, demand, technology challenges and limitations, global economic conditions and other risks and uncertainties listed in Western Digital's recent SEC filings, to which your attention is directed. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak on as of the date hereof, and HGST/WD undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
FlashMAX and ServerCache are trademarks of HGST, Inc. and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
One GB is equal to one billion bytes, and one TB equals 1,000 GB (one trillion bytes). Actual capacity will vary depending on operating environment and formatting.
HED Launches the First 55nm Smart Card Chip Based on SMIC's 55nm LL eFlash Platform
SHANGHAI, Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) and CEC Huada Electronic Design Co., Ltd. ("HED") jointly announced today that HED has launchedChina's first 55nm smart card chip based on SMIC's 55nm LL (low leakage) eFlash (embedded flash) platform. With the benefits of being smaller in size, lower power consumption and faster performance, it has been put into mass production and is being widely recognized by customers.
SMIC's 55nm LL eFlash platform offers high-performance and low-cost solutions to customers. The platform has complete logic compatibility and all of our extensive 1.2V logic library IPs can be applied to this embedded platform. The lower logic voltage of the 1.2V core device reduces the chips' power consumption and maximizes their performance. In addition, the performance and reliability has been made more efficient with the use of Cu-BEoL (Back-end of Line). This allows a higher electric current density in the existing design by having a lower electrical resistance caused by Copper's electro-migration. The surface area of the chips has shrunk significantly and the smaller cell size allows the application of large flash memory possible. As the flash cell continues to shrink, the chip area will be further optimized to make it more economical. At present, the technology platform has passed the product reliability test and can meet the application requirements of standard smart cards. Based on this platform, HED has successfully launchedChina's first advanced 55nm smart card chip to market.
"HED is committed to exploring new technologies and applications, such as 55nm analog circuit design and system design technologies, and 12" wafer testing and dicing technologies. The research results have been applied to product development and allow new products to be launched into market more quickly. " said Mr. Dong Haoran, General Manager of HED, "the successful cooperation with SMIC on 55nm smart card chip further strengthens our leading position in this field inChina, and also demonstrates SMIC's efforts on developing advanced technologies. We're impressed with SMIC's stable and complete technology platform and believe we can work together to offer customers products that are low-cost, power efficient, highly reliable and durable."
"SMIC focuses on providing differentiated products and high-quality services to customers and meet their needs with highly integrated advanced technology platforms and high-efficient solutions," said Dr.Tzu-Yin Chiu, chief executive officer and executive director of SMIC. "HED has been a driver inChina's smart card chip technologies. We are pleased to become its partner and help launch its leading smart card chip product. With the rapid growth ofChina's smart card market, SMIC will continue to collaborate with HED and help customers expand the market and obtain more shares with advanced technology platforms and world class services."
About HED
CEC Huada Electronic Design Co., Ltd. (HED) is an IC design company established inJune 2002, and was previously known as Huada Integrated Circuit Design Center, the first IC design sector in mainlandChina. In 2009, HED became a wholly owned subsidiary company of China Electronics Corporation Holdings Co. Ltd., which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (00085.HKSE).
HED specializes in IC design, development, sales and provides solutions to customers mainly in smart cards, internet of things and satellite navigation applications. Its products are widely used in the second-generation ID card, as well as other sectors in social security, refueling, mobile communication, public utilities, transportation, anti-counterfeiting of commodity, asset management, location information services, etc.
With many years of design and application development experience, HED has become one of the most comprehensive companies in smart card chip with significant market share in various application fields. Being the leader of the industry and also one of the top 10 IC design companies inChina, HED has contributed towards setting up many national and industrial standards.
About SMIC
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in mainlandChina. SMIC provides integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35-micron to 28-nanometer. Headquartered inShanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and a 200mm mega-fab inShanghai; a 300mm mega-fab in Beijing and a majority owned 300mm fab for advance nodes under development; a 200mm fab inTianjin; and a 200mm fab project under development in Shenzhen. SMIC also has marketing and customer service offices in the U.S.,Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, and a representative office inHong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.smics.com <http://www.smics.com/>.
Safe Harbor Statements
(Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)
This document contains, in addition to historical information, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on SMIC's current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. SMIC uses words like "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project" and similar expressions to identify forward looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of SMIC's senior management and involve significant risks, both known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SMIC's actual performance, financial condition or results of operations to be materially different from those suggested by the forward-looking statements including, among others, risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in the semiconductor industry, intense competition, timely wafer acceptance by SMIC's customers, timely introduction of new technologies, SMIC's ability to ramp new products into volume, supply and demand for semiconductor foundry services, industry overcapacity, shortages in equipment, components and raw materials, availability of manufacturing capacity, financial stability in end markets and intensive intellectual property litigation in high tech industry.
In addition to the information contained in this document, you should also consider the information contained in our other filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC onApril 14, 2014, especially in the "Risk Factors" section and such other documents that we may file with the SEC or SEHK from time to time, including on Form 6-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this document may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated or, if no date is stated, as of the date of this document.
SMIC Contact Information:
English Media Michael CheungTel: +86-21-3861-0000 x16812Email: Michael_Cheung@smics.com <mailto:Michael_Cheung@smics.com>
Chinese MediaAngela MiaoTel: +86-21-3861-0000 x10088Email: Angela_Miao@smics.com <mailto:Angela_Miao@smics.com>
SOURCE Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
HED Launches the First 55nm Smart Card Chip Based on SMIC's 55nm LL eFlash Platform
SHANGHAI, Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) and CEC Huada Electronic Design Co., Ltd. ("HED") jointly announced today that HED has launched China's first 55nm smart card chip based on SMIC's 55nm LL (low leakage) eFlash (embedded flash) platform. With the benefits of being smaller in size, lower power consumption and faster performance, it has been put into mass production and is being widely recognized by customers.
SMIC's 55nm LL eFlash platform offers high-performance and low-cost solutions to customers. The platform has complete logic compatibility and all of our extensive 1.2V logic library IPs can be applied to this embedded platform. The lower logic voltage of the 1.2V core device reduces the chips' power consumption and maximizes their performance. In addition, the performance and reliability has been made more efficient with the use of Cu-BEoL (Back-end of Line). This allows a higher electric current density in the existing design by having a lower electrical resistance caused by Copper's electro-migration. The surface area of the chips has shrunk significantly and the smaller cell size allows the application of large flash memory possible. As the flash cell continues to shrink, the chip area will be further optimized to make it more economical. At present, the technology platform has passed the product reliability test and can meet the application requirements of standard smart cards. Based on this platform, HED has successfully launched China's first advanced 55nm smart card chip to market.
"HED is committed to exploring new technologies and applications, such as 55nm analog circuit design and system design technologies, and 12" wafer testing and dicing technologies. The research results have been applied to product development and allow new products to be launched into market more quickly. " said Mr. Dong Haoran, General Manager of HED, "the successful cooperation with SMIC on 55nm smart card chip further strengthens our leading position in this field in China, and also demonstrates SMIC's efforts on developing advanced technologies. We're impressed with SMIC's stable and complete technology platform and believe we can work together to offer customers products that are low-cost, power efficient, highly reliable and durable."
"SMIC focuses on providing differentiated products and high-quality services to customers and meet their needs with highly integrated advanced technology platforms and high-efficient solutions," said Dr. Tzu-Yin Chiu, chief executive officer and executive director of SMIC. "HED has been a driver in China's smart card chip technologies. We are pleased to become its partner and help launch its leading smart card chip product. With the rapid growth of China's smart card market, SMIC will continue to collaborate with HED and help customers expand the market and obtain more shares with advanced technology platforms and world class services."
About HED
CEC Huada Electronic Design Co., Ltd. (HED) is an IC design company established in June 2002, and was previously known as Huada Integrated Circuit Design Center, the first IC design sector in mainland China. In 2009, HED became a wholly owned subsidiary company of China Electronics Corporation Holdings Co. Ltd., which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (00085.HKSE).
HED specializes in IC design, development, sales and provides solutions to customers mainly in smart cards, internet of things and satellite navigation applications. Its products are widely used in the second-generation ID card, as well as other sectors in social security, refueling, mobile communication, public utilities, transportation, anti-counterfeiting of commodity, asset management, location information services, etc.
With many years of design and application development experience, HED has become one of the most comprehensive companies in smart card chip with significant market share in various application fields. Being the leader of the industry and also one of the top 10 IC design companies in China, HED has contributed towards setting up many national and industrial standards.
About SMIC
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in mainland China. SMIC provides integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35-micron to 28-nanometer. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and a 200mm mega-fab in Shanghai; a 300mm mega-fab in Beijing and a majority owned 300mm fab for advance nodes under development; a 200mm fab in Tianjin; and a 200mm fab project under development in Shenzhen. SMIC also has marketing and customer service offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, and a representative office in Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.smics.com.
Safe Harbor Statements
(Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)
This document contains, in addition to historical information, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on SMIC's current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. SMIC uses words like "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project" and similar expressions to identify forward looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of SMIC's senior management and involve significant risks, both known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SMIC's actual performance, financial condition or results of operations to be materially different from those suggested by the forward-looking statements including, among others, risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in the semiconductor industry, intense competition, timely wafer acceptance by SMIC's customers, timely introduction of new technologies, SMIC's ability to ramp new products into volume, supply and demand for semiconductor foundry services, industry overcapacity, shortages in equipment, components and raw materials, availability of manufacturing capacity, financial stability in end markets and intensive intellectual property litigation in high tech industry.
In addition to the information contained in this document, you should also consider the information contained in our other filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 14, 2014, especially in the "Risk Factors" section and such other documents that we may file with the SEC or SEHK from time to time, including on Form 6-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this document may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated or, if no date is stated, as of the date of this document.
SMIC Contact Information:
English Media
Michael Cheung
Tel: +86-21-3861-0000 x16812
Email: Michael_Cheung@smics.com
Chinese Media
Angela Miao
Tel: +86-21-3861-0000 x10088
Email: Angela_Miao@smics.com
SOURCE Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
New Low-Latency Direct Access Service for Dual-site Servers in Switzerland and Russia
ZURICH, BERNE, Switzerland and MOSCOW, August 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
IXcellerate, IX Swiss and IP-Max SA are proud to announce a joint venture co-operation
for the supplying of full solution data protection services between the Russian and Swiss
markets.
With IXcellerate's Tier3 datacenter in Moscow, and the datacenters of IX Swiss AG in
Zurich and Berne, customers are offered blended solutions that cover all data security,
location, storage and transport concerns.
The two datacenter companies are working in co-operation with Geneva based ISP IP-Max
SA, already connected to Moscow and supporting companies with its very low latency
backbone. IXcellerate is able to provide direct access into a pipeline to Switzerland and
the IX Swiss datacenters, also connected to the IP-Max Backbone.
As a Swiss registered company, IX Swiss services are covered by the stringent data
protection laws of the Swiss Confederation. The laws ensure confidentiality of any data
stored by companies and individuals within the Swiss borders. This offers the highest
legal protection of data anywhere in Europe. IXcellerate's location within the Russian
Federation ideally meets the needs for organisations to comply with the new Russian
Federation Laws on data protection. The combination of the two locations provides for the
needs of some of the world's most data-sensitive companies.
IP-Max, also a Swiss company, with a 10Gbps redundant network within Switzerland and
its European backbone ring linking major cities, has the ability to offer fully encrypted
connectivity between the data centres of IXcellerate in Moscow and the IX Swiss locations.
With encryption expertise and state of the art equipment being employed to ensure the
highest level of security, the data carried is only accessible in the countries where
business is being carried out. This product is intended to protect financial and business
critical data from external abuse, managing it within a truly protected environment.
This venture offers a unique and exciting package of services that ensures secure
business continuity, inside and between the Russian and Swiss marketplaces.
About IXcellerate
IXcellerate is an unparalleled carrier neutral datacentre operator in Moscow, which is
comparable to the quality of datacentres in America and Western Europe. IXcellerate offers
a pure-play co-location designed to meet the standards of financial institutions,
multinational corporations, international carriers and major content operators.
Opened in 2012, IXcellerate's Tier 3+ [http://ixcellerate.com/qa/?lang=en ] Moscow One
Datacentre is a stand alone datacentre located within the MKAD ring road of Moscow, set
over a 15,000msquared campus. IXcellerate Moscow One provides clients with a bespoke
solution aimed towards solving their unique datacentre requirements, offering co-location
services including private and secure cages, combined with technical support on-hand
24/365. Within our carrier-neutral facility, affordable and resilient connectivity is
available in Russia and the entire World. Expansion phases have the potential to increase
the co-location floor space to over 5000msquared, with power feeds planned up to 13.7 MVA.
IXcellerate was founded by Guy Willner (co-founder and former CEO of IXEurope, former
President Europe for Equinix Inc.), and Cliff Gauntlett (former SVP of Golden Telecom in
Russia).
IXcellerate customers include Orange Business Services, NTT, Le Pain Quotidien group
and a major international market data company.
DVIGear Launches Powerful New HDBaseT(TM) Extenders
Delivers a Major Breakthrough in Value for System Integrators
MARIETTA, Ga., Aug. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- DVIGear, a leading manufacturer of digital connectivity products, has launched its models DVI-7520 and DVI-7525, the first in a powerful new range of HDBaseT(TM) Extenders targeted for professional AV system installations and rental & staging applications.
Extends Multiple Signals over a Single Category Cable
DVIGear's DVI-7520 and DVI-7525 provide simple and cost-effective solutions to extend uncompressed HDMI or DVI, embedded audio, bidirectional RS-232 and IR, and Ethernet (DVI-7525 only) using a single twisted-pair CAT-X cable. Unlike other products, these extenders support the full range of HDBaseT features, including: 5?play, support for 4K / 30p (UHD) resolution, bidirectional IR, POH and long range operation:
DVI-7520: 4K / 30p up to 130 ft. (~ 40 m), 1080p up to 230 ft. (~ 70 m)
DVI-7525: 4K / 30p up to 230 ft. (~ 70 m), 1080p up to 330 ft. (~ 100 m)Fully Compliant Power over HDBaseT (POH)
The DVI-7520 and DVI-7525 are among the first extenders on the market to offer a fully compliant implementation of "Power over HDBaseT" (POH), a key component of the HDBaseT standard. To maintain system stability and compatibility, POH uses standardized 48 VDC power as well as a sophisticated handshake feature that prevents power exchange with incompatible devices. Today there are many HDBaseT products on the market that utilize non-standard implementations of power over the HDBaseT link. This problem has created numerous interoperability challenges for system integrators who are faced with HDBaseT products that do not work with each other or in some cases actually cause equipment failures. "We felt that a fully compliant implementation of POH was the only solution to the growing problems caused by non-standard power in many HDBaseT products today," stated Steven Barlow, President of DVIGear. "The architects of the HDBaseT standard wisely included this feature from the beginning and yet very few companies have included this crucial functionality in their product designs. We think this will change in the future."
The DVI-7520 and DVI-7525 deliver a powerful combination of advanced features and sterling performance at very attractive price points, which make them a true break-through in value for professional AV system integrators. This makes them ideally suited for a wide range of digital display applications including rental & staging events, conference and training rooms, boardrooms, auditoriums, hotels, churches and other demanding environments. Both units are available now for immediate delivery.
About DVIGear
Founded in 1999, DVIGear (http://www.dvigear.com) is a leading supplier of Digital Connectivity Solutions for a wide range of professional display applications. Located in Marietta, Georgia, DVIGear offers an extensive portfolio of high performance digital video distribution products including: Digital Matrix Routing Switchers, Splitters, Extenders, Converters, Scalers, as well as long-length copper and optical cables.
HDBaseT(TM) and the HDBaseT Alliance logo are trademarks of the HDBaseT Alliance.
Contact: Joseph Barbier / 770.421.6699 / joseph@dvigear.com
High Resolution Product Photo: DVI-7520 and DVI-7525
Gameloft Optimizes 4 of Its Most Successful Titles for the ZTE 9 Game Box
PARIS, August 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Gameloft, a leading global publisher of digital and social games, is optimizing four
of its most popular games for the Funbox, a "Game Box" from ZTE 9: Modern Combat 4: Zero
Hour, Dungeon Hunter 4, GT Racing 2: The Real Car Experience, and Real Football 2013.
ZTE 9 will be present at ChinaJoy 2014, which will be held from July 31 to August 3 in
Shanghai, and will show demos of Gameloft titles on its "Game Box", the Funbox.
"We're thrilled to collaborate with ZTE 9 to make our popular titles available on the
Funbox", says Gonzague De Vallois, Senior Vice President of Publishing at Gameloft. "This
project proves yet again Gameloft's desire to offer our games to as many players as
possible."
"We're witnessing a real evolution in the set top box market," adds Zeng Xuezhong at
ZTE 9. "Thanks to this partnership, we'll be able to offer our users the chance to
discover popular games on the big screen."
Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, Dungeon Hunter 4, GTRacing 2: The Real Car Experience and
Real Football 2013 will be available on the Funbox this summer. Other Gameloft titles will
be added to the catalog very soon and will be available to download for free on the Funbox
Store.
The Funbox from ZTE 9 is already available in China only.
About Gameloft:
A leading global publisher of digital and social games, Gameloft(R) has established
itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for
all digital platforms, including mobile phones, smartphones and tablets (including
Apple(R) iOS, Android(R) and Windows(R) devices), set-top boxes and connected TVs.
Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt(R), Order & Chaos, Modern
Combat or Dungeon Hunter and also partners with major rights holders including Universal,
Illumination Entertainment, Disney(R), Marvel(R), Hasbro(R), Fox Digital Entertainment,
Mattel(R) and Ferrari(R).
Gameloft is present on all continents, distributes its games in over 100 countries and
employs over 5,200 developers.
Gameloft is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris (Euronext: GFT.PA, Bloomberg: GFT FP,
Reuters: GLFT.PA). Gameloft is traded OTC in the US (sponsored Level 1 ADR ticker: GLOFY).
JAC Vapour to Launch New Experiential Campaign in Key Cities
EDINBURGH, Scotland, August 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
JAC Vapour, the UK's leading high quality e-cigarette brand, kick started a new
experiential campaign last night by unveiling their first pop up 'vape space' in
Edinburgh, the home of the brand. The sponsorship-led initiative will form part of a new
six-month campaign, The JAC Vapour Exchange, which will encourage smokers to exchange
their traditional cigarettes for a healthier alternative - a high quality e-cigarette.
To help clear the air ahead of Edinburgh's busy Festival season, the brand
collaborated with Scotland's leading arts and entertainment magazine, The List, to create
a pop up e-cigarette bar at its award-nominated annual Festival Party. Nearly 2,000 guests
from the arts and creative industries attended the evening event, which took place on
Thursday 31st July in Summerhall, to celebrate the start of Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
During the party, JAC Vapour representatives distributed the brand's e-cigarettes to
smokers and encouraged them to visit the party's pop up vape bar to sample different
e-liquid flavours and find out more from JAC Vapour's team of experts.
The List partnership is the first of a series of sponsorships coming from the forward
thinking brand, which will be rolled out in London and Edinburgh over the coming months.
As producers of the most advanced e-cigarettes on the market, JAC Vapour will forge
collaborations that target influencers across the creative and design industries and
reflect the high quality and integrity of the product. The campaign will build on the
success of JAC Vapour's first major advertising campaign which ran in both cities earlier
this year and, through a programme of experiential activity at partner events, educating
smokers on the benefits of making the switch from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes.
Emma Logan, Co Founder of JAC Vapour comments:
"2014 has been a pivotal year for JAC Vapour in terms of growth; with new product
development and launches, our first ad campaign and now our first experiential event. We
are very excited to be working with forward thinking partners, The List, to launch our 6
month experiential campaign. In addition to building upon current momentum and awareness
for the brand, it underpins our commitment to breaking misconceptions that smokers may
have regarding e-cigarettes; through customer education and brand interaction. Our
investment into integrated marketing campaigns and product innovation this year form part
of JAC Vapour's ambitious growth plans for the coming year."
Founded in 2010, Edinburgh-based JAC Vapour produce the simplest, best looking and
most advanced high quality e-cigarettes on the market. The team's commitment to developing
new high performance products to suit e-cigarette users' fast changing needs has cemented
its reputation as a trusted brand across the wider vaping community. In March this year
the brand launched Clear Steam - a revolutionary e-liquid that emits no visible vapour
when exhaled, it is the only product of its kind on the market that has been developed by
a mainstream brand.
Edinburgh-based, JAC Vapour was formed in 2010 to meet the growing demand for
electronic cigarettes in the UK. It is now established as one of the foremost high quality
e-cigarette producers and a market leader in terms of quality, technology and industry
innovation.
The company was founded by Andy and Emma Logan who managed to kick a long standing
smoking habit after discovering e-cigarettes on a trip to the US. Their success and a
strong personal belief in the benefits of e-cigarettes as a safer, alternative to smoking,
is at the core of the company ethos today.
CONTACT: For media enquiries regarding the new campaign or to request an interview with a company spokesperson, please contact Rachael Tyrrell at Burt Greener Communications on +44(0)131-220-0003, or email rachael@burtgreener.co.uk
Development Innovations Unveils New Infinite Running App
TakeOff Running is a new gaming app featuring fresh concepts, unique characters and comical situations
COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TakeOff Running is a new Development Innovations creation that is finally being introduced to the world. This infinite running game isn't like any other. With a fresh, new concept and fun characters to boot, playing TakeOff Running and actually having fun with it, will be a cinch. Not only that, but Development Innovations has taken an awkward situation and made it into something hysterical...
This hilarious storyline is something that is already causing quite a stir in the app world. Beth Nolan is a teenage girl that has been left home alone by her parents. Before leaving, they inform her not to have any visitors over. However, as soon as her parents leave the house, Beth calls her boyfriend over and they sit on the couch to watch a movie. When Christian Skater gets there, they nervously move in for their long-awaited kiss and just as they are puckering up, her father walks through the door. With an angry father standing in the doorway and his fists balled up, many people are able to see why this entire scenario becomes a hilarious moment that many people can relate to as a real-life situation.
So aside from the hilarity of this situation, there are other things that give this app so much unique ability to soar on the app stores. With unique characters, amazing upgrades and smooth gameplay, TakeOff Running is an app that also shows the different changes in map designs. One moment you might be running through a neighborhood while dodging little girls on scooters and the next, you might be flying on a hand-glider through the sky. In an attempt to avoid oncoming traffic, road signs and so much more, the upgrades for TakeOff Running would give you the ability to succeed at earning more coins, achieving more distance and getting more gameplay.
TakeOff Running will officially launch on Thursday, July 31, 2014. It will be available on the Google Play Store & Amazon App Store. The Apple App Store Version will follow shortly after and the release date will be announced soon after. So, don't forget to follow this app page @TakeOffRunning on Twitter to stay tuned in with what's happening with TakeOff Running and download it as soon as you get the word. Also, don't forget to "like" our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TakeOffRunning.
Cricket Wireless First National Carrier to Launch the ZTE Grand(TM) X
Adding Choice to 4G Lineup that will Excite Back to School Shoppers Seeking Deals from Coast-to-Coast
ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cricket Wireless announces the launch of a new 4G smartphone from ZTE, the Grand X, adding another option to the hottest back-to-school promotion from a no- annual contract wireless service. Starting August 8, the ZTE Grand X will be available for $99.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate Cricket Visa® Promotion Card*) in stores and online.
"With its big, bright 5" display, the ZTE Grand X will appeal to students looking for a well featured, large profile smartphone with access to Cricket's new 4G nationwide network that covers over 98% of the population," said Andy Smoak, head of product for Cricket Wireless. "This deal with unlimited plans starting at $35 per month after $5 Auto Pay credit** gives consumers more options at great prices."
Additionally, The ZTE Grand X sports a long-lasting 2300 mAh battery with Qualcomm® Quick Charge(TM) 1.0 technology so consumers can spend less time charging and more time being productive, playing games and listening to music. The innovative battery technology charges up to 40% faster than conventional technology. Other features include:
-- Corning(®) Gorilla(®) Glass for added screen protection
-- Dual cameras, 5 MP (rear facing) with flash and HD video /1MP (front
facing) for selfies and video chat
-- An immersive music listening experience with SRS® TruMedia surround
sound
-- A Qualcomm Snapdragon(TM) 1.2 GHz dual-core processor for faster
productivity and gaming
-- Android 4.3 OS with the tools to help keep your mobile life organized
The hot new smartphone deals continue to show up at Cricket and Cricket's national loyalty program, Cricket Rewards***, gives loyal customers a new smartphone every year. To thank customers on Smart and Pro service plans for their loyalty, after 12 months of on-time payments Cricket provides customers with a $50 credit every year toward any new phone purchase. These and other offers are available at more than 3,000 Cricket Wireless retail stores across the U.S. and online. To check out the new Cricket, the Back-to-School promotion, or find a store near you, visit http://www.cricketwireless.com and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/cricketnation and Twitter at twitter.com/Cricketnation.
About the new Cricket Wireless
Cricket is bringing consumers more value with a simple, friendly, and reliable nationwide wireless experience with no annual contract. The power of Cricket is our nationwide 4G LTE network that covers more than 290 million people; easy and affordable unlimited plans with taxes and fees included; annual loyalty rewards; and a great selection of phones customers love. Cricket, Something to Smile About. Cricket is a subsidiary of AT&T Inc. Coverage not available everywhere.
*Mail-In RebateOffer ends Sept. 11, 2014. While supplies last. New activation on qualifying smartphone plan required. Sales tax not included. Not available in CT, RI, or Miami-Dade County. No rainchecks. Promotion Card, issued by MetaBank®, member FDIC, or CenterState Bank of Florida, NA pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc., is not redeemable for cash and may not be used for cash withdrawal at any cash-dispensing locations or automated gasoline pumps. Card is non-transferable and non-refundable. Funds are available at US locations where Visa debit cards are accepted for 150 days after the Card issuance, through the "VALUD THRU" shown on the Card. Service must be active and customer must make second service payment within 45 days of activation to receive card. Offer may not be available with other rebates, offers or promotions. Restrictions and other charges may apply. For cardholder agreement and complete terms and conditions, please visit http://www.cricketwireless.com/promocard.
**Auto Pay: $5 savings provided as an account credit at the end of each billing cycle while enrolled in Auto Pay. Auto Pay credit requires Auto Pay enrollment with a new Basic, Smart or Pro plan. Terms, conditions and restriction apply.
***Cricket Rewards: Loyalty Program: Cricket Customers on Smart and Pro plans earn one (1) Reward Credit for each full, on-time payment. Reward Credits are only redeemable for a phone upgrade once customer has earned a Device Credit(s). Customers earn a $50 Device Credit for every twelve (12) Reward Credits earned. Reward Credits expire, if unused, sixty (60) months after Device Credit becomes redeemable. Reward Credits earned at the account level. Device Credits are capped at $150 without redemption and are not-transferrable and have no cash value. Restrictions Apply.
CONTACT: Nneoma Njoku, Cricket Wireless, nneoma.njoku@cricketwireless.com, 770.241.2942, For device images and other press materials visit new Cricket newsroom
LG G Vista Bolsters Smartphone Line-Up, Offering Verizon Wireless Customers A Larger Screen And Longer Battery Life
New G Vista Boasts G Series Design DNA, UI and Premium Features; Now Available on Verizon's 4G LTE Network
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics is growing its popular G series with the introduction of the LG G Vista smartphone with Verizon Wireless. Outfitted with a larger 5.7-inch HD display and more powerful 3,200 mAh SiO + battery, users can talk, text and browse the web and their favorite apps with style and ease wherever their day takes them. Available today, the LG G Vista is offered online and in-store for $99.99 after $50 mail-in rebate and with a two-year activation on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network.
The LG G Vista is ideal for anyone who wants an affordable smartphone packed with all of the popular features of the G series. Inheriting the signature rear-key, the LG G Vista carries the same "Floating Arc" design keeping a slim and sleek shape that provides a comfortable and accessible grip on-the-go. To complement its ergonomic design profile, the LG G Vista carries a new, refined user interface with flat graphics, derived from the shape and concept of LG's logo, adding to its unique style and identity. Additionally, the new 5.7-inch HD display makes watching your favorite content and viewing those timeline photos even better with a truer-to-life experience.
The LG G Vista comes with LG's security and enhanced user experience features for greater usability including:
-- Mini View: With a simple gesture, Mini View will shrink and gravitate to
a smaller frame of your home screen within thumb's reach to fully
control the device with one hand, hassle-free.
-- Video Editor: Whether you're on a road trip with friends or on a family
vacation, capturing video with the LG G Vista's 8-megapixel camera and
Video Editor, makes it easy to trim, split and share your latest
adventure on-the-go.
-- Dual Window: Making use of the LG G Vista's large display, Dual Window
splits its 5.7-inch HD display into two panels, giving a comprehensive
view of different apps for easy multitasking. In Dual Window, you can
easily drag and drop content without moving back and forth, providing a
more easy and efficient way of sharing and viewing information.
-- KnockOn and KnockCode: With the LG KnockOn feature, consumers can simply
tap on the display twice to wake it up or put it sleep without picking
up the device or pressing the power key. Once activated, KnockCode
expands on KnockOn, allowing for consumer to customize a two to eight
pattern combination anywhere within four quadrants of the display,
allowing for more than 86,000 combinations for users to feel confident
about restricting phone access.
Key G Vista Specifications:
-- Android 4.4.2 KitKat
-- 1.2 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm® Snapdragon(TM) Processor
-- 5.7-inch HD IPS Display (1280 x 720); 258 ppi
-- 3,200 mAh removable SiO+ battery
-- 8-megapixel rear-facing camera; 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
-- 8 GB (Internal) with microSD(TM) memory card support up to 64GB; 3.8GB
usable memory
-- 1.5 GB RAM
-- KnockCode and KnockOn
For more information about LG devices, please visit us at http://www.lg.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
About LG Electronics MobileComm USA, Inc.
LG Electronics MobileComm USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the U.S. sales subsidiary of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, a global innovator and trend leader in the global mobile communications industry. LG is driving the evolution of mobile forward with its highly competitive core technologies in the areas of display, battery and camera optics and strategic partnerships with noted industry leaders. LG's consumer-centric products ? including the flagship premium G Series models ? incorporate unique, ergonomic designs and intuitive UX features that enhance the user experience. The company remains committed to leading consumers into the era of convergence, maximizing inter-device connectivity between smartphones, tablets and a wide range of home and portable electronics products. For more information, please visit http://www.LG.com.
Partnership adds marketing element to expand beyond new product development
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Jensen today announced that its newly designed Jensen DUB Edition high performance amps, speakers and subwoofers are now available at retail. The line combines Jensen technology with the design skills of the creators of DUB Magazine. As part of their agreement, Jensen will participate in all of the DUB marketing programs including the magazine, cross promotions, and shows and events.
"DUB is an original automotive lifestyle brand with its focus on the car culture. Its designers have always been right on target as they expanded from the magazine into 12Volt vehicle accessories that translate into profit opportunities for their dealer partners," said Tom Malone, President of VOXX Electronics Corp.
This product line adds in-vehicle audio components to the DUB line up of branded and designed accessories. The line includes amplifiers, full range speakers along with 10" and 12" subwoofers. The product was designed and engineered in the USA (DUB / Jensen) using Audio Precision and Klippel test equipment. All DUB full range speakers use silk dome tweeters, rubber surrounds and oversized motor structures.
Malone continued, "Partnering with DUB is an important step for our Jensen product line, especially when you consider the tremendous marketing programs that we will be part of as well. The DUB reputation for performance combined with the Jensen history of sound quality should make this a win/win for our retailers helping them capture a bigger share of the car audio market. The products appeal to a unique demographic and are priced to move. Consumers get some very hot new products and dealers get an additional profit opportunity."
The Jensen DUB Edition line will be part of a number of DUB Magazine events including custom car showcases, DUB LIVE! and thenational DUB Show Tour. DUB Live! is active at U.S. military bases, community festivals, major auto shows, sporting events and concerts. DUB also sponsors "Custom Car Showcases" in a series of nationwide "Retailtainment Events" and Jensen DUB Edition will participate in all of those. Finally, the new Jensen DUB Edition will be part of the extensive social media programs that run on a regular basis.
"Partnering with the Jensen brand and a company like VOXX Electronics is an honor. They both have such great reputations for quality products," said Myles Kovas, DUB Magazine President and Co-Founder. "We did not compromise on performance. DUB Edition by Jensen Subwoofers hit really hard!"
The new line will be supported by full in-store support materials, including posters, decals and displays.
Amps
The Jensen DUB Edition Amplifiers provide the hard hitting, in-your-face sound you have come to expect from the Jensen iconic audio brand. The Jensen DUB Edition Amplifiers feature robust MOSFET power supplies, continuously variable high/low pass filters, and variable bass boost for great system design flexibility. All of the Jensen DUB Edition Amplifiers have optimized class AB design to minimize distortion and reduce idle current.
-- DUBa11000D 1100 Watt 1 Channel Class D Amplifier uses less power, takes
up less space and generates less heat than traditional amp designs for
improved efficiency. The DUBa11000D is driven by a MOSFET power supply
and high current international rectifier output transistors offering
impressive power - 1100 Watts RMS into a 1-Ohm load. This amplifier
features superior audiophile sound quality and will provide constant
reliable power so that you can keep playing louder and longer. (MSRP:
$229.00)
-- DUBa1450 900 Watt 1 Channel Class AB Amplifier features a MOSFET power
supply, high current Toshiba output transistors and NJM4580 low noise,
low distortion op-amps providing high-power, high-quality sound to your
vehicle's audio system. The DUBa1450 can drive 4-Ohm and 2-Ohm loads.
This amplifier offers impressive power and extensive controls for
fine-tuning your sound - an ideal way to boost your music's intensity
and clarity. (MSRP: $149.99)
-- DUBa2100 480 Watt 2 Channel Amplifier features a MOSFET power supply
with high current Toshiba output transistors offering impressive power.
With a rated RMS of 85 Watts x 2-Channels @ 4-Ohms and additional power
output of 125 Watts x 2-Channels @ 2-Ohms and 240 Watts x 1-Channel at
4-Ohms, the DUBa2100 is sure to satisfy your need for power. (MSRP:
$99.99)
-- DUBa4100 800 Watt 4 Channel Amplifier will knock the wind right out of
you when added to your vehicle's audio system. The DUBa4100 features
high current Toshiba output transistors; optimized Class AB design for
reduced distortion and idle current. The DUBa4100 can drive 4-Ohm and
2-Ohm loads. Its Overload Protection circuitry will keep the amp from
overheating or shutting down. (MSRP: $129.99)
Speakers
Enjoy high quality sound everywhere you go from your in-car entertainment system with the Jensen DUB Edition full line of car speakers! This new speaker line features injection-molded polypropylene cones, NBR (rubber) surround, silk dome tweeters, and vented spiders. These speakers have been crafted above all for exceptional audio performance with high power handling capability and quality materials used throughout. The aggressive design is black with silver accents ready to suit any vehicle's interior and is designed with shallow mounting depth for easy install into a wide variety of vehicles.
-- DUBs240 4" Two-Way Speaker is an outstanding choice to replace factory
4" speakers. The DUBs240 two-way design handles 180 Watts peak power,
45 Watts RMS and features Jensen's injection molded polypropylene cone
with rubber surround and heavy duty motor structure with 3.0mm Xmax.
(MSRP: $49.99)
-- DUBs252 5.25" Two-Way Speaker with 1" voice coil. Enjoy high quality
sound everywhere you go from your in-car entertainment system. The
DUBs252 car speakers have been crafted above all for exceptional audio
performance with maximum power handling of 240 Watts (60 Watts RMS)
offering frequency response of 45Hz~35kHz and 4-Ohm impedance. (MSRP:
$59.99)
-- DUBs257 5x7"/6x8" Two-Way Speaker with 1" voice coil features an
injection molded polypropylene cone with rubber surround, a 25mm silk
dome tweeter and heavy duty motor structure with 3.4mm Xmax guarantee to
deliver an excellent full range, bold sound quality. These speakers
deliver exceptional audio performance with maximum power handling of 280
Watts (70 Watts RMS) offering a frequency response of 42Hz~30kHz and
4-Ohm impedance. (MSRP: $69.99)
-- DUBs265 6.5" Two-Way Speaker is designed to give the perfect sound
balance of quality and power delivering crisp, clear highs, smooth bass
and clean midrange. These 2-way car speakers will blow you away with
maximum power handling of 280 Watts peak power, 70 Watts RMS offering a
frequency response of 42Hz~30kHz and 4-Ohm impedance. (MRSP: $69.99)
-- DUBs369 6x9" Three-Way Speaker offer great depth of sound and high
frequency response range, so you can hear every note of your favorite
music as a result of the (1) 25mm silk dome tweeter and (1) 13mm silk
dome super tweeter, as well as an injection molded polypropylene cone
with rubber surround and a heavy duty motor structure with 4.5mm Xmax.
Power handling of 400 Watts peak power (100 Watts RMS) offering a
frequency response of 32Hz~35kHz and 4-Ohm impedance. (MSRP: $89.99)
Subs
Jensen DUB Edition Subwoofers are built with a uniquely reinforced injection molded polypropylene cone for optimum stiffness and maximum low frequency output. The high damping rubber surround, bumped and vented pole piece, 2" voice coil, and heavy duty motor structure are designed to give the listener a "Hard Hitting" experience.
-- DUBw10 10" Subwoofer is built for sound. From the moment you turn it on
it will surprise you with its true low frequency response and slightly
sinister styling inspired by DUB Magazine. The DUBw10 offers an
impressive 1000 Watts of peak power handling (250 Watts RMS) and
excellent frequency response from 25Hz~250Hz. This 10" subwoofer with 2'
voice coil proves you can easily install impressive and affordable hard
hitting sound in your vehicle. (MSRP: $99.99)
-- DUBw12 12" Subwoofer is built for window shaking, roof rattling sound.
From the moment you turn it on the DUBw12 will surprise you with its
super-clear lows and rich-sounding, hard hitting bass without
distortion. The DUBw12 offers an impressive 1200 Watts of peak power
handling (350 Watts RMS) and excellent frequency response from
22Hz~250Hz. The slightly sinister styling inspired by DUB Magazine makes
this subwoofer the perfect addition to any vehicle. (MSRP: $129.99)
The Jensen DUB Edition brand is marketed by VOXX Electronics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of VOXX International Corp., (NASDAQ: VOXX).
About VOXX Electronics Corporation (VEC):
VOXX Electronics Corporation (VEC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ:VOXX), a leading, global supplier of mobile and consumer electronics products. VEC is a recognized leader in the marketing of automotive entertainment, Location Based Services (LBS), rear observation systems, and vehicle security. Its extensive distribution network includes power retailers and 12-volt specialists as well as nearly all of the major vehicle manufacturers ("OEMs"), both domestically and abroad.
About VOXX International Corporation:
VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ:VOXX). The Company that began as Audiovox over 45 years ago has morphed into a worldwide leader in many automotive and consumer electronics and accessories categories, and now into premium high-end audio. The Company's brands hold leading market positions across a wide-spectrum of consumer and automotive segments.
Today, VOXX International is a global company....with an extensive distribution network that includes some of the world's Fortune 500 companies and an international footprint in Europe, Asia, Mexico and South America, and a growing brand portfolio, which now comprises over 30 trusted brands including Audiovox®, Klipsch®, RCA®,Invision®, Jensen®, Acoustic Research®, Jamo®, Energy®, Mac Audio®, Magnat®, Heco®, Schwaiger®, Hirschmann Car Communication® and Oehlbach®. The Company continues to drive innovation throughout all of its subsidiaries, and maintains its commitment to exceeding the needs of the consumers it serves. For additional information, please visit our Web site at http://www.voxxintl.com.
About DUB:
DUB(®) Publishing is a leading, authoritative voice in the urban automotive lifestyle scene. Its eponymous magazine was the first in the industry dedicated to covering celebrity-driven vehicles and giving a first-hand look at the expansion of a multi-billion dollar industry that revolves around the vast world of car customization. DUB is widely recognized as pioneers in modern car culture and aftermarket customization. DUB Magazine - The Original Automotive Lifestyle Magazine(TM), and DUB Magazine's Custom Auto Show and Concert Tour(TM) spawned a new era of urban car culture and lifestyle. For more information please visit http://www.dubmagazine.com.
SALT LAKE CITY, July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Outdoor Retailer Show Booth #PV3346 -- Olympia showcases its exclusive line of portable outdoor Power, Lighting and Communications products at the 2014 Outdoor Retailer Show. These products are designed with the outdoor enthusiast and the environment in mind. Olympia utilizes two "green energy" sources to power their high performance products.
Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries provide the primary power source for these devices. These batteries deliver long-lasting power and can be recharged hundreds of times, saving consumers money and significantly reducing the number of disposed batteries.
Once these batteries run low on power, they can be recharged using one of Olympia's two Solar Charger solutions. A 5500mAh combination Solar/Lithium Battery Charger and 5.6 watt Solar Panel Charger provide plenty of natural energy to power all of these products. All Olympia products provide robust functionality at an affordable price.
Flashlights
Olympia Flashlights feature eight high-performance rugged models ranging from 160 to 850 lumens. All models utilize innovative Cree® LED technology to ensure high-brightness and long life. Each light is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum with Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish. Every model has five light settings including strobe and SOS for emergency situations. These lights also remember the user's last setting so there is no need to repeat the menu sequence every time. All flashlights are waterproof and impact resistant to 1.5 meters. The top of the line RG850, which retails at $89.99, also comes equipped with a built-in battery charger that allows the 18650 Li-ion battery to be recharged in the flashlight.
Headlamps
The Olympia EX Headlamp series features four unique models ranging from 80 to 550 lumens of brightness, providing a convenient lighting option for every need. Features vary between models, and include hands-free activation, smooth dimming control, focus control, pivoting head and a lock-out function that prevents battery drain. Several models including the EX230, EX100 and EX080 also have a rear battery pack with red LED for safety, making it an ideal lighting solution for running, cycling and skiing. Serious backpackers and cavers will appreciate the waterproof IPX-7 (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes) EX550, which features five lighting modes and a powerful 550 lumen maximum light output. With an MSRP of $69.99, the EX550 is crafted from corrosion-proof aluminum and designed to withstand the most challenging outdoor expeditions.
Two-Way Radio Series
In addition to lighting, Olympia has developed a line of Two-Way Radios. All three models are waterproof and feature 50 channels, NOAA weather alerts and a variety of other convenient features designed for serious outdoor adventures. The top of the line R500, which retails at $99.99, also comes equipped with an LED flashlight and floats, making it ideal around water. Additionally, the R100 and R300 boast a micro-USB charging port to provide power on the go. Two-Way Radios will be available for customer shipments in September 2014.
Lithium Batteries
Olympia is launching its Lithium battery line at the OR Show which includes CR123A Lithium, 18650 Li-ion Rechargeable and 16340 Li-ion Rechargeable cells. These products provide one of the primary power solutions for Olympia's portable lighting and communications devices. They will be shipping to customers in October 2014.
Solar Chargers
The second component of Olympia's portable power solution is two solar chargers that can be used to recharge the brands' lighting and communications devices as well as many other types of electronics. The SB5500 is a hybrid Lithium rechargeable battery and solar panel. The battery has 5500mAh of capacity and can easily charge smart phones, iPhones and iPads. The solar panel generates 5.5 volts of power and recharges the battery when in direct outdoor sunlight. The SB5500 solar/battery charger has a $59.99 MSRP.
The SP56 Solar Pack is a 100% solar device and puts out 5.6 watts of power. It also has two built-in USB power ports that provide simultaneous charging capability for smart phones, iPhones, iPads and many other electronic devices. It comes with a weather resistant micro-fiber carrying pack and an MSRP of $79.99. Both of these products will be available for shipment to customers in October 2014.
Lanterns
Olympia will also roll out its Wilderness Series LED Lanterns consisting of two models. The powerful WD650 puts out 650 lumens and has 4 light settings, a Micro-USB charging port and 18650 Li-ion Rechargeable battery (included). In addition, the light is constructed of the same aircraft -grade aluminum with Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish that the Rugged Olympia Flashlights are known for. Consumers get a lot for their money as this versatile Lantern has an MSRP of $79.99. The WD120 rounds out the Lantern offering and delivers 120 lumens while also having three light settings. Both lanterns will be shipping to customers in October 2014.
Portable Floodlights
Portable Rechargeable LED Floodlights round out the new Olympia products being previewed at the OR Show. Two models comprise the offering consisting of the 5 watt, 450 lumen FL450 and the ultra-bright 10 watt, 970 lumen FL970. Both of these lights are completely portable and come equipped with Rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. The FL970 has an MSRP of $79.99 and both lights will be available for customer shipments in October 2014.
Availability
Olympia LED Flashlights and Headlamps are available on Amazon.com, NewEgg.com, and specialty retailers throughout the U.S.. For a full listing of features and additional information on the 2014 series of products, please visit booth #PV3346 or http://www.olympiaproducts.com.
About
Olympia is a leading Outdoor Technology Solutions brand specializing in providing a range of portable high performance LED Flashlights, Headlamps, Two-Way Radios, Lithium-ion Rechargeable Batteries, Solar Chargers, Lanterns and portable LED Floodlights. Since 1903, Olympia has been synonymous with integrity, quality and performance. It is committed to developing innovative and environmentally-friendly products for active lifestyles that are reliable, rugged, and built to last.
Media Contact:
Colleen Philbrick
Trailblazing PR
Office: +1-912-604-1950
Philbrickpr@bellsouth.net
Geek Squad to service and protect Future Shop clients starting August 1
BURNABY, BC, July 31, 2014 /CNW/ - A new partnership has been formed between Geek Squad and Future Shop, Canada's leading Consumer Electronics retailer. On Friday, August 1, 2014, Future Shop, welcomes the arrival of Geek Squad across all its 135 stores and via Futureshop.ca. Geek Squad is North America's top task force dedicated to solving the world's technology challenges.
"Geek Squad is a highly recognized and trusted brand and we're thrilled to expand and strengthen our network through Future Shop," said Chris Sallans, director of Geek Squad Canada. "We've built-up our business with Canadians for the past 10 years and we will offer all our services across Future Shop, in-store and online."
Future Shop will offer the complete suite of Geek Squad's signature services Canadians rely on to troubleshoot and defeat technological evil, viewable at http://www.geeksquad.ca.
Geek Squad Protection available at Future Shop
Also beginning August 1, Geek Squad Protection rolls out to Future Shop. These plans provide clients the assurance that help is readily available to setup, protect and support technology through Geek Squad. The plans cover all products sold at Future Shop, including computing, home theatre, and mobile phones.
Through the partnership with Future Shop, Geek Squad's task force in Canada grows to 1,400 technicians.
About Future Shop
With 135 stores across the country and the nation's premier web store (http://www.futureshop.ca), Burnaby, BC-based Future Shop is Canada's largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics. The company employs more than 10,000 technology enthusiasts, has enabled its website, Futureshop.ca, to deliver unparalleled content about the products it sells. Futureshop.ca also hosts an online community forum and tech blog called Tech Yeah for technology beginners and tech-savvy experts to exchange ideas, reviews, tips and other consumer electronics information (http://www.futureshop.ca/techyeah). As a proud corporate citizen, Future Shop has developed solutions to recycle used electronics and is committed to employee volunteerism and supporting non-profit organizations dedicated to transforming local youth into Future Leaders (seewww.futureshop.ca/futuregeneration).
SOURCE Future Shop
Future Shop
CONTACT: Elliott Chun, E : echun@futureshop.com, P : 604-412-174
This Light Bulb is Great News for the Planet, but Bad News For Dimmer Switches
Nanoleaf Bloom is the first dimmable light bulb that doesn't need a dimmer
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world of apps and startups, Nanoleaf is one that is fully dedicated to energy efficiency and innovations for our planet. The three tree-huggers who invented the world's most energy efficient light bulb have done it again. On Monday (7/14), they announced their latest breakthrough invention, a clever new way to save even more energy. They are running a Kickstarter campaign to garner support and to raise awareness on this new invention for sustainability: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nanoleaf/nanoleaf-bloom-the-first-bulb-that-dims-without-a
Within the first 24 hours of launch, they were already well over 200% of their initial goal.
While dimming a light bulb can significantly cut down on energy consumption, the problem is that there are far more regular light switches than dimmable ones. The Nanoleaf Bloom is the perfect solution. It has the dimming function built directly inside the light bulb, allowing it to be dimmed in any regular light fixture, using just a regular on/off light switch.
"We want to inspire people to adopt more energy efficient technology into their everyday lives," says Christian Yan, co-founder. "The best way to do that is by making products that are simple and convenient to use."
For more information, please visit the Nanoleaf Bloom Kickstarter project: http://kck.st/1zBHVKt
Founded in 2012, Nanoleaf is a green technology company with a mission to create a greener and more sustainable future through continued innovations of highly energy efficient products. Nanoleaf's trio of "passionate tree huggers" met while working on University of Toronto's solar car team in 2005. Their interest in developing sustainable products resulted in a partnership that's spanned years and continents and countless hours of hard work. The company debuted with the world's most energy efficient light bulb in January 2013 on Kickstarter. Learn more at http://www.nanoleaf.me.
WatchGuard Technologies New Partner Program Sets Industry High Water Mark for Profitability
New WatchGuardONE program ties higher margins to higher customer service levels and allows resellers to get unprecedented combined discounts of more than 70 percent
The higher your service level, the higher your margin
SEATTLE, July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- WatchGuard® Technologies, a leader in multi-function firewalls, today announced its newly enhanced partner program, WatchGuardONE(TM). The new program leverages a value-based model that places additional focus on reseller certification and training in addition to simply volume sales. With WatchGuard's award-winning visibility solution WatchGuard Dimension(TM)((i)), and additional profit sharing partner programs, such as Deal Registration and Security Pays, with which resellers can achieve combined discounts of more than 70 percent, WatchGuardONE brings game-changing value to the market for partners. WatchGuard has been positioned as a leader in Gartner's Unified Threat Management Magic Quadrant((ii)) for four consecutive years.
"Well-trained and well-educated resellers have happier customers and end-users, with safer networks. It's that simple," said WatchGuard Technologies Vice President of Sales, Alex Thurber. "Our new partner program gives the power to the reseller, allowing them to determine their level of commitment and role in WatchGuardONE. By focusing on value rather than volume, our partners can concentrate on quality and competency of solutions and deployment, rather than their margin."
WatchGuardONE delivers a variety of membership levels including Silver, Gold and Platinum. Discounts and rebates vary depending on the partner's level of commitment and range from 30 to 46 percent. Key reseller benefits include:
-- Emphasis on Training and Certification - The WatchGuardONE training and
certification program makes it easy for partners to expand their
knowledge with a virtual instructor-led technical training program with
multiple classes, topics and time zones. The more partners invest in
training the more WatchGuard invests in the partner's profitability.
-- Up-front Discounts and Back-end Rebates - This allows all partners,
regardless of size, to choose the level of program involvement.
Discounts will be based on the number of people each reseller trains,
with back-end rebates that are a percentage of total purchase revenue.
This means less price pressure at the outset and greater opportunity
overall.
-- Multi-channel Selling - Partners will have the flexibility to sell
online, in-store or in-person, whatever works best for their
customer-base.
Current WatchGuard partners welcome the new program. "As a partner for more than 10 years, we know WatchGuard's partners are some of the most knowledgeable in the industry and the company's commitment to training and certification is already significant," said Rory Sanchez, CEO and President, SLPowers. "All resellers strive to have technology experts, but often times with the competition from vendors, it's difficult to justify the level of investment needed to deliver those experts. This new program is a win for WatchGuard, the reseller and the customer."
WatchGuard's 2014 U.S. Partner of the Year, Blackpoint IT Services agrees. "Our customers don't just want a partner that has sales-sheet knowledge. They want an expert that truly understands the challenges and threats facing their business," said Lesleigh Watson, COO, Blackpoint IT Services. "It's always a challenge when working within a vendor's channel program, trying to balance sales versus training. At the end of the day, these programs are designed around volume, but now, with WatchGuardONE, a new bar is being set that will allow us to lead with expertise and be the go-to resource for our customers. And the best part, the more training we complete, the more WatchGuard rewards our effort."
WatchGuardONE officially launches in January 2015. It will not be available at this time in Asia Pacific. Existing or prospective partners can learn more and register now to begin the training in preparation for launch by visiting: http://watchguard.com/wgrd-partners.
About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.
WatchGuard® Technologies, Inc. is an award-winning, Frost and Sullivan recognized, global leader of integrated, multi-function security solutions that intelligently combine industry standard hardware, Best-of-Breed security features, and policy-based management tools. WatchGuard provides easy-to-use, but enterprise-powerful protection to hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide. WatchGuard products are backed by WatchGuard LiveSecurity® Service, an innovative support program. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Wash. with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit WatchGuard.com.
For additional information, promotions and updates, follow WatchGuard on Twitter @WatchGuardTech on Facebook, or on the LinkedIn Company page.
WatchGuard is a registered trademark of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners.
(i) Network Computing Awards Best New Product of the Year, Network Computing Awards
(ii) Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Threat Management, Jeremy D'Hoinne, Greg Young, July 2013.
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Microsoft Devices Group Canada launches the affordable Lumia 635 that holds unexpected power
TORONTO, July 31, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, Microsoft Devices Group announced that the Nokia Lumia 635 is available to Canadians. The Lumia 635 offers an uncompromised Windows Phone 8.1 experience at an affordable price.
The Lumia 635 brings the same capabilities as high-end Lumia smartphones, including Microsoft Office, Nokia Camera, MixRadio streaming, and global maps and navigation from HERE, which save time and money. With its 4.5" ClearBlack LCD screen and a Snapdragon quad core processor, the Lumia 635 offers a beautiful display to watch videos and play games with no pauses or hiccups.
"With high-end features, thousands of apps available through the Windows Phone Store plus the latest Windows Phone 8.1 experience, the Lumia 635 is undoubtedly the best affordable smartphone available today," said Matt Rothschild, head of North America sales, Nokia Products Ltd, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy.
The first Lumia smartphone to be pre-loaded with Windows Phone 8.1 in Canada, the Lumia 635 introduces one of the best Windows Phone experiences ever. Windows Phone 8.1 allows typing by swiping with Word Flow, the fastest keyboard. You can see all of your chats, social updates and settings with just one swipe in the new Action Center and make your start screen distinctly your own by adding a background photo to see your real-time Live Tiles come to life. The Lumia 635 also comes with a black matte replaceable shell so you can easily swap shells and choose from bright and glossy green, yellow, and orange to further personalize your Lumia experience.
The Nokia Lumia 635 is available in Canada starting July 31. At Rogers and Fido, the device is now available in black, with an exclusive green glossy shell in the box. Please visit http://www.rogers.com/lumia635 and http://www.fido.ca/lumia635 for full pricing details. At TELUS, the device is available in black in August. Please visit http://www.telus.com/mobility for full pricing details.
Nokia Lumia 635 - Key Tech Specs
--------------------------------
Display o Display size: 4.5 ''
o Display technology:
ClearBlack, IPS LCD
o Display resolution:
FWVGA (854 x 480)
o Touch screen
technology: Capacitive
Multipoint-Touch
--- ------------------------
Photography o Main camera sensor:
5 MP
----------- -------------------------------
Power Management o Maximum talk time
(2G): 12 h
o Maximum talk time
(3G): 14 h
o Maximum music
playback time: 58 h
--- -------------------------
Processor o Processor name:
Snapdragon 400
o Processor type:
Quad-core 1.2GHz
--- ---------------------------
About Microsoft Devices Group
The Microsoft Devices Group includes award-winning hardware used by over a billion people around the world, including Lumia smartphones and tablets, Nokia mobile phones, Xbox hardware, Surface, Perceptive Pixel products, and accessories.
SOURCE Microsoft Devices Group Canada
Microsoft Devices Group Canada
CONTACT: Media Enquiries: Stacey Grimshaw (on behalf of Microsoft Devices), Tel. 416.355.7426, Email: stacey.grimshaw@ketchum.com
Did you know that there are still houses out there that don't have the needed network wiring support for all the connected devices we have these days? If you have a house that just has electricity to every room without any other wiring, what are you to do? Use those electrical circuits and bridge your network with a HomePlug network with the Actiontec WiFi Dead Spot Eliminator.Next Page »
ALCATEL ONETOUCH Introduces Canada To The IDOL(TM) 2 S, The Latest Affordable Smartphone From Bell Mobility And Virgin Mobile
The IDOL 2 S from ALCATEL ONETOUCH brings the power of LTE and the design of a premium smartphone at a simple price
IRVINE, Calif., July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ALCATEL ONETOUCH today announced the availability of North America's newest affordable LTE smartphone - the IDOL 2 S from Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile Canada.
The newest addition to the IDOL smartphone family from ALCATEL ONETOUCH, the IDOL 2 S offers a super-slim design, stylish form factor and packs a powerful 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm(®) Snapdragon(TM) processor as well as high-speed LTE performance. Combined with its vibrant 5-inch (12.7 cm) 1280 x 720 16M color display, the IDOL 2 S makes for a simple, smooth user experience that is great for multimedia viewing and browsing.
"The IDOL 2 S aligns with our commitment to bring affordable, innovative devices to our customers in North America," said Steve Cistulli, Senior Vice President of North America for ALCATEL ONETOUCH. "With its premium design and affordable price point, the IDOL 2 S combines the performance of LTE and a quad-core processor with a larger 5-inch display offering an enhanced user experience."
Key features of the IDOL 2 S include:
-- 5-inch (12.7 cm) HD IPS 1280 x 720 16M color display
-- 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
-- 8MP autofocus rear camera with LED flash and 4x digital zoom + 1.3MP HD
front camera
-- Lightweight design, weighing only 126 g
-- 2150mAh battery for up to 7 hours of talk time and up to 400 hours of
standby time
-- 1GB RAM / 8GB of storage (Expandable to 32GB via MicroSD)
-- Available in Slate or Full White
The ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL 2 S is available at Bell and Virgin Mobile stores, The Source locations, select national retailers and online for as little as $0 on a two year term or for $299.95 outright.
ALCATEL ONETOUCH is a brand within TCL Communication, an international multicultural company which designs, develops, and markets globally a growing range of mobile and Internet devices. One of the fastest growing of the world's top ten mobile phone manufacturers, TCL Communication makes access to mobile technology simple, designing their products around individual's lifestyles, enabling the end users to do more. TCL Communication is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (2618.HK) and part of TCL Corporation, one of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world.
For 20 years now, the ALCATEL brand has brought consistent innovation and quality in mobile telephony to the widest audience. The ONETOUCH smartphone product line is leveraging on that expertise bringing unique products, priced to be accessible to all. For more information, please visit http://www.alcatelonetouch.com/ca-en/.
CONTACT: Jason Gerdon, ALCATEL ONETOUCH, Phone: 949.245.9913, Email: jason.gerdon@alcatelonetouch.com; or Jason Laszlo, Bell Media Relations, Phone: 855.614.6602, Email: jason.laszlo@bell.ca; or Sheryl Davey, Virgin Mobile Canada, Phone: 416.607.8412, Email: sheryl.davey@virginmobile.ca
OtterBox Sacks Broken Smartphones with New NFL Themed Cases
FORT COLLINS, Colo., July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether it's used for a phone call with friends across the country after a big win or to snap photos of an over-the-top tailgate party, football season can take a toll on handheld technology. For fans who want to protect their smartphone and support their favorite team, OtterBox(®), the No. 1-most trusted brand for smartphone protection, provides premium coverage with the Defender Series(®) for Apple(®) iPhone(®) 5/5s, Samsung(®) GALAXY S(®) 4 and S 5, now available with all 32 NFL team logos.(1)
Through a relationship with Verizon Wireless(®) and officially licensed by the NFL, fans can sport their NFL team logos, while still protecting their smartphone from drops, dust and scratches.
"NFL fans are passionate, and cases with team logos are a top request from our consumers," said OtterBox CEO Brian Thomas. "We are elated to team up with our partners at Verizon Wireless to offer officially licensed NFL products. The Defender Series provides our fans trusted OtterBox protection that is tougher than the meanest lineman and shows off their favorite team at the same time."
The iPhone 5s NFL case includes a built-in screen protector and utilizes a full polycarbonate shell and exterior slipcover to help guard smartphones from mishaps.(2) A holster-style belt clip is included for hands-free carrying and doubles as a media stand, perfect for streaming games away from home.
NFL-themed Defender Series cases are now available for all 32 NFL teams on otterbox.com and verizonwireless.com for $64.95. For more information, visit otterbox.com.
About OtterBox:
Founded in 1998 with a line of dry boxes, OtterBox(®) has evolved into the No. 1-selling case for smartphones in the U.S. and a global leader in mobile device protection.(3) Its diverse lineup of protective solutions for handheld technology protect, connect and enable a mobile world. OtterBox has been a six-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the U.S. and was named one of "America's Most Promising Companies" by Forbes Magazine. The company is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo., with offices in San Diego; Boston; Cork, Ireland; and Hong Kong.
For more information, visit otterbox.com. We've Got Technology Covered.
Note:
(1) No. 1-most trusted case brand source: The NPD Group/U.S. Consumer Tracking Service, 1/2011-12/2013
(2 )Defender Series does NOT protect against water. Will provide added protection against drops, bump and shock.
(3 )No. 1-selling smartphone case source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service: Cell Phone Device Protection/Units Sold 1/2012-12/2013
LifeProof four-proof protective cases protect students' devices and parents' budgets
- LifeProof cases perfect for back to school shopping with waterproof, drop proof and dirt proof protection -
SAN DIEGO, July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer is coming to a close and school is on the horizon -- meaning new smartphones and tablets for kids and nervous parents who want to protect these high-end devices. Kids are trading break time activities for the classroom, which means school sports, crowded hallways and overstuffed backpacks -- all opportunities for accidental damage to expensive technology. LifeProof(®) smartphone and tablet cases help prevent breakage and the accompanying repair costs with waterproof, drop proof and dirt proof protection.
With LifeProof protective, waterproof tablet cases, students who replace notebooks with an iPad can complete an assignment on a bumpy bus ride or research in the cafeteria without worrying about drops to the tile floor or messy spills. Students are rarely without their smartphones and LifeProof cases for Apple(®) and Samsung(®) smartphones allow them to toss these expensive devices from backpack to desk to soccer field knowing it is safe from splashes, drops and dirt.
"Parents are well aware that kids are prone to trips, scrapes and spills," said LifeProof CEO Brian Thomas. "LifeProof cases are a win-win, saving parents from expensive replacements or repairs in sleek designs and bright colors kids love."
LifeProof offers two different case designs: fre(®) and nuud(®), both of which provide trusted, four-proof protection in a sleek, slim form with a variety of color options. LifeProof fre has a built-in screen protector to guard against scratches and scrapes to the device display, while LifeProof nuud features screenless technology that allows for direct contact with the display.
While parents love that the expertly designed nuud cases were awarded the Parent Tested, Parent Approved(TM) (PTPA) Winner's Seal of Approval, kids are often concerned with fashion over function. Students can accessorize their back-to-school wardrobe with LifeProof's stylish new options in bright, bold colors.
LifeProof waterproof phone and tablet cases are available at lifeproof.com and select retail locations.
About LifeProof
Based in San Diego, LifeProof designs, manufactures and markets cases for smartphones and tablets that deliver protection, style and functionality. LifeProof is built on the idea of giving everyone the complete freedom and confidence to use their mobile devices in any environment. Designed to defend against water, dirt, snow, shock and the hazards of daily life, LifeProof lets consumers use their mobile device everyday, everywhere, for everything -- without worry. For more information, visit http://www.lifeproof.com.