R.I.P. Kodak digital cameras, camcorders, digital frames

 http://betanews.com/2012/02/09/r-i-p-kodak-digital-cameras-camcorders-digital-frames/

 

As a part of its ongoing restructuring efforts, America's century-old imaging company Eastman Kodak announced it will phase out its "dedicated capture devices business" which includes a big chunk of its consumer portfolio, such as digital cameras, pocket camcorders, and digital picture frames.

The company said it will instead seek revenues through licensing the patents that it has in these areas.

This means Kodak's consumer product portfolio will now be limited to personal and retail-based photo printing and inkjet printing solutions, traditional film and phot0 paper, camera accessories, and the Kodak Gallery website and Facebook apps.

 Speaking as a part-time user of Kodak's pocket camcorders myself, I meet the announcement with mixed emotions.

It is in no way surprising that the company would make such an announcement, considering the dead ends that traditional point-and-shoot cameras and pocket camcorders have become thanks to the rise of smartphones.

However, I thought Kodak was heading down the right track with its camcorders by equipping them with features that smartphones do not have.

Its PlaySport line of camcorders were waterproof, ruggedized, and cheap, making them good for family vacations and outdoors trips, and if they got lost, no big deal.

In both the Zi8 and its follow-up, the Playtouch HD, Kodak included the ability to run audio directly into the camera, or for the camera to be paired with an external microphone. It may seem like a small, inconsequential feature, but it is one still not found in most pocket camcorders, and it is literally nonexistent in mobile phone cameras. Simply by including more inputs and outputs in a device, it can be differentiated from the hybrids.

They were not without their problems, and were by no means professional solutions, but Kodak's departure from the business makes the shrinking pocket camcorder space feel even more barren after the unceremonious departure of Flip.

Kodak's non-consumer businesses moving forward will include commercial digital and functional printing, enterprise services and solutions, as well as graphics, entertainment and commercial films units.

Upper Canada District School Board Invests in Students’ Future Through Historic Education Alliance Agreement with Microsoft Canada

Upper Canada District School Board Invests in Students’ Future Through Historic Education Alliance Agreement with Microsoft Canada

 

The first-ever Canadian Education Alliance Agreement will help UCDSB students achieve their full potential and prepare them for success in the workforce    

February 9, 2012 – The Upper Canada District School Board (UCSDB) and Microsoft Canada are pleased to announce the formation of an Education Alliance Agreement that will transform the education experience in the region and help to strengthen the local economy. This agreement is the first of its kind in Canada and will provide the UCDSB’s 30,000 students and 2449 teachers with access to leading-edge technology that will empower educators, enrich instruction, and help prepare students and communities join the 21st century workforce.

As part of the agreement, Microsoft Canada has committed to providing the UCDSB with a variety of software and educational resources. UCDSB schools will have access to the latest Microsoft software available in labs, classrooms, and on student PCs. Additionally, the full suite of Microsoft software design and development tools will be made available to all UCDSB computer science students. As a member of the Partners in Learning program, the UCDSB will also have access to a rich library of digital resources and lesson plans aimed at effectively supporting the use of technology in the classroom. 

“We are looking forward to working together with Microsoft Canada to benefit from leading-edge technology that will create a more innovative teaching and learning environment and also help to ensure that our students are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in the future,” says Jeremy Hobbs, Chief Information Officer, Upper Canada District School Board. “Education and digital literacy is crucial to the economic development and competitiveness of our region, and the UCDSB believes that technology in classrooms will help educators deliver transformational learning experiences.”        

“Microsoft Canada is committed to helping transform classrooms and learning environments across the country through the strategic and creative use of technology,” says Shann McGrail, Director of Education, Microsoft Canada. “We are thrilled to be supporting students and educators from the Upper Canada District School Board, and we look forward to seeing first-hand the difference this technology is going to make in the schools and in surrounding communities.”

About Upper Canada District School Board

The Upper Canada District School Board is a diverse, public educational organization in Eastern Ontario. It consists of dedicated individuals committed to quality education that fosters life-long learning for all, creative and challenging learning experiences. Our Mission: We prepare all students for a successful life. Vision: Creating Futures, Leading and Learning for All. Values: Caring, Fairness, Empathy, Honesty, Preseverance, Resilience, Responsibility, Respect.

About Microsoft Canada

Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca.

For more information:

 

Terry Simzer

Upper Canada District School Board

Tel: 613-342-0371 ext. 1119

Email: terry.simzer@ucdsb.on.ca

 

Kara Carnduff

High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada

Tel: 416-644-2267

Email: kara.carnduff@highroad.com

TELUS Launches Optik TV Mobile Experience with Cisco Videoscape

TELUS Launches Optik TV Mobile Experience with Cisco Videoscape

New Platform will allow TELUS to expand Optik TV service beyond the home, reinventing the television experience

SAN JOSE, Calif. and VANCOUVER, B.C – February 7, 2012 – Cisco and TELUS today announced TELUS has deployed key components of the Cisco Videoscape platform in order to extend its successful Optik TV services to mobile devices through its ‘Optik on the go' offering. Cisco Videoscape is a comprehensive TV platform allowing service providers and media companies to extend content across devices and networks to create a new, truly immersive home and mobile television experience. Videoscape utilizes the cloud, network, and client devices together to deliver new, high-quality video experiences over the Internet.

Through the use of Cisco Videoscape, TELUS is differentiating its consumer video experience in an increasingly competitive market, while simultaneously extending opportunities for revenue generation to its growing customer base of Optik services subscribers and TELUS wireless subscribers in Alberta and British Columbia.

"Our vision for Optik on the go is to offer customers a simple, straightforward way to view Optik TV content across any number of mobile screens or devices," said David Fuller, chief marketing officer, TELUS. "With Cisco Videoscape we can now mobile-enable content and offer customers an innovative, world-class TV experience – at home and on the go."

With Videoscape, TELUS will offer Optik customers in Alberta and British Columbia a unique TV experience, allowing them to take their TV service with them on the go. TELUS has employed Cisco's technology and service delivery expertise in managing synergies between the cloud, network and client devices, to launch a fully hosted video content management platform to increase service velocity.

 "Service providers like TELUS are well-positioned to do for the TV experience what the mobile Internet did for the cellphone – allow anywhere, anytime access," said Pankaj Patel, senior vice president, Engineering and general manager, Cisco Service Provider Business. "Today's consumers want a personalized video experience, regardless of location or device. With Cisco Videoscape technology powering ‘Optik on the go', TELUS further enhances their premium video customer experience."

Key facts:

  • Launched in June, 2010, Optik TV is powered by TELUS' innovative and market leading  fibre-optic network. Optik TV offers innovative functionality features such as PVR Anywhere, and more than 500 channels, including more than 100 in high definition. Cisco Videoscape will allow TELUS to deliver a consistent Optik TV experience across a diverse set of mobile devices.
  • Videoscape elements TELUS is deploying:
    • Cisco Videoscape Media Suitea cloud-based service that offers full life-cycle content management so that service providers can efficiently and cost-effectively manage and publish content across multiple screens.
    • Cisco Videoscape Clients, software clients that extend the Videoscape experiences to a wide variety of home and mobile devices. 
  • Cisco Advanced Services provided the design and application development expertise, bringing together interdependent cloud, network and client components into a single integrated solution.

Supporting Resources:

Tags/Keywords:

Cisco, cloud, Internet video, IP, IP video, network, online video, streaming video, Video, Videoscape, Videoscape Media Suite, Videoscape Soft Client, TELUS, Optik, Optik TV

RSS Feed for Cisco: http://newsroom.cisco.com/rss-feeds

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $10.3 billion of annual revenue and 12.6 million customer connections including 7.2 million wireless subscribers, 3.6 million wireline network access lines, 1.3 million Internet subscribers and more than 450,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $245 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.1 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Eleven TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

About Cisco 

Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

TELUS, the TELUS logo, and Optik are trademarks of TELUS Corporation, used under licence.

# # #

Huawei announces LTE deals with Bell and TELUS in presence of PM in China

 

 

TELUS Signs LTE agreement with Huawei Technologies with Prime Minister Harper in Attendance

Huawei to provide LTE RAN equipment to leading communications provider

BEIJING, China, Feb. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - At a signing ceremony this morning with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and TELUS officials in attendance, Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, announced it will be providing LTE RAN (radio access network) equipment to TELUS for its LTE wireless network across Canada.

"Huawei has become a strong business ally for TELUS throughout the years, and we are very pleased to extend our relationship as we rollout our LTE network across Canada," said Eros Spadotto, TELUS executive vice-president of Technology Strategy and Operations. "This initiative is the latest technology evolution in the wireless network upgrade path made possible by our 4G wireless network launch in 2009, in which Huawei played an important role."

TELUS' LTE network will enable customers to enjoy even faster speeds when they want to be entertained on-the-go, stay connected with family and friends, visit their favourite social media sites, engage with business contacts wherever they are, and access healthcare applications.

"We are excited to be working with TELUS as they rollout their LTE network across Canada. This new network will be fully optimized to meet world-leading KPIs by Huawei's local teams," said Sean Yang, President of Huawei Canada. "With our leading position in LTE deployments around the world, we are confident that we will provide TELUS and its customers with a superior network experience that is faster and more seamless."

About TELUS:
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $10.3 billion of annual revenue and 12.6 million customer connections including 7.2 million wireless subscribers, 3.6 million wireline network access lines, 1.3 million Internet subscribers and more than 450,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video. 

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $265 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.2 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Eleven TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

About Huawei
Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through our dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established end-to-end advantages in telecom networks, devices and cloud computing. We are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive solutions and services. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world's population.

For more information, visit Huawei online: www.huawei.com.

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/huaweipress  and YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/HuaweiPress.

For further information:

Media contacts: 
Scott Bradley Vice-President Corporate and Government Affairs
Huawei Canada
Mobile (in China): (86 10) 134 6632 0595
scott.bradley@huawei.com

AJ Gratton
TELUS Media Relations
Tel: (416) 320-0364
aj.gratton@telus.com

Huawei Helps Bell Bring LTE to Millions of Canadians

Announce Agreement at Signing Ceremony with Prime Minister Stephen Harper

BEIJING, China, Feb. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, announced today it is providing LTE RAN (radio access network) equipment to Bell Mobility to continue expansion of the recently launched Bell LTE wireless network across Canada. The announcement was made at a signing ceremony today in Beijing with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Bell Canada officials in attendance.

"Bell is dedicated to building Canada's broadband infrastructure, investing more than any other company to deliver the latest communications technology to our country," said Wade Oosterman, President of Bell Mobility. "LTE is the gold standard of wireless technology, enabling Canadian consumers to connect and Canadian business to compete at a global level with access to the latest superphones, data services and mobile content. The combined scale of Canada's largest communications company and an international technology leader like Huawei ensures we can quickly bring this next generation of mobile technology to millions of Canadians."

The Bell LTE wireless network allows customers to experience all the capabilities of the latest generation of superphones from Bell, including streaming of high-definition television and movies, video chat with friends or colleagues with seamless picture and sound, and downloading of apps and large attachments at least three times faster than with HSPA+ network technology introduced just over two years ago, which now serves more than 96% of Canadians.

"LTE significantly enhances the quality of the customer experience - it is the future of the global wireless industry," said Sean Yang, President Huawei Canada. "As a global company at the forefront of this evolution, we are thrilled to expand our longstanding relationship with Bell as they continue to bring LTE to Canadians.

About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business with solutions to all their communications needs: Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell Satellite TV and Bell Fibe TV, Bell Home Phone local and long distance, and Bell Business Markets IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media, including CTV, Canada's #1 television network, and the country's most-watched specialty channels.

The Bell Mental Health Initiative is a multi-year charitable program that promotes mental health across Canada via the Bell Let's Talk anti-stigma campaign and support for community care, research and workplace best practices. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For Bell product and service information, please visit Bell.ca. For Bell Media, please visit Bellmedia.ca. For BCE corporate information, please visit BCE.ca.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through our dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established end-to-end advantages in telecom networks, devices and cloud computing. We are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive solutions and services. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world's population. For more information, visit Huawei online: www.huawei.com.

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/huaweipress  and YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/HuaweiPress.

For further information:

Media contacts: 

Scott Bradley

Vice-President Corporate and Government Affairs

Huawei Canada

Mobile (in China): (86 10) 134 6632 0595

scott.bradley@huawei.com

 

Duane MacDonald

for Huawei Canada

647-328-3528

duane.macdonald@fleishman.ca

 

Compuware Launches New Website Performance Benchmarks for Canada

Compuware Launches New Website Performance Benchmarks for Canada
Offer Valuable Competitive and Market-leader Insight Into Website Performance for Automotive, Banking, Brokerage and Insurance Industries

DETROIT and TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Compuware Corporation (Nasdaq:CPWR), the technology performance company, today announced the launch of new website performance benchmarks in Canada. The new benchmarks for the automotive, banking, brokerage, and insurance industries allow companies to compare and track website performance against competitors and market leaders.

Compuware Gomez benchmarks rank the web and mobile site performance of leading companies within an industry to determine which companies are providing the best online experiences and the companies that are not meeting users' expectations. This comparative measurement helps companies gauge user expectations in their industry and make informed decisions about investing in their online operations. Benchmarking allows companies to proactively manage website performance and improve online experiences to drive increased profitability.

Online shoppers in Canada spent C$15.30 billion (US$15.02 billion) on goods and services purchased over the Internet last year, according to a report from Statistics Canada. Online channels have become the preferred way to access personal information and to carry out transactions - bank transfers and bill payment, managing an online investment portfolio, vehicle search and purchase process, and shopping for insurance. By improving website performance, businesses have an opportunity to attract new customers and forge deeper relationships by providing a better online experience.

The new benchmarks for Canada include:

Automotive: Backbone, Last Mile

Insurance (life):Backbone, Last Mile

Banking: Backbone, Last Mile and Transaction

Brokerage: Backbone, Last Mile and Transaction

"Canadian companies need to consider the performance, availability and overall quality of the online experience they're offering customers," said Jonathan Ranger, Gomez Benchmark Practice Director at Compuware. "Benchmarks not only provide valuable insight for Canadian businesses into how their website performance compares with competitors and market leaders, but also a tool for measuring performance over time."

For more information about benchmarking, download "10 Best Practices for Benchmarking Web and Mobile Site Performance." The paper provides best practices for benchmarking web or mobile site performance based on top performing web and mobile sites.

Gomez Benchmarks are an impartial, quantitative measurement of comparative web and mobile site performance and rank the web and mobile performance of companies across three key metrics:

  • Response Time — measures the time elapsed while downloading a page or an entire multistep transaction process.
  • Availability — measures the percentage of successfully completed tests out of total test attempts for the measurement period.
  • Consistency — measures the standard deviation of the response time of successful tests completed.

Benchmarks are used by organizations to compare and track performance against competitors and market leaders; baseline and track performance over time; and as key indicators of success for business and IT site owners. Gomez publishes hundreds of global web and mobile performance benchmarks based on more than 20 million monthly tests across 3,000 companies in 13 countries and include:

  • Home Page Backbone Benchmarks: measure the performance of the website's home page from the Internet Backbone.
  • Home Page Last Mile Benchmarks: measure the performance of the home page from the end user's desktop taking into account the real user's connection speed.  
  • Transaction Benchmarks: measure the performance of a key business process such as ordering a product or making a stock trade.
  • Mobile Benchmarks: measure the performance of mobile site's home page on the largest carriers and top devices.

The Gomez platform is the industry's leading solution for optimizing the performance of web, non-web, mobile, streaming and cloud applications. Driven by end-user experience, Gomez provides a unified view across the entire application delivery chain, from a user's browser or mobile device, across the Internet or a corporate WAN, in the cloud, to inside the data center, eliminating blind spots from the First Mile to the Last Mile.

Follow us on:

Compuware Corporation

Compuware Corporation, the technology performance company, provides software, experts and best practices to ensure technology works well and delivers value. Compuware solutions make the world's most important technologies perform at their best for leading organizations worldwide, including 46 of the top 50 Fortune 500 companies and 12 of the top 20 most visited U.S. web sites. Learn more at: http://www.compuware.com.




(download)

Announcement of the three finalists for the 2012 Investissement Québec CEO of the Year Award



Announcement of the three finalists for the 2012 Investissement Québec CEO of the Year Award


MONTREAL, Feb. 9, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The selection committee of the Quebec Technology Association today revealed the names of the three finalists for the prestigious 2012 Investissement Québec CEO of the Year Award:

  • Martin Le Sauteur, CEO, Acquisio
  • Miguel Caron, CEO, Funcom Games Canada Inc.
  • Éric Bergeron, President and Chief Executive Officer, Optosecurity Inc.

Since 2003, this contest has been shining the spotlight on CEOs of technology companies in recognition of their exemplary leadership and contributions to the visibility of the Quebec Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. The finalists were selected by an independent selection committee comprised of ICT CEOs and representatives of Investissement Québec and the Quebec Technology Association.

"All three finalists are worthy representatives of the vitality and potential for innovation of Quebec technology companies. I commend each and every one of them for their outstanding performance", stated Jacques Daoust, President and Chief Executive Officer of Investissement Québec.

Awards will be presented during CEO Vision, an exclusive event for CEOs of technology companies, which will be held from February 22 to 25 at Mont-Tremblant. Attendance at the awards ceremony is limited to CEOs registered for CEO Vision, sponsors, and partners.

"While the high and diverse quality of the nominations stands as a clear testament to our industry's vitality, it made the selection committee's work that much more challenging. The three finalists will present their projects to more than 125 CEOs who will then select the 2012 winner by secret ballot", stated Nicole Martel, CEO of AQT.

The 2012 Investissement Québec CEO of the Year Award relies on the support of its media partner Les Affaires, whose next issue will include exclusive Web and print articles on each of the finalists.

About AQT
The Quebec Technology Association www.aqt.ca has over 500 corporate members and affiliated members. It represents information and communications technology companies in Quebec and brings together ICT executives. It supports them in achieving their growth-related goals. Through its growth Accelerator, it also provides them with a wide array of services and business networking activities in addition to facilitating access to best management and marketing practices.

About Investissement Québec
Investissement Québec's mission is to foster the growth of investment in Québec, thereby contributing to economic development and job creation in every region. It offers businesses a full range of financial solutions, including loans, loan guarantees and equity investments, to support them at all stages of their development. It is also responsible for tax incentive administration and foreign investment prospecting.

About the finalists

For further information:

AQT - Valérie Danger - Director, Events & Communications - 514 874-2667
Investissement Québec - Chantal Corbeil - Spokesperson - 514 873-7161


Canada Expansion for N-able Technologies

N-able Technologies Expands Canadian Market Reach, Forges Strategic Alliance with Hartco

   

RMM Leader Invests in Canadian Market to Accelerate Adoption of Managed Services

 

Ottawa, Canada – Feb. 9, 2012 – Seeking to gain market share and spark country-wide adoption of managed services, N-able Technologies®, the global leader in remote monitoring and management (RMM) automation software for managed service providers (MSPs) and IT departments, today announced a new alliance with Hartco Distribution, a subsidiary of Hartco Inc. (TSX: HCI), a market leader in Canadian information technology (IT) for more than 30 years. 

 

As part of the new alliance, N-able will expand its reach into the Canadian marketplace and gain direct access to Hartco Distribution’s network of IT solution providers, including MicroAge and Metafore locations across Canada. In exchange, Hartco affiliates will benefit from N-able’s 100% IT Coverage model, innovative freemium programs and vast array of sales and marketing enablement resources to cultivate successful MSP partnerships and drive new business in 2012 and beyond. N-able’s N-central® RMM platform and complementary technologies, including the popular Security Manager Anti-spam and Backup Manager tools, will form the cornerstone of the alliance.

 

“With more than one million small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) – and the majority of them not proactively managed by a RMM automation platform – Canada represents an untapped market opportunity for MSPs,” says Mike Cullen, N-able’s vice president of sales. “Given their size and competitive landscape, many Canadian SMB business owners are quick to understand the business value and importance technology plays in their day-to-day operations and customer service experience – that’s a huge sales advantage for an MSP who knows how to make the business case for managed services and can offer a scalable, cost-effective IT service offering.”

 

To help ensure the mutual success of N-able and Hartco partners, the RMM leader is also giving resellers and MSPs who purchase N-central access to its industry-renowned business transformation and technical services, as well as its team of Partner Development Specialists and field sales experts. This includes N-able’s Business e-Training Essentials, Technical e-Training Essentials, Instructor-Led Product Training, Professional Services, and much more.

 

“Hartco is pleased to offer N-able’s industry leading remote monitoring and management automation solutions to MicroAge and Metafore to accelerate the growth of their managed services practices,” says Patrick Waid, Hartco’s president and chief operating officer. “N-able’s partner enablement, dedication to channel sales and proven technical advantages will give MicroAge and Metafore enhanced capabilities to deliver valuable managed IT services to organizations of every size across Canada.”

 

“Hartco is poised to play a pivotal role in N-able’s targeted growth within Canada,” says JP Jauvin, president and chief operating officer, N-able Technologies. “We have high expectations for strong adoption of N-central within the Hartco community and look forward to helping MicroAge and Metafore build and refine their managed services businesses to ensure greater profitability, higher levels of technician productivity and improved customer service.”

 

Canadian solution providers interested in hearing more about N-able’s alliance with Hartco should email sales@n-able.com.

 

For more information about N-able Technologies, visit www.n-able.com.

 

Follow N-able on Twitter and Facebook at www.twitter.com/NableMSP andwww.facebook.com/NableTechnologies.

 

About Hartco Inc.

Hartco Inc. (TSX: HCI) has been a leader in the Canadian information technology business for more than 30 years. Through its operating divisions, which together include 50 locations across Canada, Hartco Inc. delivers information technology solutions to private and public sector organizations of every size. For more information, please visit www.hartco.com.

 

About N-able Technologies

N-able Technologies is the global leader in remote monitoring and management automation solutions for managed service providers (MSPs) and IT departments. N-able’s award-winning N-central® software and complementary toolsets are proven to reduce IT support costs, improve network performance and increase productivity through the proactive monitoring, management and optimization of IP-enabled devices and IT infrastructure. N-central features an industry-first freemium model that drives down the cost of remote management and accelerates the mass adoption of managed services. With offices in North America, the U.K., the Netherlands and Australia, N-able is 100% channel-friendly and maintains strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Intel, IBM, CA, Cisco and APC, among others.

 

###

 

Press Contact:

 

Derik Belair

Vice President of Marketing and Business Development

N-able Technologies

Toll Free: 1-877-655-4689 x304 (US/Canada)

  00-800-6225-3000 (outside US/Canada)

Marie Rourke

Channel PR

WhiteFox Marketing (for N-able Technologies)

 

 

 

 

Marie Rourke

WhiteFox Marketing

714.869.3689 (office) 

714-292-2199 (cell)

 

Microsoft and 24/7 Inc. Join Forces to Deliver the Future of Customer Service for Large Businesses

Microsoft and 24/7 Inc. Join Forces to Deliver the Future of Customer Service for Large Businesses
Microsoft and 24/7 Inc. announce agreement to combine the power of “Big Data” and natural user interfaces into a new enterprise cloud platform for customer service.

CAMPBELL, Calif., and REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 7, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. and 24/7 Inc. today announced an agreement to jointly bring the power of natural user interfaces (NUIs) and data analytics at cloud scale (Big Data) to enable the future of customer service for businesses. The agreement includes Microsoft merging its interactive self-service assets (clients, people and technologies) into 24/7 Inc. The agreement also includes an R&D partnership, long-term IP licensing and Microsoft taking an equity stake in 24/7 Inc.

Microsoft has pioneered the use of NUIs, including gestures and speech, across a broad range of devices, and the broad adoption of NUIs by consumers has changed the way people interact with technology, companies and one another. 24/7 Inc. is a leading innovator in harnessing the power of Big Data for customer service, using Internet-scale data and advanced analytics to help businesses predict customer preferences and deliver proactive, efficient and intuitive consumer experiences. With this agreement, Microsoft and 24/7 are combining technologies that span interactive self-service across mobile, Web and voice channels, Big Data analytics, and speech and conversational interfaces to create a next-generation cloud platform for customer service. The combined Predictive Experience (PX) platform will manage more than 2.5 billion speech and online self-service interactions annually, enabling large businesses to derive and apply insight and intelligence across these customer service interactions and delivery channels. With this combination, 24/7 Inc. will be positioned to generate total revenues of more than $250 million annually by delivering solutions and services that enable large businesses to anticipate consumer needs, simplify the consumer experience and learn from every consumer interaction.

“Microsoft is an industry leader in NUI and established natural, intuitive consumer experiences on mobile and entertainment devices,” said Zig Serafin, general manager, Online Services Division at Microsoft. “From speech to touch to gestures, consumers expect and demand more natural and intuitive ways to interact with technology. This same demand will change how consumers interact with businesses, and it creates an inflection point for how people will expect businesses to provide customer service. ”

Consumers today not only expect businesses to deliver service in more natural and intuitive ways but also expect these same businesses to be able to reach out and interact intelligently with them across a wide variety of channels, including on mobile devices, through social media, on the Web and even through the living room TV. This consumer expectation has created a key need for businesses to gather, analyze and gain insight by using Big Data to proactively anticipate and predict customer needs.

“The ability to exceed customer service expectations through Big Data analytics across all service channels offers unique value for businesses,” said PV Kannan, CEO of 24/7 Inc. “By bringing Microsoft’s interactive self-service technology together with 24/7 Inc.’s predictive consumer experience technology into one unified cloud platform, we will deliver solutions and services that truly enable businesses to differentiate through customer service.”

Enterprises already working with Microsoft and 24/7 Inc. are applauding the solution and believe it will accelerate their ability to deliver more natural and intuitive customer service experiences, and this agreement will enable 24/7 Inc. to accelerate delivery of solutions and services for the future of customer service.

“24/7 Inc. and Microsoft are helping Avis deliver customer experiences in the way that customers want to be served,” said Thomas M. Gartland, president, North America, Avis Budget Group. “We applaud the agreement between the companies that will harness the power of Big Data, apply advanced analytics to that data, and bring more intuitive experiences to customers. We see the future of customer service and are working together to lead the way.”

“Today, consumers are engaging with businesses in more channels than ever with the proliferation of mobile devices and social media. As a result, their expectations of customer service are changing,” said Daniel Hong, lead analyst of Customer Interaction at Ovum. “Enterprises that embrace these trends will uncover opportunities to deepen their relationships with customers and optimize their investments in customer-enabling technologies (such as self-service) across channels. We feel the PX platform, along with the partnership between 24/7 Inc. and Microsoft, creates opportunities for businesses to better anticipate their customers’ needs, simplify their consumer experiences, and learn from every consumer interaction.”

“United has been working closely but independently with 24/7 Inc. and Microsoft to improve customer service,” said Martin Hand, senior vice president Customer Experience, United Airlines. “We believe this agreement will better position them to help us innovate across our service channels by leveraging Big Data and natural user interfaces. We look forward to working together to achieve our customer service goals

Additional Details

Microsoft will merge its interactive self-service assets (clients, people and technologies) into 24/7 Inc.’s PX solutions.

24/7 Inc. and Microsoft will forge an R&D partnership moving forward, and 24/7 Inc. will utilize Microsoft Tellme speech and natural language technologies for natural user experiences in customer service. 24/7 Inc. will also be integrating its solutions with Windows Phone, Bing and Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Microsoft and 24/7 Inc. have also agreed to a shared technology road map and a long-term IP licensing agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for speech-related technologies.

Microsoft will take an equity stake in 24/7 Inc.

About 24/7 Inc.

24/7 Inc., (www.247-inc.com), the intuitive consumer experience company, provides software and services that make life simple for consumers to connect with large companies to get things done. 24/7’s software helps companies anticipate what consumers want, simplify interactions, and learn from those interactions so that future experiences get better all the time. 24/7 is based in Campbell, California.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

Dell and Fongo Offer Free VoIP Calling App to help Reduce the Cost of Mobile Phone Bills

Dell and Fongo Offer Free VoIP Calling App to help Reduce the Cost of Mobile Phone Bills

Date : 08/02/2012
Toronto, Ontario

  • Free new Canadian phone number
  • Free unlimited incoming calls1
  • Free local and long-distance calls to most of Canada2
  • Free Voicemail, Caller ID and Call Waiting
  • Available on Android and iOS devices; BlackBerry coming soon
Tweet this: #Dell launches new app Dell Voice for iOS & Android! Canadians can talk while saving $ with this FREE VoIP app www.dellvoice.ca #DellVoice

Today Dell Canada and Fongo announced the launch of their new mobile app, Dell Voice – a free to download full feature VoIP phone alternative that may help Canadians save money on their mobile phone bills. Users of Android and iOS devices can now avoid costly long-distance charges and daytime calling restrictions from their wireless carrier by receiving and placing calls to landline and mobile phones using Dell Voice.1

Dell Voice is loaded with free features that Canadians typically pay for as part of their carrier’s plan. Features included with Dell Voice are free local and long-distance calls to most of Canada2, free unlimited incoming calls1, free Voicemail, free Caller ID, and free Call Waiting to name a few.

Dell Voice uses Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to receive and place calls with users existing data connection1 (i.e. 3G, 4G or WiFi) on the Fibernetics network. Fongo enjoys privileged access to Fibernetics, a Canadian CLEC that owns and operates its own coast-to-coast network in Canada. By using the Fibernetics network, users can choose a local Canadian phone number for their Dell Voice line, as well as place emergency VoIP 911 calls 3.

“Dell and Fongo want to tilt the competitive playing field by offering smartphone users everything we believe they need in a mobile phone service - for free,” says John Stix, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Fongo. “Dell Voice aims to help Canadians reduce the cost or even eliminate the need for a voice plan. I believe Dell Voice is a game changer that has the potential to transform the telecommunications industry, while helping to put money back into the pockets of Canadian consumers and business owners.”

Dell Voice can help small business operators save money on their mobile phone bill, which is good news for small business owners like Conor Gordon, a student painting franchisee who racked up a monthly mobile phone bill of more than $1,500 in August, despite having negotiated with his wireless carrier the ‘best’ package to suit his business needs. “Dell Voice will make a huge difference to a small business like mine that is totally reliant on mobile phones for communication. I’ll have all the features I need in a phone, without the huge bills. It’s a no-brainer to download the app and use my extra data as long-distance and daytime voice minutes,” Gordon said.

David Gair, marketing director for Small & Medium Business, Dell Canada, added, “Dell has been a pioneer in providing clients, whether individual consumers or businesses, with the most advanced, yet cost-effective solutions to meet their communication and computing needs. Dell Voice is part of this commitment and complements our spectrum of technology offerings that help Canadian consumers and businesses to stay connected without breaking the bank.”

For more information on Dell Voice visit www.dellvoice.ca
Dell Voice can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and the Android Market.
Dell Voice for BlackBerry is expected to launch March 2012.


About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. For more information, visit www.dell.ca.

About Fongo
Fongo is a next generation digital communication platform that can potentially deliver the end of Voice costs for smartphones in Canada. Fongo’s application works on any iPhone, Android based phone and soon BlackBerry. Users receive a brand new Canadian telephone number, free long distance calling to most Canadian cities, unlimited airtime, Voice mail, caller ID and many more free features included. The Fongo voice platform is supported with a sophisticated ad media delivery platform and in house intellectual property that ensures a content rich user experience while potentially saving the user hundreds per year on voice cost. Fongo enjoys privileged access to Fibernetics, a Canadian CLEC that owns and operates its own coast-to-coast network in Canada. For more information visit www.fongo.com


1Dell Voice utilizes users existing WiFi or data connection (3G/4G) to make and receive calls. Data charges may apply.

2For the complete list of free calling cities visit www.dellvoice.ca/cityListing

3Limitations on VoIP 911 service can be found at www.dellvoice.ca/911

AARP and Microsoft Release New Study on How Online Communication Connects Generations

AARP and Microsoft Release New Study on How Online Communication Connects Generations
The report reveals social technologies are helping families connect and enhance intergenerational relationships.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Feb. 7, 2012 — AARP and Microsoft Corp. today released “Connecting Generations,” a new research report that examines how people of all ages are using online communication and social networking to enhance their family relationships. The report reveals three key pieces of evidence showing that online communication is bridging the generation gap:

83 percent of those surveyed (ranging in age from 13–75 years old) consider going online to be a “helpful” form of communication among family members.

30 percent of grandparents of teens/young adults agree that connecting online has helped them better understand their teen/young adult grandchildren, and 29 percent of teens/young adults say the same about their grandparents.

Teens agree that the computer increases both the quantity (70 percent) and quality (67 percent) of their communication with family members living far away.

“For decades, baby boomers and other older Americans have valued computers and mobile devices as tools for work, but technology is now playing an increasingly vital role in helping the 50+ population communicate and stay connected to their children, aging parents and other family members,” said Jody Holtzman, senior vice president, AARP Thought Leadership. “By enhancing communication across all generations, technology is improving the quality of life for people of all ages.”

How do different generations connect and interact with each other online? See new findings from Microsoft and AARP about how online safety is ageless.
Click for larger version.

Released in conjunction with Safer Internet Day 2012, an annual event organized by InSafe to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile devices among people worldwide, this “Connecting Generations” report also confirms the need for educating all consumers, from teenagers to grandparents, about Internet safety and the steps they can take to help protect themselves online.

Although most respondents — teens, parents and grandparents — wish they knew more about how to keep personal information private (58 percent), and how to help safeguard their devices (50 percent), the younger generation wants more information than older respondents about using social networks safer (38 percent compared with 27 percent).

There is also a disconnect between how teens deal with online content that makes them feel uncomfortable and their parents’ perception of how they are dealing with such images and information. Nearly half of parents (49 percent) say their teens know to come to them when they see something online that makes them uncomfortable, yet less than a third of teens (29 percent) say they actually would know to go to their parents to talk about it. And while 49 percent of parents say the lines of communication between them and their teenage children remain open, only 37 percent of teens agree.

“Teenagers and young adults are very knowledgeable about technology, but their parents and grandparents often have better judgment and greater wisdom born of experience,” said Jacqueline Beauchere, director, Trustworthy Computing for Microsoft. “Together, AARP and Microsoft are helping generations of Americans stay connected and are providing the tools and guidance they need to help each other have safer online experiences.”

Tips Can Help Families Stay Safer Online

AARP and Microsoft offer these tips to help families connect the generations when it comes to online safety:

Use social networks safer

Look for Settings or Options in services such as Facebook and Twitter to manage who can see your profile or photos tagged with your name, how people can search for you and make comments, and how to block people.

Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want to see on a billboard.

Be selective about accepting friends; regularly reassess who has access to your pages, and review what they post about you.

Help protect sensitive personal information

Before you enter sensitive data, look for signs that a Web page is secure — a Web address with “https” and a closed padlock beside it.

Never give sensitive info (such as an account number or password) or call a number in response to a request in email or IM or on a social network.

Think carefully before you respond to pleas for money from “family members,” deals that sound too good to be true or other scams.

Parents and grandparents should have regular conversations with kids, keeping communications open:

Negotiate clear guidelines for Web, mobile and online game use that fit your children’s maturity levels and your family values.

Watch your kids for signs of online bullying, such as being upset when they are online or reluctance to go to school.

Be the administrator of your home computer; use age-appropriate family safety settings to help you keep track of what your kids are doing online. For example, in all editions of the Windows 7 operating system, you can create separate accounts for each family member. Using Parental Controls (found in Control Panel), you can do the following:

Specify the exact days and times when children can use the computer.

Prevent kids from playing certain games, based on title, content or age rating.

Block access to certain programs — for example, those that store sensitive financial data.

Keep communications open, since the Parental Controls icon is always visible so children know when the feature is in use.

Pay attention to what kids do and whom they meet online. Revisit regularly.

For those who truly want to make online safety a family affair, Beauchere recommends parents teach themselves and their family about computer security, data privacy and online safety by using Microsoft’s interactive Digital Citizenship in Action Toolkit.

Understanding the Research

“Connecting Generations” is based on data gathered in a nationwide online survey of 2,126 people in four different age groups:

Teens (13–17 years old)

Young adults (18–25 years old)

Adults ages 39–58

Adults ages 59–75

The quantitative survey was followed by two salon discussions in New York in mid-November, co-hosted by AARP and Microsoft, to deeper explore some of the issues identified in the survey. The first discussion was conducted with a group of teenagers (ages 13–17). The second was with a group of adults (ages 43–68), many of whom were parents or grandparents of teens or adults.

Excerpts from these discussions can be found at http://www.aarp.org/technology/safer-internet.

“By conducting both qualitative and quantitative research, we were able to gain insights not only about how people were using technology to communicate and stay connected, but also about the attitudes behind the actions,” said Jeffrey Love, Ph.D., Director of Strategic Issues Research for AARP. “Both the survey and the discussions were remarkable for what they revealed about the similarity, and the diversity, of experiences and attitudes among people of different age groups concerning online communication, social networking and Internet safety.”

For the full “Connecting Generations” report, please go to http://www.aarp.org/technology/safer-internet.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.