News Briefs for the Week Ending
08/19/2011
Copyright 2011, Faulkner Information Services. All Rights Reserved.
Docid:00020009
Publication Date: 1101
Publication Type: NEWS
ACQUISITIONS & DIVESTITURES
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Reuters: Several Tech Giants Considering Bid for InterDigital
Citing “sources familiar with the situation,” Reuters reported that Apple, Nokia, and Qualcomm are among several technology companies considering bids for InterDigital. The
auction of the wireless telecommunications specialist will be postponed from next week until after Labor Day, Reuters’ sources said, because bidders asked for more time to complete due diligence on the company’s patents. Potential bidder Google has not
formally withdrawn from the auction, but it is unclear whether it will make a bid since it is buying Motorola Mobility, which will give Google a huge mobile wireless patent portfolio. According to InterDigital’s Web site, it holds approximately 8,800 US
and foreign-issued patents, and has almost 10,000 patent applications in process around the world.
Source: Reuters, 8/18/2011
CA Completes Acquisitions of Interactive TKO and WatchMouse
CA Completed its acquisitions of Interactive TKO, Inc (ITKO) and WatchMouse BV. ITKO, a provider of service simulation solutions for developing applications in composite and cloud environments, will be combined with CA’s
IT management offerings, and will allow for the expansion of a new service delivery lifecycle. Additionally, WatchMouse – a provider of SaaS-based monitoring for cloud, mobile, and traditional Web applications – will be used to enhance the company’s CA
Application Performance Management (APM) solution. CA has set up an information page for both ITKO and WatchMouse. No financial terms for the transaction were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Deloitte Acquires The Assets of Intrasphere Technologies
Deloitte acquired substantially all of the assets of Intrasphere Technologies, a global drug safety and regulatory consulting business. Among the acquired assets is Intrasphere’s PharmaCM software solution, a
product which allows life sciences companies to register clinical trial information on government-mandated registries via workflow-enabled functionality. PharmaCM will become a product of Deloitte Managed Analytics while the company’s other assets will be
used to bolster Deloitte’s position in the drug safety market. No financial terms were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
eBay Completes Acquisition of Magento
eBay completed its acquisition of Magento, creators of an open source ecommerce platform. The acquired company will become part of X.commerce, eBay’s integrated open commerce platform group. eBay plans to use the group
to build a developer community as a resource for merchants and retailers interested in ecommerce. No financial terms for the acquisition were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
General Dynamics to Acquire Vangent Holding Corp
General Dynamics signed a definitive agreement to acquire Vangent Holding Corp, the parent company of Vangent, Inc, a provider of healthcare information-technology and business systems to federal agencies.
The assets of the acquired company will become part of General Dynamics Information Technology to enhance its own ability to provide health IT solutions to federal, commercial, and military customers. The transaction will be complete for a cash total of
$960 million, and has already been approved by the seller, and the board of directors of General Dynamics. The acquisition is expected to close by October 1, 2011, subject to regulatory approval.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Google Acquires Motorola Mobility and Its Patent Portfolio
Google and Motorola Mobility announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a
total of about $12.5 billion USD, a premium of 63% over the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on August 12, 2011. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility
not only puts it in more direct competition with Apple and Research in Motion, it gives Google access to a treasure trove of mobile wireless patents – as the patent wars accelerate. As CNET noted in a story about the
deal, Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha touted the strength of the company’s patent portfolio during the company’s last quarterly conference call, and billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn recently disclosed that he was pushing Motorola to sell its
patent portfolio with the need for intellectual property at an all-time high. Motorola Mobility makes the Droid handset and XOOM tablet, both of which run Google’s Android operating system. The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, an Android partner, will
enable Google to “supercharge the Android ecosystem and enhance competition in mobile computing,” the company said in a press release. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and
Android “will remain open.” Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union, and other jurisdictions, and the
approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Proofpoint Acquires SORBS Blocking Service
Proofpoint has acquired the assets of the SORBS (Spam and Open Relay Blocking System) service. An estimated 200,000 global organizations use the SORBS DNS-based block list to deflect email from host servers that
are known to distribute spam, phishing attacks, and malware.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Proofpoint Acquires Assets of Spam Open Relay Blocking System
Proofpoint acquired the assets of the SORBS (Spam and Open Relay Blocking System) service. Maintaining a stable of more than 200,000 users, SORBS produces a DNS-based Block
List (DNSBL) product to block incoming email from known spam producers and malicious email sources. Proofpoint says it will use the acquisition to enhance its own real-time detection capabilities and intelligence about email-borne threats to its enterprise
customers. SORBS will continue to be available as a free, standalone service. Proofpoint said it also plans to invest additional funds into research and development to improve the existing SORBS product line. No financial terms were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Telecom Italia Sells Loquendo to Nuance Communications
Telecom Italia sold its 99.98% stake in Loquendo to Nuance Communications, a US-based telecom company, for a total of EUR 53 million. Loquendo is a voice technology company that was spun-off from Telecom Italia
in 2001. Nuance said it is committed to keeping the Loquendo headquarters at their current location in Turin, Italy. The deal is expected to close at the end of September.
Source: Vendor, 8/13/2011
Time Warner Cable Buys Privately-Held Insight Communications
Time Warner Cable announced it is acquiring privately-held Insight Communications for $3 billion USD in cash. Insight operates in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, serving
approximately 537,000 high-speed data subscribers, 679,000 video subscribers, and 297,000 voice subscribers. It has invested in substantial infrastructure improvements, the company said, including digital conversions and DOCSIS 3.0 deployment. Insight is
currently owned by The Carlyle Group, Crestview Partners, MidOcean Partners, members of Insight management and others. Carlyle and Insight management took the company private in December 2005, and Crestview and MidOcean purchased a significant stake in the
company in April 2010. This transaction is subject to expiration or early termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust waiting period, receipt of FCC and franchise approvals, and other customary closing conditions.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
US Cable Agrees to Sell Operations in 3 States to Baja Broadband
US Cable agreed to sell its remaining infrastructure in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado, including approximately 60,000 customers, to Baja Broadband, a South Carolina-based operator with a presence in several
western states. This is the third similar transaction for US Cable in the past few months, having made previous deals with Midcontinent Communications and Charter Communications for 33,000 and 16,000 subscribers, respectively. This transaction is expected
to close some time during the fourth quarter of 2011.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
ALLIANCES & JOINT VENTURES
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Cisco Canada Alliance to Foster Economic Growth in Ontario
Cisco Canada announced an agreement with the Province of Ontario, Canada to cooperate on developing initiatives to drive economic goals and support new technology R&D. It will focus on activities to
drive sustainable economic development in strategic areas such as health and wellness, energy, Smart+Connected Communities, education, and economic cluster development. The two parties will work together to invest in R&D-focused job development, to foster
skills development, economic competitiveness, and product innovation.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Lenovo Signs Distribution Deal with SED International
Lenovo entered an agreement for SED International Holdings to distribute select ThinkPad, IdeaPad, and Lenovo-branded laptops, ThinkCentre desktops, and other products, to the
SED network of US reseller partners.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Nokia Developing ICT Projects to Promote S African Innovation
Nokia is working with the Department of Science and Technology of South Africa, to develop information and communication technology projects for promoting innovation and growth throughout the country. The alliance
will also address key government priorities such as education, health, and enhanced citizen interaction services. In addition to stimulating entrepreneurial activity and high technological innovation, the collaboration intends to stimulate the interest of
South African learners to foster an interest in science and engineering among students.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Saba Signs Partnership with BT Global Services for E-Learning Solution
Saba signed a partnership with BT Global Services to provide a people management solution for BT’s Learning Solutions product. When completed, the new product will also include Saba’s
learning management, talent management, online collaboration, and enterprise social networking applications. The Learning Solutions offering will be marketed to businesses wishing to transition to e-learning for their training needs. Saba said the
inclusion of its products will help cut costs, improve productivity, and align goals.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Toshiba Establishes Brazilian Chip Design House Venture
Toshiba and Semp Toshiba Informatica – a Brazilian Toshiba affiliate – established a new joint semiconductor design house: ST Semiconductor Design Brazil. The new Sao Paulo-based company will be headed by Semp
Toshiba Informatica president Alfonso Anonio Hennel, and will initially design radio frequency ICs. The joint venture is based on a December 2010 MoU for the companies to reinforce collaboration in economic and industrial development between the
governments of Brazil and Japan.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
BUSINESS CONTINUITY
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Fiberlink Launches Cloud-Based Mobile Device Management Solution
Fiberlink, a “Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)” company, introduced the MaaS360 Compliance Engine, a new cloud-based solution designed to ensure continuous compliance of mobile devices. According to Fiberlink, the new product detects and corrects regulatory violations under FINRA, HIPAA, and PCI DSS on phones
and tablets running Apple iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Symbian operating systems. It does this by automating the management of device enrollment, minimum version checking, detecting “jailbroken” or rooted devices, and disallowing
applications. Fiberlink has set up an evaluation page to allow potential customers to test the MaaS360 Compliance Engine’s abilities on the devices of their choice.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Online Repository to Offer Data on Disasters for Future Study
The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched the Disaster and Failure Events Data Repository, which houses data collected during and after disasters
or failure events, and includes information generated from research related to the disasters. The respository is being established in two phases. Phase 1, which has just been completed, includes data from NIST’s six-year investigation of the collapses of
three buildings at New York City’s World Trade Center as a result of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Phase 2 will include a larger collection of information on hazard events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms,
community-scale fires in the wildland-urban interface, structural fires, storm surges, floods and tsunamis, and man-made hazards (accidental, criminal or terrorist). By making the data available online, NIST said it hopes to support the development of
standards and new technologies that enable more efficient collection of data on disaster and failure events.
Source: NIST, 8/16/2011
CARRIER SERVICES
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CNET: AT&T Eliminating Low-Cost Messaging Plan
CNET reported that AT&T is planning to eliminate its lowest-cost messaging plan, which offers 1,000 messages for $10 per month, in favor of unlimited-only options. Unlimited messaging
for individuals will be available for $20 per month starting on August 21, while a family messaging plan for $30-per-month will also be offered. “The vast majority of our customers prefer unlimited plans,” an AT&T spokesman told CNET in a phone interview.
“And with text messaging growing, the number of people interested in these plans will keep growing.” Users who don’t want to get into a messaging plan can opt to pay 20 cents per SMS, or 30 cents per message when sending pictures or video. AT&T told CNET
that current customers who subscribe to AT&T’s 1,000-message plan will continue to pay $10 per month for the option and can keep the plan, even if they enter into a new two-year agreement and buy a new handset.
Source: CNET, 8/18/2011
Cablevision Launches Optimum Wifi TV Help Channel
Cablevision launched a new TV channel designed to provide customers with information on its Optimum WiFi service. The new channel, available to Cablevision subscribers as iO TV channel 910, offers localized,
interactive maps of WiFi availability locations, customer-specific Optimum ID information, and tutorials on connecting to the WiFi service. The Optimum WiFi services features speeds of 15Mbps down/ 4Mbps up, and is available, at no extra cost, to all
Optimum Online high-speed Internet customers.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
LightSquared Signs Another Wholesale Customer
LightSquared announced it has signed a multi-year wholesale agreement with EarthComm Solutions. Under the deal, Texas-based EarthComm Solutions will become a
wholesale customer on LightSquared’s proposed 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network. EarthComm offers Internet access, phone, IT consulting, and electric services in small and mid-sized cities, primarily in the southwestern US. LightSquared is developing a
wholesale 4G LTE wireless broadband communications network integrated with satellite coverage across the United States. Its biggest deal to date has been a 15-year network-sharing agreement with Sprint Nextel. LightSquared’s network deployment has hit a
snag as the FCC considers objections that its service will disrupt GPS communications in the US.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Rogers Launches Smart Home Monitoring Services
Rogers revealed its new Smart Home Monitoring Service, a home security and automation system. Powered by the company’s cable and wireless networks, the new
system allows subscribers to control their thermostat and lights, as well as managing various sensors, cameras, and small appliances. The system is controlled by a single ruggedized touchpad, which can be mounted to a wall or tabletop. The device also
includes multimedia apps for photos, traffic, weather, and sports. Pricing includes three plans, starting at$39.99 per month; the required touched starter kit is $149.00 on a three-year term, or $749 with no term; and all sensors must be purchased
separately. All systems will be installed by a Rogers professional for a one-time fee of $99.00.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
T-Mobile Offering Phone Through Family Dollar Stores
T-Mobile USA and Family Dollar Stores announced the availability of a T-Mobile prepaid device in nearly 6,000 Family Dollar locations. The LG GS170 mobile phone will be sold for $30 at Family Dollar stores. The LG
GS170 includes a one-touch speakerphone, large visible keys, and a high-resolution color display, as well as a camera and support for texting and email. T-Mobile USA’s “unlimited” prepaid plans start at $50 per month.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Telefonica, Telekom, and Vodafone Announce Progress on mpass
Telefonica Germany, Telekom Deutschland, and Vodafone announced progress in their efforts to launch a joint mobile payment service. The new service, dubbed mpass, will operate as an independent company, the trio
said. It will allow customers to sign up for its service, which will provide a new payment option at point of sale (PoS) locations that support near-field communications (NFC) technology. Although no specific launch date was revealed, the companies did say
mpass could be available as early as this year.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
tw telecom Wins IP Services Contract from State of Texas
tw telecom has been awarded a five-year contract with the State of Texas. Under terms of the deal, tw telecom will supply its suite of Ethernet, converged, and VPN solutions to all of Texas’ state agencies and
departments.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
CHIP TECHNOLOGY
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IBM Unveils Experimental Cognitive Computing Chips
IBM revealed a new experimental line of “cognitive computing chips”. According to the company, the new chips will be smaller, use less power, and be programmed differently from the chips powered most computers today.
The systems using this new hardware will be designed to learn through experiences, find correlations, create hypotheses, and remember their outcomes. The first two prototype cognitive chips have already been fabricated and are currently in the early stages
of testing.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
CLOUD COMPUTING
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AWS Launches AWS GovCloud
Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched AWS GovCloud, a new AWS Region designed to serve as a way for US government agencies and contractors to move into the cloud. The company said the new offering is specifically
designed to address the regulatory and compliance requirements of government customers. One of the main features of this design mentality is the fact that AWS GovCloud is physically and logically accessible only by US citizens, something which allows it to
comply with the International Trade and Arms Regulation (ITAR) which prevents many government agencies from maintaining a cloud presence. The new region also complies with FISMA, SAS-70, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS Level 1, as well as HIPAA regulations. More
information is available form the AWS GovCloud Web site.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
AWS Releases New Toolkit for Eclipse 2.0
Amazon Web Services (AWS) released its new AWS Toolkit for Eclipse 2.0. The new offering includes AWS Explorer, a tool to access and administer to all AWS infrastructure; multiple AWS account support; and AWS
Elastic Beanstalk debugging, which provides debugging tools as well as pre-configured security groups and JVM settings. More information about AWS Toolkit for Eclipse 2.0 is available at it’s product page.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Level 3 Supports New AWS Direct Connect
Level 3 announced that it is a solution provider for Amazon Web Services‘ new AWS Direct Connect, which offers dedicated network connectivity and services to support
high-bandwidth customer adoption of the AWS cloud platform. Level 3 said AWS Direct Connect customers can use Level 3’s network to meet the demands of high-end cloud adopters with extensive network reach, bandwidth scale, and established connectivity to
AWS Direct Connect sites.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Red Hat Announces Beta Version of Enterprise Virtualization 3.0
Red Hat announced the Beta release of Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization 3.0. Enhancements to this version include a new Java basis running on the JBoss Enterprise Application Platform on Red Hat Enterprise Linux; an
updated KVM hypervisor; support for up to 128 logical CPUs and 2TB memory for hosts; multi-level administrative capabilities; and an integrated and embedded reporting engine. More information about the new release is available at Red Hat’s virtualization page.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS & EQUIPMENT
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GlobalNet Taps Ciena for Metro Optical Network Upgrade
Data networking company Ciena announced it has been selected by GlobalNet to upgrade the Russian carrier’s metro optical network, based on Ciena’s 4200 Advanced Services Platform.
The platform architecture will include Ciena’s 40G technology and WaveLogic coherent optical processors. A long-standing Ciena customer, GlobalNet offers connectivity services to enterprises in high-bandwidth sectors, including content delivery, media, and
storage. Based in St. Petersburg, Russia, the operator serves western Russia with a privately-owned optical network of more than 7,000 kilometers (4,349 miles).
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Cisco Deploys Routers for Companies in US, Germany, Scandinavia
Cisco Systems deployed ASR 9000 series aggregation services routers for Charter Communications, Kabel Deutschland, and 3, a division of Hutchison 3G, operators that provide cable and mobile services in the US,
Germany, and Scandinavia, respectively. The upgrades will provide enhanced video, data, voice, and mobile backhaul services – and, in 3’s case, 4G and LTE services – for residential and commercial customers, for future premium services. Cisco will also
provide its CRS-3 carrier routing system for Charter. Cisco also announced it deployed its Carrier Ethernet System for Consolidated Communications, which provides communications services for residential and business customers in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and
Texas in the US, to upgrade its network. The deployments follow CEO John Chambers’ recent announcement that the switching and routing segment has shown strong sales growth for Cisco, among both US and international service providers.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Ericsson to Provide Equipment for EastLink Networks
Ericsson signed a four-year agreement to provide the equipment for EastLink’s core and radio access networks in Canada, which use HSPA+ and other next-generation technology. Ericsson will deploy radio base
stations, and circuit-switched and packet networks, including Evolved Packet Core and Operation Support Systems. It will also provide professional services. EastLink plans to provide mobile broadband services starting in 2012.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Global Crossing UK Receives PSN Certification
Global Crossing announced that its subsidiary, Global Crossing UK, has received full Public Service Network (PSN) certification from the UK Cabinet Office for delivery of its Government Conveyance Network
(GCN) and PSN Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP-VPN) services to the Public Sector. The services have been named as PSN compliant and are in line with the standards required for PSN, an initiative whose goal is to reduce public sector network
costs.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Huawei Develops Node-Level Vectoring to Extend Bandwidth
Huawei Technologies reported it successfully developed a first node-level vectoring prototype. This technology allows small- and medium-capacity devices to work together to provide large-capacity vectoring, to
increase network bandwidth and stability as the demand for ultra-broadband services continues to grow.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Huawei Launches LTE TDD Trial Network in China
Huawei Technologies launched a LTE TDD trial network – in Shenzhen, China – for China Telecom. The network is powered entirely by Huawei, and will serve the main event stadiums and surrounding areas during the
Shenzhen Summer Universiade 2011. Huawei provided a LTE/TDD/FDD dual-mode USB dongle, and completed network testing and launch at 110 sites.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Sprint Amends Contracts with Mobilitie
Sprint Nextel announced that it has amended “important contracts” with telecom infrastructure company Mobilitie to help enable the delivery of next-generation
networks through Sprint’s Network Vision plan. The agreement involves several hundred of Sprint’s existing cell sites with Mobilitie, and includes opportunities to expand the current relationship via “build-to-suit solutions.” Sprint said the amended
contracts give it the flexibility it needs to deploy next-generation technologies, and to effect its future migration from iDEN. Since the announcement of Network Vision, Sprint has been aggressively working with its vendors to plan, test, and begin site
preparations for its next-gen network.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
ZTE Receives FIPS 140-2 Certification for 2 Products
ZTE revealed that its Unified Platform Cryptographic Library (UPCL) and UEP Cryptographic Module (UEPCM) have undergone successful testing by Atsec Information Security. This certifies both technologies for the FIPS
140-2 standard under the CMVP (Cryptographic Module Validation Program). The FIPS 140-2 standard is used by the US and Canadian Governments to approve encryption technology for use in non-classified IT environments. ZTE is the first company in China to win
such a designation.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
CONFERENCING
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AT&T, IHG Launch New Telepresence Rooms
AT&T and IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announced the launch of two new Telepresence rooms located at IHG’s corporate offices in Atlanta and London. The AT&T Telepresence Solution is currently available in 75
countries and territories, with plans to add other countries in the future.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
CONSULTING & MANAGED SERVICES
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Accenture to Build E-Conveyancing Solution for Australia
Accenture signed an agreement with National E-Conveyancing Development, a company contracted to develop a national electronic system for property exchange in Australia. Under the terms of the subcontracting
agreement, Accenture will design, build, test, and deploy a new e-conveyancing system, and will provide subsequent general project management responsibilities. The system is designed to remove the need for paper-based filing of tasks such as title
transfers and mortgage transactions. The system is expected to go live in late 2012. No financial terms for the agreement were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 8/14/2011
Congergys Completes Smart Revenue Solution for Telekom Deutschland
Convergys announced that its Smart Revenue Solution has gone live for customers of Telekom Deutschland’s Wireline service. Covergys worked with Telekom Deutschland, the German operating company of Deutsche Telekom, to transition its wireline segment from a legacy system to the new solution that includes built-in ratings and billing managers. This completes phase one of a larger contract between the two companies which
will see Convergys transitioning the remaining Telekom Deutschland segments from their respective legacy systems to Convergys products.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
HP Services Introduces Multi-Supplier Integration Service
HP Enterprise Services announced a new service – the Multi-Supplier Integration (MSI) service – for helping enterprises and government agencies manage the multi-vendor service environment. The MSI service was
created to improve supplier management, as well as the handoffs between suppliers and internal delivery teams. It provides a point of contact to drive supplier collaboration, problem resolution, and workflow process improvements. Should service be
interrupted, it offers diagnostics and services restoration. The MSI service is available worldwide starting August 31st.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
NCR Unveils Total ATM Services Offering
NCR unveiled its Total ATM Services offering, a new managed services bundle for mid-sized and community banks and credit unions. The new product provides a suite of services that monitor the ATM network, fix issues
before outages occur, and protect the ATM network from external threats. More information about the new managed services offering is available at the Total ATM Services product page.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
NCR Signs Service Contact for 10,000 ATMs in China
NCR signed its largest ever ATM services contract in China. The agreement calls on NCR to provide service and maintenance to approximately 10,000 of its ATMs for the Agricultural Bank of China. The goal of the project
is to help the bank achieve 99% ATM uptime and reduce ATM service response time. No financial terms for the contract were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
SAP Signs Customer Service Optimization Agreement with Agilent
SAP signed an agreement with Agilent Technologies, a provider of bio-analytical and electronic measurement instruments, to optimize the company’s customer service operations. The core of the project will be the
integration of the SAP Customer Relationship Management (SAP CRM) application with Agilent’s telephony system. The task will take place at 37 Agilent call centers around the globe, and will include more than 1,500 customer service representatives. No
financial terms for the agreement were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
ZTE Signs Power Supply Agreement with Reggefiber
ZTE signed a power supply agreement with Reggefiber, a fiber network construction and operations company based in the Netherlands. Under the terms of the contract, ZTE will supply uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
solutions for the company’s points of presence (POP) sites over the next four years. The goal of the agreement is to add 200 new POP sites annually. No financial terms for the agreement were disclosed.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
CYBERCRIME
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DoD Cyber Threat-Sharing Program Is Working, Official Says
Network World reported that halfway through a 90-day trial, the US Department of Defense has stopped hundreds of attempted intrusions it would have missed otherwise
without its pilot program of sharing classified information about cyber threats with military contractors. Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said the Defense Industrial Base Cyber Pilot, which involves 20 contractors, has been so successful that
it may be expanded to the entire US industrial base. Lynn gave an update on the program at a Defense Information Systems Agency meeting in Baltimore. The cyber threat sharing pilot program launched this May.
Source: Network World, 8/18/2011
Researchers: Thermal Cameras Swipe ATM PIN Codes
Researchers at UC San Diego discovered that criminals can use thermal cameras to steal ATM PINs that are typed into keypads. Thermal imaging cameras can detect the heat left by fingertips on the ATM keypad. The
research has been detailed in a paper entitled, “Heat of the Moment: Characterizing the Efficacy of Thermal Camera-Based Attacks.”
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
DATA BREACHES
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Hackers Target San Francisco Transit Police, Release Personal Data
San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police force has come under two Web site attacks in the past week, the Associated Press reported. Hackers broke into a Web site operated by BART and posted personal details
on more than 100 officers including home addresses and passwords. Last week, a BART marketing Web site was breached, and the personal information from more than 2,000 customers was released. The hacks are attributed to BART’s decision to cut cell phone
service in its San Francisco stations on August 11 in an effort to thwart a protest that evolved after the fatal shooting of a transient by BART police in July.
Source: AP, 8/18/2011
DATA CENTERS
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BMC Launches Middleware Management Solution
BMC Software launched a new set of Middleware Management solutions. According to the company, the new products are designed to manage
middleware for the entire data center, allowing IT staff to take a more in-depth approach to enterprise applications and their transaction paths. Other feature include support for public, private, and cloud environments; predictive analysis of middleware
problems, and support for the IBM WebSphere DataPower Integration appliance.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE
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Mozilla Adds New Developer’s Tools to Firefox 6
Mozilla introduced a new set of enhanced developer tools included in its release of Firefox 6. The new “Web Developers” menu includes development tools to
allow users to build Web sites directly in the browser. These include a new Scratchpad tool, a quick method of manipulating JavaScript snippets; an improved Web console with auto-complete; and several new APIs. These new features are built into the latest
version of Firefox 6, which can be downloaded at the Firefox Home Page.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Twitter Announces Third-Party Distribution of Photo Upload API
Twitter announced plans to make its photo upload API available to third-party developer on its corporate blog. According to Twitter, the new API is simpler and
requires fewer dependencies, when compared to the old OAuth Echo method. The service will support JPG, PNG, and unanimated GIF formats. More information on incorporating the new API can be found at the Twitter developer’s page.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
E-READERS & E-BOOKS
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Microsoft Discontinues Aging Reader App
Microsoft will discontinue its Microsoft Reader software, effective August 30, 2011. The application was one of the first widely available e-reader application sever
produced, and helped found the .lit e-book format. The software never caught on as Microsoft hoped, and was largely defunct prior to this announced, with the latest desktop update having been released back in 2007. Microsoft said all new content in the
.lit format will also be discontinued as of November 8, 2011.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
ENTERPRISE APPLICATION SOFTWARE
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Accenture Releases Citizen Self-Service Portal
Accenture officially released its new Accenture Citizen Self-Service Portal, an online access tool designed to connect human service agencies with their clients. Based on the Accenture Public Service Platform
(APSP), the new portal features improved case worker efficiency, enchanted communications, automated workflow processes, simplified benefit management, and citizen application input, Accenture said. The portal was released on a trial run earlier this year,
but has only now become widely available.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Adobe Launches Redesigned Adobe Survey Solution
Adobe launched its redesigned Adobe Survey solution. The revamped product is designed to record audience opinions, attitudes, and motivations in real-time. New features include interoperability with the Adobe Online
Marketing Suite; integration with Adobe Discover, the company’s analytics engine; a new theme editor; and improved performance. Adobe has posted a demonstration video detailing the newly redesigned
solution.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
FINANCIAL
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Agilent’s Profits Up 61 Percent for Third Quarter
Agilent Technologies reported that its profits grew 61 percent to $330 million USD, or $0.92 per share, for the 2011 fiscal third quarter ended July 31, 2011, as revenues improved and its bottom line was bolstered
by a $105 million tax benefit and other one-time items. This compared to 2010 fiscal third quarter earnings of $205 million, or $0.58 per share. Sales were $1.69 billion, up 22 percent from 2010 fiscal third quarter revenues. Agilent’s electronic
measurement revenues rose 24 percent to $856 million, life sciences revenues rose 21 percent to $453 million, and chemical analysis revenues rose 16 percent to $383 million.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
WSJ: AT&T Considering $8 Billion is Asset Sales
The Wall Street Journal reported that AT&T has hired a banker to advise it on asset sales of up to $8 billion in advance of regulatory approval of its $39 billion acquisition of
T-Mobile USA. The report, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, said AT&T has hired Bank of America Merrill Lynch to advise it on the asset sales, which may include customers and spectrum. The report said the $8 billion valuation of the assets
was based on internal analyses of the markets that AT&T might have to divest to gain regulatory approval for the deal, which is being reviewed by both the FCC and US Department of Justice. Most of the divested assets are expected to come from T-Mobile
USA’s holdings, the report said, but AT&T might choose to sell off some of its own assets. Last week, the FCC said it will consider AT&T’s proposed $1.93 billion purchase of Qualcomm’s 700 MHz MediaFLO spectrum side-by-side with the T-Mobile USA deal.
saying the transactions share “a number of related issues, including, but not limited to, questions regarding AT&T’s aggregation of spectrum throughout the nation, particularly in overlapping areas.”
Source: WSJ, 8/15/2011
China Mobile Grows First Half Profits 6.3 Percent
China Mobile reported revenues of CNY 250.1 billion (US$39.163 billion) for the first six months of 2011, up 8.8 percent from a year earlier. Growth was supported by value-added services, up 18.5 percent to CNY
80.4 billion, and wireless data services, up 42.8 percent year-on-year to CNY 19.3 billion. The operator also added almost 32.77 million new customers in the period, to finish June with a total 616.79 million customers. Net profit increased 6.3 percent to
CNY 61.3 billion.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Dell’s Profits Improve 63 Percent for Second Quarter
International PC manufacturer Dell reported that its profits grew 63 percent, hitting $890 million USD, or $0.48 per share, for the 2012 fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2011, reflecting strong momentum in
high-growth areas of business. These areas included servers and networking (up nine percent, year-to-year), Dell Services (up six percent), and its commercial business (up one percent). This compared to 2011 fiscal second quarter earnings of $545 million,
or $0.28 per share. Revenues were $15.7 billion, up one percent from 2011 fiscal second quarter revenues of $15.5 billion. Enterprise solutions and services represented 35 percent of Dell’s revenue base.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Hawaiian Telecom Posts Second Consecutive Quarterly Profit
Hawaiian Telecom posted its second consecutive quarterly profit. The company, which emerged from bankruptcy late last year, reported a $6.7 million USD profit for the second quarter of 2011, up $1.2 million from
its first quarter profit of $5.5 million. Revenue was up only slightly, about 1 percent from the second quarter of 2010, but that quarter included a $22 million loss as the company focused on a reorganization plan to get it out of bankruptcy. For the most
recent quarter, landline telephony customers declined about 5.3 percent, but the rate of decline is slower than past quarters. Broadband Internet subscriber additions totaled about 4,500.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Huawei Posts 11 Percent Jump in First Half Sales
Huawei Technologies reported revenues of 98.3 billion CNY ($15.3 billion USD) for the 2011 first half – ended June 30th – up 11 percent from 2010 first-half sales. This was based largely on the strength of its Device
and Enterprise businesses. In particular, Devices were up 40 percent, year to year. Profits were 12.4 billion CNY. According to CFO Cathy Meng, Huawei expects to achieve its annual sales target of 199 billion CNY.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Lenovo Doubles Q2 Profits as PC Presence Grows
PC manufacturer Lenovo reported that it nearly doubled its profits for the 2011 second quarter, ended June 30th, on strong emerging market sales. The results come as Lenovo continues to expand into mobile Internet,
competing with Apple and other foreign rivals, as well as in developed markets with its recent acquisition of German multimedia and electronics maker Medion, and a joint venture with NEC to extend its presence in Japan. Earnings were $108 million USD, or
$1.11 per share. This was up 98 percent from 2010 second quarter profits. Second quarter revenues were $5.9 billion, up 15 percent on a year-to-year basis. In particular, Lenovo cited strong PC shipments in Africa, Latin America, and other emerging
markets, which rose nearly 46 percent, year to year. Lenova is ranked third, worldwide, in PC sales.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Nortel Reports Second Quarter Results
Bankrupt Nortel Networks released its second quarter, 2011 financial results. Nortel said that, through the creditor protection process, it has sold all of its businesses – generating approximately $3.2 billion USD
in net proceeds for the benefit of its creditors, and preserving 16,000 jobs for employees with the purchasers of the businesses. The Canada-based data networking company said its revenues from continuing operations were $1 million in the second quarter of
2011 compared to $145 million for the second quarter of 2010, resulting from its business divestitures and the deconsolidation of its US subsidiaries. Discontinued operations revenues in the second quarter of 2011 were nil compared to $93 million for the
second quarter of 2010. Nortel does not expect any further revenues to be generated by the discontinued operations in future reporting periods. The company reported a net loss in the second quarter of 2011 of $115 million compared to a net loss of $1.6
billion in the second quarter of 2010. The net loss in the second quarter of 2011 included interest expense of $80 million, partially offset by other operating income of $18 million comprised primarily of billings under transition services agreements and
reorganization items of $11 million.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Nvidia Revenues Up from First Quarter
Graphics chip maker Nvidia reported results for its fiscal second quarter that ended in July, with revenues rising to USD $1.017 billion from 962 million in Q1, boosted by consumer demand for notebooks powered by
Nvidia’s GeForce GPU. Net income rose to $151.6 million from 135.2 million the previous quarter, with the earnings per share at 0.25 from 0.22 in Q1.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
PCCW Posts Increased Revenue, Profits in Interim Results
PCCW reported its interim results for the first half of its 2011 fiscal year. The company’s revenue rose by 3%, year over year, to HK$12.11 billion. Consolidated profits also rose by 8% to HK$824 million. This produced
earnings per share of 11.33 HK cents. PCCW pointed to its “quadruple play” strategy and strong core operating results as the driving forces behind the successful half.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Rogers Declares Dividend of 35.5 Centers Per Share
Rogers declared a quarterly dividend of 35.5 cents per share of its outstanding Class B Non-Voting shares and Class A Voting shares. This amount will be payable on October 3, 2011 to shareholders of record on
September 15, 2011.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
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Adobe Signs Expanded $93 Million Contract with DoD
Adobe signed an expanded contract with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), an operating unit of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), for its Adobe Connect Web conferencing software. The product will be
used to enable deployed troops, support personnel, and military leaders to collaborate worldwide. The new agreement is part of the already deployed Defense Connect Online (DCO) system, which Adobe has been managing since 2007. The revised contract is
valued at over $93 million, and has been extended through 2015.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
CSC Completes FAA Traffic Flow Management System Upgrades
CSC completed its upgrades to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS). The upgrade consisted of two separate software releases designed to improve the performance of the TFMS,
as well as a transition of the TFMS hardware to a new location. The upgrades are part of the FAA’s efforts to modernize its systems in preparation for the launch of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiatives.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
General Dynamics Receives Navy Approval for CIN Flight 0+ Network
General Dynamics revealed that its Common Network Interface (CNI) Flight 0+ system has been approved for use as part of the US Navy Network Warfare Command’s IT for the 21st Century (IT-21) network. The CNI
is designed to let officers view and manipulate Link 16 tactical data, and to access several tools and software applications from a single control unit. The system is already in use on the USS Kearsarge and USS Bataan, with updated installations planned
for the USS Boxer, USS Bonhomme Richard, and USS Essex. More information about the CNI is available from General Dynamics’ Advanced Information Systems Web site.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
PAETEC to Provide Fiber Infrastructure to Aberdeen Proving Ground
PAETEC announced that it has been awarded a three-year contract by the Defense Information System Agency (DISA) to provide the US Army Aberdeen Proving Ground with fiber infrastructure services. PAETEC owns and operates a 36,800 route-mile fiber network. The contract provides the Aberdeen Proving Ground with fiber services including
increased network capacity, diverse fiber access points, and Dense Wave Division Multiplexing over PAETEC’s transport network as part of the DISA backbone network expansion. (On August 1, Windstream announced it
has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire PAETEC.)
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
SAIC Signs $30 Million MSCS Contract
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) received a prime contract from the Marine Corps System Command’s (MCSC) Information Systems and Infrastructure Product Group to provide systems integration support
for the group’s Total Force Structure Management System (TFSMS). SAIC’s tasks will include post deployment software support, requirements development, and the implementation of training and system performance enhancements. The agreement has a four-year
base period and a total value of more than $30 million.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS
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Accenture Selected By Australian Government for New PCEHR System
Accenture signed a contract with Australia’s Department of Health and Ageing to design and implement the country’s planned Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system. The system will allow
patients to control their own medical records, which will be stored in a secure, personally accessible electronic format. The project will involve several other companies, including Oracle for the management of patient
records, Orion Health for the consumer and clinician portals, and Telstra for the Cloud IO hosting model. The system is expected to be up an running by July 1, 2011.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
INDUSTRY GROUPS
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W3C Launches Community Groups and Business Groups to Foster Innovation
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) launched Community Groups, a new track for developers and businesses to create Web technology alongside the organization’s international
community. The groups will be open to anyone, anyone may propose a new group, and there is no fee to participate in a group. W3C also launched the relate Business Groups program, which will serve as “a vendor-neutral forum for the development of
market-specific technologies.”
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
INTERNET
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AOL Launches HuffPost Small Business
AOL announced the launch of HuffPost Small business, the latest of its topic specific HuffPost sites. The company said this new
destination will offer real-time news, video, and analysis of issues facing small businesses. Content will include community support, tips and tools for entrepreneurs, and spotlight pieces on industry leaders. The site will be edited by Peter S. Goodman,
Executive Business Editor of AOL Huffington Post Media Group.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Comcast Trialing IPv6 Services in Michigan
Comcast has added Michigan to its list of states – including Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, Illinois and Florida – where it is offering services that support the next-generation Internet, IPv6. Comcast began
its IPv6 trial 16 months ago to test several different transition mechanisms between IPv4, the Internet’s current addressing scheme, and IPv6.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Google Launches Magnifier Music Discovery Site
Google introduced Magnifier a companion music discovery service to its Music Beta offering. The new site includes videos of live performances, interviews with artists,
genre explorations, and free songs that user’s can add to their Music Beta accounts. A new artist will be featured each week, all of which will post sample tracks of their music.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Google Adds Weather Layer to Google Maps
Google added a new weather layer to its Google Maps services. The new feature shows the current weather conditions in a given location via traditional weather icons of current conditions. Clicking on the icons will
expand them to show a more detailed set of current condition statistics, as well as an extended 5-day forecast. The new tools is now available to all Google Maps user globally.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Hurricane Electric Extends IPv6 Professional Services
Internet backbone and colocation provider Hurricane Electric announced that it is extending its IPv6 Professional Services offerings to include data center deployments. The company is also is recommending that
enterprises make a swift transition to IPv6, the next generation Internet Protocol, to avoid unnecessary costs and to gain competitive advantage. Hurricane Electric first deployed IPv6 on its global backbone in 2001 and offers IPv6 as a core service, as
well as classic IPv4 connectivity. The backbone provider connects to more than 1,200 associated IPv6 backbones.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
ICANN’s GNSO Approves Proposal for Post-Expiration Domain Rules
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced that the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) has approved the proposal for the Post-Expiration Domain Name Recovery Policy Development
Process (PDP). The full text of this proposal has been posted on ICANN’s Web site for public comment. Highlights of the proposal includes defined rules for determining the “Registered Name Holder at Expiration,” a timeframe for DNS path
interruptions, and the requirement for certain notifications upon the expiration of a domain. The public comment period will be open until September 15, 2011.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Mozilla Releases Final Version of Firefox 6
Mozilla kept up with its newly accelerated Firefox release cycle, making version 6 of the browser publicly available. The desktop edition of the browser includes relatively few obvious changes. The highlights are
automatic display of the current Web page’s domain name, and a new permissions manager that lets users set privacy controls for individual Web sites. The Android version has seen more drastic changes, including a new visual style, enhanced image scaling,
and improved performance due to a reduction in memory usage. The new browser can be downloaded at Mozilla’s Firefox home page.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Opera Signs Agreement with MTN for Co-Branded Opera Mini
Opera signed an agreement with MTC, a mobile telecom provider for Africa and the Middle east, to jointly market a co-branded version of the Opera Mini mobile browser. MTN said the browser will form part of its
strategy to encourage Web usage by its 150 million subscribers, many of which are gaining Internet access for the first time. MTN plans to launch the customized browser in 21 markets, with localized content and links for each.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Swisscom Increases Speed of Several DSL Plans
Swisscom increased the speed for several of its DSL Internet access plans. Customers on the DSL Start plans till see their speeds increase from 300 Kbps down/100 Kbps up to 500 Kbps down/100 Kbps; customers
subscribing to the DSL Mini plans will see an increase from 1 Mbps down/ 100 Kbps up to 2 Mbps down/ 200 Kbps up; and customers on the DSL Standard plan will see a jump from 5 Mbps down/ 500 Kbps up to 10 Mbps down/ 1Mbps up. Swisscom Subscribers on the
higher end Infinity and Natel Pro plans will remain at the same 20 Mbps down/ 2Mbps up speeds. No rate changes will be included in the speed boost, which will finish rolling out some time in September.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
LAPTOPS
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Dell Rolls Out New Thin-and-Light Inspiron Laptops
Dell introduced its new “ultra-mobile” Inspiron 13z and 14z laptops, both Intel-based and developed to stream HD content. The systems are available now, starting at $599.99 USD.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Lenovo Unveils ThinkPad Edge Laptops, ThinkVision Monitor
Lenovo introduced its new 14-inch E425 and 15-inch E525 ThinkPad Edge laptops, as well as its new widescreen ThinkVision LT1421 display. The AMD-based laptops feature a spill-resistant keyboard and optional
fingerprint reader, and have 750GB of storage capacity. The notebooks – sold through Lenovo business partners and via the Lenovo site – are base-priced at $549 USD, with the monitor costing $219.99.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
LEGAL
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Apple Accused of Altering Galaxy Tab Image in German Court Filing
Apple is being accused of altering an image of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to make it appear more similar to its own iPad tablet by a Dutch publication, CNet reported. Webwereld.nl claims the image of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 included in a recent Apple filing with German courts
has widened and made to look less oblong than the product appears in reality. The results of the alterations are a side-by-side image wherein the devices are nearly indistinguishable. Webwereld.nl backs up its claims by showing that the Samsung device in
the image has a screen aspect ratio of 1.36, while the actual Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a listed aspect ratio of 1.46, a significant difference. All parties involved refused to comment on the matter.
Source: CNet, 8/18/2011
German Courts Lift Europe-Wide Ban on Galaxy Tab 10.1 Sales
German Courts have lifted the Europe-wide ban on the sale of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 devices, according to CNet. The ban was the result of an injunction filed by Apple in its case against Samsung over alleged copyright infringements included in the company’s hardware and Android-based operating system. The ban was lifted when the Dusseldorf District Court ruled that it does not have
the authority to ban the sale of the device throughout the continent. As a result, the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 can resume elsewhere, but remains prohibited within German borders. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for August 25.
Source: CNet, 8/18/2011
AT&T Moves to Block Anti-Merger Claims by Customers
Reuters reported that AT&T is turning to US federal courts to thwart an effort led by law firm Bursor & Fisher to derail AT&T’s $39 billion takeover bid for T-Mobile USA. According to Reuters, in eight lawsuits filed last week, AT&T accused Bursor & Fisher and a second plaintiffs’ firm, Faruqi & Faruqi, of trying to pressure AT&T into “an extortionate settlement” by
encouraging AT&T customers to file multiple claims against the merger. Bursor & Fisher launched a “Fight the Merger” campaign in July. In the lawsuits filed last week, AT&T argued that the claims, brought under antitrust law, could not be decided in
arbitration. AT&T accused the firms of “taking a thousand bites at the apple” in hopes of finding one arbitrator willing to block the merger.
Source: Reuters, 8/17/2011
Freelance Writers Ruling May Force Litigation in Google Books Case
Chances of a revised Google Books settlement have fallen dramatically thanks to a rejection of a proposed $18 million settlement filed by freelance writers, Publishers Weekly reported. The judgement, handed down by a two-judge panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, held that the district court responsible for approving the aforementioned
settlement had “abused its discretion” as the “named plaintiffs [had] failed to adequately represent the interests of all class members”. This ruling essentially sets a precedent that any large, disparate group of authors is impossible to adequately
represent in a single class-action settlement. According to Publishers Weekly, this almost guarantees the Google case will shortly return to litigation due to the numerous layers of added difficulty that would be involved in any settlement that the court
might approve.
Source: PubWeekly, 8/18/2011
HTC Escalates Patent Fight with Apple; Files New Lawsuit
HTC has escalated its patent fight with Apple, filing a new lawsuit against Apple that calls for a suspension of sales of iPads, iPhones, iPods, and Mac computers. The Taiwan-based
smartphone and tablet maker said in its suit that a wide range of Apple products infringe on patents it owns covering how devices connect to Wi-Fi networks and other wireless networks, according to a Reuters report.
The suit was filed in US District Court in Delaware,
Source: Reuters, 8/17/2011
Samsung to Appeal EU Injunction August 25
The Pocket-lint blog reported that Samsung has been given a date to appeal against the injunction set by a German court that bars the company from selling its Galaxy Tab
10.1 devices in the European Union. Samsung will make its case on August 25th, hoping to overturn a preliminary judgment made in favor of Apple. Apple claims the Galaxy Tab infringes on its patents.
Source: Pocket-Lint, 8/15/2011
M2M
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AT&T Partners with Digi for M2M Smart Grid Application
AT&T announced that it is partnering with Digi to jointly offer Digi X-Grid Solutions, a suite of products and services designed to provide connectivity and management for energy
devices in homes and businesses. Digi X-Grid Solutions are targeted at utilities and software providers, and are delivered over the AT&T network to provide real-time monitoring of thermostats, electronics, and electricity meters.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
MALWARE WATCH
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Sophos: Trojan Horse Poses as DHL to Infect Inboxes
A Trojan disguised as a notification message from DHL is currently being spammed out to unsuspecting users, according to an alert from Sophos. The message contains a zip file and
the Trojan lurks within.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Google Report Details Difficulty in IDing Malicious Web Sites, Attacks
A new white paper from Google offers detailed information about the latest trends used by cybercriminals to circumvent Web malware detection
strategies. Detection of malicious sites is becoming more difficult, according to the report, because cybercriminals are using a range of techniques to disguise their sites as being safe. Google’s report was compiled from four years of research and
the analysis of eight million Web sites and 160 million Web pages.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Kaspersky Reports New Trends in Spam
Kaspersky Lab has discovered new spam trends as a result of its analysis in the second quarter of the year. Among the research findings
are the share of spam emails originating from Asia and Latin America exceeded 60% of the total volume of all spam, while messages containing malicious attachments continued to grow and averaged 3.86%. Russia, the US, and Vietnam accounted for the highest
mail antivirus detection rates.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
M86 Security Warns of Massive Rise in Malicious Spam
M86 Security Labs is warning about a surge in spam that appears to originate from the Cutwail, Festi, and Asprox botnets. On Monday, M86 noted that 24% of the total spam volume it observed was malicious. Four of
the campaigns come from the Cutwail botnet and contain Zip files with a Trojan.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
New Malware Campaign Impersonates Visa Customer Service, Says McAfee
Researchers at McAfee have observed a new fake antivirus scam that claims to come from Visa customer service. The messages contain subject headings that state “Your credit card has
been blocked – Central European (ISO).”
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
SonicWALL Spots Banking Trojan in the Wild
A new banking Trojan that swipes financial credentials is fast spreading via emails, researchers from SonicWALL have warned. The Trojan targets customers of BBVA Bank, and its message falsely claims that Fidel
Castro, the Cuban dictator, has died.
Source: Vendor, 8/11/2011
MOBILE APPS
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Amazon Releases New Amazon Student App for iPhone
Amazon released its new Amazon Student application for iPhone. The new app is designed to include the ability to shop for all of the items a student may need upon returning to school, including textbooks,
electronics, apparel, bedding, and other categories. The app also supports the ability to compare prices, sell textbooks back to Amazon, or trade in text books for up to 70% of their original price. The price comparison feature allows students to scan the
barcode of a given textbook to check its pricing on amazon. The Amazon Student App is available as a free download at the Apple App Store.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Citrix Launches New GoToManage App for iPad
Citrix launched its new Citrix GoToManage app for iPad. The new, free application is designed to work with the company’s GoToManage Remote Support and GoToAssist Express services. Citrix says this will allow IT
staff to troubleshoot and provide support from anywhere. IT does this by allowing an IT professional to take control of a user’s PC or Mac and make the necessary corrections remotely. GoToManage for iPad is available now as a free download from the Apple
App Store.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Fujitsu Launches Service for Connecting Devices, Intranet
Fujitsu launched its Mobile Browser Connection Service, a network service for connecting smartphones and tablets to a corporate intranet. Users can connect using the FENICS II Universal Connect service, which uses
its own specially developed browser application, also from Fujitsu. The service allows enterprise users to access the Internet, applications, Web-based e-mail services, groupware, address books, and other intranet-based services.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Google Launches Google Catalogs iPad App
Google launched Google Catalogs, a new mobile shopping app that lets users browse multiple catalogs with added rich media content. Item categories include fashion
and apparel, beauty, jewelry, home, kids, and gifts. Google has already partnered with several catalog makers, including Anthropologie, Crate and Barrel, L.L. Bean, and Urban Outfitters. The app will also feature interactive product listings, including
zoomable images, one-click purchasing, product bookmarks, and instant sharing. The app is currently available exclusively on the iPad from the Apple App store. A version for Android tablet is expected soon.
Source: Vendor, 8/167/2011
Net2Phone Launches Mobitalker App for International Calling
Net2Phone, a subsidiary of IDT Telecom, has launched Mobitalker, the first tri-mode international calling application for mobile smartphones, the company said. Mobitalker enables
low-cost international calls using Voice over IP or traditional switched telephony from every country, worldwide. The app is available now for the iOS (iPhone and iPad), Android, and Symbian (Nokia) operating systems with RIM Blackberry and Windows Mobile
coming soon, net2Phone said.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Opera Expands Partnership with Vodafone Essar into India
Opera expanded its collaboration with Vodafone Essar to include a new co-branded version of the Opera Mini mobile browser for Vodafone’s network in India. The customized browser will feature a reconfigured Speed Dial
section, which will give customers instant access to Vodafone Essar services. India currently has more Opera Mini users than any other country in the world, according to Opera.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
NANOTECHNOLOGY
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Fujitsu Announces Advanced Nano-Device Calculation Technique
Fujitsu Laboratories announced it used the OpenMX first-principles calculation program – developed by the Japan Advanced Institute for Science and Technology – to calculate the electrical properties of
large-scale structures with 1,000 atoms. The development should help lay the groundwork for future nano-device computational designs.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
OPERATING SYSTEMS
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Windows 8 to Include App Store
Microsoft‘s next major operating system, Windows 8, will have its own App store to compete with Apple’s. The news was revealed in a post on the company’s MSDN Blog. In the post, Windows President Steven Sinofsky listed the development teams that would be working on the development of Windows 8, including a team dedicated to
an “app store”.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
Microsoft Launches New Building Windows 8 Blog
Microsoft launched a new Building Windows 8 Blog to inform the public and begin attracting developers to its upcoming
operating system. The blog will cater to the pre-release testing community for the new OS, as well as those interested in the engineering of the product. This is the second time Microsoft has started a development blog of this type; the company also
maintained a site detailing the Windows 7 development process. Interested users can also follow the blog on Twitter under @BuildWindows8.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION
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Amazon Execs File Patent Application for Device Protection System
GeekWire has spotted a patent application filed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Amazon VP Greg Hart as the inventors of “a system and method for protecting devices from impact damage.” The application describes using a phone’s accelerometer to detect when it is falling, and
deploying tiny airbags to cushion the impact. The patent application was filed in February 2010, but only just made public. No decision on the application has been made.
Source: Geekwire, 8/15/2011
HP Preparing PC Spinoff, Autonomy Acquisition
Hewlett-Packard (HP) is preparing to announce it will spin off its PC business – the world’s largest – and will also spend $10 billion USD to acquire British software company Autonomy, Boomberg Business reported, citing
sources familiar with the company’s plans. Autonomy develops enterprise search and knowledge management applications. In the past, HP has denied speculation it was in discussions to sell or spin off its PC operations, which is one of its largest divisions
but also among its least profitable.
Source: Bloomberg, 8/18/2011
ICANN’s President and CEO Rod Beckstrom to Depart in July 2012
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced that its current President and CEO, Rod Beckstrom, will be leaving the organization at the end of his current term on July 1, 2012. Beckstrom,
who held the position since July 1, 2009, presided over several milestone events, including ICANN’s transformation into an international regulatory body in 2009, the foundation of DNSSEC in the root zone, and introduction of internationalized domain
names.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Motorola Mobility Board Member Departs
Motorola Mobility announced the departure of William R. Hambrecht, 76, from the company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately, after “years of service.” Following his departure, the Motorola Mobility
Board of Directors will be made up of nine members, eight of whom are independent. Earlier this week, Google announced it is acquiring Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, an acquisition unanimously approved by both
companies’ boards.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Saba Appoints Jayesh Thakkar as Country Manager for India
Saba appointed Jayesh Thakkar to the office of Country Manager for India. He will join the company’s Asia-Pacific management team, and will be tasked with capturing growth opportunities across India. Thakkar is a
22-year veteran of the IT industry, most recently serving as CEO of C&S System Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
SAS Names Dr. Graham Hughes as New Chief Medical Officer
SAS named Dr. Graham Hughes, MD as the new Chief Medical Officer of SAS Center for Health Analytics and Insights (CHAI). Hughes will take on the responsibility of deepening the customer, partner, and collaborative
relationships of the division, as well as serving as the company’s clinical representative. Hughes is a 20-year veteran of the industry, most recently serving in an executive capacity at GE Healthcare.
Source: Vendor, 8/12/2011
Verizon Warns Striking Workers of Possible Health Coverage Suspension
Fierce Telecom reported that Verizon Communications has warned it 45,000 striking union workers that the company will begin suspending health insurance coverage at the end
of August if they do not return to work by then. Among the biggest contract concession Verizon has been seeking is a new agreement under which union employees would contribute to health insurance plans. Verizon said it warned union members by letter of the
possible impending suspension of their healthcare coverage. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union said it would make healthcare funding assistance available to striking workers The CWA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are also offering advice to members about COBRA coverage. As the strike wears on, Verizon told The New York Times that the number of
network damage incidents suspected to have been caused in the last week by sabotage – allegedly by striking union workers – had reached 143.
Source: Fierce Telecom, 8/17/2011
ZTE Names Indian Segment as Global Experts Resource Hub
ZTE revealed that it has established its ZTE India segment as the company’s “global experts resource hub”. The hub will serve as a technical resource provided for ZTE’s operations and subsidiaries in other
countries. The selection of ZTE India for this purpose comes with a planned influx of personnel to the location. The India branch currently houses 200 employees. ZTE plans to expand this number to 2000 within 2 years. The company plans to hire new experts
in the areas of LTE, broadband, next-generation networking, managed services, and enterprise-level IT application solutions.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
PUBLIC SAFETY
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New Public Service Announcements Promote DHS Awareness Campaign
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled new public service announcements (PSAs) for its “If You See Something, Say Something” public awareness campaign. The campaign’s purpose is to educate the public on the
importance of reporting suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement authorities.
Source: DHS, 8/17/2011
El Paso Deploys onBoard Mobile Gateway for Emergency Communications
El Paso County Enhanced 911 Emergency Communications District in Texas is deploying In Motion Technology’s onBoard Mobile Gateway as the communications platform to
support its public safety entities. The onBoard Mobile Gateway can be equipped with multiple ratio cards, enabling emergency communications to be transmitted over the best available wireless network.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
NIST Wireless Alarm Beacon Data Aids First Responders
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is providing technical support to ensure that alarm beacons for emergency responders will operate reliably in the presence of other wireless devices. A recent
NIST study focused on interference between Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) with wireless alarm capability, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems and found that environmental factors can interfere with PASS signals, causing delays or
failures in emergency responses.
Source: NIST, 8/16/2011
REGULATORY & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
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GAO: FDIC Must Take Steps to Improve Security Controls
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has made some recommendations to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) regarding protecting the integrity and confidentiality of
its financial systems. After reviewing the FDIC’s security policies and conducted interviews with personnel, the GAO issued a report which suggests that the FDIC take action to enhance its
comprehensive information security program.
Source: GAO, 8/127/2011
GPS Industry Council Fires Back at LightSquared
The GPS Industry Council strongly denies LightSquared‘s assertion that GPS manufacturers’ receivers are the cause of interference issues with LightSquared’s proposed satellite broadband network, The Hill reported. GPS interference could impact a range of applications, including public safety. In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the US GPS Industry Council wrote that “LightSquared is wrong” in saying that GPS receivers do not follow the standards set out by the Department of Defense, because those standards are not
meant for commercial receivers. Further, the Council said, LightSquared’s arguments “reflect its fundamental lack of technical understanding of GPS and the profound technical difference between how communication and satellite navigation signals operate and
are received.” The group said that LightSquared’s new proposal to modify its network is still “insufficient” and that the FCC should rescind its conditional waiver for the plan.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
NIST Issues Two Security Publications
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking public comment for Recommendation for Block Cipher Modes of Operation: Methods for Key Wrapping, identified as Draft Special Publication 800-38F#. This publication describes cryptographic methods that are approved for the protection of the confidentiality and integrity of
cryptographic keys. NIST also released Guide for Security-Focused Configuration Management of Information Systems, identified as Special Publication 800-128.
Source: NIST, 8/12/2011
NIST Seeks Comments on NICE Cybersecurity Education Plan
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued for public comment a draft strategic plan for the
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) program. The interagency NICE program is a national campaign focused on enhancing cybersecurity by boosting educational and training resources designed to improve the cyber behavior, skills and
knowledge of all population segments. Comments on this plan are requested by September 12.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
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Globalstar Europe Signs Distribution Agreement with Italy’s Sailornet
Globalstar Europe Satellite Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globalstar, announced that it has signed an authorized distribution agreement with Sailornet, which delivers satellite communications services in
Italy. Sailornet will act as a national distributor for Globalstar’s suite of duplex products to the defense, government, and marine sectors within the Italian mainland territory via its established reseller channel.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
SEARCH
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Ask.com Adds Several New Partners to Smart Answers Providers
Ask.com formed several new partnerships to expand its Smart Answers service into additional categories. The new information areas include sports, recipes, travel, and music. These are being made possible by partners
such as Sports Network, Lonely Planet, Calorie Counter, IGN Entertainment, and Lyrics.com. Smart Answers attempts to surface the exact answers to a user’s question at the top of their search results page, eliminating the user’s need to visit an external
Web site for information. The new categories are available now on Ask.com, and within the search engine’s Ask mobile Q&A app.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
blinkX Adds Future Publishing to Video Search Engine Content
blinkX signed a partnership agreement with Future Publishing, a special interest publisher in the UK. Under terms of the agreement, Future Publishing’s content will be available and fully searchable on blinkX’s
video search engine. As in its previous deals, blinkX will use its Ad-Hoc advertising platform against the content. The revenue derived from the ads will be shared between the two companies.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Google Adds New Features to sitelinks on Results Pages
Google launched several improvement to its sitelinks, the subsection links that appear below the results of a Google search. The
links are a method of allowing the user to directly navigate to the portion of a site they originally intended to visit. The new changes to the links will transform them into full-sized links with accompanying URLs and snippet text. Google is also
increasing the maximum number of sitelinks per result from 8 to 12, and applying its indexing algorithms to the sitelink section in order to place the most commonly desired links at the top. The changes will be rolled out globally over the next few
days.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
SECURITY FLAWS & FIXES
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Intel Firmware Update Fixes SATA Solid-State Bug
Intel released a firmware upgrade to patch a security hole that can cause its SATA SSD 320 solid-state drives to crash. The update fixes the bug, which also causes data loss. Intel recommends applying the update
immediate after reading the advisory.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Microsoft Updates Security Bulletin
Microsoft updated a security bulletin that was released earlier this month and pertains to a vulnerability in Windows. The bulletin is
labeled as “important” and the update includes a corrected hyperlink.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
MSN and Hulu Found to be Using Privacy Invading “Supercookies”
MSN, Hulu, and others have been found using invasive “supercookies,” The Wall Street Journal reported. Unlike the commonly used standard cookies, these supercookies are capable of
revealing much more detailed information about the user’s computer, including browser history and future browsing activity. Microsoft has since removed the supercookies, saying it was unaware of their existence,
while Hulu said it is investigating the situation. The Journal said the technology in use on Hulu was developed by a company called Kissmetrics, which has since said it no longer uses the invasive technology. Supercookies can be injected onto a user’s
computer through various forms of rich media content, including Flash and HTML5-based Web pages.
Source: Vendor, 8/18/2011
RealNetworks Releases Advisory, Recommends Immediate Update
RealNetworks issued an advisory to address vulnerabilities in several RealPlayer products. Users should read the advisory and apply
all updates as soon as possible.
Source: Secunia, 8/17/2011
SECURITY PRODUCTS & COMPANIES
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Daniels Introduces Software-Configurable P25-Compliant Radio
Daniels Electronics introduced Project 25-compliant 700 MHz radio modules that can be software-configured to operate in either conventional or trunking mode. Like other P25 radios manufactured by Daniels, the new
700 MHz version can be housed in a rugged, compact case that is designed to be deployed on short notice in hostile environments, said Robert Small, the company’s president and COO.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Hitachi ID Systems Paper Defines Privileged Access Management
Hitachi ID Systems has developed a frequently asked questions (FAQs) document addressing privileged
access management. The FAQ details how privileged access management systems work and what types of control should be used for accessing such accounts.
Source: Vendor, 8/11/2011
MAXPRO NVR Is Newest Edition to Honeywell Surveillance Family
Honeywell released a high-definition video surveillance system that is targeted towards smaller companies such as retail and convenience stores, healthcare centers, and professional office buildings. The MAXPRO
NVR (network video recorder) XE supports PSIA video standards and will be expanded to support ONVIF video standards in Q3 2011.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Kaspersky Provides Insight into Network Device Malware
Kaspersky Lab published an article entitled, “Heads of the Hydra – Malware for Network Devices,” which
describes how routers, access points, and DSL modems can be easy targets for network-based attacks. According to the paper, attacks on network devices occur as a result of weak default passwords, insecure default configuration, and firmware
vulnerabilities.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
McAfee WaveSecure iOS Available for iPhones
McAfee released WaveSecure iOS Edition, which is available for Apple iPhone users via a downloadable app. WaveSecure software enables users to wirelessly back up contacts and
media.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
McAfee Mobile Security Protects Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA
McAfee‘s Mobile Security technology is now available for Sony Ericsson‘s XPERIA mini pro and forthcoming XPERIA pro smartphones. Mobile Security protects against malware
that comes from email, instant messaging, and Internet downloads.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
New Blacklist Data Feeds, Monitoring Added to RSA Cybercrime Service
RSA has added new features to its CyberCrime Intelligence Service, a managed service that provides information about external threats and data compromise to help enterprises strengthen their infrastructures.
Among the updates are new daily reports on black-listed hosts and IP addresses used by cybercriminals for launching attacks and communicating updates to malware-infected computers that may be linked to a botnet.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
StopBadware Launches Web Host Program
StopBadware announced the We Stop Badware Web Host program. The program is open
to any Web hosting provider who pledges to follow policies and procedures consistent with the organization’s best practices for Web hosting providers. Participating
providers can display the We Stop Badware Web Host seal.
Source: StopBadware, 8/16/2011
Trend Micro Secures Georgia’s Morgan County School System
Georgia’s Morgan County School system has implemented a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) using Trend Micro Enterprise Security for Endpoints. The school district has four campuses, serving 3,300 students with
2,000 PCs and laptops.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Trend Micro Rolls Out Updated InterScan Web Security
InterScan Web Security 5.5 is now available from Trend Micro. New features in this version include password override, time-based quotas, and HTTP inspection.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
SMARTPHONES
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Motorola Mobility Reveals Motorola DEFY+
Motorola Mobility formally introduced the latest version of its DEFY smartphone, DEFY+, which is water resistant, scratch resistant, and dust proof. The Motorola DEFY+ has a 1GHz processor and the latest
version of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Motorola Mobility said the new smartphone will be available in Asia, Europe, and Latin America starting in early Fall.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Motorola Mobility Rolls Out ATRIX Smartphone in S Africa
Motorola Mobility released its ATRIX smartphone in South Africa. This Android-based handheld can be plugged into a companion Lapdock or HD Multimedia dock to stream HD video and rich media over the
Internet. It is Android-based, and supports Wi-Fi. It is available via Vodacom, Cell C, 8ta, and MTN, at a recommended retail price is 5,799 ZAR ($803 USD).
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Verizon Wireless Introduces New BlackBerry Bold Smartphone
Verizon Wireless announced that the new BlackBerry Bold 9930 smartphone from Research in Motion is available now online and will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores on August 25. The
BlackBerry Bold 9930 smartphone measures just only 10.5 mm thick, and is the first BlackBerry Bold to integrate a touch display with a BlackBerry keyboard. It runs on the BlackBerry 7 operating system. The new smartphone sells for $249.99 with a new
two-year customer agreement. Customers that purchase a BlackBerry BoldT 9930 smartphone must also subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2
GB of data.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Facebook to Revoke Drug Companies’ Right to Block Public Wall Comments
Facebook will revoke the right for drug companies maintaining a Facebook page to block the public’s ability to comment on their wall, The Washington Post reported. The
drug companies are extremely concerned over the possibility of negative backlash spurring from customer comments including harmful reactions to drugs, drugs being ineffectual, or other opinions which could hurt their public image. According to the Post,
many companies never maintained a Facebook page until this special privilege was allowed by Facebook. In response to the changes, which go into effect on August 22, AstraZeneca has already shut down its page devoted to depression medication, while Johnson
& Johnson told the Post it will close four of its pages, and other companies admitted they will monitor their pages more closely. Facebook said it will continue to allow the companies to block comments on specific prescription product pages, but not on the
pages referring to the company as a whole, or a particular illness, a category which accounts for most pharmaceutical pages on the site.
Source: WashingtonPost, 8/17/2011
Facebook Adds Activity Ticker, Full-Screen Support, Bookmarks to Games
Facebook launched a trio of new features for the Games section of its social network. First, a new ticker has been added to the section which will display the in-game activity of the user’s friends. The ticker also
allows the user to join any game their friend is playing by clicking on the provided links when that friend’s progress is displayed. The second new feature is full-screen support for several games, including CityVille, Zoo World, Monster World, and
Mystery Manor, with more titles to follow. Lastly, it is now possible to add apps and games to a user’s bookmark page.
Source: Vendor, 8/11/2011
TABLETS
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Acer America Unveils New 7-Inch Iconia Tablet
Acer America introduced a new seven-inch Iconia Tab tablet system, running Android 3.2 (Honeycomb). It weighs less than one pound and features a high-resolution TFT display. It is available in the
US and Canada for a suggested retail price of $329.99 USD ($349.99 CAD).
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
Dell Discontinues Sales of its Streak 5 Tablet
Dell has discontinued sales of its Streak 5 tablet, directing interested buyers to its larger Streak 7 model instead. The Streak 5 was released last year.
Source: Vendor, 8/15/2011
France Telecom’s Orange to Launch iPad 2 in 8 More Countries
France Telecom‘s Orange announced plans to offer the Apple iPad 2 in eight additional countries: Austria, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and
Switzerland. The company also said it plans to launch accompanying tariff plans specifically designed for the iPad. All new data plans will be available without a contract. Pricing and availability information for the new countries will be available
soon.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Motorola Mobility Increases Availability of XOOM Tablet
Motorola Mobility released XOOM – its 10-inch, widescreen, HD tablet that runs on the Google Android (Honeycomb) – in both Jordan and South Africa. The 3G/Wi-Fi version of the device will be available
through Zain and Jordan distributor Haidar Murad, as well as courtesy of Cell C, Vodacom, MTN, and 8ta, in Africa.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
VOICE PROCESSING
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LG-Ericsson USA Announces iPECS IP Call Recording Module
LG-Ericsson USA announced the newest application for its voice platforms: iPECS IP Call Recording (IPCR). Designed for small to mid-sized businesses, the new iPECS IPCR provides centralized voice
communications management for local and remote locations through an add-on application. iPECS IPCR facilitates recording and real-time monitoring of any station managed on an LG-Ericsson voice platform, including local and remote IP phones, digital, and
SLT devices. The new IPCR module is available now through resellers.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
VOIP
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CenturyLink Launches Hosted VoIP, SIP Services in 7 States
CenturyLink has launched two new VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services for business customers in in Florida, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. The services are CenturyLink
Hosted VoIP and CenturyLink SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). After its acquisition of Qwest, CenturyLink is the third-largest telecom in the US.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
VoIP Provider Ooma Experiences Network Outage
TechCrunch reported that VoIP service Ooma has been experiencing technical issues -ranging from sporadic downtimes to a nationwide network outage. Ooma said on its Twitter feed that it was experiencing “data center connectivity issues” and was in the process of fully restoring service.
Source: TechCrunch, 8/17/2011
WIRELESS
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AT&T Unveils LTE Devices
AT&T unveiled its first two LTE/HSPA+ data modems, which will be available on August 21. The devices are the Momentum 4G USB stick and Elevate 4G 5-device mobile hotspot which sell for $50 and $70 respectively with
two-year service contracts. AT&T is expected to launch its 4G LTE network this Summer in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
Source: Vendor, 8/16/2011
Skype Launches Skype WiFi Service for iOS Devices
Skype revealed that its Skype WiFi service, formerly known as Skype Access, will be coming to iOS devices. The company launched a new iOS
application which allows users of Skype to take their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch online at more than 1 million support hotspots around the world. The usage of the hostpots can be paid for using Skype Credit, which bills the customer’s Skype account on
a minute-by-minute basis. Prices start at $0.06 per minute with no limit on the amount of bandwidth consumed.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
Verizon Wireless Expands 4G LTE Network
Verizon Wireless announced that it is expanding its 4G LTE network in a number of locations, effective today. The areas are: Cincinnati, Ohio; Johnstown And Altoona, Pennsylvania; Memphis, Tennessee;
Provo/Orem and Fort Collins, Colorado; the greater Worcester and Metro West region of Massachusetts; and Lansing, Michigan.
Source: Vendor, 8/17/2011
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