Dell Adds Salesforce Service Cloud to Integrated CRM offering

Dell Adds Salesforce Service Cloud to Integrated CRM offering

    • New offering expands Dell Cloud Business Applications portfolio with industry leading cloud-based customer service application
    Dell is expanding its Integrated CRM solution for growing businesses, Dell Cloud Business Applications (DCBA), by adding Salesforce Service Cloud, the industry-leading customer service application from salesforce.com. The expanded solution helps growing businesses connect with their customers faster and become more responsive across channels — from the contact center to social networks and integrate information about those key interactions across every business function.

    Dell Cloud Integrated CRM, which now features both Salesforce Sales Cloud and Service Cloud, is delivered via subscription over the web, so there’s no hardware or software to purchase or maintain, and minimal deployment effort required to get sales account managers and customer service representatives effectively servicing customer needs quickly. Dell’s integrated CRM solution leverages the Dell Boomi integration cloud to seamlessly connect Salesforce Sales Cloud and Service Cloud to any number of cloud, Saas or on-premise applications.

    “The life of a growing business often hinges on the strength of its customer service,” said Paulette Altmaier, vice president, Dell Small and Medium Business. “Dell Integrated CRM with Salesforce Service Cloud helps small and medium businesses not only attain excellent customer service interactions across every service channel but also maximize the value of their existing application investments, and leverage data streams from all enterprise data and all service channels.”

    With Dell’s expanded and Integrated CRM solution, service professionals can now:

    • Identify early indicators of customer dissatisfaction that reside in other business systems, including unpaid invoices, decreased orders, and other critical information.
    • Improve service knowledge and first call resolution by integration with order history databases. 
    • View complete customer case details previously residing in disparate sales automation, contract management, and other record systems.
    • Share data between Service Cloud and product bug tracking systems for up to date information and consistent responses to product issues.
    Additional benefits for the growing businesses with Dell Cloud Business Applications include easy and affordable integration with existing software; integrated best-of-breed cloud applications selected, tested and backed by Dell; and real-time online analytics and reporting across multiple business functions.

    Dell expands partnership with salesforce.com
    The introduction of the Dell Service Cloud Solution expands Dell’s partnership with salesforce.com to deliver a comprehensive, integrated CRM solution by connecting the Salesforce Sales Cloud and Service Cloud to a variety of back office applications including finance, order management, and billing software using Dell Boomi. The offering is designed to provide a 360-degree view of all customer interactions – from sale to service – to speed case resolution and consistently exceed service expectations. The expanded, end-to-end offering includes cross-application reporting, giving CXOs better visibility into their business.

    Pricing and availability
    Dell’s Cloud Integrated CRM solution with Service Cloud is available today in the United States. Package pricing, including Salesforce Service Cloud and Dell Boomi integration, starts at $565 per month. Pricing for Dell implementation services packages start at $8,000.

    About Dell Cloud Business Applications
    Dell Cloud Business Applications offers a family of integrated cloud applications and services that enable new business processes while leveraging existing software and technology investments. Dell Integrated CRM is a cloud service uniquely packaged to meet the needs of growing companies, delivering Salesforce CRM integrated to existing infrastructure along with reporting, analytics, turnkey Dell services, and support. For more information, visit www.dellcloudapplications.com.

    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.com.

    Intel, Micron Extend NAND Flash Technology Leadership with Introduction of World's First 128Gb NAND Device and Mass Production of 64Gb 20nm NAND

    Intel, Micron Extend NAND Flash Technology Leadership with Introduction of World's First 128Gb NAND Device and Mass Production of 64Gb 20nm NAND

    New 128Gb Device Ideal for Small Form Factor Tablets, Smartphones, SSDs and High-Performance Compute Devices

    News Highlights
    • The new 20nm 128Gb MLC NAND device doubles the storage capacity and performance of the companies' existing 20nm 64Gb NAND device.
    • Intel and Micron continue to lead the industry with the most advanced NAND production process technology, announcing mass production of their 20nm 64Gb NAND flash.
    • The industry's first monolithic 128Gb part can store 1 terabit of data in a single fingertip-size package with just eight die-a new storage benchmark that meets the ongoing demand for slim, sleek products.
    • The companies' 20nm NAND is the first to use an innovative planar cell structure that overcomes the scaling constraints of standard floating gate NAND.


    SANTA CLARA, Calif. and BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 6, 2011 - Intel Corporation and Micron Technology, Inc., today announced a new benchmark in NAND flash technology - the world's first 20 nanometer (nm), 128 gigabit (Gb), multilevel-cell (MLC) device. The companies also announced mass production of their 64Gb 20nm NAND, which further extends the companies' leadership in NAND process technology.


    Developed through Intel and Micron's joint-development venture, IM Flash Technologies (IMFT), the new 20nm monolithic 128Gb device is the first in the industry to enable a terabit (Tb) of data storage in a fingertip-size package by using just eight die. It also provides twice the storage capacity and performance of the companies' existing 20nm 64Gb NAND device. The 128Gb device meets the high-speed ONFI 3.0 specification to achieve speeds of 333 megatransfers per second (MT/s), providing customers with a more cost-effective solid-state storage solution for today's slim, sleek product designs, including tablets, smartphones and high-capacity solid-state drives (SSDs.)

    "As portable devices get smaller and sleeker, and server demands increase, our customers look to Micron for innovative new storage technologies and system solutions that meet these challenges," said Glen Hawk, vice president of Micron's NAND Solutions Group. "Our collaboration with Intel continues to deliver leading NAND technologies and expertise that are critical to building those systems."

    The companies also revealed that the key to their success with 20nm process technology is due to an innovative new cell structure that enables more aggressive cell scaling than conventional architectures. Their 20nm NAND uses a planar cell structure - the first in the industry - to overcome the inherent difficulties that accompany advanced process technology, enabling performance and reliability on par with the previous generation. The planar cell structure successfully breaks the scaling constraints of the standard NAND floating gate cell by integrating the first Hi-K/metal gate stack on NAND production.

    "It is gratifying to see the continued NAND leadership from the Intel-Micron joint development with yet more firsts as our manufacturing teams deliver these high-density, low-cost, compute-quality 20nm NAND devices," said Rob Crooke, Intel vice president and general manager of Intel's Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group. "Through the utilization of planar cell structure and Hi-K/Metal gate stack, IMFT continues to advance the technological capabilities of our NAND flash memory solutions to enable exciting new products, services and form factors."

    The demand for high-capacity NAND flash devices is driven by three interconnected market trends: data storage growth, the shift to the cloud and the proliferation of portable devices. As digital content continues to grow, users expect that data to be available across a multitude of devices, all synchronized via the cloud. To effectively stream data, servers require high-performance, high-capacity storage that NAND delivers, and storage in mobile devices has consistently grown with increased access to data. High-definition video is one example of an application that requires high-capacity storage, since attempting to stream this type of data can create a poor user experience. These developments create great opportunities for high-performance, small-footprint storage, both in the mobile devices that consume the content and the storage servers that deliver it.

    Intel and Micron noted that the December production ramp of their 20nm 64Gb NAND flash product will enable a rapid transition to the 128Gb device in 2012. Samples of the 128Gb device will be available in January, closely followed by mass production in the first half of 2012. Achievement of this milestone will further enable greater densities and overall fab output, while also helping the companies' development teams cultivate the expertise required to design complex storage solutions and refine future technologies.

    IMFT-20nm_die.jpgIntel-Micron Flash Technologies 20nm die -- The industry's first monolithic 128 gigabit (Gb) NAND die represents continued leadership by Intel and Micron on the world's most advanced 20 nanometer (nm) NAND production process technology. The new 20nm 128Gb device doubles the storage capacity and performance of the companies' existing 20nm 64Gb NAND device.
    IMFT-20nm_die-context.jpgWorld's Highest-Capacity NAND flash memory die -- New 20nm NAND from Intel and Micron provides unprecedented storage density. The industry’s first monolithic 128 gigabit (Gb) part can store 1 terabit of data in a single fingertip-size package with just eight die—a new storage benchmark that meets the ongoing demand for slim, sleek products.


    About Micron
    Micron Technology, Inc. is one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets a full range of DRAM, NAND and NOR flash memory, as well as other innovative memory technologies, packaging solutions and semiconductor systems for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, embedded and mobile products. Micron's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology Inc., visit www.micron.com.

    About Intel
    Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.

    Intel is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

    * Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

    IBM to Acquire DemandTec to Expand Cloud-Based Analytics for Smarter Commerce

    IBM to Acquire DemandTec to Expand Cloud-Based Analytics for Smarter Commerce

    Marketing and sales software helps businesses drive profitability through measurable pricing and promotion

    ARMONK, N.Y. and SAN MATEO, CA - 08 Dec 2011: IBM (NYSE:IBM) and DemandTec (Nasdaq: DMAN) today announced that the two companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement for IBM to acquire DemandTec in an all cash transaction at a price of $13.20/share, or at a net price of approximately $440 million, after adjusting for cash.

    The acquisition of DemandTec will extend IBM’s Smarter Commerce initiative by adding cloud-based price, promotion and other merchandising and marketing analytics to help companies better define the best price points and product mix based on customer buying trends.  

    Organizations are struggling to meet the demands of rapidly shifting customer buying patterns in the era of mobile and social networks. This new digital marketplace requires companies to be highly responsive to consumer demands on the fly. Whether it’s setting and executing the right pricing strategy or the ability to automatically adjust pricing based on online and offline data, being able to rapidly shift to market changes has become a key competitive advantage for global businesses.  

    IBM estimates the market opportunity for Smarter Commerce at $20 billion in software alone. Extending these capabilities to the cloud gives organizations immediate access to consumer information, providing instant return on investment. 

    DemandTec delivers cloud-based analytics software that enables businesses to examine different customer buying scenarios, both online and in-store. As a result, companies can spot trends and shopper insights to make better price, promotion, and assortment decisions that increase revenue and profitability.  

    By gaining a quick and accurate analysis of consumer trends, for example, a retailer can predict how consumers will respond to a price change before making that critical decision. A brand manager can adjust the marketing mix for a product to better drive sales in the grocery channel. A merchant and supplier can work together to understand how one shopper segment differs from another to craft the best merchandising plan. By understanding shoppers across channels, companies can adapt more quickly to rising customer demands. 

    “IBM Smarter Commerce is redefining how brands buy, market, sell and service their customers in ways that their customers want,” said Craig Hayman, General Manager of Industry Solutions at IBM. “Bringing science to the art of pricing and promotion is a big part of this strategy, and the combination of DemandTec and IBM will help marketing and sales executives in retail and other industries drive more revenue and increase profitability.” 

    “DemandTec has unprecedented capability to improve customers’ price and promotion tactics on a stand-alone basis and connect retailers and manufacturers for collaborative planning through the cloud,” said Dan Fishback, President and Chief Executive Officer of DemandTec. “IBM Smarter Commerce is the perfect fit for DemandTec. IBM is the only provider of price and promotion offerings within a rich solution set that supports companies’ buy, market, sell and service processes.” 

    IBM is a recognized market leader in each of the categories within Smarter Commerce[1], which was launched in March 2011. DemandTec will extend this leadership by enabling companies to use cloud computing services to gain insights about customer merchandising and pricing preferences to better market, sell and deliver the right product at the right place, and at the right price. DemandTec also expands IBM’s Software-as-a Service (SaaS) strategy by adding additional, subscription-based offerings to IBM’s SaaS solutions portfolio.  

    DemandTec has approximately 450 customers worldwide in retail, consumer products and other industries. Retail industry segments served include grocery, drug, convenience, consumer electronics, office supplies, apparel, department stores, and quick-serve restaurants. Manufacturer segments include fast moving consumer goods categories such as food, beverage, and health & beauty. DemandTec also has a portfolio of 31 patents in the areas of pricing, response analysis, and promotion analysis.

    Consistent with IBM's Smarter Commerce strategy, IBM will continue to support and enhance DemandTec’s technologies and clients while allowing them to take advantage of the broader IBM portfolio. DemandTec will be integrated into IBM's Software Group, which is a key driver of growth and profitability for IBM.  

    DemandTec is based in San Mateo, Calif. and has more than 350 employees, with additional offices in Minneapolis, London, Paris, and Bangalore.

    The acquisition is subject to DemandTec shareholder approval, applicable regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions. It’s expected to close in the first quarter of 2012.

    ________________
    [1]"The Forrester Wave: Comprehensive Integration Solutions, Q4 2010", Forrester Research, Inc., November 9, 2010

    "Gartner Magic Quadrant for Marketing Resource Management", Kimberly Collins, February 1, 2011

    "The Forrester Wave: B2C eCommerce Platforms", Forrester Research, Inc., October 21, 2010

    "Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Content Management", Mark R. Gilbert, Karen M. Shegda, Kenneth Chin, Gavin Tay, October 13, 2011

                                                                                                            ###

    Phones Get Game Power in the Cloud

    Phones Get Game Power in the Cloud

    By

    We can shop on our phones and read magazines on our tablets. But playing high-end video games on a mobile device has been out of the question.

    That might be about to change.

    OnLive, a Silicon Valley start-up, on Thursday plans to release software that will let people play the richest, most graphically intense games on Apple’s iPhone and iPad, as well as on Amazon’s Kindle Fire and other devices based on Google’s Android software. In the past, these games have been far beyond the relatively anemic computing power of such devices, requiring the horsepower of a PC or a console. But OnLive runs all of the games on its service entirely on powerful server computers in its data centers and delivers them over the Internet, through so-called cloud computing.

    Other companies are trying to do the same thing, including Gaikai, a start-up based in Los Angeles. If they succeed, a shift to cloud gaming could have big implications for the incumbent powers in the video game business, mainly the console makers Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. That is because running games in data centers means that consoles in the home can be far less powerful, relieving consumers of the need to buy a new generation of hardware in the future.

    At the same time, moving gaming into the cloud could help push the boundaries of what cloud computing can do, even on relatively low-powered mobile devices.

    Everything from FarmVille on Facebook to data backup services like Apple’s iCloud to Netflix’s streaming movie service are considered cloud applications. But playing high-end games in the cloud presents a much bigger technical challenge because of the importance of eliminating any lag between the moment a player takes an action in a game on his or her device, and when the game responds on the screen. Even split-second delays can turn serious gamers off.

    OnLive says it has solved this problem by figuring out a method of efficiently packaging video images of a live game that it delivers over the Internet, and that allows for instantaneous response to actions by players as they control the movement of characters within a game.

    In a recent demonstration in Seattle, Steve Perlman, the chief executive and founder of OnLive, showed a collection of well-known high-end games, including L.A. Noire and Unreal Tournament 3, on an iPad, Android phones and a Kindle Fire.

    Although the games were running on computers in an OnLive data center in Northern California, they responded immediately when a player moved a character around. Some games on the service have been adapted to respond to fingers on a touch screen, but many work better with a $50 wireless controller sold by OnLive. That’s cheaper than buying a traditional game console, which starts at about $150.

    “It’s amazing the performance he’s getting out of all these tablets,” said Richard Doherty, an analyst at Envisioneering Group.

    Mr. Perlman said OnLive would also soon introduce a service that let people run a full Windows desktop on iPads and other mobile devices, including Web browsers that can show Web sites with Flash, an Adobe graphics technology that is not otherwise available on iPads.

    Last year, OnLive introduced an earlier iteration of its service, letting people play games first on PCs, Macs and television sets through a small $99 device it calls the MicroConsole.

    Mr. Perlman predicted that the growing capabilities of the cloud, along with the high costs of introducing a new console, would lead to big changes in the business. Hardware makers can lose billions of dollars on new game systems before eventually recouping their investments through royalties from game sales.

    “It’s our view that probably there won’t be another console and that this current generation is the last,” Mr. Perlman said. “The economics can’t support it anymore.”

    However, even people who believe strongly that cloud gaming will become an important part of the market say they think that prediction is an overstatement. Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, said cloud gaming was still too new for serious gamers to switch their habits. Internet connections in some areas are not fast and reliable enough for gamers to depend on a cloud gaming service all the time.

    “Realistically, there’s one more” generation of consoles coming, Mr. Pachter said. “It will take a while for people to trust the cloud and adapt.”

    Nintendo has already announced plans for a new machine, the Wii U, expected to be released next year. But Sony and Microsoft don’t appear to be in any rush to introduce new consoles. It has been five and six years, respectively, since the companies introduced the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and neither company is talking about plans for a new system. Console makers used to introduce new game systems every five to six years. “We’ve got a lot of life left in the current generation of PlayStation with PS3,” said Patrick Seybold, a spokesman for Sony’s United States games division.

    Some cloud gaming proponents say they believe future consoles are likely to embrace the technology, rather than risk being replaced by it. “Anyone making consoles for the future would be crazy not to have cloud gaming support,” said David Perry, Gaikai’s C.E.O.

    Support from game publishers can make or break OnLive and it isn’t clear how eager some of the more prominent ones are to join the service, which has a variety of payment plans for consumers, from a $10 monthly rental to an option for buying games for $2 to $50. The industry’s biggest blockbuster, the Call of Duty series from Activision Blizzard, isn’t available on the service, for example.

    An executive of one publisher working with OnLive, Jason Kingsley, the chief executive of Rebellion, predicted that most game makers would warm to cloud gaming services over time.

    “There will always be some people who say, ‘We don’t want to engage in this, it’s horrible,’ ” Mr. Kingsley said. “I can’t see why it shouldn’t be part of the mix.”

    HP and Microsoft Deliver Global Communications and Collaboration Solutions Via the Cloud

    HP and Microsoft Deliver Global Communications and Collaboration Solutions Via the Cloud
    Public and private cloud services to provide IT efficiency and flexibility for enterprises and governments.

    PALO ALTO, Calif., and REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 8, 2011 — HP Enterprise Services and Microsoft Corp. today announced a global, four-year initiative to deliver Microsoft’s leading communications and collaboration applications via global private and public cloud services.

    Under the agreement, HP and Microsoft will offer private and public cloud solutions designed to help organizations rapidly scale new users, shift IT resources from maintenance to innovation and change IT from a capital to operating expense. The solutions include the following:

    Private cloud: HP Enterprise Cloud Services – Messaging, HP Enterprise Cloud Services – Collaboration and HP Enterprise Cloud Services – Real-Time Collaboration deliver Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 and Microsoft Lync Server 2010 productivity applications as a service from HP datacenters around the world.

    Public cloud: Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft’s Office collaboration and productivity tools, will be delivered by Microsoft through the cloud.

    Hybrid solution: HP will resell Microsoft Office 365 with HP Enterprise Cloud Services – Messaging, HP Enterprise Cloud Services – Collaboration and HP Enterprise Cloud Services – Real-Time Collaboration.1

    HP and Microsoft engineering resources will collaborate to deploy, support and enhance the new solutions. The solutions will launch globally, with initial availability this month in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    “Large organizations, particularly those in regulated industries like financial services and public sector, have demanding functionality and service level requirements,” said Brandt Faatz, vice president, Workplace Services, HP Enterprise Services. “HP and Microsoft help meet these needs with a flexible range of global, cost-efficient, cloud-based productivity solutions running on the latest technology.”

    “Microsoft is committed to putting the unique and ever-evolving needs of customers at the core of cloud innovation,” said Mark Hill, vice president, Enterprise Partner Group, Microsoft. “This alliance with HP not only broadens Microsoft’s geographic reach, it gives customers maximum flexibility to choose a cloud computing solution that meets their organization’s specialized messaging and collaboration needs.”

    HP and Microsoft have delivered technical innovation together for more than 25 years. They offer joint solutions that help organizations around the world improve services through the use of innovative technologies. More information about the HP and Microsoft alliance is available at http://h10134.www1.hp.com/insights/alliances/microsoft.

    The new solutions enable organizations in their pursuit of an Instant-On Enterprise. In a world of continuous connectivity, the Instant-On Enterprise embeds technology in everything it does to serve customers, employees, partners and citizens with whatever they need, instantly.

    About HP

    HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

    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.

    1 HP Enterprise Cloud Services – Messaging, HP Enterprise Cloud Services – Collaboration and HP Enterprise Cloud Services – Real-Time Collaboration for some end users, and Microsoft Office 365 for others.

    Trend Micro Canada Offers Top Five Holiday Cyber Scams and How to Avoid Them

    Trend Micro Canada Offers Top Five Holiday Cyber Scams and How to Avoid Them

    OTTAWA, Dec. 8, 2011 /CNW/ - With Trend Micro threat analysts predicting that online shopping risks this year may be even greater due to the popular boom in mobile shopping, Canadians continue to embrace on line shopping in record numbers.

    "Online shopping need not come at the added cost of unwillingly buying into cyber scams. Much like the real world, if an online deal looks too good to be true, it probably is," says Trend Micro Canada's Ian Gordon, Director of Marketing.

    Here are a five common online holiday shopping scams, and how to avoid them—good advice considering we bought more then $15.3 billion dollars worth of goods though nearly 114 million on line orders in 2010.

    Lookalike sites. Some enterprising Internet "entrepreneurs" have already figured out the most common misspellings of popular destination sites. So if the e-commerce site you go to looks just a teeny bit odd, double-check the URL and make sure you are where you intended to go.

    Scam links on social media. Links to malware and scam sites offering special holiday offers and magical mistletoe can spread as quickly on Facebook and Twitter as a cold can spread through a kindergarten class. Best to avoid all holiday-related links on Facebook and potentially miss out on that thrilling video of the dog barking "Jingle Bells" than to click on a link that wipes out your computer.

    Fake holiday gifts. Emails offering gift items at prices that are too good to be true—you should be very wary. Unscrupulous con artists can even set up web pages using a fake company name selling fake holiday gifts. Do your research—if you don't recognize the name of the company, don't order anything!

    Fraudulent sellers on auction sites. When you can't find the season's most popular new toy in an actual store, you might decide to see if anybody's reselling the toy online. If you do, avoid sellers with very few ratings or ones without established histories on the site. Don't take a chance on an unproven merchant.

    Emails from "retailers" about your credit card information. If you get an email asking you to confirm or re-enter a credit card number that the retailer already has, chances are it's phony. If you're worried that a retailer really has failed to process your order, go to the site and look up your account or contact their customer service center—don't click on a link in email that could redirect to a dummy site.

    • The free, 12-page eBook guide, "Online Shopping Safety Made Easy," can be downloaded here.
    • The "Online Safety Tips" infographic can be downloaded here.
    • For more information on the types of attacks cybercriminals are implementing, please visit the Trend Micro Malware Blog here.

    Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in Internet content security, focuses on securing the exchange of digital information for businesses and consumers. A transnational company, with headquarters in Tokyo, and operations in 23 countries including Canada, Trend Micro's trusted security solutions are sold through its business partners worldwide.

    For further information:

    For interviews: Claire M Tallarico 416 616 9940tallarico623@rogers.com

    GE, Microsoft to Launch Joint Venture Aimed at Global Healthcare System Transformation

    GE, Microsoft to Launch Joint Venture Aimed at Global Healthcare System Transformation
    50/50 JV combines Microsoft’s deep platform expertise with GE Healthcare’s experience in clinical and administrative workflow solutions.

    BARRINGTON, Ill., and REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 7, 2011 — General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE), through its healthcare IT business, and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) today announced plans to create a joint venture aimed at helping healthcare organizations and professionals use real-time, systemwide intelligence to improve healthcare quality and the patient experience. Upon formation, the new company will develop and market an open, interoperable technology platform and innovative clinical applications focused on enabling better population health management to improve outcomes and the overall economics of health and wellness.

    As healthcare providers and payers around the globe shift from episodic single-patient care to continuous population management, new requirements have emerged for integrated care processes, greater insight and engaging patient experiences. These delivery system reforms, including a shift toward new payment models, require healthcare providers to address gaps and integrate data across silos of care delivery to help enable better care coordination and performance improvement.

    This new joint venture will combine Microsoft’s deep expertise in building platforms and ecosystems with GE Healthcare’s experience in clinical and administrative workflow solutions, empowering healthcare professionals and organizations with the intelligence and capabilities to respond to the rapidly evolving and complex healthcare landscape.

    “The complementary nature of GE Healthcare’s and Microsoft’s individual expertise will drive new insights, solutions and efficiencies to further advance the two companies’ shared vision of a connected, patient-centric healthcare system,” said Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman and CEO of GE. “The global healthcare challenges of access, cost and quality of care delivery are creating a new focus on the performance and accountability of healthcare delivery systems — in every country, at every level of care. This venture will demonstrate what is possible when leading companies with complementary capabilities work together to meet a common goal.”

    The new company will deliver a distinctive, open platform that will give healthcare providers and independent software vendors the ability to develop a new generation of clinical applications. The venture will develop healthcare applications on the platform using in-house developers and the platform will connect with a wide range of healthcare IT products. GE Healthcare IT will immediately be able to connect existing products to the platform, helping current customers to derive new insights.

    “High-quality, affordable healthcare is one of the biggest challenges facing every nation, but it’s also an area where technology can make a huge difference,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. “Combining Microsoft’s open, interoperable health platforms and software expertise with GE’s experience and healthcare solutions will create exciting opportunities for patients and healthcare providers alike. Working together, GE and Microsoft can help make healthcare systems more intelligent and cost efficient while improving patient care.”

    The two parent companies bring complementary expertise to this new venture and will contribute intellectual property, including the following:

    Microsoft Amalga, an enterprise health intelligence platform

    Microsoft Vergence, a single sign-on and context management solution

    Microsoft expreSSO, an enterprise single sign-on solution

    GE Healthcare eHealth, a Health Information Exchange

    GE Healthcare Qualibria, a clinical knowledge application environment being developed in cooperation with Intermountain Healthcare (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Mayo Clinic

    The long-term vision of the venture is to create new value by offering a healthcare performance management suite that includes many of these products.

    In addition to the new joint venture, GE Healthcare and Microsoft will each maintain a strong presence in the healthcare IT industry, as both parent organizations will continue to sell other products and services to healthcare organizations around the globe.

    “Improving the quality of healthcare through innovative collaboration is a goal that we share with GE Healthcare and Microsoft. Working together with others to identify new ways to improve health outcomes and drive down cost is a hallmark of our patient-care philosophy,” said C. Michel Harper, M.D., executive dean for Practice, Mayo Clinic. “We’re pleased to see healthcare IT companies embrace this same idea and come together in new ways. We look forward to seeing the progress this new endeavor will bring in medicine.”

    “Intermountain Healthcare and GE have a strong history and partnership in developing and advancing transformational healthcare information technologies,” stated Charles S. Sorenson, MD, president and chief executive officer of Intermountain Healthcare. “Our common vision is driving powerful advancements in healthcare and improving the clinical work process by making real-time information available at the point of care. We look forward to continuing our efforts to further these principles, achieving our combined objectives, and putting these important technologies into practice.”

    The new company’s products and services will provide the information and insight required to help address many critical problems in the healthcare system today, including these:

    Healthcare associated infections. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 1.7 million healthcare associated infections occur annually, resulting in $35 billion in additional healthcare costs1,2 and the loss of nearly 100,000 lives.3 By pulling together data from disparate IT systems, identifying those patients most at risk for a given HAI, and surfacing guidelines and protocols within provider workflow, the solutions will enable healthcare organizations to more effectively deploy their resources and deliver better care at lower costs.

    Chronic disease management. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 133 million Americans (nearly half of all adults) live with at least one chronic illness and most chronic diseases require a lifetime of ongoing care.4 To help patients and their physicians work together more efficiently to manage chronic conditions, the platform and applications will support the sharing of data from at-home medical devices (such as blood pressure cuffs, scales and glucometers) with caregivers to facilitate better tracking of chronic conditions, coordination of treatment schedules, management of medication regimens and timely interventions.

    The new venture complements the existing offerings from both parent companies and is expected to yield job growth in its first five years of existence. It will operate globally, offering interoperability platforms and application solutions targeting both healthcare providers and payers. Michael J. Simpson, vice president and general manager at GE Healthcare IT, will serve as the company’s CEO.

    The new company, which has yet to be named, will be headquartered near the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Wash., with significant presence in Salt Lake City, Utah, and additional cities around the world.

    Launch of the new joint venture is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected in the first half of 2012.

    About GE Healthcare

    GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.

    About Microsoft in Health

    Microsoft is committed to improving health around the world through software innovation. Over the past 16 years, Microsoft has steadily increased its investments in health, with a focus on addressing the challenges of health providers, health and social services organizations, payers, consumers and life sciences companies worldwide. Microsoft closely collaborates with a broad ecosystem of partners and develops its own powerful health solutions, such as Microsoft Amalga and Microsoft HealthVault. Together, Microsoft and its industry partners are working to deliver health solutions that enable better health outcomes for more people.

    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.

    1 Scott, D. R. The Direct Medical Costs of HAIs in US Hospitals and the Benefits of Prevention, CDC [Online.] http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/Scott_CostPaper.pdf

    2 Fuller, R. et. al. Estimating the Costs of Potential Preventable HACs, Healthcare Financing Review. Vol. 30, No. 4 [Online.] http://www.cms.gov/HealthCareFinancingReview/downloads/09SummerPg17.pdf

    3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Vital Statistics (2009).

    4 Wu SY, Green A. Projection of chronic illness prevalence and cost inflation. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Health; 2000.

    Small budgets, big IT risks could wreak havoc at 63% of Canadian companies: Ernst & Young

    Small budgets, big IT risks could wreak havoc at 63% of Canadian companies: Ernst & Young

    MONTREAL, Dec. 8, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - While pressured to adopt new mobile technologies and implement access to social media, 83% of Canadian companies are concerned with heightened tech risks, says a new report from Ernst & Young. Conversely, 63% reported that they don't have sufficient budget to appropriately secure their IT infrastructure. Clearly, this trend cannot continue indefinitely without negative consequences appearing somewhere down the road.

    "The introduction of smartphones and tablets in the working environment has extended the virtual boundaries of the enterprise, blurring the lines between home and the office. Constant access to email and sensitive corporate data from anywhere, anytime may improve productivity, but also increases security risks. The concept of defence perimeter must be replaced by defence-in-depth", explains Gaétan Houle, Associate Partner and National Leader for IT Security Advisory services at Ernst & Young.

    Ernst & Young's 2011 Global Information Security Survey shows that while 62% of Canadian respondents plan to increase their information security budgets in the next 12 months, only 37% will spend more on security monitoring. "This is a bit concerning," says Houle. "The introduction of personal smartphones and tablets, combined with the increasing demand for access to social media has opened up several new attack vectors for advanced persistent threats (APTs), which are a well-resourced, highly capable and relentless class of hackers."

    APTs are successful because they developed the capability to bypass traditional security defences, which makes it extremely difficult for companies to discover the intrusion and develop appropriate solutions to address the threat. "This is mainly why security monitoring should be given a higher priority. Given the rapid evolution of APTs, most companies would probably be better off outsourcing the monitoring of their Internet traffic to the pros," recommends Houle.

    Executives also have social media on their radar. Most respondents (72%) said external malicious attacks were their top risk, with nearly 40% of companies rating social-media-related risks as challenging. Houle says this is not surprising as we see an increasing number of attacks that draws information from social media to use in more effective phishing emails.

    To help address potential risks posed by social media, organizations seem to be adopting a hard line response. Just over half (53%) have responded by blocking access to sites rather than embracing the change and adopting enterprise-wide measures. This response, while perhaps addressing external threats, does not completely deal with the widespread global personal adoption of social media usage and benefits that their integration into business may generate. "In fact", says Houle, "the lack of an integrated information security policy for both access to and use of social media may prevent companies from keeping pace with competitors and may be creating a sense of mistrust with employees."

    Companies should embrace the full advantages of social media and, from a prevention perspective, develop a policy that explicitly addresses external social media and educate users about the potential damage to the organization's brand. Companies should also consider monitoring their employees' usage of these sites (without restricting access).

    About Ernst & Young
    Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

    For more information, please visit ey.com/ca.

    Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.

    Gartner Says Worldwide External Controller-Based Disk Storage Market Grew 10.4 Percent in Third Quarter of 2011

    Gartner, Inc. : Gartner Says Worldwide External Controller-Based Disk Storage Market Grew 10.4 Percent in Third Quarter of 2011

    Gartner Says Worldwide External Controller-Based Disk Storage Market Grew 10.4 Percent in Third Quarter of 2011 STAMFORD, Conn., December 8, 2011-              Worldwide external controller-based (ECB) disk storage revenue totaled $5.1 billion in the third quarter of 2011, a 10.4 percent increase from revenue of $4.6 billion in the third quarter of 2010, according to Gartner, Inc. Although the worldwide ECB disk storage market showed positive revenue growth for the seventh quarter in a row, the market did show signs of slowing down.

    "The third-quarter, year-over-year worldwide growth rate was the smallest percentage increase in the past seven quarters," said Roger Cox, research vice president at Gartner. "The North American region, which grew 6.7 percent in the third quarter, appears to be finally laboring under the weight of an extremely sluggish economy. Moreover, the prolonged debate and uncertainty around the debt ceiling as the quarter came to an end also had a negative influence on third-quarter revenue."

    Although the Asia/Pacific and Latin American regions produced the largest year-over-year revenue gains at 23 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively, the EMEA region continued to achieve results that defied its economic woes. These three regions in particular benefit from the conversion of direct attached storage (DAS) infrastructures to fabric attached storage (FAS) infrastructures associated with the transition to a virtualized server environment, as well as the ongoing movement from tape to disk in order to modernize inefficient backup/recovery methodologies.

    Led by EMC, the branded sales of four vendors, including IBM, HP and Hitachi/Hitachi Data Systems, gained market share in the third quarter of 2011 (see Table 1). EMC's strength remained its broad ECB market coverage. EMC was the leading vendor in the block-access and Special Purpose Disk Active Archiving System (PDAAS) segments. Propelled by the Isilon acquisition and the new VNX series, EMC garnered for the first time the top position in the network-attached storage (NAS) segment.

    Table 1
    Worldwide ECB Disk Storage Vendor Revenue Estimates for 3Q11 (Millions of U.S. Dollars)

    Company

    3Q11

    Revenue

    3Q11 Market Share (%)

    3Q10

    Revenue

    3Q10 Market Share (%)

    3Q10-3Q11

     Change (%)

    EMC1

    1,652.3

    32.1

    1,328.5

    28.5

    24.4

    IBM

    665.6

    12.9

    597.0

    12.8

    11.5

    NetApp3

    551.7

    10.7

    529.9

    11.4

    4.1

    HP

    536.8

    10.4

    445.7

    9.6

    20.4

    Hitachi/HDS2

    476.9

    9.3

    405.0

    8.7

    17.7

    Dell

    401.0

    7.8

    388.9

    8.4

    3.1

    Fujitsu4

    119.5

    2.3

    125.9

    2.7

    -5.1

    Oracle

    89.7

    1.7

    95.0

    2.0

    -5.5

    Others

    648.8

    12.6

    740.3

    15.9

    -12.4

    Total

    5,142.2

    100.0

    4,656.2

    100.0

    10.4

    Note 1: EMC revenue excludes OEM revenue from Dell and Fujitsu Technology Solutions.
    Note 2: Hitachi/Hitachi Data Systems revenue excludes OEM revenue from HP.
    Note 3: NetApp revenue excludes ONTAP OEM revenue from IBM and Engenio OEM revenue.
    Note 4: Fujitsu's branded revenue does not include products sold under the EMC and NetApp brands.
    Source: Gartner (December 2011)

    Bolstered by strong year-over-year growth results by IBM's flagship DS8000 series in conjunction with broad acceptance of its XIV Gen3 and Storwize V7000 modular storage systems, IBM overcame the decline in DS5000/DS3000 revenue sourced from NetApp to increase its share by a modest 0.1 percent.

    Driven by the performance of the P4000 G2 SAN Solution Platforms (formerly LeftHand Networks) and 3PAR Storage Systems, HP gained almost one percentage point in market share, offsetting the drop in EVA revenue. The high-end Virtual Storage Platform (VSP) remained the engine behind Hitachi/Hitachi Data Systems performance, enabling it to gain 0.6 percentage points of share in the third quarter of 2011.

    NetApp's third-quarter results reflect an overdependence on a few large customers, limited geographic coverage in high-growth countries and increased competition from Dell, EMC, HP and IBM in the midrange modular ECB disk array market segment. In addition, Gartner analysts said NetApp's storage solutions that leverage the branded E-Series are yet to produce meaningful revenue.

    Even though Dell is making notable strides with its Compellent acquisition, and the EqualLogic PS-Series results remain robust, the falloff in cobranded Dell/EMC CX-Series revenue, coupled with its deteriorating position in the NAS segment, inhibited Dell's overall ECB revenue growth.

    The third quarter of 2011 was the first quarter where the disengagement from Hitachi Data Systems was not impacting Oracle's ECB disk storage results. Nevertheless, and even with credit for the Pillar Axiom acquisition, Oracle lost 0.3 percent share.

    In the ECB disk storage market segment, the block-access segment represented 77.9 percent of the total market and increased 9 percent year over year in third quarter of 2011. The file-access segment represented 21.3 percent of the total market and was up 15.5 percent year over year. The SPDASS segment represented 0.7 percent of the total market was up 22.1 percent year over year. Vendor pricing and discounting were consistent with historic trends, with the price per terabyte declining 16.6 percent. The hard-disk drive (HDD) shortfall caused by the floods in Thailand did not have an impact on HDD supply or third-quarter 2011 ECB disk storage system revenue results.

    Gartner ECB disk storage reports reflect vendor-branded hardware-only revenue, as well as hardware revenue associated with financial leases and managed services. Optional and separately priced storage software revenue and storage area network infrastructure components are excluded.

    Additional information on the ECB disk storage market is available in the Gartner report "Quarterly Statistics: Disk Array Storage, All Regions, 3Q11 Update." The report includes vendor market share by data access method, price band, sales channel and operating system segmentation. The report is available on Gartner's website at .

    Contacts:

    Christy Pettey
    Gartner
    +1 408 468 8312
    christy.pettey@gartner.com

    Holly Stevens
    Gartner
    +44 0 1784 267412
    holly.stevens@gartner.com

    About Gartner:
    Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is a valuable partner to 60,000 clients in 11,500 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 4,500 associates, including 1,250 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 85 countries. For more information, visit .

    CA Technologies ARCserve MSP 2.0 Licensing Program Empowers Service Providers to Thrive in Growing Data Protection Market

    CA Technologies ARCserve MSP 2.0 Licensing Program Empowers Service Providers to Thrive in Growing Data Protection Market

    New Subscription-Based Per-Terabyte Structure Complements Per-Server Pricing to Drive New Opportunisties and Optimize Margins

    Integration with Nimsoft and Kaseya Further Facilitates Ability of MSPs to Efficiently Manage Customer IT Environments

    ISLANDIA, NY, December 7, 2011– CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) today introduced version 2.0 of its Managed Service Provider (MSP) licensing program for CA ARCserve®, which adds subscription-based per-terabyte pricing options to its existing per-server model.

    By licensing CA ARCserve on a subscription basis per terabyte of data protected, MSPs can offer customers pay-as-you-go data protection solutions that don’t require upfront surcharges and that keep costs tightly aligned with the customer’s actual month-to-month needs.

    At the same time, the CA ARCserve MSP 2.0 licensing program gives MSPs the flexibility to opt for per-server licensing in situations where it is more cost-efficient.

    Because it requires neither minimum orders nor minimum subscription periods, the MSP 2.0 licensing program also protects MSPs from the downside risks associated with spikes in the market.

    “MSPs win by performing tasks more effectively and cost-efficiently than customers can do themselves,” said Mike Crest, general manager, Data Management at CA Technologies. “CA ARCserve solutions enable MSPs to provide precise and reliable data protection—and our new MSP 2.0 licensing program helps them do it more cost effectively.”

    The MSP 2.0 program features three other licensing enhancements specifically designed to help MSPs optimize margins on a wide range of attractive data protection services:

    • Desktop/laptop backup licensing for desktop and laptop protection services;
    • A bundled license for combining disk-to-disk server protection with off-site replication in the MSP’s data center; and
    • Per-host licensing for disk-to-disk protection of Windows Server Advanced Virtual Edition.

    CA ARCserve r16, introduced in September, provides all of the functionality MSPs require to efficiently backup and restore their customers’ business-critical data—including support for public and private cloud services such as Amazon Web Services®, Microsoft Windows Azure™ and Eucalyptus.

    Integration with Nimsoft and Kaseya
     
    In conjunction with the introduction of the MSP 2.0 licensing program for CA ARCserve, CA Technologies announced integrations with management tools from two vendors who are widely used by MSPs: Nimsoft and Kaseya

    The new integrations streamline management operations for MSPs by forwarding alerts and events from ARCserve tools to an MSP’s main management console.  These events and alerts include the completion or failure of backups, low disk space on a destination drive, excessive utilization of resources, such as CPU and network bandwidth by backup or recovery processes, and the inability to access a targeted virtual machine or hypervisor instance.

    CA ARCserve already works with a variety of other third-party Remote Management and Monitoring tools from vendors that include N-able Technologies, LabTech Software and Level Platforms.

    “To create an attractively priced mix of services that best fit market demand, MSPs need to be able to build individual portfolios of well-integrated management tools,” said Crest.  “By making CA ARCserve an open platform, CA Technologies is empowering MSPs to incorporate best-in-class data protection into their well-integrated, highly individualized toolkits.”

    Partner quotes:

    “Over the past couple of years we’ve seen a significant change in our business from product and solution selling to service-based contracts, such as our Managed Services for Backup offering where we provide customers a complete outsourced service for protecting and recovering their data,” said David Anderson, director Basic Business Systems Ltd, one of the leading IT solutions providers in the UK Midlands. “The dedicated CA ARCserve MSP Licensing Program did exactly what we needed and enabled us to win business by enabling us to competitively price and simplify the entire process of backup software deployment. Version 2.0 of this program—with the unique option of pricing either per-server or per-TB—will give us even greater profitability and the ability to more closely match ever-changing customer needs.”

    “In crafting its new MSP 2.0 licensing program, CA Technologies has again demonstrated a keen understanding of the MSP business model and a clear willingness to work with us in pursuing the huge market opportunity for cloud services,” said Viktor Tadijanovic, technology director and founding member of the Abacus Group LLC, a New York-based firm that helps alternative investment managers deploy and manage hosted IT solutions.  “The pricing model is especially attractive to us, as it better enables us to offer our clients the cost-elasticity that is central to the cloud value proposition.”

    “By eliminating the need to buy licenses up front, removing minimum term or capacity requirements, and consolidating the most popular SKUs, the CA ARCserve MSP licensing program enables us to pay only for what we use and with minimal risk or complexity—which is especially important given how much our customers' virtualized IT environments can change and how intensely competitive the service provider market has become,” said Pascal Luyckx, datacenter manager at Cheops technology nv, a Belgium-based provider of systems integration and managed services. “With this new program, we can more aggressively price and market high-value managed services that leverage proven best-in-class data protection solutions from CA Technologies.”

    “The updated CA ARCserve MSP licensing program advances the significant technical innovation and flexible hybrid data protection in CA ARCserve r16 by enabling service-oriented companies to safeguard their data centers and provide data protection services with minimum risk,” said David Simpson, commercial director for Softcat, a leading UK provider of software licensing, hardware, security and related IT services. “Being able to choose per-instance or data capacity licensing as needed, MSPs can leverage the most cost-efficient pricing model to accelerate profits and align with customer objectives.”

    About CA Technologies

    CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) is an IT management software and solutions company with expertise across all IT environments – from mainframe and distributed, to virtual and cloud. CA Technologies manages and secures IT environments and enables customers to deliver more flexible IT services. CA Technologies innovative products and services provide the insight and control essential for IT organizations to power business agility. The majority of the Global Fortune 500 relies on CA Technologies to manage evolving IT ecosystems. For additional information, visit CA Technologies at www.ca.com.

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