The MMOG, Inspired by One of the Most Popular Science Fiction Series in Television History, to Launch Exclusively This Fall on Syfy.com for a 30 day Period
HAMBURG, November 8, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- Bigpoint (http://www.bigpoint.com) - the global market leader
in browser-based massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) - today announced
that it has successfully launched the first phase of its Battlestar Galactica
Online closed beta. The initial phase granted thousands of hand-selected
players from Europe and the United States the opportunity to experience one
of the most ambitious browser-games ever developed.
During the closed beta period, players are prompted to
complete a tutorial mission as either a human or Cylon. Once completed,
players are free to explore the universe on their own, where they can engage
in PvE and PvP combat, and conduct mining operations. Players can also tour
the Battlestar Galactica, a Cylon Basestar, and a number of space outposts
and planet bases.
Bigpoint will continue to increase the number of closed beta
participants on a daily basis in advance of the official open beta launch,
planned this December. Battlestar Galactica Online is licensed through
Universal Partnerships & Licensing on behalf of NBC Universal Television
Consumer Products Group.
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this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove
the space if one exists.)
HighPoint Solutions Launches One-of-a-Kind Master Data Solution for ICD-10 Remediation
Informatica MDM serves as backbone for healthcare compliance solution
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- HighPoint Solutions, a premier management and information technology consulting firm, today announced the launch of the ICD-10 Appliance, a master data solution that helps healthcare payers, hospitals, and healthcare systems implement and comply with ICD-10. The ICD-10 Appliance employs master data management principles and tools to create a "single version of the truth" for ICD-9/ICD-10 codes, mappings, translations, and business rules that can be utilized by all applications.
The ICD-10 Appliance was deployed on top of the Informatica Master Data Management (MDM) Hub, a single platform approach to multi-domain MDM and an ideal platform for providing a centralized hub for ICD-10/ICD-9 codes, mappings, and translations. The ICD-10 Appliance, serving as a centralized point for disease and procedure master data, is pre-populated with ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes (CM and PCS) and CMS-provided General Equivalent Mapping Specifications (GEMS) and Reimbursement mappings
"Chaos will ensue if payers and providers implement separate, vendor-specific, mappings and rules for each application. The key is to utilize a master data solution to create a single source for ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes, mappings and translations that can be applied uniformly to all applications," said John Wollman, executive vice president of Healthcare.
The appliance addresses key challenges confronting healthcare organizations' remediation initiatives:
-- Most payers and providers procure core systems from independent software
vendors and are looking to these vendors to remediate core systems.
However, each vendor will take a different approach, potentially
impacting all downstream systems and business processes.
-- CMS has provided base mappings (in the form of GEMS and Reimbursement
maps). However, these mappings are far from "one to one" and leave a
significant number of decisions for each organization to make. For
example, GEMS ICD-10 to ICD-9 mappings have only 4.89% exact matches for
CM and only .09% exact matches for PCS. Organizations therefore need a
solution that allows them to define overrides and exceptions to the
standard mappings for specific trading partners and business functions,
which cannot be done or tracked with simple cross-walks.
-- ICD-9 will live on for quite some time and historical clinical and
operational data is encoded in ICD-9. Obtaining meaningful trends and
analytics poses a significant hurdle when firms must reconcile
historical ICD-9 data, recent data in both ICD-9 and ICD-10, and future
ICD-10 data.
-- ICD-10 remediation is coming after most companies finish remediating
systems for HIPAA 5010 and will coincide with remediation activities for
healthcare reform. It is likely that for most payers and providers,
time and cost pressures will make full remediation impossible. Some
portion of the systems will need to support conversion between ICD-10
and ICD-9.
"Mapping between ICD-9 and ICD-10 is not a technical problem. It is instead a problem that will impact both clinical and business operations for both payers and providers," said Shekhar Iyer, senior vice president, Healthcare and Public Sector, Informatica. "Providing different translations for various business uses and governing and auditing these decisions automatically are critical to the successful transition to ICD-10. These requirements are tailor-made for Informatica's MDM platform and we think that will become apparent with the ICD-10 Appliance."
The ICD-10 Appliance delivers several key benefits. It enables selective remediation without sacrificing compliance or analytic excellence. It applies business rules uniformly across all processes and applications. The Appliance facilitates consistency in approach and rules when major commercial off-the-shelf applications are sourced from multiple vendors and integrated with internally-developed applications. While the Appliance supports standard mappings, it also permits overrides or extensions based on customer, business process, or function. Finally, it can be easily updated with future changes in mappings or additional value-added mappings.
While the HighPoint ICD-10 Appliance is not a panacea, it will ease the transition to ICD-10 compliance and entail less work than upgrading each application individually. "The deadline for compliance may seem distant, but with diagnosis and procedures codes in virtually every aspect of business operations, payers and providers are running short on time," said Wollman. "The Appliance gives you more time to determine the ROI of remediation by allowing you to gather data and build a knowledge base over time that enables you to make more informed decisions."
To learn more:
-- Join our upcoming webinar on December 7th - Why You Need to Take a
Master Data Approach to an ICD-10 Implementation with special guest
Gregory Barnowsky, Chief Architect of Enterprise Architecture,
Independence Blue Cross (IBC). (Link to: http://vip.informatica.com/?elqPURLPage64)
-- Download our data sheet: ICD-10 Appliance: A Master Data Solution for
ICD-10 Compliance (Link to: http://highpoint-solutions.com/documents/whitepapers/ICD-10_Appliance-10
-26-10.pdf)
About HighPoint Solutions
HighPoint Solutions is a premier provider of specialized IT services with vertically-focused business consulting, system integration, professional service, and managed hosting solutions for life sciences and healthcare companies. Since 2000, our 350 consultants have provided business consulting and technology solutions that continue to deliver business value and competitive advantage to over 140 clients nationwide.
HighPoint Solutions is headquartered in King of Prussia, PA with additional offices in New Jersey, Chicago, and California. For more information, visit http://www.highpoint-solutions.com.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent leader in memory products, today announced the SSDNow V100, the latest addition to the SSDNow V Series family of solid-state drives (SSD). Designed for mainstream consumers, the Kingston(R) V100 SSD is the best performance enhancer and most cost-effective upgrade path for desktops and notebooks, short of a total system replacement.
The V100 expands the V Series line with the addition of a 256GB capacity drive. Also available in 64GB and 128GB capacities, the new V100 has Windows(R) 7 TRIM support and features an optimized controller and advanced NAND Flash technology for increased read and write performance. Consumers looking to extend the life cycle of their current system will notice quicker bootup and application load times as well as a faster overall user experience with the new V100.
"We are determined to stimulate the consumer upgrade market through Kingston's various upgrade bundle kits that provide cloning software and all of the accessories needed to advance one's desktop or notebook PC from a hard-disk drive to an SSD," said Ariel Perez, SSD business manager, Kingston. "Our new SSDNow V100 drives do just that as they represent the best value for an affordable upgrade solution with a low price vs. performance ratio."
The SSDNow V100 drives ship as either a stand-alone unit or as an upgrade bundle kit. The desktop bundle kit includes the SSD, cloning software, cables (SATA data and power), and 3.5 hard-drive mounting brackets and hardware. The notebook bundle includes the SSD, cloning software and a 2.5 external enclosure allowing the replaced hard drive to be used as extra storage.
Kingston SSDs are backed by a three-year warranty and 24/7 live technical support. For more information visit http://www.kingston.com/flash.
Kingston SSDNow V100 Features & Specifications:
-- Innovative: 2.5 form factor; uses NAND Flash memory components
-- Interface: SATA 1.5Gb/sec. & 3.0Gb/sec.
-- Capacities*: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
--Sequential Speed**: up to 250MB/sec. read; up to 230MB/sec for
128GB & 256GB, up to 145MB.sec. for 64GB write
-- PCMark Vantage HDD Suite Score+
64GB - 19,932
128GB - 20,571
256GB - 19,910
-- Silent: runs silent and cool with no moving parts
-- Reliable: less likely to fail than a standard hard drive
-- Shock-Resistant: no moving mechanical parts so the SSD handles
rougher conditions
-- Supports S.M.A.R.T.: Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting
Technology
--Supports TRIM***: ensures maximum performance on compatible operating
systems
-- Power Specs: Active 6.4W (TYP) / Sleep 1.0W (TYP)
-- Storage Temperatures: -40 degrees C to 85 degrees C
-- Operating Temperatures: 0 degrees C to 70 degrees C
-- Weight: 114.76g (stand-alone unit); 302.91g (notebook bundle);
328.40g (desktop bundle)
-- Vibration Operating: 2.17G (7-800Hz)
-- Vibration Non-operating: 20G (10-2000Hz)
-- Life Expectancy: 1 million hours MTBF
-- Warranty/Support: Three-year warrant with 24/7 support
* Some of the listed capacity on a Flash storage device is used for
formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data
storage. As such, the actual available capacity for data storage is
less than what is listed on the products. For more information, go
to Kingston's Flash Memory Guide at kingston.com/
flash_memory_guide.
**Speed may vary due to host and device configuration.
*** Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2
+ Test system: Intel DG45ID Desktop Motherboard; Intel Core 2 Quad
Q9550 CPU @ 2.83GHz; System Memory 4GB; On-Board SATA 3Gbps with
AHCI-Enabled Window 7 64-bit.
Kingston SSDNow V100 Solid-State Drives
Street Pricing
Part Number Capacity and Features (U.S. only)
(Newegg.com;
Buy.com)
64GB 2.5 SATA SSD (stand-
SV100S2/64GZ alone drive) $119.99
64GB 2.5 SATA SSD (desktop
SV100S2D/64GZ bundle) $129.99
64GB 2.5 SATA SSD (notebook
SV100S2N/64GZ bundle) $129.99
128GB 2.5 SATA SSD (stand-
SV100S2/128GZ alone drive) $224.99
128GB 2.5 SATA SSD (desktop
SV100S2D/128GZ bundle) $234.99
128GB 2.5 SATA SSD (notebook
SV100S2N/128GZ bundle) $234.99
256GB 2.5 SATA SSD (stand-
SV100S2/256GZ alone drive) $489.99
256GB 2.5 SATA SSD (desktop
SV100S2D/256GZ bundle) $499.99
256GB 2.5 SATA SSD (notebook
SV100S2N/256GZ bundle) $499.99
About Kingston Digital, Inc.
Kingston Digital, Inc. ("KDI") is the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the world's largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Established in 2008, KDI is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, USA. For more information, please visit http://www.kingston.com or call 800-337-8410.
Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All other marks may be the property of their respective titleholders.
XFINITY(TM) Internet 2go Enables Consumers to Access the Internet Anytime
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast, one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services, today announced the launch of its wireless data service in Vermont, as the company continues its nationwide rollout of XFINITY(TM) Internet 2go.
In its initial offering, Comcast's XFINITY Internet 2go is a third-generation or 3G wireless data service that provides nationwide wireless Internet service via a wireless data card. Comcast is now offering this wireless service bundled with one or more of its popular high-speed Internet, digital cable or voice products, providing mobile broadband wherever and whenever customers need to be connected. By the end of the year, Comcast will also offer XFINITY Internet 2go as a fourth-generation or 4G wireless high-speed data service via the Clearwire network in the Vermont market.
"We are thrilled to now offer our wireless XFINITYInternet 2go service to our Vermont customers so they can access the Internet from anywhere, anytime," said Pam Mackenzie, Area Vice President for Comcast in Vermont. "Whether it's Comcast's digital cable, high-speed Internet or voice service and now XFINITY Internet 2go, Comcast continues to drive innovation throughout the Green Mountain State to deliver more access, more convenience and more choice for our customers."
For the first time, consumers will have bundled access to both blazing fast wired download speeds and wireless Internet sold together as a "Fast Pack(TM)." The Fast Pack Nationwide (3G) service, for as low as $54.99 per month for 12 months, includes Comcast High-Speed Internet home service with speeds up to 12Mbps, a free WiFi router for mobility and extended coverage inside the home and nationwide 3G mobile network access. Customers who already subscribe to Comcast High-Speed Internet are eligible to receive XFINITY Internet 2go Nationwide(3G) service as an add-on for as low as $40 per month. Visit http://www.comcast.com/2go for additional information.
The world-class services Comcast is known for in the home are beginning to be extended to where consumers work, live and play. High-speed mobile Internet is one of the first products consumers want as a natural extension of Comcast's super fast wired high-speed Internet service.
Comcast is selling wireless data services following its investment in Clearwire in November 2008. Comcast's 3G service in Vermont operates on Sprint's national 3G network. Its 4G service, set to roll out in Vermont by the end of the year, will be delivered via the Clearwire network. Comcast is one of the first investors in Clearwire to bring a service to market and expects that it will continue to add value to existing bundled products.
Comcast introduced the XFINITY brand to the Vermont market just recently with the launch of XFINITY TV, Comcast's new online destination that offers Comcast digital customers nearly 150,000 video choices along with new ways to watch, find and manage their favorite TV shows and movies on TV, online, On Demand and on mobile devices - for free. The XFINITY network and product capabilities will deliver increased Internet speeds, more On Demand and HD choices to Vermonters in the coming months and beyond.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 22.9 million video customers, 16.7 million high-speed Internet customers and 8.4 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, 11 regional sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (http://www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, which owns two professional sports teams, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, and a large, multipurpose arena in Philadelphia, the Wells Fargo Center, and, through Global Spectrum, manages other facilities for sporting events, concerts and other events.
SOURCE Comcast Cable
Comcast Cable
CONTACT: Kristen Roberts, +1-860-505-2075, Kristen_Roberts@cable.comcast.com; or Laura Brubaker, +1-860-505-3344, Laura_Brubaker@cable.comcast.com
Residents of Hutchinson and Nickerson, Kansas to Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Enhancement
New Cell Site Means Clearer Reception, Fewer Dropped Calls
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --VerizonWireless, the wireless company with the highest customer loyalty, has activated new cell sites in Hutchinson and Nickerson, Kan., which will enable more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones, while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
The new cell site in Hutchinson improves Verizon Wireless voice and data coverage on the east side of the city. It covers areas east and west between Hutchinson Municipal Airport and Highway 61 including Hutchinson Mall, and north and south between Hutchinson Clinic and 4th Ave.
The new cell site in Nickerson will enhance coverage in and around the town and will improve coverage on Highway 96 between Hutchinson and Sterling.
"Network reliability is the No. 1 reason that customers choose and stay with Verizon Wireless," said Brendan Fallis, president-Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless. "Getting through on the first try and maintaining a connection are important to our customers. We continue to optimize our network so it remains the most reliable in the nation."
This network improvement is part of Verizon Wireless' commitment to stay ahead of the growing need for the company's voice and data services. The company has spent more than $59 billion since it was formed--$5.7 billion on average every year--to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services. In 2010, Verizon Wireless has invested $75.5 million to expand and advance its Kansas network.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Brenda Hill of Verizon Wireless, +1-913-344-2922, Brenda.Hill@verizonwireless.com, Twitter: @VZWBrenda; or Tyler Dustin, +1-913-660-9658, tdustin@morningstarcomm.com, Twitter: @tdustin7, for Verizon Wireless
Comcast Launches Wireless Data Service in Connecticut
XFINITY(TM) Internet 2go Enables Consumers to Access the Internet Anytime
BERLIN, Conn., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --Comcast, one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services, today announced the launch of its wireless data service in Connecticut, as the company continues its nationwide rollout of XFINITY (TM) Internet 2go.
In its initial offering, Comcast's XFINITY Internet 2go is a third-generation or 3G wireless data service that provides nationwide wireless Internet service via a wireless data card. Comcast is now offering this wireless service bundled with one or more of its popular XFINITY Internet, XFINITY TV or XFINITY Voice products, providing mobile broadband wherever and whenever customers need to be connected. By the end of the year, Comcast will also offer XFINITY Internet 2go as a fourth-generation or 4G wireless high-speed data service via the Clearwire network in the Connecticut market.
"We are thrilled to now offer our wireless XFINITYInternet 2go service to our busy, on-the-move Connecticut customers so they can access the Internet from anywhere, anytime," said Mary McLaughlin, Senior Vice President for Comcast's Western New England Region, which includes Connecticut. "Whether it's XFINITY TV, Internet, Voice and now XFINITY Internet 2go, Comcast continues to drive innovation throughout Connecticut to deliver more access, more convenience and more choice for our customers."
For the first time, consumers will have bundled access to both blazing fast wired download speeds and wireless Internet sold together as a "Fast Pack(TM)." The Fast Pack Nationwide (3G) service, for as low as $54.99 per month for 12 months, includes XFINITY Internet home service with speeds up to 12Mbps, a free WiFi router for mobility and extended coverage inside the home and nationwide 3G mobile network access. Customers who already subscribe to XFINITY Internet are eligible to receive XFINITY Internet 2go Nationwide(3G) service as an add-on for as low as $40 per month. Visit http://www.comcast.com/2go for additional information.
The world-class services Comcast is known for in the home are beginning to be extended to where consumers work, live and play. High-speed mobile Internet is one of the first products consumers want as a natural extension of Comcast's super fast wired high-speed XFINITY Internet.
Comcast is selling wireless data services following its investment in Clearwire in November 2008. Comcast's 3G service in Connecticut operates on Sprint's national 3G network. Its 4G service, set to roll out in Connecticut by the end of the year, will be delivered via the Clearwire network. Comcast is one of the first investors in Clearwire to bring a service to market and expects that it will continue to add value to existing bundled products.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 22.9 million video customers, 16.7 million high-speed Internet customers and 8.4 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, 11 regional sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (http://www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, which owns two professional sports teams, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, and a large, multipurpose arena in Philadelphia, the Wells Fargo Center, and, through Global Spectrum, manages other facilities for sporting events, concerts and other events.
SOURCE Comcast Cable
Comcast Cable
CONTACT: Kristen Roberts, +1-860-505-2075, Kristen_Roberts@cable.comcast.com, or Laura Brubaker, +1-860-505-3344, Laura_Brubaker@cable.comcast.com
Cloud-Based Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) BPA Awarded to EyakTek
GSA Award Allows EyakTek to Provide Government with Cloud Storage, Virtualization, and Web Hosting Solutions via Apps.gov
DULLES, Va., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Eyak Technology, LLC ("EyakTek") announced today that the company is one of eleven awardees of a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) from the General Services Administration (GSA) for cloud computing. The 5 year, competitively bid Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) BPA is valued at $76.5 million. To meet GSA's need for hosting services and solutions, EyakTek has teamed with Horizon Data Center Solutions (HDCS) to provide cloud-based IaaS offerings for customers that will be available through Apps.gov, the government's cloud-based services storefront.
IaaS allows EyakTek to provide a virtualized framework allowing "on-demand" usage of computing resources, including cloud storage, virtual machines, and Web hosting services. The EyakTek and HDCS solution utilizes a web-based portal that allows the customer to buy processing power, memory, storage and bandwidth on-demand.
"The IaaS BPA will enable government to shift to more efficient cloud computing platforms to grow their existing infrastructure. Allowing government to pay for what they actually use - without hardware or startup costs - to grow and shrink services, and reduce usage when required creates a low risk environment and a more efficient way to use computing resources," says Keith Gordaoff, CEO of EyakTek. "This BPA will also help agencies with virtualization and data center consolidation requirements," Mr. Gordaoff added, "which centers on EyakTek's existing capabilities."
According to Jodi Kohut, EyakTek Director of IT Services, EyakTek's solution is designed specifically to address the Government's three security concerns of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. "Our sales, engineering and project management teams understand the intricacies of designing, installing, and/or moving applications into this type of environment, and will be instrumental in assisting the Government community in the installation and integration of these applications," says Kohut.
EyakTek was also one of five recipients of the recently awarded Data.gov Shared Services BPA issued by GSA, enabling government agencies to accomplish their E-Gov initiatives through a shared services environment. Data.gov is an interagency website that was launched in 2009 by the Federal CIO Council to help the public find, access, and download non-sensitive government data in a variety of formats. Combined, the two BPAs dramatically expand EyakTek's ability to deliver a wide array of cloud-based hosting and computing services to all federal, state and local agencies.
Both the IaaS and Data.Gov Shared Services BPAs represent GSA's commitment to offer cloud-based services to agencies with offerings that deliver high-value, efficient technology solutions via a procurement methodology that provides flexibility and ease to customers government-wide.
About Eyak Technology, LLC
Eyak Technology, LLC ("EyakTek") provides award-winning solutions in communications, information technology, healthcare, and critical infrastructure services. As a recognized leader in the industry, EyakTek has consistently been ranked as one of the top 100 federal contractors. An Alaska-native owned small business, EyakTek also provides socio-economic benefits for their community of native shareholders.
Contact: Melissa Zelinger, 703-481-0050 or melissa.zelinger@eyaktek.com
Tomauri brings Hedgren Business Laptop Bags Line to Canada
RICHMOND HILL, ON, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ - For Fall 2010, Tomauri has teamed up
with Hedgren: Belgian Manufacturer of highly-functional bags and travel
gear to bring design-driven business laptop briefcases and backpacks to
the Canadian market.
Tomauri, a Richmond Hill, Ontario-based leading importer and distributor
of PC technology and cabling solutions views this new partnership as an
important expansion of their current product offering of laptop and
mobile accessories. Tomauri is intent on introducing and growing the
Hedgren brand and its high-quality products throughout Canada, and onto
its vast network of resellers.
"It's simple. Today almost everyone has a computer, and even more are
embracing the mobile advantages of laptops and notebooks - therefore
protecting this expensive extension of our lives has become more
crucial than ever - and who says your laptop protection can't be
stylish and impeccably functional as well?", touts Bronwyn Marie West,
Marketing & Design Communications, "In today's world, who wants to
sacrifice style over function, or vice versa? Hedgren's European style
and durable construction begs to differ."
Hedgren's head designer, with his long experience at both Hedgren and
other leading brands, draws on his inspired knowledge when creating a
new bag. And that is why all Business bags prove first-class organizers
that protect all your belongings very well. Over ten years of
experience in the business segment have translated into a collection of
awards for highly functional bags: "Best Computer Bag" (Gazet van
Antwerpen - Belgium), "Best Suitcase" (CHOICE Magazine - Australia),
which is confirmed by the growing group of loyal Hedgren users.
Created in 1993, Hedgren is a brand of highly functional casual bags and
travel gear for anytime and anywhere. Their quality is exceptional,
putting forward generations of impeccable craftsmanship. These
design-driven bags encapsulate the heart and soul of its creator,
Xavier Kegels, the renowned designer who is also known for his designs
for Kipling and Laurent David. Further information can be found at http://www.hedgren.com
About Tomauri, Inc.
Founded in 1987, Tomauri, Inc. is a leading national importer and
distributor of PC technology and accessory products. This includes
connectivity solutions, power protection, blank media, productivity
solutions, computer accessories, pointing devices, active and passive
networking solutions, and other high-margin products. More information
is available at http://www.tomauri.com.
GameMine Introduces a Revolutionary Online 'One Stop Shop' for 'Buy, Sell, Trade & Rent' on http://www.gamemine.com.
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- A leading online video game rental company expands its products and services on its revamped website, http://www.gamemine.com. Gamemine.com has 'bowed out' for 'GameMine: The Game Station', revolutionizing the industry introducing an online environment to 'buy, sell, trade, and rent' at your fingertips.
This new platform is part of a multi-layer release of GameMine's expanding business model incorporating 'buy, sell, trade and rental' comprehensively on a singular website.
GameMine introduces the 'buy, sell and trade' video game market found at major "brick and mortar" retailers and introduces an online alternative hosted on its new website, http://www.gamemine.com. Registration is now FREE, providing access to all features on the website including, game information, purchasing, preordering, renting, and trading towards purchase or for cash. GameMine offers a personally unprecedented inventory to support its release and maintains bleeding edge security for transactions.
Consumers can acquire game-trading values to compare with competitors through revolutionary online tools found on GameMine's website titled, "What is My Game Worth?(TM)."
In effort to support the platform and the company's increasing membership base, GameMine has expanded its Distribution Centers, opening locations in New Jersey, Florida, and Nevada with a fourth location to open in the mid-west shortly after release.
"GameMine: The Game Station, now offers the best of both worlds of retail and rental. With a 'keystroke,' consumers can now 'buy, sell, trade, and rent' video games for their home or portable console, and in the comfort of their own home using http://www.gamemine.com. A new day has dawned from the restless sleep our economy had brought upon the world. We humbly hope our success represents the perseverance of the 'little guy' surviving the worst economic downturn our country had faced in a century," states Mr. Daniel J. Shamy, CEO.
GameMine: The Game Station, http://www.gamemine.com, offers video games for home and portable consoles. Registration is free providing a dynamic 'List' to organize games for purchase, trade and rent. Members can rent games through monthly subscription plans, purchase new or used games, preorder, and trade games towards purchase or for cash.
Virgin America Teams Up With Google Chrome(TM) to Offer Free In-Flight WiFi Over the Holidays
Airline Offers One More Seasonal Gift: A Fare Sale on its Award-Winning Flights,* restrictions, taxes and fees apply
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the first airline in the U.S. to offer fleetwide WiFi in the skies, today announces it is teaming up with Google's Chrome browser team to offer free Gogo® Inflight Internet for all its guests during the holiday season. The two California companies known for innovation, entrepreneurialism and for connecting people in new ways have come together for the second consecutive year to give Virgin America flyers the gift of in-flight connection during the holiday travel season. From November 20, 2010-January 2, 2011, guests on all Virgin America flights will be able to check email, stay in touch with family and friends via social media, or just go wherever the web takes them - all for free. Today, Virgin America is also offering flyers one more seasonal gift: a sale on its award-winning flights, with "byte-size" fares from $39* short-haul and from $109* long-haul, restrictions, taxes and fees apply.
"As the only airline based in Silicon Valley, in-flight WiFi has been popular with our guests since we launched it on our first aircraft in November of 2008," said David Cush, President and CEO of Virgin America. "Both business and leisure travelers are logging on at a growing rate, and many travelers consider the availability of in-flight WiFi one of the key factors in their booking decision. We saw a jump in the number of guests logging on after last year's free WiFi gift and we expect to see an increase again. Once people try WiFi at 35,000 feet they rarely go back."
Virgin America is the first airline in the U.S. to offer both standard power outlets near every seat and fleet-wide WiFi. Launched on its first aircraft in November 2008 and rolled out to its entire fleet by May 2009, the airline sees up to one-third of guests on some long-haul flights logging on to Gogo. Although guests traveling on any of Virgin America's flights from November 20, 2010-January 2, 2011, will enjoy free web access via their laptops, PDAs, or iPads, Gogo is normally available for $12.95 for flights of over three hours; $9.95 for flights between 1.5 and three hours; $4.95 for short haul flights of less than 1.5 hours; and handheld/PDA pricing of $7.95 for flights over 1.5 hours and $4.95 for short flights. Monthly passes on Virgin America are also available for $29.95 for laptops and $19.95 for handhelds.
Since launching in August 2007, Virgin America has captured a list of travel industry best-in-class awards, including "Best Domestic Airline" in Conde Nast Traveler's 2008, 2009 and 2010 Readers' Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009 and 2010 World's Best Awards. The airline offers flyers mood-lit cabins, standard power outlets near every seat and the Red(TM) in-flight entertainment system - the largest and most advanced personal touch-screen entertainment platform in the skies. The Red platform offers 700+ hours of entertainment content, including the ability to build playlists from over 3,000 MP3s, 30 on-demand films, live and premium TV, interactive Google Maps, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, a first-of-its-kind digital Shop section and an on-demand menu - so guests can order a cocktail or meal from their seatback any time during a flight.
Virgin America is known for its tech-friendly amenities and stylish design. In November 2008, Virgin America launched Gogo Inflight Internet on its first flight with a first ever "air-to-ground" video stream to YouTube Live - YouTube's first official real-world user event. In May of 2009, the airline completed the roll-out of its WiFi service across its fleet and celebrated the milestone with a live streamed chat between Oprah Winfrey in her studio audience and a Virgin America plane at 35,000 feet over the California coast. In June 2009, the airline also teamed up with Google for the first-ever online and "in the clouds" web-based scavenger hunt, using in-flight WiFi.
EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S. controlled and operated airline. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.
About Virgin America: Headquartered in California and launched in August 2007, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel, including in-flight internet service on every flight and the most advanced touch-screen entertainment platform in the skies. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport. In just three years flying, Virgin America has created 1,700 new jobs and has swept the major reader-based travel awards, including "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008, 2009 and 2010 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009 and 2010 World's Best Awards. For photos and more, visit: http://www.virginamerica.com
*Terms and Conditions
All Main Cabin fares are one-way, based on travel originating from the US, and require a 7-day advance purchase. Tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm PST November 15, 2010. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.70 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. For international travel, fares do not include the U.S. Immigration User Fee of $7, the U.S. APHIS fee of $5, and the U.S. International Arrival/Departure tax of $16.10 each way. For service to/from Toronto, fares do not include additional taxes/fees of up to $50, including: Airport Improvement Fee, Canadian Security Fee, Goods and Services Tax, and Harmonized Sales Tax. For service to/from Mexico, fares do not include additional taxes/fees of up to $60, including: Mexico International Departure Tax and Mexico Tourism Tax. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Travel must occur between November 15, 2010 and February 15, 2011, unless specified otherwise. For LAX-DFW service, travel must occur between December 1, 2010 and February 15, 2011. For SFO-DFW service, travel must occur between December 6, 2010 and February 15, 2011. For LAX-CUN service, travel must occur between January 19, 2011 and March 16, 2011. For SFO-CUN service, travel must occur between January 20, 2011 and March 16, 2011. Blackout dates are November 24, 2010; November 27-29, 2010; December 17-18, 2010; December 23-24, 2010; December 26, 2010; December 30, 2010; January 2-3, 2011; February 18, 21, 2011. Lowest fares are available for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Higher fares are available for travel on other days of the week. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Flights may not operate daily. Mexico service subject to government approval. Changes or cancellations can be made for a $75 fee if changes are made on Virgin America's website (http://www.virginamerica.com) or a $100 fee through all other channels, including the call center and at the airport, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Changes or cancellations of a booking made with Elevate Points will be subject to a $75 redeposit fee. Guests who no-show without a change or cancel prior to the scheduled departure time will forfeit the amount of this fare. In addition, any future flights booked in the same reservation will also be canceled and the fare will be forfeited. Tickets purchased from Virgin America through our reservation call center will cost an additional $15 per guest per itinerary. Any added cost associated with purchasing tickets from Virgin America through our reservation call center will be non-refundable. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly or partially used ticket. Fares, routes, fees and schedules are subject to change without notice. Virgin America will accept one (1) piece of checked baggage up to 70 pounds for $25 for each ticketed guest traveling within the U.S. and for free of charge for each ticketed guest traveling to/from Mexico or to/from Canada. The fee per guest for each additional checked bag up to 50 pounds from the second (2) to the tenth (10) is $25. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply.
CONTACT: Katie Baynes, +1-650-274-9242, katie.baynes@virginamerica.com, or Abby Lunardini, +1-650-533-7576, abby.lunardini@virginamerica.com, both of Virgin America
Delta, Google Chrome Offer Free Wi-Fi to More than 11 Million Customers as Holiday 'Thank You'
Customers can join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #DeltaWifi
ATLANTA, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and Google will offer free in-flight Wi-Fi to customers on Delta flights equipped with Gogo Inflight Internet service between Nov. 20, 2010 and Jan. 2, 2011. With more than 540 Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft flying more than 2,200 domestic flights each day, Delta expects more than 11 million customers to benefit from this holiday promotion.
"Our frequent travelers live with us in the air much of the year, and we are always looking for ways to say 'thank you' for their business," said Tim Mapes, Delta's senior vice president - Marketing. "Our holiday promotion with Google's Chrome browser team allows us to offer our customers free Wi-Fi as a small token of appreciation while also making it easier for them to squeeze last-minute shopping into their hectic schedules or connect with family members as they head home for the holidays."
Delta began installing Wi-Fi on its domestic fleet in fall 2008 and today operates the largest fleet of Wi-Fi enabled aircraft in the world.
Customers using the free Wi-Fi during the holiday season can tag #DeltaWifi on Twitter to show they are tweeting from 30,000+ feet. Users can also add the hashtag to their tweets to participate in discussions and follow other users by searching for "#DeltaWifi." More information on about Delta's in-flight Wi-Fi services is available at delta.com/wifi.
Customers can find Delta online at delta.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/delta where bookings can be made through the industry's first social media 'Ticket Counter'. Customers can seek real-time travel assistance by contacting DeltaAssist at twitter.com/DeltaAssist. Travel tips and promotional information are available at twitter.com/Delta and Delta's blog at blog.delta.com offers an "under-the-wing" perspective on customer-related topics.
Delta is focused on improving the customer experience, with an investment of more than $2 billion in full-flat beds in BusinessElite on 90 trans-oceanic aircraft, in-seat audio and video on demand throughout Economy Class on international aircraft, and new Delta Sky Clubs in Atlanta, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Philadelphia and Seattle.
About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 351 destinations in 64 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.
Terms and Conditions
Additional restrictions may apply. Offers subject to change. Use of the Gogo Inflight Internet service is subject to terms of use available at gogoinflight.com.
Harris Launches Online Banking for Business Service for Global Treasury Management Clients
SAN ANTONIO and CHICAGO, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Harris Bank, and its parent company BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), announced today that they have launched a powerful, new treasury management platform that will help large corporate and commercial clients manage their day-to-day banking needs online.
The new service, entitled "Online Banking for Business," is designed to significantly improve online usability and security. It will be introduced to all Harris Commercial Banking clients in 2011, ensuring they have access to a single point of entry to manage all global cash management and foreign exchange services online.
The new service is designed to create power, personalization, and performance that will transform clients' online banking experience. It will feature a new home page and customized options to provide a quick and complete view of a client's banking relationship to help make important treasury management decisions. The online service is also set to include the ability to centrally manage investments, loans, trade finance and corporate card transactions.
"We designed this platform, first and foremost, from our clients' perspective," said Stephen Rogers, Managing Director, Global Treasury Management, Harris Bank. "Everyone's needs are different; and with that in mind, we focused on taking a personalized approach, one that allows the client to define their own experience."
"Next generation banking platforms such as Online Banking for Business set themselves apart by putting the workflow of the client at the center of the action," says Marc Harrison of Greenwich Associates, a Connecticut-based consulting firm which provides independent market analysis. "Online Banking for Business provides the opportunity to view information regarding cash balances and FX in a single location. Online Banking for Business provides enhanced administration for seamless access to cross border capabilities which is a competitive differentiator for BMO and Harris."
"It's about bringing power to our clients," said Rogers. "Their time is more valuable than ever, and our new platform will ensure they make the most of their treasury management experience with Harris Bank."
About Harris
Harris is an integrated financial service organization providing more than 1.3 million personal, business and corporate clients with banking, lending, investing and wealth management solutions. The organization is a member of the BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), which also provides corporate and investment banking services in the U.S. under the BMO Capital Markets name.
Harris® is a trade name used by various financial service subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp. Banking products and services are provided by Harris N.A., The Harris Bank, N.A. and their bank affiliates, Members FDIC. Brokerage products are offered through Harris Investor Services, Inc. (HIS), a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and SEC-registered investment advisor. Insurance and annuities are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc. (HBIS). Investment banking services are provided by BMO Capital Markets Corp. (BMOCMC) and BMO Capital Markets GKST, Inc. (GKST), a Municipal Bond Dealer and member FINRA and SIPC. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, Inc. (HSBSB), an SEC registered investment advisor. Family Office Services are provided by Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services are offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Services LLC (HmyCFO), a SEC-registered investment advisor and wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors (SOWA) is an SEC-registered investment advisor. Investment advisory services to institutional clients are provided by Harris Investment Management (HIM), an SEC-registered investment advisor. Products offered by HIS, HBIS, BMOCM, HSBSB, HmyCFO and HIM, affiliated companies and are wholly owned subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp.,: Are Not Insured by the FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, Not a Deposit of or guaranteed by Any Bank or Bank Affiliate, May lose Value. The purchase of insurance or an annuity is not a condition to any bank loan or service. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.
SOURCE Harris Bank
Harris Bank
CONTACT: Patrick O'Herlihy of Harris Bank, +1-312-461-6970
Google Chrome(TM) and AirTran Airways Team Up to Give Passengers the Gift of Free Inflight Wi-Fi This Holiday Season
-Passengers on Every AirTran Flight From November 20, 2010, Through January 2, 2011, Can Surf the Web Free of Charge-
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), and Google Chrome, the innovative web browser from Google today unveiled a unique promotion to bring free inflight Wi-Fi to all AirTran Airways passengers this holiday season. AirTran Airways is the only major airline to have Wi-Fi on every flight.
From November 20, 2010, through January 2, 2011, AirTran Airways passengers will have free access to Gogo Inflight Internet. The service allows passengers with Wi-Fi enabled devices like laptops and smartphones to surf the Web while inflight.
"We are delighted to join forces with Google Chrome to give our loyal customers free inflight Wi-Fi," said Tad Hutcheson, vice president of marketing and sales for AirTran Airways. "We pride ourselves on offering the most consistent, high-quality flying experience to our passengers, and we are happy to add to that experience free Wi-Fi on every AirTran Airways flight this holiday season."
First launched just over two years ago, Google's web browser, Chrome has become known worldwide for its speed, simplicity and security. With a sleek user interface, cutting-edge speed improvements and an innovative security architecture, Chrome lets users browse the modern web faster and safer than ever before.
AirTran Airways passengers will find that this browser was designed with a concentration on speed and simplicity, making it quick to start up, load web pages and run complex web applications. Additionally, built-in detection of malware and phishing sites help provide greater protection to users while they surf the web.
"We are constantly working to help provide a better web experience to users around the world," said Sundar Pichai, Vice President of Product Management at Google. "Whether it be building a better browser with Chrome or bringing free Wi-Fi to air travelers this holiday season, we are constantly innovating to ensure users' access to the web is fast, simple and seamless."
AirTran Airways is a Fortune 1000 company and has been ranked the number one low cost carrier in the Airline Quality Rating study for the past three years. AirTran Airways is the only major airline with Gogo Inflight Internet on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. Our low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating, Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit http://www.airtran.com.
Media Contacts: Christopher White
Cynthia Tinsley-Douglas
678.254.7442
SOURCE AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways
CONTACT: Christopher White or Cynthia Tinsley-Douglas, both at +1-678-254-7442
'Private Cloud' Takes Center Stage at Microsoft Tech-Ed Europe 2010
Hyper-V Cloud programs will help customers and partners accelerate private cloud deployment.
BERLIN, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than two weeks after announcing major updates to Windows Azure at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference, Microsoft Corp. again demonstrated the breadth of its vision for cloud computing today when it unveiled Hyper-V Cloud, a set of programs and offerings that makes it easier for businesses to build their own private cloud infrastructures using the Windows Server platform. Dell Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., HP, IBM Corp. and NEC Corp. have already signed on as Hyper-V Cloud partners, and will be working with Microsoft to deliver prevalidated infrastructure and services that enable organizations to implement private clouds with increased speed and reduced risk.
"Many of our customers have told us they want the benefits of cloud-computing -- fast deployment, increased agility, lower costs -- but with tight control over things like physical infrastructure and security policies," said Brad Anderson, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Management and Security Division. "Our new private cloud offerings fulfill that need at the infrastructure level, while providing a clear migration path to cloud services at the platform level."
Building Private Clouds With Hyper-V Cloud and the Windows Server Platform
Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft's server platform, already delivers comprehensive virtualization and management capabilities through Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V. These technologies, along with Microsoft System Center, provide the components organizations need to implement private clouds. With the new Hyper-V Cloud Fast Track program, Microsoft and its partners will deliver a broad choice of predefined, validated configurations for private cloud deployments, comprising compute, storage, networking resources, virtualization and management software. These programs and offerings help reduce the risk and increase the speed of private cloud deployments.
As part of the Hyper-V Cloud Fast Track program, HP and Microsoft have jointly developed HP Cloud Foundation for Hyper-V, a reference architecture that combines HP BladeSystem Matrix, Microsoft System Center and Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V to provide customers with a proven foundation for running business applications within a private cloud computing environment. This solution helps reduce infrastructure deployment time, enables dynamic flexing of physical and virtual resource pools, and delivers comprehensive management of Hyper-V virtualized infrastructure and applications. HP also offers HP CloudStart for Hyper-V to deliver to clients a fully operational, private cloud environment within 30 days.
"Organizations are challenged with IT sprawl and siloed infrastructure, which complicate the deployment, maintenance and management of IT services," said Mark Potter, senior vice president and general manager, Industry Standard Servers and Software, HP. "Private cloud environments based on HP Cloud Foundation for Hyper-V and delivered by HP Cloud consulting services address these challenges by enabling domain experts to configure IT resources once, and IT service owners to provision and reconfigure resources as needed."
In addition, Microsoft announced other components of Hyper-V Cloud:
-- Hyper-V Cloud Service Provider Program. More than 70 service providers
around the world offer infrastructure as a finished, fully hosted
service built on Microsoft technology. This option delivers a fast,
cost-effective implementation for cloud services, both private and
public. Service providers include Korean Internet Data Center; Fasthosts
(U.K., U.S.); Agarik (France); and Hostway Corp. (U.S., U.K.,
Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Romania).
-- Hyper-V Cloud Deployment Guides. For customers who want to build their
own private clouds on top of existing infrastructure investments,
Microsoft is now offering tools and guidance based on expertise
developed during hundreds of Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS)
customer engagements over the past few years. This element of the
Hyper-V Cloud program optimizes for high levels of flexibility, control
and customization.
-- Hyper-V Cloud Accelerate. To tie it all together, Microsoft is making
significant investments to help customers and partners fund assessments,
proofs of concept and production deployments. These services will be
delivered by MCS and pre-qualified members of the Microsoft Partner
Network.
More information on Hyper-V Cloud and additional details on how Dell, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM and NEC are participating in the program can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/privatecloud.
More Platform Enhancements
Microsoft made several other announcements at today's event, including these:
-- The general availability of Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine
Manager Self Service Portal 2.0, which makes it easier for customers to
pool, allocate, consume and manage their computer, network and storage
resources -- critical components for a private cloud platform. More
information on the new System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self
Service Portal 2.0 can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/en/us/private-cloud.aspx.
-- The availability of the release candidate of Forefront Endpoint
Protection 2010, which is built on System Center Configuration Manager
to unify management and security for desktops and servers.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Latens latest ECO UI5 middleware solution with software CAS/DRM offers OTT content anywhere at anytime
ATLANTA, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Latens (TelcoTV stand no. 244), the leading provider of software security solutions for Pay-TV across all networks today announced their plans to showcase Latens ECO UI5 middleware with Latens Over-The-Top (OTT) Video Portal on PC, STB and iPad at TelcoTV 2010.
TelcoTV, which will take place November 9 to 11, 2010 in Las Vegas, offers a unique venue for Latens to showcase their new middleware and OTT offerings. This year's theme, "Profiting in a Multi-Screen World," reflects the industry addressing the changes in consumer behavior with new products and solutions to help operators offer and monetize OTT applications and services.
Latens ECO middleware enables a complete viewing experience to all screens in the home, is designed to work across all network types, and be deployed in all regions and languages. The ECO system incorporates Latens CAS/DRM to ensure that all content is secure and available across all devices including PC, iPad, mobile devices and multiple set-top boxes. The ECO solution also scales to allow an operator to increase or modify the feature portfolio to ensure a future-proof solution. Latens ECO with pre-integrated CAS is also deployed in a federated model allowing operators to franchise their IPTV services in a cost effective way reducing management and production costs.
"Latens ECO UI5 enhances the viewing experience with an incredibly rich, high-definition interface driven by cover art and posters and also incorporates new intuitive content search facilities such as recommendations to the user based on previous seen programmes," explains Simon Leadlay, Latens ECO Product Manager.
Latens will showcase its ECO UI 5 Middleware, with pre-integrated CAS on multiple devices including iPad. Key features include broadcast broadband video, DVR, remote DVR, DLNA enabled services, internet applications for TV, home networking and much more for operators to provide any content, anytime, anywhere solutions.
Note to Editors
Latens (stand 244) will be showcasing Latens CAS Release 5 along with its range of OTT products and enhanced Pay TV service solutions at TelcoTV 2010 from 10-11 November, Las Vegas.
About Latens
Latens is leading the way in DVB® compliant software Conditional Access and Middleware, enabling operators of broadcast and broadband Pay-TV networks around the world to securely deliver next generation entertainment services to set-top boxes, PCs, mobile devices and home networks. With offices in the US, UK and India Latens' customer base stretches globally. Latens success has been reflected in the number of prestigious industry awards it has won, The Queen's Award for Enterprise and the Deloitte Fast 500 technology award for the EMEA region. For more information about Latens please visit http://www.latens.com
AT&T U-verse Mobile App Launches on Windows Phone 7 Devices
More AT&T Customers Can Download and Watch Hit TV Shows For Free with U-verse Mobile Holiday Trial Offers
DALLAS, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today launched AT&T U-verse® Mobile for Windows Phone 7 devices, including the HTC Surround, Samsung Focus(TM), and soon, the LG Quantum(TM). The popular U-verse Mobile app is preloaded so that any AT&T wireless customer with a Windows Phone can download and watch hit TV shows on their device, marking the first time an AT&T U-verse service is available nationwide.
AT&T is making mobile viewing even easier for the holidays with two special offers. Any AT&T Windows Phone user can log-in to U-verse Mobile by Dec. 31 and download and watch free for 30days. Once the trial is complete, customers taking advantage of this offer will automatically be subscribed to U-verse Mobile for $9.99 per month. Separately U-verse TV customers who subscribe to the U100, U200 and U200 Latino packages can take advantage of a limited time preview to download and watch with U-verse Mobile at no extra cost through Feb. 1, 2011. The preview offer is available to Uverse TV customers on all U-verse Mobile qualifying smartphones.
"There's no better way to stay entertained during the holiday travel season than to watch hit TV shows on the go for free with U-verse Mobile," said Jeff Weber, vice president of video services, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "We're excited for more AT&T customers to see what the U-verse experience is all about, and we'll continue to expand this app to even more customers and devices."
AT&T continues to expand TV watching to the devices that matter most to you, with hit TV shows available on U-verse TV, U-verse Online, U-verse TV on Xbox 360, and U-verse Mobile. U-verse Mobile is now available on more than 10 qualifying smartphone models and on four major mobile operating systems.
With U-verse Mobile, you can browse or search a library of downloadable shows, and select which specific episode you want to download. The selected content is downloaded to your mobile phone over any Wi-Fi connection, and you can then watch it on your device anywhere you want. All AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet customers have home Wi-Fi installed as part of their service and get access to AT&T's entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost.
For all AT&T U-verse TV customers, U-verse Mobile also lets you schedule and manage your DVR recordings at no extra cost. The ability to download and watch TV shows is available at no extra charge for customers that subscribe to the U300 package or higher.
U-verse TV customers can also watch TV shows, schedule DVR recordings and see which of their recorded shows are also available to watch online with U-verse Online. Any online user can watch more than 130,000 titles of TV shows, movies and video clips on your PC from the entertainment website.
U-verse Mobile is one of the latest ways that AT&T is mobilizing everything that's important to customers -- their favorite content, apps, entertainment and social networks. AT&T today delivers the nation's fastest mobile broadband network as well as the nation's largest Wi-Fi network.
AT&T U-verse TV is the only 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service offered by a national service provider, making AT&T U-verse one of the most dynamic and feature-rich services available today. Now AT&T U-verse TV ranks "Highest in Residential Television Service Satisfaction in the North Central, South and West Regions," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study(SM). For additional information on AT&T Uverse -- or to find out if it's available in your area -- visit AT&T U-verse.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE®magazine.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at the AT&T Web Site. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at AT&T Newsroom, and as part of an RSS feed at AT&T RSS Feed. Or follow our news on Twitter @ATT. Find us on Facebook at the AT&T Facebook to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at AT&T Small Business Facebook to discover more about our small business services.
Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T U-verse. Call or go to http://www.att.com/u-verse to see if you qualify. AT&T U-verse services are provided by AT&T local telephone companies.U-verse Mobile: Download and watch capability available for select shows and requires select smart phones, Wi-Fi connection, and qualifying U-verse TV plan or monthly subscription fee. Downloaded shows are available for viewing for limited time periods. Ability to browse the TV guide and manage DVR available to all U-verse TV customers. Standard data charges may apply. First Month Free Offer: Download and watch hit TV shows free for 30 days. Offer ends 12/31/2010. After the first 30 days, you will automatically be charged a $9.99 monthly subscription fee on your AT&T Wireless bill. To avoid being charged, cancel during the first 30 days by calling 800-331-0500. You may cancel at any time. Standard data charges may apply.
Wi-Fi: Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See http://www.attwifi.com for details and locations.
Other conditions and restrictions may apply to all offers. Offers may be modified or discontinued at anytime without notice. AT&T employees or retirees not eligible for promotional offers.
AT&T U-verse received the highest numerical score among television service providers in the North Central, South and West regions in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Residential Television Service Satisfaction Study(SM). Study based on 28,489 total responses from measuring 12 providers in the North Central region (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI), 13 providers in the South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX), and 10 providers in the West (AZ, CA, CO, ID, IA, MN, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY) and measures consumer satisfaction with television service. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in Nov. 2009 and Jan. 2010, April 2010 and July 2010. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com
SOURCE AT&T Inc.
AT&T Inc.
CONTACT: Jill Rountree of AT&T Corporate Communications, +1-512-495-7186, jrountree@attnews.us
EXTENSION, INC. to Launch Apple iPhone Application for Use in Clinical Workflows
EXTENSION enhances its patent-pending clinical workflow solutions for physicians and nurses by incorporating the use of the Apple iPhone
FORT WAYNE, Ind., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- EXTENSION, INC. announced today that in addition to its Cisco IP device integration, it will make available for general release to the healthcare community the EXTENSION for Apple iPhone application. EXTENSION's existing offerings use Cisco IP devices and smartphones as end points to deliver critical alerts and notifications. With this enhancement the smartphone devices will not only serve as communication end points but will further help to bridge the communication gap between physicians and nurses. Alerts and notifications received on the Apple iPhone via EXTENSION's healthcare-centric software allow for an automated and interactive exchange among clinicians.
The addition of the Apple iPhone application to the EXTENSION® Solution Suite (ESS) is consistent with EXTENSION's mission to 'evolve healthcare with context-aware interactive communication'. "With the release of the EXTENSION Apple iPhone app, we're helping satisfy a need in the healthcare community which is to provide not only nurses but physicians with technologies that will keep them abreast of what's happening with their patients," says Todd Plesko, CEO of EXTENSION. The EXTENSION iPhone application provides features such as critical lab report notifications, automated physician and nurse exchanges, report availability including pathology, cardiology, radiology, and more.
EXTENSION's iPhone application is currently in trial at Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto, CA. According to Bill Collins, Project Manager - Patient Care Systems Planning, of Stanford University Hospital, "Stanford is continually recognized as a pioneer in medical advances and has earned the title as one of 'America's Best Hospitals' by U.S. News and World Report. Our progressive-thinking leadership is focused on continuous improvement in patient care. With EXTENSION we are exploring ways in which we can enhance workflows by streamlining critical alerts and notifications to nurses via smartphone devices. The collaboration between the EXTENSION Apple iPhone application and our nurse-call system will allow our nursing staff to quickly respond to patient needs, thus allowing us to further improve care coordination."
The EXTENSION software solution - which tightly integrates with the Cisco Unified Communication platform and smartphones - is an enterprise-class solution delivered on a server. The server aggregates data from an organization's disparate clinical and business systems and presents data to Cisco IP devices and smartphones allowing organizations to realize additional returns on the investments made into their existing systems. According to Todd Plesko, "With EXTENSION everything a hospital needs from a middleware solution is built into one box, by one company. We do not require other middleware to facilitate communication to the Cisco IP devices or smartphones nor do we require lots of servers to operate. Everything is included on a single appliance making it quick and easy to implement and less costly to support and maintain than alternative solutions. Also, having everything in one box makes accountability easy for our clients - it is one call to one company."
EXTENSION anticipates that the iPhone application will be in production in a number of healthcare organizations in the U.S. and will be available via the Apple App store in the coming months.
About EXTENSION, INC.
EXTENSION, INC. is the developer of the patent-pending EXTENSION® Solution Suite (ESS). The EXTENSION suite of software expands Cisco Unified Communications (UC) and smart phones into clinical workflow tools automating notifications using all modern messaging platforms, including Cisco's award-winning IP Phones. EXTENSION integrates any HL7- based application with Cisco Advanced UC, using standards-based protocols. EXTENSION has earned the AHA's exclusive endorsement for its HealthID(TM) patient smart card solution and has recently earned the 'Cisco Collaboration Partner of the Year for the US/Canada'. For more on EXTENSION visit http://www.opentheredbox.com.
SOURCE EXTENSION, INC.
EXTENSION, INC.
CONTACT: EXTENSION, INC., Whitney St. Pierre, +1-773-661-2748, Whitney.stpierre@ext-inc.com
Delta PowerSystems Forms Alliance With Mister Sparky® for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Solutions
CLARKSTON, Mich., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta PowerSystems, a full service Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) solutions provider headquartered in Clarkston, Mich., has announced a new alliance with Mister Sparky, a franchisor based in Sarasota, Fla., that focuses on residential electrical contracting.
This business venture will allow Delta PowerSystems and Mister Sparky to be at the forefront of EVSE installation, a new technology driven field created by the introduction of electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. The collaboration will make the electrical power sources for electric cars easily available and user friendly for businesses and EV homeowners.
Brad McKouen and Jeremy Smith, co-owners of Delta PowerSystems said, "This alliance with Mister Sparky maximizes the opportunity for EV growth for all stakeholders. With our strong relationships in the automotive and heavy truck industry, we have many avenues to bring EVSE opportunities to the table. Mister Sparky's excellent track record of in-home electrical work and nationwide footprint will give this alliance national recognition and credibility in this emerging field."
Mister Sparky leadership also expressed optimism about the new alliance. "I am extremely excited to work with Delta PowerSystems toward the common goal of making electric vehicle ownership easier and more accessible," said Jamie Wilkie, president of Mister Sparky. "This alliance bridges the gap between technological advances in residential electronics and automotive engineering, and makes the adoption of electric vehicles and the installation of their chargers even easier. Together, we now stand alone as the logical resource for manufacturers and electric vehicle owners."
Powered by master electricians, engineers, service partners and a dedicated team of associates, Delta PowerSystems offers full service EVSE solutions for residential, municipal, industrial, and commercial destinations, including multi-tenant facilities and retail/manufacturing complexes.
Mister Sparky, a division of Clockwork, Inc. (http://www.mistersparky.com), is a leading residential electrical service and repair company in North America. The company has an impeccable record for delivering fast, on-time service, accurate StraightForward Pricing® and an overall pleasant experience for customers.
HISTORY Launches HISTORY HERE(TM) App for Windows® Phone 7
Explore the History that Surrounds You with Instant Localized Multimedia Access to Historic Points of Interest
NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- HISTORY(TM) today announced the availability of HISTORY HERE(TM), a location-based mobile application for Windows® Phone 7, that brings history to life in thousands of locations across the United States. Available to Windows Phone 7 customers in conjunction with the phone's US launch on November 8, HISTORY HERE(TM) is the first mobile app to combine GPS with HISTORY's award-winning content and resources to create a mobile guide that lets users experience the historical context of their surroundings, no matter where they are. HISTORY HERE(TM), a featured application in the Windows Phone Marketplace, is available for purchase, beginning today, for $2.99.
HISTORY HERE(TM) currently has information on more than 7,000 locations nationwide and will add thousands more historical points of interest in the coming months. Each location is supplemented with exclusive video, audio of famous speeches, narratives from key moments in history, written content, pictures and maps to create a dynamic visitor's guide to each location.
"Teaming up with Microsoft Corp for HISTORY reinforces the HISTORY brand's 360-degree approach of aggressively reaching and connecting with our viewers across all platforms," said Nancy Dubuc, President and General Manager History and Lifetime Networks. "By heightening the HISTORY experience with our authentic innovative content on the cutting edge Windows 7 mobile app, we are offering consumers an exciting new way to discover the power of history everywhere they want it."
"Windows Phone 7 is backed by a rich developer ecosystem that is creating a variety of quality apps and games that take advantage of the phone's unique features and design," said Todd Brix, senior director, Windows Phone Marketplace, Microsoft Corp. "HISTORY HERE(TM)( )is a great example of the kind of rich applications that people will find on Windows Phone Marketplace to get the most out of their phone," he continued.
How HISTORY HERE(TM) Works:
HISTORY HERE(TM) acts like an interactive travel guide for all things history-related. Upon launching the application, users can either select their current location using the phone's GPS capabilities or type in a specific location of their choosing. Users will be able to filter and display their results based on a variety of preferences:
-- Distance: HISTORY HERE lets users customize their search to return
historic locations ranging from zero to 100 miles away from the searched
location.
-- Points of Interest: Just want to see battlefields? Monuments? HISTORY
HERE allows you to choose as few or as many categories of historic
locations as you'd like to see. Select from "notable location," "park,"
"museum," "monument," "battlefield," "historic building" or "roadside
attraction" to customize the experience according to your interests.
-- Map view vs. list view: To optimize the experience for mobile, HISTORY
HERE(TM) lets you see the results of your search in a map view, which
gives an at-a-glance view of icons representing search results and their
location on a map. Or, for easier scanning, choose list view for a
thumbnail view of each location, a one-sentence description and its
proximity to the search location.
Regardless of how results are displayed, users only need to tap the image for the point of interest and they will experience the full depth of content from HISTORY on their chosen topic, including videos, images, audio clips, and articles that will allow them to dig deeper into a broad range of thousands of historical topics.
About AETN Digital Media
AETN Digital Media, a division of A&E Television Networks, LLC, is a leading provider of digital content for properties including History, Lifetime, A&E, Biography, Roiworld, DressUpChallenge, Lifetime Moms and MothersClick. More than 13 million unique visitors per month engage with the company's digital brands across 14 properties, and millions more consume the content via syndication, social media and mobile.
CONTACT: Kerri Tarmey of A&E Television Networks, +1-212-551-1504, kerri.tarmey@aetn.com, or Christopher Downing of FlashpointPR, +1-415-551-9622, downing@flashpointpr.com, for AETN Digital Media
CenturyLink Expands Broadband Footprint to Make High-Speed Internet Service Available to More Than 97 Percent of Southern Nevadans
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL), a leading provider of broadband, entertainment and voice services, announced that through the expansion of the company's broadband footprint, 97.4 percent of the company's customers in southern Nevada can subscribe to CenturyLink(TM) High-Speed Internet. The investment reflects the company's ongoing commitment to provide high-quality, affordable telecommunications services.
CenturyLink, the fourth largest telecommunications company in the U.S., has made a significant investment in the local economy during the past 12 months with a major capital investment to upgrade core fiber network, data switches and components in order to offer superior data and voice products.
"In our digital society where information is consumed and shared at lightning speed, it is more important than ever to have access to fast, affordable Internet service and CenturyLink has made broadband availability a priority in our Southern Nevada service area," said Jeff Oberschelp, vice president and general manager, CenturyLink Nevada. "As a telecommunications leader, CenturyLink is proud to say that more than 97 percent of Southern Nevadans have access to our high-speed Internet service and we're committed to increasing that number."
CenturyLink offers a variety of high-speed Internet plans for customers, including Pure Broadband, which offers customers quick access to online and entertainment services at an affordable price without requiring a home phone line. The service offers users a private, direct connection between customers' homes and the robust CenturyLink network, minimizing the impact of "Internet rush hour." Pure Broadband, starting as low as $29.95 per month, is designed to offer a better Internet experience with consistent speeds to allow users to download movies, stream videos and play online games easily and quickly.
CenturyLink is a leading provider of high-quality broadband, entertainment and voice services over its advanced communications networks to consumers and businesses in 33 states. CenturyLink, headquartered in Monroe, La., is an S&P 500 company and is included among the Fortune 500 list of America's largest corporations. For more information on CenturyLink, visit http://www.centurylink.com.
SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.
CenturyLink, Inc.
CONTACT: Bree Witt, of CenturyLink, Inc., +1-702-244-7559, Brianna.Witt@centurylink.com
Online Forex Broker Tadawul FX Launches its Website in Hungarian
LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Tadawul FX today launched the Hungarian version of its website in its continued effort to provide superior service and support to the growing number of traders based in Hungary. The local support team, based in their central office in Budapest, is very pleased to now provide this service to all Hungarian clients.
Online forex and commodity trading broker Tadawul FX today launched its official website in Hungarian, so that traders can now access the website entirely in Hungarian.
Tadawul FX, originally from Switzerland, is a licensed online forex investment firm, authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. Further to the official opening of the Tadawul FX Hungarian representative office in Budapest earlier this year, the company has seen tremendous growth in its Hungarian client base as traders increasingly enjoy 24 hour support in their own language and direct communication with the local team.
Tadawul FX also recently carried out a survey with its Hungarian client base in order to determine their satisfaction with the services and trading experience , as well as their preferences and opinions on further services and features. Taking client feedback into account, one of the recent developments which came as a direct result of this survey was the introduction of a Hungarian banking option. This now enables Hungarian traders to easily and more quickly fund their trading accounts with minimal charges rather than working through an international bank.
The local Manager of the Hungarian Representative Office, Ms Erika Ovari, is delighted with the developments. "Our clients have been very pleased with the service and experience at Tadawul FX so far and the superior level of support they are enjoying through our Budapest base and native language assistance. The availability of the website in Hungarian will allow us to promote Tadawul FX to a far wider audience who until now has been somewhat hesitant due to the language barrier. This means we can now offer a complete service in Hungarian from initial interest of the client all the way through to ongoing account support, in line with Tadawul FX values of superior service for all traders."
All the major sections of the Tadawul FX website including information on the various trading account types available, account and support services and of course all information and background on the company are now immediately available online in Hungarian. Company news is also updated on the Hungarian website in order to keep traders informed of all new developments at Tadawul FX. Key account opening services and account documentation however remain in English due to regulatory requirements.
There are also plans for the introduction of further language options in the near future as Tadawul FX continues to upgrade and enhance its services for all clients regardless of their location.
Stavros Yiannakou, CEO & Partner of Tadawul FX is keen to continue the growth Tadawul FX has enjoyed in this market. "For us, Hungary is proving an important market with a lot of interest and appreciation for Tadawul FX services and support. The local team has worked hard and with the support of our head offices has built a loyal client base which continues to grow very quickly. We are confident that the latest changes to the website to include Hungarian language options will only serve to increase this and continue our success there."
For support or any further information about Tadawul FX in Hungary or the new Hungarian website, traders can contact the dedicated Hungarian support team directly at hungary@tadawulfx.com or telephone +36 1 883 0331.
About Tadawul FX:
Tadawul FX, also known as TDFX, is an online forex broker. TDFX is licensed and regulated by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (license number 103/09) and is also registered with the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) with registration number 516667, as well as the German regulators BAFIN (Reg 123252).
For more information, visit http://www.tadawulfx.com or contact Tadawul FX at support@tadawulfx.com or telephone: +357 25 200 920.
Sony Reader Daily Edition Now Available in Stores and Online at SonyStyle.com
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Rounding out availability for its beautifully-designed new line of Reader(TM) digital books, Sony today announced that the wireless Reader Daily Edition(TM) is now available in select retail outlets and online at SonyStyle.com. The new Reader Daily Edition, equipped with Wi-Fi® in addition to AT&T's 3G network, will provide book lovers the ability to browse, purchase and download books as well as select newspapers and magazines on the go. Like the new Reader Pocket Edition(TM) and Reader Touch Edition(TM), the Reader Daily Edition is also outfitted with first-to-market optical touch screen technology, which enhances ease of use and increases reading clarity on its seven-inch, full touch screen.
The Reader Daily Edition gives consumers wireless access to Sony's Reader(TM) Store from most of the U.S. via Wi-Fi or 3G, powered by Gobi(TM) Technology by Qualcomm. It also provides basic Web browsing functionality via Wi-Fi and pre-loaded, reading-based URLs, including: Google.com, Wikipedia.org, Twitter.com, Facebook.com, cnbc.com and cnet.com. There are no monthly fees or transaction charges for the basic wireless connectivity and users still have the option to side load personal documents or content from other compatible sites via USB.
New features on the Daily Edition include intuitive content zoom, adjustable contrast and brightness control, as well as automatic multiple page creation to make documents designed for a standard sheet of paper easier to read. Also, personalized standby screen options give users the ability to download their favorite photos or other images as a screen saver. The collections functionality allows users to group their favorite reads by author, category or other criteria. In addition, the new Reader line offers users on-screen functionality to look up words and phrases with the built-in New Oxford American Dictionary, Second Edition and Oxford Dictionary of English eDictionaries, as well as 10 translation dictionaries in languages such as French, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch. Just double tap any word to get the dictionary definition or translation and with one more tap, learn more about the word through Wikipedia. The Reader Daily Edition includes 2 GB of memory and expansion slots for additional memory (up to 32 GB). It is available in silver and currently retails for about $299.
Key Facts:
-- Sony's new, seven-inch, full touch screen Reader Daily Edition is now on
sale at SonyStyle.com and select retail outlets
-- The Reader Daily Edition provides wireless access to the Reader Store
from most of the U.S. through 3G and Wi-Fi
-- It will also provide basic Web browsing functionality via Wi-Fi on a
variety of Websites and pre-loaded, reading-based URLs, including:
Google.com, Wikipedia.org, Twitter.com, Facebook.com, cnbc.com and
cnet.com
-- New features on the Daily Edition include first-to-market optical touch
screen technology, personalized standby screen options, intuitive
content zoom, adjustable contrast and brightness control, as well as
automatic multiple page creation
-- The Reader Daily Edition includes 2 GB of memory and expansion slots for
additional memory (up to 32 GB)
-- It is available in silver and retails currently for about $299
Blackboard Brings Mobile Campus App to Android Smartphones
Application Will Connect Fast Growing Android User Base to University Life
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) today announced the release of a native application for Android(TM) smartphones, debuting at Northwestern University, that brings the company's popular campus life and services application to one of the fastest growing mobile platforms.
With the addition of the Android application, Blackboard Mobile(TM) Central is now available in native applications for all major mobile platforms including iOS® which supports the Apple® iPhone®, iPad(TM) and iPod® touch, and BlackBerry®. The application is also available in a mobile Web version to support a broader range of Web-enabled phones and devices.
Custom built and branded for each institution, Blackboard Mobile Central brings university life and campus services to users through smartphones and mobile devices. After it is enabled, the application is free to students, faculty, prospective students, parents, alumni and anyone else interested in staying connected to an institution, and can be downloaded from smartphone app stores. With the app, users can navigate campus maps and course catalogs, event calendars, campus news, sports schedules, and even a campus directory that allows users to call or email professors and classmates directly from the app.
"Most of our incoming students arrive with smartphones, and a growing number of these phones are Android devices," said Harlan Wallach, Media Architect at Northwestern University's NUIT Academic & Research Technology group. "The ability for us to reach students through smartphones is key to the overall experience and efficiency of our university. Working with Blackboard we've been able to do that quickly and with very high quality native applications that support the wide range of mobile devices our students are using. We're looking forward to exploring the ability to customize the app to meet the needs of individual schools and departments."
Northwestern launched Blackboard Mobile Central on the iOS platform in December 2009, and is the first institution to expand access to Android smartphones. Northwestern has also enabled access to Blackboard Mobile(TM) Learn on selected devices to enable students and faculty to access their online course information on their smartphones.
"Supporting Android is part of our overall commitment to bring the best of campus life to users in a way that is convenient and engaging," said Kayvon Beykpour, Vice President of Blackboard Mobile. "We've made a significant investment in delivering a unique experience to users of all platforms, and we're excited to bring our mobile apps to the quickly expanding segment of mobile consumers using Android devices."
The new Android application will include Athletics, Courses, Directory, Library, Maps, News, Get Help and Links, with other features to be added soon. Developed as a native application exclusive to the Android platform, Blackboard Mobile Central for the Android leverages the device's unique features to provide an engaging user experience, including:
-- Widgets, an Android-specific feature that allows users to quickly and
easily access important information from Blackboard Mobile Central at a
glance from their home screen.
-- Shortcuts, which let users create a direct shortcut to any one of the
Blackboard Mobile Central modules directly on their phone's home screen
so that it can be accessed immediately without even opening the app.
Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2010 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of November 8, 2010. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to November 8, 2010.
Android is a trademark of Google Inc. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Permissions.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.
Apple, iPhone and iPod touch are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
SOURCE Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc.
CONTACT: Matthew Maurer, Blackboard Inc., +1-202-463-4860, ext. 2637, matthew.maurer@blackboard.com
Kognitio Introduces WX2 Appliance Range With Unparalleled Performance, Scalability
Data warehousing pioneer brings WX2 Appliance to market in four flavors: WX2 -16, WX2 -32, WX2 -64, WX2 -64/2
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --The company that delivered the first data warehouse appliance has done it again. Kognitio® today announced the immediate availability of a new line of mission-ready data warehouse appliances, specifically designed to meet the emerging need of the most intensive Big Data applications. The announcement was made today at the beginning of The Data Warehousing Institute's World Conference, being held in Orlando.
The WX2 Appliance, with Kognitio's WX2 in-memory analytic database at its core, comes in four configurations, ranging from 16 servers operating in parallel up to 64, with the ability to offer 75 terabytes of storage and pin up to 16 terabytes of information in memory.
Each WX2 Appliance is capable of delivering blazingly fast throughput, enabling companies to crunch through massive amounts of data in a fraction of the time required by competing solutions. The WX2 Appliance is the ideal solutions for companies deploying OLAP, business intelligence, data warehousing, analytics, mixed workloads and high concurrency usage.
More importantly, Kognitio's data warehouse appliances, built on industry-standard hardware from leading vendors, are available at a price of less than half that of competing solutions, delivering lower initial and ongoing support costs. This allows companies to rapidly deploy them more quickly, gaining the insights they need. Adding additional appliances to a configuration enables a direct corresponding increase in the power to analyze multiple terabytes of data, with no degradation in processing capability. Multiple appliances can be linked together to build bigger systems with ease.
"Kognitio has a demonstrated track record of providing a full range of solutions that help companies better understand their data," said Shawn Rogers, Vice President of Research, Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing at Enterprise Management Associates. "Companies seeking a dedicated solution increasingly don't have the time, the money or the personnel traditionally required to configure and implement a full data warehouse deployment. The line of WX2 Appliances also enables companies to seamlessly add additional capacity as their analytics needs grow; this is a significant benefit in terms of time, money and results."
The four WX2 appliances come in the following sizes:
Kognitio has a long history of consistently delivering innovation in data warehousing to its clients worldwide, with features that have become standard in today's market. It was the first company to offer multi-parallel processing (MPP), the first company to deliver a data warehousing appliance, and the first firm to offer business intelligence as a service. Today, Kognitio gives its customers the industry's widest range of deployment options, ranging from traditional software licensing to Data Warehousing as a Service (DaaS). Pricing for the Kognitio WX2 Appliance begins at $29,000 per terabyte.
"While there have been several recent announcements by other vendors offering appliances, we see the WX2 Appliance as a direct competitor to them," said Roger Llewellyn, Kognitio's Chief Executive Officer. "The WX2 Appliance runs at speeds of 10X faster and is more scalable and flexible when compared to the new line of appliances that use rarified and specialized hardware and claim to be ultimate solution for analytical and transactional processing. Only our new line of WX2 Appliances couple speed with lower cost of purchase and operation, and give customers the solutions needed to analyze Big Data at a price and performance that fits."
Kognitio is an innovative, technology-rich company, providing leading-edge solutions to business problems that require the acquisition, rationalization and analysis of large or complex data. Kognitio is a 2010 and 2009 winner of the "Vision Award for Business Impact" from the B-EYE-Network, a TechTarget company. WX2, a 2008 SearchDataManagement.com "Product of the Year," is the industry's fastest and most scalable analytical database on the market, giving firms the ability to turn their raw data into valuable business insight fast, and empowering its customers to realize comprehensive answers to critical business questions.
Globally headquartered in Bracknell, UK, with North American headquarters in Chicago and offices in New York, Kognitio delivers competitive advantage to its clients across a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, financial services and utilities. More information is available by phone at 312.268.5725 and at http://www.kognitio.com
SOURCE Kognitio
Kognitio
CONTACT: John K. Thompson of Kognitio, +1-312-268-5725, john.thompson@kognitio.com, or Steve Friedberg of MMI Communications, +1-610-518-7474, steve@mmicommunications.net
Phoenix Announces End of Bidding by The Gores Group
MILPITAS, Calif., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTEC), the global leader in core systems software (CSS), today announced The Gores Group has indicated it does not intend to submit any further proposals to acquire the outstanding securities of Phoenix.
On October 31, 2010, Gores had submitted a definitive proposal to acquire the outstanding shares of Phoenix common stock for $4.20 per share in cash. Marlin Equity Partners promptly matched Gores' proposal with an amendment to the definitive merger agreement previously entered into by Phoenix and affiliates of Marlin on August 17, 2010, and will now acquire all outstanding securities of Phoenix for $4.20 per share in cash, or approximately $152 million in total consideration.
The transaction with Marlin is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of Phoenix's stockholders. The stockholder meeting to approve the merger is scheduled to be held on November 19, 2010.
About Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTEC), the leader in core systems software products, services and embedded technologies, pioneers open standards and delivers innovative solutions that enable the PC industry's top system builders and specifiers to differentiate their systems, reduce time-to-market and increase their revenues. The Company's flagship products - Phoenix SecureCore Tiano(TM) and Embedded BIOS® -- are revolutionizing the PC user experience by delivering unprecedented performance, security, reliability, continuity, and ease-of-use. The Company established industry leadership and created the PC clone industry with its original BIOS product in 1983. Phoenix has over 200 technology patents issued and pending, and has shipped firmware in over one billion systems. Phoenix is headquartered in Milpitas, California with offices worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.phoenix.com.
Phoenix, Phoenix Technologies, Phoenix SecureCore Tiano, Embedded BIOS and the Phoenix Technologies logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All other marks are the marks of their respective owners.
Forward- Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements about Phoenix that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could affect the timing and results of stockholder approval of the Marlin merger agreement and the closing of the merger contemplated under the Marlin merger agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that have or may be instituted against the Company; the risk that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations; and other risks that are set forth in the "Risk Factors" and other sections of Phoenix's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the merger are beyond Phoenix's ability to control or predict. Phoenix undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction and the special meeting of Phoenix stockholders to approve the transaction, Phoenix has filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 22, 2010 and a supplement to the definitive proxy statement on October 26, 2010 and will file one or more supplements to the definitive proxy statement (as supplemented, the "Proxy Statement"). INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER FILED DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the Proxy Statement and other documents filed by Phoenix at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Proxy Statement and other relevant documents may also be obtained for free from Phoenix by directing such request to Phoenix Technologies Ltd., c/o Investor Relations, 915 Murphy Ranch Rd., Milpitas, CA, telephone: (408) 570-1000.
Phoenix and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. Certain information regarding the interests of such directors and executive officers is included in the Phoenix Proxy Statement for its 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 30, 2009, and information concerning all of the Phoenix participants in the solicitation are included in the Proxy Statement. Each of these documents is, or will be, available free of charge at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov and from Phoenix Technologies Ltd., c/o Investor Relations, 915 Murphy Ranch Rd., Milpitas, CA, telephone: (408) 570-1000.
DROID PRO by Motorola Now Available on the Nation's Largest and Most Reliable 3G Network
DROID Does Business with Global Android Smartphone from Verizon Wireless
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation's largest and most reliable wireless 3G network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), today announced that DROID PRO, the first Android(TM)-based smartphone optimized for business use, will be available as a pre-sale order at select Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at http://www.verizonwireless.com starting Nov. 9 and for purchase in stores starting Nov. 18. The DROID PRO will be available for $179.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.
DROID PRO, a global-ready Android smartphone, allows customers to enjoy wireless voice service in more than 220 countries and data coverage in more than 200 countries, with more than 120 with 3G speeds. Powered by Android 2.2, DROID PRO is packed with features that meet both business and personal needs such as pre-loaded Quickoffice Mobile Suite, 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities, and a QWERTY keyboard designed for speed and convenience.
Verizon Wireless customers who purchase DROID PRO will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. DROID PRO customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan (beginning at $39.99 monthly access) and a 3G Smartphone Plan.
For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com.
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications and is focused on advancing the way the world connects. From broadband communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility and public safety solutions to mobile and wireline digital communication devices that provide compelling experiences, Motorola is leading the next wave of innovations that enable people, enterprises and governments to be more connected and more mobile. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) had sales of US $22 billion in 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.motorola.com.
Citizens Financial Group Announces Launch of accessMOBILE, Landmark Mobile Banking Application for Business Customers
First in a series of "access"-branded products to make banking easier and more accessible for Citizens Bank and Charter One business customers
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens Financial Group, Inc. today announced that it is launching accessMOBILE, a mobile banking application that for the first time empowers Citizens Bank and Charter One business customers to manage their cash and payments from a mobile device.
"This landmark application will change the way our customers can do business," said Ellen Alemany, Chairman and CEO of Citizens and RBS Americas. "In fact, accessMOBILE is the first mobile banking application available to business customers in the 12 states of Citizens' retail footprint. Managing cash and payments is crucial to a company's survival and profitability. accessMOBILE gives companies large and small greater ease and freedom in making and managing payments. It is user-friendly, secure and, for businesses in our footprint, a first."
"We listened to our customers, who told us they want cash management to be easier, more flexible and more accessible," said Prabhat Vira, Head of Citizens' Global Transaction Services Americas. "Now, with accessMOBILE, we are bringing to bear the power of mobile technology for the benefit of our business customers."
The iPhone application of accessMOBILE is available now. It will be made available in the futureon Blackberrys and Droids.
The accessMOBILE application is free to Citizens' commercial and business banking customers.
Through accessMOBILE's easy-to-use and intuitive interface, Citizens' customers can approve pending transactions, view account history and transaction details, get current-day snapshots and perform intra-company funds transfers and receive alerts and bank mail - all from their mobile devices and in a secure environment.
Citizens' business customers who participated in the pilot phase of accessMOBILE are enthusiastic about the benefits it provides:
-- "With this banking application, I can log in at any time from any
location in the world and make instant approval and release decisions. I
no longer have to assign that responsibility to someone else."
-- "accessMOBILE provides me with SMS messaging, so that I receive an alert
when a wire transaction is ready to be approved and released. I log in
to accessMOBILE and release the wire from where I am in seconds. With
accessMOBILE I'm no longer tied to my desk."
-- "When I am traveling, I constantly need to call the office to see if a
customer payment has come in. This application allows me to get the
information from anywhere in real time, which will allow us to ship
product and ultimately improve our customer satisfaction."
-- "One of the reasons we phone in wires (wire transfers) is so that we can
call them in if we aren't in the office. Going forward, we'll be able to
approve them from the road."
accessMOBILE is the first in a series of "access"-branded offerings Citizens is developing specifically for the ease-of-use, flexibility and accessibility of banking functions for businesses. Said Vira, "Our products, such as accessMOBILE and others we'll introduce shortly, will provide our customers with the 24/7 access - whenever and wherever they prefer - to the financial information they need to run their businesses better and more efficiently."
The application will be formally introduced on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at the Association of Financial Professionals convention in San Antonio.
For more information on accessMOBILE, or to speak with Prabhat Vira, please contact Jim Daniels at 212-588-8788.
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is a $140 billion commercial bank holding company. It is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and, through its subsidiaries, has more than 1,500 branches, approximately 3,500 ATMs and approximately 22,700 employees. Its two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 12-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). CFG's Web site is citizensbank.com.
SOURCE Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
CONTACT: Davia Temin or Jim Daniels, both of Temin and Company, +1-212-588-8788, news@teminandco.com, both for Citizens Financial Group
Distributor furthers its cloud strategy with new Ingram Micro Cloud partner enablement platform, Cloud Services Network and online Cloud Marketplace
SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanding its leadership and visibility as a master aggregator of IT services, Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) is pleased to announce the Ingram Micro Cloud.
Referred to as the epicenter of the distributor's successful and growing IT services strategy, the new partner enablement platform, which includes the new partner website http://www.ingrammicrocloud.com, as well as the Ingram Micro Cloud Services Network and online Cloud Marketplace, is being introduced to accelerate adoption of cloud computing within the IT channel.
"Ingram Micro Cloud is a growth catalyst for the IT industry and will help alleviate the fear and uncertainty many channel partners have around cloud computing," says Renee Bergeron, vice president, managed services and cloud computing, Ingram Micro North America. "Focused on education, training and sales enablement, Ingram Micro Cloud simplifies cloud computing from all angles and gives channel partners both a technical advantage and a sizable business advantage when it comes to delivering cloud services."
Available to channel partners in the U.S. and Canada, Ingram Micro Cloud is the go-to business and education resource for solutions providers and managed service providers (MSPs) looking to establish and grow their cloud computing services, says Bergeron. "The resources, services and support offered as part of Ingram Micro Cloud were selected based on the feedback of our channel partners," she explains.
New Resources, Online Marketplace and Services Network Work Together to Simplify Cloud Services
Ingram Micro Cloud provides several business, sales, marketing and technical resources, including a single-source, online Cloud Marketplace. The Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace features detailed information on a growing number of cloud computing solutions and services from Ingram Micro hardware and software vendors, Ingram Micro Seismic vendors, new cloud computing vendors on Ingram Micro's line card, as well as Ingram Micro cloud computing affiliate vendors and strategic alliances.
"The new online Cloud Marketplace offers channel partners a quick and easy way to access and learn more about the technologies, services, resources and what collateral is readily available to them all in one place," says Jason Beal, director of sales, services, Ingram Micro North America. "Taking it one step further, the Ingram Micro Cloud is also home to our new Cloud Services Network which enables our channel partners to collaborate with one another in a non-competitive environment to offer the cloud services and support they need both regionally and throughout North America."
Offered as an extension of the Ingram Micro Services Network (IMSN), the new Cloud Services Network is an aggregation of best-of-breed cloud computing professional service providers whose delivery capabilities and technical expertise include private and public cloud consulting; cloud computing assessments; design and deployment of cloud solutions; and integration, configuration, implementation and customization services. The Cloud Services Network uses the efficient and safe partnering ecosystem and infrastructure of the IMSN to enable channel partners to work together to meet the needs of their customers throughout North America.
The Ingram Micro Cloud also features an impressive rolodex of educational whitepapers, case studies and training modules for channel partners to reference and download, as well as a comprehensive Business Development curriculum including Cloud Essentials which provides step-by-step, role-based training for effectively marketing, selling and supporting cloud services.
"The new Ingram Micro Cloud is a time-saving platform and business resource that will certainly make it easier and more cost-effective for us to navigate these new waters and extend our expertise and service capabilities into the cloud," says Greg Onoprijenko, president and managing director of sales for successful Canadian MSP e-ternity.
As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services and product aggregation and distribution. The company serves approximately 150 countries and is the only global broad-based IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit http://www.ingrammicro.com.
IBM Launches New Software and Social Business Consulting Services
ARMONK, N.Y., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced new software and services to help organizations improve business performance in an increasingly connected global environment. The new enterprise social software delivers advanced analytics capabilities that helps users gain access to information and people on the fly to accelerate collaboration and be more effective in their jobs.
Increasingly, an organization's brand is experienced through its people, leading to a significant increase in customer demand for social networking capabilities in business. IBM is responding to this market opportunity by launching a new Global Business Services initiative to help companies understand how social networking is being used today and how it can best fit into their business.
A transformation is taking place as a new generation of social media savvy workers are emerging. In fact, according to the 2010 IBM Chief Human Resource Officer Study, financially outperforming organizations are 57 percent more likely to allow their employees to use social and collaborative tools. However, fewer than 23 percent of employees use social networking or collaborative technologies to preserve critical knowledge, while just over a quarter use those tools to spread innovation throughout their organizations.
To help organizations transform into social businesses, IBM today is unveiling IBM Lotus Connections 3.0, the first social networking platform with advanced analytics capabilities that helps people gain faster insight and access to relevant information for improved productivity. The new software helps users more easily connect, create global communities, and find information and resources.
"Social business helps organizations transform the way they work by connecting people and accelerating decision-making," said Alistair Rennie, general manager, collaboration and social software, IBM. "IBM is at the forefront of enabling social business, and driving a new generation of organizational productivity, with a secure and compliant social collaboration platform."
New Software and Services Help Cultivate Relationships for Today's Social Business
IBM was first to market with a social networking platform for business, and is responding to the changing needs of today's organizations as they continue to shift towards a more social form of collaboration.Social collaboration is the new mode of working that helps people deepen relationships, generate new ideas faster and be more effective overall through the use of social software.
New IBM services will draw from experts in IBM's Strategy and Transformation consulting practice and the company's deep understanding of vertical industries and people management issues to help companies understand how social software can be used within an organization and to identify a roadmap to systematically embed social business tools throughout their organization.
IBM's services offerings will use IBM's social collaboration platform to help clients in all industries achieve greater utilization of social software capabilities for actionable outcomes and return on investment. The social business services offerings include:
-- Social business strategy, assessment and implementation programs;
-- Social network analysis readiness and maturity modeling;
-- Leadership and skills development in a social workplace;
-- Governance, policy and privacy management.
The next version of IBM's industry-leading social collaboration platform, including IBM Lotus Connections 3.0, provides tools such as communities, forums, wikis and blogs to help users discuss and refine ideas. With new capabilities like advanced social analytics, users can expand their network with recommendations of people to connect with based on prior connections and similar interests. Lotus Connections users are also given recommendations of content they would be interested in based on their actions -- for example, if they commented on a specific blog or tagged a Web site. The new software allows users to discover people and content in a network, helping users to build broad, powerful networks to reach new resources and experts, especially those that a user did not know previously. These advanced analytics capabilities were born out of IBM's social software Research lab in Haifa, Israel.
In addition, expanded mobile support allows users to access their Lotus Connections home page, bookmarks, communities, forums, files and wikis all from their Apple iPad or iPhone, Android or Nokia S60 devices. In addition, LotusLive Connections, the cloud-based version of Lotus Connections, can help advance an organizations' ability to collaborate both inside and outside their enterprise.
Organizations Worldwide Embrace the Power of Networks with Lotus Connections
As part of today's news, industry-leading organizations worldwide are using Lotus Connections 3.0 to collaborate, share knowledge and discover experts including Bayer MaterialScience, CEMEX and global technology consultancy Sogeti.
Bayer MaterialScience, a Bayer Group company headquartered in Germany and a manufacturer of high-tech polymer materials, is using Lotus Connections to significantly improve the way employees communicate, collaborate and process information globally. With Lotus Connections, Bayer employees can more readily find experts that specialize in specific areas of the business, and can easily collaborate on projects with coworkers that are located at different areas of the globe.
"The power of Connections is that the knowledge sharing process is totally embedded in the tool," said Kurt De Ruwe, chief information officer at Bayer MaterialScience . "When a person adds a piece of information, it is automatically linked to other information available in communities, wikis or blogs. Connections 3.0 has increased these capabilities even more so. You can now see what areas of interest you have in common with other people, what communities you share, and what people and information topics you are following. Connections 3.0 comes with other enhancements that empower users to share and find relevant information even better."
CEMEX, one of the top building material companies in the world, has embraced social software from IBM to help them move towards a new culture of innovation through global collaboration. CEMEX has empowered every employee to connect with colleagues, share ideas and make live interactions a part of their daily work. With Lotus Connections, called Shift, employees can "follow" other contractors and colleagues in the network based on areas of interest in order to collaborate with them more easily and efficiently to reach goals more quickly. Shift has enabled meaningful collaboration among employees worldwide, and has earned CEMEX a prestigious social media award. This year's Forrester Groundswell Awards recognized Shift as the worldwide leader in employee collaboration less than one year after inception.
"The rapid viral spread of our employees interest and adoption of Lotus Connections, which we call Shift internally, has been a huge success," said Sergio J. Escobedo, Innovation Director, CEMEX. "What started with a few hundred users in April of this year grew to 17,500 today. But, it's not the numbers that defines this success. We see a marked increase in blogs, and blog comments, as well as in the creation of more than 350 communities to bring people with common interests and goals together. Now, that's the power of social networking."
Sogeti, one of the world's leading providers of professional technology services with 20,000 experts located in 15 countries worldwide, is using Lotus Connections to connect all employees across fields and borders. Lotus Connections provides Sogeti experts with personalized recommendations that help make connections with those that share similar interests and encourages them to participate more broadly across organizational boundaries.
"With Lotus Connections as a social collaboration platform, we have a global tool to connect our thousands of employees in all of the countries where we work," said Michiel Boreel, CTO of the Sogeti Group. "We're excited about Lotus Connections 3.0 as it provides us with enhanced functionality. With the newest application, Forums, we foster innovation and the enhanced document management functionality will increase usability."
Lyris Fuses Social Media Into Online Marketing to Amplify Bottom Line Results
Social Fusion Marketing Harnesses Social Media to Connect and Advance Efforts Across Previously Disparate Channels
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyris, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: LYRI), the online marketing expert, today announced the availability of Social Fusion Marketing, the industry's premier online marketing offering that proactively unites social media with other channels like email marketing, search engine marketing (SEM), and search engine optimization (SEO).
Social Fusion programs, customized by Lyris expert consultants, amplify a client's results by strategically fusing social media insights about a given brand or industry into other marketing channels. Clients will become aware of the social conversations regarding their brand and Lyris will work with them to develop a strategy to respond to the social marketplace through multiple marketing channels.
"Social media's often ineffective use in email marketing and across online marketing channels in general has led to missed opportunities as there is often limited or no ability to measure the actual effect on the bottom line," said Blaine Mathieu, CMO of Lyris. "But by employing Social Fusion techniques, Lyris is able to integrate social media with email and other online channels - thereby tapping into the well-honed measurement techniques available in those channels. For instance, by using social media to drive email opt-ins, a marketer can track the ROI value of that opt-in via email metrics. So suddenly social media's ROI is measureable and the Achilles heel of this medium is overcome. By using these insights to enhance content in other channels, from mobile to search to email marketing, marketing's overall effectiveness is amplified."
"When I was introduced to Lyris' new social media offering, I was initially skeptical of how it could benefit my business," said Keith Winsor of Academy Medical , a leader in Continuing Education for the Healthcare industry. "However, in working with my Lyris team, we crafted and integrated a social media strategy and schedule that made sense for our business. This has taken me from skeptical to enthusiastic while firming my commitment to continuing Academy Medical's social presence."
With the implementation of Social Fusion, spending efficiency and ROI measurement increase while driving more email opt-ins, greater social media volume with PPC efforts, improved PPC keyword choices, and better marketing content for more accurate and expanded SEO.
Social Fusion is offered in three packages ranging from auditing to strategy to implementation:
The Social Fusion Discovery Audit:
Lyris' Social Media Consultants identifies key influencers talking about the client's brand or industry, what they are saying, the volume and sentiment of the conversation and in which social media channels they are having conversations. This sets the stage for strategy development.
The Social Fusion Strategy:
Lyris' Social Media Consultants develop strategies that integrate with the rest of a brand's online marketing strategy. Lyris identifies opportunities to develop an online presence, understands who a company's audiences are, and designs engagement techniques that effectively communicate with audiences. Lastly, a measurement plan is created based on objectives establishing key performance indicators for brands to measure success.
Social Fusion Implementation and Monitoring:
Finally, if clients do not have the resources to implement themselves or require additional assistance, Lyris Social Media Consultants can then implement campaigns outlined in the social media strategy, including elements such as a messaging calendar, test plans, audience analysis and segmentation, content and creative, and, most importantly, multi-channel ROI measurement.
Lyris, Inc. (OTCBB:LYRI.OB) is the integrated online marketing expert delivering the industry's first on-demand integrated marketing suite, Lyris HQ, to help marketers simplify their marketing efforts and optimize campaign ROI. Lyris HQ's sophisticated, easy-to-use suite of tools provides marketers with best-of-breed applications for managing email marketing campaigns, tracking Web analytics, publishing and managing website content, creating landing pages, optimizing websites, paid search and search engine marketing, and integrating social media and mobile marketing campaigns. Clients include Expedia CruiseShipCenters, The British Museum Company, Matches, Char-Broil, and Eldorado Hotel & Casino. For more information, please visit http://www.lyris.com. The company is based in Emeryville, Calif.