NHS department drives online collaboration across 100 dispersed UK sites
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), a Special Health Authority within the NHS, has placed online collaboration at the heart of its operation, using Citrix® GoToMeeting® to allow its 6,000 employees, located in more than 100 sites across the UK, to meet and work online. GoToMeeting has ensured NHSBT can establish a more flexible, responsive and efficient operation, by enabling staff to easily and regularly keep in touch with colleagues without having to travel between sites.
NHSBT is responsible for ensuring the supply of blood, organs and associated services to the NHS. Its work is varied and includes encouraging people to donate organs, blood and tissues, and raising the quality and effectiveness of blood and transplant services; and providing expert advice to other NHS organisations and the Department of Health. GoToMeeting is playing an integral role in enabling this large, dispersed team to work together in real time, streamlining the NHSBT operation to maximise productivity and reduce costs.
Using GoToMeeting, NHSBT staff can meet online and share their computer screen with all participants in order to collaborate on documents, update projects and plan logistics. Electronic drawing and annotation tools such as highlighters or arrows, combined with the ability to easily switch back and forth between presenters, ensure interactive and productive discussions.
NHSBT is also using GoToMeeting to provide all staff with mandatory training with the use of its Knowledge and Skills Framework online tool: e-KSF. Previously, these sessions were carried out in face-to-face settings, which used up valuable time travelling to off-site locations and expenditure on travel tickets, room bookings and refreshments. e-KSF sessions are now undertaken online on an ad-hoc basis using GoToMeeting. Tutors also use GoToMeeting to follow-up with employees and assess their progress between sessions.
“NHSBT is tasked with providing a reliable and efficient service, and one that drives economies of scale and costs savings into the NHS. GoToMeeting has provided us with the ideal solution,” said Mark Carter, Desktop Services Manager, NHSBT. “Through online collaboration, we have significantly reduced staff travel which has in turn enhanced productivity across the organisation. Because GoToMeeting is easy to set up and so intuitive to use, take-up across NHSBT has been incredibly quick. Our training department rapidly saw the benefits in terms of cost-savings and productivity and are already planning to increase their usage in the future.”
“In the current financial climate, it is crucial that companies start looking at ways to reduce costs and get the most productivity from their staff, and GoToMeeting is allowing NHSBT to do both. It is uniting an organisation with over 100 locations, ensuring consistent training for all its employees, and allowing them to easily, frequently and affordably stay in touch with colleagues, partners and suppliers,” said Bernardo de Albergaria, Vice President and General Manager, Global Marketing and E-commerce for Citrix Online.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Church converts to Unified Communications
New Testament Church of God to deploy IP based communications network across 108 sites to save costs and improve accessibility to its centralised national administration, members and the general public.
Swyx a market-leading vendor of Unified Communications for SMEs has been selected by The New Testament Church of God (NTCG) to a supply its SwyxWare Unified Communications solution at its headquarters in Northampton and for eventual roll-out to all its 108 churches and mission throughout England and Wales.
NTCG National Secretary & Treasurer, The Reverend Louis McLeod said, “The church prides itself on being an organisation that is open and accessible to all its members and followers, however we recognised that our incumbent telephony system was holding the organisation back from achieving these objectives. The Swyx solution will meet all our future operating criteria including the ability to manage our entire communications network as a single entity and from a central point. We aim to achieve a massive reduction in line and calling costs, and all Church ministers, regardless of their location will have access to a converged communications network.”
The solution was implemented by authorised Swyx reseller Shiva Technology.
McLeod adds, “To prove the system’s ability to connect to other churches Shiva first integrated our Education Centre which is based a few miles away from our Headquarters. Previously this was on a separate number, but is now on the same system so that all calls can be seamlessly transferred between the two buildings. And of course all the calls are now free!”
“Already we have seen our costs at head office drop by over 50% and are currently rolling out SwyxWare to our 25 district churches. Six months after this is completed we plan to expand the system at all 108 locations, with the district churches acting as local hubs and providing local support to the branches. We anticipate that the improved communications the system offers for an individual branch church will foster much closer communication with other local churches, their community and head office improving accessibility to members everywhere. Our initial calculations also predict major financial benefits for the Church as the costs of calls and line rentals are reduced throughout the organisation.”
According to McLeod these are the key benefits the new system has delivered:
• Significantly reduced the overall telecommunications costs as the Church no longer needs to pay for multiple line rental and traditional system service/maintenance charges
• ‘Never miss a call’ – call recording for messages and electronic filing of voice mails, voicemail/email integration.
• All churches and missions will become integrated into a single NTCG network significantly reducing costs (free calls between sites) and improving inter-church and head office communication.
• IVR (interactive voice response) has removed the need for a receptionist at head office
• New telephony-based fund-raising services can be introduced
For more information visit - www.swyx.com.
Swyx a market-leading vendor of Unified Communications for SMEs has been selected by The New Testament Church of God (NTCG) to a supply its SwyxWare Unified Communications solution at its headquarters in Northampton and for eventual roll-out to all its 108 churches and mission throughout England and Wales.
NTCG National Secretary & Treasurer, The Reverend Louis McLeod said, “The church prides itself on being an organisation that is open and accessible to all its members and followers, however we recognised that our incumbent telephony system was holding the organisation back from achieving these objectives. The Swyx solution will meet all our future operating criteria including the ability to manage our entire communications network as a single entity and from a central point. We aim to achieve a massive reduction in line and calling costs, and all Church ministers, regardless of their location will have access to a converged communications network.”
The solution was implemented by authorised Swyx reseller Shiva Technology.
McLeod adds, “To prove the system’s ability to connect to other churches Shiva first integrated our Education Centre which is based a few miles away from our Headquarters. Previously this was on a separate number, but is now on the same system so that all calls can be seamlessly transferred between the two buildings. And of course all the calls are now free!”
“Already we have seen our costs at head office drop by over 50% and are currently rolling out SwyxWare to our 25 district churches. Six months after this is completed we plan to expand the system at all 108 locations, with the district churches acting as local hubs and providing local support to the branches. We anticipate that the improved communications the system offers for an individual branch church will foster much closer communication with other local churches, their community and head office improving accessibility to members everywhere. Our initial calculations also predict major financial benefits for the Church as the costs of calls and line rentals are reduced throughout the organisation.”
According to McLeod these are the key benefits the new system has delivered:
• Significantly reduced the overall telecommunications costs as the Church no longer needs to pay for multiple line rental and traditional system service/maintenance charges
• ‘Never miss a call’ – call recording for messages and electronic filing of voice mails, voicemail/email integration.
• All churches and missions will become integrated into a single NTCG network significantly reducing costs (free calls between sites) and improving inter-church and head office communication.
• IVR (interactive voice response) has removed the need for a receptionist at head office
• New telephony-based fund-raising services can be introduced
For more information visit - www.swyx.com.
Friday, 28 November 2008
Creativity in technology celebrated as British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) awards 2008 winners announced
BIMA (British Interactive Media Association), the only independent industry association dedicated to celebrating and supporting the use of creativity in digital technology, has announced the winners of the BIMA Awards 2008, in association with Digital Arts.
The ceremony was hosted by comedians Ricky Grover and Geoff Whiting at The Bloomsbury Club in London last night, with nine main category award winners; Proximity London (B2B), Poke (B2C), The Rumpus Room & The Sweet Shop (Film & Animation), Less Rain (Games), AKQA (Integrated Campaign), Agency Republic (Social Media), CHI & Partners (Website), Will Saunders (Student) and AKQA (Agency of the Year).
A range of additional sub-categories acknowledged specific campaigns, aiming to capture specific talents and merit the successes of modern digital media. This produced a diverse range of winners including; Clock Limited’s ‘Creative Pool’ campaign for Channel 4 taking the Technology & Innovation award for the B2B category, and magneticNorth’s work with the BBC on its Climate Change: Bloom website being awarded the Content & Design award in the Website category.
AKQA undoubtedly had the biggest success of the night, winning the sought-after ‘Agency of the Year’ accolade, after winning six additional awards for work on behalf of Xbox, Nike and Unilever’s ‘Pot Noodle’. The agency then finished the night by receiving BIMA’s top award - the Grand Prix, celebrating the best work from all of the award winners, for its work on Nike’s Bootcamp campaign.
Clare McDonald, Chair of the BIMA Awards Committee 2008 and Creative Director, Digital, at BSkyB said; “AKQA has completed such a wide variety of projects this year and have been truly impressive. This success was reflected when the shortlist was announced, with the agency receiving a record 21 nominations. They may have great clients, but the team has been consistently creative, innovative and has really added something new to our industry. We wanted to recognise their focus on producing fantastic work this year.”
With inspiring future talent now a big focus for the association, the student award was given to Will Saunders from Hull School of Art & Design for his work entitled ‘Screaming Sky’.
Paul Walsh, Chair of BIMA said; “As a leading player in the development of innovation, BIMA is working with schools, academies, colleges and universities to enhance interactive education across the UK. It’s vital that we support and promote young talent, and raise the profile of those who will go on to shape the industry landscape. We were very impressed with Will’s work, and hope to see more like it at future BIMA awards.”
The dinner was attended by some of the industry’s most respected and established agencies and brands, including the likes of Poke – who received three awards, all for work on Orange’s ‘Unlimited’ and ‘Balloonacy’ campaigns – as well as MRM Worldwide UK, IMG Digital Media and Imagination, having picked up one award each.
Digital creativity and music go hand in hand, and one of the highlights of the evening was the BIMA DJ competition. With some of the UK’s top digital creative agencies in the same room, those harbouring raw DJ talent stepped up to the decks to go head to head with their peers.
The full 2008 list of winners can be found here: http://www.bima.co.uk/bima-award/020E131703/bima-awards-2008...
For more information on becoming a member of BIMA, visit: http://www.bima.co.uk/about-bima/members-benefits.asp
The ceremony was hosted by comedians Ricky Grover and Geoff Whiting at The Bloomsbury Club in London last night, with nine main category award winners; Proximity London (B2B), Poke (B2C), The Rumpus Room & The Sweet Shop (Film & Animation), Less Rain (Games), AKQA (Integrated Campaign), Agency Republic (Social Media), CHI & Partners (Website), Will Saunders (Student) and AKQA (Agency of the Year).
A range of additional sub-categories acknowledged specific campaigns, aiming to capture specific talents and merit the successes of modern digital media. This produced a diverse range of winners including; Clock Limited’s ‘Creative Pool’ campaign for Channel 4 taking the Technology & Innovation award for the B2B category, and magneticNorth’s work with the BBC on its Climate Change: Bloom website being awarded the Content & Design award in the Website category.
AKQA undoubtedly had the biggest success of the night, winning the sought-after ‘Agency of the Year’ accolade, after winning six additional awards for work on behalf of Xbox, Nike and Unilever’s ‘Pot Noodle’. The agency then finished the night by receiving BIMA’s top award - the Grand Prix, celebrating the best work from all of the award winners, for its work on Nike’s Bootcamp campaign.
Clare McDonald, Chair of the BIMA Awards Committee 2008 and Creative Director, Digital, at BSkyB said; “AKQA has completed such a wide variety of projects this year and have been truly impressive. This success was reflected when the shortlist was announced, with the agency receiving a record 21 nominations. They may have great clients, but the team has been consistently creative, innovative and has really added something new to our industry. We wanted to recognise their focus on producing fantastic work this year.”
With inspiring future talent now a big focus for the association, the student award was given to Will Saunders from Hull School of Art & Design for his work entitled ‘Screaming Sky’.
Paul Walsh, Chair of BIMA said; “As a leading player in the development of innovation, BIMA is working with schools, academies, colleges and universities to enhance interactive education across the UK. It’s vital that we support and promote young talent, and raise the profile of those who will go on to shape the industry landscape. We were very impressed with Will’s work, and hope to see more like it at future BIMA awards.”
The dinner was attended by some of the industry’s most respected and established agencies and brands, including the likes of Poke – who received three awards, all for work on Orange’s ‘Unlimited’ and ‘Balloonacy’ campaigns – as well as MRM Worldwide UK, IMG Digital Media and Imagination, having picked up one award each.
Digital creativity and music go hand in hand, and one of the highlights of the evening was the BIMA DJ competition. With some of the UK’s top digital creative agencies in the same room, those harbouring raw DJ talent stepped up to the decks to go head to head with their peers.
The full 2008 list of winners can be found here: http://www.bima.co.uk/bima-award/020E131703/bima-awards-2008...
For more information on becoming a member of BIMA, visit: http://www.bima.co.uk/about-bima/members-benefits.asp
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Shouldering The Pain Of Business Travel
Leading physiotherapist identifies new medical condition
Nearly two thirds of business travellers suffer from laptop shoulder
More than half of business travellers don’t know how to alleviate pain and discomfort
Crowne Plaza first hotel group to partner with physiotherapist to help guests
As leading physiotherapist, Diane Hunter MSc BSc (Hons) MCSP, identifies new condition, laptop shoulder, research from Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts reveals sixty-three per cent of laptop users suffer from severe pain and discomfort while travelling on business.
Almost two thirds of business travellers are putting their long-term health at risk according to Hunter who has teamed up with Crowne Plaza to provide a guide to help laptop users beat the condition.
Air travel, driving and bad posture further add to the pain and discomfort in the upper back and neck caused by transporting heavy laptop computers for business travellers. This tends to result in referred pain into the shoulders.
As business becomes more mobile, Crowne Plaza findings show that nearly two thirds of laptop users are suffering increased pain and discomfort in their shoulders, back or neck when travelling with laptops.
Crowne Plaza commissioned the research after hotel staff noticed a large number of business guests were suffering from pain in their back, neck and shoulders.
The findings also reveal that three quarters of laptop users carry their laptop in the wrong type of bag exacerbating the symptoms. One in two laptop users are oblivious to the ways that laptop shoulder and other repetitive strain injuries can be avoided, and don’t know they can relieve postural pain with straightforward exercises that can be carried out in hotel rooms.
To help its guests overcome the pain of laptop shoulder, Crowne Plaza has partnered with Diane Hunter, physiotherapy consultant, to provide an exercise guide that is specifically designed for use in hotels, as well as offering tips for guests to avoid laptop shoulder.
The guides are available in selected Crowne Plaza hotels across the UK and may be made available for download from the Crowne Plaza website depending on demand. Hotels include London Docklands, Glasgow, Birmingham NEC, Liverpool, Dublin Blanchardstown and Manchester City Centre. Additionally a number of Crowne Plaza hotels will offer free neck massages for guests.
Diane Hunter MSc BSc (Hons) MCSP, Crowne Plaza Physiotherapy Consultant:
“I am treating an increasing number of patients suffering from shoulder pain arising from carrying laptops. The symptoms include an aching shoulder, sometimes accompanied with neck and upper back pain. My colleagues and I refer to this condition as laptop shoulder. This can be a chronic and debilitating condition if left untreated.
“Treatment involves taking steps to improve posture and a simple exercise programme. Crowne Plaza staff have recognised the need for this advice to be made available to their guests in order to maximise the comfort of their stay. I hope this will contribute to the awareness of the problem and encourage travellers to look after their posture.”
Eleanor Conroy, Crowne Plaza spokeswoman added: “A huge number of our guests are lugging heavy laptops around all day when they’re travelling on business. They can end up in a lot of pain. With simple in-room exercises our guests can avoid laptop shoulder and get on with enjoying their stay.”
Physiotherapy exercises from Crowne Plaza include the following:
• When you arrive in your hotel room, take ten minutes to lie on your back on the bed, allow your arms to relax by your sides and take a few deep breaths.
• Sitting upright in the chair, stretch your arms above your head, lean back in the chair so you can stretch your upper back and take three deep breaths without allowing your head to tilt forwards or backwards.
• Rotating your upper body in the chair, grab onto the chair and stretch round as far as you can. Do this five times to your left and five times to your right.
• Sit upright in the chair and look straight ahead. Gently tuck in your chin and pull your head back for five seconds. Repeat this five times.
• Sitting upright in your chair, shrug both shoulders up and back and drop them down to achieve a backwards rolling motion. Do this five times.
• Look down at the front of your right shoulder until you feel a mild stretch in your left upper neck. Slowly and gently, repeat this to the left.
Nearly two thirds of business travellers suffer from laptop shoulder
More than half of business travellers don’t know how to alleviate pain and discomfort
Crowne Plaza first hotel group to partner with physiotherapist to help guests
As leading physiotherapist, Diane Hunter MSc BSc (Hons) MCSP, identifies new condition, laptop shoulder, research from Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts reveals sixty-three per cent of laptop users suffer from severe pain and discomfort while travelling on business.
Almost two thirds of business travellers are putting their long-term health at risk according to Hunter who has teamed up with Crowne Plaza to provide a guide to help laptop users beat the condition.
Air travel, driving and bad posture further add to the pain and discomfort in the upper back and neck caused by transporting heavy laptop computers for business travellers. This tends to result in referred pain into the shoulders.
As business becomes more mobile, Crowne Plaza findings show that nearly two thirds of laptop users are suffering increased pain and discomfort in their shoulders, back or neck when travelling with laptops.
Crowne Plaza commissioned the research after hotel staff noticed a large number of business guests were suffering from pain in their back, neck and shoulders.
The findings also reveal that three quarters of laptop users carry their laptop in the wrong type of bag exacerbating the symptoms. One in two laptop users are oblivious to the ways that laptop shoulder and other repetitive strain injuries can be avoided, and don’t know they can relieve postural pain with straightforward exercises that can be carried out in hotel rooms.
To help its guests overcome the pain of laptop shoulder, Crowne Plaza has partnered with Diane Hunter, physiotherapy consultant, to provide an exercise guide that is specifically designed for use in hotels, as well as offering tips for guests to avoid laptop shoulder.
The guides are available in selected Crowne Plaza hotels across the UK and may be made available for download from the Crowne Plaza website depending on demand. Hotels include London Docklands, Glasgow, Birmingham NEC, Liverpool, Dublin Blanchardstown and Manchester City Centre. Additionally a number of Crowne Plaza hotels will offer free neck massages for guests.
Diane Hunter MSc BSc (Hons) MCSP, Crowne Plaza Physiotherapy Consultant:
“I am treating an increasing number of patients suffering from shoulder pain arising from carrying laptops. The symptoms include an aching shoulder, sometimes accompanied with neck and upper back pain. My colleagues and I refer to this condition as laptop shoulder. This can be a chronic and debilitating condition if left untreated.
“Treatment involves taking steps to improve posture and a simple exercise programme. Crowne Plaza staff have recognised the need for this advice to be made available to their guests in order to maximise the comfort of their stay. I hope this will contribute to the awareness of the problem and encourage travellers to look after their posture.”
Eleanor Conroy, Crowne Plaza spokeswoman added: “A huge number of our guests are lugging heavy laptops around all day when they’re travelling on business. They can end up in a lot of pain. With simple in-room exercises our guests can avoid laptop shoulder and get on with enjoying their stay.”
Physiotherapy exercises from Crowne Plaza include the following:
• When you arrive in your hotel room, take ten minutes to lie on your back on the bed, allow your arms to relax by your sides and take a few deep breaths.
• Sitting upright in the chair, stretch your arms above your head, lean back in the chair so you can stretch your upper back and take three deep breaths without allowing your head to tilt forwards or backwards.
• Rotating your upper body in the chair, grab onto the chair and stretch round as far as you can. Do this five times to your left and five times to your right.
• Sit upright in the chair and look straight ahead. Gently tuck in your chin and pull your head back for five seconds. Repeat this five times.
• Sitting upright in your chair, shrug both shoulders up and back and drop them down to achieve a backwards rolling motion. Do this five times.
• Look down at the front of your right shoulder until you feel a mild stretch in your left upper neck. Slowly and gently, repeat this to the left.
DesignTalks survey underlines growing influence of 3D software among UK designers
A new report from DesignTalks, the online community for designers and manufacturers, suggests UK designers are among the leaders in Europe in embracing 3D software solutions. The DesignTalks 2008 CAD usage report contains both a detailed breakdown of an online survey conducted earlier this year and independent comment from industry analysts. The report reveal both enthusiasm and commitment for 3D CAD software in the UK, and underlines the kind of real benefits that designers, engineers and manufacturers are deriving from the latest generation of design software applications.
Central to the DesignTalks 2008 CAD usage report were the results of an online survey carried out in the summer. A total of 743 design and manufacturing professionals completed the survey, which featured questions designed to provide a clear picture of the use and influence of modern CAD-based technology in the UK. More than 70 percent of those who took part were 3D users, citing design re-use and job satisfaction as key factors in the decision to work in 3D.
“What came through clearly was not just a general enthusiasm for 3D software – the kind of reaction you’d expect to shiny new software – but a genuine appreciation of the benefits that working in 3D can bring,” says DesignTalks director Ben Bush. “We saw a significant proportion engaging in CAE, and more than 70 percent of 3D users agreed that their CAD software specifically contributed to their job satisfaction. This suggests both specific and general benefits are being witnessed as a direct result of moving to 3D.”
DesignTalks, which is backed by SolidWorks but independently hosted and managed, is an online community of UK designers, engineers and manufacturing professionals. With more than 1,800 registered members, DesignTalks aims to foster closer links between peers in the UK design and manufacturing industry, providing a forum for debate, regular best-practice commentary and advice and a central resource of specially commissioned research.
The DesignTalks 2008 CAD usage report is available as a free download for all registered members. DesignTalks registration is free.
Central to the DesignTalks 2008 CAD usage report were the results of an online survey carried out in the summer. A total of 743 design and manufacturing professionals completed the survey, which featured questions designed to provide a clear picture of the use and influence of modern CAD-based technology in the UK. More than 70 percent of those who took part were 3D users, citing design re-use and job satisfaction as key factors in the decision to work in 3D.
“What came through clearly was not just a general enthusiasm for 3D software – the kind of reaction you’d expect to shiny new software – but a genuine appreciation of the benefits that working in 3D can bring,” says DesignTalks director Ben Bush. “We saw a significant proportion engaging in CAE, and more than 70 percent of 3D users agreed that their CAD software specifically contributed to their job satisfaction. This suggests both specific and general benefits are being witnessed as a direct result of moving to 3D.”
DesignTalks, which is backed by SolidWorks but independently hosted and managed, is an online community of UK designers, engineers and manufacturing professionals. With more than 1,800 registered members, DesignTalks aims to foster closer links between peers in the UK design and manufacturing industry, providing a forum for debate, regular best-practice commentary and advice and a central resource of specially commissioned research.
The DesignTalks 2008 CAD usage report is available as a free download for all registered members. DesignTalks registration is free.
Eptica helps Websites Avoid EU Fines
Companies need to re-evaluate online customer service channels to meet EU directives
Companies with consumer facing websites may need to re-evaluate their existing online service systems in order to provide fast, efficient responses to customer enquiries warns Eptica (www.eptica.com). Companies who overlook this advice could fall foul of EU e-commerce directives leading to bad publicity, lost sales and fines up to €100,000.
Recent court rulings against companies whose websites failed to comply with EU directives include a low fares airline and a leading German insurance company*. In one case, for not publishing an email address on its website; and the other for failing to provide internet customers with a rapid, effective means of communication as an alternative to submitting their enquiries by email.
These cases demonstrate that companies should act on EU directives for web site customer service, which include using email and web forms as a direct and effective way of communicating with customers, and that online queries should be answered within sixty minutes.
“Understandably, many e-commerce sites don’t make email addresses easy to find for fear of opening the floodgates to a deluge of email enquiries, which they cannot manage,” comments Dee Roche, European Marketing Director, Eptica.
“When web self-service systems are used as a front door for online customer enquiries, a significant volume of routine questions can be answered automatically on the website, leaving customers satisfied and the company with fewer emails to deal with,” continued Roche.
Eptica believes the key to improving online customer interaction, without overwhelming customer service teams, is to give consumers the option of obtaining the answers to their questions directly online through web self-service. This provides a speedier first option to submitting an email. Customers that need more help can be automatically routed to a customer service agent by email, phone or chat, based on the nature of their enquiry or customer profile.
Eptica allows multi-channel customer interaction to be managed through a single customer service knowledge base, using workflow to ensure responses are accurate, consistent and timely. Using Eptica Web Self-Service, content is created from agents’ email replies to in-bound email queries, this mirror the questions customers are searching for online, thus keeping the knowledge base up-to-date and in tune with customer requirements.
Web self-service reduces routine and repeat enquiries, giving customers the freedom to quickly find information online and leaving contact centre agents with more time to deal with complex requests. By managing in-bound emails more efficiently, repeat emails can be reduced by 25% and email handling time by as much as half. This results in an overall reduction in in-bound contact, including phone calls.
Eptica also enables companies with pan-European operations, such as Hotels.com, to respond to enquiries from their European websites using a single, multi-language customer service knowledgebase and email response management system. This achieves greater efficiencies and speed of response, ensuring each enquiry is routed to an agent with the appropriate language skill. Hotels.com has complete visibility of all online customer enquiries and its entire customer contact operations across Europe.
-Ends-
* http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=IRELAND-qq...
Companies with consumer facing websites may need to re-evaluate their existing online service systems in order to provide fast, efficient responses to customer enquiries warns Eptica (www.eptica.com). Companies who overlook this advice could fall foul of EU e-commerce directives leading to bad publicity, lost sales and fines up to €100,000.
Recent court rulings against companies whose websites failed to comply with EU directives include a low fares airline and a leading German insurance company*. In one case, for not publishing an email address on its website; and the other for failing to provide internet customers with a rapid, effective means of communication as an alternative to submitting their enquiries by email.
These cases demonstrate that companies should act on EU directives for web site customer service, which include using email and web forms as a direct and effective way of communicating with customers, and that online queries should be answered within sixty minutes.
“Understandably, many e-commerce sites don’t make email addresses easy to find for fear of opening the floodgates to a deluge of email enquiries, which they cannot manage,” comments Dee Roche, European Marketing Director, Eptica.
“When web self-service systems are used as a front door for online customer enquiries, a significant volume of routine questions can be answered automatically on the website, leaving customers satisfied and the company with fewer emails to deal with,” continued Roche.
Eptica believes the key to improving online customer interaction, without overwhelming customer service teams, is to give consumers the option of obtaining the answers to their questions directly online through web self-service. This provides a speedier first option to submitting an email. Customers that need more help can be automatically routed to a customer service agent by email, phone or chat, based on the nature of their enquiry or customer profile.
Eptica allows multi-channel customer interaction to be managed through a single customer service knowledge base, using workflow to ensure responses are accurate, consistent and timely. Using Eptica Web Self-Service, content is created from agents’ email replies to in-bound email queries, this mirror the questions customers are searching for online, thus keeping the knowledge base up-to-date and in tune with customer requirements.
Web self-service reduces routine and repeat enquiries, giving customers the freedom to quickly find information online and leaving contact centre agents with more time to deal with complex requests. By managing in-bound emails more efficiently, repeat emails can be reduced by 25% and email handling time by as much as half. This results in an overall reduction in in-bound contact, including phone calls.
Eptica also enables companies with pan-European operations, such as Hotels.com, to respond to enquiries from their European websites using a single, multi-language customer service knowledgebase and email response management system. This achieves greater efficiencies and speed of response, ensuring each enquiry is routed to an agent with the appropriate language skill. Hotels.com has complete visibility of all online customer enquiries and its entire customer contact operations across Europe.
-Ends-
* http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=IRELAND-qq...
Baltic mobile provider EMT chooses ZBD displays for nationwide store upgrade
EMT, the leading mobile telecommunications operator in Estonia, has chosenZBD's electronic point of purchase displays (epops) as the centrepiece of a major reformatting of its nationwide store estate. After a successful pilot conversion of ten stores from paper labelling to epops throughout the sales floor, a further 23 outlets will follow at the rate of at least one store per week from mid-January 2009.
The agreement will see a total of 5,300 epop500 displays plus store communications infrastructure deployed throughout EMT’s estate. In addition, ZBD’s Estonian partner, Tallinn-based ipMedia, is providing its own integration software that extracts data from customers’ back-office systems for transmission to ZBD’s displays. This includes an image rendering module to take advantage of the epops’ high quality graphics capability with pin-sharp product pictures and other images.
Piret Dubout, EMT’s Marketing Director said, “ZBD's epop displays bring a number of real advantages to EMT, which are both practical to our business and beneficial to EMT’s image as a forward-thinking retailer. Our old paper tag system was outdated and untidy, whereas epop displays complement EMT’s revamped, innovative retail store concept.”
“From a practical business perspective, ZBD's solution has delivered measurable savings in two key areas,” he added. “Firstly, in staff work hours that were previously spent in printing and placing paper tags in the store; secondly, in pricing accuracy between the point of purchase, the POS and the back office, which means less time needed to correct pricing errors.”
Innovative features, proven technology and striking design were all factors in EMT’s choice of electronic labelling technology, said Endel Söönurm, Sales Manager of ZBD’s Estonian partner, ipMedia. “But most importantly, it’s clearly appealing to EMT’s customers,” he added. “EMT has already seen a strong sales uplift in the stores that have installed the system.”
According to Martin Archer, Channel Sales Manager at ZBD, EMT wanted an efficient technology to deliver dynamic pricing and promotion updates to each of their stores quickly and effectively. “Ease of installation, ZBD’s RF technology, which can transmit updates through EMT’s glass cabinets, and low cost infrastructure were all important in securing this landmark order,” he said.
EMT is ZBD's lead customer in the Baltic region and the first mobile technology retailer to introduce an enterprise-wide roll-out of ZBD’s electronic shelf edge labels. It is a subsidiary of TeliaSonera, one of the largest telecommunication services providers in Europe, focused on the Nordic and Baltic countries, Spain and the emerging markets of Eurasia, including Russia and Turkey.
ENDS
The agreement will see a total of 5,300 epop500 displays plus store communications infrastructure deployed throughout EMT’s estate. In addition, ZBD’s Estonian partner, Tallinn-based ipMedia, is providing its own integration software that extracts data from customers’ back-office systems for transmission to ZBD’s displays. This includes an image rendering module to take advantage of the epops’ high quality graphics capability with pin-sharp product pictures and other images.
Piret Dubout, EMT’s Marketing Director said, “ZBD's epop displays bring a number of real advantages to EMT, which are both practical to our business and beneficial to EMT’s image as a forward-thinking retailer. Our old paper tag system was outdated and untidy, whereas epop displays complement EMT’s revamped, innovative retail store concept.”
“From a practical business perspective, ZBD's solution has delivered measurable savings in two key areas,” he added. “Firstly, in staff work hours that were previously spent in printing and placing paper tags in the store; secondly, in pricing accuracy between the point of purchase, the POS and the back office, which means less time needed to correct pricing errors.”
Innovative features, proven technology and striking design were all factors in EMT’s choice of electronic labelling technology, said Endel Söönurm, Sales Manager of ZBD’s Estonian partner, ipMedia. “But most importantly, it’s clearly appealing to EMT’s customers,” he added. “EMT has already seen a strong sales uplift in the stores that have installed the system.”
According to Martin Archer, Channel Sales Manager at ZBD, EMT wanted an efficient technology to deliver dynamic pricing and promotion updates to each of their stores quickly and effectively. “Ease of installation, ZBD’s RF technology, which can transmit updates through EMT’s glass cabinets, and low cost infrastructure were all important in securing this landmark order,” he said.
EMT is ZBD's lead customer in the Baltic region and the first mobile technology retailer to introduce an enterprise-wide roll-out of ZBD’s electronic shelf edge labels. It is a subsidiary of TeliaSonera, one of the largest telecommunication services providers in Europe, focused on the Nordic and Baltic countries, Spain and the emerging markets of Eurasia, including Russia and Turkey.
ENDS
BroadbandChoices.co.uk comments on the new BBC streaming service
• Broadband users need to be aware of their download limits and fair usage policies before streaming live TV programmes
• BroadbandChoices.co.uk offers its top downloading tips for consumers thinking of using this service
Michael Phillips, Product Director, BroadbandChoices.co.uk commented:
“This new service from the BBC is a positive step forward and allows broadband users to take advantage of exciting new applications and new content. We are concerned however that the wider public may not be sufficiently aware of the broadband usage caps and fair usage policies they may fall foul of when using this new service.
“The BBC iPlayer successfully opened up the downloading of high quality video programmes from a dedicated minority to the general public and this new service takes things one step further with high quality video streaming. As a public service broadcaster they have a responsibility to clearly inform users of the potential impact to their broadband service and punitive charges they might incur through accessing high quantities of this content.
“A live streaming service of this kind will certainly test consumers’ broadband packages due to the high speed connection and substantial download limits that it will demand. It’s important that consumers know what their monthly download limit is so we would recommend using our free Broadband Download Monitor to track downloads and alert them as they reach their limit.”
Best broadband packages for speed – Be There and Virgin Media offer packages with fast headline download rates.
Best broadband packages for download limits – O2 and Be There both have generous fair usage policies compared with other ISPs. Also, Sky’s top package is currently the only service to offer truly unlimited downloads without any caveats.
Broadbandchoices.co.uk 5 top tips for downloading:
• Download at night - If you don’t have to watch the programmes live we would recommend using the iPlayer to download the content overnight when download usage is unmetered or usage caps are often less restrictive.
• Pick the right ISP - If you think you will be a regular user of video streaming applications it is worth comparing faster packages with larger download limits. Our guide looks at the most suitable packages on the market.
• Track your usage - Be aware of your monthly download limit. Install a download monitor (Broadband Download Monitor) and set it to alert you as you reach your limit, before you incur any penalties.
• Boost your speed – If you don’t want to switch providers, there are still a number of tricks you can try to boost your speed. Our guide to speeding up your broadband connection should help you get the most from your current package.
• Be aware of the cost – Technically, this new BBC streaming service is only available to licencse fee payers. As a licencse fee payer, it is important to minimise any additional costs (for example, fair usage penalties) otherwise consumers will effectively be “paying twice” for watching the programmes online.
• BroadbandChoices.co.uk offers its top downloading tips for consumers thinking of using this service
Michael Phillips, Product Director, BroadbandChoices.co.uk commented:
“This new service from the BBC is a positive step forward and allows broadband users to take advantage of exciting new applications and new content. We are concerned however that the wider public may not be sufficiently aware of the broadband usage caps and fair usage policies they may fall foul of when using this new service.
“The BBC iPlayer successfully opened up the downloading of high quality video programmes from a dedicated minority to the general public and this new service takes things one step further with high quality video streaming. As a public service broadcaster they have a responsibility to clearly inform users of the potential impact to their broadband service and punitive charges they might incur through accessing high quantities of this content.
“A live streaming service of this kind will certainly test consumers’ broadband packages due to the high speed connection and substantial download limits that it will demand. It’s important that consumers know what their monthly download limit is so we would recommend using our free Broadband Download Monitor to track downloads and alert them as they reach their limit.”
Best broadband packages for speed – Be There and Virgin Media offer packages with fast headline download rates.
Best broadband packages for download limits – O2 and Be There both have generous fair usage policies compared with other ISPs. Also, Sky’s top package is currently the only service to offer truly unlimited downloads without any caveats.
Broadbandchoices.co.uk 5 top tips for downloading:
• Download at night - If you don’t have to watch the programmes live we would recommend using the iPlayer to download the content overnight when download usage is unmetered or usage caps are often less restrictive.
• Pick the right ISP - If you think you will be a regular user of video streaming applications it is worth comparing faster packages with larger download limits. Our guide looks at the most suitable packages on the market.
• Track your usage - Be aware of your monthly download limit. Install a download monitor (Broadband Download Monitor) and set it to alert you as you reach your limit, before you incur any penalties.
• Boost your speed – If you don’t want to switch providers, there are still a number of tricks you can try to boost your speed. Our guide to speeding up your broadband connection should help you get the most from your current package.
• Be aware of the cost – Technically, this new BBC streaming service is only available to licencse fee payers. As a licencse fee payer, it is important to minimise any additional costs (for example, fair usage penalties) otherwise consumers will effectively be “paying twice” for watching the programmes online.
Friday, 21 November 2008
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk launches to unite surging UK freelance community in face of growing unemployment
Www.FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk, the advice and networking website for freelancers and contractors, has launched with the aim of uniting the UK’s surging community of self-employed as growing uncertainty forces people to look at their skillsets and consider working for themselves.According to recent research carried out by trade body the Professional Contractors Group (PCG), there are currently 1.4 million people freelancing in the UK. The website makes its debut as official Government figures released last week show that unemployment has reached an 11-year high – the number of people out of work in the UK in the three months to September rose by 140,000 to 1.82 million. Economists claim this number could top two million early next year – leading to an inevitable rise in the number of freelancers and contractors.
Www.FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk is written by experts from all industries within the freelancing community, offering guidance and advice on managing all aspects of the lifestyle. 14 articles are published each month along with a podcast featuring an influential figure.
High-profile contributors include John Brazier, head of the PCG and Government lobbyist, and Emma Brierley, CEO of freelance resourcing expert Xchangeteam and responsible for the Freelancer of the Year Awards. A two-part podcast interview with Brazier is currently live on the site. Brazier gives his views on the UK’s working trends and provides analysis of in-depth research into the current number of people working for themselves.
Www.FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk was founded by award-winning online entrepreneur Darren Fell. Fell appears in this year’s ‘Courvoisier The Future 500 in association with The Observer’; a league table of the UK’s most talented business people and was also named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Sussex Business Awards 07/08.
“More people are being made redundant and in the current climate, we predict the UK will see a surge in freelancing,” said Darren Fell (pictured) Founder and MD of Freelance Advisor. “By their very nature, freelancers and contractors don’t have a universal offline or online meeting point, so there was a gap in the market for this website. It’s been growing since it soft-launched in February this year and has been so successful we now want to put it in front of a wider national audience. The content is timely, genuinely useful and will help ease the transition from employee to freelancer.”
Further research carried out by the PCG in September 2008 reveals that of 1.4 million freelancers, 183,000 are freelancing as a second job. These are people in well-paid nine-to-five jobs who are seeking the security of working for themselves.
“We will shortly be introducing a specialist social network; providing a novel way to allow freelancers to collaborate and find work,” Fell continued. “We are already becoming a trusted resource for thousands of freelancers looking for direction in all areas of the lifestyle.”
www.FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk intends to attract tens of thousands of users within the next two years.
The website is sponsored by online accounting system www.Crunch.co.uk.
FACT FILE
www.FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk is an advice and networking website for freelancers and contractors. Its aim is to unite the UK’s surging community of 1.4 million self-employed people, offering guidance on setting up and working efficiently; covering all aspects of the lifestyle. The site is written by experts from all industries within the freelancing community - 14 articles are published each month along with a podcast featuring an influential figure. A specialist social network allows freelancers to collaborate and find work.
Www.FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk was founded by award-winning online entrepreneur Darren Fell. Fell appears in this year’s ‘Courvoisier The Future 500 in association with The Observer’; a league table of the UK’s most talented business people and was also named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Sussex Business Awards 07/08. www.FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk is sponsored by online accounting system www.Crunch.co.uk (EDITOR: I think this is one site I can't possibly miss visiting!)
Ten errors to avoid when setting up a social network
Businesses can download a free social networking guide on how to avoid these pitfalls
Chat Moderators, today unveils the top ten mistakes that business make when introducing an online social media initiative. Based on eight years of customer research during the escalating popularity of User Generated Content (UGC) as a marketing tool, Chat Moderators has discovered that many businesses are making the same mistakes over and over again.
Customer intelligence has shown a number of examples of bad practice and a certain level of naivety regarding social networking initiatives including the common mistake of thinking that your audience won’t mind if you remove their submissions just because you can’t take valid criticism. They certainly will mind and any attempt you make to deny justifiable criticism will simply compromise the integrity of your initiative.
Other common mistakes include:
• Not publishing a straightforward set of rules for the creators of uploaded material.
• Not creating a sophisticated set of rules for the judges of uploaded material.
• Not verifying the email addresses of registrants.
• Not having the software tools to record why you might have removed certain content.
• Not having the software tools to reinstate removed content, to remove previously approved content or even to simply ‘hide’ content that needs further investigation.
• Not being able to judge UGC from a back-end queue and instead checking submissions via email or the ‘front end’.
• Imagining that any brand secrets or skeletons in your brand cupboard will stay undiscovered.
• Assuming that your audience will generate content as on-brand and on-topic as your marketing department does.
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes is: Not taking any interest in the initiative post-launch, Rob Marcus, director at Chat Moderators explains: “It’s often the most obvious things that are the most surprising in these instances. After all of the work brand managers seem to put into planning and creating an easily navigated and moderated social network at the start of the process, they forget to stay close to it. The early days are so important if you are to avoid cliques of troublesome users from developing. You need to ensure that your objectives are not going to be undermined by content that you hadn’t expected if you are to gain an influential foothold.
“Don’t be afraid to actively engage with your audience from time to time, especially to clarify misunderstandings. If you do so, don’t pretend to be someone other than who you are; the proud brand custodian who’s willing to listen”, concludes Marcus.
For more invaluable tips on how to avoid these common errors, businesses are invited to download a free guide which goes into more detail surrounding these common mistakes along with hints of how to avoid going down the wrong path with social networking initiatives. Visit www.chatmoderators.com and click on ‘Guide to successful UGC’ to download your guide.
Chat Moderators, today unveils the top ten mistakes that business make when introducing an online social media initiative. Based on eight years of customer research during the escalating popularity of User Generated Content (UGC) as a marketing tool, Chat Moderators has discovered that many businesses are making the same mistakes over and over again.
Customer intelligence has shown a number of examples of bad practice and a certain level of naivety regarding social networking initiatives including the common mistake of thinking that your audience won’t mind if you remove their submissions just because you can’t take valid criticism. They certainly will mind and any attempt you make to deny justifiable criticism will simply compromise the integrity of your initiative.
Other common mistakes include:
• Not publishing a straightforward set of rules for the creators of uploaded material.
• Not creating a sophisticated set of rules for the judges of uploaded material.
• Not verifying the email addresses of registrants.
• Not having the software tools to record why you might have removed certain content.
• Not having the software tools to reinstate removed content, to remove previously approved content or even to simply ‘hide’ content that needs further investigation.
• Not being able to judge UGC from a back-end queue and instead checking submissions via email or the ‘front end’.
• Imagining that any brand secrets or skeletons in your brand cupboard will stay undiscovered.
• Assuming that your audience will generate content as on-brand and on-topic as your marketing department does.
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes is: Not taking any interest in the initiative post-launch, Rob Marcus, director at Chat Moderators explains: “It’s often the most obvious things that are the most surprising in these instances. After all of the work brand managers seem to put into planning and creating an easily navigated and moderated social network at the start of the process, they forget to stay close to it. The early days are so important if you are to avoid cliques of troublesome users from developing. You need to ensure that your objectives are not going to be undermined by content that you hadn’t expected if you are to gain an influential foothold.
“Don’t be afraid to actively engage with your audience from time to time, especially to clarify misunderstandings. If you do so, don’t pretend to be someone other than who you are; the proud brand custodian who’s willing to listen”, concludes Marcus.
For more invaluable tips on how to avoid these common errors, businesses are invited to download a free guide which goes into more detail surrounding these common mistakes along with hints of how to avoid going down the wrong path with social networking initiatives. Visit www.chatmoderators.com and click on ‘Guide to successful UGC’ to download your guide.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Icomera connects live CCTV trials on London buses
Icomera AB, the world’s leading provider of cellular broadband gateways, has announced that its Moovbox technology has been selected to provide real-time communications for a major trial of live CCTV on London buses to improve public safety. 21st Century CCTV, a division of TG21 plc, has equipped twenty-one double-decker buses in North London with the technology, which allows live images to be transmitted to a central control centre shared by officers from TfL and the Metropolitan Police’s Transport Operational Command Unit. The six-month trial on behalf of Transport for London (TfL) will monitor and analyse the use of the technology to decide whether it can help deal with incidents on buses more effectively.
The LIVEview system installed on each bus comprises a ProGuard digital video recorder (DVR) developed by 21st Century CCTV, connected to a Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway from Icomera. Cameras fitted inside and outside the bus record images continuously to disk but the new Moovbox technology means the driver can activate a high-speed link whereby operators can view live or recorded footage in real time. The TfL deployment is the first stage of a major initiative by 21st Century CCTV and Icomera to offer live mobile video streaming technology to municipalities and transport operators for public safety applications.
“Transmitting CCTV streams is a bandwidth-intensive task,” said Ola Sjölin, Icomera CEO. “Our mobile gateways employ patented switching and load balancing technology that leverages multiple cellular backhaul links to provide the fastest possible connection for public safety applications such as this. Our relationship with 21st Century CCTV brings together two market leaders to create a best-of-breed solution ideally suited to intensive, mission-critical applications such as that Transport for London is trialling.”
“We chose the Icomera Moovbox M200 gateway for this project after careful evaluation,” said David Dent, Managing Director of 21st Century CCTV. “The Moovbox has a proven track record of successful deployments with some of the world’s largest transport operators, many of whom also use our ProGuard DVR technology for in-vehicle security. We are delighted to be launching an initiative with Icomera to bring this joint solution to market, and look forward to the opportunities we expect will arise following the announcement of the TfL trials.”
The LIVEview system is available through 21st Century CCTV and selected channel partners worldwide.
The LIVEview system installed on each bus comprises a ProGuard digital video recorder (DVR) developed by 21st Century CCTV, connected to a Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway from Icomera. Cameras fitted inside and outside the bus record images continuously to disk but the new Moovbox technology means the driver can activate a high-speed link whereby operators can view live or recorded footage in real time. The TfL deployment is the first stage of a major initiative by 21st Century CCTV and Icomera to offer live mobile video streaming technology to municipalities and transport operators for public safety applications.
“Transmitting CCTV streams is a bandwidth-intensive task,” said Ola Sjölin, Icomera CEO. “Our mobile gateways employ patented switching and load balancing technology that leverages multiple cellular backhaul links to provide the fastest possible connection for public safety applications such as this. Our relationship with 21st Century CCTV brings together two market leaders to create a best-of-breed solution ideally suited to intensive, mission-critical applications such as that Transport for London is trialling.”
“We chose the Icomera Moovbox M200 gateway for this project after careful evaluation,” said David Dent, Managing Director of 21st Century CCTV. “The Moovbox has a proven track record of successful deployments with some of the world’s largest transport operators, many of whom also use our ProGuard DVR technology for in-vehicle security. We are delighted to be launching an initiative with Icomera to bring this joint solution to market, and look forward to the opportunities we expect will arise following the announcement of the TfL trials.”
The LIVEview system is available through 21st Century CCTV and selected channel partners worldwide.
Keep an eye on what they are saying about you on the Net!
Individuals can now check to see what information is being written about them across the internet as the global leader in people search and reputation management is launching in the UK. The innovative technology collates all the public information available about an individual from across the web and places it on one easy to use site.
yasni, the worldwide Number One in people search and online reputation management, has announced they are to launch www.yasni.co.uk, allowing British users to collate and view all the personal information available from across the web about themselves, colleagues, family and friends, on one easy to use and clear website.
This kind of service is more common with businesses looking to monitor their online reputation but now individuals can treat themselves as a brand and track what people are writing and saying to ensure nothing negative appears; offering full control over personal reputation.
yasni users or “yasnians” can also check up on their partners, keep an eye on their children, research employers or job applicants and find long-lost friends, lovers or relatives. The system is fun, free and easy to use; requiring very little technical ability or understanding.
yasni currently receives 23 million requests each month, which also includes thousands of searches from the UK and has been named the Number One people search engine by an independent Website traffic profiler.
Steffen Rühl, CEO and Co-founder of yasni comments on the UK launch; “The German website is already receiving several thousand visits each month from the UK and so it seems a natural and exciting progression to launch a British version of Yasni.
“So many people are unaware of what personal information is actually available on the internet and yasni offers a fun and exciting way of keeping track of your own and others online reputation; it’s the people’s-people search engine and brings the UK a new level of infotainment.”
Social networking sites and online forums have become an increasingly popular way of conversing with friends and therefore personal brand awareness has never been so important. Especially when considering that 1 in 5 HR managers are now checking the suitability of job applicants on the web.
www.quantcast.com and www.alexa.com
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/yoon/1123 Survey commissioned by Reuters
yasni, the worldwide Number One in people search and online reputation management, has announced they are to launch www.yasni.co.uk, allowing British users to collate and view all the personal information available from across the web about themselves, colleagues, family and friends, on one easy to use and clear website.
This kind of service is more common with businesses looking to monitor their online reputation but now individuals can treat themselves as a brand and track what people are writing and saying to ensure nothing negative appears; offering full control over personal reputation.
yasni users or “yasnians” can also check up on their partners, keep an eye on their children, research employers or job applicants and find long-lost friends, lovers or relatives. The system is fun, free and easy to use; requiring very little technical ability or understanding.
yasni currently receives 23 million requests each month, which also includes thousands of searches from the UK and has been named the Number One people search engine by an independent Website traffic profiler.
Steffen Rühl, CEO and Co-founder of yasni comments on the UK launch; “The German website is already receiving several thousand visits each month from the UK and so it seems a natural and exciting progression to launch a British version of Yasni.
“So many people are unaware of what personal information is actually available on the internet and yasni offers a fun and exciting way of keeping track of your own and others online reputation; it’s the people’s-people search engine and brings the UK a new level of infotainment.”
Social networking sites and online forums have become an increasingly popular way of conversing with friends and therefore personal brand awareness has never been so important. Especially when considering that 1 in 5 HR managers are now checking the suitability of job applicants on the web.
www.quantcast.com and www.alexa.com
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/yoon/1123 Survey commissioned by Reuters
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Sword Group launches free SharePoint Deployment Planning Services Programme
Sword Group’s ECM solutions practice has today launched its free SharePoint Deployment Planning Services (SDPS) Programme.
As a Microsoft Gold partner Sword ECM is one of a small number of accredited principals selected to deliver the SDPS Programme. The Programme provides complimentary consultancy and development expertise to identify the potential of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server implementation for an organisation.
Engagements with Sword are available for anything up to 15 days and correspond to the customers’ software assurance enterprise agreement with Microsoft.
Terry Coyne, sales manager for Sword’s ECM solutions practice in the UK said: “This is an innovative and creative offering from Microsoft and provides clients with a fantastic low risk opportunity to engage with a Microsoft Gold Partner at no additional cost. Sword will work to identify how best to leverage the SharePoint platform for an individual organisations business process and manage the implementation roadmap for the transformation of collaborative strategies and improved business productivity.
“Services available as part of the programme will range from system health checks, business analysis, strategy assistance and proof of concepts to full project managed implementations and custom developments.”
Sword’s ECM practice has nearly 20 years’ experience in the delivery of mission-critical Enterprise Content Management solutions for medium to large customers internationally. As a leading implementer of SharePoint technologies Sword helps customers with their consolidation, integration and migration strategies with other leading ECM platforms.
For more details on how to take advantage of this offer please email SharePoint@Sword-uk.com
As a Microsoft Gold partner Sword ECM is one of a small number of accredited principals selected to deliver the SDPS Programme. The Programme provides complimentary consultancy and development expertise to identify the potential of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server implementation for an organisation.
Engagements with Sword are available for anything up to 15 days and correspond to the customers’ software assurance enterprise agreement with Microsoft.
Terry Coyne, sales manager for Sword’s ECM solutions practice in the UK said: “This is an innovative and creative offering from Microsoft and provides clients with a fantastic low risk opportunity to engage with a Microsoft Gold Partner at no additional cost. Sword will work to identify how best to leverage the SharePoint platform for an individual organisations business process and manage the implementation roadmap for the transformation of collaborative strategies and improved business productivity.
“Services available as part of the programme will range from system health checks, business analysis, strategy assistance and proof of concepts to full project managed implementations and custom developments.”
Sword’s ECM practice has nearly 20 years’ experience in the delivery of mission-critical Enterprise Content Management solutions for medium to large customers internationally. As a leading implementer of SharePoint technologies Sword helps customers with their consolidation, integration and migration strategies with other leading ECM platforms.
For more details on how to take advantage of this offer please email SharePoint@Sword-uk.com
Dorset County Hospital to Speed-up Processing of 50,000 Invoices per Year with Version One integrated into Information
Dorset County Hospital, one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK, is implementing document management and imaging software from Version One (www.versionone.co.uk) to speed-up the processing of 50,000 purchase invoices each year and free-up document storage space. These new systems are expected to go-live to up to 150 users in early 2009.
By using Version One’s software tightly integrated into its Infor Smartstream accounting system, Dorset County Hospital will significantly reduce the time-consuming manual entry of purchase invoice data and will also be able to electronically store and retrieve purchase invoices directly from its Smartstream system. In addition, using Version One’s Windows Document Capture Interface, Dorset will be able to capture any on-screen document and automatically store the document image to the Version One archive.
Kevin Goater, Acting Director Of Finance from Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust says, “We currently have to manually key-in data regarding our 5,000 suppliers which is very laborious, costly and prone to error. Document storage is also a problem as it is a statutory requirement for us to keep our paid invoices for five years which results in a tremendous amount of filing space being taken up. Version One’s software, which we selected due to its tight integration with Infor Smartstream and solid reputation, will reduce manual data entry by up to 75%, eliminate data entry errors and will allow us to free-up document storage space.”
Using a Kodak i160 scanner and Version One’s software, all purchase invoices and credit notes arriving into Dorset County Hospital will be scanned centrally, tagged to the appropriate record in the Infor Smartstream accounting system and electronically stored. Version One’s OCR technology will automatically capture purchase invoice data, significantly reducing manual data entry. In addition, with Smartstream’s workflow module used in conjunction with Version One’s DbArchive storage system, invoice approvers will be able to view and approve invoices directly from their PCs, further enhancing purchase-to-pay efficiency.
Goater comments, “Document Imaging technology is now an essential part of any accounts payable department. Once in place, we will no longer have to search through filing cabinets for invoices as we will be able to instantly retrieve them, within seconds, from the desktop. We will also enjoy faster payment processing, enabling us to pay our suppliers in a more timely fashion. In addition, Version One’s software will support our green agenda and help us to comply with any future environmental legislation.”
By using Version One’s software tightly integrated into its Infor Smartstream accounting system, Dorset County Hospital will significantly reduce the time-consuming manual entry of purchase invoice data and will also be able to electronically store and retrieve purchase invoices directly from its Smartstream system. In addition, using Version One’s Windows Document Capture Interface, Dorset will be able to capture any on-screen document and automatically store the document image to the Version One archive.
Kevin Goater, Acting Director Of Finance from Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust says, “We currently have to manually key-in data regarding our 5,000 suppliers which is very laborious, costly and prone to error. Document storage is also a problem as it is a statutory requirement for us to keep our paid invoices for five years which results in a tremendous amount of filing space being taken up. Version One’s software, which we selected due to its tight integration with Infor Smartstream and solid reputation, will reduce manual data entry by up to 75%, eliminate data entry errors and will allow us to free-up document storage space.”
Using a Kodak i160 scanner and Version One’s software, all purchase invoices and credit notes arriving into Dorset County Hospital will be scanned centrally, tagged to the appropriate record in the Infor Smartstream accounting system and electronically stored. Version One’s OCR technology will automatically capture purchase invoice data, significantly reducing manual data entry. In addition, with Smartstream’s workflow module used in conjunction with Version One’s DbArchive storage system, invoice approvers will be able to view and approve invoices directly from their PCs, further enhancing purchase-to-pay efficiency.
Goater comments, “Document Imaging technology is now an essential part of any accounts payable department. Once in place, we will no longer have to search through filing cabinets for invoices as we will be able to instantly retrieve them, within seconds, from the desktop. We will also enjoy faster payment processing, enabling us to pay our suppliers in a more timely fashion. In addition, Version One’s software will support our green agenda and help us to comply with any future environmental legislation.”
Monday, 10 November 2008
Protect your data for pence!
Intelco Limited, a leading service provider to the UK software and applications market is working in partnership with cynapspro GmbH of Germany to supply computer users with cynapspro end –point security software on a subscription basis. The software, known as the cynapspro suite 2008, prevents the use of unauthorised memory sticks and other external devices being attached to PCs and laptops. It also encrypts all data, rendering it useless and unreadable except to authorised users.
cynapspro is Germany’s leading software company, specialising in the area of end-point security. Cynapspro has over 450,000 PCs and laptops being managed by its cynapspro suite software in over 20 countries. The company recently announced its entry into the UK marketplace, targeting sectors where it has already achieved significant success in other countries. Whilst security of information is paramount to all companies, there is a predominance of government and public bodies. In Germany, German Army, Police and Ministry of Justice are amongst its users.
The cynapspro suite 2008 combines device management, application access control, encryption for external devices and pre-boot authentication into one single management platform. The suite consists of three modules:
· devicepro 2008 controls access to ports and external storage
· cryptionpro 2008 encrypts software saved to USB sticks or other external devices
· applicationpro 2008 restricts the use of applications to approved software and users.
The cynapspro suite 2008 is priced on a per PC or laptop user basis. With Intelco’s subscription, organisations will be able to implement end-point security throughout their IT networks with no capital expenditure.
Intelco’s cynapspro subscription package also includes a 90day trial period. This means that a subscription customer is able to test the software operationally before entering into a contractual commitment.
A Intelco director confirmed their view that the cynapspro suite 2008 is just what organisations need to combat the growing threat of information theft. He comments. “An organisation’s data is its crown jewels, and protecting it is one of the top priorities on Board room agendas.”
“ Every week, we hear about the loss of sensitive data on memory sticks or laptops. Data protection is an urgent matter and our subscription package means that every organisation, no matter how small or large, can keep its data safe right now for a small monthly payment and without having the delays and constraints put on it by capital purchase.”
Established in 1988, Intelco Group plc is a sales and marketing company staffed by experienced IT professionals. It helps sales teams of supplier partners to sell by making their products and services more affordable. Intelco also has several other products directly available to end users on subscription, with all support being provided by the software supplier. In the case of cynapspro, all support and training is provided on-line during business hours.
The software can be downloaded directly from the cynapspro website www.cynapspro.co.uk.
Each cynapspro software module is charged for on a per seat basis, the more seats, the less the charge per seat. Purchase start at £16.50/seat for devicepro, subscription £12.20/seat for cryptionpro and £12.20/seat for applicationpro. For all three modules, the cost per seat starts at £27.90. Support and major upgrades are charged in addition.
With Intelco’s subscription plan, devicepro starts @ 41p per seat per month, cryptionpro @ 31p per seat per month and applicationpro @ 31p per seat per month too. Subscription for the complete suite of all three modules starts at 72p per seat per month. With subscription, all support and training is included.
As with purchase, the more seats, the less the charge per seat. For example for an organisation with 2500 seats, monthly subscription would be 52p per seat per month for the complete suite.
cynapspro is Germany’s leading software company, specialising in the area of end-point security. Cynapspro has over 450,000 PCs and laptops being managed by its cynapspro suite software in over 20 countries. The company recently announced its entry into the UK marketplace, targeting sectors where it has already achieved significant success in other countries. Whilst security of information is paramount to all companies, there is a predominance of government and public bodies. In Germany, German Army, Police and Ministry of Justice are amongst its users.
The cynapspro suite 2008 combines device management, application access control, encryption for external devices and pre-boot authentication into one single management platform. The suite consists of three modules:
· devicepro 2008 controls access to ports and external storage
· cryptionpro 2008 encrypts software saved to USB sticks or other external devices
· applicationpro 2008 restricts the use of applications to approved software and users.
The cynapspro suite 2008 is priced on a per PC or laptop user basis. With Intelco’s subscription, organisations will be able to implement end-point security throughout their IT networks with no capital expenditure.
Intelco’s cynapspro subscription package also includes a 90day trial period. This means that a subscription customer is able to test the software operationally before entering into a contractual commitment.
A Intelco director confirmed their view that the cynapspro suite 2008 is just what organisations need to combat the growing threat of information theft. He comments. “An organisation’s data is its crown jewels, and protecting it is one of the top priorities on Board room agendas.”
“ Every week, we hear about the loss of sensitive data on memory sticks or laptops. Data protection is an urgent matter and our subscription package means that every organisation, no matter how small or large, can keep its data safe right now for a small monthly payment and without having the delays and constraints put on it by capital purchase.”
Established in 1988, Intelco Group plc is a sales and marketing company staffed by experienced IT professionals. It helps sales teams of supplier partners to sell by making their products and services more affordable. Intelco also has several other products directly available to end users on subscription, with all support being provided by the software supplier. In the case of cynapspro, all support and training is provided on-line during business hours.
The software can be downloaded directly from the cynapspro website www.cynapspro.co.uk.
Each cynapspro software module is charged for on a per seat basis, the more seats, the less the charge per seat. Purchase start at £16.50/seat for devicepro, subscription £12.20/seat for cryptionpro and £12.20/seat for applicationpro. For all three modules, the cost per seat starts at £27.90. Support and major upgrades are charged in addition.
With Intelco’s subscription plan, devicepro starts @ 41p per seat per month, cryptionpro @ 31p per seat per month and applicationpro @ 31p per seat per month too. Subscription for the complete suite of all three modules starts at 72p per seat per month. With subscription, all support and training is included.
As with purchase, the more seats, the less the charge per seat. For example for an organisation with 2500 seats, monthly subscription would be 52p per seat per month for the complete suite.
SEO demand rockets as online marketing spend is squeezed
n response to a marked increase in demand for SEO marketing expertise, Xcede Recruitment Solutions has created a specialist Search Engine Optimisation recruitment team.
The team has been formed in response to huge customer demand, both from digital marketing agencies and in-house, for increasingly valued SEO skills. Xcede has seen a steady increase in demand, over the past six months, for the full spectrum of online marketing roles to create online strategies, draw visitors to websites, lock customers in and analyse effectiveness of campaigns. This need for online marketing expertise has had a knock on effect for SEO professionals across the board. In spite of challenging market conditions, average salary expectations for SEO jobs are continuing to rise.
With many marketing budgets frozen or cut, companies are realising the true value of website ranking on major search engines. Additionally, businesses looking to maximise online revenue are often drawn to SEO as it increases website visibility and therefore helps to attract more visitors.
Xcede Recruitment Solutions has built up an enviable reputation in the digital marketing recruitment sector and sees this move as vital for the future.
“The rise in demand for good SEO people is due to a number of factors,” said Jeremy Bogush, Director of Xcede Recruitment Solutions. “Marketing departments have realised just how effective SEO spend can be when compared to other channels (notably PPC), and this demand has buoyed the sector. Experienced SEO professionals have always been a scarce resource, and we predict this situation will continue.
The creation of a new SEO team perfectly complements our existing expertise in: business and consumer intelligence, which covers data analytics and web analytics jobs, and web development and web design”
The team will focus on providing both full-time and contract SEO roles. Currently the demand is outstripping supply at all levels, especially as many digital marketing agencies now have an SEO offering.
William Jacques, Director of Xcede Recruitment Solutions, believes that the breadth of his company‘s offering is important to clients: “Our clients often need a range of skillsets, from the ability to analyse raw data on customer intelligence, build relevant user applications, promote sites and retain traffic to targeted and sophisticated digital campaign management.”
He continued: “The new team also reflects our specialty in placing high-quality candidates who have a background that combines marketing and technical or analytical expertise.”
END
The team has been formed in response to huge customer demand, both from digital marketing agencies and in-house, for increasingly valued SEO skills. Xcede has seen a steady increase in demand, over the past six months, for the full spectrum of online marketing roles to create online strategies, draw visitors to websites, lock customers in and analyse effectiveness of campaigns. This need for online marketing expertise has had a knock on effect for SEO professionals across the board. In spite of challenging market conditions, average salary expectations for SEO jobs are continuing to rise.
With many marketing budgets frozen or cut, companies are realising the true value of website ranking on major search engines. Additionally, businesses looking to maximise online revenue are often drawn to SEO as it increases website visibility and therefore helps to attract more visitors.
Xcede Recruitment Solutions has built up an enviable reputation in the digital marketing recruitment sector and sees this move as vital for the future.
“The rise in demand for good SEO people is due to a number of factors,” said Jeremy Bogush, Director of Xcede Recruitment Solutions. “Marketing departments have realised just how effective SEO spend can be when compared to other channels (notably PPC), and this demand has buoyed the sector. Experienced SEO professionals have always been a scarce resource, and we predict this situation will continue.
The creation of a new SEO team perfectly complements our existing expertise in: business and consumer intelligence, which covers data analytics and web analytics jobs, and web development and web design”
The team will focus on providing both full-time and contract SEO roles. Currently the demand is outstripping supply at all levels, especially as many digital marketing agencies now have an SEO offering.
William Jacques, Director of Xcede Recruitment Solutions, believes that the breadth of his company‘s offering is important to clients: “Our clients often need a range of skillsets, from the ability to analyse raw data on customer intelligence, build relevant user applications, promote sites and retain traffic to targeted and sophisticated digital campaign management.”
He continued: “The new team also reflects our specialty in placing high-quality candidates who have a background that combines marketing and technical or analytical expertise.”
END
BroadbandChoices.co.uk reveals Britain’s top ten broadband annoyances…and how to solve them
Broadband internet access has revolutionised the way we use our computers and access the internet. Rapid improvements in technology mean that we can browse websites and download information faster than ever before. However, there are still elements of broadband services that annoy users.
BroadbandChoices.co.uk has gathered together its customers’ top ten broadband gripes, with Michael Phillips – product director at BroadbandChoices.co.uk – suggesting some simple solutions to these irritating problems.
1. Slow broadband speeds
Annoyance: Consumers rarely get the broadband speed they pay for since service providers usually fail to deliver the advertised broadband speed.
Solution: There are a number of issues that may affect broadband speeds. Consumers can download a free speed tester to find out what speed they are actually getting and then complain to their ISP if it is much slower then the service they are paying for. Consumers can also boost their broadband speed by getting a wireless router signal booster, replacing their router antenna or by adding a wireless repeater.
2. Restrictions on Download Limits
Annoyance: Most providers advertise an ‘unlimited’ download/usage limit package but this is rarely the case. Customers’ usage will almost invariably be restricted by a ‘fair usage policy’ that aims to keep them within the allowance (this varies between providers).
Solution: Ofcom’s Voluntary Code of Practice encourages ISPs to provide consumers with information on their usage and their limit. For truly unlimited broadband, the best packages are with Be & O2 who have never restricted download limits.
3. MAC Code (required when switching providers)
Annoyance: When switching their ISP, a consumer’s exiting provider may delay sending over their MAC code (Migration Authorisation Code).
Solution: Ofcom has now made it compulsory for previous providers to supply customers with their MAC code within 5 working days.
4. Tag on the Line
Annoyance: Having a tag/marker on the line makes it very difficult for customers to get back online, especially if they have recently moved to a new home.
Solution:
Ofcom has dedicated a page on their website detailing the actions that you should take if you have a tag on you line. They recommend that you contact the provider you would like to switch to (known as the 'Gaining Provider' or 'GP') as they should be best placed to provide accurate information and advice regarding the Tag.
5. Broadband without a Landline/Line Rental
Annoyance: It costs £130 for a landline to be connected plus £10.50 a month in line rental; this is an annoying pre-requisite for broadband ADSL
Solution: If consumers live in an area that has access to cable (Virgin Media cable), they will not need a landline and installation only costs £30. Some providers such as Tiscali (in some areas) make use of LLU (Local Loop Unbundling) to offer inclusive line rental. The only other way of getting broadband without a landline connection or line rental would be through a mobile broadband USB dongle, but consumers should watch out for costly data charges.
6. Moving Home
Annoyance: Moving or cancelling a broadband package when moving to a new home can cause major problems.
Solution: If consumers are moving home and want to carry over their existing broadband service to the new property then they must make sure that the minimum contract term of their current broadband package is either about to end or has ended before renewing. Otherwise they can expect a hefty cancellation charge.
7. Router provided is not adequate
Annoyance: More often than not, the router/modem supplied by a provider is not likely to be the best available.
Solution: A higher quality router (around £70) can be bought for better signal strength and wireless broadband speeds. However, some broadband packages do not support the use of routers they haven’t provided and, even if they do, some providers will not assist customers in setting these up at home.
8. Long Contract Terms
Annoyance: An increasing number of 18 and 24 month contracts can end up costing more than first expected after the first 3 month introductory price offer ends.
Solution: Consumers should look for packages that offer more flexibility such as Plus.net’s 1 month contracts or AOL’s Wireless Flexi deal although it is likely that you will have to pay an upfront connection charge.
9. Additional Costs / Returning Hardware
Annoyance: Cancellation charges and router/modem costs can be an unpleasant surprise when cancelling a contract.
Solution: Consumers need to check their contract carefully. If they have to pay any additional fee for cancelling their contract early, chances are, they will have to pay for the rest of the contract in one lump sum. Customers should also be aware if their contract stipulates any free hardware given by the provider must be handed back at the end of the contract.
10. Switching Providers
Annoyance: Switching from one provider to another can be really frustrating, especially after the switch has been made and customers may still find themselves being charged by their previous provider.
Solution: Customers should wait until their current contract is up before switching otherwise they will have to pay for the rest of the year’s costs in one lump sum. Consumers should make sure that they a written statement from the ISP confirming that the contract is over to ensure that any future dispute can be dealt with as quickly as possible.
Michael Phillips says,
“Despite the recent technological revolution and improved internet access through high speed broadband, it seems that there are still a number of problems that need to be rectified before consumers will get the service they pay for.
“Many of our top ten broadband annoyances arise from customers not being fully informed of how their broadband contracts works and their rights as consumers. Broadband customers should arm themselves with as much knowledge as possible in order to get the best out of their broadband service and provider. We have designed BroadbandChoices.co.uk to provide customers with the tools and information they will need to make informed decisions on their broadband service.”
BroadbandChoices.co.uk has gathered together its customers’ top ten broadband gripes, with Michael Phillips – product director at BroadbandChoices.co.uk – suggesting some simple solutions to these irritating problems.
1. Slow broadband speeds
Annoyance: Consumers rarely get the broadband speed they pay for since service providers usually fail to deliver the advertised broadband speed.
Solution: There are a number of issues that may affect broadband speeds. Consumers can download a free speed tester to find out what speed they are actually getting and then complain to their ISP if it is much slower then the service they are paying for. Consumers can also boost their broadband speed by getting a wireless router signal booster, replacing their router antenna or by adding a wireless repeater.
2. Restrictions on Download Limits
Annoyance: Most providers advertise an ‘unlimited’ download/usage limit package but this is rarely the case. Customers’ usage will almost invariably be restricted by a ‘fair usage policy’ that aims to keep them within the allowance (this varies between providers).
Solution: Ofcom’s Voluntary Code of Practice encourages ISPs to provide consumers with information on their usage and their limit. For truly unlimited broadband, the best packages are with Be & O2 who have never restricted download limits.
3. MAC Code (required when switching providers)
Annoyance: When switching their ISP, a consumer’s exiting provider may delay sending over their MAC code (Migration Authorisation Code).
Solution: Ofcom has now made it compulsory for previous providers to supply customers with their MAC code within 5 working days.
4. Tag on the Line
Annoyance: Having a tag/marker on the line makes it very difficult for customers to get back online, especially if they have recently moved to a new home.
Solution:
Ofcom has dedicated a page on their website detailing the actions that you should take if you have a tag on you line. They recommend that you contact the provider you would like to switch to (known as the 'Gaining Provider' or 'GP') as they should be best placed to provide accurate information and advice regarding the Tag.
5. Broadband without a Landline/Line Rental
Annoyance: It costs £130 for a landline to be connected plus £10.50 a month in line rental; this is an annoying pre-requisite for broadband ADSL
Solution: If consumers live in an area that has access to cable (Virgin Media cable), they will not need a landline and installation only costs £30. Some providers such as Tiscali (in some areas) make use of LLU (Local Loop Unbundling) to offer inclusive line rental. The only other way of getting broadband without a landline connection or line rental would be through a mobile broadband USB dongle, but consumers should watch out for costly data charges.
6. Moving Home
Annoyance: Moving or cancelling a broadband package when moving to a new home can cause major problems.
Solution: If consumers are moving home and want to carry over their existing broadband service to the new property then they must make sure that the minimum contract term of their current broadband package is either about to end or has ended before renewing. Otherwise they can expect a hefty cancellation charge.
7. Router provided is not adequate
Annoyance: More often than not, the router/modem supplied by a provider is not likely to be the best available.
Solution: A higher quality router (around £70) can be bought for better signal strength and wireless broadband speeds. However, some broadband packages do not support the use of routers they haven’t provided and, even if they do, some providers will not assist customers in setting these up at home.
8. Long Contract Terms
Annoyance: An increasing number of 18 and 24 month contracts can end up costing more than first expected after the first 3 month introductory price offer ends.
Solution: Consumers should look for packages that offer more flexibility such as Plus.net’s 1 month contracts or AOL’s Wireless Flexi deal although it is likely that you will have to pay an upfront connection charge.
9. Additional Costs / Returning Hardware
Annoyance: Cancellation charges and router/modem costs can be an unpleasant surprise when cancelling a contract.
Solution: Consumers need to check their contract carefully. If they have to pay any additional fee for cancelling their contract early, chances are, they will have to pay for the rest of the contract in one lump sum. Customers should also be aware if their contract stipulates any free hardware given by the provider must be handed back at the end of the contract.
10. Switching Providers
Annoyance: Switching from one provider to another can be really frustrating, especially after the switch has been made and customers may still find themselves being charged by their previous provider.
Solution: Customers should wait until their current contract is up before switching otherwise they will have to pay for the rest of the year’s costs in one lump sum. Consumers should make sure that they a written statement from the ISP confirming that the contract is over to ensure that any future dispute can be dealt with as quickly as possible.
Michael Phillips says,
“Despite the recent technological revolution and improved internet access through high speed broadband, it seems that there are still a number of problems that need to be rectified before consumers will get the service they pay for.
“Many of our top ten broadband annoyances arise from customers not being fully informed of how their broadband contracts works and their rights as consumers. Broadband customers should arm themselves with as much knowledge as possible in order to get the best out of their broadband service and provider. We have designed BroadbandChoices.co.uk to provide customers with the tools and information they will need to make informed decisions on their broadband service.”
Science Minister launches World’s largest diffraction pattern at Diamond Light Source
During a visit to Diamond Light Source on Friday 7th November, Lord Drayson, the new Science Minister, launched the World’s largest diffraction pattern project by contributing a silver stitch to what will become the world’s largest diffraction pattern. The project, which will involve over 5000 people adding their stitches, has been created to provide a platform for scientists to explain their research to the public in an engaging and imaginative way.Diffraction patterns are obtained by biomedical researchers during their experiments at Diamond and lead to a 3-D representation of the structure of a specific biological target, which can be used to help design cures for specific diseases. The diffraction pattern being created in the art and craft piece is that of a target called serine racemase, which is an important target in the fight against pain and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is one of the first ever collected for this specific biological target and the research was carried out by scientists from the pioneering Oxfordshire-based biopharmaceutical company, Evotec. The company undertakes regular research at Diamond and is kindly supporting this initiative.
Lord Drayson was delighted to get involved, he said: "I am pleased to be taking part in this thought provoking project, which will give members of the public an opportunity to appreciate the wide range of science taking place at Diamond. Over the next decades, Diamond will play a vital role to engage the young and the old in the exciting contribution science is making to society and will inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers in the same way that cool projects in the 70s and 80s inspired me."
Anne Griffiths, a textile artist leading the project, is keen to start collecting more stitches, she says: “Having been involved with Diamond Light Source for several years I am delighted to be able to continue the relationship through this project. It is wonderful to be able to bring science and art together in this way and I am looking forward to gathering stitches from lots of different people over the next few months. This will enable us to create the world’s largest diffraction pattern and to help people understand more about the science behind the art.”
Dr John Barker, Group Leader of X-ray crystallography at Evotec, and his team achieved the featured diffraction pattern during beamtime at Diamond earlier this year. He says: “The information we gain from these diffraction patterns is vital to the progression of our research into serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and pain relief. It is fantastic that one of our diffraction patterns is now being used to create a unique work of art whilst at the same time widening access to science. Evotec is very pleased to be supporting Diamond Light Source in this initiative and we are looking forward to seeing it on display.”
The World’s largest diffraction pattern will receive stitches from far and wide as the project will be taken to Paris this week for its celebrations as European City of Science and to Chicago for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting in February 2009.
Members of the public who are interested in sewing a stitch and finding out more about the dialogue project should visit www.diamond.ac.uk or email us at diamondcomms@diamond.ac.uk.
Openbravo hits one million downloads
Demand for open source ERP and POS continues to increase; Openbravo’s projects downloaded by more than one million users on the leading open source software development and community site, SourceForge.
Openbravo, the leading developer of web-based open source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Point of Sale (POS) solutions for enterprises, has reached and exceeded the million download mark for downloads of its award-winning ERP and POS projects.
The million downloads demonstrates soaring dissemination rates of its software and also marks a new era for open source applications, with Openbravo installations being deployed across a range of industries including manufacturing, logistics and distribution, public administration, retail and services across the globe.
The millionth download has also been reached in a very short time, reflecting an escalating market dissemination and adoption with more than 36,000 downloads of Openbravo ERP project and 7,000 downloads of Openbravo POS project now taking place every month. This momentum has resulted from the commitment of Openbravo’s community, including partners and developers that have contributed to the software and to the community, which is based on collaboration and support.
This landmark is a confirmation of the impressive pace of Openbravo’s growth. The company has seen substantial expansion of its partner base, which has grown from 35 to 90 within the last year, while the Openbravo’s products installed base has grown, being now utilised in more than 50 countries.
The momentum gained by Openbravo is also reflected in the number of new initiatives being rolled out by Openbravo to its community which further support and enhance the Openbravo ecosystem, such as modularity to encourage individual contributions, a new Forge for Openbravo projects and downloads, as well as a range of global community meetings and knowledge-sharing opportunities. These meetings include the Openbravo World Conference which will take place in Barcelona, Spain, in April 2009 which will have a truly international focus and be an opportunity for the community to share experiences and discuss future plans.
SourceForge.net is the world's largest open source software development web site with more than 180,000 projects and more than 1.9 million registered users. Openbravo’s leading open source ERP solution was first published to SourceForge in April 2006. Openbravo POS has been a SourceForge project since January 2005, when it started out as TinaPOS before becoming Librepos and then being acquired by Openbravo in October 2007.
Openbravo has a strong strategy and plan, and to reach the next million downloads will be working with its community on new product improvements, including plug-ins, new verticals and new localisation projects, among others. Manel Sarasa, CEO of Openbravo explained, “This is a momentous milestone for Openbravo, and the speed with which we reached this landmark number is amazing and a testimony to the dedication and commitment of our community of partners, users, and developers. Openbravo has become an ERP of reference to such a large ecosystem because it offers more value for money. With its lower cost and better adaptation to customer needs for the same budget as other leading ERP packages, Openbravo has been the answer to the challenges faced by many companies around the world looking for the right solution.”
FACT FILE:
Openbravo is the leading developer of web-based open Source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Point of Sale (PoS) solutions for enterprises.
The company has developed a fully integrated, web-based ERP system tailored to the needs of any company, regardless of size or industry sector. Openbravo ERP helps companies manage daily operations, optimise business processes, enhance customer satisfaction and ultimately increase profitability. And because it is open source, Openbravo ERP puts the customer in full control without license overheads. Openbravo has won several important international awards.
In October 2007, Openbravo acquired the leading open source POS solution. The newly renamed Openbravo POS is a point-of-sales application designed for touch screens. Openbravo POS is integrated with Openbravo ERP and is also available as a standalone product.
Openbravo is venture backed and has received record funding in the Open Source ERP space from a consortium of leading global investment firms: Amadeus Capital Partners, GIMV, Adara Venture Partners and Sodena.
www.openbravo.com
Openbravo, the leading developer of web-based open source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Point of Sale (POS) solutions for enterprises, has reached and exceeded the million download mark for downloads of its award-winning ERP and POS projects.
The million downloads demonstrates soaring dissemination rates of its software and also marks a new era for open source applications, with Openbravo installations being deployed across a range of industries including manufacturing, logistics and distribution, public administration, retail and services across the globe.
The millionth download has also been reached in a very short time, reflecting an escalating market dissemination and adoption with more than 36,000 downloads of Openbravo ERP project and 7,000 downloads of Openbravo POS project now taking place every month. This momentum has resulted from the commitment of Openbravo’s community, including partners and developers that have contributed to the software and to the community, which is based on collaboration and support.
This landmark is a confirmation of the impressive pace of Openbravo’s growth. The company has seen substantial expansion of its partner base, which has grown from 35 to 90 within the last year, while the Openbravo’s products installed base has grown, being now utilised in more than 50 countries.
The momentum gained by Openbravo is also reflected in the number of new initiatives being rolled out by Openbravo to its community which further support and enhance the Openbravo ecosystem, such as modularity to encourage individual contributions, a new Forge for Openbravo projects and downloads, as well as a range of global community meetings and knowledge-sharing opportunities. These meetings include the Openbravo World Conference which will take place in Barcelona, Spain, in April 2009 which will have a truly international focus and be an opportunity for the community to share experiences and discuss future plans.
SourceForge.net is the world's largest open source software development web site with more than 180,000 projects and more than 1.9 million registered users. Openbravo’s leading open source ERP solution was first published to SourceForge in April 2006. Openbravo POS has been a SourceForge project since January 2005, when it started out as TinaPOS before becoming Librepos and then being acquired by Openbravo in October 2007.
Openbravo has a strong strategy and plan, and to reach the next million downloads will be working with its community on new product improvements, including plug-ins, new verticals and new localisation projects, among others. Manel Sarasa, CEO of Openbravo explained, “This is a momentous milestone for Openbravo, and the speed with which we reached this landmark number is amazing and a testimony to the dedication and commitment of our community of partners, users, and developers. Openbravo has become an ERP of reference to such a large ecosystem because it offers more value for money. With its lower cost and better adaptation to customer needs for the same budget as other leading ERP packages, Openbravo has been the answer to the challenges faced by many companies around the world looking for the right solution.”
FACT FILE:
Openbravo is the leading developer of web-based open Source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Point of Sale (PoS) solutions for enterprises.
The company has developed a fully integrated, web-based ERP system tailored to the needs of any company, regardless of size or industry sector. Openbravo ERP helps companies manage daily operations, optimise business processes, enhance customer satisfaction and ultimately increase profitability. And because it is open source, Openbravo ERP puts the customer in full control without license overheads. Openbravo has won several important international awards.
In October 2007, Openbravo acquired the leading open source POS solution. The newly renamed Openbravo POS is a point-of-sales application designed for touch screens. Openbravo POS is integrated with Openbravo ERP and is also available as a standalone product.
Openbravo is venture backed and has received record funding in the Open Source ERP space from a consortium of leading global investment firms: Amadeus Capital Partners, GIMV, Adara Venture Partners and Sodena.
www.openbravo.com
Sunday, 9 November 2008
smartMARKETER eChannel 5.0 provides advanced digital marketing capabilities
- New campaign and list management features cut time to implementing
effective international campaigns -
smartFOCUS DIGITAL, a leader in email and digital marketing software, has announced the launch of smartMARKETER eChannel 5.0. The digital marketing system includes advanced campaign and list management capabilities and allows the planning and deployment of large-scale campaigns.
The advanced campaign management features provided by smartMARKETER eChannel include event triggering and multi-step actions where a series of targeted emails can be sent to a group of consumers or prospects over a pre-defined period of time. Based on content rules created by marketers and personal preferences set by users, the dynamic content targeting features can automatically trigger individually tailored emails to thousands of recipients. The system also enables easy comparisons between campaigns, allowing marketers to judge the effectiveness of different campaigns and tactics.
Provided by smartFOCUS DIGITAL, smartMARKETER eChannel builds on the campaign planning and management expertise of parent company smartFOCUS. Relevant communications, which bypass spam filters ensure higher returns for campaigns, while the target management functionality includes the ability to create more accurate and detailed lists, in a more flexible way.
The graphical content editor which works on major browsers, including Apple Mac, makes it easy for marketers to build and edit digital communications with no technical knowledge. smartMARKETER eChannel supports all foreign languages including Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic. It is also timezone aware, allowing marketers located across the globe to log-in to view campaign plans and information in their local timezones. An innovative tree structure allows dependencies between marketing actions to be represented graphically, and for actions to be grouped together and assigned distinctive icons for rapid communication of a campaign plan.
Bryan Black, managing director smartFOCUS DIGITAL, said: “the smartMARKETER eChannel is a new generation digital marketing system which combines the benefits of advanced campaign management technology with the flexibility of smartFOCUS multi channel digital communication system. smartMARKETER eChannel can integrate existing customer databases, and be adapted to suit different needs and budgets, enabling smartFOCUS DIGITAL to bring additional campaign planning capabilities to a wide range of businesses and organisations.”
smartMARKETER eChannel is a multi-channel digital marketing system which integrates Email, Micro-site, SMS, RSS and form functionalities.
smartMARKETER eChannel is compatible with the most common browser and operating systems including Mac, deployed as Software as a Service (“SaaS”).
smartFOCUS DIGITAL is the company formerly known as Email Reaction. smartMARKETER eChannel is a new generation of digital marketing system. It combines the benefits of advanced campaign management technology developed from the flexible and powerful Email Reaction technology, to serve multi channel digital marketing. Email Reaction was acquired by smartFOCUS in 2006 and re-branded to smartFOCUS DIGITAL in 2008.
effective international campaigns -
smartFOCUS DIGITAL, a leader in email and digital marketing software, has announced the launch of smartMARKETER eChannel 5.0. The digital marketing system includes advanced campaign and list management capabilities and allows the planning and deployment of large-scale campaigns.
The advanced campaign management features provided by smartMARKETER eChannel include event triggering and multi-step actions where a series of targeted emails can be sent to a group of consumers or prospects over a pre-defined period of time. Based on content rules created by marketers and personal preferences set by users, the dynamic content targeting features can automatically trigger individually tailored emails to thousands of recipients. The system also enables easy comparisons between campaigns, allowing marketers to judge the effectiveness of different campaigns and tactics.
Provided by smartFOCUS DIGITAL, smartMARKETER eChannel builds on the campaign planning and management expertise of parent company smartFOCUS. Relevant communications, which bypass spam filters ensure higher returns for campaigns, while the target management functionality includes the ability to create more accurate and detailed lists, in a more flexible way.
The graphical content editor which works on major browsers, including Apple Mac, makes it easy for marketers to build and edit digital communications with no technical knowledge. smartMARKETER eChannel supports all foreign languages including Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic. It is also timezone aware, allowing marketers located across the globe to log-in to view campaign plans and information in their local timezones. An innovative tree structure allows dependencies between marketing actions to be represented graphically, and for actions to be grouped together and assigned distinctive icons for rapid communication of a campaign plan.
Bryan Black, managing director smartFOCUS DIGITAL, said: “the smartMARKETER eChannel is a new generation digital marketing system which combines the benefits of advanced campaign management technology with the flexibility of smartFOCUS multi channel digital communication system. smartMARKETER eChannel can integrate existing customer databases, and be adapted to suit different needs and budgets, enabling smartFOCUS DIGITAL to bring additional campaign planning capabilities to a wide range of businesses and organisations.”
smartMARKETER eChannel is a multi-channel digital marketing system which integrates Email, Micro-site, SMS, RSS and form functionalities.
smartMARKETER eChannel is compatible with the most common browser and operating systems including Mac, deployed as Software as a Service (“SaaS”).
smartFOCUS DIGITAL is the company formerly known as Email Reaction. smartMARKETER eChannel is a new generation of digital marketing system. It combines the benefits of advanced campaign management technology developed from the flexible and powerful Email Reaction technology, to serve multi channel digital marketing. Email Reaction was acquired by smartFOCUS in 2006 and re-branded to smartFOCUS DIGITAL in 2008.
Growing Ambitions youth careers initiative wins top website award
Growing Ambitions has won the HantsWeb Awards in the ‘Best Special Interest Website’ category beating over 160 nominations. The Special Interest Category was one of two that received the most nominations. The Awards ceremony was held at the Intech science centre, Winchester on Tuesday 4th November.Growing Ambitions in an online broker of volunteer career speakers from over 800 different careers into education. It covers every town in the UK - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but has its main office base in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
The HantsWeb Awards reward the best websites in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and are run by Hampshire County Council. This year’s awards were sponsored by Wave105 FM, Dell, the Daily Echo, Unisys and other top local and national organisations.
The Special Interest category was judged by Martin Ball, Managing Director of top local commercial radio station Wave105 FM, and Councillor Baulk, e-Government Champion of Hampshire County Council. Entrants were all of a high calibre making the judging difficult.
Growing Ambitions was praised for its user friendliness, straightforward and informative content, and for its objectives - gettting the county - and the UK - volunteering to benefit young people.
Nominated websites went through a three-stage selection procedure: shortlisting to 10 sites; then from 10 down to 3 finalists. From these three the winner was selected.
Ken Thornber, Leader of Hampshire County Council said “Winners and runners-up should be extremely proud of their hard work and dedication to creating accessible, innovative and user friendly online services."
This is the sixth year of the Awards which this time attracted 1,116 nominations - the highest level to date.
Sally Davis, MD of Growing Ambitions won a Dell Vostro notebook laptop, a framed certificate and an impressive trophy. On receiving the Award she said: “The whole experience has been really exciting and I’m thrilled and proud that Growing Ambitions has won this prestigious Award.
"It’s great to be recognised for the contribution Growing Ambitions makes to the lives of young people across the county and beyond. The Award will also help us to attract higher numbers of speaker volunteers and to raise the profile of Growing Ambitions throughout the county and nationwide.”
For more information on Growing Ambitions visit www.growingambitions.org
Make your data safe
With German Army, Police and Ministry of Justice already amongst its users, cynapspro, Germany’s leading end-point security software company, is offering UK police and security organisations a 90 day ‘no-strings’ trial of its software to prove its security capabilities. The software, known as the cynapspro suite 2008, prevents the use of unauthorised memory sticks and external devices being attached to PCs and laptops. It also encrypts all data, rendering it useless and unreadable except to authorised users.
The cynapspro suite 2008 uniquely combines device management, application access control, encryption for external devices and pre-boot authentication into one single management platform. The suite consists of three modules:
· devicepro 2008 controls access to ports and external storage
· cryptionpro 2008 encrypts software saved to USB sticks or other external devices
· applicationpro 2008 restricts the use of applications to approved software and users.
All modules have been designed to eliminate the need for on-site training and cost intensive professional services. This design criteria has been borne out in practice by the many hundreds of successful customer installations.
With over 450,000 PCs and laptops being managed by the cynapspro suite software in over 20 countries, the company is entering the UK marketplace, targeting sectors where it has already significant success, namely regional and central government, police and areas where sensitive data is accessible on networks.
Joint Managing Director Sergej Schlotthauer comments; “The growth of our company only emphasises the growing need to protect vulnerable information held in electronic form. Tens of thousands of organisations hold sensitive and personal data on their networks, protected by sophisticated firewalls to prevent unauthorised Internet access. Yet up to 80% of all IT security violations and up to 70% of all identity thefts happen within an organisation. That’s what we are protecting against. It is our sole mission.”
“It’s pointless spending large sums of money on physical protection when all the corporate data can be lost or stolen on a USB stick” he adds.
Each cynapspro software module is charged for on a per seat basis, the more seats, the less the charge per seat. Costs start at £16.50/seat for devicepro, £12.20/seat for cryptionpro and £12.20/seat for applicationpro. For all three modules, the cost per seat starts at £27.90. Support and major upgrades are charged in addition.
For further information visit Cynapspro website www.cynapspro.co.uk
The cynapspro suite 2008 uniquely combines device management, application access control, encryption for external devices and pre-boot authentication into one single management platform. The suite consists of three modules:
· devicepro 2008 controls access to ports and external storage
· cryptionpro 2008 encrypts software saved to USB sticks or other external devices
· applicationpro 2008 restricts the use of applications to approved software and users.
All modules have been designed to eliminate the need for on-site training and cost intensive professional services. This design criteria has been borne out in practice by the many hundreds of successful customer installations.
With over 450,000 PCs and laptops being managed by the cynapspro suite software in over 20 countries, the company is entering the UK marketplace, targeting sectors where it has already significant success, namely regional and central government, police and areas where sensitive data is accessible on networks.
Joint Managing Director Sergej Schlotthauer comments; “The growth of our company only emphasises the growing need to protect vulnerable information held in electronic form. Tens of thousands of organisations hold sensitive and personal data on their networks, protected by sophisticated firewalls to prevent unauthorised Internet access. Yet up to 80% of all IT security violations and up to 70% of all identity thefts happen within an organisation. That’s what we are protecting against. It is our sole mission.”
“It’s pointless spending large sums of money on physical protection when all the corporate data can be lost or stolen on a USB stick” he adds.
Each cynapspro software module is charged for on a per seat basis, the more seats, the less the charge per seat. Costs start at £16.50/seat for devicepro, £12.20/seat for cryptionpro and £12.20/seat for applicationpro. For all three modules, the cost per seat starts at £27.90. Support and major upgrades are charged in addition.
For further information visit Cynapspro website www.cynapspro.co.uk
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
DatacenterDynamics London:08 to set the agenda again
Leading expo will feature latest thinking and ground-breaking analysis
The UK's premier exhibition for the datacenter market, DatacenterDynamics, will play host to more than 1,200 visitors on 11 and 12 November.
Not surprisingly, themes such as power usage and efficiency are a core part of DatacenterDynamics London:08, along with an examination of how datacenter engineering will adapt to handle the increasing demands of new technology platforms such as cloud computing.
Mike Manos, head of datacenters globally for Microsoft will look at how Microsoft has made huge efficiency gains in its own mega-datacenters through radical design approaches.
Jim Pappas of the Green Grid will discuss efficiency metrics and how standards can be developed to improve datacenter performance.
HP will talk about its plans to virtualise the entire datacenter, while EDS – the HP-owned global outsourcing giant – will discuss the design and construction of its NE England Giant, which is a 30,000 sq ft high-efficiency datacenter.
Skanska, one of the world's leading construction groups, will be presenting a green case study entitled The Ultimate Green Move – Fix What You Have First. Other major players in this important and exciting field which will be sharing their insight at DatacenterDynamics London:08 include Merrill Lynch, IBM, Dell, Cisco, Fujitsu and VMware.
Held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, the event features a series of high level presentations and seminars from the leading figures in this sector, which has become a fundamental part of the business and technology landscape.
Using the over-arching theme of thinking outside the box, this year's event has been developed to help datacenter professionals understand how innovative approaches to IT/engineering and management practices can help them keep their mission critical infrastructures agile, flexible and robust.
It will address issues such as how to use good energy stewardship to do more with less – which has become the mantra of the modern IT/facilities professional.
Dan Scarbrough, DatacenterDynamics' Managing Director, said: "Last year over 1,100 of the UK's senior datacenter professionals attended the event at the Royal Lancaster Hotel which has become our venue of choice for its superb layout, affording delegates an ideal space to learn and network. DatacenterDynamics London:08 will be an exciting and rewarding opportunity for anyone who needs to have their finger on the pulse of this crucial technology arena."
The UK's premier exhibition for the datacenter market, DatacenterDynamics, will play host to more than 1,200 visitors on 11 and 12 November.
Not surprisingly, themes such as power usage and efficiency are a core part of DatacenterDynamics London:08, along with an examination of how datacenter engineering will adapt to handle the increasing demands of new technology platforms such as cloud computing.
Mike Manos, head of datacenters globally for Microsoft will look at how Microsoft has made huge efficiency gains in its own mega-datacenters through radical design approaches.
Jim Pappas of the Green Grid will discuss efficiency metrics and how standards can be developed to improve datacenter performance.
HP will talk about its plans to virtualise the entire datacenter, while EDS – the HP-owned global outsourcing giant – will discuss the design and construction of its NE England Giant, which is a 30,000 sq ft high-efficiency datacenter.
Skanska, one of the world's leading construction groups, will be presenting a green case study entitled The Ultimate Green Move – Fix What You Have First. Other major players in this important and exciting field which will be sharing their insight at DatacenterDynamics London:08 include Merrill Lynch, IBM, Dell, Cisco, Fujitsu and VMware.
Held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, the event features a series of high level presentations and seminars from the leading figures in this sector, which has become a fundamental part of the business and technology landscape.
Using the over-arching theme of thinking outside the box, this year's event has been developed to help datacenter professionals understand how innovative approaches to IT/engineering and management practices can help them keep their mission critical infrastructures agile, flexible and robust.
It will address issues such as how to use good energy stewardship to do more with less – which has become the mantra of the modern IT/facilities professional.
Dan Scarbrough, DatacenterDynamics' Managing Director, said: "Last year over 1,100 of the UK's senior datacenter professionals attended the event at the Royal Lancaster Hotel which has become our venue of choice for its superb layout, affording delegates an ideal space to learn and network. DatacenterDynamics London:08 will be an exciting and rewarding opportunity for anyone who needs to have their finger on the pulse of this crucial technology arena."
Over 3.5 million Wi-Fi sessions on Icomera public transport hotspots
Icomera AB, the world’s leading provider of cellular broadband gateways, has announced that usage of its mobile Internet access systems deployed on passenger transport worldwide has exceeded three and a half million sessions. Operators of trains, buses, coaches and ferries deploy Icomera’s award-winning Moovbox technology to provide Internet access to passengers, while also delivering high-speed connectivity to on-board systems such as CCTV, ticketing and GPS-based vehicle tracking.
By the end of October 2008, over one million passengers had used Wi-Fi services across these fleets approximately 3.72 million times, a 272% increase in the last twelve months. Icomera customers include some of the world’s largest transport operators including Arriva, First Group, National Express, Stagecoach and Go-Ahead.
“The fact that our on-board Wi-Fi hotspot systems have been used almost four million times clearly demonstrates that Wi-Fi availability is an important consideration for both business and leisure travelers,” said Ola Sjölin, Chief Executive Officer at Icomera. “Transport operators are looking at ways to differentiate their services from the competition, while also seeking to improve the passenger experience. Combined with the operational efficiencies that real-time Internet access brings to a fleet, the outlook for Icomera’s market-leading technology is extremely positive.”
Figures released by Icomera show that on rail deployments the average Wi-Fi session lasts 83 minutes, while the average session on road-based installations such as commuter bus and coach routes is over 30 minutes. Wi-Fi usage across all Icomera Moovbox installations is now running at over 50,000 sessions per week.
One of the most popular on-board Wi-Fi services is the National Express East Coast (NXEC) intercity rail route from London King’s Cross to the Scottish Highlands via Edinburgh. NXEC has equipped 43 trains with free Wi-Fi hotspot service to all passengers, and has seen over 1.3 million sessions since December 2007, with an average online time of 70 minutes. The overall uptake of Wi-Fi across NXEC passengers is around 9%, with an estimated 85% of laptop-carrying passengers opting to use the free service at some point during their journey.
“Since we switched from a pay-per-use service to free Wi-Fi we’ve seen a significant though not unexpected jump in usage,” said Rachel Dawson, sales and marketing director at National Express East Coast. “A major advantage of choosing the train over alternatives such as driving or flying is the ability to stay connected to the Internet throughout the journey. Icomera’s technological approach to delivering an always-on connection has been fundamental to the success of the initiative, and has proved extremely important to our business passengers who rely on Internet access to make the most of their journey time.”
Icomera offers the Moovbox range of high-reliability, backhaul-agnostic communications gateways supporting concurrent satellite, cellular and road- or track-side networks in a single in-vehicle system that – using patented technology – automatically switches to use the best wide area network without session interruption. Icomera also provides fixed and nomadic gateways for municipal wireless, public safety and enterprise applications.
By the end of October 2008, over one million passengers had used Wi-Fi services across these fleets approximately 3.72 million times, a 272% increase in the last twelve months. Icomera customers include some of the world’s largest transport operators including Arriva, First Group, National Express, Stagecoach and Go-Ahead.
“The fact that our on-board Wi-Fi hotspot systems have been used almost four million times clearly demonstrates that Wi-Fi availability is an important consideration for both business and leisure travelers,” said Ola Sjölin, Chief Executive Officer at Icomera. “Transport operators are looking at ways to differentiate their services from the competition, while also seeking to improve the passenger experience. Combined with the operational efficiencies that real-time Internet access brings to a fleet, the outlook for Icomera’s market-leading technology is extremely positive.”
Figures released by Icomera show that on rail deployments the average Wi-Fi session lasts 83 minutes, while the average session on road-based installations such as commuter bus and coach routes is over 30 minutes. Wi-Fi usage across all Icomera Moovbox installations is now running at over 50,000 sessions per week.
One of the most popular on-board Wi-Fi services is the National Express East Coast (NXEC) intercity rail route from London King’s Cross to the Scottish Highlands via Edinburgh. NXEC has equipped 43 trains with free Wi-Fi hotspot service to all passengers, and has seen over 1.3 million sessions since December 2007, with an average online time of 70 minutes. The overall uptake of Wi-Fi across NXEC passengers is around 9%, with an estimated 85% of laptop-carrying passengers opting to use the free service at some point during their journey.
“Since we switched from a pay-per-use service to free Wi-Fi we’ve seen a significant though not unexpected jump in usage,” said Rachel Dawson, sales and marketing director at National Express East Coast. “A major advantage of choosing the train over alternatives such as driving or flying is the ability to stay connected to the Internet throughout the journey. Icomera’s technological approach to delivering an always-on connection has been fundamental to the success of the initiative, and has proved extremely important to our business passengers who rely on Internet access to make the most of their journey time.”
Icomera offers the Moovbox range of high-reliability, backhaul-agnostic communications gateways supporting concurrent satellite, cellular and road- or track-side networks in a single in-vehicle system that – using patented technology – automatically switches to use the best wide area network without session interruption. Icomera also provides fixed and nomadic gateways for municipal wireless, public safety and enterprise applications.
Avanquest’s Formula for Driving the Reseller Market
The Avanquest Expo 2008 recently took place at the Williams F1 Conference Centre. The event launched new Virtualisation, Document Management and Business Continuity software to Avanquest’s Channel Partners.
The day was a mixture of business and pleasure. On the business side, presentations from the following vendors focused on new technologies and opportunities for Resellers.
• Aqua Connect: “With Aqua Connect Terminal Server you can turn your non-Apple hardware into a Mac!”
• Sun Microsystems: “Servers and storage, Virtual desktop and Software.”
• Datawatch: “Gives you the opportunity to participate in the Business Intelligence (BI) market – one of few IT markets expected to grow strongly over next few years.”
• ABBYY: “You will never need to retype a document again!”
The ‘fun’ part of the day included a tour of the Williams F1 Museum and the opportunity to test your skills as an F1 driver in the car simulator – a car originally driven by Jensen Button.
The Event was supported by distribution partners Computers Unlimited, and Interactive Ideas, plus resellers including Amazon.co.uk, Jigsaw Systems, Eyre Solutions and MDR Interfaces. Educational resellers included representatives from Douglas Stewart and Citnexus.
Matt Balcombe from Computers Unlimited was first to cross the start line in the F1 simulator, followed by Phil Thorne from 1st Creative Services Ltd. Mariafiore Dalla Cola from Interactive Ideas took on the boys and clocked 1:55:412 for her lap of Silverstone.
The hottest lap of the day (1:33:520) was achieved by Tom George, a former employee of Avanquest, who had stepped in to assist with presenting the latest software from Content Watch.
Matt Balcombe summed up the day: “The Avanquest Expo was a fantastic and unique opportunity to meet so many manufacturers, learn more about them and discuss the varied opportunities these products offer to European customers across all verticals – all in the superb setting of the Williams F1 Centre.”
He went on to say: “The Centre itself is an amazing tribute to the years of world class commitment that the Williams team have made to the F1 sport. The friendliness of the day was forgotten for a brief moment on the simulator when everyone suddenly became very competitive!”
The day was a mixture of business and pleasure. On the business side, presentations from the following vendors focused on new technologies and opportunities for Resellers.
• Aqua Connect: “With Aqua Connect Terminal Server you can turn your non-Apple hardware into a Mac!”
• Sun Microsystems: “Servers and storage, Virtual desktop and Software.”
• Datawatch: “Gives you the opportunity to participate in the Business Intelligence (BI) market – one of few IT markets expected to grow strongly over next few years.”
• ABBYY: “You will never need to retype a document again!”
The ‘fun’ part of the day included a tour of the Williams F1 Museum and the opportunity to test your skills as an F1 driver in the car simulator – a car originally driven by Jensen Button.
The Event was supported by distribution partners Computers Unlimited, and Interactive Ideas, plus resellers including Amazon.co.uk, Jigsaw Systems, Eyre Solutions and MDR Interfaces. Educational resellers included representatives from Douglas Stewart and Citnexus.
Matt Balcombe from Computers Unlimited was first to cross the start line in the F1 simulator, followed by Phil Thorne from 1st Creative Services Ltd. Mariafiore Dalla Cola from Interactive Ideas took on the boys and clocked 1:55:412 for her lap of Silverstone.
The hottest lap of the day (1:33:520) was achieved by Tom George, a former employee of Avanquest, who had stepped in to assist with presenting the latest software from Content Watch.
Matt Balcombe summed up the day: “The Avanquest Expo was a fantastic and unique opportunity to meet so many manufacturers, learn more about them and discuss the varied opportunities these products offer to European customers across all verticals – all in the superb setting of the Williams F1 Centre.”
He went on to say: “The Centre itself is an amazing tribute to the years of world class commitment that the Williams team have made to the F1 sport. The friendliness of the day was forgotten for a brief moment on the simulator when everyone suddenly became very competitive!”
Report Mining Stands the Test of Time
Monarch report mining software has been distributed in the UK by Avanquest Solutions since 1993. Operating as Datawatch Europe to provide a ‘virtual’ UK office, Avanquest has recently signed its 15th distribution partner agreement with developers, Datawatch.
The new agreement gives Avanquest further opportunity and autonomy to increase the UK Channel beyond Monarch desktop software and into the enterprise with Datawatch Enterprise Information Management (EIM) solutions.
Now, more than ever, in credit-crunch Britain, Managers are being asked to cut costs and deliver more answers to ‘what-if’ financial and scenario planning.
Chris Thompson, Managing Director at Avanquest says “Datawatch Enterprise Information Management solutions complement our portfolio of business solutions. Businesses want to be able to unlock their company information and data for decision-making without spending huge amounts of money or having to change their business processes. Datawatch solves this problem for them.”
Avanquest Solutions specialises in bringing US business software to the UK market.
Avanquest’s challenges in 1993 were to increase the market penetration of Datawatch’s core desktop product, Monarch, raise awareness of the Monarch brand and extend the lifetime value of its corporate customers.
Datawatch Europe now boasts a customer base of 20,000 users across the UK, Europe and Africa with an annual turnover of around £1m, including product sales, training and services.
John Kitchen, Datawatch Corporation Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President says, “Our relationship with Avanquest is a strong one which has stood the test of time. We have all the benefits of having our own European operation – personnel who understand their regional markets, local technical support, established sales channels and consistent levels of revenue – at a fraction of the cost of having our own bricks and mortar and staff.”
The new agreement gives Avanquest further opportunity and autonomy to increase the UK Channel beyond Monarch desktop software and into the enterprise with Datawatch Enterprise Information Management (EIM) solutions.
Now, more than ever, in credit-crunch Britain, Managers are being asked to cut costs and deliver more answers to ‘what-if’ financial and scenario planning.
Chris Thompson, Managing Director at Avanquest says “Datawatch Enterprise Information Management solutions complement our portfolio of business solutions. Businesses want to be able to unlock their company information and data for decision-making without spending huge amounts of money or having to change their business processes. Datawatch solves this problem for them.”
Avanquest Solutions specialises in bringing US business software to the UK market.
Avanquest’s challenges in 1993 were to increase the market penetration of Datawatch’s core desktop product, Monarch, raise awareness of the Monarch brand and extend the lifetime value of its corporate customers.
Datawatch Europe now boasts a customer base of 20,000 users across the UK, Europe and Africa with an annual turnover of around £1m, including product sales, training and services.
John Kitchen, Datawatch Corporation Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President says, “Our relationship with Avanquest is a strong one which has stood the test of time. We have all the benefits of having our own European operation – personnel who understand their regional markets, local technical support, established sales channels and consistent levels of revenue – at a fraction of the cost of having our own bricks and mortar and staff.”
LexisNexis partners with Avanquest Solutions to implement a fully automated Accounts Payable System
The official signing of the contract for Avanquest Solutions to implement Avanquest’s Accounts Payable + (AP+) at LexisNexis recently took place at LexisNexis’ Chancery Lane offices in London.
LexisNexis’ UK MD & European CFO decision to appoint Avanquest as a supplier was based on the business case proving that over a 5 year period the project provides an overall saving vs. project cost outlay.
Avanquest’s area of expertise is the ability to fully understand customers’ overall business processes for unstructured data and applies Business Process Automation tools to provide quantifiable business benefits (ROI, effectiveness and competitive advantage).
Uniquely, through the utilisation of a range of best of breed products from organisations such as ReadSoft. (Intelligent Capture), Captaris (Workflow, Alchemy and RightFax) and Avanquest’s professional services capability, Avanquest tailors solutions that fits and addresses the business needs.
The contract was signed by Alex Sage, Financial Director at LexisNexis and Malcolm Wilkes, Strategic Director, Avanquest Solutions.
The contract signing was the result of a combined nine month project led by Isobel George, Accounts Payable Manager at LexisNexis, Cameron Smith, Business Solutions Manager at Avanquest Solutions and Christine Whyte from Avanquest Partner, ReadSoft.
The Business Drivers for LexisNexis:
LexisNexis UK has a 200 year heritage through its Butterworth’s and Tolley brands of providing authoritative information to knowledge driven professionals.
An old finance culture coupled with a high volume of manual processes - up to 70,000 paper invoices processed annually – takes a lot of time and was difficult to control.
Isobel describes it as, “An area that did a lot of churning, but produced little butter.”
Preparing for Change:
Isobel initiated a review of staff and processes. Any changes would need to have ‘buy-in’ from the staff to be successful. Manual processes were re-engineered, scanning and workflow benefits identified and a cost analysis and authorisation project undertaken.
Finally, a single source supplier - who could implement change, provide a non financial view of financial data and was capable of fully understanding the company’s needs and culture - was sought.
Also important was the fact that the parties got on. LexisNexis recognised that the Avanquest team had actively listened to them, empathised with the business issues and had the flexibility to be able to adapt as priorities changed.
Close collaboration revealed that LexisNexis needed simple workflow. Overly complex solutions were not for them! Non finance managers wanted to be able to visualise financial information so it was simply understood.
Pending the success of the project, which will totally automate the accounts payable process throughout the UK operation, the roll out will expand into other territories.
LexisNexis’ UK MD & European CFO decision to appoint Avanquest as a supplier was based on the business case proving that over a 5 year period the project provides an overall saving vs. project cost outlay.
Avanquest’s area of expertise is the ability to fully understand customers’ overall business processes for unstructured data and applies Business Process Automation tools to provide quantifiable business benefits (ROI, effectiveness and competitive advantage).
Uniquely, through the utilisation of a range of best of breed products from organisations such as ReadSoft. (Intelligent Capture), Captaris (Workflow, Alchemy and RightFax) and Avanquest’s professional services capability, Avanquest tailors solutions that fits and addresses the business needs.
The contract was signed by Alex Sage, Financial Director at LexisNexis and Malcolm Wilkes, Strategic Director, Avanquest Solutions.
The contract signing was the result of a combined nine month project led by Isobel George, Accounts Payable Manager at LexisNexis, Cameron Smith, Business Solutions Manager at Avanquest Solutions and Christine Whyte from Avanquest Partner, ReadSoft.
The Business Drivers for LexisNexis:
LexisNexis UK has a 200 year heritage through its Butterworth’s and Tolley brands of providing authoritative information to knowledge driven professionals.
An old finance culture coupled with a high volume of manual processes - up to 70,000 paper invoices processed annually – takes a lot of time and was difficult to control.
Isobel describes it as, “An area that did a lot of churning, but produced little butter.”
Preparing for Change:
Isobel initiated a review of staff and processes. Any changes would need to have ‘buy-in’ from the staff to be successful. Manual processes were re-engineered, scanning and workflow benefits identified and a cost analysis and authorisation project undertaken.
Finally, a single source supplier - who could implement change, provide a non financial view of financial data and was capable of fully understanding the company’s needs and culture - was sought.
Also important was the fact that the parties got on. LexisNexis recognised that the Avanquest team had actively listened to them, empathised with the business issues and had the flexibility to be able to adapt as priorities changed.
Close collaboration revealed that LexisNexis needed simple workflow. Overly complex solutions were not for them! Non finance managers wanted to be able to visualise financial information so it was simply understood.
Pending the success of the project, which will totally automate the accounts payable process throughout the UK operation, the roll out will expand into other territories.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
BeBook launches with more compatible formats, storage capacity and book choices for eBook users
The way we read, buy and carry books has been revolutionised. With space for a thousand books on the internal memory alone, compatibility with over 10 eBook formats and a large choice of online stores from which to buy your eBooks, BeBook steps well-armed into the eReader market
UK distributor Widget, today announced the UK release of the BeBook, the latest in portable eBook readers. The BeBook is an electronic book reader that lets you read digital content anywhere and everywhere. The BeBook’s revolutionary technology enables you to digitally read book content just as you would a traditional paper printed book. Except now you can have up to a 1000 books in your pocket at any time! So whether you want to catch up on the latest Patricia Cornwell, Stephen King, Jeffery Deaver or read classics like Pride and Prejudice or the entire William Shakespeare collection, just switch on your BeBook!
The electronic paper-like display with Vizplex technology, precise one-handed navigation and stylish design, allows readers to enjoy as many best sellers and contemporary classics as their digital library allows, and with 150 pre-installed eBooks it’s easy to get started.
BeBook is one of the few eBook readers to incorporate Mobipocket, the leading eBook format which allows users to buy eBooks, news or magazines from a huge number of online bookstores, allowing them to shop around and always get the best deal.
Choose from more than 80,000 popular and bestseller titles online at www.mobipocket.com and other online stores like ebooks.com and diesel-ebooks.com. There are also over 1.3 million free titles available at mybebook.com, worldpubliclibrary.org, www.gutenberg.org, www.archive.org and www.worldebookfair.com to name a few. Alternatively you can visit BeBook's own online book directory
The BeBook’s incredible viewing experience is due to its high-resolution electronic paper display technology, which delivers astonishing realism appearing just as ink on paper to the reader. With it's highly power-efficient E-paper and patented E-Ink technology the BeBook offers readability even in bright sunlight, with one three-hour battery charge the BeBook will last around 7,000 page turns.
The BEBOOK is capable of reading an unrivalled number of digital document formats: pdf, mobi, lit, epub, html, doc, fb2, txt, ppt, prc, rtf, jpg, mp3 files and many more. BeBook features a 6-inch reflective screen, an SD card slot, 512MB of internal storage and a USB connector. The BeBook’s dimensions are 184mm (length) x 120mm (width) x 10mm (height) and it weighs just 220 grams including the battery.
Pricing and Availability
The BeBook is available now and can be purchased for £229.99 RRP from www.widget.com
Accessories include; leather protective case, USB cable, user manual, earphones.
The BeBook comes with a standard one year warranty.
BeBook is the only book that never ends...
BeBook: Key features and technical specifications.
Features:
• BeBook is compatible with most online bookstores including mobipocket.com, ebooks.com and offers the most file formats of any eBook reader.
• Multi-format capability enables consumers to shop around for eBooks rather than being forced to use proprietary format of other eBook readers.
• BeBook's internal memory is enough to store around a 1000 standard sized books.
• BeBook has 150 books preinstalled plus over 20.000 free books on the BeBook website.
• BeBook has E-paper and E-Ink, a revolutionary new low power consuming display technology with excellent reading capability even in bright sunlight!
• Plays mp3 files and audio books.
• No shopping limitations: buy or download books, news or magazines anywhere (worldwide) and read them on your BeBook.
• Users with impaired or limited eyesight can enjoy fully adjustable text size, which can be magnified
or reduced on demand.
• Open software standard. (Lifetime firmware updates are free)
• One three-hour battery charge allows around 7,000 page turns.
• With no need to switch off, the battery will never accidentally drain.
Technical Specifications :
• Dimensions: 184mm(l)x120mm(w)x10mm(h) (appr. 7.24 x 4.74 x 0.39 Inches)
• Weight : 220g. (appr. 7.76 oz. , weight of the battery included)
• Display: E-paper, 600x800 pixels (6 inch) (Vizplex E-Ink technology)
• Internal storage: 512MB flash memory
• I/O: 3.5mm audio jack, USB 1.1 Port, SD slot (expandable up to 4GB)
• Power Supply: 3.7V Li-ION battery 950mAh
• Operating Temperature 0ºC to 40ºC
- www.widget.com
UK distributor Widget, today announced the UK release of the BeBook, the latest in portable eBook readers. The BeBook is an electronic book reader that lets you read digital content anywhere and everywhere. The BeBook’s revolutionary technology enables you to digitally read book content just as you would a traditional paper printed book. Except now you can have up to a 1000 books in your pocket at any time! So whether you want to catch up on the latest Patricia Cornwell, Stephen King, Jeffery Deaver or read classics like Pride and Prejudice or the entire William Shakespeare collection, just switch on your BeBook!
The electronic paper-like display with Vizplex technology, precise one-handed navigation and stylish design, allows readers to enjoy as many best sellers and contemporary classics as their digital library allows, and with 150 pre-installed eBooks it’s easy to get started.
BeBook is one of the few eBook readers to incorporate Mobipocket, the leading eBook format which allows users to buy eBooks, news or magazines from a huge number of online bookstores, allowing them to shop around and always get the best deal.
Choose from more than 80,000 popular and bestseller titles online at www.mobipocket.com and other online stores like ebooks.com and diesel-ebooks.com. There are also over 1.3 million free titles available at mybebook.com, worldpubliclibrary.org, www.gutenberg.org, www.archive.org and www.worldebookfair.com to name a few. Alternatively you can visit BeBook's own online book directory
The BeBook’s incredible viewing experience is due to its high-resolution electronic paper display technology, which delivers astonishing realism appearing just as ink on paper to the reader. With it's highly power-efficient E-paper and patented E-Ink technology the BeBook offers readability even in bright sunlight, with one three-hour battery charge the BeBook will last around 7,000 page turns.
The BEBOOK is capable of reading an unrivalled number of digital document formats: pdf, mobi, lit, epub, html, doc, fb2, txt, ppt, prc, rtf, jpg, mp3 files and many more. BeBook features a 6-inch reflective screen, an SD card slot, 512MB of internal storage and a USB connector. The BeBook’s dimensions are 184mm (length) x 120mm (width) x 10mm (height) and it weighs just 220 grams including the battery.
Pricing and Availability
The BeBook is available now and can be purchased for £229.99 RRP from www.widget.com
Accessories include; leather protective case, USB cable, user manual, earphones.
The BeBook comes with a standard one year warranty.
BeBook is the only book that never ends...
BeBook: Key features and technical specifications.
Features:
• BeBook is compatible with most online bookstores including mobipocket.com, ebooks.com and offers the most file formats of any eBook reader.
• Multi-format capability enables consumers to shop around for eBooks rather than being forced to use proprietary format of other eBook readers.
• BeBook's internal memory is enough to store around a 1000 standard sized books.
• BeBook has 150 books preinstalled plus over 20.000 free books on the BeBook website.
• BeBook has E-paper and E-Ink, a revolutionary new low power consuming display technology with excellent reading capability even in bright sunlight!
• Plays mp3 files and audio books.
• No shopping limitations: buy or download books, news or magazines anywhere (worldwide) and read them on your BeBook.
• Users with impaired or limited eyesight can enjoy fully adjustable text size, which can be magnified
or reduced on demand.
• Open software standard. (Lifetime firmware updates are free)
• One three-hour battery charge allows around 7,000 page turns.
• With no need to switch off, the battery will never accidentally drain.
Technical Specifications :
• Dimensions: 184mm(l)x120mm(w)x10mm(h) (appr. 7.24 x 4.74 x 0.39 Inches)
• Weight : 220g. (appr. 7.76 oz. , weight of the battery included)
• Display: E-paper, 600x800 pixels (6 inch) (Vizplex E-Ink technology)
• Internal storage: 512MB flash memory
• I/O: 3.5mm audio jack, USB 1.1 Port, SD slot (expandable up to 4GB)
• Power Supply: 3.7V Li-ION battery 950mAh
• Operating Temperature 0ºC to 40ºC
- www.widget.com
Alienware Launches New Breed of Performance - The M17 Notebook
• The world’s first mobile quad-core processor – Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX9300• Alienware’s first notebook with ATI CrossFireX™, DDR3 memory
• Aggressive performance at an equally aggressive price – starting at £999
Alienware, Dell’s premier high-performance PC gaming brand, launches the all-new M17 notebook, continuing its strong tradition of pushing gaming performance limits through state of the art technology, wrapped in the iconic Alienware style.
Available today in the U.S. and Europe, the 17-inch Alienware M17 is powered by the world’s first mobile quad-core processor, the Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX9300, and is Alienware’s first notebook with ATI CrossFireX™ multi-GPU technology, featuring dual ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870 cards.
Discerning gamers can get their hands on an M17 featuring an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, ATI CrossFireX technology, 3GB of DDR3 memory and a 1920 x 1200 Extreme High-Definition LCD for under £1,399 including VAT. Explore Alienware’s interactive M17 homepage to learn how this system delivers aggressive performance at an equally aggressive price.
The News
The Alienware M17 notebook can be configured with:
• The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300, the world’s first mobile quad-core processor, delivering revolutionary performance, efficiency and multitasking capabilities for maximum speeds, up to 50 percent faster than previous generation mobile processors.
• ATI CrossFireX multi-GPU technology featuring dual ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 graphics cards for intense HD video playback, full DirectX® 10.1 support for the latest next-generation games and frame rates up to 80 percent2 higher than single GPU solutions.
• DDR3 memory for up to a 50 percent increase in transfer rates, as well as the bandwidth necessary for the notebook’s quad-core capabilities. With up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, the M17 has the edge in data retrieval, load times and multitasking.
• Dual 500GB hard drives linked in a RAID 0 configuration for a massive 1TB storage capacity – enough to hold roughly 160 games, 250 full-length movies or 250,000 songs3.
• A 17-inch Extreme High-Definition 1920 x 1200 resolution display for remarkable Blu-ray Disc™ and HD video playback.
• The Alienware Command Center control panel, home to exclusive programs such as the AlienFusion power management system, AlienSense facial recognition software and AlienTouch touchpad controls, allowing you to take complete control of your computer.
• Alienware’s Stealth Black, a soft-touch, matte black finish that protects the system from fingerprints and scratches. True to its roots, the M17 features the bold look of Alienware’s signature Skullcap case design.
“By incorporating the all-out performance of CrossFireX graphics and quad-core processing into Alienware’s award-winning notebook lineup,” says Brian Joyce, Senior Vice President at Alienware “the M17 delivers an impressive feature set at a price point that doesn’t break the bank.”
“By bringing together the raw power of the Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core mobile processor and the advanced engineering of the Alienware M17 notebook,” says Doug Parker, Intel’s director of marketing for America's Sales and Marketing Group, “mobile users can be confident that they will experience extreme performance for incredible gaming on the go.”
“AMD and Alienware have come together to offer mobile gamers a revolutionary visual experience,” says Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager, Graphics Products Group, AMD. “Powered by twin ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870 graphics engines, ATI CrossFireX technology enables an immersive LAN party gaming experience, dynamic gaming environments and stunning 3D effects for the hardcore PC gamer.”
For more information on the Alienware M17 notebook, please visit:
http://www.alienware.co.uk/m17
Bang! And the phone is gone!
In a move that would delight James Bond, British IT innovator, Virtuity, today released BackStopp Mobile which is designed to obliterate the contents of lost or stolen mobile phones and other hand held devices.
Should a phone be lost or stolen, BackStopp Mobile uses a mobile’s own communications to track it down, almost anywhere in the world. Once the device has been traced, BackStopp sets to deleting all information that could prove of interest to villains of all descriptions. As soon as the data is wiped out BackStopp creates a report back at IHQ (or the office for most of us!) detailing exactly what was erased, when, and can even pinpoint the location of the device.
While BackStopp might appeal to FBI and MI6 agents there is a serious reason for its existence. As with its sister tool for laptops, BackStopp recognises that mobile devices are increasingly carrying large quantities of sensitive information, both personal and commercial. That data is very likely to appeal to a whole raft of third parties, from crooks to competitors. BackStopp is designed to ensure that a negative situation is very quickly turned positive.
Virtuity cites an example of a hospital application being used to record patient treatment via a handheld device, bedside. With hospital security notoriously porous, these devices are often lost or stolen, complete with patient records. BackStopp locates the device using GSM and WiFi communications and deletes all the data and even the application if necessary to make absolutely sure the data is protected.
The initial BackStopp Mobile release supports all devices running on the Windows Mobile operating system which includes most devices where a business application is in use. Development work for devices running Nokia’s Symbian O/S has started and will form the basis of the next release.
Just like Q, Virtuity’s boffins have been busy. BackStopp Mobile comes just a couple of weeks after Virtuity announced a significant upgrade to its core laptop location tracking and data protection application to include encryption integration, Wireless and RFID integration, HR system integration, user controlled device downtime ‘Vacation Holiday’ and O/S destruction. http://www.backstopp.com
FACT FILE:
Virtuity Ltd. is a technology development group, founded in 2007, delivering information assurance tools and services. Based in South Yorkshire, UK, Virtuity delights in transforming innovative ideas into exciting products.
http://www.backstopp.com
Should a phone be lost or stolen, BackStopp Mobile uses a mobile’s own communications to track it down, almost anywhere in the world. Once the device has been traced, BackStopp sets to deleting all information that could prove of interest to villains of all descriptions. As soon as the data is wiped out BackStopp creates a report back at IHQ (or the office for most of us!) detailing exactly what was erased, when, and can even pinpoint the location of the device.
While BackStopp might appeal to FBI and MI6 agents there is a serious reason for its existence. As with its sister tool for laptops, BackStopp recognises that mobile devices are increasingly carrying large quantities of sensitive information, both personal and commercial. That data is very likely to appeal to a whole raft of third parties, from crooks to competitors. BackStopp is designed to ensure that a negative situation is very quickly turned positive.
Virtuity cites an example of a hospital application being used to record patient treatment via a handheld device, bedside. With hospital security notoriously porous, these devices are often lost or stolen, complete with patient records. BackStopp locates the device using GSM and WiFi communications and deletes all the data and even the application if necessary to make absolutely sure the data is protected.
The initial BackStopp Mobile release supports all devices running on the Windows Mobile operating system which includes most devices where a business application is in use. Development work for devices running Nokia’s Symbian O/S has started and will form the basis of the next release.
Just like Q, Virtuity’s boffins have been busy. BackStopp Mobile comes just a couple of weeks after Virtuity announced a significant upgrade to its core laptop location tracking and data protection application to include encryption integration, Wireless and RFID integration, HR system integration, user controlled device downtime ‘Vacation Holiday’ and O/S destruction. http://www.backstopp.com
FACT FILE:
Virtuity Ltd. is a technology development group, founded in 2007, delivering information assurance tools and services. Based in South Yorkshire, UK, Virtuity delights in transforming innovative ideas into exciting products.
http://www.backstopp.com
Monday, 3 November 2008
Impressive First Month Hits For New Product Launches
Impressive first month figures have revealed 33,240 hits from the public with a maximum of 541 hits per hour!
http://www.newproductsuk.co.uk A simple but effective way to display new products as soon as they are released.
This new site has has been launched in conjunction with a request from the public for the needof a UK website telling them about new products as soon as they are launched. New Product addicts looking to find the latest products released onto the market can now find hundreds of goodies and where to buy them all displayed under one virtual roof.
The site is updated every day and a team of experts are working closely with pr companies identifying the latest trends and goodies as and when they happen.
We have crammed as many categories in as we can from Beauty, Babies, Computing,Construction, Drink, Food, Gifts, Health, Interiors, Leisure, Hobbies, Medical, Mens Interest, Personal Finance, Sport, Women's Interest & Xmas 2008. New Categories Are Being Added On A Daily Basis.
The benefit to it’s site’s advertisers is that it gives a low cost way of promoting and marketing their clients new product releases. New Products UK brings a number of new releases together all under one virtual roof and makes it easy for the consumer to find new products along with their RRP price and availability.
About New Products UK: According to Sonia Pawley, New Products UK founder, “The public are obsessed with the latest new products on the market. We were finding that on our sister site something different weddings the same question kept arising from brides and grooms ”Where can we find out about the latest new products to put on our wedding gift list?” Hence New Products UK has been born. The idea behind New Products UK is simple: The site is a simple place that can be easily navigated. The categories are clear and being added to on a daily basis.
http://www.newproductsuk.co.uk
http://www.newproductsuk.co.uk A simple but effective way to display new products as soon as they are released.
This new site has has been launched in conjunction with a request from the public for the needof a UK website telling them about new products as soon as they are launched. New Product addicts looking to find the latest products released onto the market can now find hundreds of goodies and where to buy them all displayed under one virtual roof.
The site is updated every day and a team of experts are working closely with pr companies identifying the latest trends and goodies as and when they happen.
We have crammed as many categories in as we can from Beauty, Babies, Computing,Construction, Drink, Food, Gifts, Health, Interiors, Leisure, Hobbies, Medical, Mens Interest, Personal Finance, Sport, Women's Interest & Xmas 2008. New Categories Are Being Added On A Daily Basis.
The benefit to it’s site’s advertisers is that it gives a low cost way of promoting and marketing their clients new product releases. New Products UK brings a number of new releases together all under one virtual roof and makes it easy for the consumer to find new products along with their RRP price and availability.
About New Products UK: According to Sonia Pawley, New Products UK founder, “The public are obsessed with the latest new products on the market. We were finding that on our sister site something different weddings the same question kept arising from brides and grooms ”Where can we find out about the latest new products to put on our wedding gift list?” Hence New Products UK has been born. The idea behind New Products UK is simple: The site is a simple place that can be easily navigated. The categories are clear and being added to on a daily basis.
http://www.newproductsuk.co.uk
Cynapspro offers free 90 day trial of software aimed at ending the dangers of lost or stolen memory sticks
New to the UK, cynapspro, Germany’s leading end-point security software company, is to focus on Local Government as a key market sector. The software, known as the cynapspro suite 2008, prevents the use of unauthorised memory sticks and external devices being attached to PCs and laptops. It also encrypts all data, rendering it useless and unreadable except to authorised users.
The cynapspro suite 2008 uniquely combines device management, application access control, encryption for external devices and pre-boot authentication into one single management platform. The suite consists of three modules:
· devicepro 2008 controls access to ports and external storage
· cryptionpro 2008 encrypts software saved to USB sticks or other external devices
· applicationpro 2008 restricts the use of applications to approved software
All modules have been designed to eliminate the need for on-site training and cost intensive professional services. This design criteria has been borne out in practice by the many hundreds of successful customer installations.
With over 450,000 PCs and laptops being managed by the cynapspro suite software in over 20 countries, the company is entering the UK marketplace, targeting sectors where it has already significant success, namely regional and central government, police and areas where sensitive data is accessible on networks.
For this reason and to get a quick foothold in the marketplace, cynapspro is offering all Local Government, Central Government and security organisations a 90 day free trial of its software for as many users as may be required, with no limitations whatsoever.
If an organisation decides to buy any one of the cynapspro suite modules within 30 days of testing the software, they will get a 15% discount, within 60 days, 10% and within 90 days, 5%.
Joint Managing Director Sergej Schlotthauer comments; “The growth of our company only emphasises the growing need to protect vulnerable information held in electronic form. Tens of thousands of organisations hold sensitive and personal data on their networks, protected by sophisticated firewalls to prevent unauthorised Internet access. Yet up to 80% of all IT security violations and up to 70% of all identity thefts happen within an organisation. That’s what we are protecting against. It is our sole mission.”
“It’s pointless spending large sums of money on physical protection when all the corporate data can be lost or stolen on a USB stick” he adds.
Each cynapspro software module is charged for on a per seat basis, the more seats, the less the charge per seat. Costs start at £16.50/seat for devicepro, £12.20/seat for cryptionpro and £12.20/seat for applicationpro. For all three modules, the cost per seat starts at £27.90. Support and major upgrades are charged in addition.
The cynapspro suite 2008 uniquely combines device management, application access control, encryption for external devices and pre-boot authentication into one single management platform. The suite consists of three modules:
· devicepro 2008 controls access to ports and external storage
· cryptionpro 2008 encrypts software saved to USB sticks or other external devices
· applicationpro 2008 restricts the use of applications to approved software
All modules have been designed to eliminate the need for on-site training and cost intensive professional services. This design criteria has been borne out in practice by the many hundreds of successful customer installations.
With over 450,000 PCs and laptops being managed by the cynapspro suite software in over 20 countries, the company is entering the UK marketplace, targeting sectors where it has already significant success, namely regional and central government, police and areas where sensitive data is accessible on networks.
For this reason and to get a quick foothold in the marketplace, cynapspro is offering all Local Government, Central Government and security organisations a 90 day free trial of its software for as many users as may be required, with no limitations whatsoever.
If an organisation decides to buy any one of the cynapspro suite modules within 30 days of testing the software, they will get a 15% discount, within 60 days, 10% and within 90 days, 5%.
Joint Managing Director Sergej Schlotthauer comments; “The growth of our company only emphasises the growing need to protect vulnerable information held in electronic form. Tens of thousands of organisations hold sensitive and personal data on their networks, protected by sophisticated firewalls to prevent unauthorised Internet access. Yet up to 80% of all IT security violations and up to 70% of all identity thefts happen within an organisation. That’s what we are protecting against. It is our sole mission.”
“It’s pointless spending large sums of money on physical protection when all the corporate data can be lost or stolen on a USB stick” he adds.
Each cynapspro software module is charged for on a per seat basis, the more seats, the less the charge per seat. Costs start at £16.50/seat for devicepro, £12.20/seat for cryptionpro and £12.20/seat for applicationpro. For all three modules, the cost per seat starts at £27.90. Support and major upgrades are charged in addition.
Mobile phone identity theft on the increase
Companies that communicate with their customers using text messages could leave those same customers wide open to identity theft by fraudsters. Dan Perrin, business development manager at BulkSMS.co.uk, a provider of desktop and web-based mobile messaging solutions, explains why companies need to ensure that their customers are made aware of the types of text messages they send out, and what, if any, information they might request via the mobile phone channel, to reduce the risk of the customers falling victim to text message fraud.
Technology is used to protect people and companies against fraud but unfortunately it can also be used to assist fraudsters during a scam, especially when certain technologies are used widely among businesses to send communications. Increasingly, reckless communication practices by companies play into the hands of fraudsters. All it takes is one irresponsible communication that fraudsters can replicate and a company’s integrity will be at risk and its customers’ defrauded.
This is true for email where the most common techniques used to defraud people are phishing scams, an attempt to trick a person into revealing personal information such as credit card details or bank account information by sending an email with a fake web address or telephone number, and ‘419 scams’, so named after the section of the Nigerian penal code that addresses fraud schemes, where a person is persuaded to advance relatively small sums of money in return for larger financial gain.
Due to the broad appeal of text messaging for business communications, phishing scams now also target mobile phone users by using a text to initiate a communication. For example, text message phishing, occurs when customers receive a text message from what seems to be a reputable financial institution prompting them to call a telephone number due to a possible fraudulent transaction on their account. They are then requested to divulge their PIN number, or other personal details, on the pretence of changing their PIN to secure their account. The fraudster however is now able to access the callers’ funds. Customers become victims of the very fraud that they are trying to prevent when they follow up on these sorts of text messages.
The communications conundrum
While text messaging can be used in many ways to make transactions safe and reliable, it requires the careful planning and the implementation by companies of suitable communication policies and procedures. Companies require a good understanding of the benefits of texting - messages are read immediately as people have mobile phones with them all the time. Companies also need an understanding of the text message’s weaknesses - these messages are not encrypted and are easy to imitate.
Some financial institutions may even perpetuate the impression that it is acceptable to divulge your personal information via insecure electronic channels – as long as you provide it only to your own banking institution. For instance, an institution may request your name, credit card number, Identity number and preferred e-mail address to the email address given in the text or call the client care centre telephone number provided. Not only is email an insecure means to send personal information but fraudsters can quite easily pretend to be your bank and imitate marketing material, emails and text message communications. Phishing scams go so far as to disarm customers by including the warning: “don’t divulge your personal information to anyone but your trusted bank” in emails sent.
Then there are your typical banking notifications sent by text message telling you that someone has logged onto your internet banking account. The bank’s name is followed by: “Internet – confirmation of log on: Account number ending in …5601: 26June08: 17h45: Helpline: xxx xxx xxxx”. As text messages are sent in plain text, it is very easy for a fraudster to imitate this message and include their own contact number in a message. In addition, by sending you this message, you would suspect that someone has fraudulently logged onto your Internet bank account. You call the number displayed in the text message thinking it’s your bank’s call centre, and there is someone on the line that asks you for all your relevant personal and account details and then offers to change your PIN to ensure the security of your account. At that point you have given all your account details and are now open to fraudulent activity on your account.
While it is easy to get caught up in the threat of text message phishing scams, the most effective solution to combat this fraud is for businesses to educate their customers about the risks involved when responding to a text message. Fraudsters rely on the ignorance of people and the trust customers place in their bank or other reputable brand.
Tips for businesses
1. Only send out relevant information and never ask customers to provide sensitive information via insecure electronic channels such as e-mail or text.
2. When communicating with customer using text messages, personalise the messages and include information that would not be available to phishers. This will enable customers to distinguish between legitimate and phishing messages.
3. Look critically at your text message and email communications, and consider whether fraudsters could benefit from imitating your message. Educate your customers on potential phishing scams. Inform your customers as soon as you are aware that someone has been using your company name fraudulently.
4. Make your text messaging policies known (e.g. message will always be personalised or we will never ask you to give us your PIN number).
5. Ensure that your marketing material is consistent with the communications you send to customers and that call centre staff are well trained.
Tips for customers:
1. Never respond to a text or email message that requests personal information. Do not divulge sensitive information such as credit card numbers via insecure electronic channels such as texting, e-mail or over the telephone.
2. Be aware that it is easy for criminals to imitate organisations by using electronic communications and initiate emails or text message phishing scams. If unsure whether or not something is a scam, always take the time to investigate it.
3. Always verify a contact number, especially those in emails or text messages. If the “bank” called you, call them back. Double check phone numbers that appear in a text message – you can do this via the Internet or by referring to any marketing material. For ease of reference, store banking phone numbers on your mobile phone, along with email and website addresses.
4. Never ever give your PIN number or password to a PERSON. Only use your PIN on systems that have been designed for this purpose, i.e. ATM’s and official internet banking sites. These systems have been designed such that employees at the bank cannot access this information.
5. Report it. If you are unsure of how a company received your number, or are suspicious about a text message that you have received, you should contact the company and report your concerns. You can also visit the Mobile Data Association and 160Characters Association for more details on text messaging regulations in the UK.
Technology is used to protect people and companies against fraud but unfortunately it can also be used to assist fraudsters during a scam, especially when certain technologies are used widely among businesses to send communications. Increasingly, reckless communication practices by companies play into the hands of fraudsters. All it takes is one irresponsible communication that fraudsters can replicate and a company’s integrity will be at risk and its customers’ defrauded.
This is true for email where the most common techniques used to defraud people are phishing scams, an attempt to trick a person into revealing personal information such as credit card details or bank account information by sending an email with a fake web address or telephone number, and ‘419 scams’, so named after the section of the Nigerian penal code that addresses fraud schemes, where a person is persuaded to advance relatively small sums of money in return for larger financial gain.
Due to the broad appeal of text messaging for business communications, phishing scams now also target mobile phone users by using a text to initiate a communication. For example, text message phishing, occurs when customers receive a text message from what seems to be a reputable financial institution prompting them to call a telephone number due to a possible fraudulent transaction on their account. They are then requested to divulge their PIN number, or other personal details, on the pretence of changing their PIN to secure their account. The fraudster however is now able to access the callers’ funds. Customers become victims of the very fraud that they are trying to prevent when they follow up on these sorts of text messages.
The communications conundrum
While text messaging can be used in many ways to make transactions safe and reliable, it requires the careful planning and the implementation by companies of suitable communication policies and procedures. Companies require a good understanding of the benefits of texting - messages are read immediately as people have mobile phones with them all the time. Companies also need an understanding of the text message’s weaknesses - these messages are not encrypted and are easy to imitate.
Some financial institutions may even perpetuate the impression that it is acceptable to divulge your personal information via insecure electronic channels – as long as you provide it only to your own banking institution. For instance, an institution may request your name, credit card number, Identity number and preferred e-mail address to the email address given in the text or call the client care centre telephone number provided. Not only is email an insecure means to send personal information but fraudsters can quite easily pretend to be your bank and imitate marketing material, emails and text message communications. Phishing scams go so far as to disarm customers by including the warning: “don’t divulge your personal information to anyone but your trusted bank” in emails sent.
Then there are your typical banking notifications sent by text message telling you that someone has logged onto your internet banking account. The bank’s name is followed by: “Internet – confirmation of log on: Account number ending in …5601: 26June08: 17h45: Helpline: xxx xxx xxxx”. As text messages are sent in plain text, it is very easy for a fraudster to imitate this message and include their own contact number in a message. In addition, by sending you this message, you would suspect that someone has fraudulently logged onto your Internet bank account. You call the number displayed in the text message thinking it’s your bank’s call centre, and there is someone on the line that asks you for all your relevant personal and account details and then offers to change your PIN to ensure the security of your account. At that point you have given all your account details and are now open to fraudulent activity on your account.
While it is easy to get caught up in the threat of text message phishing scams, the most effective solution to combat this fraud is for businesses to educate their customers about the risks involved when responding to a text message. Fraudsters rely on the ignorance of people and the trust customers place in their bank or other reputable brand.
Tips for businesses
1. Only send out relevant information and never ask customers to provide sensitive information via insecure electronic channels such as e-mail or text.
2. When communicating with customer using text messages, personalise the messages and include information that would not be available to phishers. This will enable customers to distinguish between legitimate and phishing messages.
3. Look critically at your text message and email communications, and consider whether fraudsters could benefit from imitating your message. Educate your customers on potential phishing scams. Inform your customers as soon as you are aware that someone has been using your company name fraudulently.
4. Make your text messaging policies known (e.g. message will always be personalised or we will never ask you to give us your PIN number).
5. Ensure that your marketing material is consistent with the communications you send to customers and that call centre staff are well trained.
Tips for customers:
1. Never respond to a text or email message that requests personal information. Do not divulge sensitive information such as credit card numbers via insecure electronic channels such as texting, e-mail or over the telephone.
2. Be aware that it is easy for criminals to imitate organisations by using electronic communications and initiate emails or text message phishing scams. If unsure whether or not something is a scam, always take the time to investigate it.
3. Always verify a contact number, especially those in emails or text messages. If the “bank” called you, call them back. Double check phone numbers that appear in a text message – you can do this via the Internet or by referring to any marketing material. For ease of reference, store banking phone numbers on your mobile phone, along with email and website addresses.
4. Never ever give your PIN number or password to a PERSON. Only use your PIN on systems that have been designed for this purpose, i.e. ATM’s and official internet banking sites. These systems have been designed such that employees at the bank cannot access this information.
5. Report it. If you are unsure of how a company received your number, or are suspicious about a text message that you have received, you should contact the company and report your concerns. You can also visit the Mobile Data Association and 160Characters Association for more details on text messaging regulations in the UK.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
LazyTown Appoints Interactive Experts AT New Media
LazyTown Entertainment has appointed AT Brands, the division of AT New Media that provides expertise to brand owners, as its specialist worldwide licensing agency and consultancy for the interactive games category, to negotiate licensing agreements with licensees for the LazyTown™ brand and characters.
Under the agreement, AT New Media aims to exploit interactive games opportunities for platforms such as Nintendo Wii®, which is the world’s best selling current console and offers games that are played whilst standing and moving, which family and friends can play together.
The highly acclaimed children’s TV series LazyTown is a funny, fresh show that blends movement, music, comedy and great storytelling in a colourful, fast-paced, upside-down world.
LazyTown has attracted a very large number of licensees in many countries for a wide range of merchandise. Yet, the brand has yet to be made available in the interactive games category.
“We have received a lot of enquiries about LazyTown licensed interactive games, from games companies and consumers alike,” says Hrolfur Sigurdsson; Director of Global New Media Department of LazyTown Entertainment, “The category is very important yet unfamiliar to us, therefore we have appointed AT New Media, who are known to be the leading interactive games licensing specialists. We want to appoint the best licensees in the category and to co-ordinate the games with the merchandise licensed by our other agents in different territories.”
“LazyTown is a fantastic property and we are thrilled that they have recognised our capabilities as the licensing industry’s unique specialist interactive rights agency,” says Simon Kay, Business Development Director, AT New Media, “We look forward to speaking with games companies about this rare and exciting opportunity.”
Interactive games companies interested in learning more should contact Simon Kay simon@atnewmedia.com T: +44 7973 754 239
FACT FILE:
LazyTown Entertainment is the owner of the globally popular children’s television series LazyTown. LazyTown follows Stephanie – a sweet, optimistic girl - who has come to LazyTown from the outside world where she meets a zany mix of kids and grown-ups, including the world’s laziest super-villain, Robbie Rotten. Fortunately for Stephanie, LazyTown is also home to Sportacus, an athletic super-hero who jumps, leaps and flips his way across LazyTown while helping Stephanie navigate between healthy lifestyle choices and easy but unhealthy ones.
The unique look of LazyTown combines the worlds of CGI, puppets and live characters. The stories are always lively and entertaining, motivating solid values. LazyTown may have the laziest name on Earth, but it’s jam-packed with action, energy and a powerful message that tells all kids they have the will to succeed. LazyTown makes you feel good!
AT New Media is a licensing agency and consultancy, offering a comprehensive range of services to brand owners, content providers and merchandise licensees. AT New Media is positioned at the junction where new media meets brand licensing, offering a high level of expertise and experience in some of the most rapidly evolving new interactive platforms including mobile phones, the Internet, Digital interactive TV (DiTV) and videogames. AT New Media achieved worldwide recognition with licensed merchandise for The Annoying Thing aka Crazy Frog: the first character to emerge from new media into the mainstream.
Under the agreement, AT New Media aims to exploit interactive games opportunities for platforms such as Nintendo Wii®, which is the world’s best selling current console and offers games that are played whilst standing and moving, which family and friends can play together.
The highly acclaimed children’s TV series LazyTown is a funny, fresh show that blends movement, music, comedy and great storytelling in a colourful, fast-paced, upside-down world.
LazyTown has attracted a very large number of licensees in many countries for a wide range of merchandise. Yet, the brand has yet to be made available in the interactive games category.
“We have received a lot of enquiries about LazyTown licensed interactive games, from games companies and consumers alike,” says Hrolfur Sigurdsson; Director of Global New Media Department of LazyTown Entertainment, “The category is very important yet unfamiliar to us, therefore we have appointed AT New Media, who are known to be the leading interactive games licensing specialists. We want to appoint the best licensees in the category and to co-ordinate the games with the merchandise licensed by our other agents in different territories.”
“LazyTown is a fantastic property and we are thrilled that they have recognised our capabilities as the licensing industry’s unique specialist interactive rights agency,” says Simon Kay, Business Development Director, AT New Media, “We look forward to speaking with games companies about this rare and exciting opportunity.”
Interactive games companies interested in learning more should contact Simon Kay simon@atnewmedia.com T: +44 7973 754 239
FACT FILE:
LazyTown Entertainment is the owner of the globally popular children’s television series LazyTown. LazyTown follows Stephanie – a sweet, optimistic girl - who has come to LazyTown from the outside world where she meets a zany mix of kids and grown-ups, including the world’s laziest super-villain, Robbie Rotten. Fortunately for Stephanie, LazyTown is also home to Sportacus, an athletic super-hero who jumps, leaps and flips his way across LazyTown while helping Stephanie navigate between healthy lifestyle choices and easy but unhealthy ones.
The unique look of LazyTown combines the worlds of CGI, puppets and live characters. The stories are always lively and entertaining, motivating solid values. LazyTown may have the laziest name on Earth, but it’s jam-packed with action, energy and a powerful message that tells all kids they have the will to succeed. LazyTown makes you feel good!
AT New Media is a licensing agency and consultancy, offering a comprehensive range of services to brand owners, content providers and merchandise licensees. AT New Media is positioned at the junction where new media meets brand licensing, offering a high level of expertise and experience in some of the most rapidly evolving new interactive platforms including mobile phones, the Internet, Digital interactive TV (DiTV) and videogames. AT New Media achieved worldwide recognition with licensed merchandise for The Annoying Thing aka Crazy Frog: the first character to emerge from new media into the mainstream.
BioFocus DPI Selects BioBook For ADME Data Management Needs
Global informatics provider IDBS announced that BioFocus DPI (Cambridge, UK) has selected BioBook to handle all of its ADME data management needs.
BioFocus DPI is the service division of Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG) and offers clients a comprehensive suite of target-to-drug discovery products and services. BioFocus DPI required an electronic data management solution to streamline processes to meet the challenging demands of clients and projects within their ADME optimization business. BioFocus will use BioBook as an integrated data management tool, report generation system, task and QC process manager.
Dr Matthew Segall, Senior Director ADMET of BioFocus DPI, commented: “At BioFocus DPI, we aim to expand our partner’s drug pipeline by accelerating the discovery process. To do this, we require high quality contextual data from a number of disparate sources. BioBook provides us with the flexibility to import raw data easily, perform data analysis and prepare reports in a single application.” He added: “BioBook will further increase the speed with which ADME data is reported to clients whilst maintaining the highest quality.”
Neil Kipling, founder and CEO of IDBS, commented: “BioBook meets the complex needs of biology-based research. Its flexible dynamic structure means that it is the only data management tool on the market that can readily adapt to meet the requirements of therapeutic areas as diverse as ADME, pharmacology, safety science and toxicology. BioBook enables researchers to capture both structured and unstructured data, truly accommodating the needs of the biologist and measurably increasing productivity.”
BioFocus DPI is the service division of Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG) and offers clients a comprehensive suite of target-to-drug discovery products and services. BioFocus DPI required an electronic data management solution to streamline processes to meet the challenging demands of clients and projects within their ADME optimization business. BioFocus will use BioBook as an integrated data management tool, report generation system, task and QC process manager.
Dr Matthew Segall, Senior Director ADMET of BioFocus DPI, commented: “At BioFocus DPI, we aim to expand our partner’s drug pipeline by accelerating the discovery process. To do this, we require high quality contextual data from a number of disparate sources. BioBook provides us with the flexibility to import raw data easily, perform data analysis and prepare reports in a single application.” He added: “BioBook will further increase the speed with which ADME data is reported to clients whilst maintaining the highest quality.”
Neil Kipling, founder and CEO of IDBS, commented: “BioBook meets the complex needs of biology-based research. Its flexible dynamic structure means that it is the only data management tool on the market that can readily adapt to meet the requirements of therapeutic areas as diverse as ADME, pharmacology, safety science and toxicology. BioBook enables researchers to capture both structured and unstructured data, truly accommodating the needs of the biologist and measurably increasing productivity.”
Vodafone UK Conjures Up A Storm With Exclusive New Touch-Screen Blackberry Smartphone
Pre-order the BlackBerry® StormTM smartphone today - free with two year, £35 a month contractLarge, high resolution screen coupled with Vodafone's ultra high speed network delivering world class internet browsing and world leading email functionality
Turn by turn satellite navigation, Vodafone Find&Go, free for the first six months
Great for keeping in touch - all messages in a single inbox
Fast and easy access to customers' favourite social networking sites
Multi-media services including superb music and video experience on a BlackBerry® smartphone
Download music or transfer it from the PC
Outstanding sound quality
The Blackberry Storm 9500, the first ever touch-screen BlackBerry smartphone, exclusively purpose built for Vodafone, will be available to pre-order from today at www.vodafone.co.uk/storm, through Vodafone's retail stores and by telesales. Customers can also pre-register interest through Vodafone's retail partner Phones 4U.
The BlackBerry Storm pricing will start from free on a two year contract at £35 per month on a Best for Text plan that will include 600 minutes and unlimited texts*. On Vodafone's Best for Talk £35 plan customers will receive 700 minutes and 250 texts and unlimited landline or Vodafone to Vodafone calls. Best for Talk and Best for Text Plans also include unlimited internet and email**, with Vodafone's satellite navigation service Find&Go free for the first six months***. (See www.vodafone.co.uk/storm for the full range of pricing on 18 and 24 month plans)
Nick Read, CEO, Vodafone UK, said: “Today’s announcement brings the power of the BlackBerry Storm 9500 exclusively available on Vodafone, directly into the hands of our customers – whether they are consumers or business executives.
“Our customers tell us that they want a single phone that can also give them the most secure, reliable email and messaging experience possible combined with all the desirable smartphone features, and they want it at a price that’s affordable. The BlackBerry Storm delivers all of this and more.
“Vodafone’s high speed mobile internet network will complement the BlackBerry Storm perfectly giving customers a great value, unique multimedia experience. There’s no doubt that this will deliver something exceptional to our consumer and business customers, helping them all make the most of their time.”
BlackBerry Storm features:
With an elegant black design, the BlackBerry Storm combines messaging services including secure email, SMS and social network notifications in a single inbox. It also offers superb sound quality and a 3.2 MP camera with video capabilities that exploit the screen's stunning clarity to deliver advanced multimedia performance coupled with Vodafone's fast and reliable mobile broadband network.
The new user interface combines the familiar dedicated menu and escape keys common to BlackBerry smartphones and adds support for multi-touch capabilities allowing users to easily select, scroll, pan and zoom, making navigation fast, easy and intuitive. The BlackBerry Storm features an enhanced high performance browser, which provides users with a high speed web browsing experience, which can be viewed in either portrait or landscape mode.
The tactile SurePressTM 3.25 inch touch-screen gives users a variety of different sense experiences. Despite its flat surface, users feel the sensation of actually pressing down on virtual keys which light up when touched. This makes it quick and easy to type texts and emails as well as navigate through the phone's functions. Customers will also have the choice of using a full QWERTY, SureType or multi-tap keyboard.
By removing the traditional physical keyboard, more space has been dedicated to the high definition 65k colour screen, allowing customers to comfortably view attachments such as JPEG, GIFS and TIFFs as well as view and edit documents.
The ground-breaking screen with its 480 x 360 pixel resolution display switches from vertical to horizontal as the handset is rotated, while automatically changing the format of the keyboard from multi-tap or RIM's SureType® to full QWERTY. A wide range of songs and full length videos can be downloaded, so customers can take advantage of the stunning clarity of the screen and the smartphone's incredible, high quality audio.
The BlackBerry Storm retains the full functionality and security of the BlackBerry solution® but is also ideal for avid Facebook, MySpace and YouTube users, while Flickr fans will love the ease and speed of being able to directly upload their pictures just seconds after taking them.
Customers can access Vodafone's entertainment and information services including Vodafone Music, Google Maps and Find&Go navigation, and the Vodafone live! portal whilst also benefiting from a removable battery with excellent talk and standby time, and up to 16GB of exchangeable memory.
FACT FILE:
*subject to fair usage of 3,000 a month
**subject to a fair usage policy of 500MB per month
***terms and conditions apply, see in store for details
(EDITOR: Looks great! But what about those of us who like using a real keyboard? I am not too keen on touch sensitive screens on phones, I must say.)
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Norwich and Peterborough Building Society Selects Alterian to Revamp Web Content
Alterian Content Management provides e-commerce team with more hands on control
Alterian, a leading international integrated marketing platform provider, today announced that Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P) is to use Alterian Content Management. N&P will use the company’s Web Content Management platform to create a more sophisticated and personalised experience for customers online.
N&P’s current website is aimed at attracting new customers, but as a static website it isn’t as engaging as it could be for existing customers. In addition, any changes to web content have to be made via the IT department, whereas the marketing department wanted a user-friendly solution that gave them direct control over the website content.
“It is vital for our e-commerce team to have direct access to the website and the ability to change content,” said Richard Kent, Head of IT Solutions at N&P. “In today’s uncertain economic climate the ability to quickly upload content and make changes is vital. With rates fluctuating so much, the website requires regular and frequent updating.”
Norwich and Peterborough Building Society has a network of more than 50 branches in East Anglia, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Essex and Bedfordshire, and is the UK’s 13th largest mutual building society. Building better relationships with its customers is particularly important for N&P, and the Alterian solution will enable the Society to provide a better customer experience.
Alterian Content Management offers a powerful and flexible web content management solution for large enterprises, helping them build and run sophisticated intranets, extranets, websites and other digital channels. The platform will help N&P marketers build, manage and publish dynamic content directly to www.npbs.co.uk, improving the speed, responsiveness, ease-of-use and quality of content.
“In today’s climate, it is really encouraging to see that financial services organisations are embracing the opportunities that technology offers to engage with, and provide a better experience for, their customers,” said David Eldridge, CEO of Alterian. “Norwich and Peterborough Building Society has recognised this, and we are delighted they have chosen to update and manage web content with Alterian Content Management.”
FACT FILE:
Alterian (LSE: ALN) empowers marketers with an integrated marketing software platform combining database, online and operational marketing applications on a shared data infrastructure. The Alterian Integrated Marketing Platform makes it practical and cost effective for marketers to use actionable insight to execute an integrated marketing strategy across online and offline channels.
It is the unique integration of analytics, content and execution through Alterian’s industry leading tools, such as the Alterian Messenger email platform, and the award winning Alterian Content Management web solutions, which enables marketers to drive a seamless, multi-channel customer experience.
Alterian’s analytically-led software is delivered to approximately 1,000 marketing departments, across 26 countries, and an international network of more than 100 business partners, including marketing services providers, agencies and systems integrators.
Its partners, such as Accenture, Acxiom, Allant Group, Cap Gemini, Carlson Marketing, Experian, Epsilon, InfoUSA, LogicaCMG, Merkle, Ogilvy One and Euro RSCG Worldwide, deliver Alterian software alongside their own domain and services expertise to help market leaders such as Princess Cruises, General Motors, Zurich, Astra Zeneca, HSBC, Limited Too, AEGON, Avis, Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment, Dell, Amnesty International and Vodafone integrate marketing processes and drive competitive advantage. For more information about Alterian, products within the Alterian Integrated Marketing Platform or our Partner Network, please visit www.alterian.com.
N&P currently operates through 56 branches spread from Scunthorpe to Chelmsford and west to Bedford, plus a branch in Gibraltar, a contact centre in Peterborough and through a fully transactional website.
N&P offers a wider than usual range of financial services: mortgages, savings, bank accounts, personal loans, credit cards, general insurance broking and independent financial advice. N&P also has a strong commercial lending operation.
N&P employs around 1,000 staff, 470 of whom are based at the Society’s principal office in Peterborough. The Society has in excess of 400,000 customers, the majority of whom are members and based within the Society’s operating area.
Alterian, a leading international integrated marketing platform provider, today announced that Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P) is to use Alterian Content Management. N&P will use the company’s Web Content Management platform to create a more sophisticated and personalised experience for customers online.
N&P’s current website is aimed at attracting new customers, but as a static website it isn’t as engaging as it could be for existing customers. In addition, any changes to web content have to be made via the IT department, whereas the marketing department wanted a user-friendly solution that gave them direct control over the website content.
“It is vital for our e-commerce team to have direct access to the website and the ability to change content,” said Richard Kent, Head of IT Solutions at N&P. “In today’s uncertain economic climate the ability to quickly upload content and make changes is vital. With rates fluctuating so much, the website requires regular and frequent updating.”
Norwich and Peterborough Building Society has a network of more than 50 branches in East Anglia, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Essex and Bedfordshire, and is the UK’s 13th largest mutual building society. Building better relationships with its customers is particularly important for N&P, and the Alterian solution will enable the Society to provide a better customer experience.
Alterian Content Management offers a powerful and flexible web content management solution for large enterprises, helping them build and run sophisticated intranets, extranets, websites and other digital channels. The platform will help N&P marketers build, manage and publish dynamic content directly to www.npbs.co.uk, improving the speed, responsiveness, ease-of-use and quality of content.
“In today’s climate, it is really encouraging to see that financial services organisations are embracing the opportunities that technology offers to engage with, and provide a better experience for, their customers,” said David Eldridge, CEO of Alterian. “Norwich and Peterborough Building Society has recognised this, and we are delighted they have chosen to update and manage web content with Alterian Content Management.”
FACT FILE:
Alterian (LSE: ALN) empowers marketers with an integrated marketing software platform combining database, online and operational marketing applications on a shared data infrastructure. The Alterian Integrated Marketing Platform makes it practical and cost effective for marketers to use actionable insight to execute an integrated marketing strategy across online and offline channels.
It is the unique integration of analytics, content and execution through Alterian’s industry leading tools, such as the Alterian Messenger email platform, and the award winning Alterian Content Management web solutions, which enables marketers to drive a seamless, multi-channel customer experience.
Alterian’s analytically-led software is delivered to approximately 1,000 marketing departments, across 26 countries, and an international network of more than 100 business partners, including marketing services providers, agencies and systems integrators.
Its partners, such as Accenture, Acxiom, Allant Group, Cap Gemini, Carlson Marketing, Experian, Epsilon, InfoUSA, LogicaCMG, Merkle, Ogilvy One and Euro RSCG Worldwide, deliver Alterian software alongside their own domain and services expertise to help market leaders such as Princess Cruises, General Motors, Zurich, Astra Zeneca, HSBC, Limited Too, AEGON, Avis, Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment, Dell, Amnesty International and Vodafone integrate marketing processes and drive competitive advantage. For more information about Alterian, products within the Alterian Integrated Marketing Platform or our Partner Network, please visit www.alterian.com.
N&P currently operates through 56 branches spread from Scunthorpe to Chelmsford and west to Bedford, plus a branch in Gibraltar, a contact centre in Peterborough and through a fully transactional website.
N&P offers a wider than usual range of financial services: mortgages, savings, bank accounts, personal loans, credit cards, general insurance broking and independent financial advice. N&P also has a strong commercial lending operation.
N&P employs around 1,000 staff, 470 of whom are based at the Society’s principal office in Peterborough. The Society has in excess of 400,000 customers, the majority of whom are members and based within the Society’s operating area.
Tiny projector is a REAL big deal!
New gadget brand RXS launches with the Pico Media ProjectorNew consumer technology brand RXS:Redshift is launching in the UK with the Pico Media Projector, a pocket-sized projector which can project images up to 50 inches in size from your phone, laptop or PC. The projector had its débute at the Stuff Live & What Hi-Fi Show at London’s ExCeL from 31st October - 2nd November 2008.
The Pico Media Projector is perfect for sharing photos and videos with friends, and is also great for ad hoc business presentations. It measures only 11.5cm x 5cm x 2.2 cm and weighs just 160g making it highly portable. The rechargeable lithium ion battery allows over an hour of playback time.
This dinky device is perfect for sharing films, video clips and photos. These types of files are commonly stored on mobile phones and MP3/MP4 players where they cannot be viewed in their full-sized glory. The Pico Media Projector allows you to show anything from your holiday snaps to your favourite films without anyone needing to squint at a small screen. Importantly for Apple fans, the Pico Media Projector comes complete with an extra iPod video cable.
The Pico Media Projector is also a useful business accessory. Sales people and travelling executives can already present on the move from a laptop. However, new technology and the demand for ultra-portability are driving smaller laptops with even smaller screens making it more and more difficult to get your business messages across. The Pico Media Projector offers a simple and portable solution for off-the-cuff out-of-office presentations when a screen isn’t available.
The Pico Media Projector is priced at £299.99 and is available from selected high street stores, www.rxsdevices.com and www.twistedcarbon.com. Visitors to the Stuff Live & What Hi-Fi show (31st October – 2nd November 2008, ExCeL, London) will be able to see the Pico Media Projector on the RXS stand (no. 466) and have a chance to win one each day in the free prize draw.
(LBS Accessories and Twisted Carbon are registered trademarks of LBS Accessories Limited)
Powys Council leads the way in delivering mobile technology to operatives for lower costs and improved efficiency
Welsh Unitary Authority Powys Council is taking the lead in rolling out mobile technology solutions across its departments to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Many local authority organisations are already discovering the benefits of replacing paper with electronic devices for managing repairs to housing stock. Powys is quickly moving beyond this single valuable application to implement a mobile solution in areas as diverse as civic building repairs and inspections, legionella testing and clinical waste management.
At the same time Powys is providing web portal-based access to the information in its databases to the managers of all its buildings, from schools to leisure centres. For the first time, managers have complete view of the services and maintenance delivered to their specific building.
Not only will the solution help mobile staff carry out their work more effectively and reduce the time and mileage involved in each working day, but it also enables managers to make faster and better informed decisions.
The operative’s working day is now driven by electronic forms loaded onto PDAs that are used by operatives for every aspect of their job. Whatever task is being carried out – building inspections, housing repairs, boiler maintenance – operatives will use their PDAs to receive job details, work through the procedures that have to be undertaken, and provide instant feedback to the back office. That feedback could include time and costings, parts used, tests carried out, even van checks at the beginning of the day. Where the feedback highlights an issue – such as a failed risk assessment – the system will deliver automatic alerts to the manager that action needs to be taken.
The portal technology provides a window on all this information for managers. Leisure centre managers, for example, can for the first time see in one place a history of maintenance, services provided and even the results of the latest legionella tests. Access is controlled to make only relevant information available to each user. Because users are accessing information through a web-based browser, there are no application licences to be bought and no skills that need to be learned.
The solution is driven by forms technology provided by mobile technology company 1st Touch (www.1stTouch.com), integrated with back-office job costing software from ROCC.
The overriding advantage that 1st Touch offered was flexibility, providing room for evolution and growth, says Jones. “Business changes fast and we wanted to be able to change forms and develop new solutions for a growing number of users for ourselves.” At the same time, 1st Touch’s partnership with ROCC was important. “As far as I was concerned, this was two companies providing a single solution,” says Jones.
John Stabler, MD of 1st Touch, comments: “We are delighted that our experience in working with local authorities and in integrating our technology with back-office systems has proven valuable in this project. We look forward to supporting Powys as it rolls out it mobile applications into new departments right across the Authority, which completely mirrors our enterprise wide mobile development strategy.”
For John Jones, these applications of mobile technology are just the beginning. “We have achieved a lot, but we don’t intend to stop. We bought this product to move on, not to stand still.”
FACT FILE:
(www.1stTouch.com)
1st Touch, based in Southampton, Hants, has enabled dozens of field workforce-based organisations to painlessly embrace new mobile technologies and so achieve significant savings, greater productivity and more cost-effective use of resources.
Enterprise mobile technology enables organisations to completely transform existing paper-based working models into dynamic, flexible and efficient mobile working solutions..
1st Touch Mobile delivers three clear and unique benefits:
*Reduced costs to organisations because airtime is minimised and the system is always available – with or without airtime;
*Flexibility through simple customer control over forms creation and amendment;
*Integration to multiple back office and other enterprise software applications, so that data is entered only once.
The property services market is a key focus for 1st Touch, where best of breed mobile solutions can deliver fast tangible benefits to the business.
Many local authority organisations are already discovering the benefits of replacing paper with electronic devices for managing repairs to housing stock. Powys is quickly moving beyond this single valuable application to implement a mobile solution in areas as diverse as civic building repairs and inspections, legionella testing and clinical waste management.
At the same time Powys is providing web portal-based access to the information in its databases to the managers of all its buildings, from schools to leisure centres. For the first time, managers have complete view of the services and maintenance delivered to their specific building.
Not only will the solution help mobile staff carry out their work more effectively and reduce the time and mileage involved in each working day, but it also enables managers to make faster and better informed decisions.
The operative’s working day is now driven by electronic forms loaded onto PDAs that are used by operatives for every aspect of their job. Whatever task is being carried out – building inspections, housing repairs, boiler maintenance – operatives will use their PDAs to receive job details, work through the procedures that have to be undertaken, and provide instant feedback to the back office. That feedback could include time and costings, parts used, tests carried out, even van checks at the beginning of the day. Where the feedback highlights an issue – such as a failed risk assessment – the system will deliver automatic alerts to the manager that action needs to be taken.
The portal technology provides a window on all this information for managers. Leisure centre managers, for example, can for the first time see in one place a history of maintenance, services provided and even the results of the latest legionella tests. Access is controlled to make only relevant information available to each user. Because users are accessing information through a web-based browser, there are no application licences to be bought and no skills that need to be learned.
The solution is driven by forms technology provided by mobile technology company 1st Touch (www.1stTouch.com), integrated with back-office job costing software from ROCC.
The overriding advantage that 1st Touch offered was flexibility, providing room for evolution and growth, says Jones. “Business changes fast and we wanted to be able to change forms and develop new solutions for a growing number of users for ourselves.” At the same time, 1st Touch’s partnership with ROCC was important. “As far as I was concerned, this was two companies providing a single solution,” says Jones.
John Stabler, MD of 1st Touch, comments: “We are delighted that our experience in working with local authorities and in integrating our technology with back-office systems has proven valuable in this project. We look forward to supporting Powys as it rolls out it mobile applications into new departments right across the Authority, which completely mirrors our enterprise wide mobile development strategy.”
For John Jones, these applications of mobile technology are just the beginning. “We have achieved a lot, but we don’t intend to stop. We bought this product to move on, not to stand still.”
FACT FILE:
(www.1stTouch.com)
1st Touch, based in Southampton, Hants, has enabled dozens of field workforce-based organisations to painlessly embrace new mobile technologies and so achieve significant savings, greater productivity and more cost-effective use of resources.
Enterprise mobile technology enables organisations to completely transform existing paper-based working models into dynamic, flexible and efficient mobile working solutions..
1st Touch Mobile delivers three clear and unique benefits:
*Reduced costs to organisations because airtime is minimised and the system is always available – with or without airtime;
*Flexibility through simple customer control over forms creation and amendment;
*Integration to multiple back office and other enterprise software applications, so that data is entered only once.
The property services market is a key focus for 1st Touch, where best of breed mobile solutions can deliver fast tangible benefits to the business.
Aconite and Proxama to demonstrate new solution for remotely managing NFC applications on mobile phones
Aconite, a provider of smart product management solutions, and technology innovations company Proxama, are to showcase at Cartes and Identification 2008 a new service that allows the remote management of NFC phone applications. This capability will be vital to the roll-out of near field communication (NFC) applications on mobile phones – from loyalty, to payments, ticketing and access control. Whether a customer wants to cancel the payment application because their phone has been lost or stolen, or they need to add a ticketing application or an access control facility for a new job, the ability to control NFC applications in the field will be critical to both consumers and service-providers.
Dr Neil Garner, CEO of technology innovations company Proxama, says: “The ability to have more than one application on the phone is part of the promise and appeal of NFC. This level of service requires consumers and service-providers to feel confident about updating applications in the field in a way that is both secure and simple. If this issue is not tackled up front it could slow the development of widespread and successful NFC services.”
Proxama and Aconite will illustrate their NFC applications management service with a demonstration of a pre-paid mobile payment application. The demo uses a Java wallet application, developed by Proxama, that sits on a MasterCard M/Chip PayPass pre-paid ‘card’ on the phone’s secure chip. The prepaid ‘card’ is topped up by Aconite’s Prepaid Value Manager solution which manages authorisation and top-ups for contactless prepaid applications. The co-operation between the two organisations uniquely links the software on the phone with the back-end processes of the application issuer. This provides an important corner-stone in mobile applications life-cycle management.
David Harbige, Head of Technology at Aconite, says: “The use of a mobile phone as a payment platform has significant benefits over the traditional plastic card, especially due to the ‘always available’ network connectivity and a personal and private user interface. As European issuers roll out EMV for card-based contactless payments, this development offers them the opportunity to trial NFC mobile payments in a way that leverages these benefits, resulting in a mobile payment platform that is more than just another form factor.”
FACT FILE:
Remote application life-cycle management: EMV prepaid top-up use case illustration
Remote management is important for all types of payment applications. But where contactless cards can be updated by going online at the point of sale using the chip-card interface, there is no interface that allows this to happen with a payment application on a mobile phone. This challenge must be addressed before the roll-out of EMV contactless payments in NFC phones.
The Aconite and Proxama demo, which supports both Mastercard PayPass and Visa payWave, illustrates three important functions:
Counter resets: The risk management procedure for pre-paid EMV applications requires every card to go online after a set number of transactions or a pre-set cumulative value has been reached. With no direct interface to the point of sale, this procedure must be initiated and executed remotely using the phone’s connectivity.
Prepaid top-up: The offline spend must be topped up through an online transaction. In this demo the phone’s connectivity provides the secure link to the issuer backoffice.
Cancelling an application: In case of a lost or stolen phone, the applications on the phone can be stopped remotely.
About Proxama (http://www.proxama.com)
Stand: 4M91
Proxama, part of the American Banknote Group, works with consumer-facing organisations, helping them to get the most out of consumer technologies. The company employs some of the industry’s most experienced professionals in smartcards, mobile phones and interactive TV technologies and can combine these technologies to deliver solutions that can be easily integrated with a range of other suppliers in payments and ticketing, loyalty, and information and service discovery. Clients include MasterCard, Virgin Mobile, BT and Sky.
About Aconite (http://www.aconite.net)
Stand: 4K92
Aconite delivers software solutions and provides consulting expertise for managing business applications on chips in smart cards, tokens or mobiles to issuers around the world. The company provides a rapid and cost-effective route to implementing new customer propositions, entering new markets and complying with international standards. Incorporating a unique blend of proven software and professional services, Aconite solutions can be tailored to meet individual business requirements without the need to replace legacy systems and with minimal impact on staff and processes. Based in the UK, Aconite operates across the globe, with a local presence in many markets.
Dr Neil Garner, CEO of technology innovations company Proxama, says: “The ability to have more than one application on the phone is part of the promise and appeal of NFC. This level of service requires consumers and service-providers to feel confident about updating applications in the field in a way that is both secure and simple. If this issue is not tackled up front it could slow the development of widespread and successful NFC services.”
Proxama and Aconite will illustrate their NFC applications management service with a demonstration of a pre-paid mobile payment application. The demo uses a Java wallet application, developed by Proxama, that sits on a MasterCard M/Chip PayPass pre-paid ‘card’ on the phone’s secure chip. The prepaid ‘card’ is topped up by Aconite’s Prepaid Value Manager solution which manages authorisation and top-ups for contactless prepaid applications. The co-operation between the two organisations uniquely links the software on the phone with the back-end processes of the application issuer. This provides an important corner-stone in mobile applications life-cycle management.
David Harbige, Head of Technology at Aconite, says: “The use of a mobile phone as a payment platform has significant benefits over the traditional plastic card, especially due to the ‘always available’ network connectivity and a personal and private user interface. As European issuers roll out EMV for card-based contactless payments, this development offers them the opportunity to trial NFC mobile payments in a way that leverages these benefits, resulting in a mobile payment platform that is more than just another form factor.”
FACT FILE:
Remote application life-cycle management: EMV prepaid top-up use case illustration
Remote management is important for all types of payment applications. But where contactless cards can be updated by going online at the point of sale using the chip-card interface, there is no interface that allows this to happen with a payment application on a mobile phone. This challenge must be addressed before the roll-out of EMV contactless payments in NFC phones.
The Aconite and Proxama demo, which supports both Mastercard PayPass and Visa payWave, illustrates three important functions:
Counter resets: The risk management procedure for pre-paid EMV applications requires every card to go online after a set number of transactions or a pre-set cumulative value has been reached. With no direct interface to the point of sale, this procedure must be initiated and executed remotely using the phone’s connectivity.
Prepaid top-up: The offline spend must be topped up through an online transaction. In this demo the phone’s connectivity provides the secure link to the issuer backoffice.
Cancelling an application: In case of a lost or stolen phone, the applications on the phone can be stopped remotely.
About Proxama (http://www.proxama.com)
Stand: 4M91
Proxama, part of the American Banknote Group, works with consumer-facing organisations, helping them to get the most out of consumer technologies. The company employs some of the industry’s most experienced professionals in smartcards, mobile phones and interactive TV technologies and can combine these technologies to deliver solutions that can be easily integrated with a range of other suppliers in payments and ticketing, loyalty, and information and service discovery. Clients include MasterCard, Virgin Mobile, BT and Sky.
About Aconite (http://www.aconite.net)
Stand: 4K92
Aconite delivers software solutions and provides consulting expertise for managing business applications on chips in smart cards, tokens or mobiles to issuers around the world. The company provides a rapid and cost-effective route to implementing new customer propositions, entering new markets and complying with international standards. Incorporating a unique blend of proven software and professional services, Aconite solutions can be tailored to meet individual business requirements without the need to replace legacy systems and with minimal impact on staff and processes. Based in the UK, Aconite operates across the globe, with a local presence in many markets.
SuccessFactors Wins Best Talent Management Provider at UK Software Satisfaction Awards Ceremony
Coveted Industry Awards Based on Views of Buyers and End Users
SuccessFactors, Inc., a global leader in on-demand performance and talent management solutions, today announced that it won the coveted Talent Management category of the Software Satisfaction Awards at an awards ceremony in London last night. The prestigious Software Satisfaction Awards are based on the views of genuine buyers and end-users of business software applications - not those of a judging panel. This means that the Awards act as a valuable guide to any business taking the decision to purchase new software applications.
The Sift Media Software Satisfaction Awards were established in 2006 to reward high standards from software application providers serving UK businesses. This year’s awards covered 19 categories across the business disciplines of: accounting & finance; human resources; training; CRM; and customer management.
“These awards are voted for by the people who really matter – those using the software – which is why it is such an honour to win, and why this is such a prestigious industry accolade,” said Andy Leaver, vice president of sales for EMEA at SuccessFactors. “As a company, we work hard to understand our customer’s challenges and requirements, and winning an award of this type that reflects the ‘people’s choice’ is a great validation of that effort.”
SuccessFactors performance and talent management software includes recruiting management, goal management, succession management, 360-degree review, compensation planning, learning and development, and analytics and reporting applications. The solution creates a company-wide network of information related to employee performance, including skill-sets, interests, career aspirations, ability to relocate, experience, languages spoken and more. By providing deep, real-time, company-wide visibility into such critical performance data, companies are able to make better, more informed decisions about how to promote, recruit, compensate, reward and manage their entire employee base.
www.successfactors.com.
SuccessFactors, Inc., a global leader in on-demand performance and talent management solutions, today announced that it won the coveted Talent Management category of the Software Satisfaction Awards at an awards ceremony in London last night. The prestigious Software Satisfaction Awards are based on the views of genuine buyers and end-users of business software applications - not those of a judging panel. This means that the Awards act as a valuable guide to any business taking the decision to purchase new software applications.
The Sift Media Software Satisfaction Awards were established in 2006 to reward high standards from software application providers serving UK businesses. This year’s awards covered 19 categories across the business disciplines of: accounting & finance; human resources; training; CRM; and customer management.
“These awards are voted for by the people who really matter – those using the software – which is why it is such an honour to win, and why this is such a prestigious industry accolade,” said Andy Leaver, vice president of sales for EMEA at SuccessFactors. “As a company, we work hard to understand our customer’s challenges and requirements, and winning an award of this type that reflects the ‘people’s choice’ is a great validation of that effort.”
SuccessFactors performance and talent management software includes recruiting management, goal management, succession management, 360-degree review, compensation planning, learning and development, and analytics and reporting applications. The solution creates a company-wide network of information related to employee performance, including skill-sets, interests, career aspirations, ability to relocate, experience, languages spoken and more. By providing deep, real-time, company-wide visibility into such critical performance data, companies are able to make better, more informed decisions about how to promote, recruit, compensate, reward and manage their entire employee base.
www.successfactors.com.
Topman Reveal Website Re-Design
Topman, the leading UK men's fashion retailer, has unveiled it's newly redesigned UK and US websites, featuring many new features.
The new Topman website has a number features designed to make customers' online shopping experience more pleasant. These include new music playlists that can be streamed as customers shop, featuring new music and bands that will appeal to a broad range of shoppers.
Topman has also introduced a Top Jeans feature to it's re-designed site, allowing customers to view the full range of jeans available online, including worker, bootcut, twister and skinny styles. A model in this section can also be controlled by using the mouse to make him turn and jump, so the jeans can be seen from every angle before being purchased. This feature also explains the benefit of each style of jean and other products to wear with them, assisting shoppers who may be stuck for some inspiration.
In a similar vein, customers can visit the Tee Room which displays Topman's new range of basic t-shirts including vest, baseball and crew styles of tee.
For fashion aficionados who like to keep up to date with the latest products and ranges, Topman have created an In the Press section, which allows customers to view any recent press about Topman's new autumn/winter 2008 range with links to any products pictured in the piece enabling users to purchase any item they like immediately.
The new Topman blog is also available to view online at the new website. This section is regularly updated with news of competitions, interviews and answers to customers fashion queries. Shoppers will also find the latest editor picks and fashion recommendations in the blog as well.
Topman has introduced a Top Picks area top the new site as well. Updated weekly, it provides three different outfit suggestions per week, taking the hassle out of what to wear for the season. Topman Stylists from the flagship store in Oxford Circus, London are on hand to offer their weekly suggestions to keep Topman customers ahead of the crowd. A guest pick will be available each week including some from Topman's own Design Director, Gordon Richardson as well as other leading fashion experts in the industry.
The new Topman UK and US websites are live online now.
The new Topman website has a number features designed to make customers' online shopping experience more pleasant. These include new music playlists that can be streamed as customers shop, featuring new music and bands that will appeal to a broad range of shoppers.
Topman has also introduced a Top Jeans feature to it's re-designed site, allowing customers to view the full range of jeans available online, including worker, bootcut, twister and skinny styles. A model in this section can also be controlled by using the mouse to make him turn and jump, so the jeans can be seen from every angle before being purchased. This feature also explains the benefit of each style of jean and other products to wear with them, assisting shoppers who may be stuck for some inspiration.
In a similar vein, customers can visit the Tee Room which displays Topman's new range of basic t-shirts including vest, baseball and crew styles of tee.
For fashion aficionados who like to keep up to date with the latest products and ranges, Topman have created an In the Press section, which allows customers to view any recent press about Topman's new autumn/winter 2008 range with links to any products pictured in the piece enabling users to purchase any item they like immediately.
The new Topman blog is also available to view online at the new website. This section is regularly updated with news of competitions, interviews and answers to customers fashion queries. Shoppers will also find the latest editor picks and fashion recommendations in the blog as well.
Topman has introduced a Top Picks area top the new site as well. Updated weekly, it provides three different outfit suggestions per week, taking the hassle out of what to wear for the season. Topman Stylists from the flagship store in Oxford Circus, London are on hand to offer their weekly suggestions to keep Topman customers ahead of the crowd. A guest pick will be available each week including some from Topman's own Design Director, Gordon Richardson as well as other leading fashion experts in the industry.
The new Topman UK and US websites are live online now.
BSI for LSC
BSI Management Systems has announced the successful conclusion of contract negotiations with Levi Strauss & Co for the provision of Entropy Software; a web-based supply chain audit solution which simplifies the management of corporate-wide supply chain compliance.
Levi Strauss & Co (LS&CO) is a globally recognised brand whose products are sold through more than 55,000 retail outlets world wide. LS&CO were the first company to put in place a supplier code of conduct (Terms of Engagement - TOE) covering Ethical and Environmental standards.
The BSI Entropy Software will provide LS&CO with a web-based Audit & Compliance solution, which will replace their original TOE database, and will also help them address their increasing requirement for product carbon foot printing analysis.
The solution will provide senior managers and directors with the ability to identify, assess and manage supply chain compliance across the business, with real-time analysis and performance reporting via an instant executive dashboard view of the corporate-wide supply chain compliance data.
The Entropy Software solution also helps companies to address risk, compliance and performance management in areas of corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, environmental, health & safety, quality, and supply chain compliance management.
“We are delighted to be working closely with such a household-name company as Levi Strauss“, says Rob Wallis, Managing Director of BSI Management Systems in the UK.
“In recent years, competitive pressures, globalisation and increasingly discerning customers have led many companies, like Levi Strauss, to rely on an ever-extending global supply chain. As a result, many big brand companies have recognised the need to take responsibility for the social, ethical and environmental performance of their supply chain and are implementing tools such as Entropy Software to implement and manage controls that assist their supply chains to adhere to their compliance objectives, and ensure that risks associated with the supply chain are cost-effectively managed”.
FACT FILE:
Entropy Software™ offers a proven solution for organisations to manage and mitigate supply chain compliance risks; take accountability and allocate internal and external action planning (CAPA); manage the whole audit process; improve and share sustainable supply chain practices; and respond more proactively to external pressures.
Find out more on how Entropy can improve social and ethical compliance management in YOUR supply chain by downloading our Entropy Software White Paper at [http://www.bsigroup.co.uk/entropywp] or call 0845 080 9000 for further information.
Levi Strauss & Co (LS&CO) is a globally recognised brand whose products are sold through more than 55,000 retail outlets world wide. LS&CO were the first company to put in place a supplier code of conduct (Terms of Engagement - TOE) covering Ethical and Environmental standards.
The BSI Entropy Software will provide LS&CO with a web-based Audit & Compliance solution, which will replace their original TOE database, and will also help them address their increasing requirement for product carbon foot printing analysis.
The solution will provide senior managers and directors with the ability to identify, assess and manage supply chain compliance across the business, with real-time analysis and performance reporting via an instant executive dashboard view of the corporate-wide supply chain compliance data.
The Entropy Software solution also helps companies to address risk, compliance and performance management in areas of corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, environmental, health & safety, quality, and supply chain compliance management.
“We are delighted to be working closely with such a household-name company as Levi Strauss“, says Rob Wallis, Managing Director of BSI Management Systems in the UK.
“In recent years, competitive pressures, globalisation and increasingly discerning customers have led many companies, like Levi Strauss, to rely on an ever-extending global supply chain. As a result, many big brand companies have recognised the need to take responsibility for the social, ethical and environmental performance of their supply chain and are implementing tools such as Entropy Software to implement and manage controls that assist their supply chains to adhere to their compliance objectives, and ensure that risks associated with the supply chain are cost-effectively managed”.
FACT FILE:
Entropy Software™ offers a proven solution for organisations to manage and mitigate supply chain compliance risks; take accountability and allocate internal and external action planning (CAPA); manage the whole audit process; improve and share sustainable supply chain practices; and respond more proactively to external pressures.
Find out more on how Entropy can improve social and ethical compliance management in YOUR supply chain by downloading our Entropy Software White Paper at [http://www.bsigroup.co.uk/entropywp] or call 0845 080 9000 for further information.
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