News Briefs for the Week Ending
06/10/2011
Copyright 2011, Faulkner Information Services. All Rights Reserved.
Docid:00020009
Publication Date: 1106
Publication Type: NEWS
ACQUISITIONS & DIVESTITURES
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Tech Heavyweights Express Support for AT&T, T-Mobile USA Merger
The New York Times reported that eight technology giants, including Facebook and Microsoft, and 10 venture capital firms, filed letters supporting the acquisition of T-Mobile
USA by AT&T. The letters, filed with the Federal Communications Commission, support AT&T’s argument that the T-Mobile USA deal will help it extend its high-speed network across the
country and better meet the growing demand for wireless broadband services. “Many policy-related efforts will not be able to quickly address near-term capacity needs,” the Microsoft-led group wrote in its letter. “The FCC must seriously weigh the benefits
of this merger and approve it.” The text of the letter was posted by GeekWire.
Source: NYTimes, 6/7/2011
Cablevision’s Board Approves Spin-Off of AMC Networks to Shareholders
Cablevision‘s Board of Directors has approved a leveraged spin-off of the AMC Networks to Cablevision shareholders. The newly independent organization will be helmed by Cablevision Founder Charles F. Dolan, who
will also retain his role as Chairman at Cablevision. Josh Sapan will become president and chief executive officer of AMC Networks, following the spin-off. The transaction is expected to be completed on June 30, 2011, and will affect all shareholders as of
June 16, 2011. The exchange rate will be one share of AMC Networks Class A common stock for every four shares of Cablevision Class A common stock, with Class B shareholders receiving the same ratio. Fractional shares will be aggregated and sold in the
public market.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Convergys Selling Cellular Partnership Stake to AT&T
Convergys announced it will sell its holdings in the “cellular partnerships” located in the Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan area to AT&T for approximately $320 million in cash. As a
result of its spin-off from Cincinnati Bell in 1998, Convergys received a 34% limited partnership interest in Cincinnati SMSA and a 45% limited partnership interest in Cincinnati SMSA Tower Holdings. Together, the two properties are referred to as the
“cellular partnerships.” Convergys expects the sale to generate net after-tax proceeds of approximately $250 million.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
CSC Acquires Brazilian IT Firm VIXIA
CSC acquired Brazilian IT firm VIXIA Consultoria e Tecnologia Ltda. The acquired business specialized in core operational software, business consulting and systems integration services for insurance, reinsurance, and
financial institutions in Brazil. CSC plans to leverage the acquisition to offer a full range of applications and services for the financial service sector in Latin America. CSC says the addition of VIXIA will also aid it by providing access to
country-specific regulations, languages, and currencies. No financial terms for the transaction were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Greek Government Options 10% of Hellenic Telecom to Deutsche Telekom
The Greek government has exercised its option to sell 10 percent of the shares in Hellenic Telecom to Deutsche Telekom. The option is available under the Share Purchase Agreement, signed by both entities in May 2008.
The price Deutsche Telekom will pay is based on the provisions in the Share Purchase Agreement, and will take into account the volume weighted average price of Hellenic Telecom shares on the Athens stock exchange for the past 20 days. A premium of 15% will
also be added to this amount. Deutsche Telekom expects the purchase price for the 49 million included shares to be in the vicinity of EUR 400 million. Following the completion of the transaction, Deutsche Telekom will hold a 40% stake in Hellenic
Telecom.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
eBay Agrees to Acquire eCommerce Platform Maker Magento
eBay announced it is acquiring Magento, makers of the Magento ecommerce platform. eBay said the assets and technology of the acquired company will be used to enhance its X.Commerce integrated open commerce platform
group. eBay has held a minority stake in Magento since 2010. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
EchoStar Completes Acquisition of Hughes Communications
Echostar completed its acquisition of Hughes Communications. EchoStar plans to combine the acquired company’s assets with its own to create a new company specializing in
satellite based digital video and broadband technologies and services. EchoStar completed the purchase with a cash payment of $60.70 per share without interest. This represented a 31% premium over the company’s closing share price of $46.43 on January 19,
2011. No timeframe for the combination of the companies was given.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
RIM Acquires Gaming Tools Developer
Research in Motion announced it has purchased Scoreloop, a Germany-based company that makes a toolkit for developers to add social features to mobile games. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. In a
press release, RIM said “We look forward to working with the team at Scoreloop to provide tools that will further enable our developer community to take gaming to a new level of social integration on the BlackBerry platform.”
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Telefonica to Acquire Acens Technologies from Nazca Capital
Telefonica announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Acens Technologies from Nazca Capital. Acens Technologies is a provider of hosting services for SMEs and self-employed professionals in the Spanish
market. The company plans to use the acquisition to expand its own ability to provide hosting and cloud computing services in the SME segment. The acquired company maintains two data centers in Madrid and Barcelona, as well as locations in Valencia and
Bilbao. The agreement also includes 180 employees. No financial terms for the acquisition were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
ALLIANCES & JOINT VENTURES
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Accenture Forms Joint Venture with Al Faisaliah Group
Accenture formed a new joint venture with the Saudi Arabia-based Al Faisaliah Group, including the acquisition of a majority stake in the Al Faisaliah Business & Technology Company (FBTC), an Al Faisaliah
subsidiary. Accenture plans to leverage the acquired business’ enterprise architecture, systems implementation, and technology consulting skills alongside its own management, consulting, technology, and outsourcing experience to grow its presence in the
Middle East. The transaction is subject to regulatory requirements, and is expected to close within 90 days. No financial terms for the agreement were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Fujitsu Named Platform Computing Strategic HPC Partner
Fujitsu Japan was named by Platform Computing as a Platform Strategic Partner, focused on high-performance and cluster management products. The companies will integrate
Platform’s cluster management software with Fujitsu PRIMERGY industrial servers, and allow Fujitsu to offer Platform Cluster Manager as the cluster provisioning and monitoring tool for PRIMERGY. Platform Computing makes cluster, grid, and cloud management
software for the global market.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Toshiba Subsidiary to Contribute to Genoa Smart City Initiative
Toshiba Japan announced – through its Italian power systems subsidiary Ansaldo Transmissione & Distribuzione – that it signed an agreement with the city of Genoa, Italy to collaborate toward helping achieve its
“Smart City” plan. It will apply Toshiba smart community technology in a number of projects under the initiative.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
BIOMETRICS
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Researchers Find New Way of Recovering Old Fingerprints
The BBC reported that researchers have developed a new way of recovering usable fingerprints from old evidence.The scientists believe the methodology could help police reopen unsolved cases. The scientists used
nanotechnology to detect dry and weak fingerprints, which are not revealed by traditional techniques. Nanotechnology reveals much sharper detail of amino acid traces from old fingerprints than existing methods, the BBC reported. The project is a
collaboration between academics in Sydney and Canberra, Australia; the Australian Federal Police; and Northern Illinois University in the US.
Source: BBC, 6/6/2011
BUSINESS CONTINUITY
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ENISA Gives Update on EU Nations’ Security Practices
ENISA, the European Union’s (European Union) cyber security agency, updated a report
that offers insight into the different preparation steps taken by EU nations in how they handle cybercrime, network attacks, and network resilience. A key report finding is that no pattern exists in the observed European countries with respect to the
existence of a national network and information security (NIS) strategy. However, it should be noted that many EU nations are making progress when it comes to cyber security preparations.
Source: ENISA, 6/8/2011
Nationwide Alert System Test to be Conducted November 9
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test of the US Emergency Alert System (EAS) on
Wednesday, November 9 at 2 PM EST. The EAS is a national alert and warning system established to enable the President to address the American public during emergencies.
Source: FEMA, 6/9/2011
NetSuite Adds Demand Planning Features to Business Management Suite
NetSuite expanded its cloud-based business management suite to include new demand planning features. The company claims the new
functionality will enable wholesalers, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors to achieve best-in-class inventory management practices. It does this by giving customers the tools to predict peaks and troughs in demand, and by minimizing capital tied up
in inventory, NetSuite says.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
CARRIER SERVICES
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AT&T: Joplin Restoration Efforts Well Underway
AT&T said last week that it has sent its Network Disaster Recovery team and others to Joplin, Missouri, and that restoration efforts there are “in full motion.” To expedite the efforts and help local residents with
their communication needs in the wake of a devastating tornado, AT&T has deployed significant network, employee, and service resources. The carrier said its crews have made “considerable progress.”
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
France Telecom’s Orange Business Services Signs 5-Year VPN Contract
France Telecom‘s Orange Business Services signed a 5-year contract with Lloyd’s Register, a supply chain management company, to deliver its Business VPN solution. The fully managed IP based VPN service will be
used to provide connectivity to 226 locations in 68 countries. The agreement also includes provisions for network based Internet gateways in five global locations Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, and Washington, DC. No financial terms for the
contract were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
PCCW Expands Ethernet Services with SDH Platform, MPLS Backbone
PCCW announced an expansion of its Ethernet solutions. The new offering consists of Ethernet services linked to the company’s Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) platform, and a newly deployed MPLS backbone
infrastructure. The updated network also makes use of synchronized interconnects thanks to PCCW’s collaboration with its worldwide Ethernet partners. The upgraded Ethernet services will be marketed primarily to enterprise-level consumers, and will include
optional Service Level Agreements (SLA).
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Verizon Wireless Responding to Communication Needs in Massachusetts
In the aftermath of last week’s tornadoes and severe weather in Western Massachusetts, Verizon Wireless said it has deployed additional resources to augment wireless communications, network capacity, and
coverage in the Springfield, Massachusetts area. The company has delivered six mobile power generators for use by local police and fire departments, as well as FEMA; distributed 45 mobile handsets to local police and fire departments; added call handling
capacity to several exiting cell sites in the areas most affected; and recharged resident’s cell phones inside local Verizon Communications Stores.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
CHIP TECHNOLOGY
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Huawei Embedded Modules Certified for Verizon Wireless
Huawei announced that two of its embedded modules, the Huawei MC323 and the EM660, have been certified on the Verizon Wireless network. The MC323 and EM660, from Huawei
Device, will provide machine-to-machine (M2M) and other embedded device OEMs and CE device manufacturers with modules that enable manufacturers to develop solutions that will operate on the Verizon Wireless network.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
IBM to Provide Processors for Nintendo’s Wii U System
IBM announced that it will be providing the processors that will power Nintedo’s upcoming Wii U home console. The Power-based 45 nanometers microprocessor will utilize the company’s proprietary DRAM, and will be capable
of processing large chunks of data to make for a smooth entertainment experience, according to IBM. This is the third system IBM has collaborated with Nintendo on. It also provided the CPUs for the GameCube and Wii.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
CLOUD COMPUTING
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Apple Previews Cloud Services For Syncing Devices
Apple introduced its iCloud, free cloud services that work seamlessly with the applications on a user’s iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. It can store content, automatically and – when something changes on one
device – wirelessly update all devices. Services include: MobileMe services for contacts, calendars, and mail; iOS apps and books document, file, and security backups; and other multimedia. iCloud beta and Cloud Storage APIs are available immediately to
iOS and Mac Developer Program members. iCloud will be available in the Fall, concurrent with iOS 5.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Deloitte Announces Expanded Cloud Services
Deloitte announced an expansion of its cloud computing services. The company is planning on broadening its cloud computing offerings to include business model development, solution delivery, and talent management.
Deloitte says these new offerings will help its customers manager and expand their SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) delivery capabilities, create PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) custom development and deployment capabilities, and address cloud-centric data and
integration. The new initiative will be led by Paul Clemmons, an industry veteran who most recently served as head of the Deloitte Emerging Solutions service.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Fujitsu Deploys Global Cloud Platform
Fujitsu announced it has begun to offer its public cloud service in Australia, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Fujitsu’s Global Cloud Platform delivers virtual infrastructure – such as
servers and storage functionality – over a network from Fujitsu’s regionally-located data centers to local customers, who can gain access to infrastructure resources through a desktop interface. In Japan, the new service, which had been offered as the
On-Demand Virtual System Service, will now be known as “FGCP/S5.” Globally, the service will be delivered under the name Global Cloud Platform.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
HP Unveils New Open CloudSystem Platform
Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced its new CloudSystem, an open platform for building and managing services across cloud environments. CloudSystem offers a hybrid delivery environment that combines traditional IT
infrastructure with private and public clouds. HP also announced new hybrid delivery cloud implementation, and support services, as well as a CloudAgile program for giving service providers access to HP sales and channel partners. In addition,
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
IBM Announces Launch f SmartCloud for Education
IBM announced the launch of IBM SmartCloud for Education, a new cloud service for students and researchers at schools, colleges, and universities. The goal of the program is to leverage advanced analytics to provide
insights on student and institutional performance, enhance researcher effectiveness, and alleviate constraints on lab resources. The company says the new product uses SPSS models and tools to identify at-risk students and, and social networking tools to
help identify new sources of funding and collaboration. SmartCloud for Education also provides self-service reservations for and access to virtual computer resources on campus, and on the IBM public cloud. More information about the new offering is
available from IBM’s Cloud Academy Web page.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
OpenText Launches RightFax 10 With Cloud Systems Support
OpenText launched RightFax 10, the latest iteration of its fax server software. The new edition focuses on providing enhanced security for sending faxes via cloud-based office systems such as Microsoft Office 365
and Google Apps. Additionally, all versions of the new software now include RightFax Web Access, allowing customers to access their RightFax server from any Web browser. More information about RightFax 10 is available at its product page.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Oracle Launches Optimized Solution for Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure
Oracle launched its new Optimized Solution for Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure product, a new solution designed to accelerate enterprise Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) cloud deployments. The new offering consists
of Oracle’s Sun Blade server modules, Oracle Solaris or Oracle Linux, Oracle’s ZFS Storage Appliance, and Oracle VM. Features include single system management, certified interoperability with a range of Oracle products, and membership in the Intel Cloud Builders program. Oracle says the new solution can reduce virtual machine deployment times by up to 98 percent. More information about the Oracle Optimized Solution for Enterprise Cloud will be
available at the company’s Cloud Expo in New York.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
US Signal Announces General Availability of Managed Data Center
US Signal announced the general availability of its Managed Data Center Infrastructure-as-a-Service cloud-based offering. The new solution uses dedicated resource pools to rapidly provision and host Virtual
Private Servers accessible through US Signal’s Wide Area Networks (WAN). Customers’ stored data can then be accessed via the company’s products, such as MPLS and Virtual Ethernet, or by using IPsec VPN in conjunction with Managed Security and Dedicated
Internet Access. US Signal claims the Managed Data Center solution will optimize application performance, increase data security, and reduce network and server costs.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Zoho Launches Revamped UI for Customer Support Portal
Zoho launched a new user interface for the customer support portal of Zoho Support. Changes include customizable widgets and sections, a new, tiered topic listing in the Solutions view, changes to request viewability,
and a new Contact Info section. More information about the changes is available from the company’s Customer Portal product page.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS & EQUIPMENT
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Alcatel Completes Mobile Video Call Using lightRadio
Alcatel-Lucent announced it completed a long-distance, high-quality mobile video call using lightRadio technology. lightRadio was developed to improve network service quality while reducing energy consumption
for mobile base stations. IThe call was conducted from Bell Labs’ headquarters in Murray Hill, NJ, US.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Alcatel Provides Mobile IP Network for Russia’s MTS
Alcatel-Lucent deployed a mobile IP network for Russian and CIS telecommunications operator OJSC Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), to modernize its transport infrastructure. MTS selected Alcatel IP/MPLS mobile
backhaul technology, including its AnyG to LTE. It can transport voice and data traffic in GSM, UMTS, and HSPA networks, while also accommodating future migrations to LTE.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Cisco Upgrades ASRs, Announces New Deployments
Cisco Systems upgraded its Aggregation Services Router (ASR) portfolio by adding support for Network Virtualization (nV), a Cisco technology to improve capabilities and performance gains for its ASR 9000 system. Cisco
also deployed Aggregation Services Router (ASR) technology for the Cox Communications of the US, Japan’s NTT Plala, and Tata Communications in India, to upgrade their respective Internet access services, and announced it will provide the technology for
Italian telecommunications provider Fastweb, moving forward. The technology will allow the companies to upgrade their existing networks, providing a foundation for next-generation IP services, allowing them to build a secure wideband Internet service
infrastructure and provide new video, data, voice, and cloud services. Cisco also reported that nV technology will be available for future Cisco platforms as networks evolve.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Cisco Completes Network Upgrade for Polish University
Cisco Systems reported that the University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Poland upgraded its campus and research networks using Cisco’s Borderless Network architecture, including wireless access points
and routers. With the new IPv6 infrastructure, it will provide secure Internet access for more than 9,000 students and 1,000 staff members. The network will offer 8G-bps connectivity.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Cisco to Deploy Carrier Grade IPv6 for SFR France
Cisco Systems France will provide SFR France with Carrier Grade Internet Protocol v6 (CGv6) technology, the first step in transitioning its network infrastructure to IPv6. SFR has already deployed Cisco ASR 1000
series routers to enable IPv6 Internet access services for the French carrier’s customers.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Earthlink Completes Phase II of Eastern Tennessee Fiber Project
Earthlink announced the completion of Phase II of the Eastern Tennessee Middle Mile Fiber Broadband Project. The project consisted of the installation of a 131-mile diverse fiber optic route from Knoxville,
Tennessee to Bristol, Tennessee, with points of presence (PoPs) along the route at Knoxville, TN; Morristown, TN; Johnson City, TN; and Bristol, TN. The route is now available for SONET Transport Service. The third, and final, phase of the project is
scheduled to reach completion during the third quarter of 2011. It will add five new ILEC interconnection points, including Cookeville, Oak Ridge, Cleveland, Sweetwater and Morristown, Tennessee.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Global Crossing Wins IP Services Contract from Sapore
Sapore, a multinational catering company based in Brazil, has chosen Global Crossing to provide Internet Protocol (IP) services on its
global Multiple-Protocol Label Switching IP network. Sapore also is using hosting, storage, and backup services through Global Crossing’s data centers. IP services to be provided by Global Crossing include voice and data transport, Dedicated Internet
Access, and videoconferencing among Sapore’s headquarters and 11 regional offices.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Hibernia Atlantic to Extend Novosco’s Network
Hibernia Atlantic has been chosen by Novosco, an Ireland-based provider of virtual and cloud IT infrastructure and services, to provide diverse connectivity within
Northern Ireland and throughout the rest of Europe. The increased capacity includes routes linking Dublin, Belfast, and London, as well as an extension of Novosco’s national coverage by using Hibernia’s network to access key British Telecom exchanges.
Hibernia Atlantic is a privately-held trans-Atlantic submarine cable network operator.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Juniper, NEC Finish Upgrade Project for NZ’s KAREN
Juniper Networks completed its project with NEC New Zealand and the Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand, to extend the country’s Kiwi Advanced Research and
Education Network (KAREN). The upgrade includes providing more points of presence to better connect New Zealand’s research, education, and innovation community. KAREN is a dedicated network that provides high-speed,
high-capacity connectivity across New Zealand, linking education, research, and innovation organizations.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Nokia Siemens to Provide DWDM for Russian Cloud Svcs
Nokia Siemens Networks will deploy a dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) optical transport network in Russia, to allow infrastructure services provider INOVENTICA to offer new cloud computing
services for its public and private customers. The network – based on the hiT 7300 DWDM platform – delivers services at 40G-bps, in 83 regions of the country. Nokia Siemens also supplied transmission network management system technology for administration
and performance monitoring.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Overture Networks Deploys Ethernet Technologies for Fibernetics
Carrier Ethernet solutions provider Overture Networks has completed the deployment of its Ethernet technologies for Fibernetics, a Competitive Local Exchange
Carrier in Canada. Overture Networks said the deployment boosts Fibernetics’ Business Services division, which has deployed the Overture Networks HN4000 and HN400 Ethernet over bonded copper platforms.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Rogers Announces New $80 Million Network Expansion in Maritimes
Rogers announced a new $80 million investment to expand its network in the Maritimes regions. The planned roll-out will bring the company’s 4G HSPA+ coverage to more than 1 million new residents in Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Work on the expansion has already begun, and is expected to take two years to reach completion.
Source: Vendor, 6/2/2011
Rogers Flipping the LTE Switch in Ottawa This Summer
Rogers announced plans to launch commercial LTE service in Ottawa this summer. The carrier said the enhanced network will offer speeds comparable to its home broadband services, and well in excess of
its existing HSPA+ infrastructure. In preparation for the launch, Rogers is already accepting pre-orders
from Ottawa for its LTE-ready "Rocket stick." The Rocket stick is the company’s first LTE-ready mobile modem, and is manufactured by Sierra Wireless. Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are also slated to receive commercially available LTE
before the end of 2011.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Windstream Begins Laying Broadband Cable in Stimulus Project
Windstream last week began laying fiber optic cable near Prentiss, Mississippi as part of its first broadband stimulus project. The work is being funded in part by a federal grant under the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Construction is expected to be completed in July, and the new broadband service should be available to Windstream customers in August. Windstream won grants totaling $181.3 million for projects in 13 states, including
Mississippi. The grants cover 75 percent of the cost of installing broadband services. Windstream will pay for the remaining 25 percent, a total of $60.4 million. Windstream offers broadband Internet, phone services, and digital television to residential
and business customers. It was formed from the spinoff of Alltel’s landline business and merger with VALOR Communications Group.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
CONFERENCING
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Cisco Provides TelePresence for Citizens Bank Pilot
Cisco Systems provided the TelePresence and collaboration technology – via Cisco Remote Expert – for Citizens Financial Group, as it launches a video banking pilot in four US states. The pilot will provide on-demand,
remote video conferencing with bank specialists, accessed from several Citizens bank and Charter One branches It is now available at 16 branches in Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. Remote Expert is a collaboration technology that also
features LongPen’s electronic “wet” signature product.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
CONSULTING & MANAGED SERVICES
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Capgemini Announces Launch of New Agile Legacy Lifecycle Service
Capgemini announced the launch of its new Agile Legacy Lifecycle service in collaboration with IBM. The goal of the service is to provide customers with control over their
application legacy without requiring wholesale change or compromising the existing investment. The company says the new service is based on WARP1 methodology (Wide-angle Application Rationalization Program), and provides incremental and iterative updates
for software that improve a company’s agility. IBM will be providing the tools to automate and assist in the modernization of applications through a process of analyzing code base. More information about the new service is available from the company’s Application Services Portfolio Web page.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
CRM
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BroadVision to Provide Webank with Clearvale Social Networking
BroadVision announced that Webank – an online bank based in Italy – will use its Clearvale enterprise social networking platform to provide a Web 2.0 ecosystem for its social intranet and other CRM initiatives.
The Clearvale Enterprise ecosystem will allow Webank to create multiple public and private networks, in the cloud and interconnected, for sharing knowledge and content in multiple spaces and levels.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
SugarCRM Launches Sugar 6 Spring Release, Adds 2 Subscription Options
SugarCRM announced the general availability of Sugar 6’s Spring Release. Titled Sugar 6: CRM Made Simple, the seasonal release features the launch of two new subscription options: Corporate and Ultimate. Corporate
includes all of the same features as the previous top-tier subscription plan, Professional, but adds the new Sugar Mobile Plus package, software which allows workers to work offline and automatically synchronize data once they’re reconnected. The Ultimate
subscription plan is geared towards businesses with mobile workforces that wish to equip their employees with storage, sandboxes, and server connectors, as well as individual technical support. More information about the various tiers of subscription plans
is available from the company’s Web site.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
CYBERCRIME
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FBI Partner Organization Hacked; Logins Stolen
Some180 passwords belonging to members of an Atlanta-based FBI partner organization have been stolen and leaked to the Internet. The logins belonged to members of the local chapter of InfraGard, a public-private
partnership devoted to sharing information about threats to US physical and Internet infrastructure. Copies of the passwords – which appear to include users from the US Army, cybersecurity organizations, and major communications companies,- according to an
Associated Press report – were posted to the Internet by online hacking collective Lulz Security. The FBI reportedly is aware of the incident and
told the Associated Press that steps were being taken to mitigate the damage.
Source: AP, 6/7/2011
Investigation Claims 1 in 4 Hackers Is an FBI Informant
In an effort to avoid long prison terms for their prior unscrupulous cyber activities, many online criminals and hackers are secretly working for the FBI as informants, the UK’s Guardian has discovered. In fact, as many as one in four US hackers are working as moles, enabling the FBI to take over online crime forums, but the informants are often forced to turn in their hacker peers to escape
prison sentences themselves.
Source: Guardian, 6/6/2011
DATA BREACHES
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Citigroup Network Breached, Hundreds of Thousands of Customers Exposed
Citigroup admitted that it has fallen victim to a massive data breach that exposed sensitive data for hundreds of thousands of credit card customers to hackers who attacked the bank’s network. The hackers gained
access to information including customer names, account numbers, addresses, and email addresses.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Hackers Claim Responsibility for Targeting Nintendo, Sony Pictures
Lulz Security, a group of hackers, have attacked Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), Nintendo, and two sites affiliated with the FBI, all since June 2. The group claims to attack
Web sites for fun and has said that future attacks will be coming.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Sony Continues to be Plagued with Data Breaches
The wave of attacks on Sony that began in April with the PlayStation Network has continued with Sony’s Web sites in Europe and Portugal also falling victim following last week’s breaches of Sony Pictures Entertainment
(SPE) and Sony BMG. Sony issued an alert to SPE customers on Wednesday, saying that some 37,500 customers are affected by that particular hack, which breached names, addresses, email
addresses, and other data.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
DESKTOPS
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IDC Cuts Forecast for 2011 PC Sales By Nearly Half
Sales of PCs are expected to grow just 4.2 percent for 2011, a figure slashed nearly in half from a previous forecast of 7.1 percent in February, according to report issued by IDC and republished by news outlets such as Guardian. The projection follows IDC’s report that PC sales already fell 1.1 percent in the first quarter. Sluggish economic
recovery, strong smartphone and tablet competition, and the fact that most households in the developed world already own PCs were cited as factors. The report also claims sales of netbooks have begun to wane in the face of competition from new tablets, as
well as with traditional laptops continuing to grow more competitive. IDC reported it expects PC sales to grow 10-11 percent, per year, from 2012 to 2015.
Source: IDC, 6/6/2011
ENTERPRISE APPLICATION SOFTWARE
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HP Unveils System, Storage Management Products
Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced new converged infrastructure systems, storage and data center products, and server automation software, including turnkey, converged hardware, software, and consulting and support services
for helping clients launch new applications. The products were developed to address issues such as real-time data analytics, database consolidation, and data warehouse management.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Oracle Launches Insurance Insbridge Rating and Underwriting 4.5
Oracle unveiled Oracle Insurance Insbridge Rating and Underwriting 4.5. The latest iteration of the software offers improved support for
international markets, including support for any language character set, even double-byte languages, such as Mandarin; cultural enhancements, such as flexible date and number formatting capabilities; and easier navigation and set up for global insurers.
Oracle Insurance Insbridge Rating and Underwriting 4.5 is available now.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Oracle Launches Entitlements Server 11g
Oracle announced the launch of Entitlements Server 11g. Part of the Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g
product line, the new solution is designed to provide a scalable, externalized authorization management solution for applications, middleware, and databases. The product also offers fine-grained authorization controls, which allow users to increase
compliance and reduce response times, the company says. Entitlements Server 11g also supports permission control on both cloud-based deployments, and on-premises installations.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
SAS Announces Approval of Two New Patents for Warranty Analysis
SAS received approval for two patents relating to its SAS Warranty Analysis software. They are “Computer-Implemented Systems and Methods for Warranty Analysis” (US patent number 7,904,319 ), and “Computer-Implemented
Systems and Methods for Emerging Warranty Analysis Issues” (US patent number 7,912,772). Both patents refer to software that helps manufacturers and retailers apply analytics to warranty-related tasks.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
FINANCIAL
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Belgacom Launches First Phase of EUR 200 Million Share Buyback
Belgacom commenced the first phase of its planned EUR 200 million share buyback program. The phase includes a budget of EUR 50 million, and will be handled by a company-approved intermediary. The carrier says it
will post a weekly press release to inform the public of the repurchase program’s progress.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Booz Allen Hamilton Posts Huge Improvements in Q4, 2011 Financials
Booz Allen Hamilton posted its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. For the quarter, the company’s revenue was $1.49 billion, up from the $1.35 billion reported for the same
period last year. Net income was $18 million, or $0.13 per share, a huge improvement over the $4.89 million, or $0.05 per share reported for the last quarter of 2010. For the year, Booz’s revenue was $5.27 billion, up from the $4.92 billion reported for
2010. Net income was $85.69 million, or $0.66 per share, more than three times the $25.4 million, or $0.22 per share reported for the previous year. On these results the company posted guidance for FY 2012 including earnings per share between $1.55 and
$1.65.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
March Networks Suffers Loss for Fiscal Year
March Networks announced revenues of $27.5 million CDN ($28.1 million USD) for the fiscal fourth quarter, which ended on April 30. Revenues increased by 30% as compared to revenue of $21.2 million ($21.7
million) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. The company suffered a loss of $392,000 ($401,140), or $0.02 per common share, for the fourth quarter. Revenue of $102.8 million ($105.2 million) for the fiscal year increased by 19% as compared to revenue of
$86.6 million ($88.6 million) in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2010. For the fiscal year, March Networks reported a loss of $3.8 million ($3.9 million), or $0.21 per share.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
SAIC Posts Modest Gains in Revenue, Profit for Q1 2012
SAIC announced its financial results for the first quarter of its 2012 fiscal year. The company’s revenue totaled $2.68 billion, a modest increase over the $2.62 billion reported for the same period a year ago. Net
income was $131 million, compared to $125 million, reported for the same period in FY 2011. Earnings per share were $0.37, an increase from the $0.32 per share reported a year ago. On these results the company released its financial guidance for FY 2012,
including revenues in the range of $11.0 billion to $11.5 billion, and earnings per share of $1.35 to $1.46.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Toshiba to Buy 75% Stake in TopRank for T&D Manufacturing
Toshiba Japan reported it acquired a 75 percent equity stake in TopRank, a Malaysian company that manufactures transmission and distribution equipment. It will be renamed Toshiba Transmission & Distribution
Systems Asia.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
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DHS Awards Contract for Public Safety Communications Systems
Covia Labs received a contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to research and develop public safety mobile broadband applications for mission critical voice. Under the contract, Covia will study the public safety community to understand their requirements for mission
critical interoperable voice communications, and then develop a plan and deliver software technology based upon Long Term Evolution (LTE), existing communications systems, and Covia Labs’ Connector interoperability platform to address these
requirements.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
HP to Provide Printers, Services for US Air Force
Hewlett-Packard (HP) was awarded a purchase agreement by the US Air Force (USAF) to provide it with standard and multifunction printers. The devices will include pre-installed capabilities such as the HP Universal Print
Driver, USAF-approved security settings, and use of a Common Access Card Reader, to support authorized use and more secure operations. The agreement also includes toner, installation services, and four years of enhanced technical support.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
SAIC Announces Successful Deployment of UICDS Emergency System
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) announced the successful deployment of the Unified Incident Command and Decision Support (UICDS) system to the cloud. The initial deployment is designed to test and
verify the UICDS’ applicability and compatibility with cloud-based technologies. The system is sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate. It is designed to provide police, fire, emergency medical, and other
response organizations with incident management technologies to share information and collaborate on protecting against, responding to, and recovering from natural disasters, and other technological, and terrorist incidents.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Unisys Receives Spot on DOJ’s $1.1 Billion ITSS-4 Contract
Unisys received a contract from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) which allows it to compete for task orders under the Information Technology Support Services-4 (ITSS-4) contract. Services to be purchased under the
contract include applications modernization, integration, and operations and maintenance. Unisys is one of 20 companies named in the agreement. The ITSS-4 contract has a 7-month base period, 6 one-year options, and a total value of $1.1 billion for all
awardees. Unisys was also a participant in the previous DOJ ITSS-3 contract.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS
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HP Launches Disease Surveillance Collaborative in Botswana
Hewlett-Packard (HP) and nonprofit group Positive Innovation for the Next Generation (PING) announced they are launching a program focused on disease surveillance and mobile health monitoring in Botswana. The PING
initiative uses HP webOS and cloud computing technology, and should allow health workers to predict, observe, and minimize potential health risks. It was created in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative and mobile network provider
MASCOM.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Oracle Launches Health Science InForm Global Trial Management 5.5
Oracle launched its new Health Sciences InForm Global Trial Management (GTM) 5.5 software. The updated product
includes new functionality designed to help trial sponsors and clinical research organizations (CROs) improve clinical trial efficiency and increase overall productivity. New features include real-time data listing with filtering options for subjects,
visits, and sites; support for direct actions, such as bulk query creation, source verification, and freeze and lock; and the ability to display trending highlights.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
INDUSTRY GROUPS
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SugarCRM Announces Launch of Networked HelpDesk.org
SugarCRM announced the launch of NetworkedHelpDesk.org. The goal of the new initiative is to provide seamless communications to allow multiple partners and suppliers
to enhance their customer service experiences. The company says this is made possible by a new application programming interface (API) developed by the alliance to provide a combined ecosystem with support for tickets, business processes, and
organizational workflows. NetworkedHelpDesk.org is currently supported by Atlassian, Coherence Design, Connect2Field, CustomWare, Freshbooks, GroundWork, New Relic, OTRS, PagerDuty, Pervasive, Pivotal Tracker, Rypple, Service Now, SugarCRM, Twilio,
Wildbit, and Zendesk.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
INTERNET
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Google Launches Live Transit Status Updates in Google Maps
Google announced the launch of live public transit updates in the desktop and mobile versions of Google Maps. The service will initially launch in four US cities and two European cities: Boston, Portland, San Diego,
San Francisco, Madrid, and Turin. The new service is being made possible by partnerships with the local transit authorities in those urban centers. Delays will be displayed via a new “live departure times” icon in the supported cities. Google says it is
working with additional transit partners to bring the service to other locations in the near future.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Google Updates Chrome Stable Version to 12
Google updated Chrome’s Stable Release Channel to version 12. The new edition of the browser includes improvements such as hardware accelerated 3D CSS, new protections against downloading malicious files, the ability
to delete flash cookies, integrated synchronization, improved screen radar support, and the removal of the now defunct Google Gears. The update also carries the usual selection of security fixes and improvements. The latest version of Chrome is always
available for download on the Chrome home page.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Backbone Provider Hurricane Electric Adds Connections to Japan
Internet backbone and colocation provider Hurricane Electric recently announced it has expanded its network reach in Asia with connections to the Japan Network
Access Point and the Japan Internet Exchange. The company said the network expansion provides reduced latency and improved fault tolerance for its customers, as well as expanding the reach of its IPv6
Internet infrastructure and services to additional customers in Asia.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
ICSA Labs Offers Tips for Transitioning to IPv6
ICSA Labs, an independent division of Verizon, has posted a list of
recommendations to help enterprises and government agencies make a smooth transition to the next generation Internet protocol, IPv6. Among the tips: act now to avoid future interoperability issues; take inventory of IPv4 and IPv6 systems; make sure
IPv6 operates at the application layer; and remember to turn on the IPsec (IP Security) feature of IPv6. Although IPv6 was designed with this feature, it must be configured properly to function. Finally, ICSA recommends paying special attention to securing
wireless networks. While IPv6 is a major enabler for mobility, network perimeter protection devices are still required, and the security architecture must also allow for trusted nodes outside the perimeter, ICSA said.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Organizations Participate in World IPv6 Day
Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Akamai, and Limelight Networks were just some of the major companies offering their content over IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) for a 24-hour “test flight” that started June 8, which was designated as “World IPv6 Day.” The
goal of the exercise, organized by the Internet Society, is to motivate organizations across the industry – Internet service providers, hardware makers, operating system vendors, and Web companies – to prepare their
services for IPv6 to ensure a successful transition as IPv4 addresses run out.
Source: ISOC, 6/8/2011
World IPv6 Day Passes Quietly; No Problems Reported
World IPv6 Day on June 8 went smoothly across the Internet according to all reports. Organized by the Internet Society and many of the biggest Web companies, the “test drive”
of IPv6 came off without a hitch. World IPv6 Day was a 24-hour test period of the new 128-bit addressing scheme – IPv6 – that the Internet will require if it is to continue to grow. Because the last blocks of IPv4 addresses have now been allocated, the
transition to IPv6 is increasingly urgent. The success of World IPv6 Day indicates that the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 can continue and hopefully accelerate. Google’s Lorezo Colitti, a network engineer, said in a blog post that “the test flight was a success.” Colitti said Google carried “about 65 per cent more IPv6 traffic than
usual, saw no significant issues and did not have to disable IPv6 access for any networks or services. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be working together with the other participants to analyze the data we’ve collected, but, at least on the surface, the
first global test of IPv6 passed without incident.”
Source: ISOC, 6/9/2011
LAPTOPS & TABLETS
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General Dynamics Launches New Ruggedized Itronix Notebook
General Dynamics launched its new ruggedized notebook, the Itronix GD8200. The new computer features an Intel Core i7 processor, a sunlight-viewable DynaVue II touch screen display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G
wireless connectivity, and ergonomic design. The notebook has passed US military MIL-STD 810G standards for drops, shock, vibration, extreme heat, and cold. It also obtained an Ingress Protection (IP) 65 rating against dust and water, and can be operated
in helicopters with strong magnetic interference. Prices for the unit begin at $4460.00. More information and configuration options are available at the Itronix Web site.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
HP to Offer Wi-Fi Version of TouchPad Tablet in July
Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced that the Wi-Fi version of its TouchPad webOS tablet will be available in the US, starting July 1st, through US retailers, commercial resellers, and HP’s own site. The webOS tablet is
available with either 16-GB ($499.99 USD) or 32-GB ($599.99) capacity. It will also be available in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Spain, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Singapore in the ensuing days, weeks, and months. Pre-orders
will begin in North America and Europe on June 19th. Retailers and commercial resellers to carry TouchPad will include Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, Wal-mart, Sam’s Club, OfficeMax, Amazon.com, Fry’s, and Microcenter.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
LEGAL
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SAP Gets Preliminary Court Approval of Sybase Class-Action Settlement
SAP received preliminary approval from the Superior Court of Alameda County for the proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit resulting from its July 2010 acquisition of Sybase. The plaintiffs in the case alleged,
among other items, that the price paid to Sybase shareholders as part of the tender offer was too low, and that the information provided to Sybase shareholders was insufficient. The terms of the settlement include the provision of additional information
about the transaction to the shareholders, as well as the requirement for SAP to pay a portion of the plaintiff’s attorney fees. The full text of the settlement can be seen on SAP’s Web site.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
MALWARE WATCH
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Hackers Target Webmail Accounts to Launch Further Attacks
Last week Google reported that a phishing scam had hit Gmail accounts of government officials and political activities, but Trend Micro has revealed that accounts belonging to
Hotmail and Yahoo Mail users have also been targeted by the hackers. The attackers’ objective, according to Trend Micro, is to gain access to the email accounts in an effort to
monitor communications and launch more attacks.
Source: Vendor, 6/2/2011
Kaspersky: Mac OS X, Sony, bin Laden Top May Malware Trends
Kaspersky Lab compiled malware statistics for May and reported that rogue antivirus attacks targeting Apple computers took off on May 2, following the announcement that
terrorist leader Osama bin Laden had been killed. Also in May, the first banking rootkit for the Windows 64-bit operating system (Rootkit.Win64.Banker) debuted, targeting users’ logins and passwords to online banking systems. The report also points out the targeted attacks against Sony, which began with the hack of the PlayStation and Online Entertainment Networks
in April and the continued attacks against Sony throughout May including the hacking of its Japanese site and Greek music site.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
New Desktop Malware Circulating, Warns SonicWALL
SonicWALL researchers have spotted an increase in fake desktop utility malware circulating online. This new variant can disable the task manager, hide user programs and files by modifying file attributes, and
disable multiple operating system features. This fake utility also uses scareware tactics to convince unsuspecting users that their systems are infected with malware and that they need to purchase products to correct such issues.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
That Emailed Gift Card from a Friend Is No Gift, Sophos Warns
Sophos discovered a new malware attack that arrives in a user’s inbox resembling a harmless emailed gift card from a friend. However, the message comes with a .PIF attachment that contains a Trojan inside. Opening
the file will launch the malware.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
StopBadware Report Analyzes Malware, Ways to Stop It
StopBadware has released its first “State of Badware” report. The free, 19-page report looks at the major systems that govern the Web and
discusses crucial weaknesses in the way they operate. It also explores opportunities for the industry and government to develop solutions that better address the growing malware problem.
Source: StopBadware, 6/8/2011
LinkedIn Request in Your Inbox? It Might be a Trojan
Trusteer is warning LinkedIn users about a circulating malware campaign that could lead unsuspecting individuals to accidentally download the Zeus 3 Trojan. The malware
appears as a message that looks identical to a legitimate LinkedIn request, but if the user clicks on the bogus link, he or she will be directed to a malicious Web site that downloads Zeus to the user’s computer.
Source: Vendor, 6/2/2011
MEDIA
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NCR Adds BLOCKBUSTER Express Kiosks to 800 More Locations
NCR announced the placement of more than 800 additional BLOCKBUSTER Express locations at Food Lion, Bottom Dollar Food, Harveys, and Reid’s grocery stores across 11 states in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of
the US. The kiosks offer automated $1 per night movie rentals via credit card, with certain new release titles requiring a premium of $2.99 for the first night, and $1 per night thereafter. A full list of kiosk locations can be found at the BLOCKBUSTER Express Web site.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
MOBILE APPS
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AOL Launches Winamp for Android 1.1
AOL released Winamp for Android 1.1, the latest iteration of the long-running music player software. Features include wireless syncing of music, one-click iTunes library migration, free on-demand streaming of select new
album releases, daily free mp3 music downloads, and access to thousands of SHOUTcast internet radio stations. The software also now supports Android’s native “Listen to” voice action. Winamp for Android 1.1 is available from on the Android Marketplace.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Bing Launches iPhone App Discovery in Bing App, Mobile Site
Bing launched new iPhone app discovery functionality in its Bing for Mobile app and mobile site. The new feature attempts to surface specific iPhone apps based on natural language queries entered into the standard Bing
search bar. It can also list apps for searches such as “news apps” or “top iPhone apps”. When the users find an application they are interested in downloading they can tap a link within the Bing app or site which will automatically launch the iPhone’s App
Store and begin the process of purchasing or downloading the software. The Bing Mobile app is available in the Apple App Store.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
MOBILE PLATFORMS
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Apple Rolls Out iOS 5 Mobile OS Beta for Developers
Apple previewed its iOS 5 mobile operating system, and released a beta version to iOS Developer Program members. The release includes over 200 new features for iPhone, iPad,
and iPod touch users. Noteworthy features include a Notification Center control panel for viewing and managing notifications, an iMessage messaging service for exchanging multimedia between all iOS devices, and Newsstand content subscription services. It
also includes a PC Free feature, whereby users can activate and set up an iOS device and access updates over the air without a computer. It will be available in the Fall.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
comScore Reports US Mobile Advertisers Doubling Over the Past Year
comScore posted the results of a recent study on US mobile advertising. The study found that the number of advertisers in the country using mobile display ad campaigns has more than doubled in the past two years.
Other notable results include the fact that mobile content and publishing account for half of all mobile ad placements; and that there is a wide discrepancy in ad exposure between smartphone and feature phone users, with 27.5% of smartphone users reported
at least one mobile ad exposure, while only 5% of feature phone users viewed at least a single ad. The complete findings are available on comScore’s Web site.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Swisscom Launches Unlimited Hotspot Mobile Modem
Swisscom launched its new Unlimited Hotspot, a modem designed to allow up to five WLAN-enabled handsets to access the Internet at the same time. The unit supports HSPA, UMTS and WLAN. It supports speeds up to 21
Mbps, depending on the user’s subscription, and location. The Unlimited Hotspot is available now for CHF 149 with a NATEL data day subscription, or CHF 249 contract free. A SIM card and a NATEL data subscription are required for use.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Twitter Working with Apple to Build Twitter Functionality into iOS 5
Twitter announced that is collaborating with Apple to build Twitter functionality directly into iOS 5. This will allow users of the upcoming operating system to sign into their
Twitter account once, and share content or Tweet with a single tap from any Twitter-enabled application on their iOS device. So far, this includes Apple’s first party Camera, Photos, Safari, Contacts, YouTube, and Maps applications. The company says the
updated iOS API also allows third-party developers to add one-tap Twitter functionality to their own applications. iOS 5 is expected to launch some time this Fall.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
OPERATING SYSTEMS
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Apple to Roll Out Mac OS X Lion Next Month
Apple confirmed its Mac OS X Lion – the eighth major release of its operating system – will be available for download in July. Mac OS X Lion will have more than 250 new features and 3,000 developer APIs. The new OS will feature new
multi-touch gestures including momentum scrolling, tapping/pinching finger zooming, and finger-swiping for switching between full-screen apps. It will also offer system-wide support for full-screen apps, Mission Control management software, and a
redesigned Mail app that includes built-in support for Microsoft Exchange 2010. It will be available for the Apple Mac app Store, as an upgrade, for $29.99 USD, and can be installed on all authorized personal Macs. Mac OS X Lion Server requires Lion, and
will also be available in July for $49.99.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION
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AOL’s HuffPo Group Announces Two Executive Appointments
The AOL Huffington Post Media Group announced two new executive appointments. First, Jason Fields has been named Head of User Experience & Product. He will oversee product, design, and user experiences across all of the
group’s Web properties. Prior to this appointment, Fields worked as Head of User Experience & Design, Multiplatform Experiences at BBC. Additionally, The group appointed Andrei Scheinkman as Editor of Interactive News. He will lead a team of programmers,
journalists, and designers tasked with creating data-driven Web applications to help readers explore data points in the news. Prior to his appointment, Scheinkman held the position of Interactive News Developer at The New York Times.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
AT&T Wins MSO License in Indonesia
AT&T said it is the first foreign telecom operator to secure a Multimedia Services Operator (MSO) license in Indonesia. The carrier will operate there through its joint venture, AT&T Global Network Services Indonesia.
AT&T owns 95% of the joint venture. The MSO license will enable AT&T to directly deliver services to multinational customers in Indonesia.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Dell to Open Cloud R&D Facility in Dublin, Ireland
Dell announced it will open a Cloud Research and Development Center in Dublin, Ireland. In addition, its Limerick campus will now house its first Dell Solution Center, an announcement part of Dell’s previous disclosure
it would invest $1 billion USD, globally, in new technology and services. A total of 150 will be recruited across both sites, over the next two years.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Ericsson Names New Head for Business Unit Multimedia
Ericsson named Per Borgklint – the CEO of Swedish operator Net1 – as SVP and head of Ericsson Business Unit Multimedia, effective immediately. Ericsson Business Unit Multimedia develops and delivers software to
support rich consumer services. Borgklint will also serve as a member of Ericsson’s executive leadership team.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
FCC Names New Chief Information Officer
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Robert Naylor as the commission’s Chief Information Officer. Naylor will implement a strategy to cut costs, equip workers with effective tools, and shift the
commission’s IT focus toward “more sustainable and secure cloud-based solutions,” the FCC said. Naylor previously served an appointment as the Chief Information Officer for the United States Small Business Administration. He has recently served on two
committees within the Federal Executive CIO Council, and was a member of two White House workgroups within the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Source: FCC, 6/6/2011
Huawei Australia Names Independent Directors to Board
Huawei Australia named John Brumby, Alexander Downer, and John Lord as independent directors for its newly established board of directors. The board will be charged with overseeing local strategy and developing
further inroads in Australia.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Infor Launches New Infor Partner Network Program
Infor announced the launch of the Infor Partner Network (IPN), a new global network of people, systems, and services dedicated to delivering support for channel partners. The company says IPN will include competitive
commission rates, new performance bonuses, a comprehensive training and certification program, and a Market Development Funding (MDF) program. Infor has set the goal of doubling its channel revenue over the next three years through the program. Channel
partners signed up for the program will be categorized as Associate, Silver, or Gold, and receive benefits and recognition accordingly. Tier assignment will be based on Infor product specialization, level of certification, and sales performance.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Stortz Returns to Level 3 As Chief Administrative Officer
Thomas C. Stortz has been named executive vice president, chief administrative officer, and secretary for Level 3. Stortz, who had served as the company’s chief legal officer since 1998, announced his retirement at
the end of last year but agreed to return as Level 3 works through the process of acquiring Global Crossing. Level 3 CEO James Crowe said he asked Stortz to rejoin the company, and work with him and the board
of directors to “ensure a smooth transition.” The senior executives responsible for the legal, human resources, and corporate communications groups of the company will report to Stortz.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
News Corp Announces Departure of Group General Counsel
News Corp announced that Lawrence A. Jacobs, News Corporation’s Senior Executive Vice President and Group General Counsel, will be stepping down from the company to pursue new opportunities. Jacobs joined the
company in 1996 as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. News Corp has not yet announce any plans to name a successor.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
News Corp Announces Pair of New Executives in Education Division
News Corp announced a pair of executive appointments to its newly formed education division. First, Kristen Kane will take on the role of Chief Operating Officer of the group. She will be responsible for driving
operations and strategy. Prior to this appointment, Kane worked as Chief Operating Officer for the New York City Department of Education. The second appointment will see Dr. Peter Gorman taking over as Senior Vice President of the division. He will handle
the task of working with school districts to implement programs, review integrity, and measure effectiveness. Gorman formerly served as Superintendent, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Nokia’s Chief Technology Officer Takes Leave
Handset manufacturer Nokia announced that its chief technology officer has taken a leave of absence and will be temporarily replaced by the head of the company’s research center. Richard Green, an American who joined
Finland-based Nokia last year from Sun Microsystems, has taken a leave “to attend to a personal matter,” Nokia officials said, adding that there is “no specific timeline” for his return. In his absence, Green’s duties will be assumed by Henry Tirri, head
of the Nokia Research Center. Nokia remains the number one producer of mobile phones globally, but its market share has been sliding dramatically. At least one news agency – in Finland – reported that Green departed over strategy disagreements.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
NTT Data to Merge Two Chinese Subsidiaries
NTT Data said it plans to merge two of its Chinese subsidiaries, NTT Data China and Beijing NTT Data Systems Integration. The new entity will start operating in December 2011 under the name NTT Data China.
Another Chinese subsidiary, Wuxi NTT Data will become a subsidiary of the merged company. Prior to this reorganization, NTT Data will combine two Japan-based offshore sales companies. Beijing NTT Data Japan and BNI Systems will merge on July 1st to form
NTT Data China Outsourcing.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Saba Hires Shawn Farshchi as New Chief Operating Officer
Saba announced the appointment of Shawn Farshchi to the office of Chief Operating Officer. His goal will be to develop the Saba People Cloud into a global cloud operation and to capitalize on the company’s next phase
of growth and the next generation Cloud solutions planned for the Fall. He will also be directly responsible for product development, product management, product marketing, cloud operations, and customer support. Prior to joining Saba, Farshchi worked as
Chief Operating Officer for Coremetrics, a subsidiary of IBM.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
SAIC Opens New Facility in Rock Island, Illinois
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) opened a new 1,500 square foot facility in Rock Island, Illinois. Located on the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA), the new location will expand the company’s presence in
the Quad Cities area, as well as supporting existing customers in the region. Specific service areas will include distribution and material management, logistics, support munitions storage and resupply, information technology, and container management data
collection support.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
SAP Appoints Dr Christoph Kollatz as EVP of SAP Hanna
SAP announced the appointment of Dr. Christoph Kollatz to office of executive vice president, SAP HANA, in the Technology and Innovation Platform Board Area. Kollatz will report to Dr. Vishal Sikka, a member of the SAP
Executive Board leading technology and innovation, and will primarily focus on the advancement of the division’s In-Memory Appliance software. Prior to joining SAP, Kollatz was CEO of Siemens IT Solutions and Services.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Telecom Italia Announces Resignation of Fredinando Beccalli-Falco
Telecom Italia announced the resignation of Ferdinando Beccalli-Falco from its board of directors. Beccalli-Falco is the President & CEO, Europe for GE and CEO of GE Germany. He chose to step down after his
responsibilities at GE were increased. Beccalli-Falco had only been serving on the carrier’s board since April 13, 2011.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
PUBLIC SAFETY
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Officials: Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Had 3 Full Meltdowns
CNN reported that Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant experienced full meltdowns at three reactors in the wake of an earthquake and tsunami in March. The information was revealed this week by Japan’s Nuclear
Emergency Response Headquarters. The new evaluation goes further than previous statements in describing the extent of the damage caused by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Blackout Hits Fukushima Nuclear Plant Reactors 1, 2
Kyodo News reported that Japan’s crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered power outages at its Number 1 and 2 reactors on June 8th, with lights cut off in the units’ central control room, and
water level and pressure indictors for one of the reactors out of service for more than three hours. The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said the blackout did not affect its water
injection operation to prevent the crisis from worsening and no evidence of abnormalities was found in data on the No. 2 reactor after power was restored. According to Kyodo News, Japanese government officals again urged the utility to diversify power
sources at the six-reactor complex.TEPCO said it is investigating the cause of the incident.
Source: Kyodo News, 6/8/2011
Emergency Declared for Arizona Wildfire
The Arizona Division of Emergency Management announced that Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed a Declaration of Emergency in response to the wildfires raging in Apache and Greenlee Counties. The
declaration released $200,000 in emergency funds (via the state’s General Fund) to pay for emergency responses and recovery expenses for damage resulting from the fires. The press release noted that the funding will support costs not covered by the federal fire management assistance grant, as well as recovery efforts following suppression of the
fire. The governor’s emergency declaration also authorizes the Adjutant General to mobilize the Arizona National Guard as necessary to protect life and property. On June 9, officials said the Wallow Fire, as the blaze is called, had burned 389,000 acres in
eastern Arizona. They also expressed concern that the fire could reach power lines today. If the lines are damaged, hundreds of thousands of people in New Mexico and Texas could face rolling blackouts.
Source: ADEM, 6/7/2011
US Needs to Better Address Terrorist Safe Havens, Says GAO
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on ways to combat terrorism. This publication stresses that improved reporting on the parts of both the
Department of State (State) and the National Security Council (NSC) would help the US address terrorist safe havens, which enable terrorists to train recruits and plan attacks.
Source: GAO, 6/3/2011
Verizon Deploys Second Mobile Cell Site in Arizona
Verizon Wireless has deployed a COW (Cell on Wheels) unit to Nutrioso, Arizona to provide wireless coverage and capacity for emergency crews battling the Wallow Fire. This is the second mobile cell site
activated by the company in support of the wildfire relief effort.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
REGULATORY & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
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NATO, Russia Conduct Joint Counterterrorism Exercise
From June 6 to 10th, 2011 NATO and Russian fighter aircraft took part in a counterterrorism exercise called “Vigilant Skies 2011” – a joint demonstration of the NATO-Russia Council Cooperative
Airspace Initiative. The initiative is designed to prevent terrorist attacks that use civilian aircraft – such as the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001- by sharing information on movements in NATO airspace and Russian airspace, and by
coordinating interceptions of renegade aircraft.
Source: NATO, 6/7/2011
NIST Publishes Guide to Industrial Control Systems Security
The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published a Guide to Industrial Control System (ICS) Security. Special
Publication 800-82 provides guidance on how to secure Industrial Control Systems, including SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, Distributed Control Systems, and other control system configurations such as Programmable Logic
Controllers.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
NIST Proposes to Approve Cryptographic Schemes
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced a proposal to specify and approve two block cipher modes of operation for format preserving encryption (FPE). FPE can be used as a cryptographic tool,
whereby certain kinds of data, such as social security numbers or credit card numbers, may be selectively encrypted without changing their format. Both of the modes that NIST proposes to approve are schemes that are compliant with an FFX framework that was
submitted by researchers.
Source: NIST, 6/8/2011
NIST Seeks Comments on Common Platform Enumeration Drafts
Two National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) draft reports that pertain to the Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) specification version 2.3 have been released for public comment. CPE is one of the
fundamental components of the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP), and the first report, identified as Draft NISTIR 7697, defines the CPE
Dictionary specification. The second report, identified as Draft NISTIR 7698, provides the CPE Applicability Language specification.
Source: NIST, 6/3/2011
UK Tackles Fraud with Pilot Programs Detailed in New Report
The UK Cabinet Office released a report which provides details about a
set of pilot programs designed to cut back on fraud in the public sector. The report includes a set of proposals which the government will use immediately to develop the fight against fraud.
Source: Cabinet Office, 6/8/2011
US Proposes Voluntary Codes of Conduct to Strengthen Cybersecurity
The US Commerce Department released a report that proposes voluntary codes of conduct to strengthen the cybersecurity of companies that increasingly rely on the Internet to do business, but are not part of the
critical infrastructure sector. The report – Cybersecurity, Innovation and the Internet Economy – focuses on the “Internet and Information Innovation Sector”. These
are businesses that range from small and mid-sized enterprises to large cloud computing firms that are increasingly subject to cyber attacks. The report, developed by the Department’s Internet Policy Task Force, makes a number of specific recommendations
for reducing vulnerabilities, and can be downloaded for free from the agency’s Web site. One recommendation is that enterprises implement the Domain Name System
Security (DNSSEC) protocol extensions on the domains that host key Web sites. DNSSEC provides a way to ensure that users are validly delivered to the Web addresses they request and are not hijacked.
Source: commerce.gov, 6/9/2011
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
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Harris Cap Rock Communications Receives $13 Million VSAT Contract
Harris Corp‘s Cap Rock Communications was chosen by Odfjell Drilling to provide seven Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) communications installations to its offshore drilling rigs and drill ships. Three of the units
constitute new contracts, while the remaining four are renewals. The total value for the agreement is approximately $13 million, including options. The work will be completed at sites spread across the North Sea and Africa.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
SEARCH
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Bing Launches Revamped Bing for Mobile Browsers Site
Bing unveiled a revamped Bing for Mobile Browsers site. New features include the ability to share on Facebook, a new headline news section, a split view for business listings and
mapping directions, and a stored search history. The updated mobile site is accessible from any HTML5 capable browser, including those found on iPhone, Android and RIM devices.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
SECURITY FLAWS & FIXES
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Adobe Updates Flash Player to Deflect Webmail Security Issue
Adobe rushed out a rare weekend patch for a Flash Player vulnerability that was being used to swipe login credentials for Google‘s Gmail users. Other Webmail providers could also
be targeted. Adobe issued a security bulletin and advised users to immediately upgrade to version 10.3.181.22 (10.3.181.23 for ActiveX).
Source: Vendor, 6/5/2011
New Version of Google Chrome Now Available
Google Chrome version 12.0.742.91 has been released to eliminate security issues in earlier versions. Further details about this update are available from a blog post on the Google Web site.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
HP LoadRunner Flaw Not Yet Patched
A highly critical security vulnerability in HP LoadRunner has been reported in versions 11.0 and 9.50. The vulnerability could be exploited to execute arbitrary code. No fix has been released at this time.
Source: Secunia, 6/9/2011
HP Updates JRE/JDK to Fix Flaws
HP has issued an update for JRE / JDK to fix several critical security vulnerabilities. Users should read the advisory and
apply all updates.
Source: Secunia, 6/7/2011
10 Vulnerabilities Found in Novell iPrint Client
Novell‘s iPrint Client has 10 highly critical security vulnerabilities. Users should update to version 5.64, and read the advisory that
the vendor has posted.
Source: Secunia, 6/7/2011
Oracle Releases Updates to Fix Java Holes
Oracle has released its June Critical Patch Update to fix 17 security vulnerabilities in JDK and JRE 6 Update 25 and
earlier, JDK 5.0 Update 29 and earlier, and SDK 1.4.2_31 and earlier. It is recommended that users apply the patches immediately.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
RSA to Customers: We Will Replace SecurID Tokens
RSA posted an open letter on its Web site and said that customers who use the vendor’s SecurID tokens, which were targeted in a massive cyber attack on March
17, will have the option to replace the technology if they are concerned about their network vulnerability. The letter was published following the June 2 attempted cyber attack on Lockheed Martin. In that
instance, hackers equipped with information that was stolen from RSA during the March break-in, launched a targeted attack against Lockheed, a government defense contractor that used SecurID technology. The attack was thwarted. RSA is extending SecurID
customers the offers of replacing the tokens and implementing “risk-based authentication strategies.”
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
VideoLAN Offers New Version of VLC Media Player
VideoLAN has released VLC Media Player 1.1.10 to fix an integer overflow in xspf demuxer. Users can download the updated version and read the advisory
that has been posted.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Advisory Posted for VMware Products
A vulnerability has been reported in various VMware products and is caused by an unspecified error within the VI Client ActiveX controls. Successful exploitation may allow the execution of arbitrary code. A vendor
posted advisory provides users with a solution to this issue.
Source: Vendor, 6/2/2011
SECURITY PRODUCTS & COMPANIES
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Check Point Reports that 77% of Businesses Faced Data Loss in 2010
Check Point Software, in conjunction with the Ponemon Institute, revealed that 77% of organizations surveyed for a new report have
experienced data loss in the last year. In “Understanding Security Complexity in 21st Century IT Environments”, respondents cited customer information (52%) as the most common type of information compromised, in addition to intellectual property (33%),
employee information (31%) and corporate plans (16%). Over 2,400 IT security administrators located in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan were surveyed for this report.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Check Point Gives ZoneAlarm Security a Facelift
Check Point Software announced the 2012 version of its ZoneAlarm security product. New features in ZoneAlarm 2012 include a private browser mode, identity protection services, and DataLock encryption.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Kaspersky Endpoint Security 8 Now Supports Android
Kaspersky Lab released Maintenance Pack 1 for Endpoint Security 8 for Smartphone. This update introduces support for the Android platform as well as new versions of the Symbian and BlackBerry mobile operating
systems.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Kaspersky Rolls Out 2012 Versions of Anti-Virus, Internet Security
Kaspersky Lab released new versions of its Anti-Virus and Internet Security products. These offerings, within the 2012 product range, use application monitoring and rollback capabilities to deflect malware and
utilize a new user interface.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
New Version of Endpoint Security for Linux Available from Kaspersky
Kaspersky Lab released Endpoint Security 8 for Linux, which is designed to protect Linux workstations as part of the following vendor corporate products: Work Space Security, Open Space Security, Business Space
Security, and Enterprise Space Security. The new version uses two types of hooks to intercept file operations: at the Linux kernel level and at the SMB network protocol level.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
New Kaspersky Anti-Phishing Technology Awarded Russian Patent
Russia has awarded a patent to Kaspersky Lab for a system that determines whether the domain name of a Web site corresponds with its IP address, thereby blocking cybercriminal attempts to redirect users to fake
Web sites. The technology uses techniques that detect phishing Web sites, redirection to which is automatic and is hidden in the case of a farming attack.
Source: Vendor, 6/3/2011
QinetiQ and NovAtel Debut Anti-Jam Technology
QinetiQ and NovAtel have launched GAJT, a single-enclosure GPS anti-jam system which is a stand-alone, rugged enclosure that mounts to the exterior of vehicles. GAJT is a seven
element controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA) that voids jammers, ensuring GPS positioning capabilities are retained during combat, training, or other vehicle-based missions.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
Cyveillance Rolls Out Social Engineering Protection Appliance
QinetiQ‘s North American subsidiary, Cyveillance, announced the US- based launch of its Social Engineering Protection Appliance (SEPA), an application designed to detect
highly targeted social engineering attacks. SEPA examines email content and context, analyzes real-time interaction with embedded Web links, accesses cloud-based intelligence, and uses the cyber footprint of the enterprise to detect targeted attacks. SEPA
is specifically applicable to the need of government agencies to identify attacks targeting government executives and organizations.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Trend Micro Survey: Cloud Security Issues Cause for Concern
A global survey from Trend Micro regarding cloud computing has found that nearly 43% of respondents have had a security lapse or issue with their cloud provider within the last 12 months. The survey of 1200 IT
decision makers in the US, UK, Germany, India, Canada, and Japan also reported that 50% of respondents are concerned with the security of data or cloud infrastructure, while 48% surveyed said they are worried about performance and availability of cloud
service.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Ingram Micro to Offer Trend Micro Cloud Security Services
Four Trend Micro cloud security services are now available through Ingram Micro Cloud and will be made available on the future Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace. The four
services are: Worry-Free Business Security Services; Worry-Free Business Security Advanced and Standard Services; SecureCloud platform; and Deep Security.
Source: Vendor, 6/2/2011
Trend Micro Joins HP AllianceOne Program
Trend Micro‘s Deep Security software has been validated for the HP Cloud Operating Environment (CLOE), part of the AllianceONE partner program. CLOE provides partners with
automated, self-service access to virtual machines, with which partners can test, port, debug, verify, and tune applications on multiple platforms and configurations.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
SMARTPHONES
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comScore Reports Apple Passing RIM on OEM, Platform Lists
comScore posted its US Mobile Subscriber Share totals for the month of April. On the OEM list, Samsung remained no top, although it lost 0.4% since January to hold 24.5% of the
market; LG was second with 20.9% and an 0.1% gain; Motorola came in third with 15.6% of the market, dropping 0.9% in the past three months; Apple
saw a 1.3% gain to pass RIM and reach fourth place with 8.2% of the market; and RIM fell to fifth, dropping another 0.4% to hold onto 8.2% of the market. On the platform list, Google
once again expanded its lead, with Android gaining 5.2% and capturing 36.4% of the market; Apple passed RIM here as well, jumping 1.3% to reach 26% and second place; RIM dropped a worrying 4.7% in its fall to third, while holding 25.7% of the market; Microsoft continued its slide, losing another 1.3%, and remaining in fourth with 6.7%; and Palm, now owned by HP, rounded out the top 5 with 2.6% of
the market, having lost another 0.6%.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
Sprint to Launch HTC 3D Devices on June 24
Sprint announced the June 24th availability of HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G. The EVO 3D “glasses-free” device will be available for $199.99, and HTC EVO View 4G tablet will sell
for $399.99. The devices, which are available in the US exclusively through Sprint, require a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade. Customers can pre-order the devices at any participating Sprint Store with the purchase of a $50 Sprint gift
card (per device). On June 24th, Sprint retail stores will begin selling the devices. Sprint Premier customers can purchase HTC EVO 3D online three days before the national launch, while supplies last, Sprint said.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
T-Mobile USA to Launch Two Samsung Android-Based Mobile Phones
T-Mobile USA and Samsung Mobile announced the upcoming availability of two new Android-powered handsets, the Samsung Exhibit 4G and Samsung Gravity SMART, each less than
$100 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a qualifying rate plan on a two-year agreement.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Facebook Offering Apologies Over Mishandled Automatic Tagging Launch
Facebook has been forced to apologize for the way it launched its automatic photo tagging feature, according to the BBC. The tool went live in December 2010 in the US, but just
recently launched for international users. It automatically searches user photos for recognized faces, and prompts the uploader to tag the recognized person in the photo. Users have the option to switch off the ability to recognize them, but many are
complaining that they were not adequately informed about its launch and how it functions. Others were concerned that the technology would be able to recognize and identify complete strangers in a user’s photos, a glaring privacy risk. However, according
the BBC’s sources, the automatic tagging feature only recognizes people already connected to the user as friends, and never suggests tagging a stranger. In its defense, a spokesperson from Facebook told the BBC that the anger over the feature comes largely
from this misconception, and goes on to admit that the social network could have done a better job of informing its users about the feature prior to its launch, an oversight which it regrets.
Source: BBC, 6/8/2011
OpenText Launches Public Service Without Borders Site
OpenText Joined with the Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) to launch Public Service Without Borders (PSWB). The new site is a secure, cloud-enabled, collaboration and
social media destination based on the company’s Social Workplace software. The site is designed to connect all levels of public service employees in a network to facilitate the sharing of ideas, and to offer a repository of information in areas such as
governance, healthcare, technology, and the environment. The PSWB is open to public service employees of any country in the world.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Twitter Launches Automatic Link Shortening on Twitter.com
Twitter launched automatic link shortening on Twitter.com. The new feature functions when users paste a link of any length into the Tweet Box on the site. Once users hit the Tweet Button the link will automatically
appear in its shortened form as part of the published Tweet. Twitter says the new service also scans the shortened links for malicious content, ensuring increased security for Twitter.com users. The company notes that any users wishing to continue using
third-party link shortening services may continue to do so without any changes.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
STORAGE
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Dell Adds Fluid Data Architecture to EqualLogic Platform
Dell announced a new EqualLogic platform and software capabilities based on its Fluid Data Architecture, for managing storage as it scales to suit an organization’s needs. The EqualLogic product incorporates scalable
NAS and the clustered Dell Scalable File System, which incorporates advanced caching, load balancing, and multi-threading for fast I/O processing. It will ship in the third quarter. It also demonstrated new Fiber Channel technology for its PowerVault
line.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
HP Upgrades Storage Offerings
HP announced a series of upgrades to its storage products, including the addition of data snapshots and a portfolio of pre-configured storage systems. Converged Systems is a new portfolio of systems with converged
hardware, software, tailored consulting, and HP Solution Support services.Similar to EMC and Cisco’s vBlock offering, the converged storage portfolio of products integrates HP Store360 scale-out software with HP BladeSystem and HP ProLiant server hardware.
HP’s new Storage Consulting services are added to the mix. The Converged portfolio comes in three “Virtual System” models ranging from small to large: VS1, VS2 and VS3.
Source: Vendor, 6/9/2011
STREAMING MEDIA
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Motorola Mobility Providing Video Distribution Solution to ESPN
Sports broadcaster ESPN will use Motorola Mobility’s video distribution solution to transition all programming for ESPN and ESPN-2 networks to an MPEG-4 HD format, freeing up bandwidth to increase the number of HD services ESPN can offer to customers.
Motorola Mobility said its solution comprises an SE-6601A MPEG-4 encoder, a DSR-6100 integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) that uses MPEG-4 to MPEG-2 transcoding to bridge to legacy operator services, and a
software control system.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
MSN Announces Revamped Mobile Video Site
MSN announced a major revamp of the MSN Video channel on MSN Mobile. The updated mobile site is now supported by all major mobile platforms, including Windows Phone 7, iOS devices, and Android 2.0+ devices. Other
updates includes improved video playback, an expanded video selection, and more frequent updates. The site now utilizes an HTML5-based video player.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
VOIP
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Skype Suffers Another Partial Outage
A portion of Skype users could not sign in to the service on June 7th, the second outage in as many weeks involving sign-in problems. In its Heartbeat blog, the company said the situation had stabilized by the end of the day on June 7th. The most recent outage stemmed from a configuration problem that caused the
Internet telephony provider’s systems to crash. The company said the sign-in problem affected about a quarter of its users for just a few hours.
Source: Vendor, 6/7/2011
Telus Announces Partnership with Skype, New Skype Edition LG Phone
Telus announced a new agreement with Skype. The agreement includes provisions allowing Telus customers to purchase Skype credits directly from their handsets, giving them PC-free
usage of the VoIP service’s international and video calling. To coincide with the launch of this new service, the companies announced the upcoming release of the LG Optimus Black, Skype Edition. Launching this summer, the handset will come pre-loaded with
a link to the latest version of Skype, a Skype quick-start guide, and 60 minutes of Skype international calling credits. More information about the upcoming handset is available from Telus’ Skype Phone page.
Source: Vendor, 6/6/2011
WIRELESS
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AT&T to Be Exclusive Service Provider in US for Sony’s New Vita System
Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that AT&T will be the exclusive service provider in the United States for PlayStation Vita, Sony’s new portable entertainment system.
The PlayStation Vita system will be available in both Wi-Fi and 3G/Wi-Fi models in the US for $249 and $299, respectively. Additional details about AT&T data plans and pricing will be announced at a later date, the carrier said.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
Clearwire 4G Footprint Expanded in Phila, Pittsburgh Metro Areas
Clearwire, Comcast, and Sprint announced a “significant expansion” of Clearwire’s 4G network footprint, as well as capacity upgrades, in
the greater Pittsburgh and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) metro areas. Sprint and Comcast use Clearwire’s network for 4G broadband services. Each carrier markets the service under its own 4G brand.
Source: Vendor, 6/8/2011
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