Avaya Spotlights Real-Time Collaboration Solutions for Higher Education

Avaya Spotlights Real-Time Collaboration Solutions for Higher Education

Avaya at EDUCAUSE 2012 showcases innovations in collaborative, online and mobile learning, campus safety communications and always-on education

For Immediate Release:06 Nov 2012

(Denver, Colorado) – Avaya, a global provider of business communications and collaboration solutions and services, is showcasing its latest innovations in real-time collaboration for the education market at EDUCAUSE 2012 in Denver.  At the EDUCAUSE event—the premier gathering for higher education IT professionals—Avaya is demonstrating solutions that help students, faculty and staff benefit from new advancements in immersive virtual worlds, video-enabled learning, and campus safety.
 
Higher education is expanding as new advancements in online and interactive technologies enable greater participation by students who are no longer limited by distance and time. At EDUCAUSE, Avaya (Exhibit Hall Booths #815 and #817) will demonstrate solutions in key areas that are improving experiences, productivity and growth in this market:

  • Collaborative Learning: Among the Avaya products tailor-made for educational institutions is AvayaLive™ Engage, a Web-based immersive collaboration environment that enables students, faculty and staff to use personalized avatars in a 3-D environment. This is an ideal solution for collaborative meetings, study sessions, online learning, international studies, distance learning, and training and recruiting.  AvayaLive™ Engage was awarded a 2012 Ed-Tech Readers’ Choice Award in recognition of its advances in online learning technology.
  • Video-Enabled Learning: Avaya will showcase the benefits of its easy to use Radvision Scopia® applications, which create new collaborative learning opportunities by bringing video-enabled learning to life on mobile devices, in classrooms and at desktops. The Scopia video conferencing portfolio supports an institution’s real-time video needs, spanning telepresence, classroom, and desktop and mobile user applications. It can also interoperate with an institution’s existing video conferencing environment, helping drive simpler, more cost-effective installations, while protecting an organization’s existing investments.
  • Campus Safety – In emergency situations on a campus, the Avaya Notification Solution (ANS) can help institutions deliver timely notifications of key events--including warnings, threats, campus closures and administrative reminders--using multi-channel notifications delivered to multiple endpoints, including mobile phones, SMS and social media. In addition, Avaya’s E911 solution can be used to accurately locate a caller’s physical location to inform first responders of the exact location of an emergency on campus. Calls can be accurately directed to the local emergency response agency where the campus is located, even if an institution has many campus centers across the nation.
Supporting quotes:
"Avaya’s Radvision video conferencing solutions provide critical real-time collaboration tools for the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD). We use it for distance learning, day-to-day communications between sites and for establishing communication during a crisis.  We’ve also delivered Scopia solutions to our end users, which opens a new world of videoconferencing for university employees and faculty who can participate in visual communications via laptop, as well as students who can video conference into classes. This gives us a flexible, easy-to-use platform that brings traditional conference rooms right into desktop and mobile clients."
--Steve Cachia, manager for Video Network Services, University of Houston-Downtown Technology.
 
"Participants become immersed in the learning experience of AvayaLive Engage and interact dynamically with each other and instructors using a level of engagement comparable to that seen in a physical classroom."
-- Dr. Peter Hirst, executive director, MIT Sloan School of Management
 
"The education industry is ushering in a new era enhanced by compelling interactive technologies. Avaya helps educational institutions benefit with ‘always-on’ real-time collaboration solutions that help ensure rich, detailed learning sessions can be accessed from anywhere. This brings education to a new level, using collaborative technologies to deliver rewarding experiences that can reinforce valuable connections."
-- Sanjeev Gupta, General Manager, Avaya Verticals.
 
Additional Resources: 
Supporting Facts:
  • U.S. and global education spending is estimated to be $4 trillion, according to a September 2011 report by the President’s Council of Economic Advisors.
Tags:  Avaya, Unified Communications, AvayaLive Engage, Avaya Aura, Radvision Scopia, videoconferencing, distance learning
 
About Avaya:
Avaya is a global provider of business collaboration and communications solutions, providing unified communications, contact centers, networking and related services to companies of all sizes around the world. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.
 
Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "should" or "will" or other similar terminology. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, please refer to Avaya's filings with the SEC that are available at www.sec.gov/ . Avaya disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Cisco Increases Commitment to Innovation in Waterloo Region

Cisco Increases Commitment to Innovation in Waterloo Region

New Cisco Incubation Centre to help develop region's best and brightest young innovators

TORONTO and WATERLOO, ON – November 1, 2012 − Cisco, in conjunction with the University of Waterloo, today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Cisco Incubation Centre to nurture Canada’s next generation of entrepreneurs. The ceremony, which also marked the announcement of a Cisco Research Chair in Smart Grid at the University, was attended by representatives from the Kitchener-Waterloo region, the University, and Cisco Canada.

The Cisco Incubation Centre, located in the University of Waterloo’s David Johnston Research + Technology Park, will primarily focus on providing local start-ups and students with the opportunity to take advantage of Cisco’s collaboration technology, expertise and global partner ecosystem.  Researchers and entrepreneurs will have valuable access to the diverse Cisco® technology portfolio, including collaboration tools such as Cisco TelePresence®™, enabling collaboration with university technology research parks and innovation centres across Canada and around the world.

Cisco is expanding its relationships with universities across Canada in order to foster research to increase Canadian innovation, productivity and global competitiveness. Cisco’s university network currently includes resources at Vancouver Island Technology Park, the University of Winnipeg, and the University of New Brunswick, with more to follow. Leveraging the CANARIE Network, one of the world’s most advanced national research and education networks, Cisco aims to empower researchers and students throughout Canada with the necessary tools to improve ongoing research collaboration and foster more open innovation to accelerate the adoption of transformational solutions.  

Supporting Quotes:

Brad Duguid, minister, Economic Development & Innovation, Province of Ontario
“Innovation is a key driver of economic development in Ontario, and it’s initiatives like the Cisco Incubation Centre that will further enhance the province’s position as a global hotbed for research and development. I congratulate Cisco and the University of Waterloo for their commitment in helping foster the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.”

Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor, University of Waterloo
“Cisco Canada’s presence in the David Johnston Research + Technology Park provides our university community with a terrific resource. Enterprising students and entrepreneurs will have access to knowledge, expertise and tools that will be a tremendous asset as they endeavour to conduct research or build a global network to launch new initiatives. The Incubation Centre adds a new level to the relationship between Cisco, the university and Waterloo and demonstrates our mutual commitment to foster Canada’s next generation of innovators.”

Nitin Kawale, president, Cisco Canada
“Waterloo is a renowned technology hub for Ontario and Canada, and recognized for its engineering excellence around the world. The Cisco Incubation Centre brings enterprising minds together, through our network facilities at Research Tech Parks and in partnership with universities across the country. We want to inspire Canada’s emerging entrepreneurs and leverage the amazing work being done in Waterloo.”

About Cisco
Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco Systems Canada Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco, has offices across Canada dedicated to customer support, sales and service. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com/canada/.

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

HP Helps SMBs Modernize IT Infrastructure to Support Growing Mobile Use

HP Helps SMBs Modernize IT Infrastructure to Support Growing Mobile Use

New solutions improve customer service, productivity

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2012

HP today announced new products and services that help small and midsized businesses (SMBs) simplify their IT infrastructure to accelerate business gains from mobile access.

The use of mobile devices in the workplace allows for sophisticated business and process management applications to be accessed remotely, ensuring productivity remains consistent regardless of location. However, SMBs traditionally have static and fragmented IT infrastructures, making it difficult to rapidly or efficiently respond to infrastructure demands driven by a mobile workforce and virtualized applications.  

To simplify IT management for SMBs and ease the transition to a modern infrastructure, HP has expanded the HP Converged Infrastructure portfolio with new storage and network solutions that improve employee productivity by providing secure access to business applications and data via mobile devices. In addition, HP is offering financing and training programs that address SMBs’ end-to-end mobility challenges by enabling them to acquire the resources needed to boost business responsiveness in the evolving mobile marketplace, quickly and easily.

“Mobility will soon be a normal part of every SMB workplace, as it moves from being used primarily for email to supporting critical business applications such as CRM and sales inventory,” said Robert Anderson, vice president, Research, Gartner, Inc. “Small and midsize businesses must align and modernize their existing IT capabilities to take advantage of the business benefits and competitive differentiation mobility brings.”

Modernizing storage in a mobile world  

Data growth and application demands are evolving as mobility continues to drive an explosion of data and changes the way applications are used and accessed. SMBs need simple, scalable and economical storage platforms that respond to these new requirements, while also supporting dynamic workloads and rapid growth of both structured and unstructured data.

HP is offering new storage solutions that provide scalability, reliability and availability to handle evolving business demands. The new offerings include:

  • HP StoreVirtual Storage, based on the HP LeftHand operating system and HP ProLiant Generation 8 (Gen8) technology, is a scale-out storage platform with flexible deployment models to support virtualization requirements. The offering includes features that allow SMBs to add physical storage without disruption and the ability to simply move data across virtual or physical storage with just a few clicks, enabling IT to nondisruptively increase storage requirements.
  • HP StoreEasy Storage is a single integrated storage solution that supports file and application workloads with built-in deduplication and encryption. Midsize businesses can no longer afford to add “just another file server” to address the explosion of unstructured data from mobile devices. Native Windows® integration enables SMBs to immediately configure and manage HP StoreEasy Storage without learning a new proprietary storage management system. HP StoreEasy Storage supports 10,000 users in a three-unit form factor, as well as multiple workloads from a single, consolidated platform that is cost-efficient, highly secure and reliable. 
  • HP Financial Services offers qualified SMBs access to HP solutions without payments for 90 days on lease transactions or to lease select HP equipment at a less-than-zero implicit lease rate.  This offering provides SMBs with flexible financial solutions to cost-effectively update their infrastructure.

Mobilize workers with simplified network management

SMBs, as well as government agencies, are supporting a growing mobile workforce that requires access to rich-media and bandwidth-intensive applications such as videoconferencing. However, with limited financial and human resources, these organizations need solutions that are easy to use, reliable and cost-effective to maintain.

The HP M220 Series Access Point, the newest addition to the HP FlexNetwork architecture, provides increased bandwidth while simplifying network management and maintenance for growing SMB organizations.

The HP M220 streamlines wireless network management with “clustering” technology that enables SMBs to deploy and manage up to 10 network access points as a single entity, rather than a series of separate wireless devices. Clustering technology enables IT administrators to easily deploy and configure new rich media applications as well as add wireless devices to the network without downtime. In addition, the solution improves network security by detecting rogue access points as well as reducing security risks caused by misconfigured access points.

The HP M220 includes a Quick Setup Wizard that leverages an easy-to-use web interface to streamline multiple access point configuration. The Quick Setup Wizard provides five deployment scenarios, allowing clients to select the best wireless network environment for their company.

Collaborating with HP, the technology expert

With access to a broad range of technologies and programs, SMBs can simplify IT operations to improve employee productivity. These offerings include:

  • The updated HP Client Virtualization SMB Reference Architecture for Citrix VDI-in-a-Box supports 50 percent more users(1) than the previous version. It reduces the cost and complexity of deploying desktop virtualization, allowing employees to securely and remotely access desktops, applications and the company’s server anywhere, anytime from any client device. Critical user data is saved on the server instead of the mobile device, ensuring it is not lost, stolen, damaged or pirated.
  • The HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs e-Learning (HP LIFE e-Learning) program provides cloud-based online training sessions at no additional cost, to improve key IT and business skills from anywhere and any device. HP LIFE e-Learning now offers e-mentorship with HP professionals, along with webinars and other relevant resources with emphasis on leveraging mobility to drive growth.

Pricing and availability(2)

  • The new HP StoreVirtual Storage 4130 and 4330 models will be available Dec. 4, with a starting price as low as $11,500.
  • HP LeftHand Operating System 10.0 software will be available at no additional cost to current HP LeftHand P4000 G2 platform clients on Dec. 4.
  • The HP StoreEasy Storage system will be available on Dec. 10, with a starting U.S. list price of $5,192 for 8TB capacity.
  • The HP M220 Series Access Point is expected to be available through HP and its authorized channel partners on Nov. 12, with a starting U.S. list price of $389. Shipments will commence in December 2012.
  • The HP Client Virtualization SMB Reference Architecture for Citrix VDI-in-a-Box with Citrix Personal vDisk technology is available today.
  • HP Financial Services for qualified SMBs are currently available in select locations worldwide.   

Additional information is available at www.hp.com/hpfinancialservices.

About HP

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


(1) New tiered storage approach tested in HP and Citrix labs resulted in per-server user support increasing from 50 to 75 users over previous solution.

(2) Estimated U.S. list prices. Actual prices may vary.

Oracle’s “Designing an M2M Platform for the Connected World” Report: Companies Extending the Use of M2M Data to Increase Opportunity and Intelligence Across the Enterprise

Oracle’s “Designing an M2M Platform for the Connected World” Report: Companies Extending the Use of M2M Data to Increase Opportunity and Intelligence Across the Enterprise

Growing Use of the Cloud and Need to Integrate and Secure Data Noted as Key in M2M Initiatives

Redwood Shores, Calif. – November 5, 2012

News Facts

Today, Oracle announced the results of its “Designing an M2M Platform for the Connected World” research, examining the evolving drivers behind ‘Machine to Machine’ (M2M) projects and how those changes are impacting solution requirements.
The research, which was produced by M2M analyst experts Beecham Research on behalf of Oracle, provides a qualitative assessment of solution requirements across the M2M value chain. Participants included end-users, major product OEMs, systems integrators, mobile network operators and M2M platform providers in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
The research found that M2M data from remotely located assets and devices in the field is increasingly being used more broadly for strategic purposes and value creation throughout the enterprise. It has also become a means for creating new market opportunities while providing a competitive advantage for enterprise users in their own key markets.
Other key findings included an increased focus on leveraging the cloud and managing data security in M2M initiatives, as more information is integrated and shared across departments and business functions.
To access the full report, please visit here.

M2M Data Becoming Increasingly Critical Across the Enterprise

The research found that the main drivers behind M2M projects are evolving, with 75 percent of participants noting that enabling new services and revenue streams is fuelling M2M projects.
While leveraging M2M data in operations is still key, the research found a growing interest among adopters in using M2M data for strategic decision making, providing feedback on product and services performance in the field, and tailoring products and services to meet specific customer needs.
85 percent of users said an increased focus on better managing large volumes of M2M generated data is necessary to address performance and costs issues, especially as applications, such as smart meters and automotive telematics/automotive diagnostics systems, are generating increased volumes of data.
The use of Complex Event Processing (CEP) with M2M data will also provide users with the real-time intelligence they need to take immediate action on pre-determined factors. 65 percent of respondents saw high value in the CEP opportunity, both for B2B and especially B2B2C next generation applications.
This could include situations where several data sources contribute to a decision process without human intervention, such as reflecting weather conditions in agriculture management to trigger automatic irrigation or powering real-time human behavior profiling and facial recognition alerts for security applications.
Increasing reliance on M2M data and tighter integration with other IT systems resulted in 80 percent of respondents noting that minimizing downtime in M2M has become critically important.

Other Key Findings

Securing M2M Data is Critical: The increasing value, as well as volume of data, means that storing, managing, securing and analyzing data from connected devices is becoming mission critical within organizations. As such, leading implementation priorities have now become:
Ensuring end-to-end security indicated by 60 percent of participants.
Integration with IT, indicated by 50 percent of participants.
Coordinating partners in an increasingly complex value chain, indicated by 45 percent of participants.
Powering M2M Solutions in the Cloud Reduces Cost and Complexity: Leveraging the cloud was noted as key in M2M projects, as it greatly reduces the cost and complexity of delivering M2M solutions. In fact, 90 percent of respondents noted the cloud as being “vitally important” to M2M initiatives.
Platform Standardization Growing in Importance: 50 percent of those surveyed noted they see the advantages of having the same software development environment and programming language, such as Java, across all components of an M2M solution.

Supporting Quotes

“Cheaper, more powerful devices and low cost mobile network connectivity are driving an explosion in the number of connected devices and the data generated by them. The “Designing an M2M Platform for the Connected World” research shows a shift in focus towards extracting value from that data and capitalizing on new business models which are enabled by the pervasion of connected devices,” said Chris Baker, senior vice president ISV, OEM and Java Sales, Oracle Alliances & Channels. “From Java on the devices to Oracle Engineered Systems in the datacenter, Oracle’s end-to-end M2M platform can simplify the process of collecting, storing, managing and analyzing the data collected by connected devices, while minimizing storage costs and helping ensure the integrity and security of data.”
“The substantial growth prospects for the M2M market can only be achieved through successful deployment of M2M solutions end-to-end, many of which are complex,” said Robin Duke-Woolley, CEO of Beecham Research. “This research helps to confirm the real trends under way for solution requirements in the M2M market, including the growing business-to-business-to- consumer opportunity, and how these can best be supported.”
“Our customers use the SeeControl Nexus Cloud to design and launch unique M2M-based businesses across multiple verticals. Due to our exclusive use of Oracle technologies – from device to data center – they are confident in getting to market fast and evolving these novel M2M services as they get feedback. And, customers know our cloud offers the highest levels of enterprise grade security, scalability and performance,” Bryan Kester, CEO, SeeControl.

Supporting Resources

Connect with the Oracle Partner and Java communities at OPN on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube or Java on Twitter, I Love Java on Facebook and Java on YouTube

About Oracle PartnerNetwork

Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Specialized is the latest version of Oracle's partner program that provides partners with tools to better develop, sell and implement Oracle solutions. OPN Specialized offers resources to train and support specialized knowledge of Oracle products and solutions and has evolved to recognize Oracle’s growing product portfolio, partner base and business opportunity. Key to the latest enhancements to OPN is the ability for partners to differentiate through Specializations. Specializations are achieved through competency development, business results, expertise and proven success. To find out more visit http://www.oracle.com/partners.

About Oracle

Oracle engineers hardware and software to work together in the cloud and in your data center.  For more information about Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL), visit www.oracle.com.

Top Businesses Deliver New Experiences With Windows 8 Apps

Top Businesses Deliver New Experiences With Windows 8 Apps
Nov. 05, 2012
Power brands address critical business needs, better engage customers using new Windows 8 apps.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 5, 2012 — Major global brands, including Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Rooms To Go Inc., Bank of America Corp. and PCL Constructors Inc., are among the early adopters deploying Windows 8-based apps to address their business needs and engage consumers in new ways.

From offering partners sneak peeks at TV shows and movies, to staying in lockstep with consumers at retail, to helping keep workers safe by preventing construction site incidents, these companies are discovering how Windows 8 apps can improve the way they do business.

“It’s so great to see a number of the world’s most well-known companies choosing Windows 8 to advance their businesses,” said Erwin Visser, senior director of Windows Commercial Marketing at Microsoft. “Windows 8 opens new doors for businesses to improve the way they collaborate and share information, enhance customer experiences, uncover new business opportunities, and much more.”

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, a division of Twentieth Century Fox responsible for the global distribution of its library of television series and feature films, has developed a Windows 8 app for its industry-leading customer site, FoxFast.com. FoxFast.com was created to give broadcast partners 24/7 access to screen the vast library of programs, as well as to easily access all the marketing materials needed to create and support launches.

With an increasingly mobile business landscape and the division’s transition to a fully digital distribution model, the studio needed a simple method for broadcasters to securely screen its products and download their marketing assets on-the-go. Creating the Windows 8 app was the next natural evolution for FoxFast.com — a touch-first app that scales to work on a variety of devices — making the site's offerings accessible anytime, anywhere around the world. Like FoxFast.com, the new app provides customers with an authenticated user experience to securely screen content and manage marketing assets. The FoxFast app is now available in the Windows Store for download.

Johnson & Johnson Services Inc.

Johnson & Johnson has developed a new Windows 8 app called the Digital Health Scorecard. Available in the Windows Store, the app provides consumers with a simple way to understand the state of their health and what they can do to lessen their long-term risk for developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, these common conditions account for three out of every five deaths around the globe. The insight gained from the Digital Health Scorecard can help engage and motivate people to make small changes that can lead to healthier, happier lives.

The Digital Health Scorecard has been designed to be fast and easy to use. The app can and should be reused on a regular basis so that people can understand their progress over time. Johnson & Johnson has led the effort to develop the science behind calculating the score and will update it over time as new data becomes available.

Rooms To Go

Rooms To Go, a furniture retailer, has developed a Windows 8 line-of-business app that provides an intuitive, touch-enabled point-of-sale experience for customers, taking advantage of continuous connectivity. The app consists of a suite of mini-apps that allow the sales associates to stage the sales process and transaction in-store without leaving the customer’s side. Customers can also seamlessly browse the full line of available inventory through the app and conceptualize different room settings. This allows for a cost-effective solution for all sales associates across 175 stores.

Bank of America

Bank of America has developed the Bank of America Mobile Banking app for Windows 8 that gives customers a digital experience that is optimized for the Windows 8 user interface and takes advantage of features such as Live Tiles.

Customers have the convenience and accessibility of checking balances, paying bills, making transfers, locating ATMs and banking centers, making deposits, receiving alerts, and redeeming BankAmeriDeals offers from tablets, laptops and desktops.

PCL Construction

PCL Construction, a major construction company in North America and Australia, relies on technology to enable the business. PCL considered Windows 8 a promising new platform for improving the capabilities available to its employees, with a particular focus on field staff, executives and frequent travelers. The company developed a Windows 8 line-of-business app called the Safety Management Center that allows its field staff to record observations while on the construction site and simultaneously fill out inspection forms remotely — helping employees address potential incidents on the job site before they occur. More importantly, Safety Management Center is helping PCL deliver on its ongoing goal of zero safety incidents.

Read more about Windows 8 enterprise customers developing apps on the Windows for your Business blog. More information about how organizations are turning to Microsoft technology is available on the Microsoft Customer Spotlight newsroom.

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

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

Canada Post and OrderDynamics announce e-commerce platform that offers most convenient delivery experience in the country


Canada Post and OrderDynamics announce e-commerce platform that offers most convenient delivery experience in the country


Laura.ca first to enable customers with delivery options

OTTAWA, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada Post, in collaboration with OrderDynamics, a Toronto-based e-commerce platform provider, today announced the delivery of an enhanced e-commerce retail platform, designed to vastly improve the online shopping experience by empowering customers with their delivery options.

The integration of Canada Post directly into the OrderDynamics e-commerce platform results in retailers being able to provide shoppers with greater control, convenience and information related to their orders, including Canada Post's new Deliver to Post Office option, which allows customers to pick up their purchases at any post office in Canada.

Women's apparel retailer Laura Canada is the first to provide online shoppers the new Canada Post delivery options through its recently launched online store.

"This collaboration reflects Canada Post's commitment to offer the most convenient delivery experience to Canadians who shop online," says René Desmarais, Senior Vice-President of Parcels at Canada Post. "Our network is unparalleled and offers retailers opportunities to provide a customer experience like none other. In an online world, this is key."

Canada Post's innovative e-commerce services are available to all new and existing OrderDynamics customers. "Our technology enables customers with choices they've never had before," says Michael Benadiba, CEO at OrderDynamics. "And that can be a game changer."

Within two weeks of launching the new store, 10% of all Laura.ca orders have used the Deliver to Post Office delivery option, a clear sign of the importance of providing online shoppers with convenient options.

"Today's busy modern women need convenience and the ability to choose not only what they want but where they want to receive it," says Sam Barnes, E-commerce Director at Laura Canada. "Giving them options is what makes their online experience complete."

By integrating Canada Post into their online store, retailers can offer shoppers a full range of features, including the additional option to have their orders shipped to the Canada Post outlet of their choice. With nearly 6 500 outlets across the country, a postal outlet is within 2.5 km of 78% of the Canadian population. The platform also offers shoppers real-time updates and information on shipping, processing and delivery status.

About Canada Post
Canada Post is the country's leading provider of business-to-consumer delivery. By reaching more than 15.1 million addresses, and operating the country's largest retail network of nearly 6,500 post offices, Canada Post is ideally positioned to offer affordable and reliable service, with convenient pickup and return options. Together, Canada Post, Purolator Inc. (Canada's largest logistics company) and SCI Logistics offer market-leading end-to-end solutions for e-commerce shippers by leveraging the assets and expertise of the Canada Post Group of Companies.

About OrderDynamics
OrderDynamics Corporation is a leading e-commerce platform solution for multi-channel retailers to connect physical stores with e-commerce websites and mobile applications through seamless integration of client data, cross-channel marketing and loyalty programs, and backend technologies. The OrderDynamics Software-as-a-Service solution enables brick-and-mortar retailers to create unified shopping experiences for consumers across any commerce channel to drive growth and improved retail efficiency. OrderDynamics proudly powers integrated online commerce channels for leading retailers such as Henry's Camera, Laura Canada, JYSK, American Diabetes Association, Pilot, Walking on a Cloud, Kitchen Stuff Plus, Town Shoes/The Shoe Company, Nutrasource, and more.
For more information about OrderDynamics, visit www.orderdynamics.com, call 866-559-8123, or email solutions@orderdynamics.com.

SOURCE: Canada Post

For further information:

Media Relations
613 734-8888
medias@canadapost.ca

ACL CEO Laurie Schultz is Honoured with Minerva Foundation's Women In™ Technology "Excellence in Leadership" Award

ACL CEO Laurie Schultz is Honoured with Minerva Foundation's Women In™ Technology "Excellence in Leadership" Award

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - ACL, the technology company that is transforming audit and risk management, announced today that President and CEO, Laurie Schultz, received The Minerva Foundation for BC Women "Excellence in Leadership" award, which is bestowed upon women working in non-traditional fields. The award will officially be presented to Schultz at the Minerva Foundation's 7th annual Women In™ luncheon on November 28 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver, Canada. This year, Minerva will honour Women In™ Technology.

Schultz, a seasoned professional in the field of technology, has over 12 years of experience leading software companies, including Intuit and Sage. Prior to joining ACL, Schultz served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sage North America's mid-market ERP portfolio, where she managed products sold in over 100 countries. She recently was appointed CEO of ACL Services, where she is responsible for leading the successful execution of the company's strategic growth plans.

"We are excited to be honouring Laurie for her leading role in the technology industry and her commitment to giving back to the community," said Fiona Douglas-Crampton, CEO ofMinerva Foundation for BC Women.

The Minerva Foundation for BC Women is a not-for-profit organization in Canada that has helped over 3,000 women and girls throughout British Columbia by creating opportunities to make lasting life changes. Minerva partners with businesses, government, service organizations, public institutions, and individuals to offer programs and educational awards that enable women to reach their full potential.

"I'm thrilled to be honoured by an organization that directly supports the careers of women in British Columbia," Schultz said. "One of my top priorities is to serve as a role model for other women striving to become leaders, especially within the technology industry."

Schultz also acts on the Board of Dress For Success Vancouver, a not-for-profit organization committed to helping women with low or no income transition into the workforce, and serves on the Board of the British Columbia Technology Industry Association (BCTIA), an industry-funded organization committed to growing BC's technology industry.

To learn more about career opportunities at ACL, visit: www.acl.com/careers.

Supporting resources:

About ACL

ACL delivers technology solutions that are transforming audit and risk management. Through a combination of software and expert content, ACL enables powerful internal controls that identify and mitigate risk, protect profits, and accelerate performance.

Driven by a desire to expand the horizons of audit and risk management so they can deliver greater strategic business value, we develop and advocate technology that strengthens results, simplifies adoption, and improves usability. ACL's integrated family of products—including our cloud?based audit and compliance management solution and flagship data analytics products—combine all vital components of audit and risk, and are used seamlessly at all levels of the organization, from the C?suite to front line audit and risk professionals and the business managers they interface with. Enhanced reporting and dashboards provide transparency and business context that allows organizations to focus on what matters.

And, thanks to 25 years of experience and our consultative approach, we ensure fast, effective implementation, so customers realize concrete business results fast at low risk. Our actively engaged community of more than 14,000 customers around the globe—including 89% of the Fortune 500—tells our story best. Here are just a few. Visit us online at www.acl.com.

SOURCE: ACL

For further information:

Jacqui Wilder of Stanton Public Relations & Marketing, +1-646-502-3538, jwilder@stantonprm.com

http://www.acl.com













































































Gartner Says Following Fabric-Based Infrastructure Best Practices Could Deliver Six-Figure Savings

Gartner Says Following Fabric-Based Infrastructure Best Practices Could Deliver Six-Figure Savings

Cost Optimization to Be Explored at Gartner Data Center Summit 2012,

STAMFORD, Conn., October 31, 2012—

Organizations are settling for 10 to 20 percent lower discounts on data center convergence than could ultimately be achieved, according to Gartner, Inc. Gartner said that if organizations develop a negotiating strategy supported by IT and procurement they could achieve significant savings with fabric-based infrastructure (FBI).

Gartner defines FBI as an emerging area of vertical integration of hardware and software infrastructure with automation on top, which promises to help IT organizations realize their vision of a dynamically optimized data center. FBI differs from fabric-based computing (FBC) by enabling existing technology elements to be grouped and packaged in a fabric-enabled environment to achieve infrastructure convergence.

“IT procurement is often relegated to a subsidiary role after IT and business management has done most of the negotiations with the vendors. In some cases vendors will press users and IT to bypass competitive RFPs so as to expedite integration, shipment and setup of the solution,” said George Weiss, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. “With FBI and converged infrastructures, the entire procurement process must be monitored and executed with careful guidelines, so that all parties involved in executing the deal understand what the deliverables, commitments and long-term implications of the FBI contract are.”

Gartner recommends 11 steps to evaluate, select and negotiate procurement of FBI or converged infrastructure solutions. “If these best practice steps are followed, there is scope for additional benefits and for discounts as high as 20 percent off list prices, depending on the nature and stage of the contract,” said Mr. Weiss. “We frequently see contract sizes in the $2 million to $3 million range when converged solutions are requested. Even 10 percent could offer the potential for $200,000 to $300,000 savings.”

Step 1. Ensure the procurement department, which is negotiating terms and conditions to ensure maximum discounts and benefits, is involved in the effort from the outset. If procurement managers are brought in after initial contacts and discussions with vendors, they will be constrained from generating changes or modifications to verbal agreements, or the procurement process will be extended well beyond the desired installation date.

Step 2. Prepare a first-time evaluation process six months ahead of the desired date of contract acceptance to allow for visits to vendor sites, demos, evaluations, test runs and design validations. If the contract is rushed, vendors will gain advantages by imposing their own benefits and minimizing concessions to the buyer, and, if they are aware of the rush, they can pressure the user to bypass additional competitive proposals. Do not allude to required or urgent deployment dates, top-down pressures from CxOs, or bottom-up pressures from business units.

Step 3. Require a cross-functional team to be part of the evaluation process, since many of the roles in traditional deployments may be modified and system configurations may be tightly integrated, with little room for mixing and matching other vendor gear. If the traditional network, storage, security, database management system (DBMS) or computing experts are not made fully aware of the changes in their roles and process coordination, the solution could create resentment and conflict among domain experts.

Step 4. Generate an RFI or RFP that reflects the IT department's understanding of business goals in the short, medium and long term, with expected service levels, planned growth and technology life cycle improvements. Vendors of FBI may modify configurations, change the nature of partnerships and require strict adherence to associated management software, while licensing, pricing and other terms and conditions change. Perform "what if?" analyses and risk mitigation strategies to determine what escape valves can be invoked.

Step 5. Design the FBI RFP so that at least two suppliers (vendors, resellers or partners) can be engaged in a competitive evaluation. Decide how some parts of the FBI may be supplied by parties other than the lead vendor, and create a plan whereby FBI vertical silos from more than one vendor can be integrated through common infrastructure such as hypervisors, middleware, network and storage components.

Step 6. Ensure that the team involved in making the selection works closely with procurement to structure the most favorable contract terms and conditions for the organization. Procurement should instruct IT participants how to engage with the vendors on technical aspects, including SLA definitions and recourse, without controlling the business and contractual negotiations.

Step 7. Specify that quotes be submitted for all line items, split into the following categories: hardware (HW)-compute; HW-networking; HW-storage; software (SW)-fabric resource pool management; SW-cloud management; SW-other licensed; SW maintenance; HW maintenance; and support installation services. Ensure that each category shows list and discounts. Since discounts can vary by category, acquire the knowledge on how category discounts in the FBI compare to stand-alone purchases by category. Pay particular attention to the support category and calculate the ratio of support to total contract value. If the amount exceeds 20 percent, query the vendor on how the value was determined.

Step 8. FBI increases the probability of vendor lock-in, so devise an exit or bridge plan in case the vendor or coalition radically changes or abandons its original or mainstream road map. Devise a plan B such that strategic parts of the FBI have known and accessible alternative suppliers. Consider the lack of alternative options as a single point of failure with the potential to cause serious availability and continuity problems through periods of change, high workload pressures, significant software upgrades, and so on.

Step 9. Make the testing and integration that vendors supply as part of the service a collaborative effort, with mutual agreement before shipment. Truly converged and integrated solutions should live up to vendors' promises; it's up to IT staff to monitor the process and ensure vendor resource commitments. At this stage a compromise aimed at protecting the vendor's margins could affect the integrity and service level agreements (SLAs) of the solution. As a crosscheck, compare the vendor's contractual cost with your own hypothetical cost if you were to assume the responsibilities internally.

Step 10. Don't commit to timelines for additional purchases and data center expansion before milestones and support meet agreed commitments. Predicate your continued loyal support of the vendor on quality of service, support and continued beneficial discounts. Keep the door open to competition, with invited presentations or trips to vendors part of your ongoing educational research. This will also help to ensure discount commitments are kept in place as additional projects emerge.

Step 11. When the vendor is chosen, don't end the search — technologies are dynamic so you should continually compare the pace of vendors' technological innovation. Gather market data and competitive positioning analysis. Peruse recent public financial disclosures and talk with other adopters. Use this information together with the analysis in follow-up negotiations.

Additional information is available in the Gartner report "Fabric-Based Infrastructure Best Practices Could Result in Up to Six-Figure Savings." The report is available on Gartner's web site at http://www.gartner.com/resId=2200515.

Additional analysis on data center cost optimization will be discussed at the Gartner Data Center Summit 2012 taking place from November 27 to 28 in London and at the Gartner Data Center Conference 2012 running from December 3 to 6 in Las Vegas. These events will deliver a wealth of strategic guidance and tactical recommendations on the hottest issues, including servers, next-stage virtualization, and the impact of cloud computing, mobility, storage, facilities, business continuity and disaster recovery.

For information on the Las Vegas conference, please visit www.gartner.com/us/datacenter. Members of the media can register to attend the event by contact christy.pettey@gartner.com. Information from the event will be shared on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Gartner_inc and using #GartnerDC.

For information on the London Summit, visit http://www.gartner.com/eu/datacenter. Alternatively, to register for the Summit, the media can contact Rob van der Meulen on + 44 1784 26 7738 or at rob.vandermeulen@gartner.com. Information from the event will be shared on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Gartner_inc using the hashtag #GartnerDC.

About Gartner Data Center Summit 2012

At the Gartner Data Center Summit 2012 Gartner analysts will explore the full spectrum of issues that impact the data centre, including servers, operating systems, storage, mobility, business continuity and disaster recovery. The aim of the Summit is to help data centre professionals deliver cost-effective services that generate clear business benefits, by capitalizing on disruptive trends such as virtualization and cloud computing.

Contacts:

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

Rob van der Meulen
Gartner
+44 0 1784 267892
rob.vandermeulen@gartner.com


About Gartner:
Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is 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.

Putting control of personal data where it belongs - with the individual!


Putting control of personal data where it belongs - with the individual!


Commissioner Cavoukian applauds organizations within the emerging Personal Data Ecosystem for ensuring strong privacy protection

TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Personal information - the new "oil" of the Internet - largely resides with organizations - removed from the individual's sphere of control. The boundless potential of the Personal Data Ecosystem (PDE) is to place control of one's personal information into the hands of the individual. The PDE is truly a game changer, and will move privacy well beyond laws, regulations and best practices, to create a privacy-protective relationship between individuals and organizations, says Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner.

In a new paper, Privacy by Design and the Emerging Personal Data Ecosystem, Commissioner Cavoukian and co-authors from the United States and the United Kingdom describe the systems and initiatives driving the PDE and how they seek to address the challenge of protecting and promoting privacy, while at the same time, encouraging the socio-economic opportunities and benefits of personal information as a new asset class. The paper features case studies of the Personal Data Vault and platform at Washington-based Personal Inc., and the personal data network belonging to San Francisco-based Respect Network, plus invaluable market data on the emerging PDE provided by Ctrl-Shift of London. The paper is being released in conjunction with SWIFT's Digital Asset Grid session at the Sibos Conference in Osaka Japan, as well as in Toronto, London, Washington and San Francisco.

"Privacy is all about control - that is why I am taken with the promise of the emerging Personal Data Ecosystem. New technologies, such as the Personal Data Vault, give individuals a central point of control for their personal information and the ability to decide what information to share, with whom, and under what conditions," said Commissioner Cavoukian. "I applaud my partners - Personal, Respect Network and Ctrl-Shift - for their leadership in taking a Privacy by Design approach. I thank them for sharing their experiences for others to follow in proactively embedding the strongest privacy protection possible into their designs."

Privacy by Design was unanimously approved as an international framework for privacy protection in 2010, and has been translated into 25 languages. Privacy by Design seeks to proactively embed privacy into the design specifications of information technologies, organizational practices and networked system architectures. To achieve the strongest protection possible, PbD should ideally be applied when initiatives are in their nascent stages, including the emerging PDE.

"Dr. Cavoukian's paper is essential reading to understand the tremendous opportunities for giving people true control and benefit over their information online," said Shane Green, co-founder and CEO of Personal (www.personal.com). "Personal is the first commercially available platform to give individuals the ability to securely store, share and reuse all the important data, notes and files in their lives through a vault and personal network connecting them to trusted people, apps and organizations. Privacy by Design is embedded in our technology and business practices, as they must be in any company in the personal data sector to have trust and credibility with users."

"Ann Cavoukian is synonymous with the phrase Privacy by Design, so it carries tremendous weight that she sees the emergence of the Personal Data Ecosystem as a game changer for the advancement of individual privacy online," said Drummond Reed, Managing Director of the Respect Network. "The Respect Network is built on the PbD principles - even taking its name from one of them - so I highly encourage anyone concerned about the future of personal data and privacy to read this paper."

"This paper sets the agenda for the future of privacy. It represents a long-needed breakthrough showing how privacy regulators can work with technological and commercial developments to cut through the barriers and realize the significant value of an individual-centric personal data ecosystem," says Alan Mitchell, Strategy Director of Ctrl-Shift in London. "New types of services that put individuals in control of their data and enhance their privacy are a business opportunity in their own right. They also bring both efficiencies and innovation opportunities to the broader economy and society by putting data sharing on a new 'win-win' footing. This is an opportunity that must be seized."

About the IPC

The Information and Privacy Commissioner is appointed by, and reports to, the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and is independent of the government of the day. The Commissioner's mandate includes overseeing the access and privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as well as the Personal Health Information Protection Act, which applies to both public and private sector health information custodians. A vital component of the Commissioner's mandate is to help educate the public about access and privacy issues. For more information, please visit our website at www.ipc.on.ca.


SOURCE: Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario

For further information:

Media contact:
Rob McMahon
Communications Director
Direct Line: 416-326-3902
Cell: 416-627-0737
Toll-free: 800-387-0073
media@ipc.on.ca

Canada Post presents new web e-commerce suite


Canada Post presents new web e-commerce suite


Retailers can create a superior online shopping experience; customers benefit from greater control over orders

OTTAWA, Oct. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada Post is introducing a groundbreaking e-commerce product line for retailers who want to integrate Canada Post data into their platform, online store or customer application. With Canada Post Web Services, retailers can offer more choice directly to customers, including alternative pickup options, tracking abilities, shipping rates and return labels.

"This is a three-way win," says René Desmarais, Senior Vice-President, Parcels at Canada Post. "Consumers benefit from a superior end-to-end shopping experience. Retailers can better satisfy their customers. And services like this encourage Canadians to shop on Canadian sites—which is key to developing a globally competitive digital economy."

Merchants can integrate a number of features, including:

  • Deliver to post office: Shoppers have the option to pick up their orders at a Canada Post outlet of their choice. With nearly 6,500 outlets across the country, a postal outlet is within 2.5 km of 78% of the Canadian population;
  • Real-time rate lookup: Retailers can provide online shoppers with shipping rates on goods they purchase prior to checkout;
  • Real-time tracking updates: Shoppers can get real-time updates and access information on shipping, processing and delivery status;
  • Return labels: Shoppers can download and print a return label directly from the site where they made their purchase.

Canada Post Web Services are free, fully supported and flexible. Merchants can customize how Canada Post data is integrated into their e-commerce system, where in the business process it gets applied, and how it is presented to customers. This flexibility enables retailers to cater the service to the specific needs of their customers.

About Canada Post
Canada Post is the country's leading provider of business-to-consumer delivery. By reaching more than 15.1 million addresses, and operating the country's largest retail network of nearly 6,500 post offices, Canada Post is ideally positioned to offer affordable and reliable service, with convenient pickup and return options. Together, Canada Post, Purolator Inc. (Canada's largest logistics company) and SCI Logistics offer market-leading end-to-end solutions for e-commerce shippers by leveraging the assets and expertise of the Canada Post Group of Companies.

SOURCE: Canada Post

For further information:

Media Relations
613 734-8888
medias@canadapost.ca