CRTC announces creation of international network to facilitate cooperation on telemarketing enforcement

CRTC announces creation of international network to facilitate cooperation on telemarketing enforcement

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Oct. 28, 2011 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced that they have brought together 12 enforcement agencies to launch an International Do Not Call Network. The CRTC and ACMA will serve as the network's inaugural co-chairs, and the United States Federal Trade Commission will host the secretariat.

"Enforcement agencies face a common challenge in tracking down individuals and companies who violate telemarketing rules, but operate outside national borders," said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. "A global problem calls for global solutions. Having a network that fosters collaboration will contribute to more effective cross-border enforcement activities and help reduce unwanted telephone calls to Canadians from foreign telemarketers."

The International Do Not Call Network will facilitate cooperation between agencies that enforce telemarketing rules in their respective countries. Members will meet annually to establish best practices and encourage the development of robust telemarketing laws around the globe. The network will also work to harmonize telemarketing policies between countries to improve enforcement activities across different jurisdictions.

The CRTC is promoting international cooperation to enforce telemarketing rules. As part of its outreach efforts, the CRTC recently struck an agreement with two telemarketers based in Mexico who were selling and promoting vacation packages to Canadians. The telemarketers have agreed to abide by Canadian do-not-call rules and stop making unauthorized telemarketing calls to Canadians. The CRTC worked jointly with Mexico's consumer protection agency, PROFECO, to bring its investigation to a successful conclusion.

Launched in September 2008, the National Do Not Call List (DNCL) helps Canadians reduce the number of unsolicited telemarketing calls and faxes they receive. Companies are not allowed to make unsolicited marketing or sales calls to numbers that have been registered on the list for more than 31 days, with some exceptions. Canadians may register on the National DNCL or file a complaint about a telemarketer by calling 1-866-580-DNCL (3625) or visiting www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca.

The CRTC

The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.

Reference documents:

Key facts for consumers
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/t1031.htm

Key facts for telemarketers
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/t1032.htm

How does the CRTC enforce the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules?
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/t1040.htm


Additional information on the International Do Not Call Network

The newly created International Do Not Call Network will meet annually to facilitate cooperation and the exchange of best practices between agencies that enforce telemarketing rules in their respective countries. An inaugural meeting was held in Paris, France, on October 28, 2011, which brought together enforcement agencies from the following countries:

Australia
Canada
France
Hong Kong
Ireland
Israel
Korea
Mexico
New Zealand
Spain
United Kingdom
United States

For further information:

Media Relations:
http://support.crtc.gc.ca/CRTCSubmissionMU/forms/Mediarelations.aspx?lang=e
Tel: 819-997-9403, Fax: 819-997-4245


General Inquiries:          





Tel: 819-997-0313, TDD: 819-994-0423, Fax: 819-994-0218
Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)    
TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-CRTC (2782)
http://crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang=E

 These documents are available in alternative format upon request.

ViaSat Eclypt Approved for Use by Government of Canada and Granted NMSO Status

ViaSat Eclypt Approved for Use by Government of Canada and Granted NMSO Status

Ultra-secure family of encrypted hard drives is approved for use to secure classified data up to Secret and Top Secret

CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 26, 2011 /CNW/ -- ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) has received approval from the Canadian Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) for use of its Eclypt® series of encrypted hard disk drives (HDD) to secure Government of Canada (GC) information up to and including Top Secret, as well as Canadian Eyes Only information. Canadian government organizations, already using Flagstone encryption products, can now use Eclypt HDD series to safeguard information at rest up to and including Top Secret knowing that they provide secure encryption.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091216/VIASATLOGO)

The Canadian government has also granted a National Master Standing Order (NMSO) for both the Eclypt HDD series and the ViaSat AltaSec® KG-250 network encryptor. The NMSO enables organizations to easily buy the Eclypt and KG-250 products they need to ensure data security.

"This Approval for Use and NMSO are fantastic developments for ViaSat," said Chris McIntosh, CEO of ViaSat UK. "Canada is a vital market for us. Our Flagstone family of hardware encryption is already in use by the GC, protecting information up to and including Secret level and we fully expect these products to join our Flagstone series as approved components of Canadian data security strategies."

Eclypt approvals include CSEC, NATO SECAN, GCSB, UK government CAPS, and U.S. government FIPS. Eclypt drives are available in internal, external, and USB memory stick formats, as well as a solid state option for improved performance and portability, and offer a remote management system called Orion. Eclypt hard drives provide high-security protection of data at rest for any laptop, desktop or tablet computer.

For more information on Eclypt products, contact Alan Back, +44 (0) 1929 55 44 00 or email info.canada@viasat.com.

About ViaSat ViaSat UK is the former Stonewood Group Limited, which ViaSat purchased in June 2010. The division provides cyber security and information assurance products for government and corporate applications worldwide. Learn more at www.viasat.uk.com.

ViaSat delivers fast, secure communications, Internet, and remote network access to fixed sites or on-the-move. The company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies and products to the U.S. and allied governments; is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services; and offers high-speed Ka-band satellite broadband services under the WildBlue brand. ViaSat also offers design capabilities and a number of complementary products including monolithic microwave integrated circuits and modules, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, video data link systems, data acceleration and compression, and mobile satellite antenna systems. Based in Carlsbad, Calif., ViaSat has established a number of worldwide locations for customer service, network operations, and technology development.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ViaSat wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to: contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays, regulatory issues, technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and increased competition and other factors affecting the defense industry generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in ViaSat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including ViaSat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which spea k only as of the date on which they are made. ViaSat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Eclypt is a registered trademark of ViaSat UK Limited.AltaSec is a registered trademark of ViaSat Inc.

For further information: Ana Williams of Spark, +44 (0) 20 7436 0420, ana@sparkcomms.co.uk, for ViaSat Inc. Web Site: http://www.viasat.com


Ricoh Unveils Managed Document Services 2.0

Ricoh Unveils Managed Document Services 2.0

Investment in services yields early insights and results; company launches online repository of resources for addressing customers' top business concerns in information management

TOKYO, Oct. 27, 2011 /CNW/ -- Ricoh Company, Ltd., a worldwide leader in digital office equipment and advanced document management solutions and services, today announced Ricoh Managed Document Services(TM) (Ricoh MDS) 2.0, born from an in-depth analysis of customer engagements and focused on measurable results.

MDS 2.0 represents significant early progress in the evolution of the services-led business model Ricoh unveiled in January 2011, as it made a three-year commitment to enhance its global MDS infrastructure. The strategy shift was intended to leverage the power of improved document workflows and document management so that customers can concentrate on their business goals and bottom lines.

As part of Ricoh MDS 2.0, Ricoh today unveiled a new global website that serves as a source of information and guidance to help customers achieve their business goals through Ricoh Managed Document Services. The site includes case studies, white papers and videos, delivering this content via a customized user experience.

Defining the Ricoh MDS challenge

Through its global MDS engagements, Ricoh has scrutinized thousands of projects and pinpointed customers' top business concerns in managed print services (MPS), which is the foundation of "Ricoh MDS, MPS and Beyond(TM)." These concerns have yielded a new Ricoh MDS delivery structure focused tightly on producing desired outcomes in these areas.

The top identified concerns are cost control, environmental sustainability, information security and governance, business process efficiency, organizational change management, information worker (iWorker) productivity, information optimization and strategic infrastructure. Ricoh MDS 2.0 defines the services and deliverables that map directly to each concern to help customers achieve measurable and sustainable business outcomes.

"We applied our expertise and sharpened our focus on what customers need, even when they can't articulate their requirements in so many words," said Sergio Kato, Associate Director of Ricoh Company, Ltd. and General Manager of Global MDS Center. "Our refined service delivery methodology is designed to better help customers meet their business objectives while retaining the flexibility they need to overcome their unique challenges."

Ricoh MDS Adaptive Model

Using these new insights, Ricoh has streamlined its delivery framework, producing a new, simpler five-phased Adaptive Model. With the customer at the center, the first phase - Understand - begins with an expert assessment of the customer's "current state." The Improve phase includes the design of a "desired state." The Transform phase focuses on deployment, the Govern phase ensures all objectives are met, and the Optimize phase addresses ongoing improvements and sustained savings.

The new model strengthens the three stages of partnership engagement: Project Management led by PMI®- and PRINCE2®-certified Ricoh project managers who follow globally accepted best practices to track, manage and measure each engagement; Service Management led by ITIL®/ISO 20000-1-certified professionals who ensure the newly transformed environment is effectively governed and optimized; and Organizational Change Management, which accelerates the transition from the current to the desired state, and makes productivity gains a permanent part of the culture.

This new framework creates a globally cohesive approach to executing MDS programs based entirely on the ways Ricoh customers prefer to do business. Refinements are already paying dividends: since April, Ricoh has signed more than 10 global customers, including one that operates in more than 70 countries.

New sustainability services

Leveraging Ricoh's rich history of environmental stewardship, including being named one of the "Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World"(1) for seven years in a row, Ricoh has evolved its MDS service portfolio by introducing a comprehensive set of end-to-end sustainability services. These offerings can be combined in different ways to address the unique needs of Ricoh MDS customers across the globe. They include:

-- analysis and definition of the baseline carbon footprint from electricity and paper consumption; -- creation of an optimization design with measurable reduction targets; -- implementation of the design along with education and training; -- governance and monitoring of sustainability performance to identifyand action any gaps between actual performance and defined targets; and -- guidance for balancing any remaining and unavoidable carbon footprint (EU market only).

"We're detecting a deepening demand among our customers for sustainability, which has become an integral part of a business's brand as well as an ethical imperative," said Ike Kakegawa, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, Ricoh Americas Corporation. "As we have demonstrated for years, sustainability is squarely in our domain: documents, records and electronic information have significant implications for a company's environmental performance on a number of levels. Further, reducing our customers' environmental footprint is an integral part of Ricoh's strategy to achieve our social responsibility goals."

Ricoh has delivered custom MDS solutions to customers around the world. For customer success stories on Ricoh's MDS approach, please visit mds.ricoh.com.

About Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Ricoh Company, Ltd. is a company specializing in technology and services that transform high-volume, document-intensive business processes into more efficient ones. This is achieved through Ricoh's expertise in Managed Document Services, Production Printing, Office Solutions and IT Services. By working with Ricoh, businesses can streamline the way they work, become more efficient and profitable, and share knowledge more effectively within their organizations. Ricoh's worldwide operation covers more than 180 countries and territories in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, China and Japan.

© 2011 Ricoh Company, Ltd. All rights reserved. All other company or product names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Ricoh Web Site: www.ricoh.com

(1) Corporate Knights Inc. of Canada selects the top 100 corporations in the world every year to create the Global 100, which highlights global corporations that have been the most proactive in managing environmental, social and governance issues (ESG) integrated with financial data.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Linda Montefusco Heather Nevers Ricoh Americas Corporation Brodeur Partners (973) 882-2172 (617) 587-2814 linda.montefusco@ricoh- usa.com hnevers@brodeur.com

Europe Janice Gibson Ricoh Europe PLC +44 (0) 20 7465 1153 Janice.Gibson@ricoh- europe.com

Japan Francis Harrison Corporate Communications Ricoh Co., Ltd. +81-3-6278-4713 Francis.Harrison@nts.ricoh.co.jp
For further information: Web Site: http://www.ricoh.com

mihealth™ Consumer Health Application Achieves Infoway Certification


mihealth™ Consumer Health Application Achieves Infoway Certification

Assures product built according to National privacy and security standards

TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2011 /CNW/ - Canadians are one step closer to having secure access to their personal health records as mihealth™ achieves Infoway certification, announced Richard Alvarez, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway (Infoway).

"I congratulate Mihealth Global Systems Inc. for having their mihealth™ consumer health  application successfully complete the Infoway certification process," said Alvarez.  "The mihealth™ application was assessed to show that it complies with national privacy and security requirements."

The application will receive the Infoway certification mark, which demonstrates Mihealth Global Systems Inc.'s leadership and commitment to national standards and best practices.

"mihealth™ is about securely placing valuable health information in the hands of patients so they can stay informed about their health," said Dr. Wendy Graham, CEO, Mihealth Global Systems Inc.  "It will also improve the traditional patient-physician health care experience and transform it into a more dynamic two-way relationship where the patient is much more engaged in the health care process." 

mihealth™ consists of a personalized web portal where patients can enter, track and access their health data such as drug histories, lab test results, allergies and other vital information. Patients can also download an optional smart phone application to display their health information when needed.

"Patients want to have greater roles in managing their wellness, as well as their chronic diseases, and having ready access to their own medical information is essential," said Dr. Kevin J. Leonard, Founder and Executive Director, Patient Destiny. "Knowing that the mihealth™ app has been certified by Infoway will go a long way to reassure Canadians that the system complies with national privacy and security standards. And this is particularly important to both physicians and patients."

Infoway Certification Services provides a national process to certify trusted, standards-based health information solutions. It offers pre-implementation certification for the following technology classes:

About Mihealth Global Systems Inc.
Mihealth Global Systems Inc. is a Canadian company founded in 2009 by Dr. Wendy Graham, a long-time advocate of medical reform.  Powered by Diversinet™, the company's mihealth™  application provides patients with secure online access to their physician-validated health information so they can take better control of their health and wellness.  The application, which can be accessed through smartphones and tablets, enhances two-way communication between patients and physicians.

About Canada Health Infoway
Canada Health Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Infoway jointly invests with every province and territory to accelerate the development and adoption of information and communications technology projects in Canada. Fully respecting patient confidentiality, these secure systems will provide clinicians and patients with the information they need to better support safe care decisions and manage their own health. Accessing this vital information quickly will help foster a more modern and sustainable health care system for all Canadians.

For further information:

Dan Strasbourg
Director, Media Relations
Canada Health Infoway
(416) 595-3424
dstrasbourg@infoway-inforoute.ca

Denise Perrier
Perrier Communications
(613) 290-8511
Deniseperrier@sympatico.ca

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NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk Now Supports Macs


NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk Now Supports Macs

 

24x7 Help Desk Service Offers Multi-Platform and Multi-Device Support for Technology Challenges Faced by Consumers and Small Offices 

TORONTO, ON. – Oct. 27, 2011 – Norton by Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced expansion of its NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk service to include support for Mac® computers and applications. This personal IT help desk service for consumers and small businesses with up to 10 computers now offers multi-platform support for Mac OS systems and applications, as well as Windows-based systems and many digital devices. With Norton market research finding that U.S. households have an average of 4.5 devices between desktop computers, laptops tablets, mobile phones and more, Ultimate Help Desk provides one-stop remote help that’s easy, convenient and affordable compared to expensive and often time consuming in-store or in-home services.

 

According to a recent Norton research study[1], 11 percent of U.S. households use a combination of PC- and Mac-based computer systems at home.  Both PC and Mac users cited performance degradation and Internet connection problems as the most common issues encountered.  One in four PC owners and one in three Mac owners expressed interest in a third-party technical support plan that would provide year-round technical service coverage for all of their computers and electronic devices.  

 

“For households and small offices with mixed environments of PCs and Macs, NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk provides an easy-to-use service that supports a heterogeneous computing environment,” said Kevin Chapman, vice president and general manager, Worldwide Consumer Services, Symantec.  “Problems commonly arise at the most inopportune moments and with Ultimate Help Desk users now have access to technical experts anytime they need troubleshooting or remediation regardless of the platform they are using.”

 

NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk now supports Mac OS 10.5 and above, as well as iLife, iWork and Mac Mail applications, in addition to already supported Apple products, including iPad, iPhone and iPod. It offers consumers and small business owners with mixed PC and Mac environments an affordable 24x7 live service, available 365-days of the year, from a trusted source. Subscription-based offerings are available as Personal, Family and Small Business plans with unlimited support for a broad range of computer and digital devices, including PCs, Macs, wireless routers, printers, scanners, smartphones, digital cameras, and more. The affordable service provides unlimited help and support for diagnosis and resolution of setup, security, performance, maintenance and data transfer problems – assisting just about anything connected to the Mac or PC. With every help desk subscription comes a one-time setup service that includes the NortonLive Easy Support Tool, a security assessment and PC performance tuning. The availability, coverage and expertise of a trusted brand make NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk a prime choice to support the latest technologies in a cost efficient matter with live support.

 

Pricing and Availability

NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk is available in the U.S. and Canada. NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk comes in three subscription offerings including Personal, Family and Small Business plans covering from one to ten PCs and Macs. Prices start at US$19.99 per month per PC or Mac. For more information, please visit: http://us.norton.com/nortonlive/ultimate-help-desk.jsp?nv=pp

NortonLive was founded with the vision of delivering convenient, affordable and secure technology support services to consumers and small businesses. In addition to Ultimate Help Desk, NortonLive also provides spyware and virus removal, expert software installation and services that boost PC protection and performance.

 

About Norton by Symantec

Symantec’s Norton products protect consumers from cybercrime with technologies like antivirus, anti-spyware and phishing protection -- while also being light on system resources.  The company also provides services such as online backup, PC tuneup, and family online safety.  Like Norton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/norton.

 

About Symantec

Symantec’s Canadian operations are headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver.  For more information on Symantec products or current promotions, access Symantec’s Canadian Web site at www.symantec.ca. Symantec is an active member of the Business Software Alliance (BSA).


Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world.  Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

 

###

 

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at http://www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States.

 

Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-looking Statements: Any forward-looking indication of plans for products or programs is preliminary and all future release or delivery dates are tentative and are subject to change. Any future program plans, or release of the product or planned modifications to product capability, functionality, or feature are subject to ongoing evaluation by Symantec, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by Symantec and should not be relied upon in making program participation or product purchasing decisions.

 

Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.



[1] Strategy One survey conducted among a U.S. sample of 1,030 adults age 18 years or older on October 6 - 9, 2011

Finnish City Puts Focus on Security with March Networks IP Video Software Solution

Finnish City Puts Focus on Security with March Networks IP Video Software Solution

OTTAWA, Oct. 24, 2011 /CNW/ - March Networks® (TSX: MN), a global provider of intelligent IP video solutions, today announced that the City of Raisio in southwestern Finland is deploying the company's Video Management System (VMS) solution to protect city property, accelerate incident response, and ensure the safety and security of residents. Security and IT staff selected the solution - which includes the VMS software, March Networks high-definition IP cameras and Edge encoders - because of its strong centralized management capability, high-quality video, and the ability to store archived video in a virtualized environment.

"We are very impressed with the March Networks solution," said Reijo Vasama, Supervisor of Building Technology, City of Raisio. "In the past, if a crime or other incident occurred on city property, we had to dispatch staff to the site to retrieve the video. Now we can access live or recorded video remotely from our central operations center, which means we can verify what's happening at any networked location immediately and search through recorded video in minutes, rather than hours or days. The solution is much more efficient than our previous surveillance system, and can be expanded easily across our facilities as needed."

The city is using the solution to monitor a library, hospital, recreational facilities and schools. MegaPX NanoDome and HD MiniDome cameras are strategically placed to capture detailed, high-definition images, while March Networks Edge 4 Encoders allow Raisio to continue using existing analog cameras in some locations. As older video recorders are replaced, the city is moving to a virtual video storage model for added flexibility and redundancy.

A second VMS deployment is also being planned for Naantali, a city of 20,000 people located 10 kilometers west of Raisio. The two cities share an IT department and are linked by a one gigabit fiber connection, which makes a common video surveillance infrastructure even more cost- and time-efficient.

"Our IP video solutions deliver the scalability and flexibility organizations need to effectively manage their surveillance systems, whether deployed on off-the-shelf servers, our industry-leading recording platforms or as a software-only solution in a virtualized environment," said Net Payne, Chief Marketing Officer, March Networks. "The result is more efficient security operations and faster investigation capabilities - two key attributes we continue to enhance for customers with our Command video management platform."

About March Networks
March Networks® (TSX:MN) is a leading provider of intelligent IP video solutions. For more than a decade, the company has helped some of the world's largest commercial and government organizations transition from traditional CCTV to advanced surveillance technologies used for security, loss prevention, risk mitigation and operational efficiency. Its highly scalable and easy to use Command video management platform incorporates a web-based client interface to enable rapid system deployment and complete system control. It is complemented by the company's portfolio of high-definition IP cameras, encoders, video analytics and hybrid recorders, as well as outstanding professional and managed services. March Networks systems are delivered through an extensive distribution and partner network in more than 50 countries. For more information, please visit www.marchnetworks.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking information, including expectations of future business. This information is based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions that are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that may be beyond March Networks' control. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements due to factors such as customer demand and timing of purchasing decisions, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the successful development of new products, dependence on third-party manufacturers, risks relating to intellectual property infringement claims, and other risks and factors identified in March Networks' public filings with regulatory authorities in Canada. March Networks assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.

*MARCH NETWORKS, March Networks Command and the MARCH NETWORKS logo are trademarks of March Networks Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For further information:
MEDIA INQUIRIES: 
Ely Maspero
March Networks
+39 0362 17935
emaspero@marchnetworks.com
        INVESTOR INQUIRIES: 
Ken Taylor
March Networks
+1 613.591.8181
ktaylor@marchnetworks.com

Ten million apps downloaded and over 1.5 billion pages served by Ontario Start-up Polar Mobile

Ten million apps downloaded and over 1.5 billion pages served by Ontario Start-up Polar Mobile

TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2011 /CNW/ - MaRS client Polar Mobile (www.polarmobile.com), a global leader in helping media companies extend to mobile devices, has announced that their apps have been downloaded over 10 million times and that the company has served over 1.5 billion pages since their first app launched in 2008.

Polar now has 320 customers in 11 countries and is powering 1,200 apps across iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, PlayBook, Windows Phone and Nokia devices. In the past year, Polar has increased their number of apps by 1,500%, their number of overseas customers by 220% and their user base by 67%. 

"Ten million downloads is an achievement the team at Polar is proud of and represents our ability to scale in one of the hottest markets today," says Kunal Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Polar Mobile. "2011 has been a big year for us and we continue to focus on enabling the next-generation media experience for our customers globally across all mobile devices." 

"Since MaRS began working with Polar Mobile in 2008, their leadership team has consistently demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial talents. It is no surprise to us that they continue to lead in this crowded global mobile marketplace," says Krista Jones, Practice Lead in MaRS' Information technology, Communications and Entertainment (ICE) practice.

To learn more about Polar Mobile, visit www.polarmobile.com.

About Polar Mobile
Polar Mobile provides media companies globally an industry-leading platform that makes it fast and easy to launch branded mobile apps across every smartphone. Over 1,200 mobile apps are powered by Polar Mobile's SMART™ platform for 320 media publishers in 11 countries, including top magazines, newspapers, broadcasters and online portals across the news, sports, entertainment and lifestyle sectors. For more information, visit www.polarmobile.com.

About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (www.marsdd.com) is a large-scale, mission-driven innovation centre located in Toronto and networked across Ontario. It focuses on building Canada's next generation of technology companies. MaRS works closely with entrepreneurs to grow and scale their ventures into global market leaders in life sciences and health care; information, communications and entertainment technology; cleantech; advanced materials and engineering; and innovative social purpose businesses. 

For further information:

Chris Stevenson
Director, Communications
MaRS Discovery District
416.673.8100 x8104
cstevenson@marsdd.com

Sydney Strader
Communications, Polar Mobile
416.317.5796
sydney.strader@polarmobile.com

Sandvine's Fall 2011 Global Internet Phenomena Report Indicates a Race for Services and Quality Delivery (http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/865369/sandvine-s-fall-2011-global-internet-phenomena-report-indicates-a-race-for-service..

Sandvine's Fall 2011 Global Internet Phenomena Report Indicates a Race for Services and Quality Delivery

Beyond Bytes: How the US is consuming Real-Time Entertainment online in Fall 2011. (CNW Group/Sandvine Inc.)

Left to their own devices: subscribers' new preferences for connectivity and consumption

WATERLOO, ON, Oct. 26, 2011 /CNW/ - Sandvine, (TSX: SVC) (AIM: SAND) a leading provider of intelligent broadband network solutions for fixed and mobile operators, today announced the release of their 10th Global Internet Phenomena Report: Fall 2011, including new Internet trends and extensive analysis of the implications for communications service providers.

Top trends noted and discussed in detail for service providers include: increased Netflix and over-the-top services adoption, the market penetration of revenue-replacement applications, the overall increase in mobile marketplaces, and the impact of Internet-ready consumer electronics devices.

Major findings from the report include:

  • Within fixed networks in the United States, Real-Time Entertainment applications are the primary drivers of network capacity requirements, accounting for 60% of peak downstream traffic, up from 50% in 2010. Rate-adaptive video represents the majority of video bandwidth, with Netflix alone representing 32.7% of peak downstream traffic, a relative increase of more than 10% since spring.
  • We have entered the "Post-PC Era", as the majority of Real-Time Entertainment traffic (55%, by volume) is destined for game consoles, set-top boxes, smart TVs, and mobile devices being used in the home, with only 45% actually going to desktop and laptop computers over North American fixed networks.
  • Video in mobile networks continues to gain momentum.  In North America, Real-Time Entertainment is now 32.6% of peak downstream traffic, while in Asia Pacific it is 41.8%.  The largest contributor is YouTube, and other applications like peercasting PPStream and Netflix are making inroads.
  • Mobile Marketplace traffic accounts for 9.4% of peak downstream usage in APAC and 5.8% in North America, led in both cases by Apple and Google. Applications like Skype and WhatsApp Messenger, that replace the traditional revenue sources of voice and texting, are being installed by growing numbers of subscribers.
  • In North America on fixed networks, mean usage remained generally flat at the high end (22.7 GB from 23.0 GB reported in May) and median usage dropped to 5.8 GB from 7.0 GB. This shows that while subscribers aren't using more traffic overall the usage gap between heavy and light users is broadening and that more data is being used during the small peak period window.  In Asia-Pacific fixed networks, median monthly usage is 17.7 GB, which is the largest we have observed.

"The fact that more video traffic is going to devices other than a PC should be a wake-up call that counting bytes is no longer sufficient for network planning. Communications Service Providers need to have detailed business intelligence on not only the devices being used but also the quality and length of the videos being watched so they can engineer for a high subscriber quality of experience and not simply adding capacity through continuous capital investment," said Dave Caputo, CEO, Sandvine.

"Mobile operators are facing a reality of network costs that are increasing much faster than revenue - to bridge this gap, forward-thinking operators are also using Sandvine's Usage Management product to launch premium services that guarantee unlimited usage of the applications that are most popular with subscribers.  These packages offer a win-win arrangement: subscribers can confidently use their favorite applications, with the comfort of price certainty, while operators can cover the costs associated with delivering those services to the end user," said Dave Caputo. "In addition, overall monthly consumption is more concentrated during the evening's peak hours, so service providers may also consider offering service plans that shift usage to off-peak hours."

Sandvine's publically-available Global Internet Phenomena reports are made available through Sandvine's Network Analytics product, including the newly-launched Real-Time Entertainment Dashboard, which provides granular insight into streaming audio and video traffic.  Ultimately, service providers invest in their networks to deliver a valued service to their end users, and the video QoE metric lets network operators see the return on their capacity planning and congestion management investments.

ABOUT SANDVINE'S REPORTS

Sandvine's Global Internet Phenomena reports are an ongoing series of Internet phenomena and traffic analysis studies that have been published since 2002. The information in the Fall 2011 study is based on voluntary and completely anonymous data, aggregated from fixed and mobile service provider networks spanning the globe and only the top significant trends spotted get included in the bi-annual reports. Sandvine's global view, which includes over 200 service provider customers spanning more than 85 countries, makes the report the most comprehensive of its kind in the industry.

ABOUT SANDVINE

Sandvine's network policy control solutions focus on protecting and improving the quality of experience on the Internet. Our award-winning network policy control equipment and software helps fixed and mobile operators better understand network traffic with business intelligence tools, manage network congestion, create new services and revenues and mitigate traffic that is malicious or undesirable to subscribers. With over 200 service provider customers in over 85 countries, serving hundreds of millions of broadband and mobile data subscribers, Sandvine is enhancing the Internet experience worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.sandvine.com

EDITOR'S NOTES:

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws and are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of such laws. Statements related to potential benefits of, and demand for, Sandvine's products are forward-looking statements which are subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties.  These risks and uncertainties include such factors as the risks and uncertainties of projecting market growth and adoption rates, difficulties in defining markets and market segments that are still evolving, rapid technological changes, changes in customer architecture and equipment deployment requirements, the introduction of competing technologies, the risks and uncertainties of new product introductions and other similar factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Sandvine to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements.  Sandvine assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Image with caption: "Beyond Bytes: How the US is consuming Real-Time Entertainment online in Fall 2011. (CNW Group/Sandvine Inc.)". Image available at:

Media_httpphotosnewsw_ajgfj

For further information:

MEDIA CONTACT
Sacha DeGroot
Sandvine
+1 519 880 2232
sdegroot@sandvine.com
          INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT
Rick Wadsworth
Sandvine
+1 519 880 2400 ext. 3503
rwadsworth@sandvine.com
          AIM NOMAD
Andrew Chubb/Simon Bridges
Canaccord Genuity Limited
+44 0207 050 6500

 


British Columbia School Removes Wifi to Protect Children's Health

British Columbia School Removes Wifi to Protect Children's Health

QUESNEL, BC, Oct. 26, 2011 /CNW/ - A British Columbia school has removed its WiFi, joining a growing list of schools hardwiring computers, to protect children from microwave radiation.

"There are known health risks associated with wireless modems," said John Hengen, Principal of North Cariboo Christian School, a private elementary school south of Prince George. "It is wise to err on the side of safety for our children."

In May the World Health Organization warned that radio frequency radiation from WiFi, and other wireless devices is now considered a "Possible Carcinogen" and placed it on the same list as DDT, lead, and car exhaust.

Last spring the Saanich District School Board in B.C. banned WiFi in all elementary schools, and several Ontario Schools have also removed it.

Trend Micro Tackles Data Protection and Consumerization Needs with Integrated OfficeScan Release

Trend Micro Tackles Data Protection and Consumerization Needs with Integrated OfficeScan Release
Streamlines the growing complexities of threat protection, data loss prevention, and device management.

CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Trend Micro Inc. (TYO: 4704;TSE: 4704) today announced enhancements to its OfficeScan, Mobile Security and Data Protection solutions, which includes the ability to integrate management of security, data protection, and mobile management. This allows IT organizations to reduce the costs and complexity required to protect their users, data and computing assets.  

While businesses have worked diligently to reduce incoming IT threats in recent years, they have struggled to keep up with emerging 'multi-faceted' security concerns related to data loss, virtualization, cloud migration, mobile device management and consumerization. A recent Trend Micro study shows that IT departments serving more than 200 users have added security point solutions at an alarming rate – in some cases they have a dozen types of software, each with a different directory, administration console and server.  

"We have quickly found ourselves in a situation where IT organizations must consolidate their security solutions, or risk errors and solution gaps due to this added complexity," said Ron Clarkson, Trend Micro's senior director, endpoint business. "The good news is, Trend Micro has anticipated this situation and provides a reliable way out of it."

Helping Companies Efficiently Navigate Today's Top Emerging Security Concerns

Trend Micro's new software releases provide businesses with a sensible consolidation path based on its award-winning Trend Micro™ OfficeScan™ endpoint security framework. They can now benefit from a single client and management infrastructure, single vendor source for software updates and upgrades, and the enhanced ability to correlate threat intelligence across the network for greater visibility and control. Below are details of the new solution updates from Trend Micro organized by the security initiatives which they support:

Data Loss Prevention. Trend Micro OfficeScan 10.6 includes an optional data loss prevention (DLP) plug-in that enables customers to deploy endpoint DLP in minutes rather than months, resulting in quick wins on corporate data security objectives.  This helps organizations avoid costly fines and data breaches by ensuring that sensitive data is handled properly.  

Consumerization of IT. Trend Micro™ Mobile Security 7.1 adds support for Apple iPad and iPhone, as well as Android and Blackberry devices, with an expanded set of mobile device management capabilities, all integrated within the OfficeScan management environment.  Trend Micro Mobile Security 7.1 helps organizations overcome their security, data protection and support risks so they can realize the increased productivity, business agility, customer and employee satisfaction that the consumerization of IT can bring.  

Endpoint Encryption. Trend Micro™ Endpoint Encryption 3.1 provides strong encryption for any device that may carry sensitive corporate data including laptops, USB drives and removable media.  Real-time auditing capabilities support "evidence of control" requirements during audits and following a data breach.  In addition, Trend Micro Endpoint Encryption's advanced pre-boot authentication provides the highest level of security to encrypted devices.

Trend Micro Endpoint Encryption 3.1, Trend Micro Mobile Security 7.1, and OfficeScan 10.6 are available today. Contact your Trend Micro sales representative or authorized reseller for pricing and purchasing.

Supporting Quotes

“As a critical arm of the Kuwaiti government, the Ministry of Health is tasked with keeping the nation healthy. The IT infrastructure of the ministry is amongst the best in the region and Trend Micro’s OfficeScan 10.6 is crucial to our security,” said Hussain Eidan, Operation Manager, Information Systems Dep't, Ministry of Health, Government of Kuwait.

“We have found Trend Micro’s OfficeScan 10.6 to be an excellent and very dependable product and we are already live across over 30 remote locations. The new plug-in manager offers more and enhanced features along with the new simple widgets for better control and accessibility. More importantly for us, the performance and scanning is even faster than 10.5. This means less resource utilization and ease of operation. The useful integrated Data Loss Prevention (DLP) module in OSCE now allows full data protection as well Anti-Malware protection, all within one simple product,” added Hussain Eidan.

“As a school district, we have to be aware of how our data is being handled,” said Michael Clark, Director of IT, Battle Ground School District. “Right now, we are monitoring what types of information employees are sending out. Trend Micro™ Enterprise Security for Endpoints, with the new DLP plug-in, can help us with our monitoring efforts and therefore improve our understanding and visibility about data movement in our environment. Then we can continue to evolve our internal standards and policies, and take advantage of Trend Micro data protection features as we phase in tighter controls.”

Additional Resources

  • Trend Micro OfficeScan overview
  • Analyst video on the benefits of consolidating data loss prevention solutions
  • White paper by Ponemon – Quick Wins with DLP Light
  • More resources on managing consumerization

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704;TSE: 4704), a global cloud security leader, creates a world safe for exchanging digital information with its Internet content security and threat management solutions for businesses and consumers. A pioneer in server security with over 20 years' experience, we deliver top-ranked client, server and cloud-based security that fits our customers' and partners' needs, stops new threats faster, and protects data in physical, virtualized and cloud environments. Powered by the industry-leading Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ cloud security infrastructure, our products and services stop threats where they emerge – from the Internet. They are supported by 1,000+ threat intelligence experts around the globe.

Additional information about Trend Micro Incorporated and the products and services are available at Trend Micro.com This Trend Micro news release and other announcements are available at http://trendmicro.mediaroom.com/ and as part of an RSS feed at www.trendmicro.com/rss Or follow our news on Twitter at @TrendMicro.

Trend Micro, OfficeScan and Smart Protection Network are registered trademarks of Trend Micro Incorporated.  Apple, iPad and iPhone are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

SOURCE Trend Micro Incorporated