The Wait Is Almost Over for 2010's Biggest Entertainment Event: the Debut of 'Halo: Reach'
Millions of fans worldwide will usher in the launch of the highly anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive game tonight.
REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 13 -- The most anticipated entertainment event of the year is almost here. Starting at midnight tonight, millions of people around the world will embark on a mission of courage, sacrifice and valor in "Halo: Reach," the thrilling prequel to the iconic "Halo" trilogy that became a global entertainment phenomenon and defined a generation of gamers over the past decade.
Not since the debut of "Star Wars: Episode I" have fans been so excited to revisit a beloved franchise. Recently dubbed "a pop culture phenomenon" by Variety magazine and hailed as the No. 1 game series of all time,(1) the "Halo" franchise will once again make history with the launch of "Halo: Reach," which goes on sale at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 14 in more than 25 countries.
"When it comes to the size and scope of a franchise and especially the dedication of the fans, no game is bigger than 'Halo,'" said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios at Microsoft Corp. "With 'Halo: Reach,' we're delivering on our promise to redefine blockbuster entertainment experiences and ultimately help make this year the biggest ever in Xbox history."
To celebrate the launch, tens of thousands of retailers around the world are opening their doors at midnight exclusively to sell copies of "Halo: Reach," as well as "Halo: Reach" Xbox 360 consoles and accessories. Special marquee launch events are taking place in major cities around the world, including New York, further adding to the fervor surrounding the highly anticipated video game, which is expected to top all previous entertainment launches this year.
"Halo" fans in New York will be treated to a special performance by hip-hop star Kid Cudi at the new Best Buy Theater in Times Square. The New York launch event will be broadcast live in HD on Spike TV beginning at 11:33 p.m. EDT, and it will also air live on the Times Square MTV billboard.
"The launch of 'Halo: Reach' will likely rival some of the biggest entertainment launches of the year," said Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager of the home entertainment group at Best Buy. "What better way to celebrate this highly anticipated game than to partner with Microsoft and host the marquee event at the new Best Buy Theater in Times Square?"
"Halo: Reach" tells the tragic and heroic story of Noble Team, a group of Spartans, who through great sacrifice and courage, saved countless lives in the face of impossible odds. The planet Reach is humanity's last line of defense between the encroaching Covenant and their ultimate goal, the destruction of Earth. If it falls, humanity will be perched on the brink of destruction.
Published by Microsoft Game Studios, the "Halo" franchise of games is exclusive to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. As evidence of the game's highly anticipated release, more than 2.7 million players participated in the "Halo: Reach" multiplayer beta in May, making it the largest console video game beta test on record and more than triple the size of the historic "Halo 3" beta.
The "Halo" franchise is an award-winning collection of properties that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. Beginning with the original "Halo: Combat Evolved" (2001), the critically acclaimed and record-shattering series of games has since inspired multiple New York Times best-selling novels, comic books, action figures, apparel and more. To date, more than 34 million copies of "Halo" games have been sold worldwide, driving more than 3.3 billion hours of gameplay by people connected to Xbox LIVE.
Regional Launch Events and "Halo: Reach" Midnight Madness
In New York, Seattle and beyond, Microsoft and retail partners are hosting events to give fans a truly memorable "Halo: Reach" launch experience. The launch events will be held at the following venues:
-- New York: Best Buy Theater, 1515 Broadway (at 44th St.), New York,
N.Y. 10036 (event begins at 8 p.m. EDT, Sept. 13)
-- Seattle: Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and Hall of
Fame, 325 5th Ave. North, Seattle, Wash. 98109 (event begins at 6 p.m.
PDT, Sept. 13)
-- U.K.: GAME, Westfield Shopping Centre, London, W12 7GF (event begins
at 9:30 p.m. GMT, Sept. 13)
-- Norway: Spaceworld Megastore, Storgata 12, 0155 Oslo (event begins at
12:01 a.m. CET, Sept. 14)
-- Sweden: Webhallen, Sveavagen 39, 11134 Stockholm (event begins at 10
p.m. CET, Sept. 13)
In addition, retailers around the world will host midnight madness store openings to usher in the launch of "Halo: Reach," demonstrating the appeal of an entertainment phenomenon that has elevated video games into mainstream pop culture and permeated every corner of the globe.
Made exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, "Halo: Reach" will be made available in Standard, Limited and Legendary Editions. As a special bonus, fans can receive a token to unlock an exclusive in-game Spartan Recon Helmet, by picking up a copy of the game on launch day at North American retail stores, and outside North America by making a preorder reservation at participating retailers. More information can be found at http://www.xbox.com/haloreach.
About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment service for your Xbox 360, connecting you to an ever-expanding world of games, movies, TV, music, sports and social entertainment. Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on-demand library on any console, listen to millions of songs and share the fun with friends around the world. This holiday season, Xbox LIVE will come to Windows Phone 7 and put the power of connected entertainment in the palm of your hand. Xbox LIVE is also the exclusive home of controller-free online entertainment through Kinect, making your Xbox 360 more intuitive and interactive than ever before. With an active community of 25 million people across 26 countries, expanding to 35 this fall, Xbox LIVE, together with Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7, provides you with instant access to the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, wherever you are. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live.
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system. This November, with the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play -- no controller required. Xbox 360 is also home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on-demand library of music, standard- and high-definition movies, TV shows and digital games, all in one place. The entertainment center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with the leading social network of 25 million Xbox LIVE members to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
(1) According to a reader poll by Guinness World Records.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Additional materials, press only: To access the New York launch event photos and b-roll, check the Edelman FTP on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. PDT. Please do not publish this URL. /CONTACT: Angella Wong, +1-323-202-1045, angella.wong@edelman.com; or Ken Zhang, +1-206-505-6565, ken.zhang@edelman.com, both of Edelman for Microsoft Corp.
Reynolds and Reynolds Delivers New, Advanced Tool to Help Dealers Manage Online Specials on Dealership Websites
Telephone Call Tracking Option Also Added to Help Dealers More Accurately Measure Value of Their Websites in Generating Sales Leads
DAYTON, Ohio, Sept. 13 -- The Reynolds and Reynolds Company today announced the development of a new, advanced Specials Administration tool that can be used by dealership personnel to manage online specials on dealership websites from Reynolds Web Solutions.
"The 'Specials' page on a dealership website is the second most-visited page by consumers," said Trey Hiers, vice president, Corporate Marketing, for Reynolds. "Dealers recognize that it's critical to keep this page fresh and up-to-date in order to present consumers with the most attractive and current offers available at the dealership. With the enhancements we've made to the Specials Administration tool, we're enabling dealers to make changes to their online specials page faster, easier, and more conveniently than ever before. This frees dealership personnel to focus more on the customers who want to take advantage of those specials."
The first phase of the newly released Specials Administration tool offers an improved look-and-feel for more intuitive use, plus added usability features for dealer personnel.
Call Tracking on Dealer Websites
Dealers with websites from Reynolds now can opt to display a unique toll-free number on their websites - at no charge to the dealer - to help capture which calls were placed by consumers to the dealership after browsing the dealer's website. The call-tracking numbers are provided by Callbright, a leader in web-based call management systems to enhance customer relationships and streamline advertising efforts.
"In our experience, for every consumer lead that comes in from a Web form on the dealership's website, the dealer receives approximately three to four telephone calls from consumers," said Hiers. "Now, with the addition of a free Callbright call-tracking number on the dealer's website, the dealer will be able to know specifically the number of phone calls generated by their site and more accurately measure the value they are getting from their online presence."
Hiers concluded, "Over the past 18 months, we have delivered a steady stream of improvements in our dealership websites, as well as in the tools dealers use to manage their sites. All of these enhancements have a single goal - to help dealers attract more customers to their products and services to increase a dealership's overall sales and profitability."
Reynolds and Reynolds is the automotive industry's leading provider of automobile dealership software, services, and forms to help dealerships improve business results. The company is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with major operations in Houston and College Station, Texas, and Celina, Ohio. (http://www.reyrey.com)
Source: The Reynolds and Reynolds Company
CONTACT: Media, Thomas Schwartz, +1-937-485-8109 (office),
+1-937-269-9569 (mobile), Thomas_Schwartz@reyrey.com
Alcatel-Lucent Enables the Deployment of 1Gbps Access Networks Across Three Continents
Enlarging its GPON ONT portfolio to meet customers' needs for Gigabit broadband and operational efficiencies
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 13 -- FTTH Council North America -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announces that its gigabit passive optical network (GPON) product portfolio is a driving force behind the world's first commercial 1Gbps access networks - enabling service providers across Asia, Europe and North America to deliver to residential and business customers broadband access speeds that revolutionize the way people live and work. Determined to continue to lead this effort, Alcatel-Lucent today enlarges its portfolio of GPON-based optical network terminals (ONTs) with five new models - supporting the delivery of 1Gbps services.
Having access to 1Gbps broadband - at home or in the office - is no longer a distant future. With bandwidth requirements growing at an average rate of 20% per year, service providers around the world have not only started to prepare their networks for the delivery of the next generation of fixed broadband services, but are actually commercially offering 1Gbps to their customers already. Innovators in this domain - all powered by Alcatel-Lucent's GPON equipment - include EPB in Chattanooga, Tenn (U.S.), Hong Kong Broadband Network Ltd and ZON Multimedia [Portugal]).
Alcatel-Lucent's enlarged GPON ONT portfolio includes additional 1Gbps-capable ONTs, enabling service providers to rapidly boost network speeds (up to 1Gbps) as their customers' appetite for higher-bandwidth services increases. Alcatel-Lucent's latest ONT models include, amongst others, an HPNA ONT, a 'mini' ONT and an MDU ONT -
-- The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HPNA)-certified ONT supports
the delivery of 1Gbps broadband through two gigabit Ethernet ports,
and significantly speeds up fiber-to-the-home installation times
because the existing home wiring (coax) can be re-used, rather than
having to run new CAT5 Ethernet wires.
-- The 'mini' ONT is slightly larger than a matchbox, and - as such - one
of the smallest ONTs in the marketplace.
-- The multi-dwelling unit (MDU) ONT is unique because it has 16 VDSL2
ports - making it the ideal solution for fiber deployments in existing
MDUs, where re-using the existing in-building copper is often the
quickest and most cost-effective approach to deliver very high
bandwidths to end-users.
"With our recent introduction of the 1 gigabit per second product, Chattanooga residents - both urban and rural - have access to Internet speeds over 200 times the national average," says David Wade, Executive Vice President and COO of EPB in Chattanooga, Tennessee. "This is the fastest Internet offer to a city in the U.S. and Alcatel-Lucent, through their expertise and incredible technology like the HPNA-ONT, has been an important partner in making this advancement a reality."
"Alcatel-Lucent continues to encourage the adoption of fiber-to-the-home with solutions that are tuned to the specific needs of every individual service provider - be it 'traditional' telcos, utilities, municipalities and even cable operators," says Dave Geary, heading Alcatel-Lucent's wireline activities. "For this, we continue to expand what is already the largest GPON ONT portfolio in the industry - to meet our customers' aggressive go-to-market objectives, and supporting the world's first commercial 1Gbps service offerings."
Alcatel-Lucent is the worldwide leader in fixed broadband access, supporting the largest mass deployments of video, voice and data services. Today, one out of three fixed broadband subscribers around the world is served through an access network provided by Alcatel-Lucent. Alcatel-Lucent is currently involved in over 100 FTTH projects worldwide, more than 85 of which are with GPON.
About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted transformation partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries such as defense, energy, healthcare, transportation, and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP and optics technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 15.2 billion in 2009 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.
Source: Alcatel-Lucent
CONTACT: Alcatel-Lucent Press Contacts: Peter Benedict, + 33 (0)1 40 76
50 84, peter.benedict@alcatel-lucent.com, or Wim Van Daele, + 32 3 240 46
01,wim.van_daele@alcatel-lucent.com; or Alcatel-Lucent Investor Relations,
Frank Maccary, 33 (0) 140761211, frank.maccary@alcatel-lucent.com, Tom
Bevilacqua, + 1-908-582-7998, bevilacqua@alcatel-lucent.com, Tony Lucido,
+1-908-582-5722, tony.lucido@alcatel-lucent.com, Don Sweeney, +1-908-582-6153,
dsweeney@alcatel-lucent.com
Chattanooga Tenn Announces Only 1 Gigabit Broadband Service in U.S. for Both Residential and Business Customers
EPB leveraging Alcatel-Lucent's GPON solution to offer the nation's fastest broadband service
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. and PARIS, Sept. 13 -- EPB Fiber Optics, Chattanooga's municipally-owned fiber-to-the-premises network, and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced the only 1 Gigabit broadband service in the United States for residential and business customers is now available citywide in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
EPB operates a high-speed optical fiber network that today offers services to over 100,000 homes and businesses in the metropolitan Chattanooga and surrounding rural areas. With the new 1 Gigabit symmetrical service offering, Chattanooga offers the fastest broadband service in the country, and is tied with a handful of international communities for fastest in the world.
Powered by Alcatel-Lucent's gigabit passive optical network (GPON) technology, Chattanooga's new network will accommodate speeds of up to 1 gigabit-per-second (Gbps), which is more than 200 times faster than the current national download speed average. Every home and business within EPB's 600 square-mile, nine-county service area will be able to access the network, making it the most comprehensive product of its kind in the United States.
"Chattanooga is light years ahead when it comes to providing ultra fast broadband," said Tom Edd Wilson, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. "By offering the fastest available speeds to a whole community comprising a diverse population living in both urban and rural areas, Chattanooga has become the living laboratory for today's innovations and tomorrow's companies."
With EPB and Alcatel-Lucent's announcement of 1 Gigabit service, Chattanooga is now 10 times faster and 10 years ahead of FCC's National Broadband Plan calling for 100 Mbps speeds for 260 million households nationwide by 2020.
"This groundbreaking commercial offering creates tremendous opportunities for residents and businesses in the region," said Harold DePriest, President and CEO of EPB. "With access to the fastest broadband speeds in the United States, Chattanooga represents the next frontier in communications technology, with limitless potential for new applications for education, entertainment, healthcare, industrial development and more."
"EPB has long been a pioneer in deploying fiber solutions, putting the Chattanooga community at the forefront of high-speed, high-tech communications," said Robert Vrij, President of Alcatel-Lucent's Americas region. "Alcatel-Lucent has been part of EPB's vision to bring next-generation services and applications to Chattanooga from the beginning. That collaboration speaks volumes about the confidence they have in our technology, our expertise, our global leadership and our ability to help create one of the world's most advanced high-speed broadband access networks."
Alcatel-Lucent is the worldwide leader in fixed broadband access, supporting the largest mass deployments of video, voice and data services. Today, one out of three fixed broadband subscribers around the world is served through an access network provided by Alcatel-Lucent. Alcatel-Lucent is involved in more than 100 fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) projects worldwide, more than 85 of which are based on GPON technology. Alcatel-Lucent is the driving force behind the first commercial PON-based 1 Gbps-offerings in the world - i.e. EPB Chattanooga (US), Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited and ZON Multimedia (Portugal).
EPB, Chattanooga's municipal electric utility, is using its fiber-to-the-home network as the backbone for its Smart Grid which will provide increased power reliability, greater operational efficiency and more power management tools for the utility's electric customers.
In addition to its Smart Grid functions, the fiber-to-the-home network can also provide communications services to business and residential customers, including very high-speed Internet access, (high-definition) IPTV and phone services.
For the new EPB network, Alcatel-Lucent has deployed its 7342 Intelligent Services Access Manager Fiber-to-the-User (ISAM FTTU), 5520 Access Management System (AMS), 7750 Service Router, 7450 Ethernet Service Switch, 5620 Service Aware Manager and 5750 Subscriber Services Controller, along with the OmniSwitch 6850 Ethernet LAN switch. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent also is providing a complete portfolio of professional and consulting services.
About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted transformation partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries such as defense, energy, healthcare, transportation, and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP and optics technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 15.2 billion in 2009 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.
Synaptics Announces TouchPad(TM) Solution for Philips Remote Control Concept
Synaptics TouchPad and Gesture Solutions Simplify Interaction on Remote Control Devices
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 13 -- Synaptics Inc. (NASDAQ: SYNA), a leading developer of human interface solutions for mobile computing, communications, and entertainment devices, today announced that its capacitive TouchPad(TM) solution is featured in the Philips Dual remote control, that was introduced at IBC 2010 in Amsterdam.
To develop their next-generation remote, Philips Home Control combined a variety of leading-edge innovations including ZigBee® RF4CE technology (Radio Frequency for Consumer Electronics), a QWERTY keyboard, and Synaptics' TouchPad solution. The 2-inch diagonal TouchPad recognizes gestures such as pointer navigation, flick, and tap for simplified navigation of digital entertainment. Users can push down on the touchpad surface to easily make selections on their home entertainment system.
"We are proud to showcase our latest innovations for the next-generation remote control devices," says Rick Siu, director product management, Philips Home Control. "Leading technologies including Synaptics TouchPad solution allow multiple-system operators (MSOs), digital TV manufacturers, and digital media adapter manufacturers to enhance the remote control interface and capitalize on users' access to rich content."
"Synaptics' reliable and innovative sensing solutions enable our customers to differentiate and raise the bar for the ten-foot entertainment experience," says Ted Theocheung, Synaptics vice president of PC & digital home solutions. "The industry-leading TouchPad family includes several recent advances such as reliable wireless with RF4CE support, specialized usage models for gesture and touch capabilities designed for thumbs, and ClickPad features for enabling selection without the need for additional buttons."
Synaptics (NASDAQ:SYNA) is a leading developer of human interface solutions for the mobile computing, communications, and entertainment industries. The company creates interface solutions for a variety of devices including notebook PCs, PC peripherals, digital music players, and mobile phones. The TouchPad(TM), Synaptics' flagship product, is integrated into a majority of today's notebook computers. Consumer electronics and computing manufacturers use Synaptics' solutions to enrich the interaction between humans and intelligent devices through improved usability, functionality, and industrial design. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. http://www.synaptics.com
About Philips Home Control
Philips Home Control, a global leader in remote control technology, manufactures remotes for OEMs. Philips has developed many of the industry's standard protocols (IR or RF) and offers an extensive portfolio of patents that improve the performance, ease-of-use and functionality of remote controls. Offering complete innovative solutions for all possible applications & segments, ranging from IPTV to cable & satellite, consumer electronics, home automation and pc-based applications, Philips prides itself with the broadest worldwide customer base. Whether choosing a standard solution or a customized remote that matches your product or brand identity, Philips is the right partner. http://www.remotecontrol.philips.com
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE:PHG)(NYSE:AEX:)(NYSE:PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 23 billion in 2009, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at http://www.philips.com/newscenter.
Synaptics, ClearPad, TouchPad, and the Synaptics logo are trademarks of Synaptics in the United States and/or other countries.
CONTACT: Nick Rottler of Synaptics, +1-408-454-5388,
nrottler@synaptics.com; or Greg Wood of Edelman, +1-650-762-2838,
greg.wood@edelman.com, for Synaptics Inc.
National Semiconductor Launches New WEBENCH FPGA Power Architect
New Tool Accelerates Design of Multiple Load Power Supplies for Altera, Xilinx FPGAs
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 13 -- National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM) today introduced WEBENCH® FPGA Power Architect, the industry's first design tool to model and optimize power supplies for FPGAs in minutes.
WEBENCH FPGA Power Architect incorporates the detailed supply requirements of more than 130 of the newest FPGA devices from Altera Corp. and Xilinx, Inc. Modern power supply systems, including advanced FPGAs, are complex to design, often incorporating multiple unique loads to drive precisely specified voltages. In addition to the required voltages and currents, each load may have specific limitations for ripple, noise filtering, synchronization and separation of supplies, as well as start up definitions (soft start). The power supply designs delivered by WEBENCH incorporate comprehensive power requirements published by the FPGA manufacturers, giving the designer confidence that their power supplies will meet these constraints while saving critical time in the process. Watch a video demonstration at http://bit.ly/videoFPGA.
"Xilinx has made a considerable investment in simplifying the power supply requirements and the power distribution system requirements for our FPGAs," said Jameel Hussein, technical marketing manager for Power and Configuration Solutions at Xilinx. "With the help of National Semiconductor's WEBENCH FPGA Power Architect, design workload is further reduced to allow the customer to get to market faster and save cost on board-spins and debugging."
To begin a design, the designer selects an advanced FPGA from Altera or Xilinx and the tool automatically populates the unique power requirements, identifying core and I/O options for every potential load of that array. Once tuned by the designer, WEBENCH collects all the loads and creates multiple power supply architectures as options for driving the FPGA and the total system.
"A real system always includes much more than just the FPGA. We are making it easy for designers to quickly model their complete system power needs and include the unique requirements of their FPGA with confidence," said Phil Gibson, vice president of Technical Sales Tools at National Semiconductor. "We are helping them avoid mistakes and save countless hours of research and development time."
The power supply may involve one or more intermediate voltage rails between the input supply and the point-of-load regulators. The designer can tune the recommended power supply with the turn of a dial, reducing size, increasing efficiency or lowering complete system cost in seconds. The designer can also order components for prototyping, share the complete system with others, or easily print a complete project report including schematics, bill of materials (BOM) and performance characteristics.
National Semiconductor's award-winning online and offline WEBENCH power, lighting, and sensing application design tools are used by expert and novice electronic and mechanical engineers worldwide to create over 400,000 electronic designs each year. Available in English, Japanese and Simplified Chinese languages, the cost-free tools enable the design engineer to simultaneously compare the performance of different implementations across vendors and devices in multiple circuit requirements in one easy-to-use application. To begin a design, visit http://www.national.com/webench.
About National Semiconductor
Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National Semiconductor is a leader in power management technology. Known for its easy-to-use analog integrated circuits and world-class supply chain, National's high-performance analog products enable its customers' systems to be more energy efficient. Additional information is available at http://www.national.com.
National Semiconductor and WEBENCH are registered trademarks of National Semiconductor Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Media Contact
Gayle Bullock
(408) 721-2033
gayle.bullock@nsc.com
SHOP.COM Teams with WhiteFence to Enrich Current Product Lines with New Services
Sister Site ShopCompanion.com Launches Consumer Services Tab
MONTEREY, Calif., Sept. 13 -- SHOP.COM, a leading comparison shopping search engine, today announced its partnership with another industry leader - WhiteFence, a popular web site that helps consumers save money by connecting them to the best deals online for a variety of household services.
Through this partnership, SHOP.COM will continue to renew its mission of providing a comprehensive shopping experience for its customers by adding an extensive assortment of valuable services to its existing repertoire of products, store listings, social media tools, and blogs.
In addition to searching SHOP.COM's sister site ShopCompanion for store listings, shoppers will now be able to search for the best deals on phone, Internet, television, electricity, and natural gas services by using a dedicated "Services" tab at the top of the page, which will lead them to the WhiteFence site.
In concert with this layout change to the ShopCompanion web site, WhiteFence has also added a shopping feature under its "More" tab at the top of its home page. This feature will enable WhiteFence customers to conveniently enjoy the benefits of shopping products from SHOP.COM's top categories like small appliances, clothes, shoes, and electronics in addition to the services they are already searching for on the site.
"Our customers are looking for great deals for every aspect of their lives. That's why we knew that partnering with SHOP.COM, a business dedicated to delivering the best deals on the best brands and products, would round out our existing offerings and be a natural fit for us. We are excited to add even more value to our business, especially right before the holidays when customers really need to save money," said Chip Smith, Chief Marketing Officer for WhiteFence.
"Shoppers who are looking for great deals on products and the ability to compare them from different stores are naturally going to want to do that with services like phone and utilities. We're confident that WhiteFence's offerings will help enrich our site to make it a one-stop shop for everything customers are looking for - which, in this economy, is priceless," said Mondy Beller, Senior Vice President of Marketing for SHOP.COM.
About SHOP.COM
SHOP.COM(TM) is the comparison shopping engine designed to meet the shopping needs of women and the business needs of merchants. Leveraging the features of its patented OneCart® along with extensive partner store integration, SHOP.COM helps customers "Shop Smart, Save Big" across thousands of online stores. The company also publishes ShopCompanion(TM), a comprehensive directory of online and brick-and-mortar stores, as well as The Shopping Vine(TM), a shopping blog network. SHOP.COM is a privately-held California-based company which also operates in the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit http://www.shop.com/corporate.
About WhiteFence
WhiteFence is a free service that helps people find the best deals on phone, Internet, television, electricity, natural gas and other home services. By simply entering a street address into the secure site, people looking to save money or start new service can find the most comprehensive list of plans available for their specific address from over 400 nationally recognized partners. As a trusted home service shopping source for 24 million people annually, WhiteFence makes it easy to establish bundled services directly on the site in a few simple steps.
Texas Instruments op amp delivers industry's lowest distortion for driving high-speed 16-bit ADCs
New op amp maximizes performance across the signal chain for wireless broadband communications, high-speed data acquisition
DALLAS, Sept. 13 -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE:TXN) today introduced a high-linearity, low-distortion, fully-differential operational amplifier (op amp) that delivers 16-bit full-scale precision up to 200 MHz IF to maximize signal chain performance for wireless base stations, high-speed data acquisition, test and measurement, medical imaging and defense applications. The THS770006 op amp has an output third-order intercept (OIP3) of 48 dBm and the lowest distortion in its class, with a third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD3) of -107 dBc at 100 MHz, at least 14 dB better than competitive amplifiers. For more information and to order samples of the THS770006 op amp, visit http://www.ti.com/ths770006-pr.
"The advancements we've made in the performance of the THS770006 op amp will enable greater levels of receiver dynamic range in wireless systems - a requirement for base station manufacturers to meet the adjacent channel rejection and blocker requirements of next-generation networks," said Steve Anderson, senior vice president of TI's High-Performance Analog business unit. "Our customers can have confidence knowing the THS770006 op amp will help them realize the full potential of their high-speed signal chain."
Key features and benefits
-- Best-in-class distortion and high linearity help designers meet the
stringent sensitivity and bit-error rate (BER) requirements of
emerging wireless standards, such as LTE and multi-carrier GSM.
-- Seamlessly drives TI high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) -
including the new 16-bit, 130-MSPS ADS5493 - with full-scale, 3-V
peak-to-peak dynamic range for optimal design flexibility and
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance.
-- Provides fast overdrive recovery of 7.5 ns (maximum) to help minimize
the impact of lost or erroneous data from jammers and blockers,
resulting in improved wireless receiver signal integrity.
-- Speeds time-to-market when combined with TI's complete high-speed
signal chain portfolio - including high-performance multicore
C6000(TM) DSPs, high-speed ADCs like the ADS5493 and ADS4149, and
clocking solutions such as the CDCE72010 - for wireless base stations,
high speed data acquisition, test and measurement, medical imaging and
defense applications.
Availability and pricing
The THS770006 op amp is available now in a 4-mm x 4-mm QFN-24 package with a thermal pad. Pricing starts at $4.10 in 1,000-unit quantities. The THS770006EVM evaluation module is also available now, priced at $99.
Samples of the ADS5493 ADC are available today. The ADS5493EVM evaluation module is also available now, priced at $299. Production quantities of the ADS5493 ADC will be available in first quarter 2011 in a 7-mm x 7-mm QFN-48 package with a thermal pad. Pricing will start at $65 in 1,000-unit quantities.
Learn more about TI's signal chain portfolio by visiting the links below:
-- Order THS770006 op amp evaluation modules and samples: http://www.ti.com/ths770006-pr
-- Download TI's new signal chain selection guide: http://www.ti.com/signalchain-pr
-- Download TI's updated communications infrastructure solutions guide: http://www.ti.com/ciguide
-- Learn about "Input impedance matching with fully differential
amplifiers" by viewing Jim Karki's short video at http://www.ti.com/inputimpedance-pr
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 30 countries. For more information, go to http://www.ti.com.
Trademarks
All registered trademarks and other trademarks belong to their respective owners.
CONTACT: Kristina Arnold of Texas Instruments, +1-214-567-8480,
karnold@ti.com; or Laura Babbili of GolinHarris, +1-972-341-2505,
lbabbili@golinharris.com
AddressBookONE Unites Scattered Contact Data from LinkedIn, Plaxo, Gmail, Facebook and More
Toffa International's newest cloud-based synchronization solution is launched
WOLVERHAMPTON, England, Sept. 13 -- From Facebook to Twitter, Plaxo to LinkedIn, there is no shortage of tech-smart solutions for greater access to important contacts. However, despite such technology solving various problems, many others can be created in the process. With contact information spread out across phones, PDAs, numerous networking websites, desktop software programs and more, accessing contacts can be a daunting task. To simplify the task and harness the power of networking technologies, Toffa International (http://www.toffa.com/), a global leader in synchronization solutions, has developed AddressBookONE (http://www.addressbookone.com/). This new, cloud-based solution unites scattered contact and networking data into one simple, clean interface.
"Demand from pre-registered users has been very strong and shows people are eager to get their hands on AddressBookONE," says Chris Jukes, Toffa's CEO. "We are now ready to launch what we believe could completely change how business professionals and even families access contacts. It's a contact portal that brings together the people in your day-to-day life, all in one place."
AddressBookONE pulls information from multiple sources including Gmail, Exchange, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, GroupWise and Plaxo, among others, overlaying the data from each resource to provide a comprehensive view of each contacts data. Upgrading to a Premium account allows you to synchronize your mobile phone to AddressBookONE, enabling you to manage your phone contacts alongside all other contact data as well as offering a full backup and restore.
Typically a contact may display an email address from Gmail, a phone number from a mobile phone, an organization from LinkedIn, a postal address from Plaxo and a photo from Facebook.
"The buzz about AddressBookONE is that it's intelligent, yet not intimidating," Jukes says. "Users can configure personal preferences and menu options, and we offer smart context-sensitive menus as well. With AddressBookONE, you receive an experience that's user-friendly and relevant, too."
For 14 years, Toffa has been a leading developer of synchronization software for mobile devices. Its GooSync service, released in February 2007, is now the market leader for Google synchronization. Toffa is a proud partner of Novell®, which certified Toffa's SyncWise and SyncWisePro under its respected YES, Tested and Approved program. Toffa's software provides comprehensive synchronization facilities between Novell® GroupWise® and any Palm OS® connected organizers. Products now in the design stage at Toffa include further iPhone and Android applications.
Toffa continually provides a highly personal and direct service to customers, representing countless sectors and industries but sharing the common need for efficient, reliable communications. Learn more about Toffa International at http://www.toffa.com/.
Toffa International - Authoring Superior Solutions
Contact:
Jay Lloyd - Marketing Executive
Toffa International
T: +44 1902 650025
sales@toffa.com
Twitter: @addressbookONE
Skype: jaylloyd http://blog.addressbookone.com/
This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com/.
New telematics service offers comprehensive vehicle intelligence
ATLANTA, Sept. 13 -- Numerex Corp. (NASDAQ:NMRX), a leading single source provider of secure machine-to-machine (M2M) products and services, today unveiled its AccelaView(TM) application to meet the core needs of the insurance industry and other customers. This scalable and customizable telematics platform enables customers to build their own vehicle monitoring programs.
Combining wireless technology with an easy-to-use device, AccelaView enables the design of customized programs to assess driver risk through Numerex FAST(TM), an Open Platform as a Service built for scalable data requirements. With the use of telematics, a wide range of businesses from fleet owners to insurance companies can accurately capture meaningful information from a vehicle to determine driving patterns.
"Based on customer feedback, Numerex proactively developed AccelaView to improve its customers' telematics applications by adding intelligence capabilities to basic tracking," said Stratton Nicolaides, chairman and CEO of Numerex. "This application not only provides a more dynamic way of offering programs for safe drivers, but also taps into the growing demand of 'green' initiatives."
Key features of the AccelaView application include:
-- A driver scorecard based on weighted scoring of such factors as
excessive speed, acceleration, deceleration, nighttime driving, miles
driven and total driving time;
-- Tracking capabilities for the end-user to track vehicle location
anywhere and anytime, if a GPS-enabled device is being used; and
-- Customizable settings to send real-time alerts of vehicle status to
end-users.
In addition to providing the software application, Numerex will assist insurance clients and others with fulfilling the device; selecting the wireless network; and integrating the Numerex FAST application to clients' existing enterprise systems for seamless automation and scaling of the program.
According to the recent ABI Research Cellular M2M Markets Report, traction is increasing for offerings linked to driver characteristics. "Telematics has the potential to be a game changer for consumers becoming increasingly aware of the safety and environmental benefits," said Dominique Bonte, practice director of telematics and navigation at ABI Research. "Not only do programs linked to actual driver behavior offered by insurance companies reward mindful, fuel-conscious drivers with low premiums, but regulators like the 'green' aspect of usage-based insurance products helping reduce emissions, which is quickly becoming a popular feature among drivers in general."
The AccelaView application will be featured at the Insurance Telematics 2010 conference and exhibition in Chicago from Sep. 13-14, 2010, where Rick Burtner, SVP of Numerex and GM of its LBS Group will be participating in a panel discussion around new technologies for the insurance industry. For more information about AccelaView please visit the Numerex booth (#14) at Insurance Telematics 2010.
About Numerex
Numerex Corp (NASDAQ:NMRX) is the single source machine-to-machine (M2M) product and service provider to some of the world's largest organizations delivering the foundational components of device, network, and application, used by its customers in the development of their M2M solutions. Customers typically subscribe to Numerex network and application services that are delivered through its hosted platforms. The Company's offerings and expertise enable its customers to efficiently build reliable and secure solutions that are used to monitor and manage assets remotely whenever and wherever needed, while simplifying and speeding up development and deployment through streamlined business processes and comprehensive integration services. Numerex DNA® offerings include hardware Devices, Network services, and software Applications that are delivered through its Numerex FAST(TM) (Foundation Application Software Technology) platform. Numerex is ISO 27001 information security certified. "Machines Trust Us®" represents the Company's focus on M2M data security, service reliability, and round-the-clock support of its customers' M2M solutions. For additional information, please visit http://www.numerex.com.
Statements contained in this press release concerning Numerex that are not historical fact are "forward-looking" statements and involve important risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties, which are detailed in Numerex's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause Numerex's results to differ materially from current expectations as expressed in this press release. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Numerex assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements.
Numerex Corp Contact:
Alan Catherall
770 485-2527
Investor Relations Contact:
Seth Potter
646 277-1230
Verizon Global Wholesale Streamlines Intervals for Special Access Services
Standardization and Reduction of Intervals Mean Quicker Service Delivery
GRAPEVINE, Texas, Sept. 13 -- Verizon Global Wholesale is standardizing - and in many cases, reducing - the provisioning intervals for all DS1 and DS3 circuits the company offers under its special access tariffs in 12 states and the District of Columbia.
The new intervals are seven days for DS1s and eight days for DS3s and go into effect Sept. 18.
Not only do these standardized intervals provide wholesale customers with greater uniformity for their own service offerings, most intervals have been reduced - some up to 33 percent - enabling customers to receive these services more quickly (when facilities are available) than before.
Customers who require shorter provisioning intervals for DS1s and DS3s will now be able to significantly reduce the number of expedite requests they make, and thus reduce the associated costs. Expedites allow customers to order services at shorter than standard intervals, but there is an additional charge.
In addition to the District of Columbia, the new provisioning intervals will be available in Verizon's service territory in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.
"Wholesale customers asked for standard intervals and we're delivering them," said Sean Sullivan, marketing director for Verizon Global Wholesale. "Private line services such as DS1s and DS3s have long been mainstay services for many wholesale customers, so standardization will make the process easier for them. The shorter intervals will allow customers to strengthen their competitive edge when delivering services to the market."
Verizon offers numerous pricing plans for special access DS1s and DS3s, enabling customers to select the plan that best satisfies their business needs. These competitive pricing plans are based on volumes, terms and other specifics, providing flexibility for wholesale customers of all sizes.
The special access services also come with choices of service level agreements (SLAs) - ranging from basic SLAs to the addition of optional network performance metrics.
"These latest improvements are just one more way we strive to satisfy the needs of our wholesale customers," said Sullivan. "Verizon's superior network, premier products and global reach combined with our skills, knowledge and experience enable us to deliver solid business solutions to wholesale customers."
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)(NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 92 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com.
VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at http://www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.
Lowering Language Barriers for U.S. Troops in Afghanistan
NEW YORK, Sept. 13 -- The USO and Pimsleur® Language Programs, in partnership with The Boston Foundation and Playaway®, are proud to announce the launch of OPERATION SPEAK EASY - an initiative to eliminate language barriers for U.S. troops serving in and being deployed to Afghanistan. Through a donor-advised fund at The Boston Foundation, OPERATION SPEAK EASY was created to assist troops with learning the local languages spoken throughout the region and further day-to-day communications with the Afghani population.
"Simon & Schuster's Pimsleur is proud to partner with The USO, Playaway, and The Boston Foundation on this project. By providing these programs to troops, we hope to remove any language barriers that may stand in the way of the vital mission in Afghanistan and show our support for those who serve." - Robert Riger, Director of Pimsleur Language Programs
Omar Khudari, a Boston-area philanthropist, had a dream of giving U.S. Troops the ability to communicate directly and easily with the civilian population in Afghanistan. As an avid user of Pimsleur language programs, Khudari's vision led him to fund the project, now known as OPERATION SPEAK EASY. His generous donation to The Boston Foundation allowed Pimsleur® to develop audio-based language training courses in Pashto and Dari and make his dream a reality.
Pimsleur's portable audio programs are easily downloadable for use in the field or on a base. The USO is distributing these courses free of charge to U.S. Troops via digital downloads from the USO website and portable audio players from Playaway.
"The USO is dedicated to offering programs and services that support troops located in the most remote locations. OPERATION SPEAK EASY helps service members learn the languages of the countries where they are stationed, allowing them to communicate with natives more easily." - Steve Missimer, Vice President, Programs with the USO
The choice of multiple formats - downloads and Playaway - allow for a variety of listening options for troops. Where power is an issue, Playaway audio players are preloaded and completely portable with their own power source.
A test case for the project launched in June 2010 with free downloads of the Pimsleur Dari course. This allowed for the distribution of over 4,000 Playaway audio players to U.S. Troops, both those about to be deployed and those already on the ground in Afghanistan.
"There is no better gesture of respect and good will you can make in a foreign land than speaking the local language. I have been hearing for some time about the military's desire to improve its language training in order to 'win hearts and minds' in Afghanistan. It occurred to me that Pimsleur courses in Pashto and Dari* would be an obvious solution. I am very excited to be able to help get these courses to our troops sooner rather than later." - Omar Khudari, Project Philanthropist, Entrepreneur
Available in over 60 languages, Pimsleur® courses have been at the forefront of audio foreign language instruction for over 45 years. The name OPERATION SPEAK EASY is derived from Pimsleur's focus on learning a language through speech.
*Pashto and Dari are the key languages spoken in Afghanistan.
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Pimsleur is the ultimate authority in spoken language learning. Pimsleur's Comprehensive Programs are the most effective and complete language-learning programs ever developed. The groundbreaking programs utilize proven methods of learning based on extensive research of how people master languages. The Pimsleur Method is a unique patented method developed by Dr. Paul Pimsleur that reinvents natural language acquisition by allowing program users to learn a language the way native speakers do, with exposure to vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation all at once, in everyday conversations. Pimsleur's audio-only programs are the ultimate in portable learning. They can be listened to anytime, anywhere. Pimsleur is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Pimsleur® is a registered trademark of Beverly Pimsleur, used by Simon & Schuster under exclusive license.
Simon & Schuster Audio is a leading publisher of general interest audiobooks including bestselling fiction, nonfiction, business/finance, self-improvement, inspiration, language learning programs, original audiobook productions, and children's titles. In addition to a list that includes such unparalleled authors as Ernest Hemingway, David McCullough, Stephen King, Phillip McGraw, and Mary Higgins Clark, Simon & Schuster Audio has produced audiobooks that have won six Grammy Awards and earned twenty-eight Grammy nominations since 1989. For more information about Simon & Schuster Audio, visit our website at http://www.simonandschuster.com.
ABOUT THE USO
The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at thousands of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families, and the families of the fallen.
The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors. In addition to individual donors and other corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners American Airlines, AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Gallery Furniture, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this patriotic mission and to learn more about the USO, please visit http://www.uso.org.
ABOUT PLAYAWAY
Playaway is the simplest way to listen to digital content on the go. It comes with the audio content already pre-loaded on it and a battery to make it play. Simply plug in earbuds and enjoy. Each Playaway weighs only two ounces and has a universal jack. Learn more about Playaway at http://www.playaway.com. Playaway is made possible by Findaway World
Findaway World, a privately held company based in Cleveland, OH, is dedicated to delivering simple and immediate access to content listeners want or need. Their flagship product, Playaway, is the first audio player of its kind, coming pre-loaded with premier content from leading publishers or custom content for specific audio training and education needs.
The Boston Foundation, Greater Boston's community foundation, is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the nation, with assets of $682 million. In Fiscal Year 2009, the Foundation and its donors made more than $95 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and received gifts of $81 million. The Foundation is made up of some 900 separate charitable funds established by donors either for the general benefit of the community or for special purposes. The Boston Foundation also serves as a major civic leader, provider of information, convener, and sponsor of special initiatives designed to address the community's and region's most pressing challenges. For more information about the Boston Foundation, visit http://www.tbf.org
Source: Simon & Schuster Audio; Pimsleur; The USO
CONTACT: Jennifer Smith, Publicity, Simon and Schuster, +1-212-698-7126,
Jennifer.Smith@simonandschuster.com
NEC and TCO Certified Announce Halogen-Free Computer Display
STOCKHOLM, September 13, 2010--
- Landmark Development in the Green Design of Electronics
In a major advancement for green technology, the TCO Certified eco-label
for electronics, together with display industry leader NEC, today announced
the NEC MultiSync(R) EA222Wme wide computer monitor as the first to receive
the TCO Certified Edge award for groundbreaking achievements in environmental
design. The award is presented in recognition of NEC's achievement in
eliminating halogens, a proven hazard to human health and the environment.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
Since 1995 the worldwide TCO certification has been dedicated to reducing
and eliminating the use of halogens and other hazardous substances in
electronics.
"The fact that we are now able to announce a product that has eliminated
the halogens chlorine and bromine completely is a huge step in creating
greater sustainability in the design of PC products - which is the main
objective of the TCO Certified program. By working closely with industry and
other stakeholders, we now see the result of many years effort to find
alternative materials that are less hazardous to the earth and human health,
while still retaining the fire safety assurance that users demand. This is
exactly what the TCO Certified program is designed to do and we applaud NEC
on its efforts to reach this landmark", says Soren Enholm, CEO TCO
Development.
"NEC's Green Vision philosophy aligns very well with the TCO
certification program with tough requirements that the product should offer
both high performance and minimal impact on the environment. We are very
proud to be the first display vendor with a TCO Certified Edge designation
for a monitor free from halogen, and it is a significant proof that our
innovations for greener IT products are at the cutting edge", says Clemens
von Braunmuehl, Manager Product Management EMEA, NEC Display Solutions Europe
GmbH.
Halogenated substances have been used as an inexpensive and simple fire
retardant in electronics, textiles and other everyday products for many
years. They are also commonly used as a "plasticizer" in many products,
giving the product a softer, pliable character. The environmental and health
problems with halogens lie in their stability and persistence. They don't
degrade when disposed of but are actually shown to remain in plants, animals
and humans, for example in fat and breast milk. It has also been shown to
adversely affect hormonal function, potentially causing fertility problems.
TCO Certified is a third party certification for high performance ICT
products that are also designed for minimal environmental impact. Since 1992
the TCO certification program has had a significant influence on improved
image quality and ergonomics for displays, as well as the reduction of
electromagnetic emissions from ICT products. Energy efficiency and reduced
usage of hazardous substances are also key aspects of the TCO Certification.
Products covered by the TCO certification program are notebook, desktops and
all in one PCs, computer displays, phone headsets and projectors. TCO
Certified makes it easy to choose technology designed for both high usability
and the environment. TCO Development, the company behind TCO Certified, is
headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with regional presence in Asia and North
America. For more information see http://www.tcodevelopment.com.
An Analysis of Different Poker Rake Distribution Systems by Jonas Odman
LONDON, September 13, 2010-- When Bodog Network presented the concept of a new rake distribution
system last year there was enormous debate and, inevitably, flattering
imitation. But as they say 'the proof is in the pudding' and we can now
assert that we are delivering on our promises to players, affiliates and,
next year, to other operators.
As we hoped affiliates with a high proportion of net depositing players
now earn more money from their revenue share deals than before and the
all-important 'leisure' player is also much better supported.
Ongame Network, iPoker Network, and Microgaming Network have systems
designed to achieve the same thing but in different ways, and in this article
I will give my view on the strengths and weaknesses of the different systems.
Most agree that the old way of splitting the revenue between operators
was skewed, and operators/affiliates bringing in net depositing players were
not rewarded enough. The root of the problem was the way rake was assigned to
players in the back-end, and that is where Bodog Network has addressed the
problem. Bodog Network is the only poker network which has stopped splitting
the revenue per hand. Instead, at the end of each business day, Bodog Network
uses a proprietary algorithm to split the revenue which rewards net
depositing players. And unlike all competitors' models, the Bodog Network
model works for all players from day one.
Ongame Network call their system Essence. Based on the players' results
and playing style during the last 90 days, players are assigned a
coefficient. The rake is split per hand, just like the old system, but the
coefficient is used to correct the flaws of the old system. A player's share
of the rake will depend on both his coefficient and his opponents'
coefficient in that hand. This is the second best rake distribution system in
the industry but there are some obvious problems with it. Firstly, it takes
90 days before the system starts working, so new winning players will be
assigned much more revenue than old winning players. Secondly, we know that
50 % of the players never make a second deposit-these players will not stay
long enough for their operators to be fully rewarded for bringing them in.
Thirdly, the system can and will be abused-by creating a new account on the
network every 90 days, winning players with under the table rakeback deals
can sustain too big a value for their operators/affiliates.
Microgaming Network and iPoker Network have a blunt system where
operators with too many winning players are fined each month. The networks
are basically keeping a rake distribution formula they know is wrong and then
punish operators who benefit too much from it. This creates big problems for
operators who get fined, because it is impossible for them to then split that
cost between the operator's affiliates with revenue share deals. Some
operators have reacted by blocking winning players which is a natural and
understandable reaction but at the same time bad for the networks'
reputation. Why would anyone want to play on a poker site or network where
winners get blocked?
All systems, including Bodog Network's, have in common that they lack
transparency. However, from an affiliate's or an operator's perspective, the
old systems were not that transparent either. Yes, players with 1) hand
trackers and 2) knowledge of how the network split the rake between operators
could calculate their share of the rake (and hence their rakeback), and now
all networks are removing that transparency. Here it is important to remember
that the rake distribution models were only meant to regulate the business
relationship between a poker network and an operator, as well as an operator
and an affiliate with revenue share deals. Rakeback deals were just an
unwanted consequence which is now being dealt with.
Net depositing players are the bread and butter for a poker network, and
it is a good thing for online poker that poker networks are starting to
acknowledge that. This will lead to more healthy poker ecosystems and in the
long run all players will benefit from this.
MyCapeTownInfo.com Offers Multimedia First for Local Travel Businesses
CAPE TOWN, South Africa Sept. 13 -- MyCapeTownInfo.com will now offer a range of new multimedia features to its visitors and clients. These have been designed to create an interactive and enjoyable browsing experience, while showcasing companies and tourism establishments in a manner largely unheard of in the region.At the core of the new multimedia offerings are advanced virtual tours, which are compiled using high-resolution digital cameras and a purpose-built 360 degree lens, imported from Spain. Photographs taken in and around various establishments are linked together into one interactive Flash file, and enable viewers to zoom, pan and rotate the images.These interactive movie files will be uploaded and hosted on the company's individual listing page, and organisations are also free to use them on their own websites and promotional material.Andrew Thompson, managing director of MyCapeTownInfo.com says that the introduction of these virtual tours is indicative of the website's goal to offer cutting-edge features to the local market. He said: "The virtual tours make use of the latest technology straight out of Europe and, as such, offer local businesses a great opportunity to be among the first in the world to experience the exposure they can offer."The tours, which are compiled by Plush Media in Spain, typically incorporate up to 8 different "views", each of which showcases a specific room, restaurant, bar or feature, transporting the viewer right into the establishment.The secret to their impact, says Thompson, lies in the sharp images and simple interactivity. "The tours have to be seen to be believed - they really are the next best thing to actually being there."At the same time, the virtual tour equipment can be used to create spectacular panoramic shots, which Thompson believes will be particularly valuable in showcasing Cape Towns world-famous scenery, including natural landscapes, beaches, vistas, and the Cape Town winelands.Thompson believes that these tours offer something for both listed businesses and website visitors, and the decision to incorporate them into the site was an easy one. "It really does offer a win-win situation for all concerned - visitors get to see where they're going from the comfort of their living room, and business can showcase everything that they offer in one beautiful package."About MyCapeTownInfo.comMyCapeTownInfo.com is an online travel guide to Cape Town, one of South Africa's most popular tourism destinations. It offers a range of travel information including detail on Cape Town accommodation and Cape Town restaurants and more. It is part of the MyDestinationInfo.com network, which has 60 destinations from around, including South African cities Johannesburg, Durban, and the Garden Route. The network uses local experts in each destination, and is backed up by the best design, applications and optimisation available to create information websites for the modern traveller.
For further media information, please contact:
Andrew Thompson
MyCapeTownInfo
304 Lindenhof,
10 Gladstone Street,
Oranjezicht,
Cape Town
8001
+27 72 236 3555
capetown.mydestinationinfo.com
Source: MyCapeTownInfo.com
CONTACT: Andrew Thompson of MyCapeTownInfo, +27-72-236-3555
Trimble Expands Popular Juno GPS Handheld Series with Voice Capability
Juno SD Handheld Provides Complete and Compact Solution for Field Workforce Asset Management with 3.5G Voice and Data Capability
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 13 -- Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) introduced today the new Trimble® Juno(TM) SD handheld, an addition to the pocket-sized Juno series of durable, lightweight field computing devices with integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.
All Juno series models include integrated GPS, wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth® connectivity, a 3 Megapixel camera, a 533 MHz processor, 128 MB of onboard memory, a MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot, an all-day battery and a 3.5 inch display. The Juno SD handheld builds on this core functionality with the addition of integrated 3.5G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) cellular SMS and voice capability.
Using the data transmission capabilities of the Juno SD handheld, mobile workers can access information in the field such as work-orders, map data, reference files, emails, and Internet resources without making a trip to the office. Mobile workers can also update mission critical information in real time that can lead to increased overall data accuracy and productivity. With the Juno SD handheld, users can now keep in contact using the new cellular voice capabilities, enabling users to call the office for the next job, provide live updates from the field, or make a call in case of an emergency. As a result, the Juno SD handheld eliminates the need to carry a separate mobile phone.
"The Juno SD handheld is the ideal integrated solution for GIS-enabled organizations that require high productivity from their mobile field workforce. It keeps them connected and in touch while removing the need for a separate camera, GPS data collector, PDA, and cellular phone," said Peter Large, general manager of Trimble's Mapping & GIS Division. "All Juno series handhelds incorporate a high-sensitivity GPS receiver specifically designed to maximize position yields in challenging GPS environments, such as under forest canopy and near buildings in urban areas. Incorporating modem and voice capabilities into the Juno SD handheld transforms the device into a true enterprise field workforce productivity tool."
Juno series handheld users can achieve 2 to 5 meter GPS positioning accuracy in real-time with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as the U.S. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS), and Japan's Multi-Functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS). When higher accuracy is required to meet company or regulatory standards, field data collected with Juno series handhelds can be postprocessed with office software such as Trimble GPS Pathfinder Office(TM) or Trimble GPS Analyst(TM) ESRI extension that includes Trimble DeltaPhase(TM) technology to achieve 1 to 3 meter accuracy.
A range of optional accessories are available for the Juno series handhelds. The OtterBox Defender Series case provides additional protection through a hi-impact hard polycarbonate shell wrapped in a silicone skin for absorbing bumps and shocks. The vehicle mount, in conjunction with Trimble TerraSync(TM) field software and navigation software such as ALK's CoPilot Professional, provides a complete and productive in-car navigation and data collection solution.
The Juno SD handheld is available in 10 languages for worldwide users and is fully compatible with Trimble's range of Mapping & GIS field and office software. Powered by Microsoft® Windows Mobile® operating system, Juno users have access to personal productivity tools such as Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, Internet Explorer Mobile, and Outlook® Mobile, allowing a seamless exchange of data between the field and office.
The entire Trimble Juno series, including the new Juno SD handheld, are available now through Trimble's Mapping & GIS authorized distribution channel.
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
Rainmaker Announces Next Generation B2B E-commerce SaaS Platform for Global Software License and Subscriptions Sales
CAMPBELL, Calif., Sept. 13 -- Rainmaker Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:RMKR), a leading global provider of e-commerce solutions and telesales services that grow revenue for clients and their channel partners, today announced the general availability of its next generation e-commerce SaaS platform.
Rainmaker's e-commerce platform for global software and subscription sales offers world-class features that provide its customers a significant competitive advantage, including:
-- Complete flexibility based on a fully open API architecture
-- Intuitive self-administration allows clients to quickly adapt to
online buying patterns
-- Sophisticated rules engine facilitates complex logic required for
business-to-business sales
-- Support for global transactions in local languages and payment methods
-- Native on-demand (SaaS) platform allows rapid implementation and
deployment
Rainmaker's CEO Michael Silton said, "For more than a decade our e-commerce expertise has helped leading companies generate maximum revenue through the online sales of subscriptions and renewals. Our newly released capabilities to sell digital goods, including software downloads with full licensing support globally, are a key part of solidifying our leadership position as the premier e-commerce platform for B2B sales. We are very pleased to provide our clients the advanced technology required to quickly and easily deploy a global e-commerce solution that will enable them to service their business customers' needs and significantly grow revenue."
This next generation platform is already in use by leading brands on a global basis, and the superior user experience has recently propelled a major software client to an over 20% year-over-year revenue increase over their previous vendor's implementation. This improved ease-of-use has enabled significant growth in average order size while simultaneously driving more pure-web orders - dramatically reducing handling costs and improving ROI for Rainmaker clients.
The client-facing self-administration capabilities of the Rainmaker SaaS platform and the robust open API architecture provide the flexibility needed to create, deploy and manage products, prices and promotions in real-time, allowing clients to quickly adapt to customer buying trends and maximize revenue.
Selected features of the Rainmaker SaaS e-commerce platform include:
Open API architecture facilitates limitless integration options
-- Easily integrate into existing web infrastructure, mobile applications
and back office processes
-- Hundreds of independent API calls permit granular control over
integration points
-- Create custom workflows to fit your customers' unique buying habits
Complete global e-commerce platform allows rapid deployment to worldwide markets
-- Support for 41 global currencies with multiple local payment types
-- Sixteen languages and growing
-- Export compliance
-- Global sales tax automation
Sophisticated business-to-business e-commerce solution
-- Handles complex product configurations and volume options
-- Banded pricing and other pricing structures
-- Purchase order and wire transfer payment methods
-- Flexible reporting capabilities provide insight into web, rep and
channel partner performance
E-commerce model supports software licensing and digital goods distribution
-- Multiple secure file delivery methods
-- Support for wide range of digital file types and sizes, including
multi-gigabyte
-- Restrict downloads through IP address counts, overall download
attempts, and/or expiration periods
-- Sophisticated rules processing engine
-- Export compliance
Rainmaker Systems, Inc. is a leading global provider of e-commerce solutions and telesales services that drive more revenue for clients and their channel partners. Rainmaker provides subscription and service contract renewals, robust e-commerce solutions, lead development, training sales, and call center services. Rainmaker provides these services on a consistent, global basis supporting multiple currencies and language capabilities. For more information, visit http://www.rmkr.com or call 800-631-1545.
NOTE: Rainmaker Systems, the Rainmaker logo, and Sunset Direct are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other service marks or trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to Rainmaker as of this date and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from current expectations. Among the important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are our client concentration, as we depend on a small number of clients for a significant percentage of our revenue, the possibility of the discontinuation and/or realignment of some client relationships, general market conditions, the current difficult macro-economic environment and its impact on our business, as our clients are reducing their overall marketing spending and our clients' customers are reducing their purchase of services contracts, the high degree of uncertainty and our limited visibility due to economic conditions, our ability to execute our business strategy, our ability to integrate acquisitions without disruption to our business, the effectiveness of our sales team and approach, our ability to target, analyze and forecast the revenue to be derived from a client and the costs associated with providing services to that client, the date during the course of a calendar year that a new client is acquired, the length of the integration cycle for new clients and the timing of revenues and costs associated therewith, our ability to expand our channel hosted contract solution and drive adoption of this solution by resellers, potential competition in the marketplace, the ability to retain and attract employees, market acceptance of our service programs and pricing options, our ability to maintain our existing technology platform and to deploy new technology, our ability to sign new clients and control expenses, and the financial condition of our clients' businesses, and other factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.
Source: Rainmaker Systems, Inc.
CONTACT: Steve Valenzuela, Chief Financial Officer of Rainmaker Systems,
Inc., +1-408-340-2560, steve@rmkr.com; or Investor Relations, Todd Kehrli or
Jim Byers, both of MKR Group, Inc., +1-323-468-2300, rmkr@mkr-group.com, for
Rainmaker Systems, Inc.
TechFaith Accelerates Motion Game Efforts with the Launch of Motion Games Controller
BEIJING, Sept. 13 -- Today China TechFaith Wireless Technology Limited (NASDAQ:CNTF) ("TechFaith") announced the acceleration of its motion game market efforts with the launch of a motion game controller through 17 Wee Motion Game Corporation Limited. ("17 Wee"), one of its indirect subsidiaries. Gamers can use motion game controllers to play motion games, which can be downloaded from http://www.17wee.com. Eight free games are pre-loaded with each motion game controller accessories package, and the controller is able to support hundreds of motion games such as racing, shooting, tennis, track & field and many more through a Bluetooth connection with the end user computer or laptop.
Mr. Defu Dong, the Chairman and CEO of TechFaith and the CEO of 798 Entertainment, the TechFaith subsidiary that 100% holds 17 Wee, said, "The launch of the motion game controller will further accelerate our motion game business by providing better and more affordable terminals for gamers that feature motion sensor capabilities for both gaming and fitness. It makes the games much more popular, entertaining, engaging and exercise-oriented."
Mr. Defu Dong further said, "17 Wee's objective is to create the largest platform for the development of motion terminals and the distribution of motion games in China. We believe our launch of the controller will further promote our motion games. It is an important part of our gaming business strategy to divide the business of 798 Entertainment into three branches: 798 Game, which focuses on the development of PC online games and publishing, 798 Mobile, which focuses on the development of mobile phone games, and 17 Wee, which focuses on the motion game business."
About us
TechFaith (NASDAQ:CNTF) is a China-based original developed product ("ODP") provider focused on the original design and sales of mobile phone products. TechFaith aims to become a branded mobile phone specialist in differentiated market segments in the China market. TechFaith is also striving to build a leading PC and online gaming business through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 798 Entertainment Limited.
-- TechFaith engages in the development and production of mid- to
high-end handsets and tailor made handsets. TechFaith's original
developed products include: (1) multimedia phones and dual mode dual
card handsets of multiple wireless technology combinations such as
GSM/GSM, GSM/CDMA, GSM/WCDMA, GSM/TD-SCDMA and UMTS/CDMA; (2)
Windows-based smartphones and Pocket PC phones; and (3) handsets with
interactive online gaming and professional game terminals with phone
functionality.
-- With the capability of developing Middleware Application MMI/UI
software on 2G/2.5G(GSM/GPRS, CDMA1X), 3G(EV-DO, WCDMA/UMTS, TD-SCDMA)
and 3.5G(HSDPA) communication technologies, TechFaith is able to
provide Middleware Application MMI/UI software packages that fulfill
the specifications of handset brand owners and carriers in the global
market. For more information, please visit http://www.techfaithwireless.com/ .
-- TechFaith is aiming to become a branded mobile phone specialist for
differentiated market segments in the China market, such as under its
wholly-owned subsidiary brand name QIGI for smartphone business which
targets enterprise users and operator tailored market, under Glomate
brand, selling other brand names for girls and teenagers, under the
TechFace brand name to target the market of outdoor sports
enthusiasts.
-- TechFaith is targeting both the mobile and online PC gaming markets
through its websites http://www.798uu.com/ and http://www.798game.com/
with gaming content developed internally, co-developed and licensed
from third parties.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident," "outlook" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and strategic and operational plans of TechFaith and management quotations contain forward-looking statements. TechFaith may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 20-F and 6-K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about TechFaith's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those risks outlined in TechFaith's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. TechFaith does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
CONTACTS:
In China: In the U.S.:
Jay Ji David Pasquale
China TechFaith Wireless Communication
Technology Limited Global IR Partners
Tel: 86-10-5822-8390 Tel: +1 914-337-8801
ir@techfaith.cncntf@globalirpartners.com
Source: China TechFaith Wireless Technology Limited
CONTACT: In China: Jay Ji of China Techfaith Wireless Communication
Technology Limited, 86-10-5822-8390, ir@techfaith.cn; or in the U.S.: David
Pasquale of Global IR Partners, +1-914-337-8801, cntf@globalirpartners.com
WATFORD, England, September 13, 2010-- It's been a long while coming, but the Nokia N8 ( http://www.mobiles.co.uk/nokia-n8.html) is due imminently and it would seem
that Nokia have extremely high hopes and a large marketing budget in place
for the N8. The latest marketing tactics employed for the launch of the
latest Nokia Mobile Phone (http://www.mobiles.co.uk/nokia-mobile-phones.html)
have seen them recruit Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, whereby anybody can win
the chance to star alongside Pamela Anderson, in a short film that will be
filmed using only the Nokia N8 and its HD Video Recording capabilities.
The N8 (http://www.mobiles.co.uk/nokia-n8.html) will be Nokia's flagship
phone and as a result, boasts an impressive specification list which includes
a 3.5 inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen and is actually the first handset
from the Finnish manufacturer to be touting AMOLED technology, which
essentially offers better viewing angles, true to life colours and is also
much more efficient when displaying darker colours than standard LCD panels.
The N8 will accept multi-touch inputs, meaning that pinch-to-zoom browsing is
taken care of with ease.
The N8 also touts a twelve megapixel camera, which will capture images at
an incredible 4000 x 3000 pixels thanks to the Carl Zeiss Optics Lens and
also includes autofocus and a Xenon flash. As previously mentioned, the N8 is
capable of recording videos at 720p HD quality and there is also an HDMI
output meaning that you can plug it in to an HD Ready TV to watch videos in
full HD glory.
In terms of connectivity, the N8 is far from lacking. HSDPA, Wi-Fi, a-GPS
and Bluetooth make up what is fast becoming the standard on all modern day
Smartphones and are all included on the N8 as well as a micro USB port,
another technology which is fast becoming a standardised inclusion on all
Smartphones and tablets alike. On-board memory sits at 16GB offering plenty
of space to store the HD videos recorded on the device as well as music,
films, games and pretty much anything else you'd expect to be able to store
on your Smartphone (http://www.mobiles.co.uk/smartphones.html) .
The N8 will run on the latest incarnation of Nokia's proprietary
Operating System, Symbian^3 and the ARM 11 680 MHz processor coupled to 256MB
of RAM will be sure to keep things running smoothly. Symbian^3 itself is said
to take quite a few of its design cues from the Android Operating System,
with multiple customisable home screens which support both applications and
widgets. It also supports true multi-tasking, meaning you can happily be
browsing the internet and checking your emails whilst listening to your
favourite music, with the ability to switch between applications with a mere
'flick and a tap'.
Source: Mobiles.co.uk
Contact: Ali Shah, +44-(0)1430-425807; Ali.Shah@summitmedia.com
MCTEL and one2many Team up to Offer Breakthrough Cell Broadcast Solution
DEVENTER, The Netherlands and MONACO, September 13, 2010--
- Cell Broadcast Messages Enabled on all Handsets Including 3G
Mobile Phones
MCTEL, the messaging and device management expert, and
one2many, the world's leading cell broadcast company, announced they have
formed a partnership to provide the latest generation of Cell Broadcast
solutions, able to broadcast messages to all devices irrespective of whether
they are set to display CB messages.
Cell broadcast (CB) technology offers a non-intrusive,
real-time service of distributing text messages and binary content to mobile
handsets, specific to their current location. CB is capable of broadcasting
one single message to reach all mobile handsets in an area as small as one
radio cell and as big as an entire country. Sending a message to millions of
handsets takes a matter of seconds.
Traditionally Cell Broadcast messages are received by handsets
which have CB activated and configured correctly. As configuration settings
need to be performed on the handset rather than the SIM, manual intervention
is required. For mobile users, manual configuration may not be intuitive
acting as a barrier to activation. MCTEL's device & SIM management expertise
provides an altogether more rewarding user experience and increases the
penetration of the service overcoming this barrier.
Based on an in-depth knowledge of mobile handset behaviour,
the MCTEL solution identifies handsets with the CB capability not activated
as well as handsets that do not support CB messages. In the first case, MCTEL
SIM OTA remotely manages the SIM card to activate the appropriate parameter,
even on 3G mobile handsets that represent a growing part of today's mobile
fleet. In the second case, the CB message is replaced by a SMS that is sent
to the handsets that do not support CB messages. As a result, one2many Cell
Broadcast Centre combined with MCTEL SIM management solution significantly
increases the coverage rate of cell broadcast campaigns.
"By adding our device & SIM management to one2many's cell
broadcast technology, we entered a new phase of development for CB." explains
Dr Daniel Mavrakis, MCTEL CEO. "The solution enables operator settings
control and ease of configuration. In addition we are now able to deliver CB
campaigns to all the handsets attached to one or more cells on the network
and even to those that do not support CB! This major improvement underlies
further developments of cell broadcast services and the monetization of these
services."
With immediate and widespread message broadcasting, CB
technology is especially sought after for time-sensitive location-based
services. Governments increasingly use CB for emergency alerts, whether they
are related to natural hazards or security threats. In such cases, it is a
vital necessity to instantly reach all mobile users located in a given area.
For mobile operators, CB represents a unique opportunity to locally optimize
the capacity utilization rate and to launch new revenue-generating services.
Enabling Cell Broadcast is key to the success of solutions
such as Public Warning and Dynamic Billing. Collectively, One2Many and MCTEL
are addressing the needs of solution providers and customers in this area and
building on this expertise to provide more interactive services by
cross-pollinating different message domains like Cell Broadcast and SMS, or
USSD.
Maarten Mes, Managing Director of one2many comments: "We are
excited that MCTEL has joined one2many's Technology Partnership program. This
program fosters and supports bilateral research projects which have the
potential for commercialization of CB services. MCTEL has addressed and found
a solution for cell broadcast device & SIM management, supporting operators
to maximise revenue from cell Broadcast commercial services"
The commercialization of MCTEL's Cell Broadcast Versatile
Delivery will be jointly done by both companies. Several mobile operators are
already interested in testing the solution on their network and perceive high
revenue potential in this technology.
About MCTEL
Founded in 1992 by Dr Daniel Mavrakis, MCTEL is a private
company owned by its managers with a minority share of the Principality of
Monaco.
- Advanced messaging: SMS Center, SMS Firewall, USSD Gateway,
Cell Broadcast Versatile Delivery
- Mobile Device management: Device Management Center, SIM OTA,
ADD, EIR, Marketing Analysis
- Value Added Services: Service Delivery Platform and
applications for VAS
- Roaming: Roaming Steering, Welcome to Roamers & Bon Voyage,
Inbound Roamers Retention
MCTEL has built-up a reputation and an unparalleled know-how
in the fields of mobile services and value added services for mobile
operators. MCTEL also operates its own International Aggregation Center with
its own SMS Hub, SMS Centers, USSD Gateways, Content Delivery Gateway and VAS
Connectivity Platform connected to the SS7 international signaling backbone.
With its offices in Monaco, France, Dubai and Singapore, MCTEL
counts customers in over thirty countries worldwide. MCTEL is a member of OMA
and GSMA.
one2many established in 2007, is a management buyout of
Acision's (formerly LogicaCMG Telecom Products) cell broadcast product unit,
building on over a decade of experience in Cell Broadcast. With the spin-off
one2many instantly became the world's market leader in cell broadcast with
experience in excess of 80 installations, at 50 customers in more than 30
countries on all continents
one2many has close relationships with all network
infrastructure companies, major SIM vendors, leading handset manufacturers
and industry standard organisations, and has a unique combination of both
theoretical background and practical field trial experience in CB public
warning and Dynamic Discount. This has resulted in the most mature cell
broadcast product in the market with its initial release development starting
in 1996, and today has the most extensive BSC and RNC driver library in the
market.
one2many has its headquarters in The Netherlands, Europe.
Employees of one2many are currently based in offices in the Netherlands,
Dubai UAE, Serbia and Toronto
one2many is an active member of standardisation committees
such as ETSI, ATIS, 3GPP, TIA, and the Cell Broadcast Forum and CHORIST (EU
project).
Ateam Inc.'s Latest WiiWare Game 'Adventure on LOST ISLAND -- Hidden Object Game' To Be Released on September 13 in North America!
- "Adventure on LOST ISLAND -- Hidden Object Game" Is Great 4-player Fun for Kids and Adults!! -
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 13 -- Ateam Inc., a leading Internet and mobile content developer in Japan, announced on September 13 its "Adventure on LOST ISLAND -- Hidden Object Game" is now available for download through the Nintendo WiiWare(TM) service.
In the game, players can work together or compete in each stage to find the necessary items that will help the game's hero find a way home. From seashells to sparkling jewels, do your best to find the hidden objects as fast as you can! During this adventure you will also confront ghosts and a dragon in some action stages. Lots of items for each stage and lots of excitement can be found in this hidden object game!
"Adventure on LOST ISLAND was designed for families to easily pick up and play together and has been fully localized so that all players around the world can enjoy this game," explained Takao Hayashi, founder and president of Ateam.
Each stage in Adventure on LOST ISLAND -- Hidden Object Game can be played by up to 4 players for great gaming fun. The game's contents have also been fully localized for both North America (English, French and Spanish) and Europe (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian and Dutch). The game will be released in Europe on September 17.
Ateam (http://www.a-tm.co.jp) is a leading Internet and mobile content developer in Japan. Based in Nagoya, Ateam was founded in 2000 and creates/manages websites used widely throughout the country, develops hundreds of game sites and content for Japanese mobile phones, and releases consumer games around the world through digital platforms like WiiWare(TM) and iPhone(TM). For the last two years, Ateam has been in the Top 10 of the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 as one of Japan's fastest growing technology companies.
* Nintendo trademarks used under license. WiiWare is available only through the Wii console.
* All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
GlideTV Launches Visual Guide to Online Entertainment
Free online service and made-for-TV browser extend the easiest way to watch Internet TV from the couch
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 -- GlideTV, the company recognized for its elegant handheld wireless touchpad - the Navigator, announced today at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in the WiDi Zone that it has released the beta version of its What's On visual guide to online entertainment and a big screen web browser specially made for the living room. The free online service and downloadable software allows users to see what shows and entertainment are available across the entire web in a single glance and browse them by category and genre.
The new What's On service and big screen browser are immediately available for free download at GlideTV.com. The software works best with the GlideTV Navigator, available separately for $69.99 at Amazon.com or from the GlideTV website. The products are designed for people who want to connect their PC or Mac to their HDTV so they can enjoy all the free content available online, in their living room.
"Some companies want you to buy a specific box or sign up for an ongoing subscription service to access the web entertainment you want," said Scott Vouri, CEO at GlideTV. "Who needs another limited device, when you can connect your PC or Mac to your HDTV, in some cases even wirelessly, and enjoy everything the web has to offer."
"Laptops are providing new ways to entertain and connect people with family and friends. A laptop with Intel Wireless Display makes it easy to share your favorite PC or Internet experience on a big screen TV," Kerry Forell, Intel Wireless Display product manager said. "GlideTV's solution is a great compliment to Intel WiDi technology for people looking to relax and enjoy Internet video from the comfort of their couch."
About What's On
GlideTV's new What's On web service is a visual guide to online entertainment. Users can browse a video wall of TV shows, movies, news and sports that are available across the entire web. This video wall, organized by category and genre, is much more natural for living room use than going from web site to web site scrolling through lists of available videos.
About the GlideTV Big Screen Browser
Optimized for the television viewing experience, GlideTV's browser removes all user elements from the screen to maximize the video viewing area, but quickly snaps into place when needed. Users can watch a show and search for news about their favorite celebrity at the same time, or hop from YouTube to Hulu to Facebook, all while streaming Pandora in the background. A 3D tabs view lets users see all their open sites at once and quickly switch between them. The browser is designed in an intuitive, TV-friendly format, incorporating large simplified controls, a zoom function, and one-click access to the best online video sites. An on screen keyboard is also provided for searching specific shows and for entering logons, text and passwords. It features powerful, context sensitive search and auto-complete features that dramatically reduce the amount of typing needed.
About GlideTV
Founded in February of 2008 by digital home product veterans from Sony and SageTV, the company develops elegant, easy to use products to enhance the internet video experience in the living room. With the release of the GlideTV Navigator and its unique big screen software, the company is reshaping the way consumers see Internet TV. GlideTV is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, please visit http://www.glidetv.com.
Out of the ashes a building takes shape. We will never forget, but the time to rebuild is past due. Remember who attacked America. Remember that giving up freedom is not the way to secure it. Remember those that were murdered due to our way of life and the reason the killers gave...
Panasonic Brings the US Open Tennis Finals Live-in-3D to Retail Stores This Weekend
DIRECTV Delivers Live 3D Coverage Available Exclusively on 'n3D(TM) Powered by Panasonic' at Hundreds of Stores
SECAUCUS, N.J., Sept. 11 -- Tennis fans who can't be at the US Open Finals matches in New York City this weekend can still see and feel the action, broadcast live and for the first time in 3D at hundreds of Best Buy stores across the country today and tomorrow, September 11-12.
Through a unique collaboration between Panasonic and DIRECTV, consumers around the nation will be able to experience the US Open Finals in 3D for the first time. The companies have collaborated on a special promotion that will take place as part of the Consumer Electronic Association's "National 3D Demo Days."
"With this broadcast, tennis joins the growing lists of available 3D programming as more households discover the incredible images and sound that today's 3DTV brings home," said Peter Fannon, Vice President, Technology Policy, Panasonic Corporation of North America. "We encourage consumers to visit their local Best Buy and experience the Panasonic 3D demo display in the Home Theater department."
DIRECTV and Panasonic will deliver live 3D coverage of the 2010 US Open Finals, exclusively on n3D(TM) powered by Panasonic (Channel 103 for DirecTV HD subscribers at home), which is available at hundreds of Best Buy stores throughout the country as follows: September 11 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, and from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. EDT; and September 12 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT.
Over the past ten days the "Panasonic 3D Experience" showcase at the USTA Tennis Center has demonstrated Panasonic VIERA 3DTV to thousands of visitors at the US Open. Throughout Labor Day weekend, n3D aired USTA center court coverage of both the men's and women's third and fourth rounds.
Panasonic launched its first Full HD 3D VIERA TV and 3D Blu-ray Disc player in March at Best Buy's Magnolia Home Theater stores across the nation.
More information about "National 3D Demo Days," 3D technology and how to enjoy the 3D experience at home is available at CEA's http://www.DigitalTips.org. Visitors can also learn about Full HD 3D on Panasonic's dedicated website, http://www.panasonic.com/3D.
About Panasonic:
Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE:PC), which has been a leader in the creation of end-to-end standards and technologies to enable consumers to experience immersive Full HD 3D TV. Last year, Panasonic established its Advanced Authoring Center in Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory to work with Hollywood studios to develop the 3D Blu-ray Disc format. In March, the company delivered its first Full HD 3D home Entertainment System for sale at selected Best Buy Magnolia Home Theater stores. Taking business to the next dimension, Panasonic has debuted a range of 3D video production products including the world's first(3) professional quality, fully-integrated Full HD 3D camcorder offering SD Memory Card recording as well as large screen 3D Plasma displays for digital signage. In July Panasonic introduced the company's first 3D consumer camcorder.
Source: Panasonic
CONTACT: Blayne Murphy of Cohn & Wolfe, +1-212-798-9763,
blayne.murphy@cohnwolfe.com; or Christopher De Maria of Panasonic,
+1-201-348-7182, christopher.demaria@us.panasonic.com
IBM Global Financing Targets Oracle-Sun and HP Clients to Upgrade to IBM Workload Optimized POWER7 Systems
Credit for used Sun and HP Equipment; interest-free deferred payments until 2011
ARMONK, N.Y., Sept. 10 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM) announced a new financing program, including credit from IBM for used equipment, attractive lease terms and no payments until 2011, for credit-qualified clients in the U.S. that trade-in select Oracle-Sun and HP systems and migrate to upgradeable systems of IBM's new Power® family of workload optimized servers.
This new program, provided by IBM Global Financing, helps clients easily and affordably acquire new mid-range and high-end IBM Power Systems(TM). IBM will provide clients with trade-in credit for their old Oracle-Sun and HP equipment(1), which can be applied to the new Power Systems lease payments. Additionally, credit qualified clients can benefit from interest-free payment deferral and avoid payments until 2011(2) on their new Power Systems to accommodate a seamless move to IBM systems.
"We are giving HP and Oracle-Sun clients a way to trade in their old equipment for credit for new Power Systems and get a great leasing program to help manage costs," said Dan Ransdell, GM, IBM Global Financing, North America. "We are hearing from clients that they are worried about fuzzy, uncertain product roadmaps and rising maintenance fees from other IT manufacturers. They can easily switch to IBM's latest workload optimized systems with leasing and an upgrade plan that protects against technology obsolescence."
Through the IBM lease program, clients can be confident that their technology growth will keep pace with their technology growth, without major cash outlays for incremental capacity increases. Clients are able to easily "turn on" additional processing capacity built into the mid-range Power 770 and high-end 780 and 795 systems without disruption to their operations - and experience little or no change to monthly lease payments through a base lease extension. This smooth transition approach for both technology and cash flow allows clients to maximize their investment and achieve higher economic value throughout the IT lifecycle while avoiding technology obsolescence with affordable mid-lease upgrades and programmatic refreshes.
Through leases and loans, IBM Global Financing helps clients convert large upfront investments into a stream of monthly payments to lower financial risk and make budgeting easier and more predictable. By leasing equipment from IBM Global Financing, clients preserve cash for other strategic investments--growing their core business, funding additional innovation or staying competitive.
"The real value that IBM Global Financing brings is its ability to minimize the financial impact for customers migrating to the new Power Systems," said Ransdell. "Financing can smooth out up-front transition costs, helping to better match costs with expected benefits."
The new high-end Power systems are designed to manage the most demanding workloads and emerging applications. The new systems - servers, software and IBM's industry-leading PowerVM(TM) virtualization capabilities - allow customers to better manage ever-increasing amounts of data in an interconnected world and to conserve energy and floor space in burdened data centers.
"IBM has an unmatched migration capability for customers moving from non-IBM servers to IBM Systems," said Tom Rosamilia, GM, Power and z Systems, Systems &Technology Group. "In the first half of 2010, we concluded over 500 competitive migrations to IBM Power Systems." More than 2,600 companies have switched from the competition to IBM Power Systems since IBM established its Migration Factory program four years ago.
About IBM Global Financing
IBM Global Financing is the world's largest technology financier with $35B assets and provides the broadest portfolio of IT financing and asset management solutions that deliver greater economic value throughout the technology lifecycle. IGF has over 125,000 clients, in 55 countries, and almost 30 years in business. For more information please visit: http://www.ibm.com/financing/us/lifecycle/manage/migration/move.html.
IBM Global Financing offerings are provided through IBM Credit LLC in the United States and other IBM subsidiaries and divisions worldwide to qualified commercial and government clients. Rates are based on a client's credit rating, financing terms, offering type, equipment type and options, and may vary by country. Other restrictions may apply. Rates and offerings are subject to change, extension or withdrawal without notice.
1. Designated Sun and HP Systems include but not limited to: SUN - Sun
SPARC Enterprise T5220/Sun SPARC Enterprise T5240, the UltraSPARC T1
based Sun SPARC Enterprise T200 and Sun M9000. HP - The entire family
of HP servers including the Proliant DL380G5, and HP Superdome.
Enterprise owners are encouraged to contact an IBM Global Financing
representative to ascertain if a particular Sun or HP Server product
applies under this program.
2. Featured term is 40-month fair market value lease (B-lease) with a 120
day interest free deferral for leases entered into on or prior to
October 1, 2010. For leases entered after October 1, 2010, the term of
the FMV lease if 39 months, with a 90 day interest free deferral. .
Eligible hardware: IBM Power 770 server (9117-MMB), IBM Power 780
server (9117-MHB) and IBM Power 795 (9119-FHB) that are acquired by
customers utilizing the IBM Power Systems trade-in program for trade-in
of designated non-IBM systems from Hewlett- Packard or Oracle-Sun
Microsystems. This program has no end date but can be withdrawn from
market at any time. The offer is limited to FMV transactions greater
than USD $75,000 in the United States and its territories only, special
bid only, credit qualified customers only.
Contact: Fred Clarke, IBM
914-765-6700 (office)
914-715-5986 (mobile)
fredc@us.ibm.com
UsedTruckCity.com Offers Vast Selection and Unbeatable Value
SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 10 -- Used Truck City today formally announced the launch of UsedTruckCity.com, a robust online used truck inventory and research tool designed to help new and experienced used truck buyers locate, sell, consign and export used trucks. Used Truck City has access to hundreds of used Class 5 through Class 8 commercial trucks such as used Peterbilt trucks, used International trucks, used Freightliner trucks, used Kenworth trucks, some with existing factory warranty or available power train coverages, and many with a 30-day trade-back guarantee.
Used Truck City combines photos, videos, and detailed warranty, finance and other information to create an in-person truck shopping experience 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in an online setting. This information combined with a detailed, inspected inventory of used Western Star trucks, used Volvo trucks, used Mack trucks, used Peterbilt trucks, and other class 5-8 heavy duty trucks, allows Used Truck City to deliver on its mission to "get it right the first time". The online Inventory System allows users to build their own list of "favorites", recommend trucks to others, and add tags to tailor future searches.
"Used Truck City is designed to give used truck buyers and sellers a place to find the answers they are looking for at any time," said Mike Roney, manager of Used Truck City. "This web site gives the customer relevant and easy to follow information such as delivery options and extended coverage, and gives them the ability to make a choice before we even meet."
Mike Roney has over 20 years in the used truck industry and leverages his vast connections to build a diverse inventory of commercial trucks. For those with specific needs, Used Truck City offers a used truck locator service called "Build a Truck", that allows users to submit detailed information about their ideal used truck. Mr. Roney believes it's not enough to find a good used truck for his customers, but "the right equipment must be presented with accurate information, impeccable service, and at a price that won't put them out of business before the wheels even start rolling." He encourages visitors to return often as inventory changes daily. "I am constantly watching and networking in the marketplace to understand which trucks make sense to present to my customers."
About Used Truck City
Used Truck City, headquartered in Salt lake City, UT, offers through its web site at http://www.usedtruckcity.com an array of used heavy trucks including Class 8 Sleepers, Day Cabs, Single Axles and other used commercial vehicles. The online inventory available at Used Truck City includes used Ford trucks, used Freightliner trucks, used International trucks, used Kenworth trucks, used Mack trucks, used Peterbilt trucks, used Sterling trucks, used Volvo trucks, and used Western Star trucks. Used Truck City also provides detailed information about Used Truck Warranty options, Delivery Options, Used Truck Financing, Insurance and Export Services.
Source: Used Truck City
CONTACT: Darcy St. George, Level 6 Marketing, +1-727-210-6600
AT&T Invests Nearly $225 Million in Its Missouri Networks
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 10 -- In just the first six months of this year, AT&T* invested nearly $225 million in its wireless and wireline networks to continue improving customer service in Missouri. The company invested nearly $75 million in its Missouri wireless network in the first half of 2010.
Service enhancements included:
-- Adding five new cell sites in Gideon, Catawissa, Byrnesville,
Clarksville and Madison. These additions create more network capacity
so wireless coverage is expanded and improved;
-- Upgrading more than 30 additional cell sites to mobile broadband
service, the fastest wireless technology AT&T provides to enhance or
launch its mobile broadband network in Sikeston, Kirksville, Rolla,
Columbia, Lake of the Ozarks and Cape Girardeau; and
-- Deploying additional radio carriers on more than 180 cell sites
throughout the state of Missouri, which improves the quality and
coverage of wireless voice and data connections.
-- The investment also includes upgrades to the AT&T wireline
infrastructure, such as expanded AT&T U-verse® services, additional
AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots, and extended reach of broadband services.
AT&T customers are seeing the results of this investment with faster mobile broadband speeds and strong reliability, according to the latest round of comprehensive drive testing by Global Wireless Solutions Inc. (GWS). This GWS testing showed that AT&T maintained the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, connected more than 98 percent of calls on the first attempt, and carried 98.65 percent of calls to completion, a difference of less than one call out of 1,000 from the only higher-scoring provider.
AT&T Missouri President John Sondag said his company's local investment creates many advantages for the people of Missouri.
"Our investment stimulates the economy and fosters employment for U.S. workers," Sondag said. "We are proud of that. In fact, AT&T has invested more in the last three years than any of our U.S. competitors. That creates economic growth across the board. Even in this troubled economy, we plan to invest $18-$19 billion this year, assuming the regulatory environment remains favorable. Our plan to invest up to 10 percent more than we did last year--again in these tough economic times--is a major commitment to our customers. But it's also a huge commitment to our state and to our nation."
"To truly transform Missouri's economy for the 21st-century, it is imperative that our businesses and citizens have access to the latest and most cutting-edge technologies," said Governor Jay Nixon. "AT&T's increased investment in the Show-Me State, which includes greater access to dependable, high-speed broadband services, will expand markets for even the smallest businesses in Missouri communities to not only the rest of the state, but to markets across the globe. AT&T's expansion will make Missouri more competitive in attracting new investment and creating solid, career-supporting jobs."
Nancy Garvey, AT&T's vice president and general manager in the Greater Midwest Region, said that AT&T remains focused on making the nation's fastest mobile broadband network even faster.
"Our investment strategy allows us to continue increasing speeds, which means our capabilities continue to grow with our customers. Average national mobile broadband network speeds during the first six months of 2010 are up more than 25 percent, based on internal data." These faster speeds have been delivered even as AT&T has managed unprecedented growth in mobile data usage. Over a three-year period (2007-2009), mobile data traffic on AT&T's wireless network jumped about 5,000 percent.
The network investment complements the introduction of new wireless data plans that make the benefits of mobile broadband more affordable for more people. Customers can choose the data plan that best fits their needs, starting with the DataPlus plan at $15 per month.
For more information about AT&T's mobile broadband coverage in Missouri or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure quality of coverage from a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark. A map of AT&T Wi-Fi locations is available at http://www.att.com/go.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
DataPlus plan requires a wireless agreement and includes 200MB of data; each additional 200MB of overage is $15 and other restrictions apply.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at http://www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T U-verse. Call or go to http://www.att.com/u-verse to see if you qualify. AT&T U-verse services are provided by AT&T local telephone companies.
U.S. News and LOUD3R Join to Add Real-Time Content to Congress Tracker
Offers readers access to additional information on members of Congress and key midterm election issues
WASHINGTON and PASADENA, Calif., Sept. 10 -- U.S. News Media Group and LOUD3R today announced that LOUD3R will power U.S. News's Congress Tracker (http://politics.usnews.com/congress) with LOUD3R's real-time content discovery platform. LOUD3R enables U.S. News to complement its award-winning political news, data, and opinion coverage by identifying relevant content from around the web for usnews.com readers. Congress Tracker pages profiling scores of members of Congress and several key political issues are already using LOUD3R technology, with more to come as Election Day nears.
U.S. News publishes in-depth news, analysis, and information on topics that matter most to Americans. LOUD3R's technology searches the Web in real time for content on focused topics ranging from specific Senators and House members to key issues like the economy and the environment. It provides editors with a powerful tool to discover and curate fresh, relevant content. Readers get an exhaustive, up-to-the minute view of the day's most important political news.
"U.S. News is committed to bringing our readers comprehensive political coverage so they can be better informed citizens," said Bill Holiber, president and CEO, U.S. News Media Group. "LOUD3R is helping Congress Tracker make sense out of the noise in politics online, and empowers our editors to identify the latest and best content for our readers."
"It seems that with every election season more and more public discourse moves online," said Lowell Goss, CEO of LOUD3R. "Our work together combines U.S. News's reporting and editorial strength with the speed and efficiency of LOUD3R's content discovery platform, harnessing the most important voices in the discussion."
LOUD3R combines semantic technology with human knowledge to discover comprehensive, contextual content on any topic. Its powerful Curation Platform software lets editors dynamically curate topics and manage the publication of streams of both original and web content, and social media.
About U.S. News Media Group
The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform digital publisher of news analysis, research, and rankings which includes the monthly U.S. News & World Report magazine, the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, http://www.usnews.com, and http://www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money, Education, and Politics & Policy, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves its readers' quality of life. The U.S. News Media Group's signature franchises include its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, health plans, and more.
About LOUD3R
LOUD3R is a content discovery, curation and publishing platform that gives publishers and marketers simple tools to quickly add quality content to sites, apps and social media. We combine semantic technology with a human editorial touch to deliver the hottest, freshest most relevant content on any topic. Founded in 2008, and based in Pasadena, Calif., LOUD3R is led by former Google, MTV, MySpace and Yahoo! executives. To learn more about how leading publishers and brands are making their sites LOUD3R, visit http://loud3r.com/.
Source: U.S. News Media Group
CONTACT: Robert Schlesinger, U.S. News Media Group, +1-202-955-2026,
rschlesinger@usnews.com; or Tom Balamaci, LOUD3R, +1-626-768-2023,
press@loud3r.com
RRsat Partners With BT to Deliver First Intercontinental Interactive 3D Video Broadcast Between London and Tel Aviv Using RRsat Global Network
Collaboration Between BT and RRsat Overcomes Technical Challenges to Transmit Live 3D Video Over Terrestrial Networks
LONDON, September 10, 2010-- RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST) and BT's Media
and Broadcast division announced today that they have collaborated to provide
the technological expertise and network infrastructure behind a 3D music and
dance spectacle beamed live from London to Tel Aviv beach last week. The free
event was organized by one of RRsat's major Israeli customers as a marketing
initiative. The event was unique in providing interactions between the live
audiences in London's South Bank and Tel Aviv giving Tel Aviv a 3D
perspective of the events unfolding in London.
The collaboration between BT's Media and Broadcast division and RRsat is
one of the first fruits of the strategic agreement signed in June 2010
whereby both companies agreed to sell and market each other's solutions. Its
significance as an event is due to the fact that previous live 3D HD events
were confined to using satellites whereas this broadcast was entirely
transmitted via terrestrial networks.
BT provided the connection between the stage in London via the BT Tower
switch, then routing the 3D signal over the BT network to RRsat in London
where it was routed over the RRsat Global Network to the Tel Aviv screening
site. The signal was then decoded and re-processed before being presented.
According to Ziv Mor, CTO and VP Business Development of RRsat, "This
live transmission marked a significant milestone for 3D and for our company
in that it proved the capability to deliver 3D live contribution at high
quality by traditional terrestrial networks overcoming issues like bridging
different networks from different service providers and compatibility between
different vendors and standards. This event demonstrates that our substantial
investment in the RRsat Global Network design and technology has yielded a
robust and flexible global network. The success of this event has also
demonstrated RRsat's and BT's cooperation at both commercial and technology
levels."
Mark Wilson Dunn, BT Wholesale's media and broadband global sales &
marketing director added, "The success of this live broadcast was a testament
to the expertise and commitment of both the BT and RRsat team working on the
transmission. We believe that 3D live broadcasts are likely to be a key
element in future major sporting and entertainment events and have
demonstrated our combined capability to deliver to the highest standards."
About RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd.
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST) provides global,
comprehensive, content management and distribution services to the rapidly
expanding television and radio broadcasting industries, and communications
solutions to the maritime, terrestrial and aviation markets through
Station711, its mobile satellite arm. Through its proprietary "RRsat Global
Network," composed of satellite and terrestrial fiber optic transmission
capacity and the public Internet, RRsat is able to offer high-quality and
flexible global distribution services for content providers. RRsat's
comprehensive content management services include producing and playing out
TV content as well as providing satellite newsgathering services (SNG). RRsat
concurrently provide these services to more than 550 television and radio
channels, covering more than 150 countries. For more information, visit http://www.rrsat.com Visit the company's website http://www.RRsat.com for
more information.
Safe Harbor Statement for RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd.
This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements
regarding (i) the growth of our business and the television and radio
broadcasting industries, including the growth of the market for religious
content and programming, (ii) our expectation to expand our client base and
sell additional services to our existing client base, (iii) our ability to
successfully integrate the teleports we acquired, (iv) our ability to develop
and commercialize the RRinternetTV service, (v) our expectation to extend the
average length of our contracts in the future, (vi) our ability to develop,
expand and commercialize our HD Platform, (vii) our ability to report future
successes and (viii) our intention to distribute dividends in the future and
the size of any dividends declared. These forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current
expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the companies and
the industry as of the date of this press release. The company undertakes no
obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent
occurring events or circumstances, or to changes in its expectations, except
as may be required by law. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from
those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including the risks
indicated in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
For more details, please refer to our SEC filings and the amendments thereto,
including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2009
and our Current Reports on Form 6-K.
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions
and services operating in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities
include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and
international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home,
at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and
converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four
lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2010, BT Group's revenue was GBP20,911
million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT
Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT
Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. For
more information, visit http://www.bt.com/aboutbt
Media Contact Information:
For more information on RRsat Global Communications Network, or to speak
with an executive of the company, please contact:
Melanie Johnson or Kim Smith, eclat Marketing
Ph: +44-1276-486000
E-mail: rrsat@eclat.co.uk
BT
Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom
on its 24-hour number: +44(0)20-7356-5369. From outside the UK dial
+44-20-7356-5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.btplc.com/News
Source: RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd
Melanie Johnson or Kim Smith, eclat Marketing: Ph: +44-1276-486000, E-mail: rrsat@eclat.co.uk. Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: +44(0)20-7356-5369. From outside the UK dial +44-20-7356-5369
Gilt MANual: The Daily Guide to Permanent Style, Led by Editorial Director Tyler Thoreson
NEW YORK, Sept. 10 -- Gilt MAN (Gilt.com) announced today the launch of a new editorial site, Gilt MANual: The Daily Guide to Permanent Style (Giltmanual.com), led by editorial director and former Men.Style.com executive editor Tyler Thoreson. Gilt MANual will be an editorial complement to the Gilt MAN retail environment. Gilt MANual will be both a discovery engine for the best new brands as well as a resource for guys looking to develop and hone their own personal style offering smart, irreverent advice on style, grooming, etiquette, food, drink, and more.
"This is an incredibly exciting moment in the evolution of men's fashion," said Tyler Thoreson, editorial director, Gilt MANual. "A new generation of guys has discovered the joys of dressing well--because they want to, not necessarily because they have to. At the same time, a new generation of brands has emerged to meet that demand.
"This renewed interest in looking good has been accompanied by a thirst for knowledge," said Thoreson. "Guys today don't just want to know what to wear. They want to know how to wear it, and where, and when. Gilt MANual will be their go-to resource for real-world advice and answers."
To help guys look their best, Gilt MAN has enlisted an all-star editorial team including a roster of boldfaced contributors, including legendary journalist, author and dandy Gay Talese, Michael Williams of the influential blog A Continuous Lean, and New York banker and bon vivant Euan Rellie as well as senior editor Joshua David Stein, who has written for magazines such as Maxim, New York, T: The New York Times and Departures. Gilt MANual will be updated multiple times per day with blog posts, features, profiles, advice and an ever-expanding library of how-to content.
"Gilt MANual isn't just about the one-way flow of information," Thoreson added. "We want Gilt MANual to be the place guys come to talk style the way they talk about sports: with equal parts passion and humor."
"There are many places online that offer advice, authority and community for women, but this is truly a unique offering in the men's space," said John Auerbach, general manager, Gilt MAN. "This will be a one-stop destination that combines independent editorial with a new entry point to Gilt MAN's curated retail environment--all dedicated to the male audience."
The Gilt MANual site was designed by award-winning digital experience agency Code and Theory, known for its innovative interactive work with The Daily Beast, Bottega Veneta, and on the new Vogue.com.
Gilt MAN (http://www.Gilt.com), launched in October 2009, was the first in the flash-sales space to offer a dedicated entry point for male shoppers--curating a broad range of daily sales from apparel and lifestyle items to gadgets and sporting gear--and is now the first to offer a dedicated voice, GILT MANual, an essential component to building member engagement and driving sales.
Follow Gilt MANual and Gilt MAN updates via Twitter @giltman and on the Gilt MAN Facebook page.
To speak with Tyler Thoreson or John Auerbach and for images of the Gilt MANual, please contact Jenna Landry, jlandry@gilt.com, (646) 524-9179.
About Gilt MAN:
Gilt MAN (http://www.Gilt.com), launched in October 2009, curates a broad range of daily sales and serves as the go-to destination for men who appreciate the best of the best, from tech gadgets and sporting gear to apparel and lifestyle items. Gilt MAN sales target an exclusive, invitation-only membership with an easy-to-navigate shopping experience that has a distinctly male voice. Sales begin each day at noon ET and last only 36 hours, offering top brands at up to 70% off retail. Gilt Groupe and Gilt MAN are headquartered in New York City.