New Citrix VDI-in-a-Box Release Makes Simple, Affordable Virtual Desktops More Personal

New Citrix VDI-in-a-Box Release Makes Simple, Affordable Virtual Desktops More Personal
SANTA CLARA, Calif. » 8/21/2012 » Citrix today announced the release of Citrix VDI-in-a-Box™ 5.1, which just won the 2012 Best of Interop award for delivering a simple, affordable yet complete VDI solution with personalized end-user experiences. The latest release of VDI-in-a-Box delivers complete end-user personalization with personal vDisk technology that allows end-user applications and data to be preserved while giving IT the ability to manage only a single instance of the master image - saving time and cost. This version also includes several feature enhancements to improve ease-of-use, flexibility, and performance such as optimizations for Google Earth, support for Active Directory failover, and beta support for the upcoming
Windows 8 operating system.

The industry is rapidly moving from the PC era to the cloud era. Businesses of all sizes want to adopt desktop virtualization and realize its benefits of driving efficiencies, adopting mobile workstyles and improving continuity, but many face tight budget and resource challenges. Citrix VDI-in-a-Box address these needs head on. The VDI-in-a-Box design eliminates multiple moving parts that run up the cost and complexity of VDI. The all-in-one grid architecture runs on inexpensive off-the-shelf servers. Scaling simply involves adding another server, with nothing to rearchitect or reconfigure. Citrix is building on the success of VDI-in-a-Box by further simplifying the purchase and rapid adoption of desktop virtualization with these new additions:

  • Personalized Virtual Desktops: Customers no longer have to choose between consolidating management using desktop pools or providing end-users the flexibility to install their own applications, data and personalized settings. VDI-in-a-Box 5.1 eliminates the need to create separate static desktops to carry forward end-user customization by coupling single-instance management with the ability to have individual user workspaces for their applications and data.  
  • Single Instance Management: Rather than juggling many persistent desktops, IT can maintain one master copy of desktop images while preserving the personalization of user applications and data. This dramatically reduces maintenance efforts and cuts datacenter storage costs up to 90 percent.
  • Cost-effective Windows-as-a-Service with VDI: VDI-in-a-Box extends the Citrix vision of enabling Windows-as-a-Service and adds a simple, yet highly cost-effective VDI option based on VDI-in-a-Box to the successful Citrix Service Provider (CSP) portfolio of hosted-shared desktops with Citrix XenApp™, and enterprise-class desktop virtualization with XenDesktop. A new reference architecture enables service providers to deliver VDI-based Desktops-as-a-Service at a fraction of the costs of other alternatives while complying with Microsoft licensing.
  • Better performance, Google Earth Support: VDI-in-a-Box 5.1 has several enhancements to improve performance in a variety of settings: Active Directory failover increases robustness; dual data stores to provide an option for faster tiers of storage such as SSDs for critical data; a grid-wide virtual IP provides another layer of built-in load balancing; and optimizations for Google Earth enable users to run the popular application seamlessly.
  • Simpler:  VDI-in-a-Box 5.1 continues to push the envelope on simplicity and automation with a host of new features that make deployment, upgrades, and management intuitive and fast. The new touchless desktop agent automatically propagates upgrades across all the images in a VDI-in-a-Box grid, thus saving administrator time. Other new features such as support for multiple virtual CPUs, and partitioning of user and computer domains increase compliance and flexibility.
  • Support for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 8 (Beta): VDI-in-a-Box 5.1 manages Windows 2008 R2, Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8-based virtual desktops, enabling customers to select the ideal virtual desktop environment based on compatibility and costs. All features of Windows 8 including the new Metro interface are fully supported. This feature is currently in beta pending the general availability of Windows 8.
  • Proactive Monitoring and Alerting: VDI-in-a-Box deployments can be easily monitored, tracking key health and performance metrics on the physical and virtual infrastructure helping to keep end users productive. Alerts can be configured to provide an “early-warning-system,” giving IT time to troubleshoot problems proactively, making configuration changes before users are even impacted. Using VDI-in-a-Box combined with Citrix GoToAssist®, cloud-based monitoring and remote support tools, IT can monitor all VDI deployments and set up and securely access, over the internet, all VDI-in-a-Box servers from a PC, Mac or iPad using remote support.

Growing Partner Ecosystem
With the growing popularity of VDI-in-a-Box, partners are joining forces with Citrix to make virtual desktops easy with validated hardware appliances and configurations that eliminate guesswork and deliver predictable, repeatable performance at affordable prices.
  • Dell has updated its DVS Simplified appliance running VDI-in-a-Box to leverage the increased memory capabilities and I/O performance of the Dell PowerEdge R720 servers to support up to 129 users per appliance for a basic workload. The DVS Simplified appliance delivers virtual desktops for under $500 per desktop, including three years of Dell ProSupport. To complement DVS Simplified Appliance, Dell has verified several Dell Wyse zero and thin clients: Dell Wyse C10LE, Xenith, R10L, R90LW and T10, as Citrix Ready® for VDI-in-a-Box.
  • HP released its client virtualization reference architecture for VDI-in-a-Box, providing simple configurations for 50 or 100 users, and scalable to higher user count. The reference architecture provides a means for HP channel partners and customers to realize affordable solutions with an end-to-end VDI bundle with HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8 servers, Citrix VDI-in-a-Box, and HP Thin Clients. All new HP Thin Clients are verified Citrix HDX Ready.

Extending Desktop Virtualization Beyond VDI
Citrix has also made available a license migration path from VDI-in-a-Box to XenDesktop for customers that want to extend beyond VDI to leverage the full flexibility of XenDesktop. The end-user experience is consistent across both products as both VDI-in-a-Box and XenDesktop use the same Citrix HDX stack and Citrix Receiver™.

Quote
Kumar Goswami, Vice President, Products, VDI-in-a-Box, Citrix
“As customers are growing their deployments on VDI-in-a-Box, they are looking to increase the level of personalization offered to end-users without increasing complexity or costs. With VDI-in-a-Box 5.1, we offer customers a simple and affordable approach to delivering personalized virtual desktops, helping businesses of all sizes leverage the power of desktop virtualization to deliver employee mobility and flexibility.”
 
 
 
 
 
 

CardioComm Solutions Selected to Provide Remote ECG Services for Canadian Based AIM Health Group

CardioComm Solutions Selected to Provide Remote ECG Services for Canadian Based AIM Health Group

Arrhythmia, Holter and 12 Lead ECG Solutions to Be Implemented Using C4 Remote ECG Software Technologies in Clinics Across Canada

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 20, 2012) - CardioComm Solutions, Inc. (TSX VENTURE:EKG) ("CardioComm Solutions" or the "Company") today announced the execution of an ECG arrhythmia services contract with AIM Health Group ("AIM") to service their network of Canadian based Clinics.

"AIM and CardioComm Solutions have been in discussions with respect to implementing an ECG services solution within their clinics since mid 2011 and with the completion of all Beta testing we are ready to implement services into their network of clinics starting immediately," said Etienne Grima, CardioComm Solutions' CEO. "The cycle time for completion of this business is typical of this market segment and reflects the requirement for careful evaluation for such patient based services and we are pleased to have met AIM's stringent requirements."

The ECG services solution will provide AIM resting 12-lead ECG readings, 5-lead Holter monitor reading as well as event loop recorder (ELR) based arrhythmia monitoring services. The deal involves the sales of 12 lead, ELR and Holter ECG devices into the AIM clinics in addition to providing access to the CardioComm Solutions' GlobalCardio™ 12 lead (GC12) and ELR (GC3) remote software. Revenue will be derived from device sales, and a combination of annual licensing fees paid by AIM, pay as you go ECG upload fees (software as a service) and OHIP billings. CardioComm Solutions will also provide remote support, ECG reading and interpretation services through their established C4 ECG call centre. Use of the HeartCheck™ ECG monitor and HeartCheck™ PEN to extend the reach of arrhythmia monitoring following visits to the clinics will also be evaluated.

The intent of the parties is to develop a complete ECG Service within the AIM Health Group clinics across Canada. CardioComm Solutions will provide the hardware as well as software solutions for implementation within our network while AIM will provide access to patient volumes. Implementation during Q3 of this year will involve an initial 10 clinics within Ontario which are associated with over 100 family practice physicians and specialists.

"The GC12 and GC3 solutions are designed for call centre, clinic and hospital use. What is of significance is that this group of ECG solutions can be implemented in any country on any scale. The infrastructure and software are proven, the set up costs to customers is minimal, the work flow reliable and rapid, and business risk minimized by clients paying as they themselves make money. With our increased marketing efforts for the HeartCheck devices, we are now garnering international interest in our traditional medical software solutions and are undertaking plans to expand these more traditional medical services beyond North America," says Etienne Grima.

About CardioComm Solutions

CardioComm Solution's patented and proprietary technology is used in products for recording, viewing, analyzing and storing electrocardiograms (ECGs) for diagnosis and management of cardiac patients. Products are sold worldwide through a combination of an external distribution network and a North American-based sales team. The company has earned the ISO 13485 certification, is HPB approved, HIPAA compliant, and has received FDA market clearance for its software devices. CardioComm Solutions, Inc. is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with offices in Victoria, B.C.

About AIM

AIM Health Group is a fully integrated health care company that provides comprehensive health care services and solutions for patients, health care providers, corporate clients concerned about occupational health, hospitals and other institutional providers of health care and pharmaceutical companies. AIM Health Group provides services to individuals that are ill, injured, or disabled, and to individuals requiring life style interventions to improve their quality of life (wellness). This philosophy translates into a continuum of health delivery where the individual's health care is integrated with the various service providers through a complex public-private delivery model. This continuum of care model is the core concept of AIM Health Group's integrated service and delivered within the community based AIM Health and Wellness Centres (www.aimhealthgroup.com/contact-us/health-and-wellness-centres.htm).

Forward-looking statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of CardioComm Solutions and certain of the plans and objectives of CardioComm Solutions with respect to these items. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact Information

CardioComm Solutions, Inc.
Etienne Grima
Chief Executive Officer
1-877-977-9425
egrima@cardiocommsolutions.com
www.cardiocommsolutions.com

Ideavibes and CATA Announce Survey Focused on Learning Attitudes and Willingness to Participate in the Crowdfunding of Start-Ups and Social Enterprises in Canada

Ideavibes and CATA Announce Survey Focused on Learning Attitudes and Willingness to Participate in the Crowdfunding of Start-Ups and Social Enterprises in Canada

Ottawa, Canada, August 16, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Ideavibes founder and CEO, Paul Dombowsky, and CATAAlliance (Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance) CEO John Reid, announced today the launch of an attitudinal survey focused on determining what Canadians think about crowdfunding and their willingness to participate as a funder or a start-up / social enterprise seeking funding.

Crowdfunding describes the collective cooperation, attention and trust by people who network and pool their money and other resources together, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Crowdfunding occurs for any variety of purposes from disaster relief to citizen journalism to artists seeking support from fans, to political campaigns, to funding a startup company, movie, or small business. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing.

According to Paul Dombowsky, operator of the year old Fundchange (www.fundchange.com), “We know there is a great deal of hype around crowdfunding, and we are playing a role in the effort to encourage the provincial governments to adopt supportive legislation for start-up funding. We also know from our experiences with Fundchange that Canadians’ funding behaviour is different online than the Americans or British. We wonder whether our conservative nature is getting in the way of attracting broad based support for crowdfunding – whether it be for start-ups, social enterprises or charities.”

++ Call to Action: Help Them Gain Insights

The Ideavibes – CATA survey is now be available at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/crowdfunding082012 Please submit your views no later than August 25th.

Reid, noted, “The results of this survey should help us understand what Canadian’s think about crowdfunding and how willing they are to actually sign-up to solicit funds or be a funder of promising ideas and start-ups. “

He added, “We believe the lack of crowdfunding in Canada is hurting our economy as more and more start-ups look to the U.S. for funding on crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter. That is a key reason why we support efforts to change legislation making crowdfunding for start-ups legal in Canada.”

About CATA
The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATAAlliance) grows the revenues of its members by creating a collaborative edge -- a chain of expanding value that ripples across Canada’s Innovators, Commercializers, Users, and Professionals. The largest high-tech association in Canada, CATAAlliance matches businesses with opportunities across almost every sector, so that we can all do business together. Reaching out from Canada, CATAAlliance members are connected with investment and partnership opportunities with the major global companies.

About Ideavibes
The Ideavibes Crowd Engagement Platform™ enables governments, brands and organizations to engage citizens, customers or members by creating crowdsourcing or crowdfunding campaigns that are driven by the power of social media matched with traditional mediums. Ideavibes provides services and solutions that help you tap into the wisdom of the crowd to strengthen relationships through engagement, open innovation and participation. It’s about starting innovative projects, solving problems, building better products, setting new directions, being more crowd or community-focused, funding worthy initiatives and sparking social and operational change. Ideavibes with partner TELUS Communications also run Fundchange (www.fundchange.com) one of Canada’s first crowdfunding initiatives for charities and non-profits. For more information about Ideavibes, please visit www.ideavibes.com

Ideavibes is a registered a trademark of Ideavibes Marketing Limited. All other trademarks and/or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Paul Dombowsky John Reid
Founder and ceo President and CEO
Ideavibes CATAAlliance
1.613.878.1681 1.613.236.6550
paul@ideavibes.com jreid@cata.ca
@ideavibes

Contact Information
Ideavibes
Paul Dombowsky
613-878-1681
Contact
www.ideavibes.com
@ideavibes


Dell Unveils End-to-End Desktop Virtualization Capabilities to Fuel Migration to Cloud Client Computing

Dell Unveils End-to-End Desktop Virtualization Capabilities to Fuel Migration to Cloud Client Computing

  • Enhances virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) offerings with new Dell Wyse zero client end points and Dell EqualLogic storage arrays and software
  • Introduces new end-to-end reference architectures developed in collaboration with VMware
  • New cloud client computing offerings provide organizations increased security, management and lower total cost of ownership while giving users anywhere access to data on any device

ROUND ROCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dell today announced an expansion to its cloud client computing offerings with an array of enhanced end points, storage solutions and reference architectures validated by VMware, enabling more organizations to embrace the flexibility, productivity and cost advantages of desktop virtualization.

“Desktop virtualization has dramatically improved our workforce mobility and lets our staff focus more time on patient care.”

As organizations offer tailored work style options to enhance worker productivity, attract and retain employees, and increase competitiveness, they increasingly consider desktop virtualization to enable their mobile workforce and embrace social media and BYOD (bring your own device) programs. With Dell’s announcements today, the company extends its position in delivering end-to-end virtual solutions that drive increased flexibility and performance and support organizations’ high performance application environments.

“Dell is clearly focused on delivering comprehensive enterprise solutions to help customers grow their businesses through more efficient, secure and cost-effective virtualized compute models. Dell is distinguishing itself from other market players by building its innovation and acquired IP into a portfolio of market-leading end-to-end virtualization solutions. Desktop virtualization models are gaining ground as today’s IT departments are looking to streamline IT management and more easily address data security and BYOD policies. Dell has a unique advantage to provide a combination of products and services that provide complete data center-to-endpoint scale to help customers address these growing challenges," said Matt Eastwood, Group Vice President, Enterprise Platform Research, IDC.

New Dell Wyse zero clients designed specifically for VMware View®

Dell today announced the availability of the newest members of the Dell Wyse P class family of PCoIP zero clients for VMware. The dual-display capable Dell Wyse P25 and quad-display capable Dell Wyse P45 are designed specifically for VMware View implementations, providing outstanding application delivery and resolve the challenges of provisioning, managing, maintaining and securing enterprise desktops through:

  • Uncompromised graphics performance to deliver outstanding performance for graphics-intensive applications such as CAD, 3D Solids modeling, video editing and advanced productivity applications based on Teradici’s new Tera2 PCoIP processor
  • Client side caching to reduce bandwidth consumption
  • Simple set up and configuration, with centralized management for rapid time-to-value
  • Enhanced security with zero client architecture and firmware without exposed APIs or application ports
  • Broad extensibility supporting a wide range of peripherals
  • Compact form factor and energy efficient for low power usage

New Dell storage arrays and VMware integration supports effective data management for VDI

The new Dell EqualLogic PS6510ES (10GbE) and PS6500ES (1GbE) “hybrid” storage arrays bolster the company’s end-to-end capabilities for VDI. They enable Dell to offer a first-time combination of high performance (SSD) and high capacity (NL-SAS) drive types in one, dense Dell EqualLogic 48-drive array.

Hosting up to 85 terabytes per array and up to two petabytes per Dell EqualLogic group, they excel in uses with large data sets serving multiple applications, including VDI implementations, data warehousing and online transactional databases. With auto-tiering, a new Dell EqualLogic PS6510ES hybrid array can deliver 360 percent improved IOPS performance with 75 percent reduced latency on tiered workloads as compared to the high performance PS6510X.* Dell’s automated tiering is a natural fit for VDI deployments by helping to prevent performance drains during potential “boot storms” when several hundreds of users simultaneously log-on to virtual desktops.

Additionally, new Dell EqualLogic Host Integration Tools for VMware 3.5 provides centralized EqualLogic management from VMware vCenter™ Server plus new storage recovery replica capabilities. Its Virtual Desktop Deployment utility eases VDI management with automated and rapid deployment and provisioning of virtual desktops also from the VMware vCenter™ Server interface.

New Dell Reference Architectures designed and optimized for VMware View

Dell has extended its collaboration with its partner ecosystem to deliver three new desktop virtualization reference architectures, validated in conjunction with VMware in addition to Dell’s Desktop Virtualization Solutions for Government (DVS-Gov) also announced today.

  • vStart for VDI Reference Architecture – VMware View: Running as a workload on top of the Dell vStart stack, this reference architecture offers the security, scalability and management capabilities of Dell’s DVS Enterprise solution plus one more level of simplification in deployment.
  • Dell Mobile Clinical Computing - VMware AlwaysOn Point of Care Reference Architecture: Dell and VMware jointly validated reference architecture with VMware View enables data integrity as well as minimal disruption in computing service to the caregiver, including: constant monitoring, secure rapid access, single sign on and constant data replication across sites.
  • New Dell DVS Enterprise – VMware Mobile Secure Desktop Reference Architecture: New reference architecture promotes more flexible and BYOD working styles by delivering session persistence and mobility across any qualified device to access personal desktops.

New Dell channel Desktop Virtualization Solutions Certification Competency

A new PartnerDirect Desktop Virtualization Solution competency will complement existing enterprise channel competencies and round out the end-to-end IT solution offering Dell channel partners need.

Quotes:

“Our employees need the flexibility to be able to access patient information throughout our facilities,” said Justin Johnson, Network Design Senior Advisor, Daughters of Charity Health System. “Desktop virtualization has dramatically improved our workforce mobility and lets our staff focus more time on patient care.”

“As a Dell Wyse and PartnerDirect partner, we're excited to see this offering and the new Desktop Virtualization Solutions Certification Competency pull all the pieces together,” said Andrew Ernst, VP Operations & Engineering Services, AdviStor, Inc. “Earning this competency in end-to-end IT solutions will help us remain competitive in the rapidly evolving cloud and virtualization market space.”

“Dell’s new end-to-end cloud client computing offerings will allow for more organizations to take advantage of the benefits that desktop virtualization has to offer,” said Vittorio Viarengo, vice president, End-User Computing, VMware. “We are pleased to support Dell as it expands its desktop virtualization solutions. By working together, VMware and Dell can provide a clear path for organizations to rapidly deploy a modern, end-user computing architecture from the desktop to the data center.”

“Dell is now able to offer a whole range of desktop virtualization solutions from the data center to the cloud that suit the needs of organizations that require rigorous security, unrivaled reliability, and above all granular control,” commented Tarkan Maner, vice president and general manager, Cloud Client Computing at Dell. “Organizations are able to meet the needs of a rapidly changing and increasingly social, mobile, virtual, converged and contextual workforce by providing them with near universal access to corporate information as well as an optimal user experience without compromising the security of sensitive data.”

Product availability

  • Dell Wyse P25 and P45 are expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2012.
  • Dell EqualLogic PS6510ES/PS6500ES and Host Integration Tools for VMware 3.5 are expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2012.
  • vStart for VDI 50 and vStart for VDI 1000 reference architectures are available now.
  • Dell DVS – VMware Mobile Secure Desktop reference architecture is available now.
  • Dell Mobile Clinical Computing - VMware AlwaysOn Point of Care reference architecture is available now.

Additional information and images:

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. Dell’s global alliance with VMware produces tightly integrated cloud and virtualization solutions with exceptional performance, reliability and simplified management based on VMware technology running on Dell end-to-end infrastructure solutions. To learn more, visit http://www.dell.com/vmware.

Join us at Dell World 2012 – The Power to Do More. Technology professionals will learn from one another and identify key challenges and opportunities connected to the top forces changing business today. Learn more at www.DellWorld.com or follow #DellWorld on Twitter.

*Results based on August 2012 internal Dell testing using Dell PowerEdge R710 and 12G servers.

Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

VMware, VMware vCenter, VMware AlwaysOn Point of Care and VMware View are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. The use of the word “partner” or “partnership” does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.

Contacts

Dell Wyse PR
Allison Darin, 831-359-8208
Allison_darin@dell.com
or
Dell Storage PR
Lon Levitan, 512-728-5138
Lon_levitan@dell.com
or
Dell DVS PR
Lauren Mauro, 512-300-3066
Lauren_mauro@dell.com

Kitchener-based Igloo Software Expands Footprint in International Markets

Igloo Software Expands Footprint in International Markets

August 20, 2012 - Igloo Software, the leading provider of social business software in the cloud, today announced the opening of its second European office alongside growing traction in the Asia-Pacific region.

Customer Demand for Social Business Software Driving Expansion in Europe, Emerging Opportunities in the Far East

August 20, 2012 (Kitchener, ON) - - Igloo Software, the leading provider of social business software in the cloud, today announced the opening of its second European office alongside growing traction in the Asia-Pacific region. One in four of the company's over 200 customers have international operations and Igloo now has three regional offices around the world providing sales, service and support to its global customer base.

"Igloo has expanded rapidly since launching in 2008 and now has customers in 80 countries worldwide," said Andrew Dixon, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Operations for Igloo Software. "The establishment of our second European office is a reflection of the rapidly growing demand for Igloo and its multilingual capabilities in geographies around the globe."

Expanding European Operations
The second European office, which has been named the European headquarters, is located in St. Gallen, Switzerland and is expected to grow rapidly. Heading up operations is industry veteran Marco Palatini, who was previously the Managing Director of European Operations for OpenText Corporation and was largely credited for opening up the European market for the company. Prior to that, Palatini served as Chief Executive Officer of Arcplan Information Services AG.

Growing Interest in China
Igloo recently completed a tour of China meeting with government officials and competing in the Demo China 2012 event in Harbin. The DEMO conferences have earned their reputation for consistently identifying tomorrow's cutting-edge technologies and have served as a launch pad for companies such as E*Trade, Salesforce, WebEx, TiVo  and VMware. Twelve overseas teams from eight countries competed for the chance to proceed to the signature event in Hangzhou later this month and Igloo was selected as the top cloud computing vendor.

"China's investment in innovation is unparalleled and it is fostering an environment that is ideally suited for nurturing new technologies," remarked Dr. Richard Reiner, one of the official judges of the Demo China panel. "I was impressed by Igloo's unique position in leveraging cloud, mobile and social to truly transform how we do business in China, and this was one of the primary reasons we selected Igloo as the winner in the cloud computing category."

Breaks through Language Barriers, Offers Multilingual Support
In lock step with the expansion into new geographies, Igloo's web-based collaboration suite now supports multilingual translation. Upon login, users can set their default language preference. As they collaborate with peers in different countries, a tabbed view enables instant and verified translations of all social content. Igloo is currently available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, with plans to add additional languages in the coming months.

 

About Igloo Software
Igloo's social business software is the fastest way to enable modern business collaboration. Delivered purely in the cloud, Igloo empowers your people to become more productive, responsive and agile. That is why world-class companies, such as Harry Winston, Ipswitch, Deloitte and the ATP World Tour, choose Igloo. Learn more at www.igloosoftware.com.

HP Helps Companies Speed Deployment of Virtual Desktop Technologies

Content starts here


HP t310 joins company’s VMware client portfolio of enterprise virtualization solutions

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 20, 2012

HP today broadened its desktop-to-data-center virtualization portfolio for VMware View® environments with new offerings to help enterprises speed the deployment of virtual desktop technologies.

HP will be showing the new virtualization solutions at VMworld, San Francisco, Aug. 27-30, including:

  • The new HP t310 Zero Client featuring the Tera2 zero client processor, with up to five times the imaging performance of the Tera1 processor. The HP t310 easily handles the most demanding multimedia needs for users in VMware View environments.
  • The HP t410 Smart Zero Client, which now offers PCoIP Optimized software with System on Chip (SoC) technology, enabling increased graphics performance at low power consumption.
  • The new HP Client Virtualization Generation 8 (Gen8) Reference Architecture for Citrix XenDesktop on VMware vSphere®, specifically designed to support virtual desktops. This solution joins other HP VMware View Reference Architectures, which serve as “blueprints” for server, storage, networking and software configurations that speed deployment, eliminate guesswork and maximize the efficiency of IT infrastructures.
  • New options for offloading some encoding tasks from the CPU to the blade or rack server using a new, optional Teradici host card. This solution offers increased client virtualization performance for graphics-heavy applications, such as animation and computer-aided design.

HP t310 offers performance and security

Tailor-made for VMware virtual desktop users, the HP t310 features the new Teradici Tera2 PCoIP zero client processor, delivering a high-performance client endpoint for virtual desktops.

The HP t310 is a true zero client with no operating system or codecs for IT to manage. With no local storage, the HP t310 provides a highly secure endpoint suitable for government, defense, healthcare, finance and other secure-sector deployments.

The HP t310 Zero Client joins the HP t410 Smart Zero Client and the HP t510 and HP t610 Flexible Series Thin Clients to help HP deliver the industry’s broadest lineup of zero and thin clients for VMware environments.

The key business benefits of the HP t310 with VMware View include:

  • Quick deployment and easy manageability with no operating system updates or codecs to manage.
  • Increased performance with the highest pixels-per-second rates at dual 1,920 x 1,200 or single 2,560 x 1,600 resolution.
  • Improved energy efficiency, consuming less than 7 watts of power.
  • Easy remote device and power management with Wake-on-LAN support.
  • Data security with AES256-bit encryption, with additional smart card support.
  • Protection against data loss with secure authentication and authorization of all USB peripheral devices and lockdown of restricted devices.

PCoIP-optimized technology for added performance

The HP t410 Smart Zero Client now offers PCoIP Optimized, a software solution that increases the computing performance and enhances the user experience of smart zero clients in VMware virtualized environments.

By leveraging the digital signal processor (DSP) of the Texas Instruments DM8148 SoC, the PCoIP imaging decode can fully utilize both the ARM and DSP cores of the SoC. This also allows the HP t410 to provide increased PCoIP performance at low power consumption.

“Organizations are virtualizing their desktops to reduce the expense and management associated with PCs, but users still want a PC-like experience from thin clients,” said Jeff Groudan, director, Thin Clients, HP. “HP now offers the largest portfolio of VMware solutions in the industry, featuring chipsets and software to enable the performance organizations are looking for and everything they need for successful planning and design of VMware deployments.”

Reference architectures for VMware

HP offers a full portfolio of server and desktop virtualization reference architectures that small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprises can use to get deployments up and running quickly, reducing the amount of hardware required to run business applications.

The key customer benefits of HP’s reference architectures for VMware include:

  • Proven architectures that shorten planning and speed deployment.
  • Optimized infrastructure configurations based on best practices that uniquely support a broad range of user workloads, including virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), hosted or shared desktops, and virtualized applications.
  • Flexible solutions that adapt to business changes and enable secure mobility initiatives.

Added performance for unpredictable workloads

To provide a consistent high-performance VDI end-user experience, HP rack and blade servers now support the Teradici APEX 2800 Server Offload Card. This card offloads PCoIP image encoding tasks and reduces sever CPU utilization, empowering IT managers to protect and ensure a consistent user experience while workloads change.

The Teradici APEX 2800 Server Offload Card comes in PCI-E and MXM form factors and is compatible with all HP thin and zero clients in VMware View environments, delivering a rich multimedia experience.

Pricing and availability

The HP t310 Zero Client will be available in North America in September. Pricing starts at $369 and varies based on hardware options.(1)

Additional information on HP thin clients and virtualization solutions is available at www.hp.com/go/thin and www.hp.com/go/clientvirtualization.

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.

Mobile Messaging Adspend to Reach $7.4bn by 2017, Driven By Increased Use of Location-Based Ads

Mobile Messaging Adspend to Reach $7.4bn by 2017, Driven By Increased Use of Location-Based Ads

Hampshire, UK – 20th August 2012: Advertising spend on mobile messaging will reach $7.4 billion by 2017, a new report from Juniper Research finds. This growth will be driven by a dramatic upsurge in the use of location-based SMS to deliver relevant ads to consumers.

Opt-In Advertising to Ease Privacy Fears

The idea of location-based SMS is something that is likely to raise questions of privacy amongst consumers. However, operators are extremely sensitive to this and the schemes which already exist, such as O2 More, are opt-in and the consumer can choose which types of offer they would like to receive. These types of schemes will become more common as operators attempt to look for revenue streams beyond voice and data but it is unlikely that schemes will become opt-out or compulsory.

SMS Ads – Simple, Cheap & Effective

SMS ads have significant benefits for marketers. While they may lack the rich media content of other advertising formats, they are very familiar to consumers and have a much higher chance of being opened, even if unsolicited. SMS ads are also a low cost option for those seeking large reach; in the UK, for example, a bundle of 1,000 text messages costs around £0.05 (8¢) per message, falling to around £0.03 (5¢) for larger bundles.

Report author Charlotte Miller noted that, “Sending adverts using mobile messaging gives advertisers a simple, cheap and effective way of reaching consumers. Adding location technologies is an even more powerful proposition, particularly for transactional advertising as marketers can reach consumers who are near a location where they can purchase. Knowing that the recipients of an ad have actively asked to receive it and will in all likihood open it is also particularly attractive.”

Other key findings from the report include:

  • Brands need to have a joined up mobile strategy, ensuring that mobile adverts direct consumers to mobile optimised sites or content, particularly given the highly promising mCommerce opportunity.
  • Mobile apps offer valuable inventory for mobile ads and spend on in-app advertising will increase rapidly.

The ‘Mobile Ads for Mobile Apps’ whitepaper is available to download from the Juniper website together with further details of the full study, ‘Mobile Advertising: Messaging, In-App and Mobile Internet Strategies 2012-2017’.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

Gartner's 2012 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies Identifies "Tipping Point" Technologies That Will Unlock Long-Awaited Technology Scenarios

Gartner's 2012 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies Identifies "Tipping Point" Technologies That Will Unlock Long-Awaited Technology Scenarios

2012 Hype Cycle Special Report Evaluates the Maturity of More Than 1,900 Technologies

STAMFORD, Conn., August 16, 2012—

Big data, 3D printing, activity streams, Internet TV, Near Field Communication (NFC) payment, cloud computing and media tablets are some of the fastest-moving technologies identified in Gartner Inc.'s 2012 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies.

Gartner analysts said that these technologies have moved noticeably along the Hype Cycle since 2011, while consumerization is now expected to reach the Plateau of Productivity in two to five years, down from five to 10 years in 2011. Bring your own device (BYOD), 3D printing and social analytics are some of the technologies identified at the Peak of Inflated Expectations in this year's Emerging Technologies Hype Cycle (see Figure 1).

Gartner's 2012 Hype Cycle Special Report provides strategists and planners with an assessment of the maturity, business benefit and future direction of more than 1,900 technologies, grouped into 92 areas. New Hype Cycles this year include big data, the Internet of Things, in-memory computing and strategic business capabilities.

The Hype Cycle graphic has been used by Gartner since 1995 to highlight the common pattern of overenthusiasm, disillusionment and eventual realism that accompanies each new technology and innovation. The Hype Cycle Special Report is updated annually to track technologies along this cycle and provide guidance on when and where organizations should adopt them for maximum impact and value.

The Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies report is the longest-running annual Hype Cycle, providing a cross-industry perspective on the technologies and trends that senior executives, CIOs, strategists, innovators, business developers and technology planners should consider in developing emerging-technology portfolios.

"Gartner's Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies targets strategic planning, innovation and emerging technology professionals by highlighting a set of technologies that will have broad-ranging impact across the business," said Jackie Fenn, vice president and Gartner fellow. "It is the broadest aggregate Gartner Hype Cycle, featuring technologies that are the focus of attention because of particularly high levels of hype, or those that Gartner believes have the potential for significant impact."

"The theme of this year's Hype Cycle is the concept of 'tipping points.' We are at an interesting moment, a time when many of the scenarios we've been talking about for a long time are almost becoming reality," said Hung LeHong, research vice president at Gartner. "The smarter smartphone is a case in point. It's now possible to look at a smartphone and unlock it via facial recognition, and then talk to it to ask it to find the nearest bank ATM. However, at the same time, we see that the technology is not quite there yet. We might have to remove our glasses for the facial recognition to work, our smartphones don't always understand us when we speak, and the location-sensing technology sometimes has trouble finding us."

Figure 1. Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2012



Source: Gartner (August 2012)

Although the Hype Cycle presents technologies individually, Gartner encourages enterprises to consider the technologies in sets or groupings, because so many new capabilities and trends involve multiple technologies working together. Often, one or two technologies that are not quite ready can limit the true potential of what is possible. Gartner refers to these technologies as "tipping point technologies" because, once they mature, the scenario can come together from a technology perspective.

Some of the more significant scenarios, and the tipping point technologies, need to mature so that enterprises and governments can deliver new value and experiences to customers and citizens include:

Any Channel, Any Device, Anywhere — Bring Your Own Everything

The technology industry has long talked about scenarios in which any service or function is available on any device, at anytime and anywhere. This scenario is being fueled by the consumerization trend that is making it acceptable for enterprise employees to bring their own personal devices into the work environment. The technologies and trends featured on this Hype Cycle that are part of this scenario include BYOD, hosted virtual desktops, HTML5, the various forms of cloud computing, silicon anode batteries and media tablets. Although all these technologies and trends need to mature for the scenario to become the norm, HTML 5, hosted virtual networks and silicon anode batteries are particularly strong tipping point candidates.

Smarter Things

A world in which things are smart and connected to the Internet has been in the works for more than a decade. Once connected and made smart, things will help people in every facet of their consumer, citizen and employee lives. There are many enabling technologies and trends required to make this scenario a reality. On the 2012 Hype Cycle, Gartner has included autonomous vehicles, mobile robots, Internet of Things, big data, wireless power, complex-event processing, Internet TV, activity streams, machine-to-machine communication services, mesh networks: sensor, home health monitoring and consumer telematics. The technologies and trends that are the tipping points to success include machine-to-machine communication services, mesh networks: sensor, big data, complex-event processing and activity streams.

Big Data and Global Scale Computing at Small Prices

This broad scenario portrays a world in which analytic insight and computing power are nearly infinite and cost-effectively scalable. Once enterprises gain access to these resources, many improved capabilities are possible, such as better understanding customers or better fraud reduction. The enabling technologies and trends on the 2012 Hype Cycle include quantum computing, the various forms of cloud computing, big data, complex-event processing, social analytics, in-memory database management systems, in-memory analytics, text analytics and predictive analytics. The tipping point technologies that will make this scenario accessible to enterprises, governments and consumers include cloud computing, big data and in-memory database management systems.

The Human Way to Interact With Technology

This scenario describes a world in which people interact a lot more naturally with technology. The technologies on the Hype Cycle that make this possible include human augmentation, volumetric and holographic displays, automatic content recognition, natural-language question answering, speech-to-speech translation, big data, gamification, augmented reality, cloud computing, NFC, gesture control, virtual worlds, biometric authentication methods and speech recognition. Many of these technologies have been "emerging" for multiple years and are starting to become commonplace, however, a few stand out as tipping point technologies including natural-language question answering and NFC.

What Payment Could Really Become

This scenario envisions a cashless world in which every transaction is an electronic one. This will provide enterprises with efficiency and traceability, and consumers with convenience and security. The technologies on the 2012 Hype Cycle that will enable parts of this scenario include NFC payment, mobile over the air (OTA) payment and biometric authentication methods. Related technologies will also impact the payment landscape, albeit more indirectly. These include the Internet of Things, mobile application stores and automatic content recognition. The tipping point will be surpassed when NFC payment and mobile OTA payment technologies mature.

The Voice of the Customer Is on File

Humans are social by nature, which drives a need to share — often publicly. This creates a future in which the "voice of customers" is stored somewhere in the cloud and can be accessed and analyzed to provide better insight into them. The 2012 Hype Cycle features the following enabling technologies and trends: automatic content recognition, crowdsourcing, big data, social analytics, activity streams, cloud computing, audio mining/speech analytics and text analytics. Gartner believes that the tipping point technologies are privacy backlash and big data.

3D Print It at Home

In this scenario, 3D printing allows consumers to print physical objects, such as toys or housewares, at home, just as they print digital photos today. Combined with 3D scanning, it may be possible to scan certain objects with a smartphone and print a near-duplicate. Analysts predict that 3D printing will take more than five years to mature beyond the niche market.

Additional information is available in "Gartner's Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2012" at www.gartner.com/hypecycles. The Special Report includes a video in which Ms. Fenn provides more details regarding this year's Hype Cycles, as well as links to the 92 Hype Cycle reports.

Mr. LeHong and Ms. Fenn will provide additional analysis during the Gartner webinar "Emerging Technologies Hype Cycle: What's Hot for 2012 to 2013" today, August 16, at 10 a.m. EDT and 1 p.m. EDT. To register for one of these complimentary webinars, please visit http://my.gartner.com/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=202&mode=2&PageID=5553&resId=2054421&ref=Webinar-Calendar

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.

Optimal Payments Integrates its NETBANX Payment Gateway to RONA's New E-commerce Website

Optimal Payments Integrates its NETBANX Payment Gateway to RONA's New E-commerce Website

MONTREAL, Aug. 15, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Optimal Payments (LSE: OPAY), a leading online payments provider, announced today the integration of its NETBANX payment gateway to RONA's new e-commerce Website. RONA, a national chain of home renovation superstores, recently launched its online store allowing customers to purchase items online or reserve them for in-store pick-up.

Consumers shopping on the RONA website can create an account, which can be used to facilitate subsequent purchases, or make a one-time guest purchase. A hosted-payment page, imbedded into the checkout process and using iFrame technology, allows them to enter their credit card information directly into the NETBANX, PCI DSS compliant environment. This significantly reduces RONA's PCI exposure and liability during the check-out process.

The NETBANX solution complements RONA's acquiring relationship with Desjardins Group to offer Visa, MasterCard and RONA's private label credit cards as payment options. To minimize fraud losses, all transactions are verified using NETBANX fraud detection and protection tools including cardholder authentication, CVV validation and 3D Secure verification. The NETBANX back-office suite provides RONA with comprehensive reporting including data by card type.

Linda Michaud, Vice President, Information Technologies at RONA mentioned that "Using the NETBANX gateway to process payments from its e-commerce site allows RONA to offer multiple payment options, minimize our PCI compliance requirements and reduce our fraud exposure."

"We are thrilled to be Rona's e-commerce partner", said Martin Leroux, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing. "This relationship with one of Quebec's premier brands is part of our on-going goal of providing reputable local and international companies with A to Z customized payment solutions."

About NETBANX®

NETBANX, a part of Optimal Payments, is a trusted provider of secure online payment gateway solutions.  Since 1996, thousands of e-commerce, MOTO, and multi-channel businesses around the world rely on the NETBANX gateway and services for the payment processing of credit/debit cards, online direct debit and alternative payments as well as the management of online payment fraud.  The NETBANX gateway is state-of-the art, geo-redundant and PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant.  A robust and flexible platform, it can be configured or customized to meet the card-not-present needs of any businesses from local e-commerce websites to large scale international online businesses.

For more information about NETBANX visit www.netbanx.com.

About Optimal Payments

Optimal Payments is a global provider of online payment solutions.  Trusted by businesses and consumers in over 180 countries to move and manage billions of dollars each year, merchants use the NETBANX ® processing service to simplify how they accept and settle credit card, direct-from-bank, and cash payments; and the NETELLER ® payment account to increase margins, capture new customers and increase their lifetime value. Being an independent provider has allowed the company to support tens-of-thousands merchants around the globe across a wide range of industries.  Optimal Payments Plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market, with a ticker symbol of OPAY. Subsidiary company NETELLER (UK) Ltd is authorized and regulated as an e-money issuer by the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA).

For more information on Optimal Payments visit www.optimalpayments.com or subscribe at www.optimalpayments.com/feed.

About RONA

RONA is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products. The Corporation operates a network of more than 800 corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats under several banners, and a network of 14 hardware and construction-materials distribution centres which are flexible and perfectly adapted to the diverse needs of its clientele. RONA is also a leader in the specialized plumbing and HVAC market, primarily serving commercial and professional customers with a network of close to 60 sales outlets across the country.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group www.desjardins.com is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada with assets of $196.4 billion. Drawing on the strength of its caisse network in Quebec and Ontario and its subsidiaries across Canada, it offers a full range of financial products and services to its 5.6 million members and clients. Desjardins specializes in Wealth Management and Life and Health Insurance, in Property and Casualty Insurance, in Personal Services, in Business and Institutional Services. As one of the largest employers in the country and among Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012™, Desjardins is supported by the skills of its 44,645 employees and the commitment of nearly 5,400 elected officers. A new education and cooperation program is now available to Desjardins members and the general public. For more information, visit www.desjardins.com/co-opme

SOURCE: Optimal Payments Inc.

For further information:

Optimal Payments
North America
Carla Erlick, Vice President Sales and Merchant Services
514.380.2716
carla.erlick@optimalpayments.com

UK 
Andrew Gilchrist, EVP Corporate Affairs 
+ 44 (0) 1624 698 713
investorrelations@optimalpayments.com











































































Mobile Payments to Reach $1.3tn Annually by 2017, as NFC and Physical Goods Sales Accelerate

 

Mobile Payments to Reach $1.3tn Annually by 2017, as NFC and Physical Goods Sales Accelerate

Hampshire, UK – 15th August 2012: The scale of global mobile payment transactions is expected to rise nearly fourfold over the next five years to more than $1.3tn, a new report from Juniper Research has found.

The report – Mobile Payments Strategies: NFC, Remote Purchases & Money Transfer 2012-2017 – found that growth would primarily be driven by sales of physical goods by both remote purchases and NFC transactions. These transactions – which will account for 54% of the total value of mobile payments by 2017 – have already been bolstered by stimuli such as the widespread rollout of NFC support infrastructure and the increased engagement of operators with the mCommerce space. Nevertheless, it observed that despite this growth, those physical goods sales conducted via the mobile phone would still only account for around 4% of global retail transactions by 2017.

NFC “lack of awareness” warning

According to the report, the recent spate of activity across the NFC value chain has marked a tipping point; it cited Google Wallet, VeriFone’s POS terminals and the operator-led ISIS and Project Oscar consortia as key developments in this regard. However, it cautioned that for NFC to fulfil its potential, marketing behind the mechanism would need to be scaled up dramatically.

As report author Dr Windsor Holden pointed out, “While we are now seeing significant deployments of contactless infrastructure, consumer awareness is extremely low. Thus, it is imperative for all members of the NFC value chain to engage with the public to heighten its profile as a simple, intuitive payment mechanism.”

Money transfer on the rise

The report also noted the growing importance of mobile as a means of enabling both domestic and international money transfer, although it stressed that in many markets service adoption was being inhibited by national regulatory requirements and by a lack of interoperability between services.

Other key findings from the report include:

  • Physical goods sales from mobile/nomadic devices will account for 30% of eRetail by 2017.
  • Now that NFC standards are in place, MNOs should start to invest in Secure Elements and Trusted Service Manager infrastructure.

The ‘Mobile Payment ~ Check It Out!’ whitepaper is available to download from the Juniper website together with further details of the full report.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

For further details please contact Rebecca Holman, Press Relations
T: +44(0)1256 830001     
E: rebecca.holman@juniperresearch.com