Ex-Zappos Leaders Launch Fairejour, a Thoughtful Online Retail Experience
LAS VEGAS, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- What do you do with over ten years of combined experience at one of the world's most outstanding online retailers? If you're Lianna Shen and Alex Kirmse, you do it all over again, but with a twist.
"This is a different kind of retail," said Shen, Co-Founder and CEO of Fairejour.com. "A certain group of consumers out there are becoming more aware. They like to know where things are made, how they are made, and who makes them. That is our market."
Just over a month in business, the site now houses nearly 30 independent labels from 9 different cities around the world. Much of what Fairejour curates is unique, one-of-a-kind, locally made, ethical, eco-friendly, etc. But that's really just icing on the cake.
"Our collection is of the highest quality and design standard, made by people who truly love their craft. And that's the most important thing," said Shen.
The husband and wife couple left mass-market retailer Zappos.com at the end of 2012 - he formerly headed the mobile, front-end development, and user experience teams and she, the VIP.Zappos.com loyalty platform - to pursue a dream of "thoughtful products, seeing the world and collecting beautiful things."
"The products speak for themselves," said Kirmse, Co-Founder and CXO of the website's clean, straightforward design. "Before we bring any designer or product on board we ask ourselves if it fits the thoughtful, extraordinary standards we aim to represent. We touch, feel and try on every single product, and even model many of the products ourselves."
The site features an array of products, from ethically handmade Brazilian shoes to locally-made upcycled wood installation lighting pieces, as well as of-the-moment fashion pieces in limited runs from independent designers in U.S.A., Canada and the U.K.
Fairejour.com is a tightly curated, non mass-market experience.
"We're not trying to be everything to everyone," added Shen. "But for those who are looking for this kind of experience - we hope they love it as much as we do."
Radware and Mellanox Technologies Combine Technology to Enable Mobile Carriers to Leverage Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN)
Collaboration between Radware and Mellanox enable extraction of network information to detect and protect against security threats in real-time for a more resilient and cost-effective mobile network
MAHWAH, New Jersey, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Radware [http://www.radware.com ](R) (NASDAQ: RDWR), a leading provider of application
delivery and application security solutions for virtual and cloud data centers, today
announced a collaborative effort with Mellanox(R) Technologies.
Combining its Application Delivery and Attack Mitigation Security solutions with
Mellanox Technologies' 10G and 40G NICs, illustrates an innovative ability to extract
network and application information that can be translated and leveraged to a scalable
solution for detection of various security threats, in real-time.
This unique solution not only permits a more resilient mobile network while enabling
the Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) initiative, but it also allows a
cost-effective, better-utilized mobile operation by eliminating high CPU overhead and
performance hit associated with vSwitches. In addition embedded switching and SR-IOV
technology results in accelerated performance and improved security, isolation, and
scalability.
By using an OpenFlow interface to manage the embedded virtual switch, operators can
now monitor and control traffic in real time, and through a standard control interface.
Enabling to deploy end to end Software Defined Networking (SDN) solutions, the unique
solution provides mobile carriers with highly secured, resilient mobile service operation
and cost-effective mobile cloud services.
"Our ADC and Security are field-proven products that are already deployed in various
virtualization environments. By integrating Mellanox's industry-leading and high-bandwidth
solution offers mobile carriers to drive their NFV and SDN initiatives," says Avi Chesla,
chief technology officer, Radware.
"Mellanox is a leading 10/40GbE server, storage and embedded communications
interconnect provider and a key contributor to SDN and NFV forums," says Amir Prescher,
senior vice president of business development at Mellanox Technologies. "By integrating
solutions with Radware, we can provide mobile carriers with clear business benefits and
unique value at the application-level through the integration with a NFV-based
infrastructure."
Radware and Mellanox's offering to mobile carriers was designed to employ the virtues
of both SDN and NFV, enabling easy adoption of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) server
infrastructure serving both the network level and application level needs, respectively.
Furthermore, it can also enable different mobile carrier and mobile cloud use-cases
including elastic application delivery, mobile security, and more.
Radware's solutions empower more than 10,000 enterprise and carrier customers
worldwide to adapt to market challenges quickly, maintain business continuity and achieve
maximum productivity while keeping costs down. For more information, please visit http://www.radware.com.
Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ: MLNX, TASE: MLNX) is a leading supplier of end-to-end
InfiniBand and Ethernet interconnect solutions and services for servers and storage.
Mellanox interconnect solutions increase data center efficiency by providing the highest
throughput and lowest latency, delivering data faster to applications and unlocking system
performance capability.
Mellanox offers a choice of fast interconnect products: adapters, switches, software
and silicon that accelerate application runtime and maximize business results for a wide
range of markets including high performance computing, enterprise data centers, Web 2.0,
cloud, storage and financial services. More information is available at http://www.mellanox.com [http://www.mellanox.com/index.php ]. Founded in 1999, Mellanox
Technologies is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and Yokneam, Israel.
(c)2013 Radware, Ltd. All rights reserved. Radware and all other Radware product and
service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of Radware in the U.S. and other
countries. All other trademarks and names are property of their respective owners.
This press release may contain statements concerning Radware's future prospects that
are "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Statements preceded by, followed by, or that otherwise include the words "believes",
"expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", and similar expressions or
future or conditional verbs such as "will", "should", "would", "may" and "could" are
generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. These statements are based
on current expectations and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
There can be no assurance that future results will be achieved, and actual results could
differ materially from forecasts and estimates. These risks and uncertainties, as well as
others, are discussed in greater detail in Radware's Annual Report on Form 20-F and
Radware's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Radware undertakes no
commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statement in order to reflect events or
circumstances after the date any such statement is made. Radware's public filings are
available from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov
or may be obtained on Radware's website at http://www.radware.com.
Corporate Media Relations:
Brian T. Gallagher
+1-201-785-3206 (office)
+1-201-574-3840 (cell)
briang@radware.com
Herschel's Famous 34 Pub & Grill Opens with Vexilor, the Cloud-based tablet POS System from Givex
ATHENS, GA, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Herschel's Famous 34 Pub & Grill, a 110-seat restaurant owned by DD Leisure Management Corp., and named
after football legend Herschel Walker, and Givex, a global technology company, announced today that the newly opened
restaurant was live with Vexilor, a new cloud based tablet POS system.
Vexilor is a cost-effective POS system that leverages the power of the
Cloud and tablet technology to drive productivity and operational
efficiency. Tablets can be deployed as fixed workstations or handheld
devices, enabling staff to place orders straight from the table and
continue serving customers while orders are automatically routed to the
kitchen or bar to be processed. Tablet interfaces can be customized for
each type of role, from server to manager, and are managed in the
Cloud, so anyone can sign in to any tablet and access functions and
menus tailored to their role.
"We had our grand opening in conjunction with the Super Bowl and Vexilor
performed incredibly," says George Fiorile, VP of Business Development
for DD Leisure Management Corp. "In terms of efficiency, it's like
having an extra server on the floor! I can easily see it cutting down
on table turn time by 5-10 minutes per table. Servers place orders
right at the table, move on to the next table and engage with the
customers, instead of walking back to a station to enter orders.
Servers with bar orders especially love it because drinks are ready
when they get back to bar. It's so simple to use. We even installed it
ourselves. It was ready right out of the box. No technician needed."
"We're very glad to provide Herschel's Famous 34 Pub & Grill with a POS
system that has all the functionality they were looking for and more,"
says J.C. Hoopes, Director of Business Development, Givex. "Not only do
the new Vexilor tablets offer greater convenience and order efficiency,
but also a full integration with Givex's extensive loyalty program and
deep real-time reporting capability."
About Givex
Givex's core distinction is taking on the tough task of managing all
aspects of the transaction to ensure companies can deliver maximum
customer satisfaction. More than just digital marketing, the Givex
platform helps build deeper customer relationships using smarter
transactions. Givex is integrated with over 450 POS providers. Givex
gift card and loyalty programs and integrated POS solutions allow
companies to gain valuable insights from real-time transaction history,
build sophisticated databases of customer information, and drive
further transactions and spending.
About Herschel's Famous 34
Herschel's Famous 34 Pub & Grill's features Southern hospitality with
exceptional customer service and food choices to please any palate. The
menu includes 34 craft brews and 34 flavors of wings, juicy grilled
steaks and burgers, signature sandwich creations, seafood, healthy
selections and salads.
Sports enthusiasts can watch the game on six, 60" screens. Complimentary
wi-fi is available and guests may view special messages from Herschel
Walker on tableside iPads. Wall décor in the restaurant depicts
Walker's athletic achievements and personal accomplishments.
Retail items including autographed menus, footballs, helmets and apparel
are available for purchase. Information is available at http://www.herschelsfamous34pubandgrill.com
DD Leisure Management Corp. owns and operates Herschel's Famous 34 Pub &
Grill and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dover Downs Gaming and
Entertainment, Inc., a NYSE listed company (DDE) with years of
experience operating high volume restaurants.
SOURCE Givex
Givex
CONTACT: Media Contacts: Bryan Wang
Givex
Director of Marketing
bryan@givex.com
877.478.7733 ext. 309
30-Day Revision Pack for JEE Main 2013 From Attano and AIETS
MUMBAI, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Unique Approach Combines Comprehensive Revision Material, Interactive Mock Tests With
InstaReports(R) and Exclusive Video Tips From Experts and Previous Toppers to Prepare
Students for Success
Attano, India's largest store for interactive educational eBooks and interactive test
preparation content, has partnered with AIETS, one of India's leading education companies
in the K-12 and competitive examinations space. These two industry leaders have launched
the Ultimate 30-Day Revision Pack [http://www.attano.com/jee ] for JEE Main 2013 specially
put together for students considering the career-making JEE.
The Ultimate 30-Day Revision Pack for JEE Main 2013 follows a unique approach covering
the complete JEE Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics syllabi. Once downloaded, the pack
provides a combination of salient points and key questions for every chapter, six 1-hour
interactive subject-level tests, and a complete 3-hour interactive mock exam. Attano's
revolutionary InstaReports(R) system gives students immediate scores and solutions to help
understand areas of improvement. What differentiates this pack from other revision
material available in the country is the focus on getting the student in the right frame
of mind for the exam.
The revision material has been created in line with the 3R Approach recommended by
AIETS:
Revise - Chapter-level highlights, followed by revision questions, help build speed
and mastery over the important concepts of every chapter.
Reinforce - Six subject-level tests of an hour's duration each to test your knowledge
of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
Review - A full-fledged mock exam mimics the actual exams to determine how much you've
improved. Students can better their scores by identifying areas of weakness and comparing
their answers with the solutions provided.
As critical as revision is, what is equally important is a student's mindset while
preparing for an exam. The Video eBook and Toppers Secrets of Success provide the
motivation and guidance needed to approach the JEE Main with clarity and focus.
Avinash Agarwal, CEO, AIETS says, "The Ultimate 30-Day Revision Pack for JEE 2013 is
the result of our belief that every student can excel if they are equipped with the right
revision material and are in the right frame of mind. The tips for JEE success are a
culmination of over 10 years of research, counselling and field experience."
Soumya Banerjee, CEO, Attano, further explains, "At Attano, we are committed to
creating a smarter generation of students. In AIETS, we have found a partner that shares
our vision. We are delighted to use the digital medium to help students in every town of
India get access to premier educational content which wasn't easily available to them
before. We understand that a majority of students are intimidated by the JEE, and have
designed our pack to give them the confidence they need to succeed. Any student, sitting
anywhere in India, can download the pack and start revising anytime, anywhere, now."
The Ultimate 30-Day Revision Pack for JEE 2013 is priced at an affordable Rs. 499
(compared to thousands of rupees for other revision material). Students who buy this pack
will be able to download the Ultimate Revision Pack for JEE Advanced 2013 absolutely free.
To learn more, please visit: http://www.attano.com/jee.
About Attano:
Attano is India's first interactive educational eBook store. The Attano marketplace
offers the most up-to-date and in-demand eBooks from leading publishers and digital
content owners. Attano's distribution network reaches over 100,000 students through its
web and app stores and tie-ups with some of India's largest electronic majors.
With Attano eBooks, you can watch videos, take tests, read reports. Search, bookmark,
highlight, add notes, and experience more value at discounted prices. Carry a year's worth
of text books in a solution that is affordable, lightweight and mobile.
Attano eBooks are available for iPads, Android devices and Windows PCs and laptops.
AIETS is one of India's leading education companies in the space of K-12 and
competitive exams. AIETS was founded under the guidance of renowned Professor Dr. O P
Agarwal. In the last 10 years, AIETS has provided learning and assessment solutions to
lakhs of students, thousands of teachers and hundreds of schools/educational institutes
across the country in the diverse space of Class 1 to international exams like GRE/GMAT.
Their vision is to create an India where every citizen is educated and they seek the
assistance of all parents to contribute to this endeavour.
Primary Media Contact: Priyanka Das, priyanka@galvanisepr.com, 91-8050989699
Blancco julkaisee white paperin mobiililaitteiden tiedonhävityksestä ICTexpossa
JOENSUU, Suomi, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Tiedonhävitysohjelmistoihin erikoistunut Blancco julkaisee it-alan ammattitapahtuma
ICTexpossa suomenkielisen white paperin mobiililaitteiden tiedonhävityksen parhaista
käytännöistä.
Suurimmalla osalla yrityksistä, jotka hyväksyvät työntekijöiden omat
mobiililaitteet työpaikoilla, ei uuden tutkimuksen
[http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/9/prweb9858074.htm ] mukaan kuitenkaan ole
tietoturvakäytäntöjä, joilla varmistettaisiin, että laitteille tallennetut tiedot
ovat turvassa. Oleellinen osa näitä tietoturvakäytäntöjä on, että käytöstä
poistettavien mobiiililaitteiden tiedot hävitetään asianmukaisesti. Palautus
tehdasasetuksiin ei riitä, koska silloin tiedot ovat palautettavissa.
"Omien mobiililaitteiden käyttö töissä yleistyy samaan aikaan, kun tietosuojaa
koskeva lainsäädäntö tiukkenee. Blancco Mobile
[http://www.blancco.com/fi/tuotteet/taydellinen-tiedonhavitys/mobile ] on markkinoiden
ainoa ratkaisu, joka hävittää tiedot samanaikaisesti Symbian-, Android-, BlackBerry-,
Windows Mobile - ja iOS-laitteilta", Blanccon toimitusjohtaja Kim Väisänen sanoo.
Blancco esittelee Pohjoismaiden suurimmassa it-alan ammattitapahtumassa ICTexpossa
[http://www.easyfairs.com/fi/events_216/ictexpo-helsinki2013_31316/ictexpo-helsinki-2013_31318/? ]
Helsingin Messukeskuksessa 20.-21. maaliskuuta käytännössä, miten
älypuhelimien ja tablettien tiedot hävitetään Blancco Mobilella. Esillä ovat myös
Blanccon muut keskitetysti hallittavat tiedonhävitysratkaisut, joiden käyttö tehostaa
yrityksen tietoturvaa ja lisää organisaation tehokkuutta.
Blanccon edustajat keskustelevat tapahtumassa mielellään organisaatioiden
tiedonhävitystarpeista osastolla 5e1. Tapahtumavieraat voivat sopia tapaamisesta Blanccon
kanssa etukäteen lähettämällä sähköpostia osoitteeseen sales@blancco.com.
Tapahtumaan kannattaa rekisteröityä etukäteen
[https://form.n200.com/?s=1iguh8tmp2kd2&ac=NTWO000099HSO&c=3nbjrcsaom062&pi=0shoons6s9u29 ]
.
Blancco Oy Ltd
Blancco on tiedonhävityksen globaali markkinajohtaja. Blanccon
tiedonhävitysohjelmistolla on miljoonia käyttäjiä eri puolilla maailmaa. Blancco on
sertifioiduin ja suositelluin ratkaisu alallaan. Yritys palvelee muun muassa pankki-,
vakuutus- ja rahoitusalaa, it-laitteiden kierrätysammattilaisia sekä eri maiden
hallitusten ja puolustusvoimien alaisia organisaatioita. Vuonna 1997 perustetun Blancco Oy
Ltd:n pääkonttori sijaitsee Joensuussa. Blanccolla on useita kansainvälisiä
toimipaikkoja ja yhteistyökumppaneita Euroopassa, Yhdysvalloissa, Lähi-idässä,
Venäjällä, Aasiassa ja Australaasiassa. Lisätietoja http://www.blancco.com.
Lisätietoja:
Kim Väisänen
Toimitusjohtaja, Blancco Oy Ltd.
+358-50-585-2885
kim.vaisanen@blancco.com
Lehdistökontakti:
Kari Ahokas
+358-40-588-6893
kari@merkitysviestinta.fi
Become a Super-Powered Kung-Fu Hero - Now Available on Games on Demand
HELSINKI, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
The indie games developer Virtual Air Guitar Company Ltd announced today that their
motion fighting game Kung-Fu High Impact is now globally available on Games on Demand for
the Xbox(R) 360 video game and entertainment system.
Kung-Fu High Impact is a full-body motion fighting adventure that uses Kinect to scan
YOU inside the game to fight the baddies with real kicks and punches. Literally become a
super-powered Kung-Fu hero, star in your own comic book adventure and challenge your
friends in a unique multiplayer combat. Kung-Fu High Impact is fun to play and fun to
watch. You can even use props and costumes for fighting - just be careful with your
surroundings.
Download your own unique calorie burner from Xbox LIVE Games on Demand for an
equivalent of 14,99EUR / 14,99$ / 11,99GBP. Get it while the infinite digital stock lasts
and release your inner Bruce Lee!
Become a Super-Powered Kung-Fu Hero - Now Available in the UK
HELSINKI, Finland, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
The indie games developer Virtual Air Guitar Company Ltd announced today that their
motion fighting game Kung-Fu High Impact is now available on Games on Demand for the
Xbox(R) 360 video game and entertainment system.
Kung-Fu High Impact is a full-body motion fighting adventure that uses Kinect to scan
YOU inside the game to fight the baddies with real kicks and punches. Literally become a
super-powered Kung-Fu hero, star in your own comic book adventure and challenge your
friends in a unique multiplayer combat. Kung-Fu High Impact is fun to play and fun to
watch. You can even use props and costumes for fighting - just be careful with your
surroundings.
This is the game's first entry into the UK. "The entire team is super happy that the
game is finally available to gamers in the most important European market," says Teemu
Mäki-Patola, CEO of Virtual Air Guitar Company.
Download your own unique calorie burner from Xbox LIVE Games on Demand for 11,99GBP.
Get it while the infinite digital stock lasts and release your inner Bruce Lee!
Ramco Systems Launches Aviation on Cloud for Heli-operators
LAS VEGAS, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Unveils cloud MRO software with uber-cool interface
Set to transform the small heli-operator segment with its Aviation on Cloud
Ramco Systems, the global Aviation Software provider on Cloud, Mobile and Tablets
today announced the launch of its ultra-cool, mobile-enabled software-Ramco Aviation on
Cloud-for the Heli-operator segment at the HELI-EXPO 2013, the most coveted global show
for Heli-operators. Ramco has been a leading provider of MRO and M&E software for the
heli-operator segment, and with the launch of a cloud version, will be able to offer
customers delivery options that best fit their needs.
The newly launched cloud offering will address the unique needs of small operators/
MROs in the Heli-operator segment which, hitherto, had to either run on disparate point
solutions or manually on paper/excel. The only other option available was an on-premise
Aviation MRO software that was high on cost, required maintenance, frequent upgrades and
was built to address large and complex environments.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. P. R. Venketrama Raja, Vice Chairman & Managing Director,
Ramco Systems, said "Helicopter companies and MROs addressing the Heli-operator segment,
whether large or small, constantly face operational hurdles such as increased aircraft
downtimes, stringent regulatory compliance, disparate IT systems and unmanageable supply
chain among others. Having addressed the industry with our best-of-breed aviation MRO
software, we understand that the needs of a small operator are very different and we have
tailor made a solution that will address their needs most effectively, at a fraction of
the cost of traditional software."
Mr. Virender Aggarwal, CEO, Ramco Systems, added "Heli-operator is a key focus segment
for us and we have been growing rapidly by adding some of the leading names in the
industry. 80% of the market today consists of small operators. Most of them operate from
excel sheets and do not have an integrated M&E/MRO software, as they cannot afford the
traditional system. With Ramco Aviation on Cloud, we will be addressing this underserved
market segment, and we look forward to expanding our leadership position, globally."
Built ground-up for the Aviation sector, Ramco Aviation Suite caters to airlines,
rotor wing operators as well as third party MROs. The solution helps Aviation businesses
to bring in best practices into all engineering and maintenance operations, and reduce
overhead costs. Ramco has been adding features like Mobility and Gen-Y Interface that will
redefine the way Aviation users use technology to maintain their fleet.
About Ramco Aviation:
Ramco Aviation Suite provides Aviation Maintenance & Engineering (M&E) and Maintenance
Repair & Overhaul (MRO software) solutions, globally. Ramco's customers include Air India,
Pinnacle Airlines, CONAIR, PHI, Air Methods, Era Helicopters, AeroMexico Connect, Republic
Airways, Chautauqua, Shuttle America, TACA Regional, Air New Zealand's SafeAir Limited,
JEJU Air Co. Ltd. Gulf Helicopters, FL Technics, Columbia Helicopters, Air Medical Group,
AlSalam Aircraft Co., Jazeera Airways, ADAC LuftfahrtTechnik, AirWorks, GoAir and Yemen
Airways amongst others.
Sunstone Business School, the leading specialized Management School for information
technology professionals, today announced the launch of its Post Graduate Program in
Management (PGPM) in Bengaluru. In last two years, Sunstone has created a premier
management education option for high quality working professionals in technology industry.
With problem-based learning as its core, Sunstone Business School is leading the way by
ensuring that the future technology leaders receive the finest management education in
India.
"Bengaluru is the largest hub for IT services, enterprise products, and consumer
companies and has huge talent pool of high quality technology professionals. We had been
getting a lot of interest from Bengaluru for past 2 years, and we are now pleased to
announce the launch of our program here," said Mr. Rajul Garg, Director, Sunstone Business
School.
Sunstone Business School in Bengaluru will offer the PGPM program, which delivers 750
hours of learning that includes 15-17 full weekend contact days and the remaining online.
The program provides detailed learning on matters like Financial Analysis, Organizational
Management, Marketing and Product Management, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy etc.
Sunstone graduates have successfully transitioned into senior business roles such as
Product Management, Consulting, Business Development in tech-centric industry. The first
Bengaluru batch will start from 4 May 2013, and is expected to be a very small batch
through invitation and referral only.
"Success of Sunstone PGPM depends on the future career path of our students, and hence
it is imperative to identify right kind of students for the program. We are the only
program for working professionals in India that focuses on placement and career
transition. Almost all of our students have changed their career trajectory significantly
after the program by getting into business roles as well as entrepreneurship. We will
limit our first batch in Bengaluru to 10 students only," said Mr. Garg.
Currently, Sunstone is running batches in Delhi and Pune. The batch sizes are small
(25-50 students) and includes working professionals between 6-12 years of experience from
technology companies such as IBM, Adobe, Sapient, Symantec, Infoedge as well as
entrepreneurs.
About Sunstone Business School
Sunstone (http://www.sunstone.in [http://www.sunstone.in ]) is a Premier Management Program
for working IT/ITES professionals in Delhi, Pune & Bangalore. Sunstone admits high quality
students ( http://sunstone.in/management-program/sunstone-business-school/meet-the-class) from
technology background and help them transition into senior business roles. With problem
based learning as its core, Sunstone Business School is ensuring that the future
technology leaders receive the most applicable and practicable management education in
India. Sunstone runs small batches (25-50) that are coached by some top notch faculty and
professionals from Harvard, McKinsey, BCG, INSEAD etc.
For more information, e-mail at contactus@sunstone.in
Primary Media Contact: Dinesh Singh, dinesh@sunstone.in, 91-9871743222
Secondary Media Contact: Paras Gupta, paras@sunstone.in, 91-9873805309
Giving a gift that's cherished can be a challenge. Whether you're unsure of your loved
one's sense of taste, style or just get flummoxed at the idea of giving gifts, technology
can help. Giftingnation is a website designed to make gift-giving an experience to be
enjoyed by both the giver and the receiver.
Giftingnation for the first time in India launched "Dial a gift", a gifting hotline
080-68000068 where customers can call to know any gift ideas or suggestions and place an
order. You can become a member on the phone itself. This service offers a personalized
experience for the user as it is helping him choose the right gift. The company is also
working on their technological discovery and recommendation platform due to launch end of
next quarter.
At a recent interview, Srinivas Mothey, Co-founder of Giftingnation, said, "We are
here to improvise and make the gift-giving process easy and delightful surrounded by great
service and experience that is beautifully presented with an element of surprise."
Giftingnation takes pride in the gifts that are available on its website - from edible
gifts (cake, cupcakes), flowers & chocolates, collectibles (paintings, quirky gifts) to
exclusive collections like Harley Davidson motorbike replicas and more. "We try to find
gifts that you and the person you're giving to will find exceptional. Our job is to help
you discover some beautiful products you just don't find in mainstream retail, create an
experience around a set of those products," said Srinivas.
How it works:
- You can choose a gift by occasion, recipient or even thought (e.g. I miss you,
Congrats, etc.)
- Choose from a wide range, schedule a date and personalize (wrap, messages or add-ons
like greeting cards)
- Add element of surprises (write a handwritten poem or color of the wraps)
- We deliver it to home, office or hotel.
Srinivas said that their typical customer is in the mid-20s to mid-50s. Gift givers
are almost equally male and female. "It's interesting because it shows that men find
Giftingnation a great place to shop," he added.
Gifts can be sent anywhere within India. Currently edible gifts can only be delivered
to Hyderabad and Bangalore but the company plans to expand to other cities like Pune,
Ahmedabad, and Delhi NCR & Mumbai in the next 6 to 8 months.
About Giftingnation:
Giftingnation is an agile start-up creating a niche in the underserved gifting space.
Thriving on experience, the company is trying to make the process of discovering and
giving gifts a hassle free process.
Headquartered in Bangalore, Giftingnation was founded by Srinivas Mothey & Swetha
Mothey in December 2012. It is armed with a superb team of 4 bringing to the table a
combined experience of more than 25 years across marketing, sales, technology and
operations.
New Esri Applications Available from ArcGIS Online, Apple App Store, and Google Play
Applications Give Insight into Enterprise Data and Speed Field Data Collection
REDLANDS, Calif., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Esri has created two new applications to monitor daily operations and simplify field data collection. Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS provides a common operating picture and allows decision makers to monitor, track, and report on daily operations. Collector for ArcGIS allows users to capture and report spatial and/or tabular information directly from their iPhone or Android smartphone in the field.
The Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS uses interactive maps and data in the form of charts, gauges, and other performance indicators that update automatically as underlying data changes. Dashboard views can be shared and used by others within an organization. The Operations Dashboard application runs on Windows desktops and Intel-based Windows tablets and is available at ArcGIS Online.
Subscribers to ArcGIS Online can install the Operations Dashboard via a ClickOnce deployment without the need for administrator rights. Powered by ArcGIS Runtime SDK for WPF, the Operations Dashboard can be extended with new widgets, map tools, and feature actions.
The Collector for ArcGIS application simplifies data collection in the field. Data can be recorded using GPS or by tapping on the map. The Collector app provides the ability to plan routes, generate directions, capture photos and video, and seamlessly integrate information back into an organization's GIS. The app can also be configured for use with various tools to help tailor data collection workflows to users' specific needs.
The Collector for ArcGIS is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play (formerly Android Market).
The Operations Dashboard and Collector applications are available to organizations that have either a 30-day trial or have purchased an ArcGIS Online subscription.
To learn more, visit esri.com/smartphones.
Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS, Esri software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of Web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at http://www.esri.com.
Esri, the Esri globe logo, GIS by Esri, ArcGIS, http://www.esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.
BrightEdge Bridge the SEO and Content Marketing Gap with Content Optimizer
Content Optimizer allows authors to optimize new content for search rankings, traffic and conversions 'out of the gate' as new content is produced
SAN FRANCISCO, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BrightEdge, the global leader in enterprise SEO, has released its latest innovation, Content Optimizer. This product integration with Adobe helps content authors optimize new content for search rankings, traffic and conversions 'out of the gate' as new content is authored.
Key features of BrightEdge Content Optimizer allow marketers to
-- Optimize while authoring content
-- Enable content writers within their workflow
-- Monitor usage and look out for patterns such as SEO error distribution
-- Seek low hanging fruit - re-visit templates and policies to reduce
errors
"BrightEdge Content Optimizer will help us achieve key business goals faster and streamline team coordination in a scalable way." Citrix
BrightEdge Content Optimizer offers content authors with recommendations to increase the search performance of their pages for over 4500 brands that leverage the BrightEdge S3 platform for SEO management.
Travelocity Content Optimizer: 67% Boost In SEO Compliance drives traffic & revenue
Travelocity, http://www.travelocity.com, is one of the largest online travel agencies in the world and a global leader in travel marketing. Within days of deploying the new BrightEdge Content Optimizer, Travelocity was able to immediately fix 67% of SEO errors detected by the new plug-in for CQ to drive more traffic and revenue.
In addition, Travelocity realized significant time savings, greater search and content team alignment, and faster website policy adoption.
David McCarty, Manager of CMS, Travelocity comments "This is big. Now we can optimize 100% of our landing pages for organic search performance and drive more revenue on day one".
About BrightEdge
BrightEdge is the global leader in enterprise SEO, helping more than 4,500 of the world's largest brands stay ahead in the rapidly evolving Internet landscape. That list includes seven of the ten largest retailers, eight of the ten top digital agencies, hospitality leaders such as Marriott, as well as technology and social titans including Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, VMWare and Symantec.
Travelocity, http://www.travelocity.com a subsidiary of Sabre Holdings Corporation, is one of the largest online travel agencies in the world and a global leader in travel marketing. Travelocity is committed to being the traveler's champion with its customer-driven focus, backed by 24/7 live phone support, competitive prices, and powerful shopping technology.
SOURCE BrightEdge
BrightEdge
CONTACT: Andy Betts, 0789 486 3693 (UK), +1-650-554-1468
Ramco Systems Launches Aviation on Cloud for Heli-Operators
LAS VEGAS, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Unveils cloud MRO software with uber-cool interface
Set to transform the small heli-operator segment with its Aviation on Cloud
Ramco Systems, the global Aviation Software provider on Cloud, Mobile and Tablets
today announced the launch of its ultra-cool, mobile-enabled software-Ramco Aviation on
Cloud-for the Heli-operator segment at the HELI-EXPO 2013, the most coveted global show
for Heli-operators. Ramco has been a leading provider of MRO and M&E software for the
heli-operator segment, and with the launch of a cloud version, will be able to offer
customers delivery options that best fit their needs.
The newly launched cloud offering will address the unique needs of small
operators/MROs in the Heli-operator segment, which hitherto, had to either run on
disparate point solutions or manually on paper/excel. The only other option available was
an on-premise Aviation MRO software that was high on cost, required maintenance, frequent
upgrades and was built to address large and complex environments.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. P. R. Venketrama Raja, Vice Chairman & Managing Director,
Ramco Systems, said, "Helicopter companies and MROs addressing the Heli-operator segment,
whether large or small, constantly face operational hurdles such as increased aircraft
downtimes, stringent regulatory compliance, disparate IT systems and unmanageable supply
chain among others. Having addressed the industry with our best-of-breed aviation MRO
software, we understand that the needs of a small operator are very different and we have
tailor made a solution that will address their needs most effectively, at a fraction of
the cost of traditional software."
Mr. Virender Aggarwal, CEO, Ramco Systems, added, "Heli-operator is a key focus
segment for us and we have been growing rapidly by adding some of the leading names in the
industry. 80% of the market today consists of small operators. Most of them operate from
excel sheets and do not have an integrated M&E/MRO software, as they cannot afford the
traditional system. With Ramco Aviation on Cloud, we will be addressing this underserved
market segment, and we look forward to expanding our leadership position, globally."
Built ground-up for the Aviation sector, Ramco Aviation Suite caters to airlines,
rotor wing operators as well as third party MROs. The solution helps Aviation businesses
to bring in best practices into all engineering and maintenance operations, and reduce
overhead costs. Ramco has been adding features like Mobility and Gen-Y Interface that will
redefine the way Aviation users use technology to maintain their fleet.
About Ramco Aviation:
Ramco Aviation Suite provides Aviation Maintenance & Engineering (M&E) and Maintenance
Repair & Overhaul (MRO software) solutions, globally. Ramco's customers include Air India,
Pinnacle Airlines, CONAIR, PHI, Air Methods, Era Helicopters, AeroMexico Connect, Republic
Airways, Chautauqua, Shuttle America, TACA Regional, Air New Zealand's SafeAir Limited,
JEJU Air Co. Ltd. Gulf Helicopters, FL Technics, Columbia Helicopters, Air Medical Group,
AlSalam Aircraft Co., Jazeera Airways, ADAC Luftfahrt Technik, AirWorks, GoAir and Yemen
Airways amongst others.
HotSchedules Unveils Updated Version of Its Popular iPhone App
AUSTIN, Texas, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- HotSchedules, an award-winning provider of mobile and web-based employee scheduling, forecasting and paperless hiring solutions for the restaurant and hospitality industries, today announced the release of a new version of its popular iPhone app --- HotSchedules 3.0 ---- with new, enhanced features to make it even easier for managers and staff to communicate 24/7.
The HotSchedules mobile app, already the customer-preferred method of accessing the HotSchedules platform, allows managers and their employees to quickly view their schedule, request a shift swap or release, see available shifts, pick up shifts, or message co-workers to see who is working during a particular shift. In addition, managers can check the schedule roster, approve or deny shift change requests, and enter, read or search Digital Logbook entries --- a virtual communications log for shift notes and staff performance information.
The iPhone app's new version offers a completely updated user experience for managers and staff alike. Upgraded 3.0 features include user-friendly tabs, enhanced icons that illustrate shift releases, swaps and day-off requests, a quick contact bar, improved calendar sync capabilities, as well as user avatars and profile images that can be accessed across the contacts, roster and messaging bars.
"The new app's interface was redesigned from the ground up so it is easier to navigate, more convenient to use and improves visibility of important information for busy, on-the-go managers and their employees," said Casey Clinkenbeard, Vice President of Product Development, HotSchedules. "We believe Version 3.0 will deliver an exceptional user experience."
HotSchedules plans to expand the app even further by adding additional features that will be rolled out later this year, according to Clinkenbeard. Users can expect to have the ability to view a complete version of a chosen schedule that includes all staff members, rather than just their own personal schedule - a popular tool on HotSchedules' web-based platform.
In addition, managers can expect to utilize an enhanced reporting tab feature that will allow them to access new reports, including an overtime warning, employee hours summary and additional labor proforma reports.
HotSchedules plans to release an Android version of its popular mobile app in the next six months. For more information, visit http://www.hotschedules.com.
About HotSchedules
HotSchedules provides mobile and web-based scheduling, forecasting, and paperless hiring solutions for the restaurant and hospitality industries. HotSchedules' mobile applications are consistently rated by AppToday as one of the top ten business apps. The company also provides training and account management, and a bilingual support team supports customers seven days a week. For more information about the award-winning company and its products, visit HotSchedules on the web at http://www.hotschedules.com or call (512) 904-4299.
Land O'Lakes Joins Feeding America to Launch Pin-A-Meal, Give-A-Meal
SAINT PAUL, Minn., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For every Land O'Lakes recipe pinned on Pinterest, the Land O'Lakes Foundation will donate $1 up to $250,000 to Feeding America(®) to help fight hunger in the United States.
The Pin-A-Meal Campaign kicked off March 4 and will run through May 1. One in six Americans is struggling with hunger, including nearly 17 million children and four million seniors. The Land O'Lakes Foundation and Land O'Lakes Dairy Foods are partnering with Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to help address food insecurity.
"The Land O'Lakes Foundation is committed to addressing hunger across the country," said Lydia Botham, executive director of the Land O'Lakes Foundation. "We want to raise awareness of the increasing number of people--especially in rural communities--of all ages who cannot afford to put food on the table and who go hungry. The Pin-A-Meal, Give-A-Meal Campaign leverages the social media platform Pinterest to engage people who enjoy recipes and want to help with hunger issues nationally. "
Every $1 donated to Feeding America equals eight meals.
"We are excited to take advantage of the growing interest in Pinterest to help provide meals to families in need throughout the country," said John Ellenberger, vice president and general manager, Land O'Lakes Retail Foods. "We know that a growing number of individuals are looking to Pinterest to find recipes to help them plan creative meals, and the landolakes.com site offers a great selection to choose from."
"We're delighted to team up again with Land O'Lakes on the Pin-A-Meal, Give-A-Meal Pinterest campaign," said Leah Ray, vice president of corporate partnerships for Feeding America. "The simple act of sharing new recipes with friends now can help support families in need."
In 2010, the Land O'Lakes Foundation launched the Feeding Our Communities initiative, a project designed to address hunger in the communities in which Land O'Lakes employees and members live and work. Each year, Land O'Lakes donates truckloads of fresh product to food banks. In 2012, Land O'Lakes donated more than $1.9 million in cash and product to fight hunger across the country, especially in rural areas.
The Land O'Lakes Facebook and Twitter pages and website will feature recipes visitors can share on Pinterest. The pins and repins will be tracked, and the donation will be made to Feeding America, a long-time partner of Land O'Lakes.
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.
Land O'Lakes and the Land O'Lakes Foundation have always been leaders in the many communities where they have members, employees, plants and facilities. The Land O'Lakes Foundation proactively helps rural communities by donating resources that develop and strengthen organizations dedicated to hunger relief, education and the community.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. (http://www.landolakesinc.com) is a national, farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative with annual sales of more than $14 billion. The nation's second-largest cooperative and number 210 on the Fortune 500, Land O'Lakes does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. It is a leading marketer of a full line of dairy-based consumer, foodservice and food ingredient products across the United States; serves its international customers with a variety of food and animal feed ingredients; and provides farmers and ranchers with an extensive line of agricultural supplies (feed, seed, and crop protection products and services) under the operations of Winfield Solutions and Purina Animal Nutrition. Land O'Lakes also provides agricultural assistance and technical training in more than 25 developing nations.
Video Gaming Technologies, Inc. Launches Illinois Social Media Marketing Efforts
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Video Gaming Technologies, Inc. (VGT), a leading manufacturer of video gaming terminals for the Illinois market as well as Class II and emerging gaming devices, recently introduced their social media platforms to increase awareness about the company's Vega$ Jackpot$® terminals in operation throughout the state of Illinois.
"Here at VGT we understand the importance of social media in getting the word out about our new Vega$ Jackpot$® video gaming terminals," said Jon Yarbrough, CEO. "Through our social media marketing, we're not only informing the public about our product, but we're also providing an added value to our operators."
In an effort to generate buzz and excitement about players now having the option of playing their favorite terminals at local taverns, VGT has created the Vega$ Jackpot$® Facebook page and Twitter Feed.
In launching these two new platforms, VGT hosted a Cherry 96(TM) sweepstakes where one lucky winner walked away with over $300 worth of VGT prizes. The sweepstakes, which included a targeted Facebook advertising campaign, grew the fan base to over 1,100 in just four weeks.
"It's an exciting time for VGT in including social media as part of our marketing efforts. We're looking forward to getting to know the Illinois player base, and we feel social media will play a huge role in doing just that," said Vanessa Cabrera, IL sales and marketing coordinator at VGT. "We understand that when it comes to social media, it's about our fans and followers and the ability to have an open dialogue with them about our products and services. This will better enable VGT to provide a superior gaming entertainment experience."
In addition to the Cherry 96(TM) sweepstakes, the Vega$ Jackpot$® page also includes an interactive Google map that shows players where all Vega$ Jackpot$® terminals are located across the state. VGT will continue to update this map to inform players about new video gaming locations.
VGT hopes to work with current operators to drive traffic to gaming locations with continued social media marketing tactics, including a tab with more information about the different Vega$ Jackpot$® games, as well as more sweepstakes and contests to come.
About VGT
Since 1991 Video Gaming Technologies, Inc. (VGT), has become one of the leading manufacturers of games for Class II and emerging gaming markets. Employing more than 650 individuals across North America, VGT is the manufacturer of Live-Call Bingo(TM), the top earning, bingo-based Class II gaming platform for Native American casinos. For more information on VGT Illinois and its products please visit Illinois.vgt.net.
SOURCE Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.
Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: James Starr, Senior Vice President of Sales, Video Gaming Technologies, Inc., +1-512-944-4360 or Frank Fortunato, IL Sales Manager, Video Gaming Technologies, Inc., +1-847-253-2380
Become A Super-Powered Kung-Fu Hero - Now Available in Australia
HELSINKI, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
The indie games developer Virtual Air Guitar Company Ltd announced today that their
motion fighting game Kung-Fu High Impact is now available on Games on Demand for the
Xbox(R) 360 video game and entertainment system.
Kung-Fu High Impact is a full-body motion fighting adventure that uses Kinect to scan
YOU inside the game to fight the baddies with real kicks and punches. Literally become a
super-powered Kung-Fu hero, star in your own comic book adventure and challenge your
friends in a unique multiplayer combat. Kung-Fu High Impact is fun to play and fun to
watch. You can even use props and costumes for fighting - just be careful with your
surroundings.
This is the game's first entry into Australia. "We have had many requests from players
in Australia and are very happy to tell them that it is finally available," says Teemu
Mäki-Patola, CEO of Virtual Air Guitar Company.
Download your own unique calorie burner from Xbox LIVE Games on Demand for 19,95 A$.
Get it while the infinite digital stock lasts and release your inner Bruce Lee!
MZ Group innovates and expands its performance by launching the e-shop
MZ Group now offers its expertise in webcast, translations and transcription services to companies and individuals
SAO PAULO, March 6, 2013 MZ Group, world's largest independent investor relations company hereby announces the expansion of its webcast, translation and transcription services package which now will be offered to the market in general as e-commerce (the company's e-shop), going beyond the investor relations market, the company's traditional focus.
The company is pioneer in the application of webcast technology for the capital markets in Brazil, which allowed it to extensively increase its expertise in such service. The tool applied in these online events is owned by MZ Group and stands out as a safe, interactive and user-friendly tool, where any company is able to broadcast events, training, workshops, conferences and distance education (EAD).
"Offering corporate solutions to shorten the distance among companies, employees, clients and teachers around the world was always in MZ Group's plans. Besides reducing commuting expenses, we believe that the XXI century will be marked by collaboration and distance education", affirms Rodrigo Alves, CEO of MZ Group Latin America.
Translation and transcription services, which are also available at MZ Group's e-shop will be offered with differentiated prices for large scale demands and they stand out for their quality guaranteed already recognized by the market. The material is produced by a team specialized in the Portuguese, English and Spanish languages with expertise in the corporate, finance, accounting and legal areas.
You can access MZ Group's e-shop through our website (http://www.mzgroup.com) by clicking on Products & Services > e-shop. You can now contract whatever service you wish at a competitive price.
Thus, MZ Group strengthens its one-stop-shop services, now with a more comprehensive performance in the corporate world.
MZ GROUP
comercial@mzgroup.com
Phone: +55 (11) 3529-3781
About MZ Group (http://www.mzgroup.com): MZ Group is a member of the @titude Group and is the world's largest independentinvestor relations company (one-stop-shop in strategic consulting, integrated services and technology). Founded in 1999, MZ has become a Brazilian multinational headquartered in São Paulo with offices in North America, China, India and Taiwan. Its services include: (i) strategic consulting - value and perception gaps, risk management, corporate reputation and coaching for executives and Board members; (ii) integrated services - planning and implementation of global IR programs, investor targeting, non-deal roadshows, market intelligence and events; and (iii) technology - complete technological infrastructure (CRM, websites/MZApps, webcasts, webanalytics/SEO, online general meetings and applied data base (IR Navigator).
Ideiasnet Announces the Acquisition of 18.2% of Ideasnet FIP I by Paul Capital in a Transaction that Values the Fund at R$ 435 Million
RIO DE JANEIRO, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Ideiasnet announces the acquisition by Paul Capital of an 18.2% share in 'Ideiasnet FIP I' which holds stakes in 6 of Ideiasnet's 11 invested companies. The transaction values the fund at R$ 435 million and generates proceeds to Ideiasnet of R$ 79 million.
"We have been tracking the development of Ideiasnet and its portfolio companies since 2009 and we strongly believe in Ideiasnet management's ability to capture significant additional value from the existing portfolio over the next 3-4 years" says Brian Sullivan, partner of Paul Capital in New York City.
Proceeds from the transaction will allow Ideiasnet to conclude a capital increase in portfolio company Padtec together with BNDES as well as accelerate its strategy of launching a new generation of growth equity funds focused on technology related companies in Brazil.
"This is the( )twelfth consecutive portfolio transaction executed by the current Ideiasnet management team and implies an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 46% for the fund. This secondary purchase demonstrates an innovative liquidity option for mature, well-managed venture capital funds in Brazil" says Sami Haddad CEO of Ideiasnet.
About Paul Capital: a U.S. based Private Equity investment group that has been acquiring private equity assets through the secondary market for over 20 years. Since the firm's inception in 1991, they have completed more than 150 secondary market acquisitions. The firm currently manages over US$5 billion in aggregate commitments. It is currently investing from Paul Capital Partners IX, L.P., a US$1.65 billion fund focused exclusively on acquiring private equity portfolios in transactions such as this one.
About Ideiasnet FIP I: the fund holds Ideiasnet's participation in its 6 major investments, namely: Officer, Brazil's largest IT distributor; Padtec, a manufacturer of optical communications systems; EAX, a leading Brazilian e-commerce enabler; Tectotal, a provider of IT Value Added Services; Pini, a leading content provider for civil construction and Batanga, a US and Latam digital media company.
About Ideiasnet
Ideiasnet (IDNT3:BZ) is a Brazilian venture capital firm that invests in fast growing technology companies in the areas of Digital Commerce, Digital Media, SaaS, Mobile, Health and Education.
Contact:
Carlos Eduardo Rocha Gadelha
Email: carloseduardo@ideiasnet.com.br
Phone: 55-21-3206-9206
AT&T to Deliver Next-Generation Broadband to Kentucky
Multi-Million Dollar Investment Will Bring High Speed Services to State
FRANKFORT, Ky., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* expects to invest between $600 and $800 million during 2013 to 2015 to support its current network capabilities and expand access to next-generation broadband services in Kentucky. This planned investment will have a direct impact on both wireline and wireless broadband availability in Kentucky.
The planned investment has been enhanced by AT&T's national Project Velocity IP initiative, announced in November 2012. Project Velocity IP is a three-year, $14 billion planned investment to significantly expand and enhance AT&T's wireless and wireline internet protocol ("IP") broadband networks across the country, to support growing customer demand for high-speed Internet access and new mobile, apps and cloud services.
"The Kentucky Senate recognizes the importance of creating the right economic environment to support investment in next generation broadband for Kentucky and that's why the Senate passed SB 88. High speed Internet accelerates global commerce for large and small businesses, it opens up innovation in health care and academics and it helps our state remain a great place to live, work and raise a family," said Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers.
"I want to thank Senate President Stivers and the members of the State Senate who passed SB 88 to modernize Kentucky's telecommunications laws and rules," said Mary Pat Regan, President of AT&T Kentucky. "Kentucky is in competition with all states to attract investment, innovation and jobs. We are working with elected leaders to ensure that the Commonwealth benefits quickly from investment in new technology."
Investing in Mobile Internet
Among the benefits of these investments:
-- 4G LTE Expansion. AT&T plans to expand its 4G LTE network to cover the
majority of people in Kentucky. Currently AT&T 4G LTE has been launched
in Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green.**
-- Densification & Small Cell Technology. As part of Project VIP, AT&T will
increase the density of its wireless network, which is expected to
further improve network quality and increase spectrum efficiency.
Investing in Wireline IP Network
AT&T plans to expand and enhance its wireline IP network, including:
-- AT&T plans to expand U-verse (TV, Internet, Voice over IP).
-- Upgrade U-verse Internet service to speeds ranging from up to 75Mbps to
up to 100Mbps with technology upgrades.
-- AT&T plans to proactively expand its fiber network to reach business
locations in Kentucky.
"We have invested considerable capital in Kentucky in recent years to better serve our customers and to deliver state of the art services like AT&T U-Verse and 4G LTE. Project Velocity IP continues this significant investment that otherwise would not occur," said Regan.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds not available everywhere. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Compatible device and data plan required. Learn more at att.com/network.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(®) and AT&T ?DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
WiredRE Acquires Top Colocation and Data Center Research Firm
Key Highlights:
-New capabilities encompass the current and historical data center buying behavior of nearly 70,000 cloud, colocation, and data center decision makers.
-WiredRE has provided research to over half of the top banks in the US in investments in transactions from $10 to $100 million
LAS VEGAS, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Wired Real Estate Group Inc. ("WiredRE"), the nation's leading data center advisor, has agreed to acquire Phoenix-based cloud, colocation and data center research firm, Applied Computer Research, Inc. ("ACR"). For over 30 years, ACR has tracked the information technology and data center markets in the United States and Canada. WiredRE, approaching its sixth year in business, has advised the top and most demanding users of cloud, colocation, and data centers, including over half of the top and most admired investment banks in the US. The transaction was put together in response to rapid growth at WiredRE and firmly establishes the firm as a major resource for cloud, colocation and data center research.
"Combining the analytics of ACR with the experience and transactional knowledge of WiredRE will create a more comprehensive and data driven view into the market. Our combined offering will encompass the current and historical data center buying behavior of nearly 70,000 IT and data center decision makers," commented Alan Howard, Principal Consultant and President, ACR. "WiredRE has a strong presence in the market for custom colocation and data center research, including data center assessments, acquisition advisory and data center supply and demand analysis. Our combined resources will provide an unequaled viewpoint for anyone looking for quick, reliable and fact-based insight into the cloud, colocation and data center world," Howard concluded.
"We intend to be the #1 resource for cloud, colocation, and data center research, and this investment is a reflection of our increasing market share and our singular focus on that goal," added Everett Thompson, CEO, WiredRE. "Alan and his team will be a great resource for our clients as we grow and scale our research practice."
About Wired Real Estate Group Inc.
WiredRE is the nation's leading cloud, colocation and data center real estate advisory firm. The firm uses its data center research to advise enterprises on data center design, planning, brokerage and finance. WiredRE counts over half of the top and most admired investment banks in the US as clients. Nationally, the firm represents colocation and data centers, including major data center developments in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Kansas City, Boston, Pennsylvania and San Francisco. For more information about WiredRE and its approach to data center design, data center research and data center finance, or to search over 1600 data center locations, visit http://www.wiredre.com.
SOURCE Wired Real Estate Group Inc.
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120221/SF56023LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Wired Real Estate Group Inc.
Official Payments Introduces Electronic Bill Service
NORCROSS, Ga., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Official Payments, a leading provider of electronic payment solutions, has launched an eBill (electronic bill) presentment option for its clients. By transforming paper bills into easy-to-read, full-color electronic documents, Official Payments now offers its clients and customers an entirely electronic experience, from statement delivery, viewing and archiving, to payment of the bill.
"Our advanced eBill capabilities give our clients flexibility that facilitates faster payment and added convenience for their customers," says Alex P. Hart, President and CEO of Official Payments. "Clients will immediately be able to reduce third-party print vendor and IT costs, as well as paper and postage expenses. Put together, these benefits translate into a positive impact on the environment by embracing green initiatives."
Official Payments' clients include the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 23 state governments and the District of Columbia, over 3000 local municipalities and counties across all 50 states, 350 colleges and universities, and 450 utility companies. Customers can pay federal taxes, state and local taxes, property taxes, and other bills such as utilities and college tuition with credit cards, debit cards, electronic checks and alternative payment methods via online (http://www.OfficialPayments.com), telephone, point of sale and other channels.
About Official Payments
Official Payments Holdings, Inc.(Nasdaq: OPAY) provides turnkey electronic payment solutions for over 3,000 clients across all 50 states, and the District of Columbia. Official Payments' solutions enable government agencies, educational institutions, utility companies and charitable organizations to seamlessly accept secure, convenient payments by credit card, debit card and electronic check via mobile, web (http://www.OfficialPayments.com), telephone and point of sale.
SOURCE Official Payments
Official Payments
CONTACT: John H. Orr, jorr@a-b-c.com, +1-302-655-1552
Important News for the Classroom Supplementary and Teacher Professional Development Markets
CHICAGO, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- World Book, Inc., the publisher of The World Book Encyclopedia, the World Book Web, and an extensive offering of other print and online educational products, has acquired Incentive Publications on Feb. 28, 2013.
"We are thrilled to add Incentive Publications (IP) to our family of educational products," said World Book, Inc. President Don Keller. "IP's record of creating excellent supplemental resources for the classroom and promoting effective teaching strategies is directly aligned with our own mission to publish superior reference and instructional products and enlarge our educational publishing product line. IP's wealth of supplemental classroom products will add to World Book's impressive existing collection of standards-aligned materials to support teachers."
For 95 years, World Book has focused on creating accurate and easy-to-read material correlated to the comprehension skills of the age range of the target audience. As an established publisher of best-selling and well-respected reference and instructional books and web-based subscription sites for learners, World Book sought to augment its product line with a wide range of lesson plans and other resources of exceptional quality to support educators' and parents' efforts to enhance students' learning experience. Incentive Publications specializes in educational resources for the middle grades and effective teaching strategies for grades K-12. World Book's acquisition of Incentive Publications will contribute to increasing the body of effective educational products designed to assist teachers in implementing the Common Core State Standards.
The acquisition of Incentive Publications is a step further in World Book's efforts to augment its product line with engaging and instructional products for home and classroom. In 2012, World Book announced a new retail venture called Bright Connections Media. Using bold illustrations, lively text, and quirky characters, each Bright Connections Media book is crafted to be a sunbeam that lights up a young reader's imagination and ignites learning.
About World Book, Inc.
World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for children and adults. Based in Chicago, World Book is committed to creating educational products in print and digital forms that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence. This commitment has resulted in a wide range of products including the quintessential World Book Encyclopedia; the World Book Web, a comprehensive and authoritative solution meeting the diverse information needs of students, educators, public library patrons, and families; and World Book Classroom, innovative and effective teaching resources to improve learning in libraries, classrooms, and at home.
About Incentive Publications, Inc.
Incentive Publications specializes in educational resources for the middle grades and effective teaching strategies for grades K-12. The company offers more than 400 titles that are available from retailers and distributors, nationally and internationally--these titles are also available in e-book format online. IP has published books written by a wide array of top educator-authors dedicated to research and practical classroom know-how. IP publications are used by educators and parents to enhance their students' learning experience. IP publications are correlated to learning standards and testing benchmarks.
For more information contact:
World Book Marketing Dept.
Alannah Sharry
Phone: 312-819-8947
Website: http://www.worldbook.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/WorldBook
Twitter: @worldbookinc
AT&T Invested More Than $30 Million In Wyoming From 2010 Through 2012 To Enhance Speeds, Reliability And Performance For Customers
Expanded 4G LTE Coverage, New Cell Sites and Boosted Capacity Drive Improved Customer Experience
CHEYENNE, Wyo., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* invested more than $30 million in its Wyoming wireless and wireline networks from 2010 through 2012, with a focus on expanding 4G LTE mobile Internet coverage and enhancing the overall performance of its networks.**
AT&T has made nearly 40 wireless network upgrades in six key categories in Wyoming during 2012, including activating new cell sites, adding capacity, upgrading cell sites to provide fast 4G LTE mobile Internet speeds, deploying high-capacity Ethernet connections to cell sites, and adding or upgrading Distributed Antenna Systems, which boost wireless coverage and capacity in buildings and at major venues like convention halls or sports arenas.
"We know our customers depend on us for fast, reliable mobile Internet connections at home, work and everywhere in between," said Jenifer Robertson, AT&T vice president general manager. "Delivering for our Wyoming customers is a top priority and our ongoing investment here is designed to deliver a superior mobile Internet experience, encompassing speed, coverage and reliability."
"Expanding broadband across Wyoming remains one of my top priorities. AT&T plays an important role in Wyoming and I want to thank AT&T and the many other companies, of all sizes, that are building our broadband infrastructure. This large commitment is exactly the type of private investment it will take to build the networks that feed the high-tech world that will grow and expand our economy while providing support to tele-commuting, tele-education and tele-medicine," said Governor Matt Mead.
"In our wireless world, mobile and broadband networks create economic opportunities for health care, manufacturing, education, transportation and public safety and virtually every other economic sector. We appreciate the favorable business environment that the legislature has created so that we can bring these high tech services to consumers and businesses alike and invest in Wyoming's 21(st) century infrastructure," said Cheryl Riley, External Affairs Director- AT&T Wyoming.
Planned Investment to Expand Reach of Wireless and Wired Broadband
AT&T recently launched Project Velocity IP (VIP), a three-year investment initiative to expand and enhance its wireless and wired IP broadband networks. As part of Project VIP, AT&T plans to increase the density of its wireless network by deploying more than 10,000 macro sites, more than 1,000 distributed antenna systems, and more than 40,000 small cells. Through this initiative, we also plan to:
-- Expand 4G LTE to cover more than 300 million people by year-end 2014
-- Expand the AT&T wired IP broadband network to cover approximately 75
percent of customer locations in our wired service area by year-end 2015
-- Expand the AT&T fiber network to reach 1 million additional business
locations by year-end 2015
For more information about AT&T's coverage in Wyoming or anywhere in the U.S., consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure coverage quality of coverage from a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds not available everywhere. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Compatible device and data plan required. Learn more at att.com/network.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(®) and AT&T ?DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
ComiXology's Submit Self-Publishing Platform For Independent Comics Creators Poised To Transform The Comic Book Industry
Turnkey marketing and sales channel for independent comic book and graphic novel creators; works by Shannon Wheeler, Becky Cloonan, and Jake Parker and other top creators available today
NEW YORK, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting now, independent comic book and graphic novel creators can build a worldwide following and profit from their work. Through a portal called comiXology Submit, from comiXology, the revolutionary digital comics platform, independent creators simply need to upload their comic book and graphic novels for approval at no cost. ComiXology does the rest, from transforming the work with comiXology's Guided View(TM) reading technology, to making it available on comiXology's buy once, read anywhere digital comics platform, which includes an iTunes top 10-grossing iPad app, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire and Windows 8 apps, and a web store and reader at http://www.comixology.com. Creators and comiXology equally split all profits, with creators maintaining full ownership of their work.
ComiXology Submit enables independent comics creators, from promising new talent to established veterans, to reach a global audience of comic book fans for whom comiXology already created the first viable digital marketplace for leading publishers. At the same time, comiXology Submit bolsters comiXology's commitment to bringing its customers the best and most diverse content available.
Independent creators' works will be transformed into Guided View(TM), comiXology's groundbreaking technology that turns reading comics into an immersive, cinematic experience. Works from Shannon Wheeler ("Too Much Coffee Man" cartoons), Jake Parker ("The Antler Boy and Other Stories"), Becky Cloonan ("Wolves," "The Mire"), Richard Stevens ("Diesel Sweeties") and other top independent creators are available today, with many more to follow now that the platform is open.
"While we continue to push ourselves to innovate the digital comic experience, comiXology Submit provides an incredible opportunity for creators to sell their work to a highly targeted and global audience of comic book and graphic novel fans," said David Steinberger, comiXology co-founder and CEO. "The next generation of creators will reap great benefit alongside more well known creators selling books that are no longer available in print."
"This is also about making sure we always have the best, most diverse content available, the best reading and buying experience, and at the same time, supporting comic book creators around the globe," said John D. Roberts, comiXology co-founder.
"ComiXology Submit opens it up for independent comic books artists, creating the chance to digitally publish comics that one can sell everywhere," said Shannon Wheeler, creator of the critically hailed "Too Much Coffee Man" series and a contributing cartoonist to The New Yorker. "When I created 'Too Much Coffee Man' 20 years ago in Austin, I spent many late nights making the stupid comics. Then I spent long days bugging shop owners to sell my stuff. Then I spent minutes losing the invoices, ensuring I never got paid. With comiXology Submit, I could have spent all that time creating my comics and I'd have gotten paid twice as often too."
More details about comiXology Submit will be unveiled on Saturday at 5:45 PM CST at SXSW Interactive, as comiXology co-founder and CEO Steinberger takes the stage with fellow co-founder Roberts and Wheeler on the SXSW GEEK Stage at the Palmer Auditorium in Austin, TX.
Founded in 2007, comiXology revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel industry by delivering a cloud-based digital comics platform that makes discovering, buying, and reading comics more fun than ever before. ComiXology's Guided View(TM) reading technology transforms the comic book medium into an immersive and cinematic experience, helping comiXology become one of iTunes' top 10-grossing iPad apps in 2011 and 2012. Its new comiXology Submit platform enables independent comics creators to efficiently self-publish and immediately profit from their work. Offering the broadest library of comic book content from the top 75 publishers, plus leading and emerging independent creators, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has become a comic book fan. The privately held company is based in Gotham City. For more information visit http://www.comixology.com.
ZipRealty's New Listing Check Tool Allows Consumers to Verify if Homes They Find Online Are Really For Sale
Study reveals that other prominent real estate websites are missing up to 30% of homes for sale, and that over 15% of the homes they list as "for sale" are actually sold.
EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ZipRealty, Inc.(http://www.ziprealty.com) (NASDAQ: ZIPR), the leading online residential real estate brokerage company, has released its Listing Check tool, an online feature that allows consumers to easily determine which homes are really for sale in today's fast-moving and competitive real estate market. According to Chief Executive Officer and President Lanny Baker, "The Listing Check tool gives consumers instant verification on the sales status of any home they find online."
In ZipRealty's new Data Quality Report, conducted in conjunction with the release of the Listing Check tool, ZipRealty discovered that prominent real estate websites consistently fail to display a significant number of MLS-listed homes for sale, while also presenting a large number of sold homes as if they were currently for sale. The study results show that up to 30% of MLS listed homes for sale are missing from other real estate websites, and over 15% of the listings on these websites are stale, expired or inactive. In contrast, ZipRealty never includes sold homes in search results, and has an accuracy rate of greater than 99% on MLS listed homes for sale.
"Information completeness, accuracy and timeliness are always important to home buyers," says Mr. Baker. "And, in today's housing market in particular - with increasing prices and a general lack of inventory - relying on a real estate website that might offer incomplete, inaccurate or out-of-date home listings can be a major disadvantage. Choice properties are selling at lightning speed, and home buyers searching on sites with incomplete data can easily miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime: finding and purchasing their dream home," he says.
To help home buyers, ZipRealty analyzed the published home listings databases of ZipRealty and two popular real estate websites in relation to local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) databases in 50 zip codes across 13 major metropolitan areas as part of its Data Quality Report. In the geographic areas studied, more than 99% of all homes accurately listed for sale within the local MLS databases were also accurately listed on ZipRealty's website. There were no listings found on ZipRealty's website or in its database that were not also listed within the MLS records as actively for sale at the time of the study in 2012. On the websites studied, ZipRealty found that over 15% of homes shown for sale were off the market, and up to 30% of homes actually for sale were completely missing.
ZipRealty's Listing Check tool is currently found exclusively on ZipRealty.com. To get started, consumers or agents can enter the property address or MLS number of a desired home into the Listing Check dashboard and click the "Check It" button. ZipRealty's proprietary tool will then determine whether that home is really for sale or not and instantly return all pertinent and available information on that home.
In conjunction with the Listing Check tool, ZipRealty has added new features to provide home buyers with the most accurate and complete listings data on the market.
A prominent "New" designation on the home detail page for all homes listed within the prior three days.
-- A "Last Updated" time stamp on the home detail page of every listing on
ZipRealty.com
-- ZipRealty.com is updated every two minutes so users will never
experience homes that have already been sold being displayed as
currently active for sale.
"Finding that perfect home online and then discovering that it's already been sold presents an extremely frustrating scenario to home buyers," says Mr. Baker. "Other major online real estate websites continue to show homes listed as 'for sale' for several days - even weeks - after they have sold, and no home buyer wants to waste time chasing after properties that are already off the market."
"Incorrect and inaccurate listings present an all-too-common and largely unrecognized information problem for consumers seeking advice and guidance," adds Mr. Baker. "Sites that include stale or expired listings, or which fail to remove or indicate properties that have recently sold, wind up with inflated listings counts and misrepresent the true available housing inventory. Those well-advertised raw tallies of 'homes found' in a particular search can be mistaken for database completeness when the underlying listings may in fact be littered with listings that are inactive, expired, sold or otherwise incorrect," he concludes.
About ZipRealty, Inc.
ZipRealty is a leading national real estate brokerage and provider of proprietary technology and comprehensive online marketing tools for the residential real estate brokerage industry. For home buyers and sellers who increasingly want control, choice and a seamless, customized service, ZipRealty offers Internet-enabled, state-of-the-art technology and complete access to accurate, timely information via their website and mobile applications, which real estate professionals can combine with their own local knowledge and personal expertise to offer an exceptional start-to-finish client experience. For real estate professionals who seek more productive ways to conduct business, ZipRealty provides technology and online marketing tools to enhance their online sales channel, including lead generation, conversion and service of their clients. ZipRealty's technology and online marketing products serve its full-service, owned-and-operated residential real estate brokerage business in 19 markets nationwide, as well as its Powered by Zip network of leading third-party local brokerages in 15 markets.
IAB, MMA and MRC Unveil "Mobile Application Advertising Measurement Guidelines" for Public Comment
Provides Standardized Framework for Measuring In-App Ads
NEW YORK, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A vital complement to the recently released "Mobile Web Ad Measurement Guidelines", the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), in conjunction with the Media Rating Council (MRC), today issued "Mobile Application Advertising Measurement Guidelines" for pubic comment. These guidelines address in-app advertising, a burgeoning and critical platform of the mobile media landscape.
To address concerns for measurement and consumer transparency across applications, the guidelines provide assistance in determining the quality of ad analytics and measurement, as well as the completeness of disclosures. The "Mobile Application Advertising Guidelines" also require client-side counting for mobile application ad impressions, which will ensure reliability, consistency and, ultimately, reduce discrepancies across measurement models.
The guidelines are principally applicable to organizations that develop mobile applications and use the platform as a marketing vehicle to connect with consumers. Additionally, the practices can be applied to third-party measurement organizations in the mobile industry.
"With mobile becoming a key part of brand marketers' ad buying strategies, it is critical that we establish clearly defined principles for measuring both mobile web and in-app ads," said Anna Bager, Vice President and General Manager, Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence, IAB. "These guidelines will help drive mobile to scale and allow for in-app advertising to evolve and mature."
"The industry is clamoring for direction and uniformity when it comes to mobile measurement and disclosures, particularly with in-app advertisements," said Michael Becker, Managing Director, MMA North America. "We can arm the industry with practices on how to properly measure in-app advertisements via mobile to limit discrepancies across mobile campaigns and ensure that impression counts are dependable. By demystifying any confusion or friction when it comes to measurement, we will enable marketers to trust their investment in mobile advertising and ensure that mobile evolves as a valued component of the marketing mix."
The guidelines also address the importance of "viewable impressions," as established by the Making Measurement Make Sense (3MS) initiative. While the "Mobile Application Advertising Measurement Guidelines" does not require measuring viewable impressions as of yet, it affirms that mobile media needs to follow suit and stay aligned with digital advertising practices.
Other relevant topics covered in the guidelines, include:
-- Application coverage and basis for projection
-- Application testing and release process
-- Enhancing ad impression tracking accuracy
-- User-initiated ad actions or information gathering
-- General reporting parameters
-- Disclosure guidance
-- Auditing recommendations
"Advertising within mobile applications is poised for a period of enormous growth," said George W. Ivie, Executive Director and CEO of the MRC. "The release of the 'Mobile Application Advertising Measurement Guidelines' will represent an important step in providing marketers with the confidence they need that their in-application ad investments are well placed and fully accountable."
Public comment on the guidelines opens today and closes on April 6, 2013. Comments are accepted via email to mobile@iab.net and comments@mmaglobal.com.
About the IAB
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is comprised of more than 500 leading media and technology companies that are responsible for selling 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB educates marketers, agencies, media companies and the wider business community about the value of interactive advertising. Working with its member companies, the IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices and fields critical research on interactive advertising. Founded in 1996, the IAB is headquartered in New York City with a Public Policy office in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit http://www.iab.net.
About The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA)
The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) is the premier global non-profit trade association representing all players in the mobile marketing value chain. With more than 700 member companies, the MMA is an action-oriented organization with global focus, regional actions and local relevance. The MMA's primary focus is to establish mobile as an indispensable part of the marketing mix. The MMA works to promote, educate, measure, guide and protect the mobile marketing industry worldwide. The MMA's global headquarters are located in the United States and it has regional chapters including North America (NA), Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America (LATAM), and Asia Pacific (APAC) branches. For more information, please visit http://www.mmaglobal.com.
About the Media Rating Council (MRC)
The MRC is a non-profit Industry association established in 1964 comprised of leading television, radio, print and Internet companies, as well as advertisers, advertising agencies and trade associations whose goal is to ensure measurement services that are valid, reliable and effective. Measurement services desiring MRC Accreditation are required to disclose to their customers all methodological aspects of their service; comply with the MRC's Minimum Standards For Media Rating Research; and submit to MRC-designed audits to authenticate and illuminate their procedures. In addition, the MRC membership actively pursues research issues they consider priorities in an effort to improve the quality of research in the marketplace. Currently, approximately 80 syndicated research products are audited by the MRC. For more information, visit http://www.mediaratingcouncil.org.
Media Contacts:
MMA Media Contact
Rebecca Laming
917.558.1828
rebecca.laming@mmaglobal.com
Valerie Christopherson
GRC for MMA
949.306.6476
mma@globalresultspr.com
IAB Media Contact
Laura Goldberg
347.683.1859?
laura.goldberg@iab.net
MRC Media Contact
David Gunzerath
212.972.0300
dgunzerath@mediaratingcouncil.org
SOURCE Mobile Marketing Association (MMA)
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090715/LA46363LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Mobile Marketing Association (MMA)
LeaseWeb USA Adds Authentic Private Virtual Networking to its Cloud
LeaseWeb's product offerings now include virtual servers and advanced cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
MANASSAS, Va., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A truly secure virtual network has often been a misnomer, as most hosting providers share "private networks" amongst multiple customers. LeaseWeb USA, a global Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider, is addressing this head-on with the addition of an authentic virtual networking solution as part of its product portfolio. This landmark step-change will give IT managers and engineers the option to spin up new instances within a truly private virtualized server environment.
The new globally-available product suite is now split into classic virtual servers and more advanced cloud IaaS. This allows LeaseWeb customers to build more complex infrastructures on demand, which are easily managed through LeaseWeb's robust customer portal.
Now available in the U.S., LeaseWeb's new cloud IaaS offerings were previously announced in the Netherlands and Germany.
"Our customers take advantage of our ability to scale rapidly. Virtual networking, the 'real stuff' we're talking about here, will provide them with even more flexibility. When other providers offer 'private networks' it's often caveated by 'shared with multiple customers' or burdened with hidden costs. Through LeaseWeb's new offerings, our customers can now fully shield their cloud infrastructure from the public Internet at a low, transparent price point. This allows them to focus on creating an ideal cloud hosting solution." said Robert van der Meulen, Cloud Manager, LeaseWeb.
LeaseWeb's new virtual server and cloud IaaS offerings are based on cutting-edge hardware and virtualization techniques. The cloud platforms are designed for maximum redundancy; CloudStack technology is at the core and is backed by a lightning-fast global network with a capacity of 3.0 Tbps. The suite of offerings now includes:
-- Virtual Servers: Deployed on a fully redundant cloud platform that
utilizes open source KVM hypervisors and fast network-attached storage,
Virtual Servers will restart on a different node in the event of failure
on a hardware node, minimizing downtime. Each instance comes with its
own CPU, memory, network drive(s), free firewall functionality, and the
customer's choice of OS.
-- LeaseWeb Cloud: Combines the features of a Virtual Server with true
private virtual networking. LeaseWeb Cloud enables advanced setups in
which only part of the cloud is connected to the public Internet, while
back-end systems can freely communicate with each other. Free internal
traffic via private IP is included; customers are only charged for data
traffic that goes into or out of the virtual network.
-- Private Cloud: Provides higher levels of security and isolation of cloud
resources. For customers with individual requirements, the Private Cloud
architecture allows customers to take full advantage of the power,
flexibility, and agility of the cloud, while still conforming to
security and compliance requirements.
About LeaseWeb:
LeaseWeb is a leading Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider serving a worldwide portfolio of 15,000 customers ranging from SMBs to Enterprises. Services include Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Hybrid Hosting, Colocation, and Dedicated Hosting supported by exceptional customer service and technical support. With more than 50,000 servers under management, LeaseWeb provides infrastructure for mission-critical websites, Internet applications, e-mail servers, security, and storage services since 1997. The company operates six data centers in the U.S. and Europe, all of which are backed by a superior worldwide network with a total capacity of more than 3.0 Tbps. LeaseWeb offers services through its various subsidiaries, namely LeaseWeb B.V. (LeaseWeb Netherlands"), LeaseWeb USA, Inc. ("LeaseWeb USA"), and LeaseWeb Deutschland GmbH ("LeaseWeb Germany").
LabVIEW Goes From LEGO® Robots to Real-World Spaceships
Learning What Kindergarten Through Rocket Science Really Means at SXSWedu
News Highlights
- SXSWedu highlights how the LEGO MINDSTORMS® EV3 platform and National Instruments LabVIEW system design software are revolutionizing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.
- With LabVIEW, grade-school students can use the same tools industry scientists and engineers rely on for controlling high-power lasers, rockets, earthquake simulators and more.
AUSTIN, Texas, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In a session at SXSWedu yesterday, National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) and LEGO Education demonstrated the power of robotics and the new EV3 platform to change the landscape of STEM education.
LabVIEW - the software powering EV3 - also powers feats of engineering such as the Red Bull Stratos supersonic free fall project and the Large Hadron Collider, a machine that is fundamentally impacting our understanding of the laws of physics. This means students as young as kindergarten are learning the exact same technology used by some of the world's most prolific scientists and engineers.
In yesterday's session, LabVIEW K-12 Group Manager Nicole Richard and a panel of other STEM education advocates discussed what's needed to inspire students to pursue science and engineering careers.
"LEGO platforms build technical literacy. Kids take complex engineering concepts and scale them down," Richard said. "They're not just using technology, they're creating technology."
Panelists also examined the need to help educators access the tools necessary for developing project-based curricula using real-world technologies. They noted that introducing students to critical thinking and problem solving in their first few years of education plays a pivotal role in helping them develop the confidence to continue engaging in STEM activities.
"LEGO and National Instruments have been collaborating for over a decade to create technology that puts tools used in industry into the hands of students. That type of collaboration is crucial to building a foundation for generations of future engineers," said NI Vice President of Marketing Ray Almgren. "We must focus on creating future STEM industry professionals in Texas and around the globe who are ready to tackle the science and engineering challenges our world faces."
Visit poweredby.labview.com to continue the kindergarten through rocket science journey.
Click to Tweet: LEGO EV3 and @NIGlobal LabVIEW make kindergarten to rocket science a reality. http://bit.ly/VBuvwe
About National Instruments
Since 1976, National Instruments (http://www.ni.com) has equipped engineers and scientists with tools that accelerate productivity, innovation and discovery. NI's graphical system design approach to engineering provides an integrated software and hardware platform that speeds the development of any system needing measurement and control. The company's long-term vision and focus on improving society through its technology supports the success of its customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders.
Kleenex Brand Continues Gesture of Care Movement with a Surprise Care Pack Delivery from Israel Idonije
Nominate a Friend at Facebook.com/Kleenex for a Chance to Win Care Pack Delivery
DALLAS, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- During what has been considered one of the worst cold and flu seasons in recent history, Kleenex brand, America's Softest Tissue(([1])), is helping to share a little comfort with the third celebrity Kleenex Care Pack delivery, giving one unsuspecting Chicago nominee the surprise of her lifetime.
Israel Idonije, standout defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears, surprised Abby Owens of Edison Park this morning with a hand-delivered Kleenex Care Pack, complete with Kleenex Facial Tissue, lip balm, hand sanitizer and a plush blanket - all the essentials needed to help stay comfortable this cold and flu season.
"Giving back to the community is something that's very important to me, so I was thrilled when Kleenex brand invited me to be part of this great Care Pack initiative," said Idonije. "The unexpected gift of something as simple as facial tissue can have a huge impact, especially during cold and flu season. I encourage everyone to nominate a loved one on the Kleenex Facebook page to receive a Kleenex Care Pack delivery."
Abby Owens was nominated by her mom, Nancy, on the Kleenex Facebook page as part of the Care Sweepstakes. Abby recently moved from Iowa to Chicago and her mom thought she could use something special to help boost her spirits during her first winter in Chicago. Idonije, accompanied by Kleenex brand representatives, hand delivered the Kleenex Care Pack to her door. "I was speechless when Israel Idonije showed up at my door! I was feeling a bit under the weather and this totally changed my day. The Kleenex Care Pack delivery from Israel was such a nice surprise and definitely brought a smile to my face."
To nominate a friend for a future Care Pack delivery, visit Facebook.com/Kleenex. The last Kleenex Care Pack delivery in Chicago will occur on Sunday, March 10. The winner of each Care Pack delivery will be chosen at random from a list of nominations on the Kleenex Facebook page(([2])).
Every year, more than 62 million cases of the common cold are reported in the United States, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Kleenex brand knows that once consumers experience the softness of Kleenex brand tissues, they will be eager to share it with other cold and flu sufferers, friends and strangers alike, as a way to show they care. Bring home America's Softest Tissue and make the care complete. Together, we'll turn a seemingly-small gesture into something bigger, to make everyone feel better.
Kleenex brand is committed to building on the legacy of innovation and offering products that help consumers care for themselves and their families. Kimberly-Clark's passion for creating essentials for a better life has driven them to invent five of eight major consumer product categories in which they compete. Today, Kimberly-Clark and Kleenex brand continue driving category growth through new innovations like the introduction of Kleenex Cool Touch tissue and Kleenex Anti-Viral tissues. Their innovations will continue as they strive to become more responsive to their customers, shoppers and users' unmet and anticipated needs.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trusts Kimberly-Clark brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. Kimberly-Clark brands such as Kleenex, Scott, HUGGIES, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, hold number one or two share positions in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest Kimberly-Clark news and to learn more about the company's 141-year history of innovation, visit http://www.kimberly-clark.com.
About The Israel Idonije Foundation
The Israel Idonije Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization started in 2007 by Israel Idonije. It is committed to inspiring underserved communities by providing programs focused on social and emotional life skills. Israel Idonije, starting defensive end for the Chicago Bears, has had a lifelong commitment to service and has positively impacted the lives of those in the communities where he has lived. TeamIIF's programs have benefited thousands of children in Chicago, Winnipeg and West Africa. For more info see http://www.TeamIIF.org and follow @TeamIIF on Twitter or facebook.com/TeamIIF.
[1] Comparing like national brand tissues.
[2] Available through 4/7/13 in select cities. Some restrictions apply. See website for details.
SOURCE Kleenex
Kleenex
CONTACT: Jill Phillips, Ketchum, +1-312-228-6804, jill.phillips@ketchum.com or Bob Brand, Kimberly-Clark, +1-972-281-5335, Bob.brand@kcc.com