Gartner Says That by 2017, 25 Percent of Enterprises Will Have an Enterprise App Store

STAMFORD, Conn., February 12, 2013View All Press Releases

Gartner Says That by 2017, 25 Percent of Enterprises Will Have an Enterprise App Store

Growing Number of Enterprise Mobile Devices and Enterprise Adoption of MDM Will Drive Demand and Adoption of Enterprise App Stores

Analysts Examine the State of the Industry at Gartner Application Architecture, Development

By 2017, 25 percent of enterprises will have an enterprise app store for managing corporate-sanctioned apps on PCs and mobile devices, according to Gartner, Inc. Enterprise app stores promise greater control over the apps used by employees, greater control over software expenditures and greater negotiating leverage with app vendors, but this greater control is only possible if the enterprise app store is widely adopted. 

"Apps downloaded from public app stores for mobile devices disrupt IT security, application and procurement strategies," said Ian Finley, research vice president at Gartner. "Bring your own application (BYOA) has become as important as bring your own device (BYOD) in the development of a comprehensive mobile strategy, and the trend toward BYOA has begun to affect desktop and Web applications as well. Enterprise app stores promise at least a partial solution but only if IT security, application, procurement and sourcing professionals can work together to successfully apply the app store concept to their enterprises. When successful, they can increase the value delivered by the application portfolio and reduce the associated risks, license fees and administration expenses." 

Gartner has identified three key enterprise app store trends and recommendations of how organizations can benefit from them: 

The increasing number of enterprise mobile devices and the adoption of mobile device management (MDM) by enterprises will drive demand and adoption of enterprise app stores.

Enterprises already have numerous choices for downloading software onto PCs, but most of them don't include support for smartphones and tablets. Enterprises are beginning to formalize more standard support for these devices, and are looking for ways to manage mobile application provision, especially as they develop their own in-house apps to extend more complex data to these devices. 

"Many enterprises have looked to MDM vendors to provide these capabilities as part of the suite of services that MDM providers are selling," said Phillip Redman, research vice president at Gartner. "Today, most MDM providers have a simple way of extending apps to mobile devices, usually through a basic agent on the device, but many are launching more-sophisticated app stores that can host enterprise and third-party apps to be accessed by smartphones, tablets and PCs. The development of mobile apps and the support of MDM will drive most enterprise app store implementations during the next 12 to 18 months." 

Organizations begin by assessing the realistic need for immediate adoption of enterprise app stores and looking for providers that offer cross-platform support for Web, PC and mobile apps, as well as for different devices. App stores should be part of an MDM bundle of features and should be purchased along with a full mobile management solution. 

Enterprise app stores can support a more diverse and competitive automated software process requiring less procurement intervention.

The enterprise app store offers a way to automate the procurement of enterprise software licenses from app stores under corporate control as part of the normal requisitioning process. By delegating choice to end users, organizations can delegate many important price and performance decisions down to the end-user level, enabling them to make the best choice to meet their needs with the knowledge that the cost will require management approval and/or chargeback to their business unit.

"Enterprise app stores enable procurement to broaden user choice by encouraging providers to submit competing apps, and to monitor demand for popular apps that may benefit from better negotiation of license terms and prices," said Stewart Buchanan, research vice president at Gartner. 

The long-term success of an enterprise app store hinges on a dramatic increase in the supply of software solutions.

Few companies are still in the position to control their entire mobile value chain. Enterprise IT organizations should be transitioning from the traditional approach of selecting devices and software for users and instead, establishing transparent and enforced app curation policies — as is currently found in public app stores.

This shift in control will be challenging for many IT organizations. But even more profound will be the enablement of choice. Without a dynamic selection of apps to choose from, users will eventually have little reason to continue to visit an enterprise app store. An app store can be a natural way to share new applications within the enterprise, recognize great applications, provide feedback to development teams and even create a bit of competition between them — all to drive the development of better solutions. A dramatic increase in the app options available to internal stakeholders is a precondition of any successful enterprise app store.
 
"The implementation of an enterprise app store should be seen as a component of an organization's application strategy, rather than infrastructure strategy," said Brian Prentice, research vice president at Gartner. "The primary determinant of success is app supply. As a result, application leaders should be given overall responsibility for any app store initiative, but they should work in a collaborative fashion with other teams. The types of apps downloaded and used provide important information as to what types of solutions are of value to each type of user." 

More detailed analysis is available in the report "Enterprise App Stores Can Increase the ROI of the App Portfolio" The report is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=2325115

Gartner analysts will present additional findings on the future of the applications at the Gartner Application Architecture, Development & Integration Summit 2013, May 16-17 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London, U.K. For further information on the Summit, please visit http://www.gartner.com/eu/aadi. Members of the media can register for the Summit at no cost by contacting Rob van der Meulen, Gartner PR on + 44 (0) 1784 267 738 or at rob.vandermeulen@gartner.com

Additional information from the event will be shared on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Gartner_inc using #GartnerAADI.

Contacts
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 the valuable partner to clients in 12,000 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 5,000 associates, including 1,280 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 85 countries. For more information, www.gartner.com.

Caching In: How Some Organizations Are Using Big Data to Change the Way They Do Business

Caching In: How Some Organizations Are Using Big Data to Change the Way They Do Business
Feb. 12, 2013
As big data access shifts to the masses, The Weather Company and other top global companies are showing the world how it's done.

REDMOND, Wash.  Feb. 12, 2012  Big data is changing the way organizations do business, make discoveries, and interact with each other. In fact, pundits are predicting that 2013 will be the year organizations across a range of industries begin implementing big data strategies, or face obsolescence. As David Selinger wrote in a recent article on Forbes online: “If executives don’t find a way to trap, tame, and train their data monsters, they’ll be extinct in two years—fossils who’ve missed the new world order.” 

Microsoft believes that big data has the power to drive practical and theoretical insights that have eluded people to date. In the past, high costs and technology limitations have constrained access to data storage infrastructure and the tools needed to manage and analyze large quantities of data. This is finally starting to change. 

With big data, we are helping our customers understand the data and take action in real-time.
Bryson Koehler , chief information officer at The Weather Company

And as many grapple with the “what” and “why” of big data, there are already customers leading the way and winning with better, faster insight. No organization knows this better than The Weather Company, parent company of The Weather Channel. Weather is at the core of many decisions that people make on a daily basis, and The Weather Company is at the forefront as they manage, consume and generate big data. The 1,200-person organization, based in Atlanta, Georgia, recognizes the opportunity that big data represents and is working to help consumers and businesses make intelligent decisions.

“Weather is probably the biggest big data platform. It plays a role in how you work, how you live, how you play and how you shop,” says Bryson Koehler, chief information officer at The Weather Company. “It impacts a significant portion of the world’s activity, and big data is about understanding how consumer behavior intersects with and is influenced by weather. With big data, we are helping our customers understand the data and take action in real-time.” 

The Weather Company isn’t alone in this effort. A growing number of organizations are now thriving in the new world of big data. By using Microsoft solutions—including technologies that encompass machine learning and distributed computing—they have been able to ease the synthesis of big data to uncover powerful insights, effectively transforming massive data stores into a major competitive advantage. Some of these organizations include:

  • Bank New Zealand. BNZ implemented a self-service data analysis tool that can process data queries 60 times faster than its previous solution, making it possible for analysts to respond more quickly to market conditions and get higher quality insights.

  • CROSSMARKA leading provider of sales and marketing services, CROSSMARK recently launched a new self-service data portal powered by Microsoft SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW) and Microsoft SQL Server 2012 business intelligence tools. The company uses the portal to deliver actionable, real-time business insights to its manufacturer and retailer clients in the consumer goods industry. In 2012 alone, CROSSMARK supported 26 million in-store activities for its clients, generating enormous amounts of point-of-sale (POS) data. Now, through its Microsoft solution, the company can provide highly scalable, on-demand access to consolidated reporting to help clients maximize revenue.

  • Department of Veterans Affairs. By using Microsoft technologies, the VA—which is the single largest medical system in the United States—has consolidated its entire analytics infrastructure and established a state-of-the-art data warehousing and big data computing environment to synthesize its immense health information database and support initiatives to improve patient care and organizational performance.

  • Great Western Bank. With a new data warehousing and BI solution, the bank can make it fast and easy for nontechnical employees to get exactly the information they are looking for, such as lists of categories of account holders for marketing campaigns. Users can more easily ensure a better fit between customers and bank services.

  • National Health Index. NHI provides internet access to the most comprehensive reservoir of healthcare data at the zip code level. The organization’s newly announced solution with Microsoft Corp., called the National Clinical Trial Network (NCTN), delivers a platform providing a comprehensive database of clinical trial options to providers. NCTN will also be a data warehouse transforming isolated data repositories into an integrated, searchable, national archive, permitting the rapid identification of representative samples of risk populations who might benefit from a proposed therapy.

  • Super 8 Hotels (China) Co., Ltd. In just one system, Super 8 Worldwide gets data analysis, data integration, and data reporting, so management can more easily analyze the business from multiple dimensions. It intends to use the technology to intelligently expand from 450 hotels to 1,000 hotels in three years.

  • Stein Mart. By implementing a Microsoft data warehouse and business intelligence (BI) solution, the company can manage information more efficiently and cut reporting time from hours to minutes.

  • University of Washington. Renowned as one of the world’s premier research universities and widely regarded as a center of technology innovation, the various departments that make up the University of Washington need to manage and process enormous amounts of data each day. To fulfill its mission in fostering the development of big ideas and transformational solutions, University Advancement has moved one of its reporting solutions to the Windows Azure cloud platform. The greatest value it has gained is enabling non-technical teams to quickly uncover insights from hundreds of millions of columns of data, providing increased scalability and easier management to better tailor outreach efforts to its alumni, donors and friends.

“Our big data customers stand at the forefront of a technology super-trend, one that can unleash human creativity on a scale never seen before,” says Susan Hauser, corporate vice president of the Enterprise and Partner Group at Microsoft. “Big data’s shift from obstacle to asset can only happen when one can easily unearth insight, and that requires broad availability of great analytics tools. Microsoft intends to facilitate an era of unmatched innovation and creative disruption.”

Still, the promise of big data remains largely unfulfilled. Technology companies need to do more to empower more people, which will push big data forward into the mainstream. Microsoft’s goal is to bring big data to the masses, believing that when you empower more people to use technology, you pave the way for new opportunities and understanding on a global scale. This fundamental belief that technology can change the world and improve people’s lives is what drives Microsoft’s long-term investments.

Rogers to revolutionize U.S. wireless data roaming rates for Canadians

Rogers to revolutionize U.S. wireless data roaming rates for Canadians

Cost and complexity of wireless roaming cited as top two barriers to smartphone use while travelling;

New simplified roaming will encourage smartphone use while travelling and give consumers peace of mind;

New roaming rates one of several new initiatives that respond to customer feedback

TORONTOFeb. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Rogers Communications announced today it will soon launch a new, more affordable, roaming rate for customers travelling to the United States. Canadians travelling to the U.S. use their wireless devices to go online more than in any other country, and want to have access to simple and predictable roaming. Rogers will lead the market with a new easy and worry-free roaming solution.

Coming this spring, the company is introducing a new $7.99 pay-per-use roaming rate that gives customers access to 50 megabytes of data over a 24 hour period while travelling in the U.S. This new rate, available to consumers and businesses, gives customers nearly twice the data that they would typically use domestically. With 50 MB of data, customers can view approximately 50 maps, 200 web pages, 1,000 emails or over 5,000 tweets. Customers will be alerted before reaching 50 MB which means they will be able to control their roaming costs.

"Our customers have consistently told us they want certainty and peace of mind when using their wireless devices to access the Internet while travelling," said Raj Doshi, Rogers Senior Vice President of Products. "Canadians' connected habits are evolving, and our new roaming model is an important step in addressing the changing needs of our customers. With this simple and affordable roaming rate, customers will be able to use their devices while travelling just as they would at home."

To help further enhance the customer experience, Rogers is also changing its cellphone unlocking policy this March so that customers can unlock their wireless phones as early as 90 days after activating their devices on the Rogers network.

In addition, the company has recently introduced the following programs and initiatives to help its customers:

  • Simplified wireless rate plans, including unlimited text and voice, making it easier for customers to understand their plans.
  • FLEXtab, a program that allows customers to pay off their device subsidy at any time.
  • Rogers Device Protection and Rogers Anti-Theft, services that offer customers enhanced protection on their wireless device.
  • Rogers TechXpert for wireless and Rogers TechXpert for high speed internet customers offering extended technical support, 24/7
  • Tech Essentials, a new education program to help consumers better understand how to use technology safely and smartly.

"These are just a few examples of steps we're taking to continually respond to customer feedback and to create a better experience for our customers," said Doshi. "We know Canadians want their wireless experience to be simpler and easier…we've listened to their input on the national wireless consumer code and we support having a single set of wireless standards across the country to provide equal ease of use for consumers from coast to coast."

In March of 2012, Rogers led the industry and proposed a draft national wireless consumer code to the CRTC. In early December 2012, Rogers reaffirmed its support for a national wireless consumer code that will lead to strong consumer ease of use standards that treat Canadians equally. Today, different rules apply in different provinces when it comes to contracts, cancellation policies, renewals and more. Having a single set of standards across the country would make it easier for customers to know what to expect from their service provider, no matter where they live in Canada. 

Rogers will provide its view and looks forward to hearing more from Canadians at the upcoming CRTC hearing starting February 11, 2013.

Planning to roam before the spring? Don't worry, Rogers has got you covered with our existing line-up of affordable and easy to use roaming packs and passes. For more information, visit www.rogers.com/roaming.

About Rogers Communications:

Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high speed internet and telephony services. Through Rogers Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and digital media. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit rogers.com.

SOURCE: Rogers Wireless and Cable

For further information:

Michelle Lewis
Rogers Communications
Tel: 416-935-8339
michelle.lewis@rci.rogers.com

































































































NetApp and SAP Deepen Strategic Partnership to Integrate Storage with Next-Generation Database, Analytics and Application Solutions

SAP and NetApp Deepen Strategic Partnership to Integrate Storage with Next-Generation Database, Analytics and Application Solutions 

Through Expanded Collaboration, SAP and NetApp to Enable Customers to Accelerate Deployment and Delivery of an Agile Data Infrastructure for SAP® Applications

 

WALLDORF, Germany and SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Feb. 7, 2013 — In an effort to accelerate the deployment and delivery of database, analytics and application solutions, SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) and NetApp (NASDAQ:NTAP) today announced they are deepening their collaboration with the intent to support next-generation solutions, including the SAP HANA® platform and SAP NetWeaver® Landscape Virtualization Management software. By complementing innovative database solutions from SAP with NetApp storage and data management solutions, the companies are providing customers with an agile data infrastructure for SAP® applications that can help drive competitive advantage and reduce cost of ownership.

 

Business needs and requirements change frequently and on short notice, forcing IT to become flexible enough to expand and contract IT and application services at a moment’s notice. Small applications might need to grow quickly, while others need to scale down. In this environment of IT uncertainty, some things remain constant. Lowering total cost of ownership (TCO) and accelerating time to market remain business imperatives. Therefore, companies are looking for flexible and efficient IT delivery environments, powered by industry leaders, to meet business requirements and propel their organizations to the next stage of growth.

 

“SAP is recognized worldwide for innovation and providing collaborative business solutions that help our customers compete and adapt to their fast-changing business needs,” said Rob Enslin, president of SAP Global Customer Operations and member of Global Managing Board, SAP. “Expanding our partnership with NetApp provides our customers with increased scalability and data protection, while at the same time allowing for greater management of data growth and adaptability to our customers’ changing on-demand needs.”

 

Results of Deepened SAP and NetApp Strategic Partnership

With the explosive growth of all types of data, SAP HANA is enabling customers to analyze big data and make decisions in real time. It is spurring productivity and new innovations, including the Cisco UCS with NetApp Storage solution for SAP HANA, which combines the innovative Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®) with NetApp unified storage systems. This solution delivers ease of management, infinite scalability and extremely high system availability.

 

Fujitsu and NetApp have collaborated for more than a decade, and the relationship has resulted in the delivery of cutting-edge appliances for SAP HANA, and converged Infrastructure solutions such as FlexFrame Orchestrator for SAP HANA, as well as traditional SAP workloads. The solutions can provide increased service level agreements and flexibility at reduced cost.

 

With these technologies, NetApp is part of the solution that supports customers running classic SAP solutions as well as SAP HANA. The building-block-style architecture supports logically unlimited scalability and offers high availability for support of non-stop operations.

 

NetApp storage and data management solutions, including the Cisco and NetApp-developed FlexPod, complement SAP NetWeaver Landscape Virtualization Management in the automation of routine administration tasks; reduction of costs, hardware resources and power; and simplification of landscape management of SAP solutions.

 

All NetApp solutions for SAP applications enable the acceleration of business success by leveraging an agile data infrastructure. Specifically, customers can deliver impact faster, achieve non-disruptive operations and scale their solution without limits and without complexity.

 

“Through our expanded relationship with SAP, businesses now have access to powerful integrated solutions that help to reduce total cost of operations and drive greater business agility,” said Rob Salmon, executive vice president, Field Operations, NetApp. “NetApp storage solutions ease the deployment and management of landscapes running SAP solutions and accelerate the transition our customers are making to cloud-based agile data infrastructures.”

 

Future Plans

SAP and NetApp plan to extend their collaboration into new areas to drive additional benefits for customers. Areas of new co-innovation may include SAP database solutions, further integrations around SAP NetWeaver Landscape Virtualization Management and cloud-based system management automation, and optimizing performance and availability of data management solutions for SAP HANA.

 

For more information, visit the SAP Newsroom.

 

About NetApp

NetApp creates innovative storage and data management solutions that deliver outstanding cost efficiency and accelerate business breakthroughs. Our commitment to living our core values and consistently being recognized as a great place to work around the world are fundamental to our long-term growth and success, as well as the success of our pathway partners and customers. Discover our passion for helping companies around the world go further, faster at www.netapp.com. Use of the word “partner” or “partnership” does not imply a legal partnership between NetApp and any other company.

 

About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 232,000 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

 

# # #

 

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “should” and “will” and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

 

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved.














































































































Statement by Apple

February 7, 2013

Statement by Apple

By early last year, Apple’s cash balance had built to a point beyond what we needed to run our business and maintain flexibility to take advantage of strategic opportunities, so we announced a plan to return $45 billion to shareholders over three years. As of next week we will have executed $10 billion of that plan.

We find ourselves in the fortunate position of continuing to generate large amounts of cash, including $23 billion in cash flow from operations in the last quarter alone. 

Apple’s management team and Board of Directors have been in active discussions about returning additional cash to shareholders. As part of our review, we will thoroughly evaluate Greenlight Capital’s current proposal to issue some form of preferred stock. We welcome Greenlight’s views and the views of all of our shareholders.

As a part of our efforts to further enhance corporate governance and serve our shareholders’ best interests, Proposal #2 in our proxy includes some recommended changes to our articles of incorporation. These changes were recommended independently of Greenlight’s proposal and would not preclude Apple from adopting their concept. Contrary to Greenlight’s statements, adoption of Proposal #2 would not prevent the issuance of preferred stock. Currently, Apple’s articles of incorporation provide for the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval. If Proposal #2 is adopted, our shareholders would have the right to approve the issuance of preferred stock. As such, Proposal #2 has the support of many of our shareholders.

We remain committed to having an ongoing dialogue with our shareholders to get perspectives around return of capital and driving shareholder value.

Press Contacts:
Katie Cotton
Apple
katiec@apple.com
(408) 974-7269

Steve Dowling
Apple
dowling@apple.com
(408) 974-1896

Investor Relations Contacts:
Nancy Paxton
Apple
paxton1@apple.com
(408) 974-5420

Joan Hoover
Apple
hoover1@apple.com
(408) 974-4570

OutRank by Rogers' Small Business Customers See 60% Rise in Web Traffic From Mobile Devices

OutRank by Rogers' Small Business Customers See 60% Rise in Web Traffic From Mobile Devices

Newly released statistics point to the increasing importance for Canadian small businesses to have a mobile marketing strategy.

TORONTOFeb. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - OutRank by Rogers today released the results of its 2012 customer web-traffic analysis, revealing a marked increase in the percentage of website visits coming from mobile devices. Since launching in Canada last year, OutRank has helped hundreds of small businesses across Canada to improve their online presence. By improving their organic search and sponsored rankings, OutRank enables small business owners to generate more customers with improved web strategies.

In the first quarter of 2012, 18 per cent of the visits to OutRank customers' websites came from mobile devices. By Q4 2012, this number had risen to 29 per cent, a 60 per cent increase.

"These statistics are one more proof point that Canadians are increasingly searching for products and services using their smartphones and tablets," said Milind Mehere, General Manager, OutRank by Rogers. "If a small business does not have a mobile web presence, it will find itself at a great disadvantage when competing for new business opportunities. OutRank supplies all of its customers with mobile-enabled versions of their websites."

The CRTC Communications Monitoring Report 2012 notes that while overall cell phone penetration has increased slightly from 2007 to 2011, smartphone adoption has grown more than 400 per cent during the same time.

"As an arborist, much of my new business comes after storms and when people need emergency services to remove fallen or hazardous trees," said Darryl Stevenson, owner of Upanoak Tree Care. "They could be sitting at their desk or searching from their smartphone. If they can't easily navigate my website, they'll quickly look elsewhere."

The CRTC report also stated that Internet access is second only to text messaging when it comes to Canadians' smartphone usage.

"OutRank's proprietary solutions help its customers market themselves online, both mobile and fixed, giving them the peace of mind to concentrate on growing their businesses," Ahmad said.

OutRank's web access statistics are based on internal data from more than 1,000 small business customers, and were gathered between Q1 2012 and Q4 2012.

To learn more about OutRank by Rogers and its SEO and Google AdWord services visit www.rogersoutrank.com.

About Rogers Communications Inc. 
Rogers is a diversified public Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high speed internet and telephony services. Through Rogers Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, and sports entertainment. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit www.rogers.com.

SOURCE: Rogers Communications Inc.

For further information:

Carrie Shaw
OutRank by Rogers
cshaw@rogersoutrank.com / 416-764-4569

or

Kiel Hume
Environics Communications
khume@environicspr.com / 416-969-2807



























































































Hundreds of Nova Scotia families will continue to benefit from well-paying, long-term jobs at BlackBerry.

Province Supports Families, Protects Good Jobs

Premier's Office

February 7, 2013 12:34 PM

Hundreds of Nova Scotia families will continue to benefit from well-paying, long-term jobs at BlackBerry.

"BlackBerry has been a solid employer in Nova Scotia for nearly a decade, providing hundreds of good jobs for Nova Scotia families," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "BlackBerry could have picked another place to bring its jobs and to establish a Centre of Excellence, but they feel the energy, enthusiasm and expertise in Nova Scotia. 

"Working with partners like BlackBerry is one more way to ensure more Nova Scotians can build a great life for themselves and their families right here at home."

BlackBerry is one of the world's top information technology and wireless companies. Last week, the company launched its highly anticipated BlackBerry 10 platform.

The province announced today, Feb. 7, it will support BlackBerry to maintain its Nova Scotia base, establish a BlackBerry 10 Centre of Excellence and, over the next five years, protect hundreds of well-paying jobs it provides Nova Scotia families and people like Cynthia Sullivan.

"The job I have at BlackBerry matches my skills and education," said Ms. Sullivan, a technical support employee in Halifax. "Because of BlackBerry, I don't have to leave home to find a good quality job, it's right here."

Four-hundred employees would earn almost $120 million over five years, money they can spend in their communities and to make life better for their families.

"BlackBerry is pleased to partner with the province of Nova Scotia to create a Centre of Excellence on the East Coast. These partnerships help to foster innovation and support BlackBerry's competitiveness on a global scale," said Andrew MacLeod, BlackBerry managing director for Canada.

BlackBerry will employ at least 400 people annually with an average salary of at least $60,000, and invest $4 million annually in the centre of excellence to upgrade skills, purchase new equipment, hardware and software to support the new platform, and for research and development. In return, the province will invest $2 million annually for five years, gaining more than $9 million in estimated direct tax revenue generated by BlackBerry's $120-million payroll.

BlackBerry is a global leader in wireless innovation. The BlackBerry smartphone revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Since launching BlackBerry, the company's customer base has grown to more than 79 million BlackBerry customers and operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

The province's investment is from the Nova Scotia Jobs Fund, which pursues investment opportunities for communities in transition, industry sectors, regional support, small businesses programs, infrastructure and large industrial ventures.


FOR BROADCAST USE:

     Hundreds of Nova Scotia families will continue to benefit

from well-paying, long-term jobs at BlackBerry.

     The company has been a solid employer in Nova Scotia for 

nearly a decade, providing hundreds of good jobs for Nova Scotia

families, says Premier Darrell Dexter.

     The premier says BlackBerry could have picked another place

to establish a Centre of Excellence, but it feels the energy,

enthusiasm and expertise in Nova Scotia. 

     The province announced today (February 7th), it will

support BlackBerry to and maintain its Nova Scotia base,

establish a BlackBerry 10 Centre of Excellence and, over the

next five years, protect hundreds of well-paying jobs it

provides Nova Scotia families.

-30-

Media Contacts: Jennifer Gavin
                Economic and Rural Development and Tourism
                902-424-4998
                Cell: 902-219-1137
                E-mail: gavinjm@gov.ns.ca

                Tina Thibeau
                Economic and Rural Development and Tourism
                902-424-5836
                Cell: 902-483-6104
                E-mail: thibeatd@gov.ns.ca

Don’t Get Scroogled by Gmail

Don’t Get Scroogled by Gmail
Feb. 06, 2013
Outlook.com launches campaign to educate consumers that Google goes through their personal emails to sell ads.

REDMOND, Wash. — Feb6, 2013 — Today, Outlook.com launched Don’t Get Scroogled by Gmail, a national campaign at http://www.scroogled.com to educate Americans about Google’s practice of going through the contents of all Gmail emails to sell and target ads. According to a public GfK Roper study, commissioned by Microsoft Corp., 70 percent of consumers don’t know that major email providers routinely engage in the practice of reading through their personal email to sell ads — something that 88 percent of people disapprove of once they are informed. Unlike Gmail, Outlook.com doesn’t go through the content of users’ emails to show ads. Outlook.com hopes this campaign will help educate consumers about Google’s email practices and promote Outlook.com’s policy of prioritizing the privacy of its users’ emails.

To help consumers have their voice heard, today Outlook.com launched a petition to help them get the message to Google that going through personal email messages to sell ads is unacceptable. Outlook.com encourages consumers to sign the petition at Scroogled.com and tell Google to stop going through their emails to sell ads. Outlook.com encourages consumers to prioritize their privacy by switching to Outlook.com.

How Google Uses Personal Email Content to Sell Ads

Google goes through every single word of personal Gmail messages and uses that information to sell and target ads. As Google explains on its website, “In Gmail, most of the ads we show appear next to an open email message and are related to the contents of the current email conversation or thread.” For example, if you write a friend to let her know you are separating from your husband, Google sells ads against this information to divorce lawyers, who post ads alongside it. Or if you ask a friend for vacation suggestions, Google uses this information to target you with ads from travel agencies or airlines that want your business.

Google even goes through emails from non-Gmail users to generate advertising income. Gmail goes through all incoming email messages, from any email provider, and sells ads based on the content of those emails — a practice that nearly 90 percent of Americans agree should end.

Unfortunately even if they try, consumers cannot stop Google from going through their personal email for the purpose of showing them targeted ads. Google does not enable Gmail users to opt out of seeing ads based on the content of emails.

There are currently six active class action lawsuits against Google, all alleging illegal eavesdropping or interception under federal and state wiretapping laws, related to Google’s scanning of emails.

“Emails are personal — and people feel that reading through their emails to sell ads is out of bounds,” said Stefan Weitz, senior director of Online Services at Microsoft. “We honor the privacy of our Outlook.com users, and we are concerned that Google violates that privacy every time an Outlook.com user exchanges messages with someone on Gmail. This campaign is as much about protecting Outlook.com users from Gmail as it is about making sure Gmail users know what Google’s doing.”

New GfK Roper Poll: Public Largely Unaware and Strongly Disapproves of the Practice

A new GfK Roper poll, commissioned by Microsoft, shows that only 30 percent of Americans are aware that any email service goes through the content of personal emails to sell ads, and 88 percent of consumers disapprove of this practice.

Key results from this survey include the following: 

  • 88 percent of Americans disapprove of email service providers scanning the content of their personal emails in order to target ads, and 52 percent disapprove strongly.

  • 89 percent of Americans agree that email service providers should not be allowed to scan the content of personal emails in order to target ads.

  • 83 percent of Americans agree that email service providers scanning the content of their personal emails to target ads is an invasion of privacy.

  • 70 percent of Americans didn’t believe or didn’t know that any major email service provider scans the content of personal emails in order to target ads.

  • 88 percent of email users believe that email service providers should allow users to “opt out” if they prefer that the content of their emails not be scanned in order to target ads.

Outlook.com believes users should be informed about Google’s email privacy intrusions and consumers should know they have a choice to switch to Outlook.com.

About the Don’t Get Scroogled Campaign 

With the Don’t Get Scroogled by Gmail consumer education campaign, Outlook.com is doing two things: First, it is highlighting Google’s practice of going through the personal contents of emails to benefit Google’s bottom line ahead of the user. Outlook.com has launched this education campaign and petition to help consumers get the message to Google that going through personal email messages to sell ads is unacceptable. Second, Outlook.com wants to highlight that it is an email service that puts consumers’ privacy first. 

Beginning today and continuing for the next few weeks, the Outlook.com-sponsored Don’t Get Scroogled activities will appear online and offline, demonstrating why consumers should be concerned and helping them take action. Outlook.com is also calling on consumers to join the petition drive to tell Google to stop going through their users’ email to sell ads. Consumers can also visit http://www.scroogled.com to get information about Google’s practices and updates on the situation.

“Outlook.com believes your privacy is not for sale,” Weitz said. “We believe people should have choice and control over their private email messages, whether they are sharing banking information or pictures of their family or discussing their medical history.”

Weitz added, “Outlook.com does not scan the contents of your personal email to sell ads. Outlook.com is an email service that prioritizes your own and your family’s privacy. You wouldn’t let the post office look inside your mail, so why would you let Google?” 

More information about how Outlook.com prioritizes your privacy can be found athttp://www.scroogled.com.

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

About this study: The RDD telephone survey was conducted Feb. 1-4, 2013 by GfK’s Public Affairs & Corporate Communications division, among a nationally representative sample of 1,006 adults ages 18 or older. Interviews were conducted with 753 respondents on landlines and 253 respondents on cellular telephones. The data were weighted on age, sex, education, race and geographic region. The margin of error on results based on the full sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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



























































































MaRS Innovation awarded $15 million to further commercialize world-leading Canadian innovations

MaRS Innovation awarded $15 million to further commercialize world-leading Canadian innovations


Networks of Centres of Excellence recognizes strength of partnership between MI and its 16 member institutions

TORONTO, Feb. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - How do you make sure the brilliant ideas emerging from Toronto's academic research community get the best possible chance to succeed?

MaRS Innovation (MI), created in 2008, bridges the chasm between these early-stage technologies and successful start-up companies and licensable technologies. By offering early-stage funding in tandem with hands-on management, mentorship and IP strategy protection, MI acts as a commercialization agent for its 16 member institutions.

The Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) has recognized the increasing strength of this novel partnership by awarding MI $14.95 million in funding through the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program.

"Congratulations to MaRS Innovation for its successful application to the recent competition," said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). "MaRS has a strong record of generating results for small and medium-sized companies by helping them realize the commercial potential of innovative Canadian ideas."

Member institution fees, grants from the Government of Ontario and the MI-Global Industry framework fund will provide matching funding." In total, four centres were extended for a total of $48.1 million through the recent CECR competition.

"MaRS Innovation's application was a team effort in the truest sense, involving our staff, our Board of Directors and our colleagues within the members' technology transfer offices," said Dr. Raphael Hofstein, president & CEO. "Our team presented a rigorous strategic business plan and case for financial sustainability, based on detailed analysis and forecasts of our portfolio assets. We are confident that we will achieve that sustainability in three years.

"On behalf of our members, MI thanks our colleagues at the NCE for their continued support of our mandate."

To date, CECRs have helped launch 94 companies and leverage almost $270 million in partner contributions, or $1.85 for every dollar of CECR funding spent by the centres. Companies served by CECRs have created more than 3,600 jobs in the program's first four years.

"The CECR program has been extremely effective in bridging the challenging gap between innovation and commercialization," said Nancy Hughes Anthony, Chair of the NCE's Private Sector Advisory Board. "It occupies a unique place along the innovation continuum, leveraging the expertise and resources of the private and public sectors to translate promising research into tangible benefits for Canada."

About MaRS Innovation
MaRS Innovation (MI) is the commercialization agent for the exceptional discovery pipeline from 16 leading Ontario academic institutions, and has raised over $65 million to commercialize their technologies. As a single-entry point to total member research activity of $1 billion in annual research and development, MI provides a gateway for investors and licensees who wish to access technology assets in Ontario. Supported by the Government of Canada through the Networks of Centres of Excellence, by the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Centres of Excellence, and by its member institutions, MI is a transformational partnership that turns research strengths into real commercial opportunities. MI's portfolio includes the most promising assets and advances commercialization into global markets through industry partnerships, licensing and company creation.

About the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program
The CECR program is managed by the Networks of Centres of Excellence Secretariat on behalf of the three federal granting agencies—the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)—in partnership with Industry Canada and Health Canada. It was created in 2007 with a $285 million investment over five years. The program's budget was $31.2 million in 2011-12, and it currently supports 22 active centres based across the country.

The NCE operates a suite of national funding programs that mobilize Canada's best research, development and entrepreneurial talent and focus it on specific issues and strategic areas. By supporting large scale collaborations between universities, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations, NCE programs focus research capacity on economic and social challenges, help commercialize and apply research breakthroughs, increase private-sector R&D, and train highly qualified people.

Image with caption: "MaRS Innovation corporate logo (CNW Group/MaRS Innovation)". Image available at:

Media_httpphotosnewsw_eaexn

SOURCE: MaRS Innovation

For further information:

Media Contact 

Elizabeth Monier-Williams
Marketing and Communications Manager
MaRS Innovation
647-537-9097
emonierwilliams@marsinnovation.com
@marsinnovation

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Dell Enters Into Agreement to Be Acquired By Michael Dell and Silver Lake

Dell Enters Into Agreement to Be Acquired By Michael Dell and Silver Lake

  •  Date : 05/02/2013










  • Dell stockholders to receive $13.65 per share in cash
  • Transaction valued at approximately $24.4 billion 
  • Transaction implies a 37 percent premium over the average closing share price during the previous 90 calendar days ending Jan. 11, 2013

Dell Inc. today announced it has signed a definitive merger agreement under which Michael Dell, Dell’s Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in partnership with global technology investment firm Silver Lake, will acquire Dell. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Dell stockholders will receive $13.65 in cash for each share of Dell common stock they hold, in a transaction valued at approximately $24.4 billion. The price represents a premium of 25 percent over Dell’s closing share price of $10.88 on Jan. 11, 2013, the last trading day before rumors of a possible going-private transaction were first published; a premium of approximately 35 percent over Dell’s enterprise value as of Jan. 11, 2013; and a premium of approximately 37 percent over the average closing share price during the previous 90 calendar days ending Jan. 11, 2013. The buyers will acquire for cash all of the outstanding shares of Dell not held by Mr. Dell and certain other members of management.

The Dell Board of Directors acting on the recommendation of a special committee of independent directors unanimously approved a merger agreement under which Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners will acquire Dell and take the company private subject to a number of conditions, including a vote of the unaffiliated stockholders. Mr. Dell recused himself from all Board discussions and from the Board vote regarding the transaction. 

A Special Committee was formed after Mr. Dell first approached Dell’s Board of Directors in August 2012 with an interest in taking the company private. Led by Lead Director Alex Mandl, the Special Committee retained independent financial and legal advisors J.P. Morgan and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP to advise the Special Committee with respect to its consideration of strategic alternatives, the acquisition proposal and the subsequent negotiation of the merger agreement. 

The Special Committee also engaged a leading management consulting firm to conduct an independent analysis, including a review of strategic alternatives for Dell and opportunities for the company as a public entity, and thereafter engaged Evercore Partners.

The merger agreement provides for a so-called “go-shop” period, during which the Special Committee – with the assistance of Evercore Partners – will actively solicit, receive, evaluate and potentially enter into negotiations with parties that offer alternative proposals. The initial go-shop period is 45 days. Following that period, the Special Committee will be permitted to continue discussions and enter into or recommend a transaction with any person or group that submitted a qualifying proposal during the 45-day period. A successful competing bidder who makes a qualifying proposal during the initial go-shop period would bear a $180 million (less than 1 percent) termination fee. For a competing bidder who did not qualify during the initial go-shop period, the termination fee would be $450 million.

Mr. Mandl, lead director of Dell’s Board of Directors, said: “The Special Committee and its advisors conducted a disciplined and independent process intended to ensure the best outcome for shareholders. Importantly, the go-shop process provides a real opportunity to determine if there are alternatives superior to the present offer from Mr. Dell and Silver Lake.”

Mr. Dell said: “I believe this transaction will open an exciting new chapter for Dell, our customers and team members. We can deliver immediate value to stockholders, while we continue the execution of our long-term strategy and focus on delivering best-in-class solutions to our customers as a private enterprise. Dell has made solid progress executing this strategy over the past four years, but we recognize that it will still take more time, investment and patience, and I believe our efforts will be better supported by partnering with Silver Lake in our shared vision. I am committed to this journey and I have put a substantial amount of my own capital at risk together with Silver Lake, a world-class investor with an outstanding reputation. We are committed to delivering an unmatched customer experience and excited to pursue the path ahead.”

"Michael Dell is a true visionary and one of the preeminent leaders of the global technology industry," said Egon Durban, a Silver Lake Managing Partner. "Silver Lake is looking forward to partnering with him, the talented management team at Dell and the investor group to innovate, invest in long-term growth initiatives and accelerate the company's transformation strategy to become an integrated and diversified global IT solutions provider."

Following completion of the transaction, Mr. Dell, who owns approximately 14 percent of Dell’s common shares, will continue to lead the company as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and will maintain a significant equity investment in Dell by contributing his shares of Dell to the new company, as well as making a substantial additional cash investment. Dell will continue to be headquartered in Round Rock, Texas.

The transaction will be financed through a combination of cash and equity contributed by Mr. Dell, cash funded by investment funds affiliated with Silver Lake, a cash investment by an investment fund affiliated with MSDC Management, L.P., a $2 billion loan from Microsoft, rollover of existing debt, as well as debt financing that has been committed by BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Credit Suisse and RBC Capital Markets (in alphabetical order), and cash on hand. There is no financing condition.

The transaction is subject to other customary conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals, in addition to the Dell stockholder approvals described above. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the second quarter of Dell’s FY2014. 

For further information regarding all terms and conditions contained in the definitive merger agreement, please see Dell’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be filed in connection with this transaction.

J.P. Morgan and Evercore Partners are acting as financial advisors and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is acting as legal advisor to the Special Committee of Dell’s Board of Directors. Goldman, Sachs & Co. is acting as financial advisor and Hogan Lovells US LLP is acting as legal advisor to Dell. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as legal advisor to Mr. Dell. BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Credit Suisse, and RBC Capital Markets (in alphabetical order) are acting as financial advisors to Silver Lake, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as legal advisor to Silver Lake.

About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers worldwide innovative technology, business solutions and services they trust and value. For more information, visit www.Dell.com. You may follow the Dell Investor Relations Twitter account at: http://twitter.com/Dellshares. To communicate directly with Dell, go towww.Dell.com/Dellshares.

About Silver Lake
Silver Lake is the global leader in private investments in technology and technology-enabled industries. Silver Lake invests with the strategic and operational insights of an experienced industry participant. The firm has over 100 investment professionals and value creation specialists located in New York, Menlo Park, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo and manages approximately $14 billion. The Silver Lake portfolio includes or has included technology industry leaders such as Alibaba, Allyes, Ameritrade, Avago, Avaya, Business Objects, Flextronics, Gartner, Gerson Lehrman Group, Groupon, Instinet, Intelsat, Interactive Data Corporation, IPC Systems, MCI, Mercury Payment Systems, MultiPlan, the NASDAQ OMX Group, NetScout, NXP, Sabre, Seagate Technology, Serena Software, Skype, Spreadtrum, SunGard Data Systems, UGS, Vantage Data Centers and Zynga. For more information about Silver Lake and its entire portfolio, please visit www.silverlake.com.