Move Positions Hollywood's Leading Media Manufacturer and Logistics
Provider for Growth in Emerging Technology and Digital Content Delivery
TORONTO, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Cinram International Income Fund ("Cinram" or
the "Fund") (TSX: CRW.UN), today announced the acquisition of Los
Angeles-based digital media company 1K Studios. The move is part of a
broad initiative to advance Cinram, a provider of media delivery
services around the world, further into digital platforms.
1K specializes in building enhanced consumer experiences for movies, TV
shows, music, books and games. The company has been a key service
provider to many of the world's top media & technology companies
including Paramount Home Entertainment, Apple, HBO, and Warner Bros
Home Entertainment. 1K provides creative and technical services to
these companies to help them release their content in different venues
including digital downloads, mobile and tablet apps, advanced Blu-ray
discs, stereoscopic 3D and social media.
These services will be integrated with Cinram's existing media
production and logistics business, creating an end-to-end supply chain
with significant competitive advantages for its customers. The new
expertise will play an important role in Cinram's effort to identify
and evaluate additional opportunities to add to the company's client
offering.
"In the ever-evolving digital landscape, we must adapt our business
model to meet our partners' needs," said Steve Brown, Chief Executive Officer for Cinram International, Inc. "No matter how the delivery methods change, consumers continue to
demand exciting experiences. 1K Studios is proven in delivering
innovative, creative and valuable digital content. I'm convinced that
with our combined resources and know-how we'll offer clients a superior
service."
"Cinram has a long history of re-inventing itself as media has advanced
over the decades. We're excited by the challenge of helping to bring
about another transformation" said Matt Kennedy, co-founder of 1K Studios. "We're very enthusiastic about the prospects of our ideas, and emerging
businesses being fostered inside Cinram's global business
infrastructure."
The deal will consolidate a network of client relationships that
includes all of the major U.S. and European movie and TV studios,
record companies, and game distributors, as well as numerous publishers
and technology companies. .
1K Studios management and team of specialized designers, programmers,
information architects, animators and content producers will continue
to operate from their existing Los Angeles studio.
Watch our Video
Cinram International Inc., an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund, is one of the
world's largest providers of pre-recorded multimedia products and
related logistics services. With facilities in North America and
Europe, Cinram International Inc. manufactures and distributes
pre-recorded DVDs, audio CDs, and CD-ROMs for motion picture studios,
music labels, publishers and computer software companies around the
world. Cinram now also provides distribution and logistics services to
the telecommunications industry in North America through its wireless
subsidiaries. The Fund's units are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
under the symbol CRW.UN. For more information, visit our website at http://www.cinram.com .
1K|Studios is a digital media firm based in Los Angeles and founded in 1998. The
company specializes in building enhanced consumer experiences for
movies, TV shows, music, books and games. 1K was recently involved in
the launch of Apple's iTunes Extras and LP enhanced digital download
format, helping several studios and record companies design, program
and deliver movies and music using the new formats. Their work is
featured in various forms on hundreds of top-selling Blu-ray releases,
including three top honor award winners at Variety Magazine's Home
Media Awards this fall: Paramount's Star Trek, HBO's True Blood series
and Warner Brothers' Wizard of Oz Collector's Edition. The company is
also currently developing several iPad applications to be announced in
the coming months.
Certain statements included in this release constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such
forward-looking statements include statements concerning the possible
effects of the transactions described herein, and the likelihood of
their successful completion. Such forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Fund, or
results of the multimedia duplication/ replication industry, to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.
Such factors include, among others, the following: the Fund's ability
to retain major customers; general economic and business conditions,
which will, among other things, impact the demand for the Fund's
products and services; multimedia replication industry conditions and
capacity; the ability of the Fund to implement its business strategy;
the Fund's ability to invest successfully in new technologies and other
factors which are described in the Fund's filings with the securities
commissions. These risks may affect the achievement of the expected results of the
transactions described herein. There can be no assurance that the said
transactions will be successfully completed or that, if completed, the
expected consequences will result in whole or in part, and the
deviations from such expectations may be material.
SOURCE Cinram International Income Fund
Cinram International Income Fund
CONTACT: <p></p> <p>John H. Bell<br/> Tel: 416.332.2902<br/> <a href="mailto:johnbell@cinram.com" cr="true">johnbell@cinram.com</a></p>
First-Ever Online Safety & Security Education App Available on Smartphone Platform
Leading Internet and Technology Companies and Online Safety Advocates Launch App to Educate Users On The Go
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Internet Education Foundation (IEF) today announced the launch of "Net Safety Tips On The Go" (Net Safety Tips OTG), the first-ever digital safety and security advice app for wireless users. Developed with the support of Google and Verizon, this innovative app makes it easy for consumers and families to keep up with mobile and online privacy, safety, and security issues using their Android smartphone or tablet.
The app dispenses quick, practical, friendly advice in easy-to-digest portions -- one tip at a time -- to help users use the Internet and smartphones safely. These tips offer information on mobile privacy and security, searching and surfing the Web safely, safeguarding your sensitive financial online information and more. The premier online safety education organizations in the world including Common Sense Media, ConnectSafely.org, OnGuardOnline.gov, and GetNetWise.org produce content to feed the app. Other leading online safety, security and privacy organizations are expected to contribute soon.
"Mobile broadband technology provides limitless opportunities for fun, education and entertainment for everyone," said Rose Kirk, Verizon Foundation president. "To make the most of these opportunities, families need to feel comfortable online. Tools such as Net Safety Tips On The Go help provide families peace of mind, knowing they have the knowledge needed to be safe and secure in the digital world."
Mobile app-based education allows busy people to be more personally productive during their hectic days making Net Safety OTG the perfect tool to educate them. "This app is a terrific idea, especially for people whose lives revolve around their phones," noted Larry Magid, Internet safety pioneer and co-director of ConnectSafely.org. "Everything is going mobile, and now we have put crucial online safety and security education in the hands of anyone with an Android phone or tablet," said Tim Lordan, IEF Executive Director.
Net Safety Tips OTG is available as a free download from the Android Market(TM) and is featured in the Verizon tab of the Android Market(TM) on Verizon Wireless smartphones. Visit http://netsafetyapp.org for more information, sample tips and download information.
About Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology. We exist because our kids are growing up in a culture that profoundly impacts their physical, social, and emotional well-being. We provide families with the advice and media reviews they need in order to make the best choices for their children. Through our education programs and policy efforts, Common Sense Media empowers parents, educators, and young people to become knowledgeable and responsible digital citizens. For more information, go to: http://www.commonsense.org.
About ConnectSafely
ConnectSafely (connectsafely.org) is for parents, teens, educators, advocates -- everyone engaged in and interested in the impact of the social Web. The user-driven, all-media, multi-platform, fixed and mobile social Web is a big part of young people's lives and this is the central space -- linked to from social networks across the Web -- for learning about safe, civil use of Web 2.0 together. ConnectSafely advises the Internet industry, other non-profits and government on best practices and policies. More at http://www.connectsafely.org.
About GetNetWise.org
GetNetWise is a public service brought to you by Internet industry corporations and public interest organizations to help ensure that Internet users have safe, constructive, and educational or entertaining online experiences. GetNetWise is a project of the Internet Education Foundation. More at http://getnetwise.org.
About Google
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit http://www.google.com.
About The Internet Education Foundation
The Internet Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public and policymakers about the potential of a decentralized global Internet to promote communications, commerce and democracy. Projects include the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee, GetNetWise.org and Net Safety Tips On The Go.
About OnGuardOnline.gov
OnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information. More at http://OnGuardOnline.gov.
About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 93 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com.
SOURCE Internet Education Foundation
Internet Education Foundation
CONTACT: Tim Lordan of Internet Education Foundation, +1-202-439-5688, tlordan@neted.org
Philadelphia Media Network Announces Several Design, Content and Product Enhancements at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, and philly.com
Governor Ed Rendell and Buzz Bissinger join Daily News as Contributing Columnists
Michael Smerconish and Julia Baird join new A2 InSights Columnist Page at The Inquirer
Inquirer and Daily News Digital Editions Launch on Philly.com
Philadelphia City Paper and The Onion Enter Into Strategic Partnerships with PMN
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia Media Network Inc. (PMN) announced today a series of design, content and product enhancements at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and philly.com, positioning the two newspapers and website to be more competitive in the new media landscape. "Today, the Philadelphia Media Network begins delivering on the promise that we made to this community when our company was formed four months ago, which is to become the most successful regional media company in the United States. We are no longer going to operate as a newspaper company. We are a network that publishes text, video and audio content for the three most prestigious media brands in the Philadelphia region," said Greg Osberg, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia Media Network. "In The Inquirer, Daily News and philly.com we are launching several exciting editorial and design initiatives in 2011 that revolve around three guiding principles at PMN: innovation through our commitment to new products, relevance in our rapid delivery of content and performance in how we create exciting advertising sponsorships."
Beginning with The Inquirer's edition today, more local and original content has been added in the A section, with a rotation of contributing columnists on the new A2 page, InSights, which includes author and former Newsweek columnist Julia Baird every Tuesday and the national and local radio talk show host and author Michael Smerconish every Friday. The new A3 page will rotate with a change in themes throughout the week referenced as In Health, In The Economy, In Education and In Politics. Two main features will accompany the A3 topic consisting of a daily story, column or Q & A and excerpts from "best of breed" blogs on the featured theme, converging the worlds of print and digital content. The Inquirer has redesigned the business section focusing on five rotating daily themes: Small Business (Mondays); Personal Finance & Investing (Tuesdays); Automotive (Wednesdays); Tech Life (Thursdays) and Residential Real Estate (Fridays). In addition, Inquirer readers will find a more contemporary design on each section cover with stories throughout the paper providing greater, integrated reader experiences with philly.com. "The changes we are making today represent a major commitment to our loyal readers, emphasizing a special focus on topics such as politics, education, the economy and health care in a prominent way in the A section. That also goes for our themed approach in Business. And we will use our very best reporters and editors to deliver the news on these topics in a myriad of ways in both print and online,"said Stan Wischnowski, Editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Daily News recently announced a new editor, Larry Platt, who begins his position today. Previously editor of Philadelphia Magazine, Platt immediately introduced several, key content additions to the Daily News, highlighted by a new, weekly contributing sports columnist, former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. "I think the Daily News has the best sports section in America. I think it's the most readable and the most entertaining sports section in the country and I'm excited to be a part of it," said Rendell in response to accepting his new columnist role.
Platt also noted that Pulitzer Prize winning, best-selling author Buzz Bissinger will serve as Daily News Editorial Advisor and occasional guest columnist and that former Daily News Editorial Page Editor and Pulitzer Prize winner, Richard Aregood will contribute a monthly Public Editor column.
Effective February 1, the Daily News cover tagline will change from The People Paper to The People's Paper. In announcing the new tagline, Platt said, "I, for one, embrace the Daily News' role in the city. The tagline is a subtle change, but it signals that we're going to have even more of a crusading and activist point of view on behalf of our reader's interests -- and we're going to do it in a fun way, with lots of attitude." Platt will also introduce an Editor's Letter on February 1, further establishing a platform to communicate directly with Daily News readers. In addition, Platt is introducing a monthly sports calendar February 1 for Daily News sports enthusiasts, highlighting "can't miss" sporting events in the region.
Philadelphia Media Network launches their first paid content initiative for both papers today on Philly.com, Inquirer Digital and Daily News Digital. Philly.com remains a free portal site, but for online readers seeking a newspaper format experience for "page through" e-reader devices, PMN will begin offering these digital products only with a paid subscription. Osberg emphasized the importance of Inquirer Digital and Daily News Digital in summarizing a series of technology enhancements, "Philly.com has become the largest Internet portal in the region. We are making a significant investment in mobile equipment and technology so that our reporters will have the ability to file stories, audio and video while on assignment, thereby making our digital products the most coveted resources for readers seeking immediate news, sports and entertainment coverage." Osberg noted an upcoming site redesign for philly.com will make it easier to navigate, attract and expand important franchises and partnerships for additional content. Wendy Warren, vice president for content and editor of the site added, "Our redesign will make for a better user experience, as philly.com evolves to become a portal that will bring Philly-area readers news and information they need from many sources, including the award-winning staffs of The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News - who now are able to report from wherever the story may be. We'll make it easier still to find our editorial content with a series of new apps in 2011 for mobile devices. Philly.com will also continue to help our readers save money, featuring our Philly Dealyo."
Beginning February 1, Philadelphia Media Network will expand the number and scope of deals it offers to customers and philly.com visitors through Philly Dealyo. PMN has found the daily deal model provides a dependable method to drive new and repeat business to local merchants. Philly Dealyo will now offer a deal a day in four regional locations throughout the Delaware Valley, which include; Philadelphia, South Jersey, the Northern Suburbs and the Western Suburbs. Google's recent attempt to purchase an established daily deal company for six billion validates the current and potential revenue in this business model. From a merchant perspective, Philly Dealyo offers an opportunity to reach two million people in a truly cost efficient way.
"Philly Dealyo is a hit with both our readers and our advertisers, and it is a business model that we want to continue to build upon and expand as we look for new opportunities for our advertisers and a way to provide value added content to our readers," said Osberg.
Philadelphia Media Network announced a letter of intent with Philadelphia City Paper to provide readers with access to City Paper news and content through the Philly.com portal. An award-winning source of information on politics, activism, arts, music, food and more for 30 years, Philadelphia City Paper was named the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's 2010 non-daily newspaper of the year. Osberg said, "Enhancing Philly.com with City Paper content will provide our readers with access to a broader range of news, opinion, and information from throughout the region. Nancy Stuski, Publisher of Philadelphia City Paper responded in a statement, "I'm always excited to bring new audiences to City Paper's vibrant and informative content, and this partnership with philly.com will enable us to reach even more people who live, work and play in the city, while also providing unique advertising and promotional opportunities for our customers."
In other alliance announcements, Philadelphia Media Network has entered into a partnership with the satirical newspaper, The Onion, and its entertainment-focused sister publication The A.V. Club. Under this agreement, The Onion maintains exclusive rights over all creative content, while PMN assumes business management responsibilities, including advertising sales, printing and distribution. The partnership will bring print editions of The Onion to Philadelphia street corners, coffee shops and bookstores for the first time, during the first quarter of 2011. "The city of Philadelphia is synonymous with liberty," said Steve Hannah, CEO of The Onion. "Likewise, The Onion is synonymous with the unfettered freedom to mock those people and institutions in need of a good satirical slap. We are confident this partnership with Philadelphia Media Network will be a complementary arrangement and are excited to bring our satire to new territory." Osberg noted, "The Onion partnership provides Philadelphia Media Network a unique opportunity to reach a younger demographic and have an instant connection to college campuses throughout the region, providing another platform for our advertisers to effectively target an important audience."
About Philadelphia Media Network
Philadelphia Media Network, Inc. (PMN) is the owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com. With its multiple brand platforms and integrated print and digital products, PMN is the region's largest media network and the industry's technological leader and innovator. The Philadelphia Media Network reaches an average weekly audience of 2.2 million adults - more than the combination of the three evening television news shows or the combination of those radio stations ranked in the top ten during drive-time programming.
SOURCE Philadelphia Media Network Inc.
Philadelphia Media Network Inc.
CONTACT: Mark Block, Vice President, External Relations; Philadelphia Media Network, Inc., (o) +1-215-854-5640, (c) +1-202-494-0450, mblock@phillynews.com
Art.com Introduces The Saturday Evening Post Collection Featuring Norman Rockwell Classics
Collection Expands Consumers' Access to Wall Art from One of America's Most Renowned Artists
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Art.com, the world's leading online specialty provider of wall art, in collaboration with The Saturday Evening Post, today announced the launch of its new Saturday Evening Post wall art collection. This collection features premium quality reproductions of hundreds of classic cover illustrations from 20th century American painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell that capture the spirit, look and feel of a historic era of American history.
"Art.com remains dedicated to helping customers discover and embrace different art genres, and the iconic Americana art period is perfectly embodied in our new Saturday Evening Post wall art collection," said Geoffroy Martin, CEO of Art.com Inc. "By partnering with a classic publishing icon and a legendary artist, we're able to showcase an acclaimed collection of distinct American art. Norman Rockwell left a timeless legacy of nostalgic illustrations of the rural American family that still resonates with today's modern families."
Art.com offers the most comprehensive collection of wall art from The Saturday Evening Post, featuring Norman Rockwell, with more than 300 images. Rockwell, known as America's favorite artist, is most famous for the cover illustrations of simple, everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening Post for more than 40 years.
"We are honored to collaborate with art.com on this new collection celebrating classic American art from a bygone era," said Joan Servaas, president of The Saturday Evening Post Society. "Our long history and adoration of Norman Rockwell is reflected in these memorable images that have been reproduced into beautiful works of art, which will help the legacy of The Saturday Evening Post's most beloved artist live on with younger generations."
The collection's affordable and customizable print and framing options allow customers to decorate their home with artwork from a celebrated American icon. For the first time, Americana art enthusiasts will be able to purchase all images in art.com's Saturday Evening Post collection either as a high-quality giclee print or wall mural. The giclee printing process delivers a fine stream of ink on archival paper, resulting in vivid, pure color and exceptional detail that is suitable for museum or gallery display.
Art.com is a division of Art.com Inc. Art.com Inc. is the world's leading online specialty provider of posters, prints, and framed art. Since 1998, Art.com Inc. has sold high-quality wall art online to more than 10 million customers -- including students, teachers, home decorators, interior designers, businesses, art collectors and art lovers -- in over 120 countries worldwide. The privately-held company is headquartered in Emeryville, CA, with other facilities in Ohio, North Carolina and the Netherlands. For more information, visit http://www.art.com and http://www.AllPosters.com. "art.com" and "AllPosters" are registered trademarks of Art.com Inc.
GateHouse Media Goes Mobile With the Help of Spreed Inc.
Community newspaper publisher to begin rollout of apps for iPhone, Blackberry, Android and iPad devices
FAIRPORT, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Community newspaper publisher GateHouse Media, Inc. (http://www.gatehousemedia.com), has announced a partnership with Toronto-based Spreed Inc. (http://www.spreedinc.com), to launch community-focused smartphone and iPad applications in its local markets.
Beginning in February, GateHouse will start the rollout of apps - in collaboration with Spreed - for the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and iPad devices. The apps enable smartphone users in GateHouse's local markets to read news from their local newspaper, and will allow advertisers to reach users of smartphones in GateHouse markets.
"There has been tremendous growth in the mobile space that we believe will only continue to explode," said GateHouse Media CEO Michael Reed. "We are excited about the future possibilities for growth in our markets that mobile provides. Early adoption and strategic expansion of our local news apps meet the needs of our readers and advertisers in this rapidly developing space and enhance our coverage in the markets we serve."
All applications published by GateHouse will have the same look and feel, but will contain unique branding, stories, images and community events. In addition to the applications, GateHouse will also be licensed for Spreed's CleverAds mobile advertising platform and Mobile Insight, its mobile analytics suite. Access to Mobile Insight will allow GateHouse to include mobile usage statistics as part of their digital circulation numbers, by way of a recent partnership between Spreed and the Audit Bureau of Circulation. It will also allow GateHouse to offer targeted advertising opportunities to their existing clients, enabling local advertisers to display their message to the right user, at the right time, in the right place.
"We are beginning to see a large group of newspaper publishers in North America embrace mobile platforms as a new, innovative and profitable distribution channel, said Spreed CEO Anthony Novac. "Spreed Mobile channels cut distribution costs significantly and also provide the opportunity to create a completely new and untapped revenue source for newspaper organizations. We are excited to be working with a group as innovative and far-reaching as GateHouse Media."
"We are in the midst of an unprecedented evolution in the delivery methods available for reaching existing readers and new audiences," said GateHouse Vice President of News & Interactive Brad Dennison. "We are excited to have a partner as cutting-edge as Spreed in our corner as we push ahead."
According to Morgan Stanley Research, the smartphone market will grow to 1 billion units by 2013. Informa Telecoms 7 Media predicts that mobile advertising revenues will increase eight-fold by 2015 to around $25 billion.
About GateHouse Media, Inc.
GateHouse Media, Inc., headquartered in Fairport, New York, is one of the largest publishers of locally based print and online media in the United States as measured by its 86 daily publications. GateHouse Media currently serves local audiences of more than 10 million per week across 21 states through hundreds of community publications and local websites. GateHouse Media is traded in the over-the-counter market under the symbol "GHSE."
About Spreed Inc.
Spreed Inc. is a world leader in mobile publishing and advertising technology for the newspaper industry. Their platform allows premium publishers to deploy applications across all the major smartphone and tablet platforms for all of your headline and niche properties. Paired with CleverAds, their mobile ad platform and Mobile Insight, their analytics and profiling tool, mobile publications are able to attract premium brands and garner the highest industry mobile CPMs.
SOURCE GateHouse Media, Inc.
GateHouse Media, Inc.
CONTACT: Brad Dennison, GateHouse Media, Inc., +1-630-386-2945, bdennison@gatehousemedia.com; or David Coleman, Spreed Inc., +1-416-408-2211 Ext. 31, dave@spreedinc.com
Cloud Technology Partners Launches: Corporate Mission is to Transform Businesses Using Cloud Solutions
cloudTP Provides Enterprises with Solutions to Plan and Migrate Business Processes, Applications and Data to Private, Public or Hybrid Clouds
BOSTON, Jan. 31, 2011/PRNewswire/ --Cloud Technology Partners(TM) Inc. (cloudTP(TM)) today announced the official launch of the company and its mission to transform businesses using cloud solutions. From strategic transformational consulting to application implementation, cloudTP provides enterprises with solutions to plan and execute migration of business processes, applications and data to private, public or hybrid clouds.
The company's Founder and CEO, Chris Greendale, is a highly respected industry visionary with an impressive track record of identifying and leveraging emerging technology and business transformation waves. Prior to founding cloudTP, Greendale was one of three founders of Cambridge Technology Partners (CTP), a systems integrator focused on transforming applications from mainframe to client-server systems. CTP grew rapidly to over $850M in revenue and was one of the most successful IPOs of the 90's with a market cap of over $5B. Greendale then founded the extremely successful Breakaway Solutions in 1997, an integrator focused on Internet driven e-commerce solutions. Breakaway also enjoyed an incredible IPO with a market cap of over $7B. After Breakaway, Greendale worked as a venture capitalist for seven years.
"cloudTP has entered the market at an ideal time," said Jeffrey M. Kaplan, Managing Director, THINKstrategies (http://www.thinkstrategies.com). "Our research supports the conclusion that while the industry has fully accepted the concepts of virtualization, service oriented architectures (SOA) and utility computing - in other words cloud computing - the sheer number of choices, combined with confusion in regards to how all the pieces fit together, has hampered progress." He continued, "Customers would prefer to work with a highly-experienced and trusted advisor who can help plan and deploy a complete turn-key solution."
"Building private, public or hybrid clouds is a complex matter, especially as so much of this technology is still in the formative stages," said Arun Taneja, Founder and Consulting Analyst, The Taneja Group (http://www.tanejagroup.com). "However, regardless of a technology's development stage - for the same reason you bring in a vendor-agnostic consulting company to assess your storage infrastructure, which subsequently makes recommendations for the most effective solution for you, you want an independent third party to design your transition to cloud. Or, be prepared to build a one-vendor solution and be tied to it for years to come." He continued, "I highly recommend that you get a view that is broader than any one company's. cloudTP's microscopic focus on cloud makes them a very good candidate."
"Cloud computing is the largest IT wave I have seen in my career - by a factor,"said Greendale. "It represents a fundamental shift in the way enterprise computing is being done today and how it will be done into the foreseeable future."
Greendale continued, "It has become clear that cloud computing significantly reduces costs, increases flexibility and responsiveness and accelerates business growth. However, the truth is that 'getting from here-to-there' remains a bit of a mystery for even the most technology savvy executives. cloudTP intends to change all that. Our highly experienced team will leverage our unique methodology to understand the client's business and goals and then create a tailored cloud strategy and roadmap that includes a detailed transformational plan. From there, cloudTP will work with the client to implement the solution, as required."
Greendale noted, "Through equity investments from angel and strategic investors, we have ample funding to support our growth plans for 2011 and beyond. Their support has been gratifying."
In addition to Chris Greendale, cloudTP's founding team includes:
-- Erik Sebesta, Chief Architect and Technology Officer (experience
includes Cambridge Technology Partners / Novell)
-- Jon Rounds, Chief Operating Officer (experience includes Health Dialog,
Fidelity, Citibank, and Boston Consulting Group)
-- Jim Lampert, Sales and Marketing (experience includes Global Green
Consulting Group, StorageNetworks, eDocs, and EMC)
Greendale concluded, "We see a tremendous opportunity to lead industry transformation and innovation using cloud solutions."
About Cloud Technology Partners (cloudTP):
Based in Boston, MA, Cloud Technology Partners(TM) (cloudTP(TM)) transforms businesses using cloud solutions. From strategic transformational consulting to application implementation, cloudTP(TM) provides enterprises with solutions to plan and execute migration of business processes, applications and customer data to private, public or hybrid clouds. By doing this, companies are able to reduce costs, increase efficiencies, accelerate business growth and increase their competitive advantage. For further information, please visit: http://www.cloudtp.com, email: info@cloudtp.com, or call: (617) 674-0874.
Tagetik Announces 'Collaborative Performance Management' at the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2011
EGHAM, England, January 31, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
- Tagetik and Microsoft's Strategic Alliance Drives Forward
Organisations' Productivity and Profitability, with new CPM
Tagetik, a global provider of enterprise software solutions for
Performance Management, Governance, Risk & Compliance and Business
Intelligence, today announced its vision for making Business Intelligence,
Performance Management and Disclosure Management processes as collaborative
as possible from the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2011.
The rise of collaboration in managing business performance has led to a
concept which Tagetik and Microsoft call 'Collaborative Performance
Management', and is a clear indication that the relationship between the two
companies is growing quickly and successfully. The outcome of this joint
commitment, 'Tagetik 3.0 Enabled by Microsoft(R) SharePoint(R) Server 2010'
software solution, aims to deliver across the enterprise a unified
Performance and Disclosure Management system, with specialised Business
Intelligence, collaboration and communication tools. The solution ensures
compliance with XBRL and also with iXBRL which will be mandatory from April
in the UK. During the Gartner BI Summit, Tagetik will be presenting 'The
importance of Collaboration in managing CPM and BI' - tomorrow February 1st
at 9:15 am - to show the full potential of the brand-new application.
"We started in 2009 with the integration of the previous release
'Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007' but it was May 2010 when Tagetik's leading
edge technology was able to maximize the power of Microsoft Corp.'s
sophisticated Business Intelligence platform and provide companies with
well-known application tools such as Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010,
Microsoft Office Professional 2010, and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2,"
explains Marco Pierallini, EVP Chief Development Officer at Tagetik.
"Performance Management extended to collaborative decision-making is the
new challenge for complex organisations willing to manage business
performance more efficiently, facilitate teamwork across multiple systems or
stakeholders, and improve the quality of operational and strategic
decision-making," adds Manuel Vellutini, EVP Chief Operating Officer at
Tagetik. "Microsoft and Tagetik have joined forces to fill this growing need
to integrate collaborative technologies into Performance Management and
Business Intelligence processes - which we call 'CPM (R)Evolution'. And,
above all, support companies looking to implement corporate strategies more
effectively while adding value to the way in which they manage and control
all business areas."
From public disclosure, management reporting, XBRL compliance issues
throughout their budgeting, planning and forecasting processes, through to
operational production/sales planning and control, Tagetik 3.0 Enabled by
Microsoft SharePoint offers the necessary support by unifying key financial
processes and applications including:
- Performance Management (PM)
- Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC)
- Disclosure Management
- Business Intelligence (BI)
- Collaboration
- Communication
"Using our new Collaborative Disclosure Management (CDM) module within
Tagetik 3.0 Enabled by Microsoft SharePoint, companies can make the most of
advanced BI and special communication and collaboration tools to prepare,
analyse and publish all types of financial data ranging from budgets and
management reports to statutory filings and sustainability reports,"
continues Vellutini. "This solution allows people within any organisation to
pool documents and footnotes related to the closing process through a single
portal, so reducing manual tasks and ensuring accurate data for corporate
disclosures. And includes full XBRL and iXBRL support in line with today's
latest regulatory requirements."
"We have long shared the vision to make BI and PM processes as
collaborative as possible. We've now achieved this with a single
'collaborative performance management' platform to improve business
communication and decision-making across the enterprise," concludes Pierluigi
Pierallini, President and CEO at Tagetik.
About Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2011
The Summit will provide Gartner's latest insight on how to make
business intelligence (BI) in organisations meet the new needs of business
after the recent economic shift. Business strategies, organisational
structures and BI and performance management (PM) architectures are being
'reborn' to reflect changed priorities - helping organisations maximise the
potential of these new opportunities by providing the insight that business
leaders need.
For further information on the Gartner Business Intelligence
Summit 2011 taking place on January 31 and February 1 in London, please visit
europe.gartner.com/bi. You can also follow the event on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Gartner_inc using #GartnerBI.
About Tagetik
Tagetik delivers a unified software solution for Performance
Management, Enterprise Governance, Risk & Compliance, and Disclosure
Management with specialized Business Intelligence tools to optimize
Collaboration and Communication.
Tagetik 3.0 creates value by simplifying complex business
processes for CFOs and CIOs: budgeting, forecasting, cash flow planning,
statutory and management consolidation, cost allocation, profitability
analysis, financial close and fast closing, dashboard, scorecarding,
collaborative disclosure management and compliance/industry requirements.
Tagetik 3.0 is the solution to translate strategy into operations, manage and
control overall performance down to business transactions, and improve
decision-making across the whole organization while achieving faster ROI and
lower total cost of ownership (TCO). Tagetik's vision to extend Performance
Management and Business Intelligence to collaborative decision-making
inspired us to develop Tagetik 3.0 Enabled by Microsoft SharePoint, moving
CPM from Corporate to Collaborative Performance Management.
Tagetik operates in 18 countries leveraging a close partnership
with Microsoft. Its market experts are totally committed to the success of
400 customers worldwide, including some of the largest Fortune 1000 companies
representing all industry sectors, as well as to build strong relationships
with system integrators, technology leaders and local consulting specialists.
Dell'Oro Group Forecasts 40 GE and 100 GE to Propel Market towards $25 Billion in 2015
1000 Mbps Ethernet Switches to Account for Less than Half of Market Revenues by 2015
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent report by Dell'Oro Group, the trusted source for information about the telecommunications and networking industries, the L2-3 Ethernet Switch market is forecast to approach $25 billion in 2015, with the future growth being driven primarily from sales of Ethernet switches optimized for larger data center deployments. By 2015, it is expected that over half the revenue in this market will be comprised by speeds greater than 1000 Mbps.
"40 GE and 100 GE switches will be an important growth driver for the Ethernet switch market for the rest of the decade," said Alan Weckel, Director of Dell'Oro Group. "In the outer years of our forecast, we believe 40 GE will not only be used in the aggregation layer, but will begin to penetrate the server access market as well," stated Weckel.
The report also shows that within the Modular segment, 40 GE is anticipated to account for more then 10 percent of Modular revenue by 2015. Vendors such as Alcatel-Lucent, Arista, Avaya, Brocade, Cisco, Enterasys, Extreme, Force 10, HP, and Juniper all have current or announced Ethernet Switch offerings that are capable of supporting 40 GE on Modular platforms.
About the Report
The Dell'Oro Group 5-Year Forecast Report offers a complete overview of the Ethernet Switch industry with tables covering manufacturers' revenue, average selling prices, and port/unit shipments (by speed Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 40 Gigabit Ethernet, 100 Gigabit Ethernet) for Layers 2-3 (both managed and unmanaged), and Layers 4-7. To purchase this report, please contact Emily Kendall, call +1.650.622.9400 x223 or email Emily@DellOro.com.
About Dell'Oro Group
As the trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, Dell'Oro Group provides in-depth, objective research and analysis that enable component manufacturers, equipment vendors, and investment firms to make fact-based, strategic decisions. For more information, contact Dell'Oro Group at +1.650.622.9400 or visit http://www.DellOro.com.
Mobile Bytes Introduces Gallo Center's "eBartender"
Powered by YWaiter, Free App Allows Guests to Pre-Order Drinks and Snacks
MODESTO, Calif., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile Bytes, LLC. (http://www.mobilebytes.com), a Phoenix, Arizona based provider of Smartphone Food & Beverage apps has launched the Gallo Center for the Arts "eBartender" app for iPhone and Android Smartphones. The app allows patrons to pre-order and pay for food and beverages for fast pickup either prior to a show or at intermission.
Patrons of the Center are encouraged to visit the iPhone App Store or Android Market and search for the Gallo Center for the Arts eBartender. Customers who download the app and opt in for text messages and e-mail will then be able to select and purchase beverages and snacks offered at Gallo Center concession stands. eBartender users can place their orders hours in advance on the day of a performance, and then pick them up simply by presenting their phone, picture ID or printed receipt at the eBartender concession line at the Center. The app's users also will be able to receive exclusive offers.
"We are delighted to be working with Mobile Bytes on this exciting application, and look forward to greatly increasing our concession revenues while providing patrons with an innovative and convenient service," said Al Poulus, Director of Technology and Theater Operations for the Gallo Center for the Arts.
"Concert halls and arena apps are a natural extension of our proven YWaiter technology platform," relates Dan Calderone, CEO of Mobile Bytes, LLC. "The Gallo Center for the Arts is a world-class partner for proving the concept."
At venues where food and beverages are permitted during performances, Mobile Bytes has created apps where food and drinks can be delivered right to your seats, so you don't miss any of the action. In Phoenix, AZ, the "Celebrity Theatre Personal Bartender" app was launched to coincide with performances by comedian Dane Cook.
Venues can acquire their own white-label app at no cost and can elect to pass a small per-order surcharge to their customers if desired.
The Gallo Center for the Arts eBartender and Celebrity Theatre Personal Bartender apps are available at the iTunes App Store and the Android Market, and are free to download. For additional information on becoming a part of the "Never Miss A Moment" White-Label Arena App program, visit http://www.mobilebytes.com or call (602) 492-4837.
New retail product offers signature blue button services for some 55 million non-GM vehicles
DETROIT, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1,600 retailers, including all nationwide Best Buy locations, will sell OnStar's new $299 retail mirror that offers key safety and security features such as Automatic Crash Response, Hands-Free Calling and Turn-by-Turn Navigation.
Best Buy, OnStar's first strategic retail partner, will offeron-site installation for $75 to $100, while online retailer Crutchfield will sell the product nationwide with referrals to third-party installers. A range of service plans will be available, starting at $18.95 a month or $199 a year. The retail mirror goes on sale this spring.
OnStar announced the product at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 4, offering OnStar service for the first time in non-GM and older GM vehicles already on the road. The mirror is validated to work on 99 percent of the top 20-selling non-GM vehicles over the last 10 years, or approximately 55 million cars and trucks, with more validations in process.
The new retail product provides the key features that have made OnStar's "blue button" an icon, including Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, one-button access to emergency and roadside services, and Bluetooth connectivity.
"Our customers have been asking for years to add OnStar in the cars and trucks they already own - so we're confident there will be strong demand for the OnStar product right out of the gate," said Greg Ross, OnStar's vice president of business extensions.
Ingram Micro is the exclusive master distributor for the retail mirror, responsible for distribution and logistics, merchandising, installation and technical support.
"OnStar is a strong brand name that will drive significant numbers of first-time customers into 12-volt and consumer electronics retailers," said John Soumbasakis, Ingram Micro's senior vice president of specialty solutions. "As a safety product, many drivers view OnStar as a 'must-have' rather than a 'nice-to-have' purchase. Ingram Micro looks forward to helping retailers make the most of this unique opportunity."
In addition to Best Buy and Crutchfield, several regional retailers will carry the mirror, including:
-- ABC Warehouse of Pontiac, Mich., 43 locations
-- Al & Ed's Autosound of Van Nuys, Cal., 18 locations
-- Car Toys of Seattle, Wash.; 49 locations
-- Columbus Car Audio of Columbus, Ohio; three locations
-- Drive-In Autosound of Colorado Springs, Colo.; six locations
-- P.C. Richard & Son of Carteret, N.J.; 65 locations
-- Sound Of Tri-State of Wilmington, Del.; three locations.
Retailers interested in selling the OnStar product and service can visit Ingram Micro's OnStar site at http://www.ingrammicro.com/onstar, email OnStar@ingrammicro.com or call (877) 733-6770.
For more information on OnStar's innovation and the new OnStar mirror, visit http://www.onstar.com.
About OnStar
OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology. Currently available on more than 40 MY 2011 GM models, OnStar soon will be available for installation on most other vehicles already on the road through local electronics retailers, including Best Buy. OnStar safely connects its more than six million subscribers, in the U.S., Canada and China, in ways never thought possible. OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a recipient of the 2010 Edison Award for Best New Product in the technology category. More information about OnStar can be found at http://www.onstar.com.
Manage and report on all of your communication and collaboration servers whether they are on premises or in the Cloud
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GSX Solutions, a leading provider of monitoring and administration solutions for IBM collaboration software, Blackberry Enterprise Server and Microsoft Exchange, today announced that GSX Monitor can now monitor of the availability of LotusLive servers.
GSX Monitor is used to provide consistent metrics on quality of service delivered to customers regardless of whether the servers managed are on premise, in the cloud or a hybrid deployment. This offering is a logical extension of GSX service monitoring capabilities, with no server code required.
Monitor seamlessly integrates with GSX Analyzer for automated and consolidated reporting on the components of your collaboration platform. It is focused on service availability delivered to end users rather than just the server. Critical KPIs would be Mail Routing, Data Base Response Time and Replication Management.
"It is clear that IBM is actively working with its ecosystems of partners and customers to enhance and develop solutions for LotusLive," said Antoine Leboyer, CEO of GSX. "This announcement is another example of the opportunities that LotusLive represents for us and the wealth of value added by solutions around LotusLive."
Eileen Fitzgerald, GSX Vice-President of Product Management, agrees: "We are thrilled to be able to collaborate with IBM on this project. It extends the power of our monitoring and reporting solution, and offers customers the opportunity to have one consolidated tool for ALL the components of their collaboration portfolio, now including LotusLive."
About GSX Solutions:
GSX Solutions is a global technology leader in monitoring software for unified communications servers for IBM Lotus Notes®, Microsoft Exchange and Blackberry ® Enterprise Server. Monitoring more than 5 million email boxes for over 500 enterprise customers, GSX enables global enterprises to achieve unparalleled value through rapid installation, on-demand reporting and predictive analytics. GSX products are used by over 600 companies worldwide of which are 30% of Fortune 100.
Affinity Solutions, My Fan Rewards Blow Opening Whistle on Rewards Programs with Three Teams
Revolutionary Rewards Program Provides Cash Back to Fans of the Buffalo Bills, Sacramento Kings, and San Francisco 49ers for Online Shopping Purchases
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Affinity Solutions, the global leader in partner-funded relationship marketing programs, and My Fan Rewards (http://www.myfanrewards.com), today announced the launch of three retailer-funded rewards programs that allow sports fans to earn up to 25 percent cash back from hundreds of online retailers. The three programs will appeal to fans of the NFL's Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, and the NBA's Sacramento Kings. My Fan Rewards expects to be rolling out programs for nine additional teams in the coming months.
Participating in the programs is easy. Fans simply register at the appropriate websites (e.g. http://www.my49ersrewards.com) and begin shopping at hundreds of participating online retailers, as well as local retailers in their teams' areas.
"In this economy, every savings opportunity matters, and teams are looking for ways to help support their fans. Now, just by shopping the way they normally would, fans can earn cash back on everyday purchases," said Marc Kolin, President of My Fan Rewards. "We've created a truly winning situation for the teams, the fans, and the retailers that participate."
When fans register for the programs, they can choose to apply the cash back they earn toward game tickets or have it sent to them in the form of a Visa® prepaid card. They can also have their cash back transferred to their PayPal accounts.
"In providing the platform for the My Fan Rewards program, we are demonstrating our leadership in developing partnership rewards currency that appeals to customers, based on their specific interests or 'affinities,'" said Jonathan Silver, President and CEO of Affinity Solutions. "The choice of cash back or tickets is solely in the hands of the fans. Furthermore, local merchants will have access to a powerful marketing tool that leverages their customers' relationships with their favorite sports teams, in addition to their desire for a great deal."
Fans looking to participate can find more information at:
My Fan Rewards is a revolutionary new way for sports teams, performing artists, and venues to engage their fans by providing them with access to discounts and perks from leading retailers. My Fan Rewards' private-label rewards programs allow members to be a part of their favorite entertainment brand's experience every time they shop. In partnership with Affinity Solutions, Inc., the company provides a full range of services. When fans shop through our clients' rewards programs, they can earn cash back, or get tickets, merchandise, and concessions credits. My Fan Rewards offers a turnkey loyalty platform that meets the specific needs of entertainment brands and their fans.
About Affinity Solutions
Founded in 1998, Affinity Solutions manages hundreds of offline and online relationship-marketing and partner-based rewards programs. Its innovative platforms leverage a rich database of customer information, valuable rewards from merchant partners, experiential benefits, and editorial content, to drive deeper customer relationships for its partners. Affinity Solutions provides a full range of services - from the technical to the creative - in building and maintaining its relationship-marketing programs. Providing a turnkey solution, the company offers direct marketing, creative and editorial development, partner recruitment, information technology, data analytics, and specialized customer service. Affinity Solutions recently launched Affinity Dashboards(TM), a comprehensive view of customer shopping behavior that provides retailers with near real-time insight on their performance relative to competitive retailers. Affinity Dashboards also help drive marketing strategies, as well as key merchandising and purchasing decisions.
SOURCE Affinity Solutions
Affinity Solutions
CONTACT: Keith Campbell, +1-212-725-4500, kcampbell@schwartz.com
A Three-in-One Product, Android Mini Laptop Netbook eBook Is Available at DinoDirect.com, Now
HONG KONG, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ --- DinoDirect.com, a large online shopping store, today announced the availability of an innovative new e-book named as Android 3G Mini Laptop Netbook eBook.
The avant-garde 7 Inch 3G mini Netbook Android eBook reader is a combination of all the features of an MID, digital camera and e-book reader. With just one device, now consumers will be able to make phone calls, see movies, play games, flip through photos, take photos or record video all in no time. All of this can be done with the help of the big, attractive and unbelievably responsive 7 inch touch screen. The ease of operation is another hallmark of this product. This device has all those features to support a user's business communication and entertainment needs.
"We would like to introduce this new Mini Laptop to one and all and we believe that this new brand laptop will provide high value for the money," expressed the Marketing director of DinoDirect.com. Talking about the functional richness and innovativeness of this laptop he added, "You will be able to perform all communication and entertainment functions in one single device and more importantly, you can do most things in one click." The price of this gorgeous Mini Laptop is US$ 99.99. In terms of performance, this is comparable to any of the relative models available in the market place.
The operating system of this brand new Mini Laptop is Android 1.6 + 256M DDR2 533 GHz. The 7 inch display screen of this e-book has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The size of the e-book is 207 x 119 x 12mm / 8.15 x 4.69 x 0.47 inches. This Mini Laptop makes use of the Google Chrome-lite Browser for browsing the internet. This enables user to access multiple peer to peer communication tools like G-talk, QQ, Fring, SKYPE and MSN. Designed for business users, this laptop has office software like Document to Go and TXT installed. It is easy to make documents with ease using the installed office software. In addition to games, the new 7 Inch Android 3G Mini Laptop Netbook eBook also allows MP3 and WMA Recording.
Entertainment richness is unmatched as one can plug in for 3 Hours Movie, 2 Hours WiFi and 5 Hours Music all with this Netbook. The black colored 7 Inch Android 3G Mini Laptop Netbook eBook has a 2400mAh Lithium Battery that will power the laptop to operate for a reasonable period of time. Some of the additional features are user-defined sound effects, a high-speed SD card, and an internal video player that can auto-search video files available in the system.
DinoDirect China Limited (http://www.dinodirect.com) is one of the biggest global online retailers. It offers a great quantity of products with competitive price by cutting the middleman and offering products directly to the terminal consumers.
DinoDirect possesses a great many software products with proprietary intellectual property rights, owns technological superiority and an efficient marketing team among the similar industry.
In addition, DinoDirect also provides services of purchasing and selling virtual currency, accounts, items, and power levelling for online role play games. Like other in-game currency sellers, DinoDirect not only does WoW Gold related services, but is also very professional with other popular games such as SWG Credits, FFXI Gil, guild wars gold , fallen earth chips, EQ2 Palt , lotro gold etc.
Suite Living: Elite Expedia.com Customers Now Earn Free Hotel Upgrades and VIP Perks in Select Markets
Expedia Elite Plus Benefits Automatically Available to Customers Who Annually Book 15+ Room Nights or $10,000+ in Hotels and Airfare
BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Expedia.com®, the world's leading online travel agency, today announced that all members of its Expedia® Elite Plus(TM) Program will earn free room upgrades and VIP perks at VIP Access hotels in select markets nationwide. Expedia customers automatically earn membership in Expedia Elite Plus when they book more than 15 room nights, or spend more than $10,000 on hotels and airfare, in a calendar year.
In October 2010, Expedia introduced the VIP Access(TM) hotel upgrade benefit at select hotel properties in Florida. Expedia continues to expand the scope of the benefit, most recently adding properties in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Portland (OR) and Vancouver (BC) to its VIP Access portfolio. Other markets where VIP Access hotels are already available include Atlanta, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Palm Beach, Charleston (SC) and Savannah (GA). Currently, nearly 200 hotel properties qualify as VIP Access hotels in more than 70 cities and towns.
"Expedia Elite status effectively gives our customers the red-carpet treatment during their travels," said Edward Nevraumont, senior director customer loyalty, Expedia.com. "Whether it's a free upgrade, on-site perks or exclusive pricing, we've designed the program to make travel as rewarding and hassle-free as possible."
Expedia introduced the Expedia Elite Plus Program in 2008. Free upgrades are just one of the benefits of membership. These include priority customer service during the travel booking process, dedicated concierge service for tickets, tours and transportation in select markets (Orlando, Las Vegas, and Hawaii), hotel price guarantees and exclusive offers. The Expedia Elite Plus Program is available to customers in the United States.
Expedia.com is the world's leading online travel site, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com (http://www.expedia.com, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide personalized service, the latest technology and the widest selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and in-destination activities, attractions, and services. With the Expedia Best Price Guarantee, Expedia.com promises to offer to its customers the best rates available online for all types of travel. Expedia.com is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).
CONTACT: Adam Anderson of Expedia.com, +1-425-679-7760, adaanderson@expedia.com; or Devon Nagle of HL Group, +1-646-460-8911, dnagle@hlgrp.com, both for Expedia, Inc.
Sappi Fine Paper North America Teams Up With VSA to Create Online Comedy Shorts to Promote Paper
Paper Company Gets Creative to Show Relevancy in Digital Age
BOSTON, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi Fine Paper North America announces the launch of the Flo Channel: Off Register(TM) -- its online comedy video series developed with VSA Partners, aimed at the influential print community. The new video series features stories told by Second City Improv that demonstrate the trials and tribulations of what printers encounter daily, as they aim to please their demanding, edgy-black-glasses-wearing clients.
"Luscious" is the kick-off to the video series and tells the story of designer, Kat, trying to get Sully, the printer, to understand and produce for her a color that is not just pink but "luscious." Each video ends with an invitation: "Share your own outrageous printing story for a future episode of Off Register." The series can be seen on Sappi Fine Paper North America's Web Site, YouTube, Vimeo, and FunnyorDie.com.
"Through our new Off Register video series, we are striving to illustrate to audiences how print can be integrated with digital to make a communications campaign have a more powerful impact," said Patti Groh, marketing director, Sappi Fine Paper North America. "True, the campaign lives online, but its heart and soul reside on the pressroom floor," said Jonathan Turitz, VSA Creative Director.
The videos are pushed out to the primary audience of printers and press operators as part of an ongoing dialogue with Sappi and the promotion of its top-selling economy paper, Flo. Most paper company promo efforts utilize only print collateral but Sappi believed it was necessary to break through the clutter with marketing that is multi-media based and engaging on many levels.
To demonstrate the potent digital/print relationship, Sappi Fine Paper North America's Off Register campaign also utilizes e-blasts to printers to link them to the videos and QR codes that appear on printed collateral for Flo paper, which take smartphone users directly to the videos -- providing new ways for the target audience to interact with the series, as well as demonstrating how print is still a vital and dynamic medium when combined with digital media today.
The next video in the Off Register series, "Designer Disaster," will tell the story of a designer whose precious original art gets inadvertently destroyed. Both stories for the videos are based on submissions of actual events from printers and press operators.
Another campaign element of the Off Register marketing campaign is a commemorative Series "Press Kit" (to be released late March). The Press Kit will further showcase the qualities of Sappi Flo paper and invites printers to continue the conversation, by submitting stories of their own for future episodes of the Off Register series to be released throughout the year.
Sappi Fine Paper North America is a preeminent North American producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Sappi Fine Paper North America is known for innovation and quality. Its brand names, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are some of the industry's most widely recognized and specified. Sappi's mills in North America are triple chain of custody certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Over 80% of the energy used by Sappi's North American mills comes from renewable resources, resulting in one of the lowest carbon footprints of any major North American coated paper supplier. Sappi Fine Paper North America is a division of Sappi Limited (NYSE and JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with manufacturing operations on four continents in 10 countries, sales offices in over 40 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. For more information about Sappi Fine Paper North America, visit: http://www.sappi.com/na.
More about VSA Partners
VSA is an independent branding collective focused on helping companies achieve their purpose through ideas. Since 1982, the 150-person firm's creativity has contributed to the success of some of the world's most respected organizations; through forging a reason for being, inspiring internal audiences and engaging consumers. VSA attacks every challenge in a platform-unlimited, results-driven manner. Client experience includes IBM, Harley-Davidson, GE, Nike and Procter & Gamble. http://www.vsapartners.com
ENDS
SOURCE Sappi Fine Paper North America
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090826/NE66332LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Sappi Fine Paper North America
CONTACT: Amy Olson, Corporate Communications Manager, Sappi Fine Paper North America, +1-617-423-5409, office, +1-617-368-6580, Amy.Olson@sappi.com, or Ellen Montgomery, VSA Partners, +1-612-486-1612, office, +1-312-316-9382, emontgomery@vsapartners.com
Absolute Software's Endpoint Security & Management Solutions Now Available for Verizon Wireless Enterprise Customers
Verizon Wireless Now Offering Simplified Monthly Billing Option for Absolute Software's Solutions
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and Absolute® Software (TSX: ABT), today announced the availability of Absolute Software's endpoint security and management solutions to Verizon Wireless enterprise customers. Customers can streamline their security and management operations with simplified billing as Computrace® and Absolute Manage license costs can be added directly to their monthly Verizon Wireless bills.
"Absolute Software's proven security and management solutions on the nation's most reliable wireless network provides enterprise customers with enhanced security capabilities such as asset inventory, geo-location, remote lock and wipe," said Benigno Gonzalez, vice president enterprise operations for Verizon Wireless. "All of these features help customers optimize visibility and compliance over their entire device deployment."
Verizon Wireless customers can easily manage and secure all of their computing devices via Absolute's management console. Computrace and Absolute Manage support a wide range of platforms, including PC and Mac devices, as well as Apple iOS, BlackBerry®, Symbian and Windows® Mobile and other smartphone platforms. Absolute's solutions can be leveraged for devices on the Verizon Wireless network to deliver security actions, such as remote wipe, freeze and remote forensics, as required by the customer in the situation at hand.
"Enterprises need solutions to help them take proactive control of the wide array of computing devices that are entering the workforce," said Rob Chase, chief operating officer at Absolute Software. "With this offering, we are making Absolute's endpoint security and management solutions even more accessible to enterprises on a network infrastructure they already trust."
Verizon Wireless offers products and services that provide enterprise and government customers in a variety of industries with the networking capabilities they require to keep their organizations running at top speeds today and in the future. For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services for business, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/business.
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.
About Absolute Software
Absolute Software Corporation (TSX: ABT) is the leader in tracking, managing and protecting computers and mobile devices. The Company's Computrace, Absolute Manage and LoJack® for Laptops solutions provide theft recovery, data protection and computer lifecycle management capabilities to organizations and consumers. The Computrace Agent is embedded in the firmware of computers by global leaders, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, General Dynamics Itronix, HP, Lenovo, Motion, Panasonic and Toshiba, and the Company has reselling partnerships with these OEMs and others, including Apple. For more information about Absolute Software, visit http://www.absolute.com and http://blog.absolute.com.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Brenda Boyd Raney, Verizon Wireless, +1-908-559-7518, Brenda.Raney@verizonwireless.com; or Kate Lee, Affect Strategies, +1-212-398-9680, klee@affectstrategies.com
LivingSocial Family Edition Rolls Out 23 New Markets, Delivering Deals on Fun Activities for All Ages
Just as LivingSocial Brings New Experiences at Unbeatable Prices, Locals in These Areas Now Have Access to Special Family-Focused Deals
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 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 23 new Family Edition markets in the U.S. and Canada, including: Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Charlotte, NC; Chattanooga, TN; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Greenville, NC; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Los Angeles, CA; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; Mississauga, ON; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Sacramento, CA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; San Fernando Valley, CA; St. Paul, MN and Vancouver, BC. With a focus on kid-friendly activities and mom and dad-approved deals, LivingSocial first introduced Family Edition in September 2010, offering subscribers the best family-focused experiences at the same amazing LivingSocial prices.
"Exploring your city is a great way to bring the family together, but it can get pricey when you add up the food, drinks and, depending on where you are going, cost of admission," said Tim O'Shaughnessy, CEO and co-founder of LivingSocial. "LivingSocial Family Edition not only saves you money, but provides a fun break from the winter doldrums by delivering great family activity ideas to your inbox, making it even easier to plan a day at a local museum or take the family to a kid-friendly restaurant."
LivingSocial's Family Edition is already live in Minneapolis, MN; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Washington D.C. and Southern Connecticut, and with this launch is now available in 27 markets, with plans for further expansion in major U.S. markets in 2011. LivingSocial also recently launched its popular travel site, LivingSocial Escapes, which offers unbeatable savings on curated, unforgettable adventures.
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% 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.
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 its nearly 20 million subscribers more than $230 million in more than 174 markets worldwide.
SOURCE LivingSocial
LivingSocial
CONTACT: Maire Griffin, Communications Director of LivingSocial, +1-202-503-2506, maire.griffin@livingsocial.com; or Kate Chesnut of Atomic PR for LivingSocial, +1-415-593-1400, Kate.chesnut@atomicpr.com
New the wedgi(R) Mobile Accessory Delivers Simple, Affordable, Hands-Free Smartphone Operation
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A brand-new mobile accessory is set to make drivers safer. Released this week by C & C Designs Technology, LLC, the patent-pending wedgi® (http://www.thewedgi.com) is the most versatile smartphone kickstand and dashboard mounting device available today.
Taking its name from its slim, lightweight design, the wedgi can be inserted into any seam in a car's dashboard for simple hands-free operation of any mobile device. Whether used as a kickstand or a dashboard mount, the wedgi's ratcheting, rotating head adjusts to any angle.
As so often happens with useful products, C & C Designs Technology co-founder Santo Curatolo invented the wedgi out of necessity. "I am a frequent traveler and had tried many different devices to help hold my cell phone when I was driving in a rental car or looking to watch a movie on an airplane," Curatolo explained. "Most of the products I purchased did not quite work and were bulky and complex. Frustrated, I decided to create a small gadget to help solve my problem."
The result is an inexpensive solution for millions of smartphone, cell phone, GPS and mp3 player users. Retailing at just $9.99, the wedgi requires no tools or adhesive to install and can be mounted in any car the user is driving -- a plus for those who drive both personal and work vehicles. When used as a kickstand, the wedgi will hold a mobile device horizontally or vertically on a desk, great for watching movies, gaming and texting.
"With more and more states requiring hands-free driving, the wedgi is a safe, easy-to-use accessory to help drivers obey those laws," said Curatolo. "We're excited to introduce the wedgi to mobile device users everywhere."
About C & C Designs Technology, LLC
Founded in 2007, C & C Designs Technology is a family-owned business. The wedgi® is the company's flagship product. Consumers can learn more and purchase the wedgi at http://www.thewedgi.com; distributors interested in the wedgi should contact Santo Curatolo at scuratolo@thewedgi.com.
Contact:
Santo Curatolo
C & C Designs Technology, LLC
866-543-7987
scuratolo@thewedgi.com http://www.thewedgi.com
This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.
SOURCE C & C Designs Technology, LLC
C & C Designs Technology, LLC
CONTACT: Santo Curatolo, C & C Designs Technology, LLC, +1-866-543-7987, scuratolo@thewedgi.com
China Telecom's Chongqing Telecom Builds Massive Smart Wi-Fi Infrastructure Throughout China's Largest City with Ruckus Wireless
New Indoor/Outdoor Wi-Fi Network of Over 4,000 Nodes Addresses Explosive Demand for Reliable Wireless Connectivity Driven by New Mobile Internet Devices and Applications
CHONGQING, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ruckus Wireless(TM) today announced that Chongqing Telecom, a unit of China Telecom, has selected its Smart Wi-Fi products and technology for a large-scale, citywide deployment of Wi-Fi hotspots supporting an innovative new service called Tianyi Broadband.
Chongqing Telecom has now deployed over 4,000 Ruckus ZoneFlex indoor and outdoor Smart Wi-Fi access points (APs) along with ZoneDirector WLAN controllers across the city. Situated in southwestern mainland China with a population of 31 million people and covering 31,800 square miles, Chongqing is one of four direct-controlled municipalities by the People's Republic of China - the largest province in China.
The Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi APs now cover hundreds of hot zones within five districts and have been installed in a wide range of locations spanning from universities to restaurants, office buildings to shopping centers and public venues.
"It's very clear that smarter Wi-Fi has now become a strategic imperative by Tier 1 carriers around the world to deal with the Mobile Internet," said Selina Lo, president and CEO of Ruckus Wireless. "Chongqing Telecom is widely viewed as a leader in their use and deployment of Smart Wi-Fi to deal with the explosion of dual-band devices that are consuming and generating huge amounts of data traffic. Operators like Chongqing are quickly recognizing the need for carrier-class Wi-Fi solutions designed for this specific purpose."
According to Chongqing, with the proliferation of mobile devices, subscribers are now accessing the Internet from every conceivable location.
Tianyi Broadband - a user-centric solution that bundles wired broadband, Wi-Fi and CDMA 3G in the same package - allows users to connect to China Telecom's services through a single account. Services include email, SMS, Tianyi-live (a chat service), love music (streaming music) and Tianyi video (video streaming).
Chongqing's stated aim was to give subscribers the same Internet experience wherever they are: at home or outside, with the same user account for them to use in any location. Therefore, it was critical to have a high performance and very reliable mobile network to deliver that experience. By offloading data traffic from the current CDMA 1X and EVDO to Wi-Fi, Chongqing is delivering a superior user experience without dramatically investing, while adding new capacity to the 3G infrastructure, operation and maintenance.
Wi-Fi represents the ideal complement to Chongqing's existing wireline network - providing broader and reliable wireless coverage to mobile Internet subscribers. By linking with CHINANET, the backbone of Chinese public Internet operated and managed by China Telecom, Chongqing Telecom can more easily and flexibly provide users with high-speed Internet access nearly everywhere they roam.
According to Chongqing Telecom, a key challenge has been to achieve good stable network coverage across schools, hospitals, shopping malls, commercial streets, hotels, office buildings and other environments where unlicensed spectrum is inherently unpredictable.
Chongqing said it selected Ruckus because of its ability to deliver reliable connectivity on such a large scale at the most attractive price point. According to the company, Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi systems were found to be among the easiest to manage and deploy. More importantly, Ruckus was the only Wi-Fi supplier Chongqing found to deliver predictable throughput in such challenging RF environments.
In public and private venues alike, there are now many other Wi-Fi networks that cause considerable interference. Ruckus patented technology was able to elegantly mitigate interference for Chongqing through the use of dynamic beamforming technology. This saved Chongqing from the worries of not delivering good throughput to support demanding applications such as music and video chatting.
Ruckus' patented BeamFlex smart antenna array technology with complete RF management, constantly focuses and directs RF signals over the best path for each client. This reduces co-channel interference between access points (APs) and minimizes packet loss while extending signal coverage. With the technology, Chongqing was able to significantly reduce the number of APs to cover a given area and lower operational and capital expense compared with alternative solutions.
Chongqing's new Smart Wi-Fi infrastructure includes thousands of ZoneFlex 2741 outdoor 802.11g and indoor ZoneFlex 2942 802.11g APs. Every Ruckus ZoneFlex AP uniquely integrates a dual-polarized, high-gain intelligent antenna array that allows operators to build a new class of hotspots capable of supporting streaming multimedia services.
For management, Chongqing deployed new, high-capacity ZoneDirector controllers with WAPI and IPv6 support. The Ruckus ZoneDirector supports a variety of applications needed to plan, deploy and operate the wireless network, including Wi-Fi planning, user authentication/billing and integrating with operators' management systems. With the combination of campus network and value-added services from Tianyi, Chongqing Telecom is able to gain ROI more quickly.
With the ZoneDirectors, Chongqing makes use of multiple service set identifiers (SSIDs) to allow for a range of differentiated services at each hotspot. For example, wireless services on a university campus can be divided into two different types - the campus network access for students and faculty, and the service used for high speed Internet access to meet different demands of students, teachers and visitors.
Today, subscribers can enjoy quality wireless broadband services in any Chongqing hotspot. Looking forward, Chongqing said it plans to extend the Wi-Fi network to suburbs and rural areas to achieve complete coverage across the entire city.
Media Contacts
Chris Yip
Ruckus Wireless
cyip@ruckuswireless.com
+852 9090 7513
David Callisch
Ruckus Wireless
david@ruckuswireless.com
+1 408-504-5487
SOURCE Ruckus Wireless
Ruckus Wireless
CONTACT: Chris Yip, +852 9090 7513, cyip@ruckuswireless.com, or David Callisch, +1-408-504-5487, david@ruckuswireless.com, both of Ruckus Wireless
New SDL Tridion 2011 Offers Online Marketers Unique Capabilities
Latest release simplifies usability and continues leadership in Web Content Management, mobile, targeting and personalization
AMSTERDAM and NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SDL (LSE: SDL), the leading provider of Global Information Management solutions, today announced the general availability of SDL Tridion® 2011, the flagship product of SDL's Web Content Management Solutions (WCMS) Division.
Building on its core strengths as a truly global solution in content targeting, multisite and multilingual site management, SDL Tridion 2011 includes functional enhancements for marketers, as well as for IT organizations supporting implementation. These include multi-browser support, high-end personalization, multichannel campaign management, including full usage of the mobile channel, as well as overall improvements in areas such as usability, flexibility, performance and visitor intelligence, enabling global brands to achieve highly consistent, relevant customer experiences - across multiple channels and languages at any scale.
Jan Jaap Kolleman, CEO at SDL WCMS said: "SDL Tridion 2011 will enable global brands to achieve what we call 'pervasive engagement management' - helping them to achieve success in today's connected world. We listened carefully to our customers and created a solution that will allow them to engage a savvy, channel-agnostic consumer. SDL Tridion 2011 contains the BluePrinting(TM) content modelling system to ensure brand consistency across websites, social media, mobile and other devices in any language. Our truly global solution, including SDL SmartTarget(TM) which enables marketers to target visitors and provide them with personalized information, integrates seamlessly with other customer-facing systems to tie together all relevant information in the customer lifecycle."
SDL Tridion is widely recognized as a key ingredient in a successful customer journey. "As a leading airport group, we are looking for optimization of our web usage as a major communication tool," says Michael Ibbitson, Vice President Information & Communication Systems, Airport of Abu Dhabi. "Along with providing travel information, our new website will offer visitors a platform for diversified services, such as duty free shopping, airport parking and the use of an airport lounge. SDL Tridion will facilitate the communication of all relevant information consistently to our customers through different channels, ensuring engagement everywhere and anytime."
SDL Tridion 2011 is well timed to meet market needs. "Enterprises want to address more advanced functionality, rather than just basic content management," notes Forrester Research, Inc. in its March 29, 2010 independent report, 'Web Content Management Will Weave Its Way Into More Enterprise Applications'. In addition, the report goes on to say that to better enterprise application integration, firms would like to see improvements in workflow, content targeting, management of multiple websites, collaboration, Social Computing, rich media support, rapid microsite or landing page creation, and multilingual content management.
SDL Tridion 2011 is immediately available for existing customers, as well as for new customer implementations. To find out more please go to http://www.sdl.com/wcm.
About SDL
SDL is the leader in Global Information Management. Global Information Management enables companies to engage with their customers throughout the customer journey - from brand awareness, to sales and after-sales support - and across languages, cultures and channels.
SDL's best-of-breed Web Content Management, eCommerce, Structured Content and Language Technologies, combined with its Language Services drive down the cost of content creation, management, translation and publishing. SDL solutions increase conversion ratios and customer satisfaction through targeted information across all customer touch points.
Global industry leaders who rely on SDL include ABN-Amro, Bosch, Canon, CNH, FICO, GlaxoSmithKline, Hewlett-Packard, KLM, Microsoft, NetApp, Philips, SAP and Sony. SDL has over 1500 enterprise customers, has deployed over 170,000 software licenses and provides access to on-demand portals for 10 million customers per month. It has a global infrastructure of more than 60 offices in 35 countries. For more information, visit http://www.sdl.com
About SDL Web Content Management Solutions
SDL's Web Content Management Solutions division delivers the leading enterprise class Web Content Management platform, SDL Tridion. SDL Tridion enables organizations to deliver a consistent, interactive and highly targeted customer experience, in multiple languages, across multiple Web sites and channels.
GolinHarris for SDL (Americas) - Rowena Sara
+1 415 318 4376
rsara@golinharris.com
Hall Communications for SDL (Europe) - Nick Hall
+ 44 (0)1494 866526
nick@hallcommunications.co.uk
SDL ASIA Pacific - Richard Delanty
+81 90 6695 5313
rdelanty@sdl.com
SDL Corporate Headquarters - Amy Hall
+44 (0)1628 410120
amyhall@sdl.com
SOURCE SDL
SDL
CONTACT: Rowena Sara of GolinHarris, +1-415-318-4376, rsara@golinharris.com, for SDL (Americas); or Nick Hall of Hall Communications, + 44 (0)1494 866526, nick@hallcommunications.co.uk, for SDL (Europe); or Richard Delanty of SDL ASIA Pacific, +81 90 6695 5313, rdelanty@sdl.com, or Amy Hall of SDL Corporate Headquarters, +44 (0)1628 410120, amyhall@sdl.com
Intersections Inc. Joins CausePlay & Children's Miracle Network Hospitals for the Launch of a New Social 2.0 Game, Hospitopia
Intersections Helps Raise Funds for Children's Nonprofit Through Corporate Sponsorship & Support of New Social Media Game
IDENTITY GUARD® First Partner to Participate in Unique Cause Integration Program
CHANTILLY, Va., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersections Inc. (Nasdaq: INTX), a leading provider of consumer and corporate identity risk management services that has protected over 30 million consumers, today announced its continued support for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNHospitals) by becoming the first corporate sponsor of a new hospital themed online social game being built by CausePlay, LLC and benefitting CMNHospitals, Hospitopia. Hospitopia is a new breed of social game that donates 10% of all gross revenue to CMNHospitals across the country while users build and manage a virtual hospital from the ground up.
"In December, Intersections first announced its partnership with the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and its dedication to raising funds for the organization through corporate initiatives and by donating a portion of the proceeds from new IDENTITY GUARD® memberships," said Joe Mason, Senior Vice President of Consumer Services for Intersections Inc. "Intersections' involvement in the development of Hospitopia further emphasizes the company's commitment to the organization and its cause. We are thrilled to be a part of such an exciting initiative, and believe the cause-integration model will help educate more consumers on the real threats of identity theft and what they can do to protect themselves."
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is a charity dedicated to raising funds for children's hospitals across the country. Donations are used to provide medical equipment, charitable care, and to fund research and education programs dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children across the country. Through corporate and personal donations, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals are able to help provide care for more than 17 million children each year, regardless of age and background.
"CMNHospitals is excited that Intersections has signed on as a sponsor in the launch of Hospitopia," said Aubrey Cichelli, Vice President, Communications at Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. "Part of Hospitopia's mission is to not only raise funds and awareness for our organization but to also educate individuals through integrated game play about our sponsors and partnering organizations and the work they are doing in their respective industries. As a leader in the identity theft protection industry, Intersections' involvement in this game will educate consumers about security and identity theft in a fun and safe environment."
Hospitopia, created and launched by the social gaming company CausePlay, LLC, allows users to build and manage their own virtual hospital on the popular social networking site, Facebook. Intersections is the first corporation to engage in the game's unique cause integration application, where IDENTITY GUARD®, the company's leading consumer identity risk management solution, is embedded into the game. The individual Children's Miracle Network Hospitals will directly benefit from users' game play, earning special prizes and incentives as funds are raised and donated to hospitals throughout the CMNHospital Network.
For more information about Hospitopia and to learn how to get involved in Children's Miracle Network Hospitals latest fundraising initiative, please visit http://www.facebook.com/hospitopia.
About Intersections
Intersections Inc. (Nasdaq: INTX) is a leading provider of consumer and corporate identity risk management services. Eight million consumers are actively protected by Intersections' consumer and breach remediation services offered through North America's leading financial institutions, directly to consumers under its award-winning IDENTITY GUARD® brand (http://www.identityguard.com), and through its exclusive partnership with ITAC, the Identity Theft Assistance Center. Since its inception in 1996, Intersections has protected more than 30 million consumers.
For advice, opinions, and the latest news on identity theft for consumers, visit http://www.IDGuardian.com. Twitter handle: IDGuardian.
About Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children's hospitals across North America, which, in turn, use the money where it's needed the most. When a donation is given it stays in the community, ensuring that every dollar is helping local kids. Since 1983, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4 billion, most of it $1 at a time. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of our mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Learn more at CMNHospitals.org.
About CausePlay
CausePlay, LLC, a social gaming company, was founded on the idea that games can make a difference. As part of the company's business model, each CausePlay game in the marketplace aligns with a worthy nonprofit and generates funds for the cause throughout the life of the game. The company takes social gaming to the next level by activating social change. CausePlay is located in Manhattan Beach, California. To learn more visit http://www.4causeplay.com.
Already a Leader in High-Speed Internet, Charter Increases Speeds Again
Free Increase Further Widens Speed Leadership
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHTR) today increased Internet speeds for the company's residential and commercial customers again, at no cost to the customer. This is Charter's second free speed increase in the past year.
Effective today, the speed for Charter Internet Express is increasing from up to 8 megabits-per-second (Mbps) to up to 12Mbps and Charter Internet Plus speed is rising from up to 16Mbps to up to 18Mbps - a free enhancement for customers. Charter Business customers will also experience a free increase in Internet speeds: Pro40Mbps increases to Pro50Mbps and Pro75Mbps service advances to Pro100Mbps.
"There has been an explosion in the number of devices, applications and cloud-based services that rely on robust Internet connectivity," said Carl Leuschner, Vice President, Internet and Phone Product Management for Charter. "The Internet is a destination we go to for work, play, to interact and be entertained. These experiences increasingly require faster Internet access, and by providing ultra-fast speeds in our markets, Charter enables our customers to experience true high-speed Internet." Mr. Leuschner added, "Our flagship Internet Express speed is more than double what it was a year ago, reflecting our ongoing commitment to leverage our superior network to drive value for our customers."
Faster speeds give the multitude of in-home devices like desktops, laptops, hand held devices and gaming consoles an amazingly fast connection. To do this, Charter leverages its deployment of next generation DOCSIS 3.0 technology.
"The era of the single PC household is history," said Mr. Leuschner. "Every member of the household has multiple devices and each wants to experience the full wealth of Internet applications available. By increasing Internet speeds, Charter Internet provides each member of the family with the ability to work and play simultaneously at the speed they need."
Upload speeds remain up to 1Mbps for Express and up to 2Mbps for Plus. Max and Ultra60 services are also available with download speeds up to 25Mbps and 60Mbps. Charter Business customers have access to download speeds up to 100Mbps and upload speeds up to 5Mbps. Charter also provides commercial customers fiber-optic Internet services of up to 1Gbps.
About Charter
Charter (NASDAQ: CHTR) is a leading broadband communications company and the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services, including advanced Charter TV(TM) video entertainment programming, Charter Internet(TM) access, and Charter Phone(TM). Charter Business® similarly provides scalable, tailored, and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business Internet access, data networking, business telephone, video and music entertainment services, and wireless backhaul. Charter's advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media® brand. More information about Charter can be found at charter.com.
About Charter Business
Charter Business® provides business organizations with scalable, tailored, and cost-effective broadband communications solutions, including business-to-business Internet access, data networking, business telephone, video and music entertainment services and wireless backhaul. Catering to the unique broadband needs of business customers, Charter Business offers competitively priced bundled products over its state-of-the-art, fiber-based network, helping businesses in a variety of industries maximize efficiency while continuing to grow. Charter Business is Metro Ethernet Forum Certified. More information about Charter Business can be found at charter-business.com.
SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc.
Charter Communications, Inc.
CONTACT: Media, Anita Lamont, +1-314-543-2215; or Analysts, Mary Jo Moehle, +1-314-543-2397, both for Charter Communications, Inc.
Fuisz Media Group Announces Notice of Allowance of Significant Media and Technology Breakthrough
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fuisz Media LLC today announced that it has received notice from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for patent allowance for claims covering its proprietary digital media advertising and sales process, Visual Image Marketing (VIM). The patent, "Method, Apparatus, and System for Providing Access to Product Marketing Data" establishes the intellectual property base for VIM.
The VIM method is a next generation technology process for product placement and interactive advertising that complements the growing integration of computer and television technology.
"What's really exciting about VIM, is that it allows for all of this fantastic product data without interfering with the viewer's normal experience. We are talking seamless integration of product placement and purchase. Imagine you are watching your favorite show and you want to buy something you see, maybe a shirt or sneakers. This is what VIM allows you to do by identifying, and linking the product seamlessly into your entertainment experience. The opportunities for studios, content providers, and marketing partnerships are endless," Justin Fuisz, Managing Director of Fuisz Media Group.
"This patent allowance is a significant milestone in the establishment of our intellectual property portfolio. We look forward to continuing to create successful relationships with all facets of the media and tech industry. Our platform is flexible and able to contribute to the bottom line of virtually any content creator. VIM is a win for both the producers and the consumers."
About VIM:
Visual Image Marketing is a revolutionary marketing method for digital video, which allows users to make purchases and learn more about a product without interrupting the viewer's experience.
About Fuisz Media Group:
Fuisz media group is an affiliate of Fuisz LLC (http://www.Fuisz.com), specializing in digital marketing technology. Fuisz is a family held company with broad technological interests and a long and proven track record in innovation.
SOURCE Fuisz Media Group
Fuisz Media Group
CONTACT: Fuisz Media Group, +1-310-499-8636, Justin@FuiszMedia.Com
Elastic Application Platform Delivers a Robust Environment for Cloud and Data Center Development
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GigaSpaces Technologies, the leading provider of a new generation of virtualized application platforms, announces the launch of eXtreme Application Platform (XAP) 8.0. Openness and continuous scaling are the foundations of GigaSpaces XAP 8.0, the industry's only virtual application platform that enables end-to-end scalability with a single product. XAP 8.0 leverages the best of existing technologies and provides access to the technologies of tomorrow, all while ensuring applications can be updated and scale to need with zero downtime.
"Enterprises face the challenge of having to combine legacy systems with newer technologies to meet their ever-increasing user demands and simultaneous data growth," says Nati Shalom, GigaSpaces CTO. "8.0 enables organizations to easily transition their existing infrastructure into the more modern systems needed by today's applications, such as distributed architectures, virtualized environments, and the cloud."
8.0's "Same Data, Any API" capability promotes openness and interoperability, supporting all common interfaces for accessing data, such as Memcached, JPA, JMS, Document, and the highly efficient native object-oriented API. 8.0 ensures you can choose the best API for the use case at hand and operate on the same data regardless of the APIs you have chosen. This, in turn, significantly decreases the learning curve associated with adopting the XAP technology, as organizations can use their existing knowledge base to embrace the technologies of tomorrow.
Another major step forward with 8.0 is its support for continuous scaling. Mission-critical enterprise applications - such as in the financial services sector - and Web-focused applications, like e-commerce, online gaming, and social media require continuous changes to the application without bringing the system down. Continuous scaling allows for rolling upgrades, continuous deployment, quick introduction of complex features, and real-time changes to the applications data model, business logic, or even underlying platform with zero downtime. This guarantees that businesses can immediately react to market demands without worrying about costly downtime.
Operations and administration are also simplified with 8.0; XAP's elastic middleware capabilities encompass the entire application stack, significantly simplifying the administration of applications across large clusters and providing proactive scaling and recovery from failure based on predefined SLA rules. The new simplified Alerting API enables real-time problem isolation and prevention by identifying problematic or erroneous situations and reporting them to the user. The new multi-site deployment support makes deploying and managing geographically distributed applications easier than ever.
"Both traditional and web-focused enterprises are demanding solutions that enable them to leverage their existing assets, work with familiar technology, and speed time-to-value without increasing migration costs," says Massimo Pezzini, Vice President and Gartner Fellow at Gartner. "These solutions also must work across operational environments - the data center, the cloud, and hybrid combinations of the two."
GigaSpaces' long-term vision has been to create a platform that optimizes data-center and cloud readiness, making the development, deployment and operations processes of the most demanding applications more efficient. With XAP 8.0, distributed, scalable and highly performing applications can be designed, modified, and implemented quickly while leveraging existing knowledge and technology resources.
"Many Fortune 100 organizations and our other customers in financial services, e-commerce, and e-gaming are already enjoying XAP's advantages in simplifying the inherent complexity of managing their IT," says GigaSpaces CEO Zeev Bikowsky. "XAP simultaneously increases efficiency and reduces costs."
We invite you to evaluate XAP 8.0.
About GigaSpaces
GigaSpaces Technologies is a leading provider of a new generation of virtualized application platforms. Our flagship product, eXtreme Application Platform (XAP), delivers end-to-end scalability across the entire stack, from the data all the way to the application. XAP is the only product that provides a complete in-memory solution on a single platform, enabling high-speed processing of extreme transactional loads, while scaling to meet any requirement - dynamically and linearly. XAP was designed from the ground up to support any cloud environment - private, public, or hybrid - and offers a pain-free, evolutionary path from today's data center to the technologies of tomorrow.
More than 350 organizations worldwide are leveraging XAP to enhance IT efficiency and performance. Among our customers are Fortune Global 500 companies, including top financial services enterprises, telecom carriers, online gaming providers, and e-commerce companies, such as Dow Jones, NYSE, Societe Generale, Virgin Mobile, and Sears.
AuraPortal Launches the First BPM Software with a Seamlessly Integrated e-Commerce System
Every company can now setup their own Internet Shopping Cart Platform, without requiring outsourced specialists, and with the full control provided by a state-of-the-art Business Process Management Suite (BPMS)
WOBURN, Mass., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AuraPortal (http://www.auraportal.com), a global provider of Business Process Management (BPM) software, has announced today the international launch of their Online Commerce Module which allows companies to offer their products on the Internet to their customers through an attractively designed and well-organized web user interface with improved ease of use and comprehensive purchasing transaction capabilities.
AuraPortal has developed a complete e-Commerce (Online Commerce) Module, which includes Content Management, a Shopping Cart and a Payment Gateway, allowing companies to link all their Internet sales with their internal business processes workflow (BPM).
With this new Module, companies will be able to start their own Online Commerce channel without the need of IT programming. Hence, with AuraPortal their business employees can easily and rapidly design a totally customized system, with all transaction activity able to be monitored by the AuraPortal BPM Module.
AuraPortal has taken into account the integration with search engine positioning (e.g. Google), and therefore it includes the automatic creation of the Site-Map in order to automatically publish every selling product in the internal indices of these search systems.
"Sales operations have never been this automated," according to Pablo Trilles, Vice President of AuraPortal. "The integration of e-Commerce with existing and enhanced Sales and Supply Chain Processes is an extraordinary advancement. The fact that the e-Commerce environment can be handled completely by business users without any technical resource is also greatly beneficial, which gives companies a tremendous amount of agility and flexibility by reducing their time to market and increasing their speed to business process enhancement."
AuraPortal was the first BPM vendor to integrate CRM features into its BPMS, creating the first fully customizable CRM application based on business processes that are auto-executed (and without programming) in the international market.
ABOUT AURA (AuraPortal)
AURA provides in one set: Intranet, Process Management, Document Management, Customer Management, Content Management and Online Commerce, in 50 countries with +350 customers including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, Toyota, Yamaha, Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Carrefour, ArcelorMittal, Eletrobras, Royal KPN, Bristol-Myers Squibb ...
Company to focus on core specialty printing, RFID and location solutions
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zebra Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: ZBRA) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Navis business to Cargotec Corporation (Nasdaq OMX Helsinki: CGCBV) for approximately $190 million in cash. The transaction is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2011, subject to regulatory approvals, customary closing conditions and working capital adjustments. Management estimates that the sale will result in an after-tax gain of $30-$40 million, which will be recorded in the period in which the transaction is completed.
The transaction also includes certain business operations serving marine terminal customers that comprised a small part of Zebra's 2007 acquisition of WhereNet, including the WhereNet Marine Terminal Solution product line. All other elements of WhereNet, such as real time location, tags and readers, will remain with Zebra.
"Following the sale of Navis, Zebra will benefit from a sharper focus on its core business to drive consistent long-term growth, extend industry leadership and deliver greater returns to shareholders," said Anders Gustafsson, Zebra's Chief Executive Officer. "Our suite of products, solutions and technologies positions Zebra as the innovation leader in asset tracking with specialty printing, RFID, and real-time locating solutions that can be applied to solving customer challenges across a broad range of industries and applications. This commitment to our core business will enable us to better direct our resources to those activities that offer the highest risk-adjusted returns, including returning capital to shareholders through our share repurchase program."
Based on a strategic review of its business, the company determined that the highly industry-specific nature of Navis limited its application in other industries and was insufficiently aligned with the core business. Navis is a leading global solutions provider of operating systems to coordinate and automate the planning and management of container and equipment moves in marine terminals and other complex and demanding business environments.
Mr. Gustafsson continued, "We will continue to drive profitable growth through global expansion in under-served regions, investing in product and channel development, and building stronger customer relationships through large system integrators and independent software vendors."
About Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: ZBRA) provides the broadest range of innovative technology solutions to identify, track, and manage the deployment of critical assets for improved business efficiency. Zebra's products include reliable on-demand printers and state-of-the-art software and hardware solutions utilizing a wide array of automatic identification technologies. By enabling improvements in sourcing, visibility, security and accuracy, Zebra helps its customers to put the right asset in the right place at the right time. Zebra serves more than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies worldwide. For more information about Zebra's solutions, visit http://www.zebra.com.
To the extent that this news release discusses expectations about the proposed sale or otherwise makes statements about the future, including with regard to Zebra's future growth and financial performance, such statements are forward-looking, as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made herein. These factors include the risk that the proposed sale may not be completed and that Zebra may not perform at the level of current expectations. Other risks, uncertainties and other factors that could affect the company's future operations and results can be found in Zebra's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, readers are referred to Zebra's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and in the company's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and press releases. Zebra undertakes no obligation, other than as may be required by law, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this release.
Contact:
Investors: Media:
---------- ------
Douglas A. Fox, CFA Orlando De Bruce
Vice President, Investor Relations Director, Global Public Relations
and Treasurer +1 510 267 5052
+1 847 793 6735 odebruce@zebra.com
dfox@zebra.com
SOURCE Zebra Technologies Corporation
Zebra Technologies Corporation
CONTACT: Investors, Douglas A. Fox, CFA, Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer, +1 847 793 6735, dfox@zebra.com, or Media, Orlando De Bruce, Director, Global Public Relations, +1-510-267-5052, odebruce@zebra.com, both of Zebra Technologies Corporation
Sapiens Enhances its RapidSure P&C Solution with IT-Freedom's ICE Claims Solution
The Partnership Complements RapidSure as it Becomes a Full Insurance Suite
CARY, North Carolina, January 31, 2011/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sapiens International Corporation N.V. (NASDAQ and TASE: SPNS), a global
provider of innovative software solutions for the insurance industry and
a member of the Formula Group (NASDAQ: FORTY and TASE: FORT), today
announced it has entered into partnership with IT-Freedom, a specialist
provider of claims solution for the property & casualty (General Insurance)
insurance industry. The partnership agreement enables Sapiens to compliment
its RapidSure policy administration offering with IT-Freedom's ICE Claims
solution.
Sapiens' RapidSure is a next generation policy administration system with
an innovative user interface and flexible integration adaptors. RapidSure is
built using Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) to create a highly
configurable insurance solution supporting the full policy lifecycle, from
quotation, new business, and endorsement through to renewal. It utilizes web
services and portal technology to create a flexible multi-channel,
multi-brand, and multi-lingual user interface coupled with a powerful policy
transaction engine and an agent portal.
IT-Freedom's ICE Claims(TM) can now be easily integrated with Sapiens'
RapidSure Policy Administration solution, to provide insurance carriers a
modern suite of best-of-breed P&C software solution. It enables insurance
carriers and third party administrators to make their operations more
efficient and to significantly reduce the cost of settling claims. New
processes can be quickly configured for the system by business users without
requiring specialized programming skills, ensuring that insurers are not
locked into expensive technical support agreements.
"The ICE Claims(TM) product meets the demands of today's changing
marketplace to allow claims to be handled more efficiently and to better
manage spiralling costs. It has been integrated with RapidSure to provide a
complete solution for the modern insurer", said Mick Sargeant, Managing
Director IT-Freedom. Roni Al-Dor, Sapiens President and CEO, added: "We are
committed to delivering innovative software to the insurance industry. Our
partnership with IT-Freedom complements the RapidSure solution, expanding our
policy administration offering".
About Sapiens International
Sapiens International Corporation N.V. is a global provider of business
solutions for the insurance industry, helping modernize business processes
and enabling insurance organizations to adapt quickly to change. Sapiens'
innovative solutions are widely recognized for their ability to
cost-effectively align IT with the business demands for speed, flexibility
and efficiency. Sapiens operates through its subsidiaries in North America,
the United Kingdom, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit http://www.sapiens.com.
About IT-Freedom
IT-Freedom provides best practice web-based solutions for the
general insurance industry. A wealth of knowledge and experience has been
combined with excellent technical design to produce the ICE suite of
solutions. ICE Claims(TM) helps insurers drive cost from the claims process
and ICE Track(TM) solves the complex problem of managing your business
through the provision of easily obtainable information. 2010 sees the launch
of ICE Policy(TM) to provide full web-based general insurance functionality.
By challenging accepted practices and procedures and harnessing technology we
are leading the change.
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth
in this release are forward-looking statements that are dependent on certain
risks and uncertainties, including such factors, among others, as market
acceptance, market demand, pricing, changing regulatory environment, changing
economic conditions, risks in new product and service development, the effect
of the Company's accounting policies, specific system configurations and
software needs of individual customers and other risk factors detailed in the
Company's SEC filings.
Contact:
Osnat Segev-Harel
CMO and VP Business Development
Sapiens International
Mobile: +972.52.45.70.760
US Mobile: +1-917.697.5643 http://www.sapiens.com
osnat.se@sapiens.com
Meijer Launches New Online Grocery Delivery Service
"MeijerDoorstepGrocer.com" Offers Thousands of Grocery And Drugstore Items That Can Be Delivered Straight To A Shopper's Doorstep
Delivery Available To All 50 States And International Addresses
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Meijer has announced a new online grocery service offering thousands of grocery and drugstore items to customers worldwide. The new site, called "MeijerDoorstepGrocer.com," is the retailer's first effort to sell non-bulk groceries online and is also the retailer's first foray into international online sales.
"This is a very important step for our e-commerce operations," said Rick Keyes, executive vice president of supply chain operations and e-commerce for Meijer. "While we have provided bulk grocery and multi-pack products in the past, Meijer is now able to serve a broader audience with a greater number of selections. This new site will truly have something for everyone, including international customers."
MeijerDoorstepGrocer.com features thousands of items in single-pack or smaller sizes. Of the approximately 5,000 items available at http://www.meijerdoorstepgrocer.com, more than 3,000 are individual-size products. The remaining products for sale on the site are available in multi-pack or bulk sizes.
In addition to non-perishable national and Meijer brand grocery and beverage products available, the online site sells baby supplies, pet food, cleaning supplies, laundry products and health food, along with everyday health and beauty items.
"To our millions of loyal customers over the years, Meijer has long been associated with higher standards and lower prices. We're confident that new Meijer shoppers from well beyond our Midwest region, as well as Meijer fans who live outside our footprint, will enjoy Meijer's offerings once they experience MeijerDoorstepGrocer.com," said Keyes.
The new online grocery site will be available for shoppers in all 50 states. Shipping costs start at $7.95, and are calculated based on the value of the individual order. Most deliveries are received within two-to-four days of ordering, and there is no minimum order requirement for delivery. International shipping is also available for an additional charge. For a limited time, Meijer is offering a 10% discount on orders exceeding $100 at http://www.meijerdoorstepgrocer.com. To receive the discount, customers need to enter the promo code GROCERY.
About Meijer
Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 195 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. As the inventor of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at http://www.meijer.com.
SOURCE Meijer
Meijer
CONTACT: Frank Guglielmi, +1-734-844-2781, frank.guglielmi@meijer.com
Radware Rolls Out Two New Key Components of its Virtual Application Delivery Infrastructure: Alteon VA and vDirect Plug-in
Virtual appliance running on server virtualization infrastructure and first-to-market ADC management tool, designed specifically for virtual data centers, provides customers with enhanced business agility and increased IT efficiency
MAHWAH, N.J., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Radware (Nasdaq: RDWR), a leading provider of integrated application delivery solutions for business-smart networking, today announced the continued roll out of its Virtual Application Delivery Infrastructure (VADI(TM)) with the addition of two new components: Alteon® VA(TM), a SoftADC, and vDirect(TM), a first-to-market application delivery controller (ADC) management orchestration plug-in - both designed to be integrated in the VMware virtualized infrastructure.
Radware's VADI focuses on bringing full agility and efficiency of virtualization to application delivery solutions. It is an architecture which transforms computing resources, as well as application delivery and virtualization services into one integrated, agile and scalable Application Delivery Virtualization Infrastructure. Customers using VMware-based server virtualization will benefit from using Alteon VA and vDirect, experiencing maximum agility and IT efficiency.
Alteon VA: SoftADC solution
Radware's Alteon VA (Virtual Appliance) is Radware software ADC solution. Essentially, it is a virtual appliance ADC running on a VMware server virtualization infrastructure providing identical functionality to Alteon physical ADC devices: local and global server load balancing, Layer 7 capabilities and application acceleration. It is running the same ADC instance similar to the other VADI form factors - the dedicated ADC and the consolidated ADC-VX.
Radware's Alteon VA is designed to provide maximum ADC agility for cloud providers and hosting providers, carriers virtual data centers of large enterprises and SMBs using server virtualization and, while taking advantage of the virtual infrastructure dynamic of provisioning, decommissioning and business agility. Additionally, Alteon VA is offered with capacity licenses in line with Radware's OnDemand approach, thus, eliminating over-spending at the onset, allowing customers to pay only for the capacity they require as well as appropriate for testing and staging environments.
"We are pleased with the direction Radware is taking with ADC virtualization solutions for cloud providers," stated Mark Hadfield, CEO, nScaled. "We believe that Radware's Alteon VA is a good match for the nScaled cloud, as it allows us to provide our customers - principally law, professional and financial services - agile and flexible ADC virtualization services as well as full ADC capabilities on-demand, which enhances response time, improves resilience for applications and the overall quality of experience."
Radware is offering a one month free trial version of Alteon VA including all of the features and capabilities included in the full version. To download the trial version please visit: http://www.radware.com.
vDirect: Orchestrator Plug-in
Radware's vDirect is a first-to-market ADC management orchestration plug-in, designed specifically for virtual data centers. It provides all of the building blocks and management interfaces required for the VMware Orchestration System to provision, decommission, configure and monitor Radware's VADI vADCs and computing resources (ADC-VX, Alteon VA and dedicated ADC) within a virtual data center.
Fully integrated with VMware vCenter and vCenter Orchestrator, it provides automation and management benefits for any customer using VMware virtualization infrastructure - from SMBs using basic automatic work flows such as on demand VM resources allocation through large enterprises implementing fully automated service provisioning from VMs and storage to ADCs.
vDirect provides business agility by ensuring that the application delivery layer is constantly aligned with the changes in the virtual infrastructure, whether it requires provisioning/decommissioning vADC instances as part of end-to-end service creation; or automatically adding/removing computing resources to hosted applications while aligning the vADC configuration with the changes.
When integrated with vDirect in the data center, Alteon VA unleashes the full agility of application delivery services and drives workflow automation and a greater level of efficiency in the virtualized data center. For example, it is the first solution which enables companies to completely automate all of their data center operations including the ADC and drive business agility while supporting the cloud model.
About Radware
Radware (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in integrated application delivery solutions, assures the full availability, maximum performance, and complete security of business-critical applications for nearly 10,000 enterprises and carriers worldwide. With APSolute®, Radware's comprehensive and award-winning suite of application delivery and network security products, companies in every industry can drive business productivity, improve profitability, and reduce IT operating and infrastructure costs by making their networks "business smart". For more information, please visit http://www.radware.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general business conditions in the Application Switching or Network Security industry, changes in demand for Application Switching or Network Security products, the timing and amount or cancellation of orders and other risks detailed from time to time in Radware's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Radware's Form 20-F.
Press Relations:
Joyce Anne Shulman
+1 201 785 3209
joyceannes@radware.com
SOURCE Radware Ltd
Radware Ltd
CONTACT: Joyce Anne Shulman, +1-201-785-3209, joyceannes@radware.com
Autonomy Extends Market-Leading Social Media Capabilities to eDiscovery
Only Autonomy Delivers Comprehensive Suite for Social Media that Spans Sentiment Analysis, Compliance, and eDiscovery
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LegalTech-- Autonomy Corporation plc(LSE: AU. or AU.L), a global leader in infrastructure software for the enterprise, today announced new capabilities for identifying, preserving, and collecting social media for eDiscovery. These capabilities are a component of Autonomy's end-to-end eDiscovery solution, and builds on the company's comprehensive set of offerings for social media, which span marketing, compliance, and eDiscovery solutions. Powered by Autonomy's unique ability to understand sentiment, patterns, and concepts in all forms of data, the new EDD capabilities allow businesses to incorporate social media and rich media into their EDD processes.
Businesses today are rapidly increasing investment in social media, building out teams and programs designed to engage with customers and promote their organization through social sites. At the same time, new requirements in several countries - such as the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) in the United States and the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) in the United Kingdom - state that information on social media sites is now discoverable. Likewise, FINRA (The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) recently issued FINRA Regulatory Notice 10-06, which requires member firms to supervise and archive content posted to social media for business purposes. This means social media data must be managed in the same manner as all other enterprise data sources, and legal teams must be prepared to search for, identify, preserve, and collect this form of information.
Autonomy provides businesses with the industry's most comprehensive solution for social media, allowing organizations to drive successful social marketing programs, maintain compliance, and prepare social data for the eDiscovery process:
-- Autonomy Explore - identifies, analyzes, and acts on patterns across all
customer touchpoints including websites, mobile phones, contact centers,
and social media data. By automatically understanding customer
sentiment across all channels, businesses can overcome barriers created
by disparate systems, point solutions, and organizational structures in
order to increase revenue.
-- Autonomy Social Media Governance - allows businesses to proactively
prepare for compliance and litigation around social media. The product
is an extension of Autonomy's market-leading supervision, policy, and
compliance platform - used today by the world's leading corporations.
-- Social Media EDD - allows businesses to rapidly respond to any
litigation in which social media is relevant, by intelligently
searching, identifying, preserving, and collecting internal and external
social media interactions. These capabilities are part of Autonomy's
end-to-end eDiscovery offering, which allows organizations to manage
their entire eDiscovery process from a single, market-leading platform.
-- Social Media Connectors - Autonomy provides connectors into thousands of
relevant news feeds, blogs, and social media sites like Facebook,
Twitter, and YouTube. Additionally, Autonomy provides connectors to
other customer-facing and internal systems - including call center,
audio, customer relationship management software - to provide marketers
and legal teams with a comprehensive and holistic understanding of a
particular subject area.
Finding Meaning in Social Media
Social media presents unique challenges to organizations relying on traditional keyword spotting technologies to identify sentiment and concepts in social networks. Social media by nature is conversational, and filled with jargon, slang, varying emotional undertones (e.g. sarcasm, excitement, disappointment) and stated so briefly that context is difficult to discern. For instance, an organization facing a product liability lawsuit would have a difficult time using keyword tools to recognize negative sentiment in an employee or customer tweet that said "this new product is a dog."
"Autonomy has over a decade of experience in providing advanced technology to the world's leading government intelligence organizations to help them decipher the meaning of messages for homeland security, and this same technology is now being used to govern and conduct discovery on social media," said Mike Sullivan, CEO of Autonomy Protect. "Our work with intelligence agencies has been a great proving ground, as those communications are often short, cryptic bursts, similar to social media, which only our meaning-based technology can understand. Just as we have incorporated audio, video, email, and other data types into our eDiscovery offering, we are now adding social media as another data type that we can process."
Autonomy's Social Media for EDD includes the following capabilities:
-- Intelligently search, identify, preserve, and collect internal and
external social media interactions
-- Integrate social media discovery with Autonomy's leading eDiscovery and
information governance platform
-- Create proactive policies for real-time monitoring and discovery to
enforce information risk policies
-- Preserve and collect social media subject to legal hold
-- Meaning Based Computing technology automatically understands and draws
connections in a range of data types including video, audio, email,
instant messenger, and social media, giving businesses a complete
picture
Please visit the Autonomy booth # 110 at LegalTech New York to learn more about Autonomy eDiscovery capabilities for social media.
About Autonomy
Autonomy Corporation plc (LSE: AU. or AU.L), a global leader in infrastructure software for the enterprise, spearheads the Meaning Based Computing movement. IDC recently recognized Autonomy as having the largest market share and fastest growth in the worldwide search and discovery market. Autonomy's technology allows computers to harness the full richness of human information, forming a conceptual and contextual understanding of any piece of electronic data, including unstructured information, such as text, email, web pages, voice, or video. Autonomy's software powers the full spectrum of mission-critical enterprise applications including pan-enterprise search, customer interaction solutions, information governance, end-to-end eDiscovery, records management, archiving, business process management, web content management, web optimization, rich media management and video and audio analysis.
Autonomy's customer base is comprised of more than 20,000 global companies, law firms and federal agencies including: AOL, BAE Systems, BBC, Bloomberg, Boeing, Citigroup, Coca Cola, Deutsche Bank, DLA Piper, Ericsson, FedEx, Ford, GlaxoSmithKline, Lloyds Banking Group, NASA, Nestle, the New York Stock Exchange, Reuters, Shell, Tesco, T-Mobile, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. More than 400 companies OEM Autonomy technology, including Symantec, Citrix, HP, Novell, Oracle, Sybase and TIBCO. The company has offices worldwide. Please visit http://www.autonomy.com to find out more.
Autonomy and the Autonomy logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autonomy Corporation plc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Edward Bridges David Vindel
The Red Consultancy
Financial Dynamics (UK) (UK)
+44 207 831 3113 + 44 207 025 6529
edward.bridges@fd.com david.vindel@redconsultancy.com
SOURCE Autonomy Corporation plc
Autonomy Corporation plc
CONTACT: Winifred Shum of Autonomy (US), +1-408-771-6668, wshum@autonomy.com; or Louise Kehoe of Ogilvy PR (US), +1-415-677-2739, louise.kehoe@ogilvypr.com; or Edward Bridges of Financial Dynamics (UK), +44 207 831 3113, edward.bridges@fd.com; or David Vindel of The Red Consultancy (UK), + 44 207 025 6529, david.vindel@redconsultancy.com, all for Autonomy Corporation plc