Glowpoint Releases Cloud-Based, Multi-Party, B2B Video Collaboration Service
"Virtual Video Room(TM)" enables SIP and H.323 video users on any video system to hold multi-party video meetings, on-demand around the globe
MURRAY HILL, N.J., Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Glowpoint, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GLOWD), a leading global provider of cloud-based managed services for telepresence, video conferencing and collaboration, today announced the launch of the Virtual Video Room ("VVR"), a cloud-based video conferencing service that offers a secure, dial-in "meet me" room for ad-hoc multi-point, business-to-business conferencing.
The VVR service is a core component of Glowpoint's Open Video(TM) cloud-based, shared infrastructure model that offers conferencing scalability and security for large enterprises and small and medium sized businesses around the world. VVR offers reservation-free, multi-point calling and delivers B2B meeting capabilities to SIP, H.323 and ISDN-based video-as well as audio-only-participants without having to re-configure customer-owned MCUs, without having to establish carrier interconnects for private MPLS networks, and without customers having to invest in additional MCU and infrastructure technology.
VVR can be accessed directly regardless of the network the video user is on or the video equipment they are using, and supports telepresence, video room systems and desktop video services. Similar to 800-audio conferencing services, VVR supports toll-free and URI dialing with host and participant pin codes for self-service, multi-party video conferencing for internal and external participants.
Polycom, Inc., Vice President, Service Provider, Tony Scarfo said: "Customers are seeking easy-to-use, multi-point solutions on different video platforms and we are pleased that Glowpoint has incorporated the Polycom UC Intelligent Core as part of its VVR solution. Cloud-based architecture and services, such as VVR, are part of the natural evolution for the interoperability of video and immersive telepresence and will drive the growth of B2B applications."
"We applaud Glowpoint's Open Video strategy to drive the interoperability of both immersive and personal telepresence video communications. We believe Glowpoint's VVR service will provide significant value to the telecommunications service provider market, and ultimately to enterprises thanks to its easy-to-access, inter-business video calling capabilities," added Ken Rokoff, VP, business development, BroadSoft, Inc.
VVR Features
-- Participant Code - unique code that denotes a meeting room and is
distributed to invited participants
-- Secure Host Pin Code - 4-digit code that is randomly generated for each
meeting and is associated with the corresponding participant Code
-- URI Dial - URI dial string (@ovcloud.com) provides the ability for
end-users to distribute to participants to enter the conference via IP
connections
-- ISDN Call-in - dial-in number for ISDN participants who can also join
the conference call
-- Self-Certification - dedicated dial-in VVR code enables end-users to
perform self certification in order to test their video or audio
equipment and make sure that it is fully compatible before scheduling
calls
-- Compatibility - with virtually all standards and technology including
Polycom and Cisco
Anil Balani, Glowpoint's senior vice president of product development said: "The video community has not had the same inter-business video conferencing capabilities as has the audio world. Glowpoint's cloud-based, hosted infrastructure offers a cost effective option for video users to quickly and easily communicate with other audio and video users across business boundaries."
Glowpoint, Inc. (OTCBB: GLOWD) enables video users to effortlessly and securely call one another regardless of their video technology or network. With unlimited, "open" access to Glowpoint's cloud-based, hosted-video infrastructure and services, video calling within - and between - companies is dramatically simplified. From full-featured telepresence and video conferencing suites to desktop video, Glowpoint supports customers around the world with 24/7 managed services that allow business professionals to enjoy "in-the-same-room" intimacy and cost savings. To see a video-in-the-cloud demonstration, and to learn more about how cost-effective and easy telepresence and video conferencing can be for your business visit http://www.glowpoint.com.
Marvell Unveils Industry's First 'Mobile MIMO' Wi-Fi Solution
The Avastar 88W8797 delivers unprecedented level of integration and power profile ideal for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvell (Nasdaq: MRVL), a worldwide leader in integrated silicon solutions, today announced the Avastar(TM) 88W8797, an 802.11n 2x2 dual-band Wi-Fi System-on-Chip (SoC) designed to support high data rates for next-generation mobile devices. With Wi-Fi Tx beamforming technology, Bluetooth 4.0 low energy capabilities and FM Tx/Rx, the Avastar 88W8797 is the industry's first high-performance multiple input multiple output (MIMO) combination radio with advanced power management designed specifically for handheld products such as smartphones and tablets.
"As the promise of seamless connectivity fast becomes a reality, Wi-Fi provides a common link across many different mobile devices," said Weili Dai, Marvell's Co-Founder. "The Avastar 88W8797 represents a breakthrough for our industry: for the very first time the powerful performance of MIMO technology is now available and practical for mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. By integrating multiple cutting-edge technologies and several low-power radios into a single system-on-a- chip, the Avastar solution ushers in an exciting new era in mobile computing and communications."
Poor wireless performance in first-generation tablets has been widely attributed to the limitation of single antenna design and placement. Given a tablet's unique industrial form factor, device designers and manufacturers have little flexibility in the physical location of the antenna on the device. Marvell's new Mobile MIMO technology alleviates this challenge by adding a second transceiver in a true MIMO configuration. Offering Wi-Fi data rates up to 300Mbps, the Avastar 88W8797 can double the performance available on today's mobile products, enabling new, high-bandwidth media applications regardless of the device's spatial orientation. By allowing flexibility in the placement of two antennas on the device, robust performance is ensured even if one antenna is partially or completely obstructed.
The Avastar 88W8797 comes equipped with Tx beamforming technology, enabling a far more expansive network range when compared with existing 11n 2x2 products. The Avastar 88W8797 also supports the Bluetooth low-energy ecosystem, allowing communication with a new breed of mobile devices, including body sensors for personal health monitoring and remote controls for home automation and other applications. The Avastar 88W8797 is also well-suited to other products that require MIMO Wi-Fi performance such as home media servers, notebook computers, set-top-boxes, and digital televisions.
Marvell will be demonstrating the Avastar 88W8797 in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress (Courtyard CY15) and is already sampling the device to customers.
About Marvell
Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) is a world leader in the development of storage, communications and consumer silicon solutions. Marvell's diverse product portfolio includes switching, transceiver, communications controller, wireless and storage solutions that power the entire communications infrastructure, including enterprise, metro, home and storage networking. As used in this release, the term "Marvell" refers to Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries. For more information, visit Marvell.com.
Marvell and the M logo are registered trademarks of Marvell and/or its affiliates. Avastar is trademark of Marvell and/or its affiliates. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
For Further Information Contact:
Marvell Media Relations
Daniel Yoo
Tel: (408) 222-2187
yoo@marvell.com
SOURCE Marvell Semiconductor, Inc.
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100719/SF36559LOGO-b http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Marvell Semiconductor, Inc.
CONTACT: Marvell Media Relations, Daniel Yoo, +1-408-222-2187, yoo@marvell.com
Secure Cloud Login Solutions from Nordic Edge and Yubico Successfully Deployed in Government of Turkey
SUNNYVALE, Calif., and STOCKHOLM, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Yubico, a leading provider of easy and secure login solutions, andNordic Edge, provider of identity and access management solutions, today announced that a combined solution has been selected to provide login authentication for Turkey e-government.
The Turkey Customs and Social Agency has successfully deployed the Nordic Edge One Time Password Server with authentication tokens from Yubico, enabling easy and secure cloud single sign on for more than 10,000 staff members.
Turkey is going through the process of introducing e-government solutions as a way to simplify, secure and streamline operations. During 2010, a thorough analysis of the authentication market was performed. The conclusion was that Nordic Edge was the best fit.
The product used is the One Time Password Server from Nordic Edge which authenticates all the users using username/password and a one-time password. The YubiKey®, an innovative USB-key from Yubico, was selected as the method for two-factor authentication. The integration partner Cloud Solutions has, together with local partners, deployed the solution.
"The Nordic Edge solution combined with YubiKeys has many advantages," says Umut Yesilirmak, IT Security Manager at General Directorate of Social Assistance and Solidarity in Turkey. "It is easy to roll out, easy to use, scalable and very flexible with its many ways to authenticate users. Nordic Edge also offers very good support."
Sweden is one of the leading countries embracing e-government and Nordic Edge and Yubico have a large penetration within the public sector in Sweden, which has served as a reference for the Turkish project.
Nordic Edge and Yubico solutions will be demonstrated at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, February 14-18, 2011 in the Nordic Edge booth in the OATH pavilion.
The Nordic Edge YubiKey 10-User Starter Pack is available for $300, and is available immediately at http://www.nordicedge.net/yubico.
About Nordic Edge
Nordic Edge is a software provider of trusted Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions that enable organizations to secure and manage their digital identities. With Nordic Edge's solutions, organizations can improve business processes and meet regulatory compliance requirements. The offering includes two-factor authentication, role based delegated user administration, synchronization and provisioning. Nordic Edge was founded 2001 in Sweden and has customers in more than 25 countries. All products are available as a service (SaaS/IaaS) or deployed as a product. For more information, visit http://www.nordicedge.net.
About Yubico
Yubico's core product is the YubiKey®, a unique USB-key for instant and strong authentication to networks and services. Provided with a disruptive open source business model the award winning technology is rapidly being adopted by developers, enterprises and cloud services around the globe. The team is based in US, UK, Sweden, and India. For more information, visit http://www.yubico.com.
NICE to Demonstrate Cost Effective 3D Mobile Location Tracking Solution at GSMA Mobile World Congress 2011
NICE Solution Enhances Security and Safety by Detecting Mobile Device Location With High Accuracy Levels; Enables Operators to Comply With E-911 and E-112 Standards; Network Optimization and Location Based Services
RA'ANANA, Israel, February 10, 2011/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NICE Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: NICE), the worldwide leader of intent-based
solutions that extract insight to impact business performance, reduce
financial risk and ensure safety and security, today announced that it will
be demonstrating the advanced capabilities of its 3D Mobile Location Tracking
solution, which include the provision of altitude information for both rural
and dense urban environments, at the upcoming GSMA Mobile World Congress, to
take place in Barcelona, Spain, from February 14th- 17th, 2011, booth B70,
Hall 2.1.
The need for accurate mobile location information is critical in times
such as accidents, fires and criminal activities. Nearly 90% of handsets are
not GPS-enabled resulting in great need for a solution that can provide
highly accurate location tracking information. The NICE 3D Mobile Location
Tracking solution meets this need, supporting homeland security (HLS)
initiatives by automatically monitoring and analyzing mobile device location,
enabling law enforcement agencies and intelligence organizations to perform
post-incident investigations.
It enables compliance with the US's Enhanced-911 (E-911) and the European
Union's E-112 regulations, which require wireless network operators to
provide the latitude and longitude of callers, in order to know to which
emergency services call center to route the call, and to where to send
emergency services. The solution does this by obtaining highly accurate and
reliable positioning results to quickly address incidents and comply with the
US's Federal Communication Commission (FCC) standards and EU guidelines. It
helps national alert systems detect all mobile devices located within a given
geographical area, including phones in idle mode, and automatically issue an
alert in real-time. In addition, the NICE solution can be used to provide
network optimization and location based services. It is software-based and
requires no calibration or on-going vehicle network measurements ("drive
test") to ensure the solution's reliability, which significantly reduces the
cost of the deployment and ongoing operation.
NICE helps organizations achieve highly accurate and reliable 3D location
positioning (X, Y and Z axes), in rural and urban environments, both indoors
and outdoors, and interfaces with all cellular networks, including GSM, UMTS,
CDMA and LTE to locate any cellular device.
Yossi Ofek, President of the NICE Intelligence Division, said, "The field
proven NICE solution provides accurate 3D mobile location tracking
capabilities. By being able to detect location with high accuracy levels and
even identify the altitude of a device in dense urban environments, such as
skyscrapers, governments can ensure security. This capability also enables
service providers to ensure compliance with the latest and upcoming
regulations. In addition, service providers can leverage the same technology
for network optimization and location based services."
The NICE Security Offering addresses the needs of governments and
enterprises with intent-based solutions for fighting crime and terror, by
anticipating, managing and mitigating safety, security and operational risks.
The offering enables capturing, analysis and correlation of data from
multiple sensors and systems, including audio, video, radio, geo-location and
web, providing a framework for fusing data silos into a single, holistic
operational view. NICE Security solutions empower organizations to act
effectively in real time to prevent, manage and investigate incidents,
ensuring fast resolution and debriefing, and continuous security
improvements. NICE Security solutions are deployed worldwide in government
and law enforcement agencies, transportation systems, critical
infrastructures, city centers and enterprise campuses.
About NICE Systems
NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE), is the worldwide leader of intent-based
solutions that capture and analyze interactions and transactions, realize
intent, and extract and leverage insights to deliver impact in real time.
Driven by cross-channel and multi-sensor analytics, NICE solutions enable
organizations to improve business performance, increase operational
efficiency, prevent financial crime, ensure compliance, and enhance safety
and security. NICE serves over 25,000 organizations in the enterprise and
security sectors, representing a variety of sizes and industries in more than
150 countries, and including over 80 of the Fortune 100 companies. http://www.nice.com.
Trademark Note: NICE and the NICE logo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of NICE Systems. All other marks are trademarks of their
respective owners. For a full list of NICE Systems' marks, please see: http://www.nice.com/NICETrademarks.html.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements, including the statements by Messer Ofek, are
based on the current expectations of the management of NICE-Systems Ltd. (the
Company) only, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ
materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the
impact of the global economic environment on the Company's customer base
(particularly financial services firms) and the resulting uncertainties;
changes in technology and market requirements; decline in demand for the
Company's products; inability to timely develop and introduce new
technologies, products and applications; difficulties or delays in absorbing
and integrating acquired operations, products, technologies and personnel;
loss of market share; pressure on pricing resulting from competition; and
inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements. For a
more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the
company, refer to the Company's reports filed from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on
Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are
made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no
obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.
Corporate Media
Galit Belkind
NICE Systems
galit.belkind@nice.com
+1-877-245-7448
Investors
Anat Earon-Heilborn
NICE Systems
ir@nice.com
+1-877-245-7449
LivingSocial Offers Cure to Cabin Fever This Winter, Bringing Daily Deals to Four New Markets in U.S. and Canada
Smart Shoppers and Visitors in Arizona, Massachusetts, California and Ontario Will Now Enjoy Top Local Attractions and Hotspots at Incredible Prices
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LivingSocial (http://www.livingsocial.com), the online source for people to find handpicked experiences at a great value, today announced the launch of four new markets in the U.S. and Canada including: West Valley - Phoenix, AZ; South Shore - Boston, MA; Contra Costa County, CA and North Toronto, Ontario. With this launch, LivingSocial is now available in 179 markets in 11 countries with nearly 20 million subscribers worldwide.
"From Boston's South Shore to Southern Ontario, local shoppers and visitors can beat cabin fever now and throughout the year, experiencing the most popular restaurants, outdoor activities, boutiques and other attractions for at least half of the regular price," said Tim O'Shaughnessy, CEO and co-founder of LivingSocial.
LivingSocial lets anyone find restaurants, shops, activities and travel hotspots popular in their area, at a budget-friendly cost. The company has dedicated area experts on the ground in every market working directly with business owners and constantly identifying the best in local attractions to bring a savings of at least 50 percent to consumers.
Cashing in on LivingSocial deals is easy: the site offers a new promotion every morning, announced through its website, daily email, iPhone and Android app. Live for 24 hours, the deal is available to anyone who clicks on it. Additionally, LivingSocial's unique referral model gives users their deal for free if they refer three friends who also participate.
With an audience of nearly 20 million subscribers, LivingSocial is able to provide local merchants with the unprecedented ability to reach both local customers and a worldwide audience, as well as introduce great local experiences at incredible values.
LivingSocial also recently launched LivingSocial Escapes, a travel site offering unbeatable savings on curated, unforgettable adventures. Just as LivingSocial lets people discover new services, experiences and attractions at a fraction of the retail price in their hometown or places they visit, LivingSocial Escapes helps anyone find one-of-a-kind day trips, packaged nearcations, quick escapes that don't require air-travel or weekend excursions they might not typically pursue.
For a full list of markets where LivingSocial is live or to sign up your location, go to http://www.livingsocial.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/livingsocial.
About LivingSocial
LivingSocial adds surprise to every calendar with handpicked daily deals you can share with friends. Members enjoy at least 50% off on the coolest, local experiences. Local business owners get an easy and cost effective marketing tool to attract new, loyal customers. In 2010 one of the fastest growing companies in the space expanded with LivingSocial Escapes offering a "vacation in a box" for easy weekend trips at great value. Based in Washington, DC, the international brand and has saved nearly 20 million subscribers more than $230 million in more than 179 markets worldwide.
SOURCE LivingSocial
LivingSocial
CONTACT: Maire Griffin of LivingSocial, +1-202-503-2506, maire.griffin@livingsocial.com; or Brittany Pass of Atomic PR, +1-415-593-1400, brittany@atomicpr.com, for LivingSocial
New Verizon iPhone Customers Can 'Rule the Air(TM)' with Peace of Mind from Worth Ave. Group
Most Affordable, Comprehensive Protection Covers Drops, Spills, Submersion and Other Accidents with Unlimited Replacements and Worldwide Coverage
STILLWATER, Okla., Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With millions of new iPhones expected to hit the Verizon Wireless airwaves early next month, consumers eager to get their hands on one may want to consider adding a comprehensive insurance policy to protect their shiny new investment against the inevitable--accidental damage not covered by AppleCare, the manufacturers' warranty.
For peace of mind protection against drops, spills, even full liquid submersion, and other calamity, Worth Ave. Group offers the lowest-price comprehensive insurance coverage for iPhone and other mobile devices with unlimited replacements and worldwide coverage.
Unlike manufacturers' warranties that only cover factory defects, Worth Ave. Group protects against virtually any accident and natural disaster, including theft, fire and flood damage--the main cause of 80 percent of iPhone product failures. And, only Worth Ave. Group offers unlimited replacement coverage for both new and refurbished devices with premiums that are guaranteed to never go up as a result of claims made. With premiums starting at just $55 per year for both domestic and international coverage, Worth Ave. Group also offers a very low deductible--just $50 for the iPhone--compared to at least $199 out of pocket to replace an uninsured device.
"No doubt many loyal Verizon customers have been anxiously awaiting this opportunity, and we'll probably see a good number of current iPhone users switch from AT&T as well," said Aaron Cooper, marketing director with Worth Ave. Group. "Either way, we've got you covered. You can buy a protection policy at any time, for both new and used phones. These devices aren't cheap, so we recommend customers get a policy in place right away before it's too late."
The new Worth Ave. Group Insurance App, now available in the Apple App Store, makes it quicker and easier than ever to get a protection plan in force right away. Just visit the App Store, search "Worth Ave. Group" and tap to download the app. Once installed, the app quickly walks you through all the steps to enter device details, setup the policy and have policy information delivered via email.
Worth Ave. Group also offers comprehensive insurance plans to cover other smartphone devices, televisions, laptop and desktop computers, as well as exclusive coverage plans that extend to virtually any peripheral/hardware device.
Worth Avenue Group is a full-service electronic device insurance provider, offering affordable coverage plans that protect iPhones, iPads, laptop and desktop computers, TVs, digital cameras, PDAs and other portable electronic devices against accidental damage and theft. Based in Stillwater, OK, the company has a 40-year history of providing peace of mind to thousands of customers nationwide and has earned the trust of more than 2,000 schools across the U.S. The company is licensed in all 50 states and is underwritten by Hanover Insurance Company, which earned an excellent A rating from A.M. Best Company. For more information, visit http://www.worthavegroup.com.
SOURCE Worth Avenue Group
Worth Avenue Group
CONTACT: Aaron Cooper, Marketing Director of Worth Ave. Group, aaron@worthavegroup.com
Abe's Market Attracts $3.4 Million Venture Financing
Accel Partners and Index Ventures Lead Series A Investment Round in Natural Products Marketplace AbesMarket.com
CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Abe's Market, (http://www.abesmarket.com), the leading online marketplace for great natural products, announced that it has closed a $3.4 million Series A round of financing led by Accel Partners, who are joined by existing investor Index Ventures and their other angel investors. The company will use this latest round of funding to continue its dramatic growth via aggressive and innovative marketing.
"Our first year sales demonstrate America's demand for natural and organic products," said Abe's Market co-founder Jon Polin. "We are excited about the continued support of Index Ventures and the addition of Accel Partners to our team, both of whom share our passion for bringing together buyers and sellers in a more personal way."
The Organic Trade Association's 2010 survey shows US organic Food and Non-Food sales at $26.6 billion -- up 5.3 percent from 2008-2009 -- with non-food products up over 9 percent. Since its launch in October 2009, Abe's Market has quickly become the go-to site for a wide range of natural products. Abe's Market offers an innovative online presence for small to large companies looking to expand their reach beyond regional markets, and gives consumers a one-stop-shop for the best natural products anywhere. Abe's Market now works with nearly 300 vendors, and has seen its orders grow by 900% over the past six months alone.
"We have seen tremendous growth in specialty e-commerce. With its fragmented base of passionate sellers and a fast growing population of motivated buyers, we see natural products as a particularly attractive category," said Adam Valkin, Partner at Accel Partners, which counts Etsy, Groupon, Kayak, Diapers.com, ModCloth and Bonobos among its e-commerce investments. "Combine this with the entrepreneurial talent and marketing creativity of the Abe's Market team, and we have a shot to essentially redefine the way natural goods are bought and sold online."
"The genius of Abe's Market is how it treats its audience as real people who are hungry to share their stories with one another, rather than simply as anonymous, disconnected merchants and consumers," said Saul Klein, Partner at Index Ventures. "Through creative interviews, Abe's Live broadcasts and behind-the-scenes peeks, sellers on Abe's Market provide an intimate and personal introduction to themselves and their products."
Beyond providing access to a wide breadth of natural products, the company is taking social shopping to new heights. Some of Abe's Market pioneering programs include "Share It", in which shoppers get an instant 10 percent off their order just for sharing their shopping cart with friends, and "Abe's Live", a series of live online broadcasts that give consumers a chance to meet and interact with the people behind the products they buy. These programs have dramatically bolstered sales and engagement in just a few months.
"We pride ourselves on delivering the informative and interactive experience of a farmer's market. But where farmers markets are traditionally limited to a few hours a week and mostly offer produce, Abe's Market offers goods ranging from body and home care to pet products and healthy snacks," added Abe's Market co-founder Richard Demb. "The result has been a win-win- with sellers expanding their revenue potential and reach, and consumers discovering more of the natural products they love. This round of funding will allow us to connect even more passionate buyers and sellers throughout the country."
About Index Ventures
Index Ventures (http://www.indexventures.com) is a leading venture capital firm active in technology venture investing since 1996. The firm is dedicated to helping top entrepreneurial teams in the Information Technology, Clean Technology, and Life Science sectors build their companies into market defining global leaders. The company has offices in Geneva, London, and Jersey and will soon be opening an office in the US. Index focuses on investments from seed through growth stage companies and current portfolio companies include ASOS, Astley Clarke, Etsy, Flipboard, Just-Eat, Lovefilm, Moleskine, Notonthehighstreet and viagogo and exits include Betfair, Last.fm, Net-a-Porter, Playfish and Skype.
About Accel Partners
Founded in 1983, Accel Partners is dedicated to partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs and management teams to build world-class companies. With over $6 billion under management, Accel has helped entrepreneurs build over 300 successful category-defining companies including: Admob, Alfresco, Arrowpoint, Baidu, BBN, Brightcove, ComScore, Etsy, Facebook, Focus Media, Gameforge, GlamMedia, Groupon, Imperva, Infinera, Interwoven, JBoss, Kayak, Macromedia, metroPCS, ModCloth, Playfish, Portal Software, QlikTech, Raptr, Real Networks, Redback Networks, Riverbed, Sohu.com, SunRun, UUNet, Veritas, Walmart.com, Webroot, XenSource, and Zimbra and others. For more information, visit the Accel Partners web site at http://www.accel.com.
About Abe's Market
Abe's Market is the go-to destination for natural products online, giving shoppers the opportunity to discover amazing green products, and the unique stories behind them. Sellers on Abe's Market include mom- and dad-preneurs, corporate execs, father-daughter teams, celebrity manicurists, and others who followed their dream to launch a green business. Abe's Market brings them together in a marketplace that combines the feel of a local, organic market with the selection you'd expect from an online superstore. Shop Abe's Market for everything organic - from gourmet marshmallows to barbecue rubs, messenger bags, BPA-free bottles, and more. http://www.AbesMarket.com
Media Contact:
Christina Halper, Resound Marketing
Christina@ResoundMarketing.com
(609) 279-0050 x103
SOURCE Abe's Market
Abe's Market
CONTACT: Christina Halper, Resound Marketing, Christina@ResoundMarketing.com, +1-609-279-0050 x103
Qualcomm's Snapdragon Processor Powers Advanced 3D Gaming and Stereoscopic 3D in the Latest Tablets and Smartphones
-- Single and Dual-Core Custom CPUs and Advanced GPUs Enhance Performance Levels and Enable Next-Generation Mobile Gaming --
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) today announced that its Snapdragon(TM) processors are enabling the latest and greatest multimedia experiences in today's commercial mobile devices, including stereoscopic 3D (S3D) entertainment, 1080p 30fps HD video capture and playback, console-quality gaming and full web browsing with Adobe Flash 10. The newest member of the Snapdragon family, Qualcomm's APQ8060 dual-CPU processor, powers the HP TouchPad, which HP introduced yesterday.
"Our work with industry leaders has allowed us to showcase the full spectrum of Snapdragon's graphics and multimedia capabilities in both the tablet and smartphone space across major software platforms," said Raj Talluri, vice president of product management for Qualcomm. "With more than 75 Snapdragon devices already announced, 150 Snapdragon devices in development and over 100 high end mobile games optimized for our GPU, Qualcomm continues to be a leader in delivering high performance devices to market."
The first webOS tablet, the HP TouchPad, offers a 9.7-inch diagonal multitouch display, an innovative and intuitive multitasking UI and a robust platform for game development. Qualcomm and HP collaborated with Polarbit to optimize its action-packed arcade flight simulation game, Armageddon Squadron II, for the HP TouchPad. Running on the HP TouchPad, Squadron II showcases dynamic lighting and shading with enhanced motion blur visual effects to create a real-world gaming experience, which is made possible with the power of Qualcomm's Adreno® 220 GPU.
"With the APQ 8060 and Adreno 220 GPU, the HP TouchPad delivers a high-performing and fluid multitasking user interface, as well as offers game and multimedia application developers a high-performance environment for their applications," said Jon Oakes, director of TouchPad Product Marketing at HP.
Qualcomm's embedded CPUs and GPUs are designed from the ground up to deliver unprecedented processing and 3D graphics performance with industry-leading efficiency to extend battery life. The 8x60 family, with the APQ8060 being the newest addition, is part of the third generation of the Snapdragon family and is the ultimate solution for the latest multi-tasking smartphones and tablets. The third-generation includes: two asynchronous processor cores; an integrated Adreno 220 GPU with twice the processing power of its predecessor; support for up to a 16 Megapixel camera; and can capture and display HD 1080P stereoscopic video or 8 Megapixel stereoscopic still images to an autostereoscopic panel or a 3DTV (via HDMI), allowing consumers to capture high resolution video or stills and watch them without the need for special glasses.
The second generation Snapdragon single-core family of CPUs is already powering numerous smartphones that are commercially available today, including the recently launched Sharp Galapagos 003SH, a 3D entertainment smartphone. The Galapagos 003SH is powered by the Snapdragon MSM8255(TM) processor, which provides the ability to capture and display pictures, as well as play movies, in stereoscopic 3D without the use of glasses. The Galapagos 003SH also supports the Adreno 205 GPU for 3D gaming capability in addition to a 9.6 Megapixel camera and HD 720p video for playback and recording.
"In order to provide the best mobile user experience possible for the Galapagos 003SH, we were thrilled to work with an industry leader such as Qualcomm," said Hiroaki Tochihara, division general manager, Personal Communication Systems Division II, Communication Systems Group, Sharp Corporation. "The 003SH provides an innovative and robust user experience with its next-generation 3D entertainment capabilities, and Qualcomm has been instrumental in helping to enable these features and bring this device to market."
For more information about Snapdragon and to see the latest devices it's enabling, please visit us at the GSMA's Mobile World Congress in the Company's exhibit, located in Exhibit Hall 8, #8B53 or visit http://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a world leader in 3G and next-generation mobile technologies. For 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of wireless communications, connecting people more closely to information, entertainment and each other. Today, Qualcomm technologies are powering the convergence of mobile communications and consumer electronics, making wireless devices and services more personal, affordable and accessible to people everywhere. For more information, visit Qualcomm around the Web:
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company's ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of APQ8060, MSM8X90 and MSM8255 components on a timely and profitable basis, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 26, 2010, and most recent Form 10-Q.
Qualcomm and Adreno are registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. Snapdragon and MSM8255 are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Qualcomm Contacts:
Tina Asmar, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com
Joe Bonamassa Gives Away Free Download of His New Single; Utilizes Social Media to Keep On Top of the Billboard Charts
New Single 'Dust Bowl' Available For Free Download on Feb. 11, 2011
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning this Friday, February 11, 2011, JOE BONAMASSA fans can get a free download of the blues-rock star's new single "Dust Bowl" at Bonamassa's website http://www.jbonamassa.com. Bonamassa recently completed work on his all new solo album, also titled Dust Bowl, which will be released on March 22, 2011 on J&R Adventures, Bonamassa's label which he co-owns and operates with longtime manager and business partner Roy Weisman.
This giveaway is another strategy by J&R Adventures to constantly be at the forefront of the "new music business." The company continues to defy the traditional music label model, focusing energy on developing and implementing new platforms for Bonamassa's music to reach new fans. Through grassroots and cutting edge social media networking and marketing strategies, the company has been able to break Bonamassa onto the international music stage while methods like free downloads and music giveaways have been a driving force in ticket sales for Bonamassa's roughly 200 tour dates each year.
"We see J&R Adventures as the new way in the music industry and the wave of the future. Unlike traditional record labels, J&R has positioned itself as essentially an all-inclusive, one-stop-shop allowing Joe to take control of his music," says Weisman. "We've had great success over the last few years with our variation of a 360 degree deal."
The company's model incorporates management, media and record label duties to release a continuous stream of new CDs and DVDs for Bonamassa fans to enjoy. Over the last five years, J&R Adventures has successfully released four Bonamassa studio albums, two double-disc live albums, one live DVD and one Blu-ray. In addition, it released the debut album from Bonamassa's English-American rock band Black Country Communion with Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol). BCC is currently set to release their second album this summer.
Dust Bowl is produced by Kevin Shirley and combines the gritty, blues-based tones of Bonamassa's first albums with the fluid, genre-defying sounds he's mastered in the years since and adds a dash of country from Joe's collaborations with the best of Nashville including legends Vince Gill and John Hiatt.
"We are pleased to be able to offer Joe's fans a free download of the new single 'Dust Bowl.' The song is a moody, haunting rocker and a great sneak-peak of what's to come," says J&R Adventures.
Dust Bowl's release will be supported by a multi-country tour taking Bonamassa to the U.S., Canada, U.K., Europe, China, Japan, Singapore and Australia.
In 2010, Bonamassa was named Billboard's #1 Blues Artist based on the charting success of Black Rock, the #2 Billboard Blues Album of 2010, and 2009's Ballad of John Henry, which was #9. Overall, he claims the third-most No. 1 blues albums, behind B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
CEVA and Alango Partner to Add Innovative Voice Enhancement Software to CEVA-TeakLite-III DSP family
Alango's Voice Communication Package(TM) augments the industry's top-rated voice and audio processing capabilities of the CEVA-TeakLite-III used in handsets, tablets and hands-free devices
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CEVA, Inc. [(Nasdaq: CEVA); (LSE: CVA)], the leading licensor of silicon intellectual property (SIP) platform solutions and DSP cores, and Alango Technologies, Ltd., a leading developer and licensor of front-end DSP technologies for voice communication and mobile audio, today announced the availability of the latest Alango voice processing software package for CEVA's market-leading CEVA-TeakLite-III(TM) family of DSPs. Addressing the demand for tighter integration and cost reduction in mobile handset design, the CEVA-TeakLite-III DSP enables the integration of wireless baseband processing with mobile audio, speech, and front-end voice enhancement processing functions offered by Alango, on a single core.
The increased consumer and operator demand for clearer, less distorted voice transmissions in noisy environments has seen the introduction of multiple microphone, beam-forming and noise reduction techniques to wireless and wired communication devices. The Voice Communication Package of front-end voice enhancement technologies developed by Alango includes the patent-pending Adaptive Dual Microphone(TM) (ADM) algorithm, setting a new standard in noise attenuation by using two omni-directional microphones to significantly reduce background noise, wind and other interference in varying environments, while fully preserving the signal quality.
"Specifically architected for high quality audio and voice processing, the CEVA-TeakLite-III is ideally suited to implement our Voice Communication Package of front-end processing technologies. The high-performance, low-power nature of the DSP and its robust development environment allows our customers to seamlessly enhance their CEVA-based processor designs with our market-leading voice and audio enhancement software and leverage the combined benefits in a cost-efficient manner," said Dr. Alexander Goldin, CEO of Alango.
"Alango has some highly innovative and practical solutions to voice and audio challenges that many of our customers face. Their dual microphone beam-forming technology has proven itself to result in significant quality enhancements that expand the capabilities and utility of voice and audio products. The entire Voice Communication Package is an ideal complement to our CEVA-TeakLite-III DSP family for high-end voice and audio applications in the handset and automotive markets," said Eran Briman, vice president of marketing at CEVA.
Other voice and audio enhancement capabilities in the Alango package available for the CEVA-TeakLite-III include software modules for acoustic echo cancelation and feedback reduction, automatic noise dependent speaker volume and equalization, wind noise reduction, dynamic range compression, single-channel noise suppression, EasyListen(TM) technology slowing down speech in real time and packet loss concealment. The package natively supports High Definition (HD) voice thus enabling seamless transition to HD enabled mobile handsets and other communication devices.
The CEVA-TeakLite-III architecture, which has been named the industry 'best all around audio processor' in an independent report^^, offers several configurations, including the recently announced CEVA-TL3211, a 32-bit audio DSP running at 1GHz with a silicon footprint of only 0.2mm^2 when implemented on a 40nm process node. The architecture allows an efficient integration of baseband processing along with application processing related needs, such as those provided by Alango.
The companies will demonstrate ADM and additional Alango technologies implemented on the CEVA-TeakLite-III at CEVA's booth located at stand 1F33 in Hall 1 during Mobile World Congress, February 14-17 in Barcelona.
About Alango Technologies
Alango Technologies Ltd. is a leading developer and licensor of front-end DSP technologies for voice communication and mobile audio. Alango world-wide customers include companies of different scale covering a wide product range. Alango technologies can be found in mobile phones, hands-free car kits, Bluetooth headsets, audio conferencing systems, intercoms, assistive listening devices and security applications. Further information on Alango can be found on http://www.alango.com.
About CEVA, Inc.
CEVA is the world's leading licensor of silicon intellectual property (SIP) DSP Cores and platform solutions for the mobile handset, portable and consumer electronics markets. CEVA's IP portfolio includes comprehensive technologies for cellular baseband (2G / 3G / 4G), multimedia, HD video and audio, voice over packet (VoP), Bluetooth, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and Serial ATA (SATA). In 2010, CEVA's IP was shipped in over 600 million devices, powering handsets from 7 out of the top 8 handset OEMs, including Nokia, Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and ZTE. Today, more than one in every three handsets shipped worldwide is powered by a CEVA DSP core. For more information, visit http://www.ceva-dsp.com
^^The Linley Group "A Guide to CPU Cores and Processor IP, Second Edition" by Joseph Byrne and Linley Gwennap, March 2010.
CONTACT: Richard Kingston of CEVA, Inc., +1-650-417-7976, richard.kingston@ceva-dsp.com; or Mike Sottak of Wired Island, Ltd., +1-408-876-4418, mike@wiredislandpr.com
BASINGSTOKE, England, February 10, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Farncombe Consulting Group, the privately-owned European TV services
consultancy, has launched a security validation programme designed to
facilitate new conditional access (CA) and DRM products reaching the market.
At the same time the process makes it easier for an operator or content
provider to select or confirm the use of a new system.
The two-step programme involves first filling in a self-administered
questionnaire to gauge compliance with certain objective minimum security
requirements (MSRs) - which if satisfactorily completed then opens the door
to a comprehensive review and validation process.
"At the moment, CA and DRM system vendors with untested security systems
will often be asked to pay for a full audit - without any idea whether they
are likely to pass or not," points out Andrew Glasspool, Farncombe co-founder
and the partner leading the development of the new programme. "Using our
custom pre-review process, they can now obtain an accurate picture of whether
their new product is ready for an assessment. When they've completed that
first step, they can then proceed to a full review."
If a CA system fails to comply with the Farncombe MSRs, the vendor
receives a full report explaining which measures it failed on and which
aspects need to be rectified before it can be re-submitted or taken to a full
review at a later date.
Andrew argues that this should benefit all the main industry players.
"They get to identify the up-and-coming products and create a security
road-map for their businesses going forward; while the vendors can call on an
independent and respected expert opinion to show that they are in a position
to support the requirements of both operators and content-providers."
US studio HBO acknowledged the benefit of having a third-party security
auditor provide a summary review of security system details. "Validation of
expectations (or expected performance) of security systems by expert
organizations is essential for content companies to have comfort with systems
used to securely distribute our valuable content," it said.
Dr Abe Peled, Chairman and CEO of NDS Group, a leading content security
company, said, "NDS welcomes this initiative by Farncombe, a well-known
industry expert, which will help the use of adequate security systems by
operators."
Nagravision - another top firm in the security field - said: "Nagravision
has known and worked alongside Farncombe for 10 years in the field of pay-TV
security. Their independence and expertise in the area of conditional access
and DRM technology is trusted by operators and content security vendors
alike. Nagravision can unhesitatingly recommend them as leading experts in
the content security field."
The documentation required to apply for the security validation programme
and to be assessed by Farncombe's content security practice can be obtained
from Farncombe on application. A number of security technology companies have
already applied and been assessed.
About Farncombe Consulting Group
The Farncombe Consulting Group (http://www.farncombe.eu) is a specialised
professional services firm operating in the broad digital video technology,
telecoms and digital media sectors. Initially focused on pay-TV and digital
TV technology through founder company Farncombe Technology, it has since
grown into a globally-recognized television consultancy, servicing a large
international client roster that includes broadcasters, operators, telcos,
hardware and software suppliers and a variety of government, regulatory
bodies and private equity companies.
The Group comprises a number of practice areas covering a wide range of
core skills. These include: Content Security, Strategy, Technology
Consulting, Programme Management, System Integration, Engineering Services,
Test and Certification, Design and Training.
Farncombe's Content Security practice is responsible for administering
the new security validation programme, and has carried out numerous audits of
CA systems. It is frequently asked to assess CA systems as part of RFP and
due-diligence processes, and has advised a wide range of clients on content
security issues, including Hollywood studios and European pay-TV operators.
It was also recently appointed by UK pay-DTT operators Top Up TV and BT
Vision to write an independent paper on minimum security requirements for the
UK regulator Ofcom.
For further information contact Farncombe as below:
Lara Lerville
Paris Office
+33-1-71-18-29-86
lara.lerville@farncombe.eu
Source: Farncombe Consulting Group
Lara Lerville, Paris Office, +33-1-71-18-29-86, lara.lerville@farncombe.eu
The Smarter World Contest at Inter-Xect by T&C Vectors is Now Open - Valid Till 15 March 2011
T&C Vectors has launched a multi-dimensional search and engage engine, Inter-Xect, envisioning a smarter world. Inaugural contest with prize money up to $18,000 cash (http://www.Inter-Xect.com)
CHENNAI, India, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Smarter World contest at Inter-Xect is now open for enterprises and individuals. Prize money offered ranges from $200 to $18,000 in cash.
Inter-Xect is designed to work with six entities - individuals, universities, communities and large-medium-small enterprises. Enterprises and people are allowed to broadcast intelligent systematic information about a product, a service, contests, jobs, finance, property, services, books, blogs, exhibitions, new product launches, news, etc through the Inter-Xect broadcasting engine.
This broadcast information is available for search in the Inter-Xect search engine. The system allows broadcasts and searches to be geographic and time specific.
The Inter-Xect search engine facilitates five kinds of search variations:
1. by keywords
2. by broadcast content
3. by enterprise or individual name
4. by assisted search
5. by an integrated web search engine
Inter-Xect allows people to engage with other people, enterprises to engage with other enterprises, and people to engage with enterprises.
It creates a totally connected world, intersecting all participating entities at one single point and makes useful information accessible accurately and systematically.
Inter-Xect is a complete enterprise and people tool, that can be used for:
1. Branding and advertising
2. Direct marketing and sales
3. Recruitment
4. Information search
5. Promotions and discount offering
6. Event promotion
7. Media showcase and management
8. Ecosystem and community building
9. Partnership and JV formation
10. Measurement of product and service effectiveness
Inter-Xect engages people and enterprises across multiple dimensions and is an imperative tool for all enterprises and individuals.
Inter-Xect registration is free for individuals and is nominally priced for enterprises and individuals.
T&C Vectors is a systems research and intelligent systems development firm. More information and a free enterprise handbook called "The IQ Shift - Breaking the Intelligence Quotient Barriers" is available for download at T&C Vectors - The IQ Shift.
- Optimising Lean Storage Utilisation and Maximum I/O Performance
Intense demands for network efficiency and lower operating costs are
driving the phenomenal growth of virtualization. Yet despite outstanding
virtualization technologies, the ability to effectively share resources in
virtual environments runs into three barriers:
1. I/O bottlenecks and performance degradation created by accelerated
fragmentation - the action of breaking up a file into pieces and
writing it to scattered locations on the disk - in virtual platforms.
2. Virtual disks that are set for dynamic growth don't shrink again when
data is deleted. They waste the free space instead.
3. Virtual machines compete for shared I/O resources and their use is not
effectively prioritized across the platform.
A new product from Diskeeper Corporation, V-locity(R) 2, optimizes the
virtual platform using the new InvisiTasking(R) technology that operates
invisibly and without system resource conflicts. Then utilizing
IntelliWrite(R) technology, V-locity 2.0 also prevents most fragmentation
from ever occurring. When fragmentation does happen V-locity puts the
fragmented files back together into one piece so that the files are more
immediately accessible while also consolidating free space. In so doing, it
minimizes unnecessary I/Os passed from the operating system to the disk
subsystem, beating all previous standards for I/O performance ( http://www.diskeeper.com/business/v-locity/?apid=PPS0006598) and reliability.
"One of the key areas to any good virtualization project is performance
optimization. Some folks tend to focus their optimization efforts around CPU
and memory, but fail to consider the effects that virtual machines and file
fragmentation can have on a virtual environment. Defragmentation can
considerably help with disk latency issues and relieve many of the pressures
and bottlenecks associated with consolidating disk I/O channels." David
Marshall, http://VMblog.com
Besides being susceptible to I/O performance ( http://www.diskeeper.com/business/v-locity/?apid=PPS0006598) degradation, the
virtual system is hurt by the accumulation of unusable space. Virtual
platforms can develop free-space "holes" that under normal circumstances will
never be reused. This wasted space unnecessarily hastens the need to purchase
or allocate more physical storage. It happens because, over time, Thin or
Dynamic disks only grow; without help they never shrink, even if data is
deleted. The "holes" left by removed data are still there, taking up space on
the host file system that could otherwise be allocated for other virtual
machines (VMs).
The host virtualization server's file system - VMFS for VMware ESX
Server, or NTFS for Hyper-V - has to be able to contain all the VM files for
every VM that is hosted. A VM file can be preconfigured to its full size from
the start. This is called Thick Disk in VMware's terms and Fixed Disk by
Microsoft; it's the default and the most popular setting. But this setting
automatically eats up each file's limit in storage space, even if the file is
only filled with data to a quarter of its capacity.
The alternative is a better option for saving space: use of the Thin or
Dynamic Disk setting, which sets the space consumption of the file to the
actual file size. Files can grow or can be added as needed. The only problem
with Thin/Dynamic disks is that deleted files aren't really deleted; they're
simply marked as space that is unavailable for writes. This is why the Thin
or Dynamic disk will only grow, and never shrink - unless it has some help.
V-locity was designed not only to improve I/O performance ( http://www.diskeeper.com/business/v-locity/?apid=PPS0006598), but also to
remedy the over-expansion of VM files. It has a Virtual Disk Compaction
feature that provides graphical information about wasted or unused free space
within dynamic virtual hard disks. And it has a one-click capability to
compact the space-wasting virtual disk files. By returning "holes" to
usability in the virtualization host's file system, it permits users to
recycle the unused space on one VM for use in others. It permits the most
efficient space usage possible, to keep storage hardware budgets lean.
Better performance and better storage space utilization are both elements
of the efficiency promised by virtualization. Sharpening efficiency in both
of these areas can result in off-the-charts delivery on the virtualization
promise.
Total Merchant Services Announces New Smart Phone and BlackBerry® Credit Card Processing
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.,Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --Total Merchant Services (TMS), a leading credit and debit card processing service company, has released a new credit card processing program for users of most any Smart Phone or BlackBerry®
The service, provided in partnership with Roampay® includes a small swiping device, provided by the company that plugs into the headphone jack on the phone. This enables the merchant to process the charge as a "qualified" retail transaction since the device reads the card information directly from magnetic strip like traditional credit card machines. Accordingly the merchant pays the lower qualified rate as opposed to the higher rates associated with keyed-entry type transactions. When a charge is submitted and approved, a receipt is automatically sent to the customer's email. The processing gateway provided by Roampay® is secure and is totally PCI-DSS and PA-DSS compliant.
Regional Sales Manager Marc Kenyon commented: "The response to this service has been every positive. For an extra $5 per month our merchants now have the ability to initiate a credit or debit card transaction most anywhere they go without the need to carry a separate wireless credit card machine, or the need to pay for a special wireless data network. Taxi, limo and wrecker companies have been the most enthusiastic industry to use the system so far. Being able to equip every vehicle in an entire fleet with credit card processing at swipe rates for a nominal cost of $5 per month, per vehicle represents an enormous cost and convenience upgrade from previous methods."
The service is available to any new or existing TMS merchant as an add-on service by completion of a simple one page addendum. The swiping device is supplied free of charge by the company. Merchants interested in the service can contact the company's national sales office at 888-871-4558.
For more information on Total Merchant Services' credit card processing services, call 888-871-4558 or visit http://www.accept-credit-cards.com.
About Total Merchant Services:
Total Merchant Services is a 14-year old company headquartered in Basalt, Colorado. The company boards an average of 5,000 new merchants per month and services nearly 200,000 active businesses. Total Merchant Services is a registered Independent Sales Organization (ISO) and Merchant Service Provider (MSP) of HSBC Bank National Association, Buffalo, NY.
Compleat Buyers Group Launch Guarantees Savings on Corporate Purchasing
- New combined service and product offering from Compleat Software guarantees savings on annual purchases with ROI in as little as four months -
LONDON, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Compleat Software Limitedhttp://www.compleatsoftware.com today launches the Compleat Buyers Group, which coupled with the Compleat Purchase to Pay (P2P) and Employee Expenses automation software, provides a breakthrough level of Spend Control for small, medium and corporate scale enterprises.
The launch of the Compleat Buyers Group (CBG) combined with Compleat Purchase to Pay and Employee Expenses automation software substantially reduces the cost of Employee Expenses and discretionary spend for SMEs and Corporates by providing online catalogue-style buying control and guaranteeing lower prices through group purchasing.
The CBG enables organisations of any size to reduce the cost of discretionary spend by leveraging the entire CBG's collective spending power to achieve better prices. Where it differs from other buying groups is that it utilises P2P and expenses software to ensure nominated suppliers, goods, services and prices are used every time by the user's employees.
Neil Robertson, CEO Compleat Software, explains, "Most buying groups focus on the large items that are purchased, which in most cases is where the business is both diligent and competent at getting best price. CBG succeeds by focusing on everything else - it sweats the small stuff for you because you don't have time to!"
The CBG has secured preferential pricing and discounts from hundreds of leading suppliers across 1,000s of products and services. These products and services are presented to users through pre-configured and automatically maintained catalogues. As the buying group focuses on common discretionary spend and not specific vertical market specialisation, it is relevant to every type of organisation.
Whilst there are numerous buying groups, most clients have found that whilst savings are available, they have been unable to control the spending habits of their staff and much of the potential benefit is lost. The combination of Compleat's sophisticated Employee Expenses and Purchase to Pay software with the automated Buyers Group catalogues ensures that every client maximises their savings potential.
Compleat will undertake a detailed survey of an organisation's spend, capturing information at a line item level on all purchase invoices for a period of one to three months. The current prices paid by the organisation are then compared to the Buyers Group prices and extrapolated to provide an estimate of the annual saving potential. The resulting report is a key component of the implementation project, enabling the relevant catalogues to be enabled during implementation and generating savings from the moment the system goes live.
Robertson adds, "Saving money is a top priority for every business in today's austere Britain, as well as improved productivity, better cashflow and more timely & accurate management information. Compleat Spend Control with the Compleat Buyers Group will deliver on all four promises and will return on the investment in the first 12 months or we won't sell it to you!"
"Whilst every organisation is different, our expectation is that the savings generated through Compleat Buyers Group will deliver a real and quantifiable cash ROI - in as little as four months! But once in place, these savings are then enjoyed year on year on year making Compleat Spend Control a very compelling proposition."
Active Cost Management is another service available to members, where the Buyers Group buyer works on site with the client, providing additional resource and expertise to enable the organisation to maximise savings and the effectiveness of their spending. The Active Cost Management offering is flexible, enabling clients to decide on the number of days per week, (or per month) that the service is required.
Robertson concludes, "Compleat recommends the use of the Compleat Buyers Group for organisations that do not currently have an individual that is responsible for corporate spend - which is most of the SME market - as it delivers the resource, expertise and process that can ensure the maximum savings are achieved over a shortest period of time. The key to it all is that by saving pennies on the large number of small purchases made each year, the pounds invariably look after themselves."
About Compleat Software Limited
Compleat Software Limited is a provider of spend control, Purchase to Pay automation and employee expenses solutions for the SME marketplace. Committed to product and client satisfaction it strives to be at the forefront of technologies in order to provide best-of-breed software solutions.
About Compleat Procurement
Compleat from Compleat Software Limited is a Microsoft web-based Purchase to Pay automation and employee expenses solution that tightly integrates with most mid-ware accounting solutions. Providing your business with immediate cost-control, Compleat controls all aspects of your company's procurement cycle. With the most advanced, customisable workflow solution and real-time financial integration Compleat provides a winning procurement framework at a very compelling price point.
For further information, please contact:
Max Deeley / Lauren Hayward
Itpr
t. +44 (0)1932 578 800
Neil Robertson
CEO
Compleat Software Limited
t. +44 (0) 1483 270050
SOURCE Compleat Software
Compleat Software
CONTACT: Max Deeley or Lauren Hayward, Itpr, +44(0)1932-578-800; or Neil Robertson, CEO, Compleat Software Limited, +44(0)1483-270050
SquareTrade Announces Warranty + Guaranteed Buyback Package for Verizon iPhone
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SquareTrade announced today a new program that includes a TechForward Guaranteed Buyback plan with a SquareTrade iPhone or iPad warranty, at no additional cost to the customer.
SquareTrade's iPhone Warranty, the best alternative to overpriced iPhone Insurance, protects against drops, spills, and other common accidents, as well as all normal mechanical and electrical failures for 2 years. TechForward's Guaranteed Buyback plan allows users to buy electronics with confidence, knowing that they will get cash back for their devices should they decide to upgrade to the latest model before 2 years.
The Guaranteed Buyback plan provides users with a percentage of the unsubsidized price of the phone, before any carrier discounts, when they decide they want to upgrade to a new phone. The amount the customer gets back changes depending on when they return their phone - from 50% for the first six months, to 40% for months 6-12, 30% for months 12-18, and 20% for months 18-24.
To celebrate the launch of the iPhone 4 for Verizon, from now until February 14th, SquareTrade is offering this 2 year Warranty plus Guaranteed Buyback plan on the iPhone for just $81, a 35% discount from SquareTrade's base retail price of $124.99. For a limited time after February 14th, SquareTrade will continue to offer the Guaranteed Buyback plan as part of its standard iPhone and iPad warranties, priced at $99 and $96 respectively.
"By bundling SquareTrade with TechForward, we are able to provide Verizon iPhone customers with a great way to hedge against the risk of both iPhone failure and early upgrade envy," notes Steve Abernethy, CEO of SquareTrade. "Users who want a Verizon iPhone now can do so, get a warranty, and know that they'll get some of their cash back should they decide to upgrade to the iPhone 5 before the year is over."
"SquareTrade's initiative to give customers a Guaranteed Buyback plan along with their iPhone and iPad warranty shows how innovative they are as a warranty provider," said Jade Van Doren, CEO of TechForward. "The combined product provides customers with a complete package that is unique in the market today."
Founded in 1999, SquareTrade offers warranties that make sense, with fair prices, no-pressure sales, and no-hassle service. It offers consumers an alternative to other overpriced and under-serviced warranties at a price point that is 40% less on average. The company boasts millions of customers who have consistently rated the warranty service 5-star reviews. SquareTrade was named one of PC Magazine's Top 100 Websites of 2010, awarded BizRate's Circle of Excellence for 2010, and is a finalist for the 2011 Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service. SquareTrade is privately held and headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, go to http://www.squaretrade.com.
About TechForward
TechForward gives customers the flexibility to upgrade their computers and electronics more affordably, easily, and responsibly. Their Guaranteed Buyback® product takes the uncertainty out of upgrading by guaranteeing future trade-in values for devices at the point and time of sale, by making the trade-in process easy, and by reusing or recycling returned devices. TechForward was the first to market in 2006 with this innovative product for consumer electronics. TechForward, Inc. is a privately-held company based in Los Angeles.
SOURCE SquareTrade
SquareTrade
CONTACT: AlexaRae Antekeier, +1-847-415-9337, for SquareTrade
HAMBURG, Germany, February 10, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Hamburg-based Playa Games GmbH (http://www.playa-games.com) reports
record growth for 2010. Over the last twelve months, the publisher and
developer of browser games such as "Shakes & Fidget" and "SoccerStar"
recorded a tenfold increase in its player count. Playa Games started 2010
with one million gamer and was entering 2011 with more than ten million. The
increase in the number of player is the most important indicator for the
medium and long-term future prospects of a game manufacturer. Hannes Beuck,
CEO of the Hamburg-based company, was awarded the Wachstumspreis 2010 (Growth
Prize 2010) by Software-Initiative Deutschland (SID - German Association for
Software and Internet). "Even in the rapidly expanding market for browser
games, Playa CEO Hannes Beuck, is breaking all the records," explains
SID-President Valentina Kerst in her laudation.
The company also managed to significantly increase its turnover during
the last year. With an annual turnover of EUR 7 million in 2010, the games
manufacturer recorded a tenfold increase compared to the year before.
Although Playa Games does not publish its profit figures, is it a matter of
fact that Playa Games is operating profitable.
The company expects to continue with highest growth margins in its core
business of browser gaming, while it is also preparing for additional growth
in other areas such as the social and mobile gaming sectors. One strategic
target is to expand existing core games that are already a stunning success
by adding social and mobile components to games such as "Shakes & Fidget" and
"SoccerStar".
According to Software-Initiative Deutschland, the main reason for the
extraordinary growth is the "outstanding quality" of the games Playa
produces. "Shakes & Fidget" won three awards for its quality and is nominated
for another two. The history of Playa Games goes back into the PC retail
gaming sector; the professional staff has long-term experience in developing
games for different platforms. "When it comes to quality, the experiences
gained in developing PC games has given Playa Games a significant advantage
compared to companies starting from scratch," explains SID-President
Valentina Kerst during the award ceremony.
Playa Games (http://www.playa-games.com) has been awarded a prize for
being the fastest growing developer of successful browser games in 2010 by
Software-Initiative Deutschland (SID). The roleplaying game Shakes & Fidget
and the soccer game SoccerStar are regarded as milestones in the browser
gaming sector. According to the awarding body (SID), Playa Games managed by
CEO Hannes Beuck, is characterized by the outstanding quality of its browser
games thanks to the company's staff origin in the PC retail gaming sector:
"When it comes to quality, the experiences gained in developing PC games has
given Playa Games a significant advantage compared to companies starting from
scratch" - (quote from the speech given by Software-Initiative Deutschland
while awarding the Wachstumspreis 2010).
BoostEdge by ActivNetworks Chosen by Bouygues Telecom to Optimize 3G Internet Connections
PARIS, February 10, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
ActivNetworks, the expert in acceleration and optimization of data
traffic, today announces that its BoostEdge Telecom Edition platform has been
deployed at Bouygues Telecom with IBM as the system integrator.
Surfing the Internet via Bouygues Telecom's 3G network now benefits from
BoostEdge patented acceleration technologies. Processed traffic is widely
reduced, allowing Bouygues Telecom subscribers to access the Internet and
corporate web applications with a new comfort when on the move.
ActivNetworks won Bouygues Telecom's tender for acceleration and
compression of Internet connections on its 3G network. BoostEdge Telecom
Edition was chosen because it clearly outperformed the other solutions being
considered.
Cyrille Guetin, Bouygues Telecom's Technical Director, explains: "The
success of Mobile Internet and new terminals (smartphones, tablets) requires
that we look forward in order to guarantee the best service to our customers.
This is why Bouygues Telecom chose ActivNetworks which offers traffic
acceleration technologies that are both comprehensive and easy to deploy."
Serge Cuesta, President, ActivNetworks, says: "Accessing the Internet on
the move is now widely popular and this is creating huge challenges for
telecom operators. With Bouygues Telecom, ActivNetworks showcases its
expertise by deploying a solution that is both effective and durable but also
very simple to deploy and maintain. Investments required to cope with traffic
growth can now be reduced without adding complexity to existing networks or
modifying users' terminals."
BoostEdge Telecom Edition is designed to improve 3G networks performances
by widely reducing processed traffic. This means Web pages are displayed more
quickly and file downloads are greatly accelerated. ActivNetworks' patented
"Plug'n-Boost" technology allows for rapid deployments without modification
to existing infrastructures or service interruptions.
ActivNetworks is now identified as a major player in the market for
traffic acceleration and optimization technologies for telecom operators.
ActivNetworks will exhibit at the Mobile World Congress to be held in
Barcelona, Spain, February 14-17 2011. Visit us in Hall 2, Booth E47, Pod 19
About BoostEdge by ActivNetworks
BoostEdge is a network appliance developed by ActivNetworks to accelerate
Web response time by optimizing and reducing data flows. BoostEdge Enterprise
Edition reduces data traffic by 6 (up to 30) to give businesses fast and
secure access to their Cloud-based applications. BoostEdge Telecom Edition
allows telecom operators to limit infrastructure costs and raise the
performance of their existing 3G and DSL networks by dividing traffic by 3
(up to 6).
BoostEdge is the result of over 40 man-years of industry leading research
and expertise in application and network acceleration technologies. It is
deployed by about 100 enterprises and operators worldwide such as Alstom,
Bouygues Telecom, KDDI, Henkel, Nielsen, NTT DOCOMO, Pernod Ricard, Schneider
Electric or Sodexo. ActivNetworks is partnering with leading business
solution providers and system integrators such as IBM, Atos Origin and
Oracle.
Founded in 2004, ActivNetworks is recognized by Gartner as a Visionary
vendor in the market for Application Delivery Controllers (Soft Advanced
ADC). ActivNetworks is based in Paris and San Francisco. For further
information, please visit our website at http://www.activnetworks.com
BoostEdge, Plug'n-Boost, Ultimate Web Accelerators and ActivNetworks are
registered trademarks of ActivNetworks SAS. Product features and
specifications are listed for information and can be modified without prior
notice. All other product and company names are the property of their
respective owners.
Touchstone CRM Moves to the Next Level With Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011...
LONDON, February 10, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Touchstone CRM(R) is proud to announce its participation in the launch of
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 in the UK.
To kick off the release, Touchstone CRM will be hosting an exclusive
launch event at the Microsoft Campus in Thames Valley Park, Reading on 10th
March 2011. The event will showcase the collaborative features and benefits
of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and how it can help to decipher business
problems and deliver sustainable value. It will also provide an ideal
opportunity to find out more about the 'cloud vs. on-premise' debate and how
Microsoft and Touchstone can deliver world-class solutions for both.
Touchstone CRM is an independent software and services provider, putting them
in the best position to adviseon the right approach.
Touchstone CRM is part of Touchstone Group, one of the largest and oldest
suppliers of business software and consultancy services to mid-sized UK
organisations since 1982.Group operations are structured into solution driven
business units, each with their own dedicated management, sales, consultancy
and support functions. All are staffed by highly experienced, qualified teams
thatfocus on the solutionsthey know best, enabling them to provide maximum
value totheir clients.The Group has more than 1,000 active customers and
employs over 200 staff with market-leading experience in delivering
successful projects.
"Touchstone's working relationship with Microsoft has spanned over 10
years. In that time we have shown our strong commitment to developing
Microsoft solution offerings, based on the early adoption of latest product
releases such as Dynamics CRM 2011," said Dean Carroll, Head of Touchstone
CRM. "Our commitment is what makes us one of themost valued partners of
Microsoft."
Touchstone was recently honoured by Microsoft for achieving outstanding
levels of sales, innovation and commitment to customer satisfactionby being
named in the '2010 Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics'. Doug Kennedy, Vice
President of Microsoft Dynamics Partners, said: "We're excited to recognise
Touchstone as a leader in the Microsoft Dynamics global partner community for
promoting and delivering solutions that drive customer success. By providing
the highest level of sales and innovation, customers can have absolute
assurance they are dealing with the 'best of the best' when working with
Touchstone."
Touchstone CRM is a leading supplier of world-class CRM solutions to
mid-sized UK organisations in a range of sectors. Touchstone CRM has more
than 150 active customers and employs the largest Microsoft Dynamics CRM team
in the UK, with market-leading experience in delivering successful projects.
Handheld Expands its Global Reach by Opening an Asia-Pacific Subsidiary in Sydney, Australia
SYDNEY, February 10, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
- The Handheld Group, a Global Supplier of Rugged Mobile Computers, is
Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Additional Growth on the Asia-Pacific
Market by Opening Handheld APAC Pty Ltd., in Sydney, Australia.
Handheld Group of Sweden now announces the opening of Handheld APAC Pty
Ltd., in Sydney, Australia. The new subsidiary will provide sales, marketing
and support services to Handheld's business partners in the Asia-Pacific
region, supplying rugged mobile computers through an expanding partner
network in the fast-growing region. Besides offering a local presence to
current partners, the Sydney office will also serve as the company's
springboard into Asian markets.
"As a company with a global focus, we seek to expand our reach to serve
the growing world market for rugged mobile computers," says Jerker Hellstrom,
CEO and Chairman of the Handheld Group. "We continue to build a worldwide
network of partners that offer the highest level of support, service and
industry knowledge to our broad product lineup - and our Sydney based
subsidiary will provide a strong resource as we expand our presence across
the Asian market."
Christian Lofvendahl, a former graduate of the Handheld Group's
International Management Trainee Program, has been appointed Managing
Director of Handheld APAC Pty Ltd. Previously Lofvendahl has focused on the
Asian market while he also held a key position at the Handheld US subsidiary,
where he successfully managed diverse business development projects and
contributed to the rapid growth of Handheld US.
Lofvendahl brings strong connections with the region to his new position,
with several years of experience and a Master's Degree in International
Business from the University of Queensland in Brisbane.
"I'm very excited to be part of the efforts to bring Handheld and our
extensive product line into the Asia-Pacific market," says Lofvendahl. "Our
diverse product line gives our customers more options to manage their mobile
workforce effectively and efficiently. The opening of a subsidiary in this
region will provide our APAC partners a resource that's close to them and
familiar with the particular needs of their market."
Handheld APAC will commence business on the 10th of February, 2011 and
will be located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. More information is
available at http://www.handheldapac.com.au.
About the Handheld Group:
The Handheld Group is a worldwide supplier of rugged mobile computers and
PDAs. Handheld and its partners deliver complete mobility solutions to
businesses in industries such as logistics, forestry, public transportation,
construction, military, and security. The Handheld Group of Sweden has local
offices in Finland, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia and the USA. For more
information, please see http://www.handheldgroup.com .
Media contact :
Sofia Lofblad, Marketing Director, Handheld Group AB
s.lofblad@handheldgroup.com
+46-510-54-71-70
Christian Lofvendahl, Managing Director, Handheld APAC Pty Ltd.
c.lofvendahl@handheldapac.com.au
+61-2-9328-3600
dB Logic Earphones With SPL2 Healthy-Listening Technology Now Shipping
Stylish, Colorful, Sound Pressure Level Limiting Earphones Provide Great Sound Without Contributing to Potential Hearing Loss
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- dB Logic today announced the shipping of its no-battery-required, ultra-low distortion sound pressure level limiting EP-100 earphones for teens and adults. The earphones feature dB Logic's SPL2(TM) technology to help protect users from long-term hearing damage, regulating volume as needed while keeping musical content largely unchanged.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:
The company's proprietary SPL2 technology limits volume levels using advanced circuitry and eliminates the need for bulky battery-powered processors required by competitive sound pressure limiting products. By maintaining the integrity of the sound, the limiting is virtually transparent to the listener and the audio content does not sound clipped or distorted. dB Logic's award-winning earphones provide the industry's highest-quality listening experience that can help avoid hearing damage due to long-term exposure to high sound pressure levels.
"MP3 players and other portable audio devices are very popular, especially among young people and teenagers. dB Logic EP-100 earphones are designed to work with these products and help protect hearing, without sacrificing audio quality or style," said Med Dyer, co-founder and chief technology officer at dB Logic. "According to the American Academy of Audiology, approximately 12 percent of all children ages 6-19 have noise induced hearing loss(1). We are excited to offer a product that will allow consumers to enjoy their music while at the same time help to avoid hearing damage from loud volumes."
Pricing, Availability and Colors
dB Logic EP-100 earphones are now available on the dB Logic website (http://www.dblogic.com/buy-now) and Amazon.com for $29.99 MSRP. The earphones are available in a wide variety of fashionable colors, including Quick Silver, Big Apple Red, Barracuda Blue, Valentine Pink, Shamrock Green, and Tiger Orange.
About dB Logic
dB Logic is a leading provider of headphones and earphones with sound pressure level limiting technology for teenagers, adults and children. dB Logic's mission is to provide consumers with stylish and comfortable products that deliver the ultimate personal audio experience while helping to limit the risk of long-term hearing damage. All dB Logic headphones and earphones feature SPL2 technology. For more information, visit http://www.dblogic.com. You can also connect with dB Logic on Facebook and Twitter.
Verizon Wireless Prepares for iPhone 4 Store Debut: Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Video Available
Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's
WHO: largest and most reliable 3G network
Broadcast-quality B-Roll video provides a
sneak peek inside a Verizon Wireless store as
employees prepare for the long-awaited Verizon
WHAT: iPhone 4 launch. Available video includes:
--General store preparations for the arrival of
the Verizon iPhone
--Store representatives updating new Verizon
iPhone 4 signage
-- Stacks of iPhone 4 boxes awaiting customers
iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network debuts
in stores this week. Beginning at 7 a.m. EST on
Thursday, Feb. 10, iPhone 4 will be available
at more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless
Communications Stores nationwide and Apple
retail stores. Learn more at http://
news.vzw.com/news/2011/02/
BACKGROUND: pr2011-02-06.html.
MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Pica
Verizon Wireless
908.559.7516
Thomas.Pica@verizonwireless.com
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Mobily Launches Mobile Baby(TM) Service for Transmitting Sonograms to Subscribers' Mobile Phones
Mobily is the first mobile operator worldwide enabling parents to receive and send ultrasound scans wirelessly to their friends, family and loved ones
SAN DIEGO and RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Saudi Arabian telecommunications company Mobily and Great Connection Inc., creator of the innovative Mobile Baby(TM) service, announced the launch of the first mobile medical imaging service that enables ultrasound stills, 3D images and video clips to be sent directly from an ultrasound machine to a mobile device. Mobile Baby(TM) is a new service offered to Mobily network subscribers, as well as a pioneering initiative to enhance pre-natal healthcare through immediate availability and low-cost transmission of high-quality images and video clips from the womb.
Mobily is the first mobile operator to make the pioneering Mobile Baby mobile health (m-health) service available to subscribers. The application is compatible with any ultrasound machine and enables high-quality, 2D and 3D images and video to be delivered to any mobile device via MMS and email. In addition to offering a new and enticing service so that parents-to-be can share images with family and friends, this application will also enable doctors and specialists to analyze sonograms within seconds, from wherever they are in the world.
Khalid Al Kaf, Chief Executive Officer at Mobily, said, "The high adoption of mobile technology in Saudi Arabia provides a direct and wide-reaching platform for applications that promote health and welfare across the Kingdom. The Mobile Baby service is available today, and we look forward to growing our relationship with Great Connection and other application developers to bring more m-health applications to market in the future."
"Approximately 153 billion ultrasound images are taken every year worldwide, and many of these parents-to-be want to share the pictures and video with loved ones," said Asa Nordgren, CEO, Great Connection Inc. "Sometimes, there are complications that require a second opinion from a specialist. With Mobile Baby, these sonograms can be received anywhere in the world within seconds, whether by family and friends or medical practitioners. We intend the application to promote better pre-natal care to even the most remote areas, and we are proud to be pioneering this area of wireless health with Mobily in Saudi Arabia. By the end of the year, we plan to make Mobile Baby available in many more countries, as well as introduce more m-health innovation from our company."
Mobily and Great Connection have collaborated to introduce Mobile Baby with facilitation from Qualcomm Incorporated. A leading developer and innovator of wireless technologies and services, Qualcomm is working with a diverse ecosystem of companies worldwide, including Great Connection and Mobily in Saudi Arabia, to promote health monitoring and diagnosis services over wireless networks and using smartphone applications.
"Mobile Baby exemplifies the type of next-generation services that improve the quality of life and integrate into daily critical activities," said Jihad Srage, Qualcomm's Vice President and President, Middle East and Africa. "Qualcomm is developing a dynamic regional ecosystem that can bring innovative wireless health services to market. In providing this service to Saudi consumers, Mobily and Great Connection have made a significant achievement."
The Mobile Baby application by Great Connection was first introduced in May 2009 with Mama Mia, Scandinavia's largest private women's and child health service provider. It will be showcased as a mobile application in association with Mobily at Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona, Spain.
About Mobily
Mobily, the brand name of Etihad Etisalat, took its first step in becoming the Kingdom's monopoly-breaking mobile operator when it won a tender against five other competing consortiums in the summer of 2004. In November of 2008, Mobily acquired Zajil International Telecommunications for US$21.3 million before the company announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth US$400 million to buy Bayanat Al Oula - one of two licensed data communication operators in the Kingdom. By April 2008, Mobily concluded its acquisition of Bayanat.
Mobily has the largest active mobile broadband base in the Middle East and North Africa region, last reported (FY 2010) as 2.3 million active subscribers, who consume more than one gigabyte of data a month. Mobily covers more than 587 regions/cities/areas in the Kingdom with HSPA+/HSPA, representing a population coverage rate of 92%. Along with sister company Etisalat of the United Arab Emirates, Mobily was the first operator to launch the iPhone 3G regionally and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the company also was the first operator in the Kingdom to offer consumers BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) (May 2007).
Great Connection Inc. is a privately owned company at the intersection of wireless technology and healthcare. Great Connection mobilizes ultrasound and x-ray images by sending them from any imaging modality to any mobile device. Consumers and patients get high-quality medical images that they can print, store, publish or send to family and friends, or to doctors for a second opinion. Doctors get remote access to images, cost efficient storage and they can send images to referring physicians. Great Connection patent-pending technology, The Dicom Mobilizer(TM), is an accessory to any ultrasound system or diagnostic software. The first service based on this technology, Mobile Baby(TM), was launched in Scandinavia in 2009. The service sends video clips, 3D and still images of unborn babies to expecting parents and doctors. Great Connection is based in San Diego, USA and Stockholm, Sweden. For more information, visit us at http://www.greatconnection.se
Press Contacts:
---------------
Asa Nordgren
Great Connection Inc., USA
+ 1 858 225 9190
asa@greatconnection.se
Johanna Wollert Melin
Great Connection Inc., Europe
+ 1 46 70 260 69 97
johanna@greatconnection.se
Abdullah Al-Hariri
Mobily
+966 5 44 99 66 44
a.alhariri@mobily.com.sa
SOURCE Great Connection Inc.; Mobily
Great Connection Inc.; Mobily
CONTACT: USA, Asa Nordgren, +1-858-225-9190, asa@greatconnection.se, or Europe, Johanna Wollert Melin, + 1 46 70 260 69 97, johanna@greatconnection.se, both of Great Connection Inc.; or Abdullah Al-Hariri of Mobily, +966 5 44 99 66 44, a.alhariri@mobily.com.sa
Verizon Wireless Announces World's First Successful Voice over LTE Call on a Commercial LTE Network
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Chief Technology Officer Tony Melone has confirmed that the company's technologists placed a live, IMS-based VoLTE (Voice over LTE) call over its commercial network on Wednesday morning. This takes VoLTE calling from a lab environment to a commercial network for the first time anywhere on the globe.
The initial call was placed at 9:54 a.m. ET Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 by Balaji Raghavachari, manager of technology for Verizon Wireless, using a LG Revolution 4G smartphone. The call originated at Verizon headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J. and was received by Sanyogita Shamsunder, director of technology for Verizon Wireless, who was also on a LG Revolution 4G smartphone in Basking Ridge. The initial call was 33 seconds in duration. During additional calls made that morning, the technologists were able to browse the Web and use other data services while participating in voice calls.
Melone said, "Today is another proof point that the LTE ecosystem is alive, healthy and thriving. VoLTE will quickly become the global standard for delivering voice over LTE networks."
"The GSMA launched a voice over LTE initiative a year ago with the aim of driving a single, industry-wide solution for voice and messaging services via IP," said Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer at the GSMA. "We commend Verizon Wireless for helping to make this a reality by conducting the world's first voice call over a commercial LTE network. The progress made by the GSMA, its members, and in particular Verizon Wireless, to enable this functionality will play a crucial role in driving strong momentum and vast economies of scale for LTE all over the world."
Subsequent test calls lasted more than 10 minutes. Technologists browsed the Web, participated in chats and downloaded applications from the Android Market(TM) while on a voice call. The LG Revolution smartphones were running on the Android 2.2 platform.
Verizon Wireless plans to enhance VoLTE with rich communications services and optimize performance on its commercial 4G LTE network during 2011. Commercial services are expected to be available in 2012.
Verizon will showcase IMS-based VoLTE calls over a demonstration network in its booth (Hall 8, stall 8C55) at GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, next week. For more information about LTE, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/LTE.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
TouchMark Develops New Printing Process Using Conductive Inks
HAYWARD, Calif., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TouchMark a division of Delphon Industries and industry leader in Medical Device Pad Printing, announced today the development of a printing process for medical applications using conductive inks. Conductive ink is ideal for applications including medical electrodes, static elimination, EMI/RFI shielding and membrane switches.
TouchMark offers a number of electrically conductive silver and carbon filled inks for the Medical Device Manufacturing industry. "We work with our customers to determine the requirements of their specific application in terms of temperature, flexibility, and conductivity and develop a customized process for their project," says Raymund Abiera, TouchMark Sales Manager. TouchMark's specialized conductive inks offer sheet resistivity as low as 0.0l ohms/square per mil (0.00l") of thickness and as high as 1meg(million) ohms/square/mil. The Company's expertise includes printing on even the most difficult surfaces including FEP and Nitinol.
Background:
TouchMark, originally founded in 1992, was purchased by Delphon Industries in 2006. For more than 15 years the company has worked closely with leading electronics and medical customers to provide solutions to their pad printing challenges. TouchMark has developed an expertise with difficult substrates, inks and unique shapes. In addition to pad printing, the company has expanded its offerings over the years to include material procurement and preparation, incoming inspection, Cleanroom assembly, as well as post production services. The company is constantly growing its service menu to meet the changing needs of medical device and consumer electronic manufactures.
Accordent Receives 'Positive' Rating From Leading Industry Analyst Firm
Accordent Evaluated in 'MarketScope for Video Content Management and Delivery'
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Accordent Technologies was rated "Positive" in Gartner's recently issued "MarketScope for Video Content Management and Delivery," the highest rating achieved by the vendors profiled by the firm in the report.
In the MarketScope, Gartner VP and Distinguished Analyst Whit Andrews notes that organizations "are interested in the potential of sharing videos with workers, partners, clients and prospects," and that those surveyed believe their video use will increase by more than 40% over the next few years. Andrews cautions, however, that these organizations "must evaluate the impact that a substantial amount of video files will have on their storage and network infrastructures. They must also consider the consequences and opportunities that suddenly swollen video libraries will present in terms of finding, selecting and presenting videos, either for internal or external users."
"We're delighted to be working with Gartner, which has a deep and distinguished understanding of the VCMD space and has also named Video as one of the top ten strategic technologies for IT in 2011*," said Mike Newman, Accordent CEO. "This is further evidence of Accordent's thought leadership in shaping and defining the Video Content Management and Rich Media Delivery spaces within our Enterprise Video Management platform that are now being embraced by Gartner and other trusted market advisors.
"To us, receiving a positive rating based on our strong industry partnerships - including our integration with Microsoft SharePoint - and tradition of innovation is strong confirmation of our product and business development strategies," he said.
The Accordent Enterprise Video Management platform, which includes AMMS V4.0 as well as Accordent enterprise video capture products, removes the complexity of enterprise video by providing a single, streamlined application layer that automates best practices across all phases of the video communications lifecycle: from enterprise video capture, to portal services, to video content management, to rich media delivery across disparate network environments.
About the MarketScope
The MarketScope is copyrighted 2011 by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The MarketScope is an evaluation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the MarketScope, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest rating. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
*Gartner Symposium Presentation, Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2011, David Cearley, Carl Claunch, October 2010.
About Accordent Technologies, Inc.
Accordent Technologies provides Enterprise Video Management solutions that enable world-class organizations to inform, train and engage audiences online. The Accordent Enterprise Video Management platform, which includes the Accordent Media Management System(TM), AccordentPresenterPRO(TM) and Accordent Capture Station(TM), addresses the complete content lifecycle of all video assets regardless of source or format - from the point of Enterprise Video Capture, to viewer Portal Services, to administrative Video Content Management, to Rich Media Delivery and content expiration across disparate networks. Accordent is an award-winning company serving the Fortune 500 and leading educational, government and healthcare organizations. http://www.accordent.com.
SOURCE Accordent Technologies, Inc.
Accordent Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: Darian Germain of Accordent Technologies, +1-703-608-3404
Palringo Launches White Label Mobile Instant Messaging Service
Managed Service Allows Service Providers, Operators and Others to Launch Fully-Branded Mobile Messaging Service with No CapEx Investment
SAN FRANCISCO and LONDON, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Palringo, the mobile instant messaging company, today announced the launch of its white label mobile instant messaging service. Palringo Custom Solutions is a managed service that allows operators, specialty service providers and other entities to develop their own branded IM networks in as little as four weeks, while providing connectivity to other popular messaging services. Palringo owns and manages the equipment, provides a second line of technical support, performs all customization and branding work and supports the service provider in marketing and monetizing the service.
The company is already working with Nedjma, the Algerian mobile operator, and UTalk, a Russian service provider focused on building a country-wide affinity-based mobile IM network, which are adding hundreds of thousands of unique users a month. Palringo will be exhibiting at Mobile World Congress, February 14 - 17, in the AppPlanet Hall, Stand 7D22.
"The business case for an effective service that lets subscribers connect with friends and like-minded contacts using the mobile device is clear," said Tim Rea, CEO, Palringo. "Operators and other specialty service providers across the globe have approached us to leverage our experience, investments and best practices in this area to market and launch their own branded services. Palringo Custom Solutions are meeting this need by formalizing the process and providing these companies with a way to quickly and cost-effectively bring services to market."
Palringo Custom Solutions allow service providers to offer a branded messaging solution with a built-in community of close to 200,000 affinity groups on the Palringo network, plus the ability to manage and monitor their own groups using the best practices Palringo has developed building its own consumer offering. With the ability to launch in as little as four weeks and a service-based pricing model that mixes performance and usage to determine service fees, Palringo's white label offering offers a low barrier to entry for service providers who wish to monetize their customers' desire to communicate with friends, contacts and affinity groups.
Palringo has developed its own end-to-end telco-grade IM network with a proprietary protocol designed specifically to enable rich communications on any mobile device. The Palringo client works on all major mobile OSes and is able to connect to popular IM services. In addition to sending text-based IMs, users enjoy a host of additional features including:
-- Voice: A flexible form of push-to-talk messaging that allows users to
use their phones like walkie-talkies;
-- Pictures: Palringo makes it easy to snap a picture on the phone, or
select a picture from the on-device album, and drop it into an on-going
discussion with an individual or within a group.
-- Groups: Palringo's group function is flexible and scalable and can
easily accommodate hundreds of individuals within a group, making it a
perfect communications tool for clubs, games enthusiasts and other
affinity-based groups;
-- Location: Palringo offers a rich location/presence functionality that
adds an additional level of communication within groups.
With the launch of Palringo Custom Solutions, service providers of any size can easily leverage this infrastructure to launch their own branded network.
Palringo worked with Cubiic, a systems integrator in North Africa, to launch a solution for Nedjma, an Algerian subsidiary of QTel. The operator launched Nedjma Net in Q4 of 2010, providing subscribers with a social service that allows them to send messages to individuals and groups. UTalk, a Russian service provider, runs an affinity-based mobile messaging service that allows users to chat with individuals and groups, and connect with other third-party messaging services.
"Palringo's expertise in running and managing a successful messaging service has allowed us to help Nedjma differentiate themselves in the marketplace with a unique service that is social, functional and enhances the mobile lifestyle," said Lebnan Nader, vice president, Cubiic. "We have been able to quickly launch and brand the service and have seen an incredible reception from subscribers."
About Palringo
Founded in 2006, the UK and San Francisco-based Palringo has built a new type of mobile communication solution that takes the PC-based instant messaging experience and makes it uniquely mobile. With close to seven million users sending tens of billions of messages monthly, the company has built a hardened, scalable system that delivers a compelling user experience to the consumer and a valuable communications tool to the enterprise. For more information, visit http://www.palringo.com
SOURCE Palringo
Palringo
CONTACT: Liora Bram, Media Strategies, +1-617-202-9854, lbram@msipr.com, or Cheryl Delgreco, Media Strategies, +1-617-723-4004, cdelgreco@msipr.com
Draftfcb Turns Up The Heat With Heat Tracker, Now Available in the App Store
New Agency-Designed and Owned App Helps People Identify Local Hot Spots, Increase Odds of Meeting That 'Special Someone'
CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With Valentine's Day approaching, expect things to heat up in your neighborhood for people looking to find where the action is thanks to Heat Tracker for the iPhone and iPod Touch, developed and owned by advertising agency Draftfcb Chicago and powered by Foursquare.
Using Foursquare's check-in data, Heat Tracker identifies the number of males and females checked in at nearby locations, helping people determine hot meeting spots before a night on the town. Based upon the number of people on-site, locations can range in levels of "hotness" -- Cold, Warm, Warming Up, Smoking Hot or On Fire.
"There is a great deal of check-in data available in the social space, but we don't believe any other location-based applications can visually show where you should go based on the number and gender of people who are already there," said Kevin Drew Davis, EVP, group creative director of digital at Draftfcb Chicago. "Whether straight or gay, why waste your time going where the action isn't?"
Heat Tracker features include:
-- Customizable Filters: Users have the ability to filter their search by
gender, distance and type of location (nightclub, restaurant, grocery
store, gym, etc.) to find the information most relevant to them --
anywhere in the world.
-- Integration with Social Profiles: In addition to integration with
Foursquare, users can easily share Heat Tracker information with friends
via connections to their Facebook and Twitter profiles.
-- Access to Yelp Reviews: Yelp Reviews for each location are accessible
through Heat Tracker, providing users with further helpful information
when selecting their destination.
While Heat Tracker is designed as a fun, social app for the consumer, it also has significant marketing benefits for brands.
"Heat Tracker will enable us to determine a wealth of behavioral data about users' check-in and venue preferences, how they interact with advertising in our app, and the popularity of certain types of businesses and activities regionally," said Patrick Moorhead, SVP, director of mobile platforms at Draftfcb Chicago. "We anticipate that this information will provide useful consumer data for our clients' campaigns."
To start finding the hot spots in your area and for more information on Heat Tracker, visit the App Store or http://www.heattrackerapp.com.
Free Strawberry Recipe Mobile App Available for Android
New, Free App Offers 100 Recipes and Nutrition Tips from Top Food Bloggers
WATSONVILLE, Calif., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With people looking to the web and mobile apps for recipes and nutrition advice, the California Strawberry Commission today announced the availability of "Strawberries," a free recipe app for the Android smartphone filled with 100 strawberry recipes from popular food bloggers and nutrition tips from acclaimed dietitians.
The "Strawberries" app, previously available only to iPhone and iPod users, became wildly popular after being named an Apple "staff favorite" in iTunes. Now available to Android users, the recipes demonstrate the versatility of strawberries for both sweet and savory dishes. The app features mom and kid-friendly recipes like Strawberry Yogurt Smoothies, main courses like Pork Tenderloin with Strawberry Mango Salsa, and sweet, mouth-watering desserts including Berrylicious Sour Cream Pie and Chocolate Ganache Tart with Strawberries and Meringue.
"Strawberries are a delicious superfruit that supply essential nutrients to help keep families healthy," said Dave Grotto, RD, author of 101 Optimal Life Foods. "This strawberry recipe app is a simple way to inspire new and healthy dishes for the whole family to enjoy year round."
The California Strawberry Commission aims to provide leading nutritional information to consumers, while offering easy yet innovative ways to incorporate this naturally sweet fruit into the whole family's daily diet.
Cool Features:
-- More than 100 recipes, categorized by dish type
-- Dozens of "kid-friendly" recipes
-- Shopping lists at your fingertips
-- Bonus tips from acclaimed dietitians, including author Dave Grotto
-- Ability to easily share recipes and tips
-- Links to top food bloggers
-- Complete recipes and dish photos
Availability:
The "Strawberries" app is available immediately as a free download, for devices running the Android 2.2 platform or greater, by searching for "strawberries" in the Android Market, or at the following link: http://tinyurl.com/4t2mxhu
The California Strawberry Commission (http://www.californiastrawberries.com) is a state government agency that represents an industry of 600 growers, shippers and processors of California strawberries. With a focus on food safety education, Commission strategies also include production and nutrition research, trade relations, public policy and marketing communications.
USA Today/Gallup Poll Shows Need for 'Do Not Track' Legislation, Consumer Watchdog Says as Rep. Jackie Speier is Poised to Introduce Bill in Congress
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new USA Today/Gallup poll that found most Americans are worried about privacy and viruses when using Facebook or Google confirms an earlier poll by Consumer Watchdog and underscores the need for a Do Not Track mechanism to protect consumers online, the nonpartisan, nonprofit group said today.
The poll was released as Rep. Jackie Speier, D-CA, was preparing Do Not Track legislation, expected to be introduced later this week. Her bill would give the Federal Trade Commission power to implement and enforce Do Not Track regulations.
The USA Today poll found that nearly seven out of 10 Facebook members surveyed -- and 52% of Google users -- say they are either "somewhat" or "very concerned" about their privacy while using the world's most popular social network and dominant search engine.
A poll by Consumer Watchdog last summer found that 90% of Americans want legislation to protect their online privacy and 80% support a Do Not Track mechanism. Another 86% want a single-click button on their browsers that makes them anonymous when they search online.
"It would behoove both Facebook and Google to support Do Not Track legislation," said John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog's Inside Google project. "Both companies need consumers' trust to thrive. The polls show people are worried when they use their services. A Do Not Track option would give consumers control of their data and restore trust. It's a win-win for consumers and online businesses."
Consumer Watchdog has been working to protect consumers' online privacy rights and educate them about the issues through its Inside Google Project. The goal has been to convince Google of the social and economic importance of giving consumers control over their online lives. By persuading Google, the Internet's leading company, to adopt adequate guarantees, its policies could become the gold standard for privacy for the industry, potentially improving the performance of the entire online sector.
Consumer Watchdog, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization with offices in Washington, DC and Santa Monica, Ca. Consumer Watchdog's website is http://www.consumerwatchdog.org. Visit our new Google Privacy and Accountability Project website: http://insidegoogle.com.
SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
Consumer Watchdog
CONTACT: John M. Simpson, +1-310-392-7041; or Carmen Balber, +1-202-629-3043