Cloud Is the Future of Web Hosting: 30 Providers Go Live with OnApp's Cloud Management Platform in Its First 8 Weeks
LONDON, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- OnApp has deployed its unique cloud management platform at 30 hosting providers in the first eight weeks since its launch - confirming the importance of cloud hosting as the future of the hosting industry. OnApp clients have now deployed more than 50 clouds and 35,000 virtual servers on the platform.
The OnApp cloud platform provides an easy way for a web host to set up, configure and manage a cloud hosting operation using off-the-shelf server and storage hardware. Once the cloud is deployed, OnApp provides simple web-based control of clouds, virtual machines, storage and compute resources, users, billing and more.
"There's a lot of fluff talked about clouds, but for web hosts it's a very tangible business issue," said Carlos Rego, MD of OnApp. "Hosting customers want more control over the services they buy. They want to be able to self-provision and scale those services, quickly and easily. They also need more flexibility in the way they pay for services. Cloud hosting meets this market need, but it presents a technical and a business challenge for the host."
"That's where OnApp has a unique proposition. We advise on cloud hosting business models, and provide a turnkey cloud platform designed specifically for hosts: affordable, easy to use, easy to manage and quick to deploy," he said.
Dediserve is one of the recent converts to OnApp. Dediserve offers a wide range of virtual and dedicated hosting services from its HQ in Dublin's Digital Hub.
Aidan Mc Carron, Dediserve's Managing Director, said: "Having reviewed a wide range of cloud management solutions, including investing 6 months in our own solution, we were delighted to deploy OnApp. It answered every requirement we identified, and the credentials of the team involved are second to none, globally."
In a typical host's hardware environment, OnApp can set up a cloud in about one day. Once a cloud is deployed, it can take as little as 60 seconds for the host to set up a virtual machine and provision a cloud-based service to a customer. OnApp gives hosts a free license for 100 CPU cores for one year, after which licensing takes the form of a simple monthly fee per core and per cloud. As a result, OnApp makes it easy and affordable for a provider to start offering cloud hosting services to its customers, without massive up-front licensing costs.
About OnApp
OnApp is one of the fastest growing cloud platforms in the market, with over 35,000 virtual servers deployed on the platform. Designed for the needs of the hosting market, OnApp enables hosting providers to set up public or private clouds based on commodity hardware, and deploy customizable virtual machines in just a few clicks. OnApp uses multi-hypervisor technology (such as Xen and KVM) to ensure complete security and isolation for virtual machines. It also offers unrivalled scalability, with virtualization management that enables service providers to optimize their use of server resources, creating the potential for significant hardware and energy cost savings.
OnApp has offices in the US and Europe, employs more than 40 staff and can be found at http://www.onapp.com.
SOURCE OnApp
OnApp
CONTACT: Steve Fenton of OnApp, steve.fenton@onapp.com, or Jake Neeley, +1-435-227-1220, for OnApp
Eutelsat and SpeedCast Further Expand Coverage of Their Maritime Broadband Service With Multiple Regional Beams
Broadband Fixed-Fee Service Now Covers Mediterranean and Caribbean Regions, Using 60 cm Ku-Band Antennas
MONACO, September 22, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL), one of the world's leading
satellite operators, and SpeedCast Limited, a leading satellite
telecommunications service provider, today announced that they have further
expanded the reach of their regional maritime broadband service, with the
extension of their 60 cm coverage to include the Mediterranean region.
The 60 cm service is part of Eutelsat and SpeedCast's overall
global maritime broadband network, which is one of the most widely deployed
VSAT offerings in the world. In addition to the 60 cm Ku-band systems, the
global network includes 1 m Ku-band and 2.4 m C-band systems. The smaller
form factor 60 cm marine antenna is ideally suited for small-to-mid-sized
vessels such as yachts, fishing, and coast guard vessels, which operate along
coastlines and regional waters. The smaller size and lighter weight of the 60
cm marine antenna better meets the needs of these vessels and allows for a
lower investment.
The expansion of Mediterranean coverage for the 60 cm service
complements SpeedCast and Eutelsat's coverage plans which include the
Caribbean, South East Asia, Middle East & India, East Asia & China, and
Australian regions. Customers benefit from this broad range of coverage with
the ability to utilize the service in multiple regions.
Customers of the 60 cm service also enjoy all of the same
benefits as the advanced technologies used for the larger 1 m Ku-band and 2.4
m C-band antenna systems. They include DVB-S2 encoding for bandwidth
optimization and Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) for optimized power
utilization and consistent performance in all weather conditions.
Customers can also leverage SpeedCast and Eutelsat's advanced
monitoring and asset tracking solution, named "SMART" (SpeedCast's Monitoring
And Reporting Tools). This value-added-service allows vessel tracking,
network management, service level performance monitoring and more. SMART can
be accessed securely from any location via a Web-based network management
portal, for greater visibility and control of customers' fleet and business.
Finally, customers can benefit from a broad range of
additional services for their critical communication needs. SpeedCast and
Eutelsat offer a wealth of value added services designed for maritime
customers, and optimized for satellite-based communications. These services
include SpeedTalk, an optimized VOIP service, SpeedCam, a secure remote video
surveillance service, and SpeedStar, a WAN optimization service.
"Addressing the high market demand from ship-owners for
extended coverage in the Mediterranean for the 60 cm service, was a further
important step for Eutelsat and SpeedCast. This demand demonstrates how VSAT
services are now fully integrated as a core solution in the regional maritime
broadband market."
Laurent PAUL
Director, Maritime Services, Eutelsat
"With the expansion of our 60cm maritime service to include
the Mediterranean, we provide our customers operating smaller vessels and
antennas, with more regional beams to enjoy the service in different part of
the world. In addition to the Caribbean and several other regions in Asia,
customers now have a wide choice of multiple regional beams to operate in.
Together with our global roaming 1m maritime service, customers on our
network have the greatest choice of service plans, equipment and operating
regions to accommodate all budgets."
Nick DUKAKIS
Vice President for Maritime & Offshore Services, SpeedCast
SpeedCast Ltd. is a leading satellite telecommunications
service provider that offers high-quality managed networks services in over
35 countries in Asia, Middle East and Africa. With 10 international points of
presence and 7-teleport-operations, it boasts a unique infrastructure to
serve corporate and carriers' requirements. Operating over 10 VSAT platforms
SpeedCast has developed a strong operations expertise and an efficient
support organization, which are at the root of SpeedCast's success.
Leveraging the latest satellite technologies, SpeedCast has taken leadership
positions in Asia in the provision of reliable and efficient network services
to key industries like Cellular networks, Maritime, Banking or Oil & Gas.
SpeedCast Ltd is also a pioneer in the delivery of digital media content and
turnkey video platforms to Service Providers and Media Broadcasters,
including 3G TV and DVB-H based Mobile TV platforms. Operating on many
different satellites in both C-band and Ku-band, and partnering with Tier 1
carriers for its fiber requirements, SpeedCast Ltd and its 150 partners
worldwide provide first-class services and 24/7 technical support. Please
visit http://www.speedcast.com.
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code:
FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. With capacity
commercialised on 26 satellites that provide coverage over the entire
European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant
parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading
satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 30 June 2010, Eutelsat's
satellites were broadcasting more than 3,600 television channels. More than
1,100 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13
degrees East which serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in
Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a
wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution
markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service
Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's
broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates access to high speed
internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve
enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in
Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and
its subsidiaries employ nearly 661 commercial, technical and operational
employees from 28 countries. Please visit http://www.eutelsat.com.
SITECH Technology Dealer Established in Western Mexico for Heavy and Highway Contractors
SITECH de Occidente Joins the First Fully Dedicated Global Distribution Network for Construction Technology Solutions
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) announced today that a SITECH® Technology Dealer has been established in Western Mexico. SITECH de Occidente joins the premier network of SITECH dealerships--the first fully dedicated global distribution network offering the most comprehensive portfolio of construction technology systems available to the heavy and highway contractor.
SITECH Technology Dealers represent Trimble® and Caterpillar® machine control systems for the contractor's entire fleet of heavy equipment regardless of machine brand, along with Trimble's portfolio of Connected Site(TM) solutions--site positioning systems, construction asset management services, software and powerful wireless and Internet-based site communications infrastructure.
The experienced construction professionals at each SITECH Technology Dealership can advise contractors on the appropriate construction technology solutions to utilize, and can provide high-quality local customer service, personalized training and technical support. As authorized dealers for Trimble site-wide solutions and Caterpillar's machine control systems, the SITECH Technology Dealers understand how to apply innovative construction technology to help solve a variety of contractors' construction challenges. Leveraging technology, contractors can gain greater insight into their operations, enabling them to lower operating costs and improve accuracy, safety and productivity.
Through the adoption of construction technology, contractors can experience new levels of productivity that enable more competitive bidding on projects. SITECH Technology Dealers offer the most advanced and complete set of tools to revolutionize the construction workflow.
Trimble is establishing a SITECH Technology Dealer network in the Americas, Europe and Asia / Pacific regions. SITECH de Occidente will serve heavy and highway contractors throughout the west central area of Mexico involved in a range of earthmoving applications such as the construction of roads, highways, railways and airports as well as site prep for large commercial, industrial and residential projects.
SITECH de Occidente is now a part of the worldwide SITECH distribution network, which offers consultative advice on construction technology solutions, customized training, data services, installation, service and technical support. SITECH de Occidente serves contractors in the west central area of Mexico including the states of Aguascalientes, Colima, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Queretaro, as well as parts of San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas.
About Trimble's Heavy and Highway Division
Trimble's Heavy and Highway Division is a leading innovator of productivity solutions for the heavy and highway contractor. Trimble's solutions leverage a variety of technologies, including Global Positioning System (GPS), construction lasers, total stations, wireless data communications, the Internet, and application software. As part of the Trimble Connected Site strategy, these solutions provide a high-level of process and workflow integration from the design phase through to the finished project--delivering significant improvements in productivity throughout the construction lifecycle.
About Trimble
Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location--including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.
CONTACT: Investors, Willa McManmon, +1-408-481-7838, willa_mcmanmon@trimble.com, or Media, Lea Ann McNabb, +1-408-481-7808, leaann_mcnabb@trimble.com, both of Trimble
Long Island N.Y. Company Solves WiFi Speed and Range Problems All in One Neat Package
RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Communications Corp., a leading wireless electronics company, will unveiled its new In-Wall WiFi / Ethernet Data / Telephone Jack this week at the CEDIA Expo being held at the Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, GA. The HD28650 is an all in one device specifically designed to replace existing phone and internet jacks in residential homes, offices, hotels, motels and educational facilities.
"We listened to our customers and once again gave them what they wanted," said Don Davis, President and CEO. "Hotels, motels and businesses required good WiFi, a wired Ethernet connection, good Internet security, and the ability to plug in a phone using a single in-wall jack. The HD28650 does it all in one clean package," Davis added. The HD28650 is a small in-wall 802.11B/G/N access point that is designed for locations wired for Category5, Cat5e, or Cat6 cable or planning to wire for Ethernet cable. The hotel, motel enterprise and educational markets seem to be perfect customers for this product, although they feel the residential market will love the product as well.
The HD28650 is an 802.11b/g/n in-wall wireless access point designed to be installed in the room where the user is most likely to connect with their mobile WiFi device. "Our device solves WiFi range problems and increases data speeds because the real problem with WiFi range and speed starts with the WiFi enabled mobile devices," Davis said. "Computer laptops, Control Tablets, WiFi enabled cell phones, and other WiFi enabled devices all have very low power built in WiFi cards. These devices have limited ability to connect over distance to a wireless router that is located typically where the internet connection comes into the building," Davis said. Most consumer built in WiFi cards are 16 to 32 milliwatts as compared to a wireless access points or routers that range from 63 to 600 milliwatts. "Since our products are discrete they can be installed in the room where the user is looking to use their wireless device therefore giving them great WiFi connections and true 802.11N speeds," Davis added.
The device has the latest in security available and is powered via Power over Ethernet through a Category 5E or Category 6 cable that feeds into the back of the HD28650. All of these features are contained in a device that fits into a single gang low voltage box. "The HD28650 is a result of over five years of working with customers with our earlier in-wall products, the HD24613, HD25140, HD26999, and HD27000 all which have been installed in thousands of locations around the world. Customers always want more and we try to accommodate as much as we can," Davis stated. This model can be mounted vertical or horizontal where the other HD models were vertical mount only. "We needed this to accommodate customers who had horizontal mounted base molding electrical outlets and wanted our in-wall AP to match. Also color has always been an issue and now with the HD28650 the cover plate can be switched to White, Ivory, Light Almond, or Black," added Davis. Custom colors will also be available on a special order basis.
Customers and installers interested in learning more about the HD28650 should visit booth 3860 at the show or contact Eric Olson at their corporate office; (888) 588-3800 ext. 126, or (631) 588-3877 ext. 126.
About HD Communications Corp:
HD Communications Corp. is a leading provider of wireless network products, components and systems for the wireless network (WiFi), RF and microwave industries. It was established in 1991 by its founders after 15 years of RF experience working for several Fortune 500 wireless companies. The customer base of HD Communications Corp. now includes major electronic companies, OEMs, wireless Internet service providers (WISP) and re-sellers in over 50 states and 47 countries. HD Communications Corp. serves the educational, military, health care, consumer, hospitality, re-seller and the original equipment manufacturer markets with its broad reach of products and services.
Individuals interested in HD Communications Corp. can find further information by visiting the company's booth at the show or visit the wireless network products group website at http://www.wirelessnetworkproducts.com.
CONTACT: Eric Olson, 1-888-588-3800 ext. 126, or 1-631-588-3877 ext. 126
SOURCE HD Communications Corp.
HD Communications Corp.
CONTACT: Eric Olson, +1-888-588-3800 ext. 126, or +1-631-588-3877 ext. 126
- http://www.bmobile.com is a new Platform for Advertisers to Plan
and Implement Targeted Mobile Advertising Campaigns
B!Digital, the mobile advertising and communications division of the
Buongiorno Group today announces the launch of B!mobile. The new advertising
network (AdNetwork) will allow the leading independent European agency to
work with both publishers looking to capitalise on their traffic on mobile
internet and/or iPhone applications, and advertisers wanting to invest in
efficient mobile communication campaigns.
Using a next-generation technology platform, B!mobile can implement
sophisticated, targeted mobile advertising campaigns. The platform permits
segmentation by telephone operator, operating system and mobile device, with
utmost precision and transparency allowing constant control on the real
return on the investment made.
B!mobile is accessible via the Internet or mobile - with a web site
optimised for the iPhone - at http://www.bmobile.com/. The platform is simple
and easy to use with direct and independent access for each advertiser. A
control panel monitors the performance of every aspect of the campaign,
making changes as needs arise. It also allows users to set and manage their
banner campaigns on either a CPC (cost per click) or CPM (cost per 1000
impressions) basis. B!mobile aims to extend its adnetwork by grouping
publishers from around the world with a particular focus on Europe, South
Africa and on the emerging markets, in order to aggregate traffic by the end
of the year and reach 1,5 billion impressions.
The new B!mobile Adnetwork Business Unit is headed up by Lara
Gagliardi, an international role she has taken after successfully leading the
B2C segment in the Mediterranean and LATAM areas for Buongiorno, promoting
the BlinkoGold brand and developing specific expertise in performance
advertising.
"Marketers, struggling to capture consumers' attention, are
quickly turning to mobile advertising" - commented Lara Gagliardi - "With its
complete media offer of premium and performance B!Digital is perfectly poised
to capture an opportunity which according to eMarketer will reach 1,1 billion
dollars in 2012".
B!Digital (previously Buongiorno Marketing Services) - an
independent marketing agency leader in Europe - is the division of Buongiorno
S.p.A. that deals with development and implementation of mobile advertising
and communications campaigns.
B!Digital is the largest digital agency focused on mobile
technology with global coverage and offices in 7 countries including Italy,
the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Russia, and the Netherlands. Following its
acquisitions of Flytxt, Mobi-Village and HotSMS, B!Digital has bolstered its
expertise and technological capabilities in mobile marketing, mobile Internet
development, and in mobile advertising.
B!Digital exclusively handles the advertising license of all
mobile property of the E! Entertainment, Espresso Group (including La
Repubblica, Radio Deejay, Repubblica Sport, and TrovaCinema), Il Messaggero,
Leggo and Il Giornale and delivers campaigns for Rimmel, BNL BNP Paribas,
Barilla, Blockbuster, Coca Cola, Fnac, Ford, MediaWorld e P&G.
Tocquigny Develops TripCast(TM) iPhone App for the Jeep® Brand
- Location-based, Branded Experience Connects Jeep® with Adventurers -
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Tocquigny, a nationally recognized, top-tier interactive agency, has recently launched the TripCast(TM) iPhone app to connect the Jeep® brand with its target audience of outdoor adventurers. The innovative application uses location-based check-ins and social sharing to relay travel adventures via the Web or mobile.
Envisioning the interplay of technology and the interests of the Jeep consumer, Tocquigny developed the TripCast(TM) iPhone application for the Jeep brand of Chrysler Group LLC. TripCast augments the spread of place-based social sharing already established by geo-location platforms like Foursquare, Gowalla, and the newly released Facebook Places while fostering the sense of adventure associated with the Jeep brand.
"TripCast was an opportunity for Tocquigny to demonstrate our bench strength in the areas required to create a relevant app that would be a contribution to Jeep's target audience," comments Yvonne Tocquigny, CEO of Tocquigny. "We integrated our knowledge of behavioral marketing along with our specialized expertise in interactive, social and mobile to create a one-of-a-kind experience for iPhone users."
Adventurers can explore more than 250,000 outdoor recreational spots included in the app's map. Video, audio clips, status updates, photos and music can be collected and pinned to check-in points along the route and shared real-time with family and friends as the trip progresses on Facebook and Twitter. Later, the journey can be stored and shared as an electronic scrapbook of memories. iPhone apps like TripCast can provide both immediate impact and long-term branding.
"Our clients know that 2010 is the year for mobile," continues Tocquigny. "In addition to mobile application development, Tocquigny has seen a rise in demand for all mobile projects, including mobile website optimization and mobile media placement."
About Tocquigny
Tocquigny is nationally recognized as a top-tier interactive agency serving global brands with their Measured Approach(TM) to interactive. With an uncommon breadth of services, Tocquigny harnesses the latest trends and technologies in social, interactive, direct response and mobile marketing. Founded by Yvonne Tocquigny in 1980, the agency is propelled by innovation, proven methodologies and hands-on leadership. Tocquigny has been named the "No. 2 Interactive Agency in the Nation" by BtoB Magazine and a "Top 20 Interactive Agency" by Adweek. Visit tocquigny.com.
Smart Mediator Opens Service Broker Market for Roamware
SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Roamware, Inc., a global leader in the mobile roaming technology and solutions market, has launched Smart Mediator(TM) to enter the Service Broker segment. Smart Mediator has been developed to enable existing Roamware customers to leverage the existing Roamware Service Delivery System (SDS) to seamlessly integrate third party applications on next generation networks, including CAMEL, IN and IMS based services.
Roamware's Smart Mediator enables seamless mediation of the call or transaction between any IN / CAMEL, SIP or ISUP service that a mobile operator may choose to integrate. The benefits are numerous including: the ability to bundle a variety of services across prepaid and postpaid subscribers; vendor agnostic infrastructure providing the freedom to work with any solution provider; protection of legacy investments; and a flexible environment to develop new services.
Dr. John Jiang CTO and EVP of Product Management commented: "In today's market, agility and speed is everything. Telcos have traditionally accumulated legacy systems and protocols which hamper and in some case severely limit the ability of the operator to provide a comprehensive range of services for subscribers - interoperability being the key issue. Traditional IN vendors constrain operators and cause a vendor lock-in situation; Smart Mediator has the capability to integrate a range of voice, data and video services without having to worry about integration challenges with legacy as well as latest technologies."
Roamware's Smart Mediator acts as a single virtual Service Control Point (SCP) for all the Service Switching Points (SSP) and supports extensive list of protocols prevailing in mobile, fixed line and broadband networks . Additionally, it supports a variety of protocol conversions, real-time charging control, policy control and enforcement, service provisioning and enhancement, media resource interaction, comprehensive report generation and a powerful operations management function. Smart Mediator runs on carrier grade highly scalable architecture. It allows operators to leverage existing investments, consolidate resources and unlock their service plane for service innovation.
About Roamware, Inc.
Roamware, Inc. is the leading provider of roaming and mobile financial services solutions with a customer base of over 480 mobile operators across 154 countries. The company is the global leader in mobile roaming solutions with an estimated 60 per cent market share of the voice and data roaming segments for GSM, 3G and CDMA technology platforms. Roamware m-commerce and mobile banking solutions have been successfully deployed by major banks and global operators around the world, including: Vodafone, Permanent TSB and Bank of Ireland. Its solutions range from credit transfers, international remittance, person to person transactions to top-up and bill payment. The company is headquartered in San Jose with operations in Brussels, Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi Singapore, Dublin, Johannesburg, Amman and Hong Kong. http://www.roamware.com
SOURCE Roamware, Inc.
Roamware, Inc.
CONTACT: Roamware press office team: EMEA, Vojtech Horna, Atomic PR, +44-207-282-2901, vojtech@atomicpr.com; USA, Michelle Sabolich, Atomic PR, +1-415-593-1400, michelle.sabolich@atomicpr.com; Roamware, Inc., Abraham Punnoose, VP, Marketing & Business Development, +91-9967927777, abraham.punnoose@roamware.com
KODAK Picture Kiosks Inspire Consumers Around the World to Create Premium Photo Products
COLOGNE, Germany, September 22, 2010/PRNewswire/ --
- Rollout of new KODAK Picture Kiosk Software v4.0 Demonstrates Clear
Upsell Opportunity for Photo Retailers
Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK), announced the global availability of
its new KODAK Picture Kiosk Software v4.0, offering powerful new features and
enhancements to Kodak Kiosk, including a number of industry firsts such as
Kodak Video Snapshots, Kodak's Pet Eye Retouch, Kodak's Facial Retouch and
true one-touch premium products. The new features are available now in stores
throughout the US, Canada and Germany, and are rolling out now through other
parts of Europe, Australia and South America.
Installations of the new KODAK Picture Kiosk Software v4.0 at major U.S.
retailers are already demonstrating the new platform's ability to engage and
inspire consumers to create highly profitable premium photo products:
- Recent usage data from Kodak kiosks with KODAK Picture Kiosk software
4.0 installed at leading retailers indicated that one touch premium
upsells are enjoying an amazing acceptance rate of greater than 5%
translating into incremental retailer revenue of over US$800 per year
per kiosk.
- Initial test results at a major retailer indicate that multiple prints
per day/per store, representing up to US$600 in potential retailer
revenue per year, could result from the new connectivity to online
photo sites such as KODAK Gallery, FACEBOOK and PICASA WEB ALBUMS made
possible by the new Kodak Kiosk software - and the test was performed
without any promotion or advertising.
- Consumer research shows that 65 percent of consumers were likely to use
Kodak's Pet Eye Retouch feature, and remarkably, 28 percent would be
willing to change where they print to get it. (1)
"Kodak's commitment to retailers is to deliver a superior consumer
experience in store that translates into tangible profit opportunity," said
Nicoletta Zongrone, General Manager and Vice President, Eastman Kodak
Company. "Our retailer partners love the new Kiosk software because it solves
imaging problems that have been barriers to expanding photo merchandising,
and at the same time, inspires consumers go beyond the 4x6 prints - to easily
create truly memorable photo keepsakes."
New features of KODAK Picture Kiosk Software v4.0 solve real problems for
consumers and retailers:
- In 2010, consumers around the world will capture over 4.5 million
terabytes of video, most of which currently stay locked in digital
files. Kodak's Video Snapshots unlocks these-in-the-moment video images
and lets consumers use them to create prints, collages, greeting cards,
photo books and calendars, or store them on a CD making them easier to
share and relive. The ability to make memorable still prints, photo
books and collages that consumers can be enjoy at a glance presents an
enormous opportunity for retailers.(2)
- With 62 million pet households in the European Union alone (3), pets
rank in the top four of all captured images.(3) Kodak's Pet Eye Retouch
allows these consumers to fix the very common and problematic pet eye
glare caused by flash photography of their furry companions.
- Helping people look their best, Kodak's market-proven Facial Retouch
Feature, at the touch of one button smoothes wrinkles, diminishes
and/or erases blemishes and improves skin tone for more perfect photo
keepsakes. This technology was successfully tested and launched with
major European retailers and is now available to all Kodak retail
partners around the globe.
- The new Software v4.0 also gives consumers using the KODAK Picture
Kiosk the ability to access the photos they have stored or shared on
the KODAK Gallery, FACEBOOK and PICASA WEB ALBUMS, and easily use them
to create photo keepsakes in minutes right in the store. With more than
500 Million active consumers(4) and more than three billion photos
uploaded each month(5) to these sites, the software offers retailers a
huge opportunity to market their unique in-store services to these
users.
- Designed to help consumers become aware of the powerful new sharing
solutions, and retailers to increase market basket opportunity, the new
software now offers a complete suite of merchandising tools. Fresh,
lively welcome screen messaging offers ideas for new projects right
from the start, and the intelligent one-touch premium upsell feature
creates animated product suggestions using the consumer's own images,
allowing her to purchase an additional product instantly with the touch
of one button.
In addition to exciting new features, KODAK Picture Kiosk Software v4.0
takes work out for the consumer. The new software requires fewer consumer
touches, writes KODAK Picture CDs up to 33 percent faster, and creates KODAK
Photo Books faster and more easily than with previous generation solutions.
This translates into less queuing, improved customer satisfaction and more
profit potential per minute.
KODAK Picture Kiosk Software v4.0 is in many stores now. For more
information on this and other exciting solutions visit http://www.kodak.com
or come visit us at Photokina in Cologne, Germany.
About Kodak
As the world's foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers,
businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and
printing to enrich their lives.
More than 75 million people worldwide manage, share and create photo
gifts online at KODAK Gallery -- join for free today at http://www.kodakgallery.com
2010 KODAK is a trademark of Kodak.
Facebook(R) is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.
Picasa(R) Web Albums is a registered trademark of Google Inc.
(1) Kodak Business Research
(2) Source: IDC Market Analysis - Worldwide User-Generated Video Content
and Archive 2010-2013 Forecast: The Video Bible
(3) Source: The European Pet Food Industry (http://www.fediaf.org)
(4) Facebook(R) Press Room Statistics, Facebook.com, 9/16/10
(5) Facebook(R) Press Room Statistics, Facebook.com, 2/18/10
Photo retailers now have a ground-breaking, affordable new option for
expanding beyond 4x6 prints into the growing market for high-demand premium
photo products. Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK) introduced today the newest
member of its family of thermal printers, the photo quality KODAK D4000
Duplex Photo Printer. The D4000 is a flexible, compact double-sided print
solution capable of producing high-quality borderless premium photo products,
such as photo books, calendars and personalized greeting cards. The new
printer works seamlessly with Kodak's industry leading retail equipment,
software and connectivity solutions.
"With our focus on transforming the photo department we are experiencing
a category renaissance, and consumers are re-connecting with printing to tell
their stories in exciting, meaningful and highly personalized ways," said
Nicoletta Zongrone, general manager of Retail Systems Solutions and vice
president, Eastman Kodak Company. "The new D4000 Duplex Photo Printer puts
retailers at the forefront of this trend, allowing them to deliver fantastic
borderless duplex products with industry leading print quality and
reliability they've come to expect from Kodak."
The KODAK D4000 Duplex Photo Printer uses the new duplex KODAK XTRALIFE
Photo Book Paper, which delivers superb photo print quality, with rich,
bright colors and sharp text, driving customer preference to higher value,
higher quality products. The new printer supports a broad selection of
double-sided KODAK Photo Book, Calendar and Greeting Card products. Photo
books and calendars can be produced in 8x12, 8x10, 8x8 and 6x8 formats in
landscape, portrait or square layouts that are compatible with many binding
styles including wire, staple and slide. Personalized, borderless flat
greeting cards can be produced in 6x8 inch and 4x8 inch sizes in either
landscape or portrait layouts.
According to Photographic Consultants Ltd., the global photo book market
alone will grow by 61% by 2012 to more than 103 million books(1), with Kodak
research showing that nearly 70% of consumers show a preference for receiving
their printed photo books in an hour or less(2). The D4000 aligns perfectly
with this profit opportunity, having been specifically designed to enable
retailers to attack this growth opportunity - it is expected to require only
one-third of the capital investment and will take less than half of the floor
space of most comparable retail duplex inkjet solutions. The powerful thermal
printer integrates seamlessly with KODAK Picture Kiosks G4 or later series,
KODAK Adaptive Picture Exchange (APEX) systems, and stand-alone PC
workstations, and is enabled for on-site fulfillment of orders taken in store
or online, further minimizing retailer investment and integration work.
The technology behind the new duplex printer is thermal dye sublimation,
which produces 2-sided high quality output up to 20 x 30 cm (8 x 12 in.)
sizes in full photo quality. The D4000 media is superior to any duplex inkjet
solutions in water, stain and fingerprint resistance. Floor space friendly,
the compact D4000 device stands at 78.1 x 78.3 x 39.0 cm (30.8 x 30.8 x 15.4
in.) and weighs a mere 65 kg (143 lbs) unloaded, smaller than many retail
inkjet duplex dry printing solutions.
"With the merger of this new printer and our industry leading consumer
and retailer photo book software solutions, we believe that we're providing
retailers with the opportunity to finally crack the code of the right
printing system with the best consumer experience that will transform their
business potential," said Zongrone. "This is truly a very exciting time to be
in this industry."
The new KODAK D4000 Duplex Photo Printer will be available in Q2 of 2011.
For more information visit http://www.kodak.com/go/rss.
About Kodak
As the world's foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers,
businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and
printing to enrich their lives.
ALTRINCHAM, England, September 22, 2010/PRNewswire/ --
- With Photo
Aquarium Software, the leading claims management software company, today
announced Quadra Claims Services' successful go-live of their claims
management and loss adjusting solution. The system has been rolled out in
support of Quadra's nationwide adjuster network and their new and fast
growing claims management unit based in Manchester.
The Aquarium application makes use of the latest "cloud computing" web
technologies to provide a claims solution that is highly flexible and simple
to deploy. Aquarium's powerful business process automation enables claims to
be efficiently validated and processed; whilst the loss adjusters have a
business support tool that ensures the effective management of claims.
The web-based, access-anywhere architecture ensures insurer and partner
communication and collaboration is simple. In built messaging, coupled with
full access to the claim file and its detailed claim journal, ensures that
all participants have the essential information they need at their
fingertips.
Quadra director Dave Greenwood said, "We are delighted with Aquarium, it
has become one of the cornerstones of our business. We have had
overwhelmingly positive feedback from our clients and I believe we have only
just begun to unlock the potential of what this can do for our business."
A modern claims handling business, Quadra has the skills and experience
to address many of the issues and areas of concern for providers of insurance
services, led by Dave Greenwood and his team who all have a strong track
record of success in the industry.
Aquarium's sales & marketing director, Mark Colonnese, commented: "Our
new loss adjusting solution has been developed to be user intuitive and with
business process cost savings and efficiencies as the primary drivers. Being
web based means it can be accessed anywhere and couples maximum convenience
with maximum usability, in a compelling and powerful package."
Founded in 2006, Aquarium Software is dedicated to providing innovative
web-based business solutions using the latest technologies to provide
innovative flexible software tools designed to have an immediate impact on
customer working practices, allowing them to concentrate on their business
and grow their bottom line.
All Aquarium software, including this new claims management and loss
adjusting package is flexible enough to be easy to modify if required,
without the need for expert IT involvement. The commitment to web based
software and "cloud computing" also eliminates the problem of buying and
maintaining expensive computer hardware and software, freeing customers like
Quadra to do what they do best without the need for additional capital
expenditure.
Media Contact: BeyondPR., Tel: +44(0)114-275-6996., Mob: +44(0)7930-697773., http://www.beyondpr.co.uk; For further information contact Aquarium Software, free of charge, on +44(0)800-781-7570 or visit http://www.aquarium-software.com
Incard Celebrates Industry First as High-Security Card Gains Approval for Payment Applications in Italy
Incard is first to support clone-proof Dynamic Data Authentication for Italian market and beyond
GENEVA, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Incard, a global leader in providing smartcard-based e-commerce solutions, today announced a new chip payment card, the first to feature Dynamic Data Authentication (DDA) and to achieve Consorzio Bancomat approval allowing its use in Italian payment-card applications. The new Incard product also supports the Visa and Mastercard® payment applications, thereby meeting the global EMV(TM) (EuroPay, MasterCard and Visa) mandate for cards to support DDA from January 2011.
DDA maximizes security for offline card-present transactions by generating a unique numerical signature for each transaction. In contrast, conventional Static Data Authentication (SDA) cards generate signatures that can only be verified online, which could, theoretically, lead to cloning of the card. The capabilities of DDA greatly increase the possibilities to use these cards in many diverse payment applications without jeopardizing security.
By supporting the VIS 1.4.1, M/Chip4, and ICC 1.0.1 payment applications for Visa, Mastercard and Consorzio Bancomat, respectively, Incard's credit/debit product allows the card embedder to select the application during initialization. This saves companies from having to maintain individual stocks of cards for each application.
In addition to providing enhanced security for transactions, Incard's product also supports the EMV Card Personalization Specification (EMV CPS 1.1). By supporting this industry-standard CPS, it maximizes freedom for card personalization independent of the card vendor.
"Our new DDA card is an important industry first for EMV payment cards, combining the most advanced transaction authentication, support for all major payment applications and industry-standard card personalization," said Michele Scarlatella, Vice President for Marketing, Incard. "This new platform has already received a very important certification from Consorzio Bancomat, a leading banking institution."
Incard is currently providing samples to key customers with volume production scheduled from October 2010.
About Incard
A member of the STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) group, Incard is a leading smartcard manufacturer, offering a complete range of products for Telecommunications, Payment, Transport, Healthcare, Loyalty, and Identity markets. With its know-how and proven expertise, Incard has gained the trust of a global customer base in the different sectors of smart-card solutions with a full range of flexible products, where security and portability are the key factors. Further information on Incard can be found at http://www.incard-sa.com
For further information, please contact:
Mariarosaria Migliaccio
Central Marketing
Incard
+39 0823630260
mariarosaria.migliaccio@st.com
All trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Incard
Incard
CONTACT: Mariarosaria Migliaccio, Central Marketing of Incard, +39 0823630260, mariarosaria.migliaccio@st.com
Gadgets for Good: Introducing MaxBack.com, the New Rewards-Through-Recycling Program for Old Electronics
ERIE, Pa., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- MaxBack.com, an innovative rewards-through-recycling program, gives consumers the opportunity to recycle used electronic items (cell phones, mp3s, digital cameras, GPS systems) in exchange for rewards like music downloads, points toward upgraded technologies, or toward donations to schools and other vital non-profits.
MaxBack.com's sister company Funding Factory, invented the concept of fundraising-through-recycling in 1998 and created new opportunities for schools and nonprofits to earn money without selling consumer goods, by recycling their used printer cartridges and cell phones which gave schools a free, simple manner for funds.
"According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Americans own nearly 3 billion consumer electronic devices so it's important for us to reuse, recycle," said Sean Michaels, Co-President. "It's our hope that MaxBack.com provides incentive for teens, tweens, and really anyone to trade in their old stuff for new items or to share with a non-profit organization."
To date, more than 50,000 organizations have taken advantage of FundingFactory's many incentives, stopping over 26 million printer cartridges from entering America's landfills and generating approximately $20 million for our nation's schools and non-profits.
As part of the launch, the MaxBack.com program sent direct mail kits to select partner schools, along with special prize incentives to encourage participation. For more information, please visit MaxBack.com.
About MaxBack.com:
MaxBack.com is a new program from parent company Environmental Reclamation Services, a service provider and supplier to the worldwide imaging supply marketplace. Founded in 1990, ERS has served as a respected and integral supply chain partner to aftermarket companies in the printing supplies and wireless industries. ERS operates from a 72,000 square foot facility headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania and is an ISO Certified, zero landfill initiative company with more than 97 percent of incoming material either reused or recycled. Its sister program, Funding Factory, provides schools, non-profit groups, and charities with funding through the simple act of recycling. Participating organizations earn funds by collecting empty printer cartridges and used cell phones from their communities and supporters. All program materials and services (including boxes and return shipping for the items) are free for the participants. Funding Factory has provided over $26 million in funding to schools and groups across the country since its inception. For more information, please visit http://www.maxback.com, http://www.ersusa.com or http://www.fundingfactory.com.
Exar Showcases New Power Management and Interface Solutions at Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) Boston
FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Exar Corporation (Nasdaq: EXAR), will showcase new power management and interface products in booth #202 at the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) in Boston to be held at the Hynes Convention Center, Tuesday, September 21, 2010 through Wednesday, September 22, 2010.
ESC attendees will learn more about Exar's just introduced single and dual-channel 1 Amp Step-Down Converters (XRP6658 and XRP6668) that deliver over 90% efficiency across the load range. In addition, Exar released earlier today the XR21B1411; with +/- 15kV HBM ESD protection, and up to 12Mbps serial data rate, it is the newest member of the industry's fastest Full-Speed USB UART series. Senior level marketing and sales staff will be on hand to give show attendees more information on these and the full power management and interface product portfolios.
About Exar
Exar Corporation delivers highly differentiated silicon, software and subsystem solutions for industrial, datacom and storage applications. For nearly 40 years, Exar's comprehensive knowledge of end-user markets along with the underlying analog, mixed signal and digital technology has enabled innovative solutions that meet the needs of the evolving connected world. Exar's product portfolio includes power management and interface components, communications products, storage optimization solutions, network security and applied service processors. Exar has locations worldwide providing real-time customer support to drive rapid product development. For more information about Exar, visit: http://www.exar.com.
SOURCE Exar Corporation
Exar Corporation
CONTACT: Greg Kaufman, Marketing Communications of Exar Corporation, +1-510-668-7000
Leading Restoration Company on North Shore Announces Blog, Portfolio of Work
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Castino Restoration, the leading home service provider on the North Shore and parts of Chicago, announces today the launch of their new, interactive web site. The web site contains the first Restoration blog on the North Shore as well as an extensive portfolio gallery of their multi-services including: flood, fire and mold remediation, interior and exterior painting, stucco, carpentry and much more. The web address is http://www.castinorestoration.com
The Blog contains many home improvement tips, and safety information for homeowners. It includes information on what to do when your home floods and why mold is so important to remediate.
"Our new web site, blog and portfolio is a great resource for homeowners who are confused about how to handle mold and other situations. They need to understand that mold is a health hazard and needs to be handled by experienced technicians immediately," said Roger Castino, owner.
"We already take advantage of social media pages such as Facebook and Twitter, so a new and exciting web site, blog and portfolio are a great addition to the mix. We've been on the North Shore for over 35 years and we want the residents to know that we are here for them if they need anything at all," said Kim Jones, Marketing Director.
About Castino Restoration
Beginning in 1974, Castino Restoration, a division of Castino Painting and Home Services, created a top-notch reputation on the North Shore and Chicagoland area as a reliable, family-run company providing flood, fire and mold remediation, interior and exterior painting and various other home services to residential and commercial properties.
Verizon Wireless Encourages and Enables Mobile Application Development With Tools for Developers
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LAS VEGAS,Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ --Verizon Wireless is expanding the number of tools available to members of the Verizon Developer Community (VDC) with the addition of third-party technology and services that will help developers create and enhance the value of their applications, the company announced today at the VDC Conference taking place in Las Vegas. The tools range from in-app analytics to the ability to send push notifications to 2-D and 3-D facial recognition capabilities, each giving developers cost-effective options as they build applications for current and future networks.
"Verizon is committed to participating in a robust mobile application ecosystem, and the addition of these tools and other enablers for third-party developers helps everyone involved," said Todd Murphy, director, Verizon Developer Community. "Working with these companies to bring the tools to the VDC is just the beginning, and we will continue to expand what's available as the entire ecosystem continues to grow."
Among the companies providing tools and enablers for the VDC are:
Ground Truth: The Ground Truth Applications Analytics tool can provide developers with the ability to access aggregate data on demographics, usage and custom events on their applications at no charge and in an intuitive, Web-based interface for Android(TM), RIM and future Brew® and Windows Mobile® platforms.
Urban Airship: Urban Airship offers developers the infrastructure and easy-to-integrate tools to enable push notifications within mobile apps. Its AirMail Push services add value to mobile apps by encouraging users to re-engage, increasing app awareness and revenue opportunities. Urban Airship helps developers deliver real-time mobile messages and content across multiple platforms quickly and cost effectively.
Mobile Roadie: Mobile Roadie provides a simple and inexpensive self-service solution to create professional-looking applications in minutes. Mobile Roadie's platform lets users build and manage their own applications by controlling the look, feel and message of their applications, all with innovative drag-and-drop tools. With Mobile Roadie, users become developers without ever having to write a line of code.
These tools can be found on the VDC portal beginning Sept. 21, 2010. Verizon Wireless is also working with Animetrics for 2-D and 3-D facial recognition technology, PayPal for one-touch billing for in-application payments, and PrinterOn for mobile printing solutions.
More information about these companies, the tools and their availability is available to members of the VDC. For information on how to register for the Verizon Developer Community, visit http://developer.verizon.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 92 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 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.
Top Independent Interactive Agency Rosetta Acquires LEVEL Studios
LEVEL's Expertise in Total User Experience Enhances Rosetta's Offering as World-Class, Integrated Digital and Direct Resource for Marketers
PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosetta, the nation's largest independent digital and direct interactive agency, and LEVEL Studios, the California-based integrated marketing and product development agency, today announced the acquisition of LEVEL by Rosetta. Purchase price and terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The combination, which places Rosetta among the top five digital advertising agencies in the U.S., was motivated by the desire of the two independent agencies to anticipate and meet the evolving needs of their clients for increasingly sophisticated and integrated marketing strategies and programs across all interactive touch points. The addition of LEVEL's three California locations gives Rosetta a significant West Coast presence and the ability to better serve clients wherever they are located.
"We live in an increasingly connected world, where rapid technological change is creating an expanding array of options for consumers and challenges for marketers to reach them in a relevant way that strengthens the bond between brands and their best customers. Rosetta has been engineered to pilot brands through this ever-changing marketing landscape and drive measurable business impact," said Rosetta CEO Chris Kuenne. "LEVEL's position on the leading edge of content, platforms and devices and Rosetta's depth and scale in strategy, creative and technology and its expertise in personality segmentation are a powerful combination that enables brands to stay ahead of the curve and transform their marketing by understanding their best consumers' wants and needs and translating those insights into personally relevant customer experiences across all touch points and over time."
LEVEL's President and CEO Tom Adamski said, "Rosetta and LEVEL share a commitment to the balance between innovation and value. Our highly complementary strengths will allow us to drive immediate and transformative impact for our clients. Rosetta and LEVEL are a formidable force in the interactive world - independent, client-focused, marketing and technologically savvy - with proven vertical expertise in the healthcare, retail, financial services, B2B, consumer electronics, automotive, gaming and entertainment markets. We are excited to be joining forces with Rosetta."
LEVEL's expertise in creating personally relevant total user experiences through the interplay of branded content, technology platforms and connected devices has powered the agency's rapid growth to a projected $45 million in 2010. This expertise has enabled LEVEL to help build stronger relationships between brands and consumers for leading clients such as Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, Apple, Qualcomm, Toyota, Micron and RIM.
With 215 team members across its San Luis Obispo (headquarters), San Jose and Los Angeles, CA studios, LEVEL has successfully driven a culture of innovation through LEVEL Labs, an R&D effort focused on the evolution of user experience, digital content delivery and mobile application development.
LEVEL will retain its current management team and through 2011 will operate as "LEVEL, a Rosetta Company" as a separate group within Rosetta's overall business. The two agencies will soon begin to work through how to leverage each other's expertise and team members across agencies to provide additional capabilities to existing and prospective clients.
With the acquisition, Rosetta will have estimated 2010 revenues of $215 million, more than 1,000 team members, 10 offices in the US and Canada, and unsurpassed expertise across all digital and direct touch points. Prior to the acquisition of LEVEL, Rosetta ranked as the nation's largest independent interactive agency and one of the 10 largest overall, according to Advertising Age.
Rosetta's revenues were $152.5 million in 2009. Prior to this acquisition, Rosetta employed 850 team members in seven offices throughout the U.S. and Canada. Some of their leading clients include Allergan, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bristol Myers Squibb, Coach, Johnson & Johnson, Jos. A. Bank, M&T Bank, Marriott, Microsoft, Nationwide, OfficeMax, Rogers Communications, T-Mobile and Valvoline. The agency recently announced the opening of an office in Toronto, Canada and the relocation and expansion of its operations in Cleveland.
New York-based mergers and acquisition firm AdMedia Partners acted as financial advisor to LEVEL in the transaction.
About Rosetta
Rosetta is the largest and fastest growing independent interactive agency in the U.S. and is ranked by AdAge among the top ten digital agencies in the country. Engineered for the connected world, Rosetta was founded in 1998 to pilot brands through an ever-changing marketing landscape and drive measurable business impact. Rosetta enables brands to transform their marketing through the discovery of unique insights about their best consumers' wants and needs and then connecting with them in the most innovative and personally relevant way across all touch points and over time.
Rosetta's unique combination of a patented approach to segmentation, called Personality® Segmentation; industry leading depth in technology across platforms and devices; world class creative, design and user experience capability; scale and integrated structure; and deep vertical industry expertise in the Healthcare; Retail & Consumer Products; Financial Services; Communications, Media & Technology; Travel & Leisure and B2B markets have attracted many of the nation's leading brands. The agency's clients include Allergan, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis in healthcare; Coach, Express, Jos. A. Bank, OfficeMax, Rogers Communications and Valvoline in the retail sector; Citizens, M&T and Nationwide in financial services; Marriott in travel and leisure and Microsoft and T-Mobile in communications, media and technology.
Rosetta is headquartered in Princeton, NJ, with additional offices in New York, Cleveland, Denver, Boston, Chicago and Toronto.
LEVEL delivers integrated marketing and product development for global brands. Through the interplay of branded content, technology platforms and connected devices, LEVEL designs a total user experience that amplifies the relationship between brand and consumer. At LEVEL, our methodology is proven; our behavior is adaptive.
PGI to Develop Compiler Based on NVIDIA CUDA C Architecture for x86 Platforms
PGI to Demonstrate New PGI CUDA C Compiler at SC10 Supercomputing Conference in November
SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Portland Group®, a wholly-owned subsidiary of STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) and a leading supplier of compilers for high-performance computing (HPC), today announced it is developing a CUDA C compiler targeting systems based on the industry-standard general-purpose 64- and 32-bit x86 architectures. The new PGI CUDA C compiler for x86 platforms will be demonstrated at the SC10 Supercomputing conference taking place in New Orleans, LA, November 13-15, 2010.
The NVIDIA CUDA architecture was developed to enable offloading computationally intensive kernels to massively parallel GPUs. Through function calls and language extensions, CUDA gives developers explicit control over the mapping of general-purpose computational kernels to GPUs, as well as the placement and movement of data between an x86 processor and the GPU.
The PGI CUDA C compiler for x86 platforms will allow developers using CUDA to compile and optimize CUDA applications to run on x86-based workstations, servers and clusters with or without an NVIDIA GPU accelerator. When run on x86-based systems without a GPU, PGI CUDA C applications will use multiple cores and the streaming SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) capabilities of Intel and AMD CPUs for parallel execution.
"CUDA C for x86 is a perfect complement to CUDA Fortran and PGI's optimizing parallel Fortran and C compilers for multi-core x86," said Douglas Miles, director, The Portland Group. "It's another important element in our on-going strategy of providing HPC programmers with development tools that give PGI users a full range of options for optimizing compute-intensive applications, while allowing them to leverage the latest technical innovations from AMD, Intel and NVIDIA."
"In less than three years, CUDA has become the most widely used massively parallel programming model," said Sanford Russell, general manager of GPU Computing software at NVIDIA. "With the CUDA for x86 CPU compiler, PGI is responding to the need of developers who want to use a single parallel programming model to target many core GPUs and multi-core CPUs."
PGI offers two programming models for GPU accelerators. PGI Accelerator(TM) is a high-level directive-based programming model targeting scientific and engineering-domain experts working in high-performance computing. PGI Accelerator compilers are currently available for C99 and Fortran 95/2003. CUDA Fortran, a Fortran 95/2003 analog to NVIDIA CUDA C, was developed by PGI in cooperation with NVIDIA in 2009. CUDA Fortran allows expert programmers to control all aspect of GPU programming. In addition to programming GPU accelerators, PGI products are used widely by HPC programmers targeting applications for 64-bit x64 and 32-bit x86 processor based systems.
The Portland Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of STMicroelectronics, is the premier supplier of high-performance parallel Fortran, C, and C++ compilers and tools for workstations, servers, and clusters based on x64 processors from Intel and AMD, and GPUs accelerators from NVIDIA. Further information on The Portland Group products can be found at http://www.pgroup.com, by callingSales at (503) 682-2806, or by email to sales@pgroup.com.
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2009, the Company's net revenues were $8.51 billion. Further information on ST can be found at http://www.st.com.
All trademarks, trade names, service marks, and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies.
SOURCE STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics
CONTACT: Michael Markowitz, STMicroelectronics, Inc., +1-781-591-0354, michael.markowitz@st.com
Location Labs Now Able to Locate Over 250 Million Mobile Phones
First and Only Platform that Enables Location Access for Developers Across the Four Major U.S. Carriers
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Location Labs, the leader in providing mobile location-based services, today announced a major milestone surrounding the reach of the company's Universal Location Service [ULS] platform. Developers can now remotely access the location of over 250MM mobile phones in the U.S. through a single cloud-based API. With connectivity across the four major U.S. wireless carriers, Location Labs' ULS becomes the first and only platform to enable this unprecedented access.
To date, over 2,000 developers have signed up to utilize the ULS. Developers have launched dozens of apps spanning multiple verticals including mobile marketing, couponing, fraud prevention, compliance, and logistics tracking. Developers are using the location of mobile phones to power Web, mobile web, SMS, voice, and downloadable apps.
"Our device coverage is unmatched and makes Location Labs' ULS the first true cross-carrier location aggregation platform in the U.S.," noted Tasso Roumeliotis, CEO of Location Labs. "With this level of ubiquity, there's nothing to stop developers from launching an array of new and exciting location-enabled services to the masses."
ULS allows developers to locate over 250MM devices in real-time through a cloud-based location API. For developers, this means simplicity, interoperability, and scalability. Since location is determined through the carrier networks, there is no download required for the end user, and the service can locate ALL types of devices: both smartphones (e.g. iPhone®, Android(TM), Blackberry®) and non-smartphones (e.g. Motorola RAZR(TM)). The Location Labs ULS platform also includes an extensive end-user privacy management solution.
To learn more about the ULS platform, or to get started building location-based apps immediately visit the Location Labs' developer portal: http://developer.location-labs.com. There, developers can register for a free developer account; access the SDKs and developer guide; and also get a $50 account credit to begin testing the ULS APIs free of charge.
About Location Labs
Location Labs is the leader in Location-as-a-Service for mobile application developers. The company's location based services platform helps developers leverage location information to create intelligent, location aware applications. The company's Platform supports over 250MM mobile phones on the market today, including both smart phones and non-smart phones. Location Labs has strategic partnerships with AT&T, Sprint-Nextel, TMobile, Verizon, Qualcomm, Intel, as well as a number of other global partners. Location Labs was formerly operating as WaveMarket, Inc. The company has raised $26MM in venture financing, from Draper Fisher Jurvetson, BlueRun Ventures (formerly Nokia Venture Partners), QUALCOMM Ventures, Intel Capital, British Telecom and Mitsui Ventures.
Verizon Wireless Introduces NAVBuilder Inside to Help Developers Incorporate Location, Maps and Navigation Into Apps
Software Development Kit Enables Cross-Platform Development and Distribution
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LAS VEGAS, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- NAVBuilder Inside (NBI), an exclusive software development kit (SDK) from Verizon Wireless, gives developers a simple way to add interactive location, mapping, and other location-based services (LBS) to their applications across multiple operating systems. The NAVBuilder Inside SDK is now available, the company said today at the Verizon Developer Community Conference taking place in Las Vegas.
NAVBuilder Inside allows for cross-platform development for Android(TM), BlackBerry®, Brew® and Windows Mobile® operating systems. Developers can use NAVBuilder Inside to create or enhance applications to take advantage of in-demand LBS features, including directions, finders, alerts and geo-tagging.
"LBS features, such as location, maps and directions, are the hottest features in application development, especially when they can be embedded directly into an application so Verizon Wireless device users don't have to leave an app to take advantage of the capability," said Kristi Crum, director of consumer products, Verizon Wireless. "With NAVBuilder Inside, we've made it simple for developers to use uniform APIs to quickly add the most-wanted features to their applications on many different operating systems and get them to market quickly."
NAVBuilder Inside can be found on the Verizon Developer Community portal and has two parts:
-- MapKit: Provides an interface for embedding maps (Regular, Satellite and
Hybrid), local search, and directions directly into applications, so
users don't have to leave the application to experience the
functionality; and
-- LocationKit: Enables fast location positioning for applications using
standalone GPS, Cell ID or Wi-Fi. LocationKit also enables Cell ID
location positioning on non-Wi-Fi capable devices, such as Brew-enabled
feature phones.
The SDK lets developers infuse their apps with geocoding and reverse-geocoding, map overlays and local search. In addition, the APIs offer the capability to provide 3-D voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation through VZ Navigator®.
NAVBuilder Inside was developed in cooperation with TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSYS) and will be available through the Verizon Developer Community portal. For information on how to register for the Verizon Developer Community, visit http://developer.verizon.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 92 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 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.
Business Software Alliance Introduces First ISO Aligned Software Asset Management (SAM) Program
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Software Alliance (BSA) today announced the introduction of SAM Advantage, a first of its kind software asset management training course and certification. The course, which aligns to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines, provides in-depth training on effective management of IT assets - serving as a crucial tool in helping organizations maximize their technology investments.
SAM Advantage enables users to build a best practice standards-based SAM program to manage their software assets, increase IT efficiencies, control costs, and identify and reduce IT risks. Upon successfully completing SAM Advantage and its associated assessments, individuals are recognized as Certified Software Management Professionals (CSMPs). The course is fully aligned with the global ISO/IEC 19770-1 software asset management standard.
About BSA
The Business Software Alliance (http://www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent one of the fastest growing industries in the world. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce. BSA members include Adobe, Altium, Apple, Autodesk, Aveva, Bentley Systems, Corel, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corporation, Microsoft, Minitab, Progress Software, Quark, Quest Software, Rosetta Stone, Siemens, Sybase, Symantec, and The MathWorks.
Visit BSA on Facebook here and follow BSA on Twitter: @BSAnews
SOURCE Business Software Alliance
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Business Software Alliance
CONTACT: Taylor Bennett, +1-202-312-1090, taylor.bennett@edelman.com
Free Bizzy App Puts Local Business Discovery Engine in Your Pocket
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Bizzy (http://www.bizzy.com), a community of like-minded shoppers and diners discovering great local businesses, today announced the availability of the Bizzy 2.0 app for iPhone and iPod touch. The free Bizzy mobile app makes it easy to discover new businesses based on available local deals or events near you and connect with your favorite local businesses to receive updates on timely specials, events and information.
"The hyper mobile and connected customer of today doesn't clip ads or print promotions received via email anymore," said Gadi Shamia, President and General Manager of Bizzy. "Bizzy aims to provide you with an accessible discovery engine - wherever you are and when you want it - so you can find a new lunch hot spot or discover special offers at a nearby boutique, whether you're sitting at your desk or on the go with your iPhone."
On Bizzy's iPhone app anyone can access the "What's Happening" list where they can browse and discover promotions at the local businesses in their area. View "What's Happening" on a map by turning the device in landscape view, where pins point out the locations of nearby special offers. The app also provides users the option to filter the types of offers they see by selecting categories such as Shopping, Beauty & Spas, Fashion and Restaurants. The app features a calendar, the option to search for your favorite business and enables sharing via Twitter and Facebook so users can share what they find with their friends.
Existing Bizzy users can sign in or new users can sign up right from the app using their Facebook login. Bizzy members can create a customized list of their favorite local businesses, called their Bizzy List, so they get updates only from the businesses they love. Once connected, Bizzy provides an easy way to discover additional local businesses by learning from the experiences of friends or people with similar tastes. From the home screen on the app users can navigate to send messages, access saved items in the clipbook and browse the business directory.
Bizzy App Features:
-- Discover new businesses in your neighborhood
-- Access hundreds of special offers and events
-- View "What's Happening" on a map by turning the device in landscape view
-- Comment on and share offers via email, Twitter and Facebook
-- Message business owners directly
-- Filter offers based on business category
-- Clipbook for bookmarking offers and events
Pricing & Availability:
Bizzy 2.0 for iPhone, iPod touch and is available for free in the Apple App Store.
About Bizzy
Bizzy is a free destination where businesses can offer their customers an exclusive place to connect and get more from the places they love. Customers can sign up to get exclusive offers, special invitations to events, tips and news updates from the businesses they choose, while discovering new businesses through people with similar tastes. Bizzy(TM) (http://www.bizzy.com) is currently available in New York, San Francisco and Dallas. For more information and to sign up please visit http://www.bizzy.com.
Konica Minolta Sensing Announces FD-Series Spectrodensitometers and COLIBRI® to Digital Imaging Market at Graph Expo 2010
RAMSEY, N.J., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Konica Minolta Sensing Americas, Inc. (KMSA), the worldwide leader in the industrial measurement of color, light and shape, announces its new FD-Series Spectrodensitometers and COLIBRI® color matching software to the digital imaging market at Graph Expo 2010 October 3-6, 2010 in Chicago's McCormick Convention Center.
KMSA will be co-exhibiting with its sister division Konica Minolta Business Solutions, manufacturers of the award winning line of bizhub multifunction products (MFPs) and bizhub PRO production printing systems at booth #2244.
Being showcased by KMSA will be its new FD-Series Spectrodensitometers which will come in 2 models, the FD-5 and FD-7. Both will be lightweight, handheld models that can measure density and color while taking into account the fluorescence* of the paper substrate.
The FD-5 and FD-7 each are equipped with Konica Minolta's original VFS (Virtual Fluorescence Standard) technology that enables color evaluation while taking into consideration the fluorescence of paper under Illuminant D50, the standard light source used by the printing industry for color evaluation. The VFS technology takes advantage of the optical, sensor, and software technology cultivated through Konica Minolta's long experience with color measuring instruments.
The FD-7 was developed to be the first spectrodensitometer on the market to meet the ISO 13655 M1 standard for fluorescence and color measurement. It also includes the industry's first Automatic Wavelength Compensation feature which automatically calibrates in the wavelength direction when white calibration is performed. Additionally the FD-5 and FD-7 are the world's lightest spectrodensitometers, weighing in at just under 1lb with its target mask attached.
COLIBRI® Color Matching software will also be on display alongside the FD-5 and FD-7. COLIBRI® is designed for easy, efficient recipe formulation and correction of opaque, translucent and transparent colors and inks. It provides a choice of recipes in seconds even for dark, metallic or saturated inks. In addition to calculating an extremely accurate match for color, the software also optimizes the pigment load, preventing over pigmentation in opaque inks. The unique template function allows the user to predefine the software features and screen layout exactly to their needs and applications guaranteeing seamless and fast handling. All functions which are not required are suppressed making the software suit the user's workflow while greatly simplifying operations. COLIBRI® has full enterprise network capability connecting an unlimited number of users worldwide via the web to share a central database. With advanced user management, security access rights and easy integration into Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools, and is secure and compliant with IT infrastructure requirements. Additionally COLIBRI® is modular build software that allows customized configurations to meet the individual needs of each customer.
FD-Series Spectrodensitometers will be available January 2011 and will be available for purchase from select graphic arts distributors and online at http://www.shopkmsa.com
Stay connected with Konica! Visit our social media sites Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
About Konica Minolta Sensing Americas, Inc
Konica Minolta Sensing Americas, Inc. (KMSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Holdings USA, Inc., is recognized as the international leader of industrial color, light and shape measurement. The company is responsible for product lines that continuously revolutionize how visual perception is measured by the world.
An industry pioneer, as well as innovator, Konica Minolta Sensing developed and introduced the first portable color measurement units to the world. Presently, their catalog contains instruments such as portable colorimeters as well as portable and benchtop spectrophotometers for color measurement, spectroradiometers and lux meters for light/display measurement and 3D non-contact scanners for shape measurement.
Thousands of companies across the globe choose to depend on Konica Minolta Sensing equipment when color, light or 3D measurement is vital to the manufacturing process. Konica Minolta Sensing's products can be found in a wide array of industries including food, plastics, paints, coatings, automotive, aerospace and cosmetics.
Konica Minolta Sensing's Ramsey, New Jersey corporate headquarters is fully equipped with a state of the art service center, 3D scanning laboratory, tech support center, and a focused sales force dedicated to both the North American and South American regions.
When it comes to color, light and shape measurement - the world looks to Konica Minolta.
Expanded Online Services to Launch with FINAL FANTASY XIV
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today a new online payment method for North America called Crysta®.
The first title to benefit from Crysta is the new Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game FINAL FANTASY® XIV that launches tomorrow with a special Collector's Edition. From tomorrow, September 22, players of FINAL FANTASY XIV who have registered for a Square Enix account and who are residing in North America will be able to use Crysta to pay for FINAL FANTASY XIV subscriptions and security tokens. New services, titles and additional territories for Crysta will be revealed in future announcements
"With Crysta, Square Enix continues our dedication to protecting and serving our customers," said Mike Fischer, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. "We're extremely pleased to be offering this new service in conjunction with the launch of FINAL FANTASY XIV, offering fans a secure and simple method to manage their subscriptions."
About Crysta
Crysta is a billing system provided by Square Enix, Inc. which can be utilized by creating a Square Enix account. Customers can pay for services and content by purchasing Crysta through the Square Enix Account Management System website. Crysta may only be used for products and services in the territory where it was purchased.
Crysta can be purchased in blocks of $5, $10, $20, $30, $50 and $100 using a variety of payment processes including credit, debit and pre-paid cards ($1 =100 Crysta). There will be a cap on the number of Crysta that users can hold in their account at any one time.
About Square Enix Accounts
Introduced in April of 2009, Square Enix accounts are a free service available to all customers through which Square Enix online content and services are authenticated and managed.
Security tokens, devices that provide one-time passwords for account logins, can be purchased by customers who desire added protection for their billing and account information. Square Enix accounts, in addition to currently providing access to FINAL FANTASY XIV, the SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS website, and PlayOnline, will be used for all future Square Enix, Inc. online content and services.
Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S. based wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., a holding company leading Square Enix Group. Square Enix, Inc. publishes and distributes entertainment content under the Square Enix Group's internationally renowned brands such as Square Enix, Eidos® and Taito® in the Americas. The Square Enix Group includes a global network of leading development studios located in North America, Europe and Japan. The Group boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 97 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 54 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and other well-established products and services.
DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. CRYSTA is a registered trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd. EIDOS and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks of Square Enix, Ltd. TAITO is a registered trademark of Taito Corporation.
CONTACT: Stanley Phan of Square Enix, Inc., +1-310-846-0400, na.pr@square-enix.com; or Dana Whitney of ONE PR Studio, +1-510-893-3271, Dana@oneprstudio.com, for Square Enix, Inc.
Qiao Xing Universal Announces Extension of Time for Qiao Xing Mobile to Respond to Its Proposal to Acquire All Outstanding Shares of Qiao Xing Mobile
HUIZHOU, China, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc. (Nasdaq: XING, the "Company" or "XING"), an emerging Chinese resources company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, today announced that it has determined to extend the time for the Special Committee (defined below) to respond to its offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd (NYSE: "QXM," or "QXMC") that it does not currently own, by way of a Scheme of Arrangement (the "Proposed Offer") under British Virgin Islands law to Wednesday, September 22, 2010. The Proposed Offer, if completed, will result in QXMC becoming a privately held company. The Company currently owns approximately 61.1% of the outstanding shares of QXMC.
The Company has proposed to issue 1.9 shares of its common stock plus US$0.80 in cash per share to shareholders of QXMC other than the Company (the "Minority Shareholders"). The Company believes that the Proposed Offer is fair and reasonable to the Minority Shareholders and in the best interests of the shareholders of both QXMC and the Company. The Company described the Proposed Offer in a letter dated September 8, 2010, addressed to a special committee of the board of directors of QXMC comprised of directors who are independent under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and are not affiliated with the Company (the "Special Committee").
The Company had asked the Special Committee to advise it whether they believe they will be prepared to recommend to the Minority Shareholders that they accept the Proposed Offer by Friday, September 17, 2010. The Special Committee has advised the Company that it is working expeditiously with its advisers to evaluate the Proposed Offer, but needs additional time before responding. The Company is pleased to hear that the Special Committee is continuing to evaluate the Proposed Offer and has determined to extend the deadline for the Special Committee to respond to the Proposed Offer until Wednesday, September 22, 2010. The Company believes that the Proposed Offer can be completed in a more expeditious and cost-effective manner with the Special Committee's cooperation. However, if the Special Committee fails to respond to the Proposed Offer by Wednesday, September 22, 2010 or is not prepared to recommend to the Minority Shareholders that they accept the Proposed Offer by that time, the Company intends to proceed to make the Proposed Offer directly to the Minority Shareholders.
Mr. Ruilin Wu, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We continue to firmly believe that this transaction is in the best interest of both companies' shareholders. We have confidence in the long-term prospects of the natural resources industry and are consolidating our resources to execute on our resources-focused strategy. We have achieved initial success in the resources industry with our Molybdenum mining business, which started commercial production in the second half of 2009. Our goal is to become a pure resource company with meaningful scale and we continue to evaluate opportunities to expand our mining resources in areas such as lead, zinc, copper and molybdenum."
About Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc.
Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc. is an emerging Chinese resources company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China. The Company was previously one of the leading players of telecommunication terminal products in China, but made the strategic decision to diversify into the resources industry in 2007. In April 2009, the Company acquired the 100% equity interest in China Luxuriance Jade Company, Ltd ("CLJC"). CLJC, through its wholly owned Chinese subsidiaries, owns the rights to receive the expected residual returns from Chifeng Haozhou Mining Co., Ltd. ("Haozhou Mining"), a large copper-molybdenum poly-metallic mining company in Inner Mongolia, China. Since then, the Company has further refined its strategy to become a pure resources company and is actively seeking additional acquisition targets in the resources industry.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is/are likely to," "may," "plan," "potential," "will" or other similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, statements about Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc.'s beliefs and expectations with respect to the Proposed Offer, including the possibility that it may make the Proposed Offer directly to the Minority Shareholders, and its ability to further its resource focused strategy, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Information regarding these factors is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. All information provided in this press release is as of September 17, 2010.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc. plans to file a Schedule 13E-3 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in connection with the Proposed Offer. The Schedule 13E-3 will contain additional information regarding the Proposed Offer, including, without limitation, information regarding the special meeting of shareholders of Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd that will be called to consider the Proposed Offer. The Schedule 13E-3 will contain important information about Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc., Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd, the Proposed Offer and related matters. Investors and shareholders should read the Schedule 13E-3 and the other documents filed with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Offer carefully before they make any decision with respect to the Proposed Offer. A copy of the Scheme of Arrangement with respect to the Proposed Offer will be an exhibit to the Schedule 13E-3. The Proposed Offer is expected to be exempt from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 Act by virtue of the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10); however, it is possible that the offer may change forms such that the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) may no longer be available. In such a case Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc. may file a Form F-4 with respect to the Proposed Offer.
The Schedule 13E-3 and all other documents filed with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Offer will be available when filed free of charge at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. Additionally, the Schedule 13E-3 and all other documents filed with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Offer will be made available to investors or shareholders free of charge by calling or writing to:
Rick Xiao, Vice
Company Contact: President
Qiao Xing Universal
Resources
Phone: +86-752-282-0268
Email: rick@qiaoxing.com
Filing under Rule 425 under
the Securities Act of 1933
Filing by: Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc.
Subject Company: Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd
SEC File No. of Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd: 001-33430
This press release is issued for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy any security, nor is it a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of the securities referred to in this press release in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Proposed Offer or securities to be issued in connection therewith, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, or the merits or fairness of the Proposed Offer. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Company Contact:
Qiao Xing Universal Resources CCG Investor Relations Inc.
Rick Xiao, Vice President Mr. Ed Job, CFA
Phone: +86-752-282-0268 Phone: +86-1381-699-7314 (Shanghai)
Email: rick@qiaoxing.com Email: ed.job@ccgir.com
Source: Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Inc.
CONTACT: Company Contact: Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Rick Xiao,
Vice President, +86-752-282-0268, rick@qiaoxing.com; or CCG Investor Relations
Inc., Mr. Ed Job, CFA, +86-1381-699-7314 (Shanghai), ed.job@ccgir.com
Softex Announces SecureDrive - A Comprehensive Data Protection Solution for Self-Encrypting Drives
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Softex Inc, the established market leader in Enterprise Single Sign On (ESSO) and Identity and Access Management (IAM) Solutions, announces SecureDrive, an addition to its security suite of products to take advantage of the full disk encryption security features of self-encrypting drives (SEDs).
Hard-drive vendors are now building self-encrypted drives (SEDs) to adhere to the OPAL standard defined by the Trusted Computing Group. OPAL hard drives eliminate data breaches as a result of stolen or lost PCs, by ensuring that every byte of data on the hard drive is encrypted using the hard drive's internal electronics.
Softex's SecureDrive product allows for easy set up and configuration of the encryption and access rights and allows for multiple authentications mechanisms such as windows password, fingerprint, etc. SecureDrive also allows administrators to remotely perform a secure erase of the data from the drive to simplify PC end of life processing. Seamless integration with the new Intel vPro Technology Remote Encryption SDK allows for PCs (powered on or off) to be remotely unlocked by the I/T administrator to perform management tasks such as software installation and patch management.
SecureDrive Client Edition manages encryption for standalone PCs, and SecureDrive Enterprise Edition allows centralized manageability including integration with the current OmniPass Management Console and third-party management consoles supporting Intel vPro Technology.
"Softex is excited to add SecureDrive to its existing security suite of products that takes full advantage of the encryption features of self-encrypted OPAL drives," said Vishal Jhaveri, Vice President, Marketing, Softex Incorporated.
For more information on the Softex SecureDrive solution, please visit www.softexinc.com/product/securedrive . For sales enquiries, please email sales@softexinc.com or call (512)452-8836 to speak to one of our sales representatives.
About Softex
Austin, TX-based Softex Inc was founded in 1992. The company is a leading provider of computer security products and services. Softex serves many of the top tier OEM companies, such as Fujitsu, Lenovo, Hewlett-Packard, Motion Computing, IBM, and Samsung as well as hardware vendors such as APC, Synaptics, Ratoc and more. Softex has expanded its international position with the 2006 opening of its Mumbai, India facility. For more information about Softex, visit http://www.softexinc.com.
Source: Softex Inc
CONTACT: Vishal Jhaveri of Softex Inc, +1-512-452-8836, ext. 263,
vishal_jhaveri@softexinc.com
Benefits of CyberKnife® Lung Radiosurgery Treatments Emphasized During Europe's Largest Congress in Radiation Oncology
Conference Presentations Highlight CyberKnife Motion Management Capabilities in Treatment of Lung Cancer
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that for the first time in Europe the company showcased its latest offering, the CyberKnife VSI System, at ESTRO 29; the Annual Congress of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in Barcelona, Spain. Also featured at this meeting were multiple presentations demonstrating this system's best-in-class motion management capabilities for lung cancer care.
During a well-attended symposium on motion management in lung radiosurgery chaired by Pr. Volker Budach, M.D., Ph.D., Charite - Universitatsmedizin, Berlin, physics and clinical findings were presented by representatives from two CyberKnife sites: Erasmus MC - Daniel den Hoed Cancer Centre in Rotterdam, Netherlands and Centre Antoine Lacassagne in Nice, France. Clinical research presented during the symposium demonstrated the benefits of CyberKnife radiosurgery in the treatment of primary early stage and metastatic lung cancer, including excellent disease control and preservation of quality of life. Enabling these outcomes are the CyberKnife System's unique motion management capabilities including the Synchrony® Respiratory Tracking System, which enables real-time tracking and correction for tumors that move with respiration.
"The Synchrony System is unique in its ability to correct for changes in a patient's pattern of breathing in real-time," said Dr. Joost Nuyttens, M.D., Ph.D., Erasmus MC - Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam. "This allows us to significantly reduce delivery margins while eliminating the need for abdominal compression or breath-holding techniques."
In addition, two CyberKnife users were recognized for outstanding research. The ACCURAY-ESTRO Award, which for the last several years has recognized radiotherapy professionals for original research in the field of high precision radiotherapy, was awarded to Dr. Joost Nuyttens (Rotterdam), for his lecture entitled "Outcome of Four-dimensional Stereotactic Radiotherapy for centrally located Lung Tumors". Within the National Young Scientist Session, the first prize was won by Jean-Emmanuel Bibault, Resident, Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille for his oral poster reporting on outcomes obtained using the fiducial-free Xsight® Lung Tracking System titled, "Early efficacy and toxicity evaluation of CyberKnife Xsight Lung."
"Both of these awards highlight industry-leading approaches to non-invasive lung cancer treatment using CyberKnife radiosurgery," said Vittorio Puppo, General Manager, Accuray EIMEA (Europe, India, Middle East, Asia). "We congratulate our productive and dedicated users on this fine honor and thank them for their important research contributions."
More than 20 posters and oral presentations during this year's ESTRO meeting highlighted the continued expansion of extracranial radiosurgery applications with the CyberKnife System, including presentations on lung, liver, prostate, spine, pancreas, and head and neck cancer.
About the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System
The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is the world's only robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body non-invasively. Using continual image guidance technology and computer controlled robotic mobility, the CyberKnife System automatically tracks, detects and corrects for tumor and patient movement in real-time throughout the treatment. This enables the CyberKnife System to deliver high-dose radiation with pinpoint precision, which minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue and eliminates the need for invasive head or body stabilization frames.
About Accuray
Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ:ARAY), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a global leader in the field of radiosurgery dedicated to providing an improved quality of life and a non-surgical treatment option for those diagnosed with cancer. Accuray develops and markets the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System, which extends the benefits of radiosurgery to include extracranial tumors, including those in the spine, lung, prostate, liver and pancreas. To date, the CyberKnife System has been used to treat more than 95,000 patients worldwide and currently more than 206 systems have been installed in leading hospitals in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.accuray.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
The foregoing may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with the medical device industry. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements relating to clinical efficacy, clinical benefits, clinical acceptance, clinical publications, and clinical results are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make include: market acceptance of products; competing products, the combination of our products with complementary technology; and other risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in our report on Form 10-K for the 2010 fiscal year which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August, 31, 2010. The Company's actual results of operations may differ significantly from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements as a result of these and other factors. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
Source: Accuray Incorporated
CONTACT: Sancie Nakarat, Manager, EU Marketing, + 33 (0) 6 81 36 84 34,
snakarat@accuray.com, or Stephanie Tomei, +1-408-789-4234, stomei@accuray.com,
both of Accuray Incorporated
New site uses personality profiling to connect like-minded travelers and locals for unique travel advice and experiences
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its mission to promote experiential travel, AFAR Media today announced AFAR Connect, a new website dedicated to connecting like-minded travelers and locals. AFAR Connect's proprietary Travel Personality technology creates a customized profile for each user, which ranges from the Florida-bound "Vacationer" to a "Discoverer" volunteering in Haiti. Users can ask questions about their upcoming travel plans and the site will connect the user directly with others who share their same travel profile and have intimate knowledge of the specific destination. The site is available today in private beta and will open to the general public later this fall.
AFAR Media is a two-year-old travel brand, dedicated to furthering the growth of experiential travel. The company and its founders believe individuals can enrich their lives by immersing themselves in different cultures, and that travel is at its best when travelers dig beneath the surface to uncover a truly authentic experience. AFAR Media's first venture is a bi-monthly magazine that embodies the spirit of experiential travel through compelling narratives and beautiful photography. The company published its first-anniversary issue in August.
"AFAR Connect is the next step in our goal of promoting experiential travel," said Greg Sullivan, co-founder and CEO of AFAR Media. "While the magazine is meant to inspire, AFAR Connect is a practical tool for travelers who want to pack their bags and experience a destination from a local's perspective. For me, the best travel advice comes from locals or from other travelers who share the same values and interests as I do. Until now there was no site that could help facilitate that exchange of information on a personalized one-to-one basis."
Travelers who visit the site for the first time take a short and easy quiz to determine their Travel Personality, which is based on a number of factors including preferred destinations and activities. AFAR Connect continues to learn about and evolve a traveler's personality through a user's posts, advice, questions and travel experiences. On the site, a user can ask a question about a place that he or she is interested in visiting and the site's technology will push the question to those users AFAR finds are best suited to answer based on their knowledge of the area and activity, as well as his or her Travel Personality. Those users are then able to engage in direct one-to-one communication that will enable the traveler to have a unique, personalized experience. The technology is the key differentiator, and ensures users receive travel recommendations from travelers who appreciate the same types of experiences as they do.
"Tour books are generalized for the masses and lead travelers to the same spots as all the other tourists, and your friends may have general, but not in-depth knowledge of a destination," said Derek Butcher, CTO of AFAR Media. "When looking for travel advice, it's not who you know, but who you should know that can make the difference in your experience. Our proprietary technology facilitates intimate knowledge sharing for the enrichment of travel experiences."
In addition, users can also comment on posts, 'follow' other members whose advice they value, share photos, and more. Users can create an AFAR-specific profile or log in using Facebook Connect, which will import information already stored in their Facebook profiles.
AFAR also encourages local businesses and travel brands to participate in the community. Businesses can set up profiles similar to travelers, and respond to questions, offer advice, and share information about their company. From airlines to snorkel shops, travel brands that participate in the spirit of the community can use the platform to drive customers to their front door.
Potential members can visit http://beta.afar.com/ to apply for the private beta. AFAR will send out invitations on a rolling basis over the next few weeks before opening the site to everyone later this fall. During the beta period, AFAR will continue to add new features to the site and will also solicit feedback from its base of beta users.
About AFAR Media
AFAR Media is a multi-platform brand focused on experiential travel. The company is headquartered in San Francisco with a dedicated global sales team in New York. The company's first product - a bi-monthly magazine focused on experiential travel - launched in August 2009. AFAR Connect, a website that connects like-minded travelers and locals, is currently in beta. The company also supports the AFAR Foundation, established to promote cross-cultural exchange and, through its Learning AFAR program, sponsor international travel by high-school students who otherwise could not afford to experience another part of the world. For more information, find AFAR at: afar.com/blog, twitter.com/afarmedia, or facebook.com/afarmedia.
Source: AFAR Media
CONTACT: Nick Leahy of Sparkpr, +1-415-846-1715, nick@sparkpr.com, for
AFAR Media
Lockheed Martin and ATK Athena Launch Vehicles Selected as a NASA Launch Services Provider
Athena to fill Critical Niche in Affordable Rockets for NASA Payloads
DENVER, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NASA announced yesterday that the Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) Athena Launch Vehicle Family has been selected to become part of the agency's Launch Services II contract.
Vehicles selected fulfill NASA's requirements for domestic launch services with a minimum performance capability of placing a 250-kilogram (550 pound) spacecraft in a 200-kilometer low Earth orbit (LEO) at an inclination of 28.5 degrees. Athena can carry payloads up to 1800 kilograms (3968 pounds) to LEO. Utilizing a large volume 92-inch diameter payload fairing, the vehicle accommodates a wide range of satellites and missions as well as lunar missions.
Under this contract the rockets could be launched from east and west coast launch sites, such as Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and Kodiak Launch Complex, Alaska.
"We are pleased to be able to make Athena available for important NASA missions," said John Karas, vice president and general manager, Human Space Flight, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "Athena combines both companies' heritage and expertise in launch systems, and makes key system upgrades to provide enhanced product and performance capabilities to meet NASA's needs."
In March, Lockheed Martin and ATK announced a strategic teaming agreement to offer launch services utilizing upgraded and modernized Athena rockets. Lockheed Martin provides mission management, payload integration, and launch operations, while ATK provides integrated vehicle propulsion, launch vehicle structures, booster integration and launch site operations.
These second-generation launch vehicles include the two-stage Athena Ic and three-stage Athena IIc launch vehicles. The rockets use the same flight-proven ATK CASTOR 120® for Stage I and Stage II. The modernized launch vehicles benefit from the latest technology of a newly-developed and ground-tested CASTOR® 30 for their upper stage, and Lockheed Martin's modernized electronic systems. Both solid rocket motors are in production and are being used on other launch vehicles in the industry.
"As the newest addition to NASA's cadre of launch vehicles, Athena offers low-risk, reliable launch services at an affordable price," said Scott Lehr, vice president and general manager, Strategic and Commercial Systems, ATK Aerospace Systems.
First-generation Athena I and II rockets became operational in 1995 and have flown seven times. Athena II launched the Lunar Prospector to the moon in 1998 and remains the only commercially developed launch vehicle to fly a lunar mission.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44.5 billion. News and information about Lockheed Martin can be found at http://www.lockheedmartin.com.
About ATK
ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 18,000 employees in 24 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com.
Media Contacts
--------------
Joan Underwood, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, office (303) 971-7398;
mobile (303) 594-7073;
e-mail joan.b.underwood@lmco.com
CONTACT: Joan Underwood of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, office,
+1-303-971-7398, mobile, +1-303-594-7073, joan.b.underwood@lmco.com; or Trina
Patterson of ATK, office, +1-801-251-2819, mobile, +1-801-699-2637,
trina.patterson@atk.com
VMWare is eying Novell's software division and with that comes the SuSE distribution. If VMWare does gobble it up, this would mean that it can have a total Linux solution for their platform without having additional pay layers (like Windows for some of their products). They can also use their own Linux platform for bare metal support instead of what they are doing now (which is Linux-like).
Novell really screwed up with its software products. They had the ability to really dominate many areas with Netware, but lack of effort made them waste away into nothing. Novell will probably continue to waste away after the sale and burn through the cash.
DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper -- Convert Blu-ray to Many Video/Audio Formats Playable on Many Devices
BEIJING, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Fengtao Software, a powerful and professional multimedia software provider in this line of business for more than 8 years, introduces DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper, a powerful Blu-ray converter and decrypter, specially designed for all Blu-ray movies and mobile device owners.
DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper is a flexible and multi-featured Blu-ray converter that can rip and convert Blu-ray to various video and audio files playable on next generation consoles like PS3 and Xbox 360, HD players like WD TV Live, or mobile devices like iPod, iPhone, iPad, etc. Users can freely customize the output as they like with its powerful editing tools. Besides the lightning speed (batch conversion + multi-core CPUs + the newest NVIDIA CUDA supported) and exceptional effects, it's very easy and friendly to use.
Highlight features of DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper:
1. Decrypt and rip any Blu-ray. Remove all known AACS copy protections, BD+ copy protections, region code, BD-Live, UOPs, MKB V18 and newest MKB V19 to rip any Blu-ray.
2. Multiple output files and devices supported. Convert Blu-ray to video formats like MKV, MP4, AVI, WMV, M2TS, etc. and to audio formats such as MP3, MP4, M4A, WMA, WAV, AC3 and DTS for playback on various devices like PS3, Xbox 360, iPod, iPad, iPhone, and more.
3. Super fast speed with high quality. Batch conversion, multi-core CUPs, and in particular, the newest NVIDIA CUDA are all supported to ensure super fast converting speed. And users will also be impressed by the high quality and outstanding effect of the output.
System Requirements:
Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000 (32-bit/64-bit)
Pentium II 500 MHz
512 MB of RAM
50 GB of Free Hard Disk Space
A Blu-ray Drive
Internet Connection
Fengtao Software is a powerful and professional multimedia provider which takes care of all your needs on DVD/Blu-ray copy/ripping/decryption, video conversion and file transfer, with its DVDFab products such as DVD Copy, Blu-ray Copy, DVD Ripper, Blu-ray Ripper, Video Converter, File Transfer, Passkey, HD Decrypter and Virtual Drive, etc. For more information, please visit http://www.dvdfab.com/.
For more information, please contact:
Fengtao Software Inc.
Frank Chang
Email: marketing@dvdfab.com
Phone: +86-10-6496-3112
Web: http://www.dvdfab.com/
Source: Fengtao Software, Inc.
CONTACT: Fengtao Software Inc.: Frank Chang, marketing@dvdfab.com,
+86-10-6496-3112