SUNW: Sun Studio 11 Performance Results Sizzle in Newest Application Benchmark Result; Sun Launches Sun Studio Express Program

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) today announced that its Sun Studio 11 software, Sun's freely available development tool for Solaris and Linux Operating Systems, has again delivered record-setting results across the new benchmark suite provided by The Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC). Additionally, Sun has launched the Sun Studio Express Program, that enables C, C++, and Fortan developers to preview features intended for future releases. With more than 50,000 registered downloads in the past 6 months, this program was created in response to the rapid adoption and interest in Sun Studio 11 software.


Jochen Rehbock, Head of Product Development with Billing and Loyalty Systems GmbH, confirms, "The quick and knowledgeable support provided by the Sun technical experts as well as the use of Sun Studio 11 were instrumental for making Billit, a modern and future-oriented billing system for the telecommunication industry, a success. Replacing GCC version 3.4.4 with Sun Studio 11 and the STLPort library provided by Sun alone yielded performance improvements in the range of 10 to 25 percent depending on the use case without requiring more than a few lines of code to be changed."

Sun has established an early and commanding lead, taking top honors in 3 of the 4 major metrics (SPECint2006, SPECfp2006, and SPECint_rate2006), using Sun Studio 11 and Solaris 10 on both AMD Opteron and UltraSPARC(R) processor-based systems. Utilizing the most advanced features of Sun Studio 11 software, such as auto-parallelism technology, the Sun Fire X4200 server, equipped with AMD Opteron processors, surpassed rival systems based on Intel processors, such as HP ProLiant DL380 G4 server, as well as the competing HP ProLiant DL385 server. Demonstrating commitment to the high-end commercial computing segment, Sun is also showcasing the flagship Sun Fire E25K server. Optimized with Sun Studio software, these best-in-class systems helped Sun to be the only top server vendor to increase market share, according to the IDC Q206 Worldwide Quarterly Server Tracker.

The SPEC CPU2006 Benchmark (announced on August 24, 2006) which is more than 4 times larger than its predecessor, now includes a broader variety of workloads and better real-world applicability of the results. This new benchmark exercises a computer's processor, memory architecture, and compilers on a variety of compute intensive workloads, including protein sequencing, MPEG-4 decoding, XML processing, fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, and speech recognition.

"Sun Studio continues to demonstrate its leadership in its ability to help developers maximize the performance of their applications," said Don Kretsch, senior director, Sun Developer Tools. "With 50,000 downloads in 6 months, enterprise to open source developers are using Sun Studio 11 to reduce development time, increase portability, and improve the performance of their applications."

One of the significant benefits of Sun Studio 11 is the integration between components, which includes optimizing compilers, a multi-thread aware debugger (dbx), performance analysis tools, and a NetBeans-based IDE. The tools components also work on objects created by other compilers which allows developers to easily intermix Sun Studio tools within their current development environment. The newly launched Sun Studio Express Program provides regular snapshots of future releases of Sun Studio under development. The latest snapshot includes optimizing compilers for Linux, demonstrated recently at LinuxWorld, San Francisco 2006. In addition, the new Data Race Detection Tool complements the existing multi-threaded libraries, tools, and compiler optimizations to ease multi-threaded development.

Developers can download a free, unrestricted, copy of Sun Studio software, on the Net: http://developers.sun.com/sunstudio

SUNW: Sun Integrates StorageTek TekCare Into SunSpectrum Service Plans, Expands Data Migration Services

Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: SUNW) today announced the availability of Sun StorageTek Service Plans. Resulting from the integration of the StorageTek TekCare support program into the SunSpectrum support portfolio, the new plans provide an enriched set of capabilities that address customer needs for continuous data availability and reliable, responsive customer care. The new Sun StorageTek Service Plans are a component of the SunSpectrum Support portfolio which also includes Service Plan options for Sun systems and software, including the Solaris Operating System (OS).


The Sun StorageTek Service Plans combine the best of both the TekCare and SunSpectrum programs, including integrated hardware and firmware telephone support and hardware on-site maintenance service as well as providing one-stop interoperability support for multi-vendor environments, remote diagnostic and resolution services, firmware updates, and 24/7 access to Sun's eLearning Library and customer resource centers. Designed to address heterogeneous storage environments, the new plans support Sun storage products in DAS, NAS or SAN storage architectures.

"With the merger of these two programs, Sun has reached another milestone in the integration between Sun and StorageTek. The new Sun StorageTek Service Plans deliver a rich set of resources designed to provide customers with the continued world-class service and support they've come to expect and rely on," said Nigel Dessau, vice president of Storage Marketing and Business Operations, Sun Microsystems. "Sun is committed to helping customers focus on running their business knowing that the information they need to make better decisions will be available when and where they need it."

For TekCare customers, the Sun StorageTek Service Plans add a number of key features. Interoperability support enables jointly-contracted customers to make a single call for problem resolution. Sun's eLearning Library provides training to increase productivity and enable customers to get more from their storage assets. Remote diagnostic and resolution services enable customers to take advantage of faster problem resolution and minimize the need for on-site support. Customers will also continue to have access to the StorageTek knowledgebase, which includes documentation, support forms, community resources, product registration, and firmware updates. Additional details are available at: http://www.sun.com/service/storageplans/index.xml

Sun Expands Data Migration Services Suite

Sun also announced two new additions to its Sun Data Migration Services suite – Sun ESCON to FICON Migration Service and the Sun Host-Based Data Migration Service -- which are designed to easily and seamlessly migrate data or systems from one location to another. The Sun ESCON to FICON Migration Service provides a 3-step process from an initial migration workshop to architectural assessment through implementation. The migration workshop enables customers to meet with Sun FICON experts to discuss and evaluate FICON technologies in the context of their specific environments. The workshop is followed by an architecture assessment which provides an in-depth analysis and performance model of a new FICON environment. In addition, the assessment delivers a performance and cost-optimized migration plan. The process culminates in implementation.

With Sun's Host-Based Data Migration Service, customers can facilitate data migrations with little to no disruption to the application or user environment. Compatible with both mainframe and open systems environments, the Host-Based Data Migration Service supports multiple platforms and vendors, with the ability to migrate locally within the data center or to co-located geographies.

For more information on Sun's ESCON to FICON, Host Based Data Migrations, and all of Sun's Data Migration Services go to: http://www.sun.com/service/storage/index.xml

GILD: Gilead Sciences' President and Chief Executive Officer Establishes Rule 10b5-1 Stock Trading Plan

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD) today announced the establishment of a stock trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on August 30, 2006 by John C. Martin, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gilead Sciences and a member of Gilead's Board of Directors.

Commencing on September 12, 2006, Dr. Martin's plan provides for the exercise and sale of up to 35,000 stock options each month on pre-determined dates through August 2008.

The transactions under the plan are disclosed publicly through Form 144 and Form 4 filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. James M. Denny and Paul Berg, PhD, members of Gilead's Board of Directors, George P. Shultz, PhD, Director Emeritus to Gilead's Board of Directors, and Gregg H. Alton, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, also maintain stock trading plans under Rule 10b5-1, and other officers and directors of the company may do so in the future.

Rule 10b5-1 allows insiders to adopt written plans for trading securities in a non-discretionary, pre-scheduled manner in order to avoid concerns about initiating stock transactions when the insider may be aware of non-public information. Such plans also allow insiders to diversify their holdings and to minimize the market effect of stock sales by spreading them out over time.

About Gilead

Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need. The company's mission is to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases worldwide. Headquartered in Foster City, California, Gilead has operations in North America, Europe and Australia.

MCRS: The Rebel Bar Group Selects MICROS to Maximize Profitability Across 12 Sites in Ireland

MICROS-Fidelio UK Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MICROS Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MCRS) and a leading provider of information technology solutions for the hospitality industry, has partnered with The Rebel Bar Group, to implement the MICROS Restaurant Enterprise Series (RES 3000), which includes MICROS 3700 Point-of-Sale (POS), Enterprise Management, mymicros.net and myinventory, in a project that will see the Cork-based bar group streamline its Irish operations.

The MICROS RES 3000 solution will replace the bar group's legacy, dependent till systems and will give the operator control over site-level databases for both Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) and back office applications. By implementing this in conjunction with MICROS's mymicros.net, a content-rich internet portal designed for the hospitality industry, The Rebel Bar Group can access real-time business critical data from a Web browser - any time and anywhere. Also included in the overall solution is the myinventory application which enables the group to manage inventories across multiple locations, and is integrated within the browser-based mymicros.net portal.

The system will improve the quality of business intelligence provided to The Rebel Bar Group's management team, allowing it to make more informed decisions and assist when planning its overall strategy. Previously installed systems were not integrated and therefore did not allow a one-stop 360? view of the business. One of the deciding factors for the group when selecting MICROS was that the solution could be used over the Internet via a secured connection.

"We evaluated several offerings from various vendors before selecting the MICROS solution," stated Ken Healy, Director, The Rebel Bar Group, "MICROS's ability to provide us with a completely integrated solution, and the fact that MICROS's capabilities are proven within the international hospitality industry, were key factors in our decision."

RES 3000 allows The Rebel Bar Group to control every element of its business at the touch of a button, making the establishment more productive overall. By managing orders, prices, menu items and staff all in one application, the group can increase the effectiveness of seasonal or promotional changes. The Rebel Bar Group will run the MICROS solution on the MICROS Workstation 4; a sleek and stylish piece of hardware, that is rugged enough to withstand the most demanding bar challenges, like spilled drinks, heat, and a steady stream of operator activity; its bright liquid crystal display and responsive touch screen make it easier to use in all conditions.

The mymicros.net portal allows restaurant and bar managers to create a "myPage" personalized dashboard for their operations: real-time reports on the business metrics of their choosing, continually available from the data warehouse via a secured Internet connection. This capability allows management to monitor sales, promotions, and labor and make changes to the restaurant's products and prices from a web browser anywhere, at any time.

"We are delighted to be partnering with The Rebel Bar Group in Ireland," stated Managing Director of MICROS-Fidelio UK Ltd, Frank Ward. "By implementing a completely integrated solution such as RES 3000, with Enterprise Management, mymicros.net and myinventory, The Rebel Bar Group will open up new business possibilities and improve overall customer service levels within all of its bars".

About The Rebel Bar Group
The Rebel Bar Group, www.rebelbargroup.com , is Ireland's most exciting and innovative bar group currently consisting of 15 establishments. The Rebel Bar Group divides its business into four main streams: On-Trade, Off-Trade, Night Clubs and Restaurants. We are first and foremost committed to offering our customer's excellent service and value for money.

The Rebel Bar Group's establishments inspire a great atmosphere and good feeling to all those who cross its threshold. Whichever location you choose to socialize at you are guaranteed to be welcomed by our friendly staff, receive excellent service and have a fantastic night out.

Whether it is sporting events or dining you are seeking, drop in and experience a magnificent evening at your local Rebel Bar.

The Rebel Bar Group has recently announced its decision to purchase Cork's two largest Off-Licences with the third to come at the start of 2007. These new outlets and the Rebel Bar Group's other Off-Licences will be traded under the "Carry Out" franchise. These purchases give the Rebel Bar Group the leading edge in developing one of Ireland's strongest Off-Trade brands. With the market trend in Ireland moving more towards off sales than on sales we believe that these purchases will ensure the continued growth of the Rebel Bar Group in a difficult business environment.

By the end of the 2007 financial year the Rebel Bar Group will be Ireland's leading Bar/Club/Off- Licence group.

About MICROS-Fidelio UK Ltd
MICROS-Fidelio UK Ltd, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MICROS Systems, Inc., which provides enterprise applications for the hospitality and retail industries worldwide. Over 220,000 MICROS systems are currently installed in table and quick service restaurants, hotels, motels, casinos, leisure and entertainment, and retail operations in more than 130 countries, and on all seven continents. In addition, MICROS provides property management systems, central reservation and customer information solutions under the brand MICROS-Fidelio for more than 20,000 hotels worldwide, as well as point-of-sale and loss prevention products through its subsidiary Datavantage for more than 50,000 specialty retail stores worldwide. MICROS stock is traded through NASDAQ under the symbol MCRS.

TALX: AT&T Selected By Talx In Three-Year Networking Contract

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) announced that AT&T will deliver an integrated secure voice and data networking infrastructure to TALX Corporation (NASD: TALX), a St. Louis-based provider of human resources and payroll-related services. The three-year networking contract renews and expands a long-standing relationship between the AT&T and TALX.

Anchored by AT&T Managed Internet Service, the company's virtual private network (VPN) provides increased network reliability, security and scalability while improving network efficiency. It facilitates the automation of TALX business processes and makes it easy to collaborate with clients and suppliers.

Combined with AT&T's Toll-Free Advanced Features that track incoming calls and seamlessly reroute call traffic to ensure that calls are answered in a timely manner, AT&T's network solution delivers a consistent, reliable experience for all users.

TALX is a leading provider of outsourced employment and income verifications, and outsourced unemployment cost control. TALX makes it possible for employers to save by replacing manual, paper-based methods with automated, electronic services in the HR/payroll areas of hiring, pay-reporting and compliance.

"Our clients expect around-the-clock access to services that help lower operational costs and achieve key business objectives," said Bryan Garcia, vice president, technology at TALX. "With AT&T's help, TALX is able to deliver an end-to-end solution that addresses the client's entire problem rather than just a Web-based or just a call center solution."

For example, TALX paperless pay solutions provide individuals with universal and secure access to pay-stub data via intranets, portals, phones and the Web. This enables TALX to offer clients a complete solution across multiple access points, which is a competitive advantage.

The bundled agreement also includes Web hosting, Internet and data services, as well as local and long distance voice services.



About TALX
TALX Corporation, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is a leading provider of human resource and payroll-related services and holds a leadership position in automated employment and income verification as well as unemployment tax management. TALX provides over 9,000 clients, including three-fourths of Fortune 500 companies, with Web-based services focused in three employment- related areas: hiring, pay reporting, and compliance. Hiring services include assessments and talent management, paperless new hires, and tax credits and incentives. Pay reporting services include electronic time tracking, paperless pay, and W-2 management. Compliance services include employment and income verifications through The Work Number, unemployment tax management, and I-9 management. The company's common stock trades in the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol TALX. For more information about TALX Corporation access the company's Web site at www.talx.com

ERIC: Ericsson acquires assets of Finnish software company Distocraft

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) today announced that it had reached an agreement with Finnish company Distocraft Oy to acquire the assets of Distocraft's business. The company, with 42 employees, specializes in software development for mobile network performance management.

In today's highly competitive environment, increasingly more focus is being placed on network and service management to reduce costs without compromising quality of service. Performance management systems give operators information about their networks performance, allowing them to improve efficiency and reduce time-to-market.

With this acquisition, Ericsson will expand the capabilities of its market-leading OSS portfolio, addressing both new technologies, such as HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access), IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) and 3G LTE (3G Long-Term Evolution), and multivendor environments.

Kurt Jofs, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Business Unit Access, Ericsson, says: "I am pleased to announce this acquisition. It will further strengthen our ability to support our customers with best-in-class network management, allowing them to focus on the introduction of attractive end-user services."

Distocraft is based in Lahti and Helsinki, Finland, and is an independent software vendor specializing in software development for mobile network O&M. Its operations are concentrated in the Nordic and Baltic region. The company's 42 employees will join Ericsson Finland.

Ericsson's OSS offering is powerful in terms of capacity and is one of the few that can manage an entire network in a single system. Today, about 250 customers are using it worldwide.

SAP Customers Execute Business Strategy with Solution for Portfolio Management

SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced global availability of the latest version of SAP® xApp™ Resource and Portfolio Management (SAP xRPM), a composite application that helps companies align projects and services with corporate objectives for increased business agility. Working across a company’s existing IT environment, the application provides a consolidated view into enterprise-wide business portfolios and delivers new capabilities that help organizations better prioritize allocation of resources—including people, equipment and budgets—in support of key business initiatives. More than 170 customers globally—among them Thomson, a world leader in digital video technologies—are leveraging SAP xRPM to drive efficiencies in strategic and operational portfolio management across their organizations.

SAP xRPM allows companies to automatically achieve greater transparency into projects and operations across the enterprise and to identify and assign the right talent, equipment and financial backing to initiatives that best support business goals. Leveraging this composite application, companies can evaluate scenarios and conduct project comparisons to identify the most optimal use of resources. SAP xRPM also enables cross-functional business processes and supports greater insight into operations management.

“Enterprise resources are very costly to allocate passively or ‘on the fly,’” said Matt Light, Research Director, Gartner. “Utilizing automated tools, integrated with an enterprise systems framework, can significantly improve a company’s ability to maximize the value of the portfolio by providing visibility, alignment with business priorities and optimized allocation of enterprise investments.”

Rapid Customer Adoption of SAP xRPM
Among the more than 170 customers worldwide that have deployed SAP xRPM is Thomson. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, Thomson deployed SAP xRPM to allow for greater visibility into its overall portfolio of projects across different divisions and to enable more efficient exchange of business information between division employees.

“For the first time, we have a budget on a per project basis,” said Bernard Waltsburger, director, Technology Division, Thomson. “In the past, research topics would be listed with no resources or funds allocated to a defined scope. Now research topics are identified and listed as a project with beginning and end dates and expected deliverables. This is a big change for us that will improve our overall operations with help from SAP xRPM. So far, approximately 170 projects are being managed in SAP xRPM at Thomson with an additional 200 planned to be added in the next six months.”

Single Enterprise Solution for Multiple Scenarios
The latest version of SAP xRPM offers new capabilities allowing companies to utilize a single application for portfolio management across different functional groups in the organization. Users are empowered to best prioritize resource allocation by “scoring” portfolio items based on aggregation of both qualitative and quantitative criteria, such as risk, feasibility and commercial value. SAP xRPM also provides new specialized templates and configurations that deliver support for operational groups including new product development, IT, enterprise asset management and Six Sigma. For example, the application now supports best practices and methodologies such as CMMi and ITIL for IT and Stage GateTM and Spiral UpTM for new product development. Flexible portfolio hierarchies are also available in the enhanced offering, allowing users to group portfolio items into strategic buckets. This provides greater flexibility in managing collections of projects, services, products, assets and applications in support of business drivers.

Built on the SAP NetWeaver® platform, SAP xRPM can work as a modular composite application that leverages a company’s existing heterogeneous IT environment of disparate human resource, financial, project management and desktop systems. Pre-built integration between SAP and non-SAP applications speeds up implementation times and reduces total cost of ownership (TCO) while allowing for easy project monitoring and resource planning. SAP xRPM also leverages SAP NetWeaver® Business Intelligence to produce intuitive graphical reports detailing project cost information, financial forecasts and other key performance indicators.

Growing Family of SAP xApps
SAP xRPM is a member of the growing family of SAP xApps, composite applications designed to support business innovation and allow companies to be more flexible in responding to changing business conditions. More than 150 SAP xApps will be available by the end of the year, and will leverage enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA) to deliver process automation and lower TCO across existing IT investments.

“SAP continues to lead the market with the creation and delivery of flexible solutions that support continuous business innovation,” said Sudipta Bhattacharya, senior vice president of Solution Management, Product and Technology Group, SAP Labs. “The launch of this enhanced SAP xApp further demonstrates our commitment to delivering easy-to-deploy composite applications that support specific business processes critical to the success of leading corporations worldwide. SAP xRPM works across a company’s existing IT environment supporting lower TCO while driving new value out of their portfolio to best reflect organizational objectives.”

EPIC: Epicor Delivers Major Boost to Collaborative Enterprise Service Automation Solution

Epicor Software Corporation (NASDAQ: EPIC), a leading provider of enterprise business software solutions for the midmarket and divisions of the Global 1000, today announced significant enhancements to its Enterprise Service Automation (ESA) solution, Epicor for Service Enterprises, that promote stronger client relationships, support industry best practices and business agility, and drive bottom-line productivity.

Epicor for Service Enterprises, the first ESA solution with a completely service-oriented architecture (SOA) built using Microsoft .NET and Web services technology, now includes extended service-specific customer relationship management (CRM) functionality for managing the entire client lifecycle – from marketing and bid management, through on-going care and client portfolio management. A new Account Management facility provides a comprehensive picture of all current and historical activity such as active opportunities, open and completed projects and, consolidated contact and call information, all in a single view.

“For today’s service organizations, faced with increasingly savvy buyers and demands for operational transparency, the quality and value-added nature of the client relationship can be a standout differentiator,” said James Norwood, vice president of product marketing for Epicor. “Epicor for Service Enterprises delivers tightly embedded and extensive client-focused capabilities for establishing and maintaining long-term client relationships that are mutually profitable.”

Enhanced Integration with Microsoft Office

Epicor for Service Enterprises now offers advanced integration with Microsoft Exchange Server©, enabling increased efficiency for information workers and empowering the dispersed workforce by delivering the information they need within familiar desktop productivity environments like Microsoft Office. E-mail messages created in Microsoft Outlook create call records within the application; contacts are synchronized, and events scheduled within Epicor for Service Enterprises are automatically pushed to the Calendar within Outlook for straightforward time management.

Industry-Specific Best Practices

Epicor worked closely with end-user design partners to further enhance target industry capabilities within the latest release of Epicor for Service Enterprises. For Audit and Accountancy firms, the solution includes functionality for partner based operations, and rapid repeat projects, such as annual income tax preparation. For Software and Computer Services organizations, the solution delivers enhanced resource management and revenue recognition capabilities. For Architecture, Engineering and Construction companies there’s streamlined management of project related materials and contract planning.

Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, one of the largest networks of public accountants and management consultants and a member of Grant Thornton International, acknowledges the strengths of utilizing a project and client-focused solution that truly supports its industries needs. “Epicor for Service Enterprises aligns with our business culture by managing projects, time and expenses within a partner-based environment,” said M. Marcoux, General Manager at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.

Dennis Harris, General Manager of IT and Communications at SMEC, a global leader in high quality engineering consulting and infrastructure development, said, “We are pleased that the functionality offered within Epicor for Service Enterprises is moving to enhance usability and efficiency, and that will have a positive a effect on our engineers as it is getting even easier to record time and set up projects. We see real developments in project planner which will improve the robustness of our planning and the effectiveness of estimate to complete (ETC) management. We believe in the principle of Epicor for Service Enterprises design – manage projects and profitability through good planning. As we move to integrate our marketing practices with Epicor for Service Enterprises’ AEC-specific tools for forecasting and bid management, we expect the ROI to really begin to show.”

Extended Business Productivity

Also available in the newest release of Epicor for Service Enterprises is Epicor Service Connect, a Web services-based visual business integration platform that functions as the central point for implementing secure workflow orchestrations within the application to enhance collaboration and automate business processes. Epicor Service Connect provides a straightforward solution for modeling business rules at a business level, thus eliminating non-value added steps and ensuring adherence to a firm’s best practices.

Availability

In addition to CRM capabilities, business productivity tools and vertical functionality, Epicor for Service Enterprises now includes a new Training Management Suite that enables service organizations to develop, manage, schedule and bill for complete educational programs and offerings.

The latest release of Epicor for Service Enterprises is available immediately through Epicor and its worldwide channel partners.

TXN: ZyXEL Communications Selects Texas Instruments Voice Over IP Solutions For Next-Generation Access Devices And IP Phones

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE:TXN) announced today that ZyXEL Communications Corp. (TSE:2391), the world's largest residential gateway provider, has chosen TI's Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) products for its voice-enabled DSL access devices, VoIP gateways and IP phones. TI's complete, integrated customer premises equipment (CPE) silicon and software solutions are optimized for solution density, and incorporate TI's programmable digital signal processor (DSP)-based series of access communications processors and field-proven Telogy SoftwareTM for VoIP. The first IP phones with TI's chipset, V501D-T1 and V300, will be available at CeBIT 2007. Prior to that, ZyXEL will roll out its high-port density VoIP gateway, P2024.

"TI's VoIP solutions are at the heart of ZyXEL's next-generation voice enabled CPE and IP phone products," said Dr. Albert Ju, assistant vice president, Telco/VoIP product line, ZyXEL Communications. "TI's technological skill, system stability and proven track record in VoIP software and silicon for customer premises equipment made them the clear choice for our newest VoIP devices. Together, ZyXEL and TI are partnering to offer customers the highest quality and most advanced VoIP premise products in the market."

The selection of TI's TNETV24xx and TNETV25xx series of VoIP gateway technology will enable ZyXEL to deliver high-performance voice processing and new feature-rich access products to market rapidly and efficiently across a broad range of CPE devices. TI's VoIP gateway product suite combines hardware and software-based functionality on an optimized architecture and co-defined features for a broad range of voice over packet applications. TI's TNETV105x family offers ZyXEL a highly integrated IP phone solution and comprehensive feature set with one of the industry's most robust acoustic echo cancellers. Using TI's flexible silicon and software architecture, ZyXEL can also develop add-on functionality into its IP phones as the demand for a particular feature or application emerges down the road.

"We have been working very closely with ZyXEL and their decision to use TI's VoIP solution for their next generation CPE devices and IP phones was truly driven by the strategic partnership that exists between our two companies," said Fred Zimmerman, executive director, VoIP CPE products, TI's communications infrastructure and voice business. "Leveraging our experience, field-proven VoIP software and complete portfolio of integrated solutions, we're working closely with ZyXEL to simplify the process by which customers utilize Voice over IP services in their businesses and homes."

YHOO: Yahoo! Go for Mobile Now Available for Windows Mobile Devices; Expands Reach of Service to Millions of Windows Mobile Devices Globally

Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO) has made its Yahoo! Go for Mobile service available for consumers to download onto Windows Mobile-powered phones. Starting today the millions of consumers around the world with Windows Mobile-powered phones, such as the Motorola Q, can use Yahoo! Go for Mobile for the first time.

Yahoo! Go for Mobile, which first launched earlier this year (http://go.yahoo.com/mobile), is an integrated suite of Yahoo!'s leading services including Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Search and Yahoo! Photos that gives consumers quick access to their personalized Internet content on their mobile phone. Yahoo! has also signed global distribution deals with leading device manufacturers to reach millions of additional consumers by embedding Yahoo! Go for Mobile on select devices.

"Today's launch increases the number of consumers who can use Yahoo! Go for Mobile to stay connected to their community of friends, personalized content and favorite Internet services," said Marco Boerries, senior vice president, connected life, Yahoo!. "We are making it even easier for more consumers to take the Yahoo! experience with them on their mobile phone."

Yahoo! Go for Mobile is a comprehensive application that extends consumers Internet community and content seamlessly to their mobile device. Key features of the service include:

-- Yahoo! Mail -- Easily manages and stores messages on mobile devices and provides receive notification for incoming mail

-- Yahoo! Search (Local, Web and Image) -- Provides Local search, full Web search and Image search to view billions of pictures

-- Yahoo! Photos -- Automatic upload of camera phone pictures to a Yahoo! Photos account, view and manage all albums saved on the Web account and download photos from albums directly to the mobile device

-- Yahoo! Address Book and Calendar -- Easy entry, management and back-up of contacts and calendar events

-- Yahoo! News, Sports, Finance and more -- Quick access to the full range of content services including Yahoo! News, Sports, Finance and Movies.

"Staying connected to essential information, from business contacts and calendar to personal email or news, is a crucial part of today's mobile lifestyle," said Scott Horn, general manager, Microsoft Corp. "The availability of Yahoo! Go for Mobile on Windows Mobile-powered phones will allow our customers to bring their favorite Yahoo! services to the devices they already rely on."

The service is available for download at http://go.yahoo.com/mobile

ERIC: Ericsson to provide cutting-edge network for O2 in Ireland

Leading operator O2 has selected Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) as a sole supplier for its Irish HSDPA-enabled 3G network. Ericsson will also expand and modernize O2's existing network with Ericsson IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and the Ericsson Mobile Softswitch solution.

Under the four-year agreement, Ericsson will provide new 2G and 3G core network equipment, including mobile softswitch, and upgrade the access network with HSDPA technology. Ericsson will have the prime integrator role and will provide network deployment and systems integration services for building the network. The deployment will start immediately.

O2 Ireland will become the first Irish operator to launch a 3.6Mbps HSDPA network, providing its 1.6 million customers with the most advanced mobile network technology in the world.

Ericsson's HSDPA solution will enable O2 Ireland to introduce a new generation of mobile broadband services, including mobile TV and video, and mobile-music-related services. With download speeds up to 3.6Mbps, O2 subscribers will also enjoy a richer communication experience.

O2 has taken important steps to an all-IP network. Ericsson IMS and Mobile Softswitch will bring both flexibility and cost efficiency. O2 will be able to offer a richer user experience; with one common system for all broadband services, users will have the freedom to access any multimedia service with the most convenient device at any given moment.

Danuta Gray, CEO, O2 Ireland, says: "Ericsson's state-of-the-art technology and experience will allow us to provide a best-in-class end-to-end customer experience. It will also enable us to make a giant leap forward on the Irish mobile broadband market, remove the interoperability complexities of dual-vendor networks and shorten the lead time for new services."

John Hennessy, managing director, Ericsson Ireland, says: "We are honored to be O2's partner in transforming and expanding its network, enabling mobile broadband and the multimedia era and we look forward to a strong long-term relationship."

Ericsson's HSDPA solution will enable download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps later this year. The advanced technology lets operators more than double their system capacity and cuts response times for interactive services. On average, users will be able to download four times faster than with current 3G connections using existing PC cards, and 20 times faster than with a GSM/GPRS connection.

Ericsson is the leader in IMS and mobile softswitch, with more than 50 mobile softswitch networks in full commercial service and with 21 IMS system contracts for commercial launch. Ericsson has 150 mobile softswitch contracts or trials in progress worldwide and more than 50 additional IMS trials.

AAPL: Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt Joins Apple’s Board of Directors

Apple® today announced that Dr. Eric Schmidt, chief executive officer of Google, was elected to Apple’s board of directors at their meeting today. Eric also sits on Google’s board of directors and Princeton University’s board of trustees.

“Eric is obviously doing a terrific job as CEO of Google, and we look forward to his contributions as a member of Apple’s board of directors,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Like Apple, Google is very focused on innovation and we think Eric’s insights and experience will be very valuable in helping to guide Apple in the years ahead.”

“Apple is one of the companies in the world that I most admire,” said Eric Schmidt. “I'm really looking forward to working with Steve and Apple’s board to help with all of the amazing things Apple is doing.”

Eric Schmidt joined Google from Novell, where he was chairman and CEO. At Google, Eric shares responsibility for Google’s day-to-day operations, and is focused on building the corporate infrastructure needed to maintain Google’s rapid growth while ensuring that quality remains high and product development times are kept to a minimum. Eric’s 20 years of experience as an Internet strategist, entrepreneur and technologist give him a well-seasoned perspective which perfectly complements Google’s needs as a young and rapidly growing company with a unique corporate culture.

Prior to joining Novell, Eric was chief technology officer at Sun Microsystems, Inc., where he led the development of Java, Sun’s platform-independent programming technology, and defined Sun’s Internet software strategy. Before joining Sun in 1983, he was a member of the research staff at the Computer Science Lab at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), and held positions at Bell Laboratories and Zilog. Eric has a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Princeton University, and a master’s and Ph.D. in computer science from the University of California-Berkeley. In 2006, Eric was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, which recognized his work on “the development of strategies for the world’s most successful Internet search engine company.”

Comcast and MTV Networks Announce the Launch of MHD: Music High-Definition

Music fans now have a “front-row seat” in their living rooms to see and hear their favorite musicians like never before with the debut of MHD: Music High-Definition on Comcast's high-definition television (HDTV) lineup. MHD, MTV Networks' high-definition music channel, is launching this month on many Comcast cable systems, giving viewers the opportunity to enjoy a non-stop lineup of HD music programs, as well as the first-ever simulcast of MTV's Video Music Awards in high definition.

MHD: Music High-Definition blends musical programming from MTV, VH1 and CMT, such as MTV Unplugged, VH1 Storytellers and CMT Crossroads, as well as original concert series like Music with Altitude featuring the Goo Goo Dolls. The network covers all genres of music, including rock, country, pop, hip hop, reggae, soul and more – all with crystal-clear picture and sound quality.

“With MHD on Comcast, fans will feel like they're in the concert hall with the artists they love,” said Page Thompson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. “Music programming is a perfect fit for HDTV, and we're excited to expand our service with the addition of MHD, giving our customers even more of the high-definition programming they want to watch.”

In addition to MHD's regular lineup of HD music programming, for the first time, MHD viewers will be able to watch an HD simulcast of the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), taking place August 31 at Radio City in New York City. The 2006 VMAs will feature a wide range of performers, including Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, T.I. and Panic at the Disco!. Comcast customers will be able to experience all of the excitement, glamour and surprises in a whole new way by tuning in to the show on MHD. Also, beginning later this fall, Comcast and MHD will make selected HD music programming available as part of Comcast's signature ON DEMAND video-on-demand service, bringing viewers the convenience of watching their favorite MHD programs any time they want.

“Live concerts and music programming are in the ‘top three' when it comes to what people want from a high-definition channel, and MHD will deliver the biggest artists to Comcast subscribers,” said Eric Sherman, Senior Vice President and General Manager for MHD, VH1 Classic and VH1 Digital Television. “We are very excited to launch in anticipation of the first-ever high-definition simulcast of the MTV Video Music Awards and look forward to showcasing all of MTV, VH1 and CMT's tent pole events in the future.”

In addition to MHD, Comcast's industry-leading high-definition lineup brings customers an average of 15 or more HD channels, including local affiliates of all major broadcast networks; comprehensive sports coverage with ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD, as well as regional sports networks across the country; every available premium HD network, including Starz, HBO, Cinemax and Showtime; and the most popular HD cable networks, including Discovery and TNT.

The debut of MHD complements the extensive music offerings currently available to Comcast Digital Cable customers, including dozens of commercial-free digital music channels; hundreds of music videos, concert performances and karaoke songs available on Comcast's signature ON DEMAND service; and popular music networks like MTV, MTV2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, MTV Español, VH1, VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, CMT, CMT Pure Country, BET on Jazz and more.

About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com ) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 23.3 million cable customers, 10 million high-speed Internet customers, and 1.6 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, OLN, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One and four regional Comcast SportsNets. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

About MHD
MHD: Music High-Definition, MTV Networks' high-definition music channel, launched in January 2006 and features original music based programming for a variety of music genres, including hip hop, rock, country, pop, reggaeton, soul and more, as well as HDTV acquisitions and original content from MTV Networks Music Group's MTV, VH1, and CMT family of services including popular series such as MTV Unplugged, MTV2 $2 Bill concerts, VH1 Storytellers and CMT Crossroads, as well as network specials including the MTV Video Music Awards and the CMT Music Awards.

IBM, Chartered, Infineon and Samsung Announce Process and Design Readiness for Silicon Circuits on 45nm Low-Power Technology

IBM, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (Nasdaq: SGX-ST:CHARTERED), Infineon Technologies, and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced first silicon-functional circuits and the availability of design kits based on their collaboration for 45nm low-power process technology. The early characterization of key design elements in silicon, coupled with the availability of early design kits, provide designers with a significant head start in moving to the latest process from the industry-leading CMOS technology research and development alliance. The early design kits are developed through a collaborative effort by all four companies and are immediately available for select customers.

The first working circuits in 45nm technology, targeted at next-generation communication systems, were proven in silicon using the process technology jointly developed by the alliance partners and were produced at the IBM 300-millimeter (mm) fabrication line in East Fishkill, NY, where the joint development team is based. Among the successfully verified blocks are standard library cells and I/O elements provided by Infineon, as well as embedded memory developed by the alliance. Infineon has included special circuitry on the first 300mm wafers to debug the complex process and to gain experience in product architecture interactions.

"This result is another significant milestone in our successful strategy to develop optimized product solutions using the most advanced technology platforms as early as possible," stated Hermann Eul, member of the board of Infineon Technologies and president of its Communication Solutions business group. "The first structures in 45nm represent our most cutting-edge technology, bringing together high-performance capabilities and low-power consumption. This solution is clearly well-suited to address the needs of next-generation mobile applications."

The development of the design kits incorporates design expertise from all four companies in order to facilitate earlier transition to the new process by chip customer designers, as well as to continue to drive single-design, multi-fab manufacturing capability for maximum design leverage and to bring about ultimate consumer benefit. The 45nm low-power process is expected to be installed and fully qualified at Chartered, IBM and Samsung 300mm fabs by the end of 2007.

"The speed, innovation and completeness with which this first 45nm offering has been developed and made available to customers demonstrates the growing customer value and strength of the partnership between these four companies. Our early hardware results indicate that the 45nm node device performance is at least 30 percent greater than that of the 65nm node, and that product developers can design to this process with confidence," said Lisa Su, vice president of semiconductor research and development at IBM and the head of the joint development alliance. "By leveraging the significant R&D and IP resources available worldwide across this alliance of industry leaders, we are able to bring manufacturing technology and design readiness to the market much sooner and effectively for customers than working individually. And, the additional benefit to customers is the flexibility in accessing the technology thanks to the GDSII compatibility across multiple manufacturing facilities."

"The unique cooperation among IBM, Chartered, Infineon and Samsung reduces the inherent risks in adoption of advanced process technology," said Ho-Kyu Kang, vice president of the advanced technology development team at Samsung Electronics' System LSI Business. "Our customers leverage the combined strengths of our system level, product design, and manufacturing expertise in the development of leadership design kits and process technology."


About IBM
For more information about Semiconductors at IBM, please visit www.ibm.com/chips


About Chartered
Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (Nasdaq:CHRT - News; SGX-ST:CHARTERED), one of the world's top dedicated semiconductor foundries, offers leading-edge technologies down to 65 nanometer (nm), enabling today's system-on-chip designs. The company further serves its customers' needs through a collaborative, joint development approach on a technology roadmap that extends to 45nm. Chartered's strategy is based on open and comprehensive design enablement solutions, manufacturing enhancement strategies, and a commitment to flexible sourcing. In Singapore, the company operates a 300mm fabrication facility and four 200mm facilities. Information about Chartered can be found at www.charteredsemi.com


About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions for automotive, industrial and multimarket sectors, for applications in communication, as well as memory products through its subsidiary Qimonda. With a global presence, Infineon operates through its subsidiaries in the US from San Jose, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore and in Japan from Tokyo. In fiscal year 2005 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 6.76 billion with about 36,400 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX). Further information is available at www.infineon.com. Further information on Qimonda is available at www.qimonda.com


About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2005 parent company sales of US$56.7 billion and net income of US$7.5 billion. Employing approximately 128,000 people in over 120 offices in 57 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones, and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com

AH: Armor Holdings, Inc. Receives $73 Million Award for M1114 Program

Armor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AH), a leading manufacturer and distributor of security products, tactical wheeled vehicles, and vehicle armor systems serving military, law enforcement, homeland security and commercial markets, announced today the award of a $73.6 million contract modification from the U.S. Army Tank- automotive and Armaments Command for production of M1114 Up-Armored HMMWV armor components. The Company stated that the new work is to provide additional armor components that increase IED protection levels for new and fielded vehicles with production to be performed during 2006 and early 2007 at the Armor Holdings Aerospace and Defense Group facilities in Fairfield, Ohio.

Robert Schiller, President of Armor Holdings, Inc., said, "We are very proud and honored to be given this additional opportunity to support the U.S. Army in providing additional levels of force protection and survivability systems. We expect additional opportunities in 2007 to complete this effort in support of the entire M1114 Up-Armored fielded fleet of vehicles."

About Armor Holdings, Inc.

Armor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AH) is a diversified manufacturer of branded products for the military, law enforcement, and personnel safety markets. Additional information can be found at www.armorholdings.com

VSEA: Varian Semiconductor Ships Its 250th VIISta(TM) Single Wafer Medium Current System

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSEA), announced today that it has shipped its 250th VIISta(TM) single wafer medium current system. The machine was shipped to a customer in Japan. Earlier this month, the Company announced the shipment of its 250th VIISta single wafer high current system, representing the 500th VIISta platform system shipped to customers. Varian Semiconductor, the overall leader in ion implant, leads the market in the high current and medium current segments, as well as in the single wafer high energy market segment.

The VIISta medium current implanter offers the industry's highest throughput, fastest beam set-up time and highest beam currents among all medium current ion implant suppliers. The medium current product is based on Varian Semiconductor's common platform architecture. It features the Company's patented dual magnet architecture, providing the industry's best particle and contamination performance, as well as superior angle control due to its patented Varian Positioning System(TM).

"Our entire portfolio of medium current products is designed to provide our customers the industry's best throughput, highest yield and lowest manufacturing cost," said Gary Dickerson, CEO of Varian Semiconductor. "Customers have repeatedly told us that our medium current tools offer them the highest productivity, superior angle control, the cleanest beamline and the lowest contamination levels."

In July, Varian Semiconductor introduced the flagship member of its medium current family, the VIISta 900XP. The VIISta 900XP is the first ion implanter to achieve 500 wafers per hour -- the highest throughput in the industry. This product is optimized to address typical medium current applications. The new energy extension provides the capability to run applications traditionally assigned to high energy implanters. The VIISta 900XP delivers new levels in productivity and technology, and is the only implanter on the market to offer 500 wafers per hour, closed-loop positioning for accurate implant control, and the broadest energy range, 2keV to 900keV. The VIISta 900XP is also compatible with VSEA's previously announced vMask(TM) product, which reduces customer R&D costs and improves time-to-market for new device designs.

About VIISta Platform Products

All VIISta products feature the Varian Control System (VCS(TM)), the Varian Positioning System (VPS(TM)) and a common single wafer endstation. This high degree of commonality across the VIISta platform facilitates process matching throughout the tool set and provides flexibility in managing capacity, product mix changes, spare parts and training.

About Varian Semiconductor

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates is the leading supplier of ion implant equipment to semiconductor manufacturers, enabling them to pack more, higher performing transistors into computer chips that are revolutionizing the electronics industry. Customers have made Varian Semiconductor the market leader in ion implant because of its architecturally superior products that lower their costs and improve their productivity. The Company has ranked #1 in the VLSI Research Customer Satisfaction Survey nine times over the last 10 years. Varian Semiconductor operates globally and is headquartered in Gloucester, Massachusetts. More information can be found on Varian Semiconductor's web site at www.vsea.com

JNPR: Juniper Networks SSG 550 and Netscreen-5GT Win IPSec VPN Test

Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR) today announced that its Secure Services Gateway 550 (SSG 550) and NetScreen-5GT firewall/VPN security appliances have won the "Editor's Choice" award from China NetworkWorld in its "2006 IPSec VPN Public Comparison Test."

The publication recognized the combined solution's scalability, performance and comprehensive security features, including its suite of security management tools. The test, carried out in the magazine's Beijing lab and published in July, examined IPSec/VPN product combinations aimed at the central and branch office sites of distributed enterprises. It compared the security capabilities, management software and price of combined offerings from six IPSec VPN vendors, with the SSG 550 and NetScreen-5GT combination ranking the highest.

"Juniper's product package of the SSG 550 and NetScreen-5GT was the best combination identified by our testing model," said Yu Yang, testing engineer of China NetworkWorld in the report.

"It brings high-level security with deep intrusion detection and prevention, modular design, scalability for both performance and functionality, and proper security management design and tools. The Juniper product package provides a comprehensive solution that protects against networks threats from the network-layer to the application-layer. With its excellent performance, this combination wins China NetworkWorld's prestigious Editor's Choice award."

The Juniper Networks Secure Services Gateway 550 represents a new class of purpose-built security appliances that delivers a perfect mix of performance, security and LAN/WAN connectivity for regional and branch office deployments. It can deliver over one gigabit-per-second (Gbps) firewall and 500 megabits-per-second (Mbps) VPN throughput, and is now available with a complete set of Unified Threat Management (UTM) security features including optional intrusion prevention, Web Filtering, Antivirus and Anti-Spam capabilities to protect customers from internal LAN and external WAN-based security threats. The Secure Services Gateways provide industry-leading performance with concurrent firewall/VPN and content security processing to meet the requirements of broadband connected branch offices.

The NetScreen-5GT appliance integrates a complete set of best-in-class UTM security features to secure a small remote office, retail outlet or broadband telecommuter. These UTM features include a stateful inspection firewall to perform access control and stop network-level attacks, an IPS (Deep Inspection firewall) to stop application-level attacks, optional best-in-class Antivirus features (including protection against phishing, spyware, adware, viruses and trojans), Denial of Service (DoS) mitigation capabilities and a Web Filtering option to block access to known malicious download sites or other inappropriate Web content. The NetScreen-5GT also has site-to-site IPSec VPN functionality to establish secure communications between offices, as well as VoIP security features.

"We're honored to receive the prestigious 'Editor's Choice' award from China NetworkWorld," said Eric Yu, vice president of Greater China for Juniper Networks. "This award addresses a clear need for highly secure branch networking in the Chinese market, and again independently substantiates Juniper's technology leadership for branch offices, network-intensive businesses and service providers."

About China NetworkWorld
China NetworkWorld was established in October 1984 as a joint venture publication of the Electronic Information Institute of the MII (Ministry of Information Industry) and the IDG (International Data Group). China NetworkWorld is superintended by the Ministry of Information Industry and is one of the series publications of the China ComputerWorld (CCW) Group.

China NetworkWorld follows the publication principle that focuses on "Technology Application and Product Procurement" and has the exclusive authorization from Network World of the United States.

According to an audit by the BPA, a US-based international publication certification authority, the China NetworkWorld scores a circulation volume of 102,685 copies, and an effective reader population of over 500 thousand. All these testify that the China NetworkWorld is the largest professional media of the network industry beyond any doubt.

About Juniper Networks, Inc.
Juniper Networks is the leader in enabling secure and assured communications over a single IP network. The company's purpose-built, high performance IP platforms enable customers to support many different services and applications at scale. Service providers, enterprises, governments and research and education institutions worldwide rely on Juniper Networks to deliver products for building networks that are tailored to the specific needs of their users, services and applications. Juniper Networks' portfolio of proven networking and security solutions supports the complex scale, security and performance requirements of the world's most demanding networks. Additional information can be found at www.juniper.net

AAPL: Linkin Park Catalog, Exclusive Bonus Tracks & Digital Booklets Now Available on the iTunes Music Store

Multiple Grammy award-winning band Linkin Park (www.linkinpark.com ) and Apple® today announced the availability of the entire Linkin Park catalog on the iTunes® Music Store (www.itunes.com). For the first time, fans of the band can download their favorite Linkin Park songs for just 99 cents per song, or the band’s albums with new, exclusive digital booklets. The hit albums “Meteora,” “Hybrid Theory” and “Reanimation” include two bonus tracks along with a track that is exclusive to the albums on iTunes. iTunes will also offer both audio and video downloads of the concerts that are currently available as the “Live in Texas” and “Collision Course” CD and DVD releases.

“We were really excited when iTunes told us that we were one of their most requested acts,” said Mike Shinoda, Linkin Park. “We will never ignore our fans and the timing seemed right to make our music available, with some special additions.”

“We’re thrilled to bring Linkin Park to iTunes Music Store customers around the world,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “Fans are going to love being able to purchase the entire Linkin Park catalog and exclusive tracks available only on the iTunes Music Store.”

Linkin Park and producer Rick Rubin are currently working on the band’s third full-length studio album, and this month debuted one of their new songs at Summer Sonic in Japan where they headlined two shows for over 85,000 fans. Linkin Park has sold over 37 million records worldwide in just five years and is certified platinum in 34 countries. Their first album, “Hybrid Theory” has been certified platinum 18 times, and their second album, “Meteora” ten times. In collaboration with Jay-Z they also released the groundbreaking EP, “Collision Course” which garnered rave reviews and included the single, “Numb / Encore” which won a 2006 Grammy Award for “Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.” In addition, Linkin Park established Music For Relief (www.musicforrelief.org ) with the Red Cross in January 2005 to help aid victims of world catastrophes, including the tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina.

With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as integrated video and podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless integration with iPod® and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Music Store is the best way for Mac® and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and videos online. The iTunes Music Store features a selection of over 9,000 music videos, Pixar and Disney short films, a variety of hit TV shows, and more than three million songs from the major music companies and over 1,000 independent labels.

ORCL: Oracle Announces General Availability of Oracle(r) Application Express Release 2.2

Oracle today announced the general availability of Oracle(r) Application Express Release 2.2, a free tool that enables users to easily build, deploy and manage secure Web applications using only a Web browser.
Oracle Application Express Release 2.2 features several productivity enhancements designed to reduce the complexity of developing and deploying Web applications. The new release promotes the reuse of Web applications by enabling users to package applications and dependent objects such as tables, seed data, and images, into a single file. This enables applications to be installed seamlessly into other Oracle Databases running Oracle Application Express. Oracle Application Express Release 2.2 also features an item finder that allows users to search within applications, component-level export, and an Access Control Wizard to control access to applications, among other new capabilities.

Oracle Application Express is a Web-based application development tool integrated with all editions of Oracle Database 10g and Oracle9i Database Release 2. This tool enables users with limited programming experience to rapidly develop scalable Web applications that can be deployed quickly to tens, hundreds or thousands of users. Companies using Oracle Application Express include Allianz Insurance Management Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Singapore, Bessemer Trust, and Sumner Technologies, LLC.

"Thousands of users have turned to Oracle Application Express to build secure Web applications that can take advantage of the performance, reliability, and scalability of Oracle Database," said Michael Hichwa, vice president of Software Development, Oracle. "We're committed to providing users with an easy to use tool featuring a broad range of capabilities that enable users to develop and deploy Web applications efficiently."

Latest Release Delivers New Application Access, Export and Search Features
New features in Oracle Application Express Release 2.2 include:


* Application Packaging - simplifies the steps needed to export and install an application in another Oracle Database running Oracle Application Express;

* Access Control Wizard - enables users to build an Access Control List and control access to an application, individual pages, or page components;

* Developer Comment - allows developers to add comments to an application, a page or group of pages;

* Item Finder Search Tool - enables users to search for items, pages, queries, tables or PL/SQL objects within the pages of an application; and,

* Dictionary Views of Oracle Application Express Metadata - data dictionary views expose metadata for applications allowing users to write custom documentation, perform ad hoc metadata reporting, and to access metadata from within applications.

Oracle Application Express's debugging, reporting and user interface features were also enhanced to speed user application development and testing times.

Oracle Application Express Helps Organizations Save Development Costs and Time
Allianz Insurance Management Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Singapore is a member of the Allianz AG Group, a global insurance, banking, and asset management group. Allianz Insurance Management Asia Pacific's IT department uses Oracle Application Express for rapid prototyping, development and deployment of Web applications for use throughout Asia-Pacific.

"Oracle Application Express has helped us in building fast Web-based applications," said Parthasarathy K, Regional Technical Specialist, Allianz Insurance Management Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Singapore. "What started as a simple prototyping model to help gather user requirements for our new Pet Insurance Product in Japan, quickly developed into an interim system and is now currently in production. Oracle Application Express' short learning curve and multi-language capabilities enabled us to develop the application in English and then deploy it in Japanese in a very short period of time."

Headquartered in New York City, Bessemer Trust has been defining wealth management through personalized client service and long-term investment plans to high net worth individuals and families for nearly a century. Using Oracle Application Express, Bessemer Trust has developed Web applications to improve efficiency by streamlining previously manual processes throughout the organization. In example, the firm introduced a survey application that replaced a paper form and spreadsheet-based process. It also deployed an event registration and planning application that supplanted a manual process, and an application to track simple inquiries and data maintenance.

"Oracle Application Express is an amazingly easy-to-use, data-driven development tool," said Vikas Agnihotri, vice president, Bessemer Trust. "The architecture is very simple, it has zero moving parts. All application components are stored as metadata in regular Oracle tables. It has enabled us to provide automated solutions to manual, error-prone business processes in an extremely short amount of time."

Sumner Technologies, LLC, based in Vienna, Va., is an IT consultancy serving commercial, federal, health care, and higher education clients. The firm specializes in developing Web applications quickly and securely using Oracle Application Express. Sumner Technologies has built a variety of Oracle Application Express-based Web applications for its clients including data migration tools, a Sarbanes-Oxley compliance system, a student housing management system, and applications that integrate with Oracle E-Business Suite. "Oracle Application Express is not just for converting spreadsheets to the Web," said Scott Spendolini, president, Sumner Technologies, LLC. "With Oracle Application Express, we're building sophisticated, mission critical applications that provide a wide variety of solutions to all types of customers. Oracle Application Express seamlessly allows us to integrate with the powerful features of Oracle Database and Oracle Application Server, providing our clients with solutions largely based on supported features of the Oracle technology stack, helping to save them time and money."

Independent Research Firm Recognizes Oracle Application Express' Capabilities
Over the past 12 months, Forrester Research interviewed 25 Oracle enterprise customers to gather insight about their experiences using Oracle Application Express. Forrester's findings were published recently in a report titled "Oracle Application Express Helps Build Web Applications Quickly(1)." Written by Forrester Senior Analyst Noel Yuhanna, the report finds that the adoption of Oracle Application Express "has increased two-fold in the last calendar year because it is easy to use, saves money when consolidating spreadsheets and desktop databases, and comes bundled for free with Oracle Database." Yuhanna writes, "Enterprises looking for a quick and easy-to-use application development tool for Oracle will find Oracle Application Express a good fit. Oracle Application Express is not a replacement for Java or .NET, but it can help develop and deploy Web applications quickly."

Forrester's report "Oracle Application Express Helps Build Web Applications Quickly," is available for download from:
http://www.oracle.com/corporate/analyst/reports/infrastructure/dbms/oracle-application-express.pdf

Availability
Oracle Application Express Release 2.2 (formerly Oracle HTML DB) is generally available. The tool is integrated with all releases of Oracle Database 10g and Oracle9i Database Release 2 at no additional cost. For more information on Oracle Application Express, and to download the software, go to:
http://otn.oracle.com/apex

TWX: AOL Launches Music Now the First and Only Subscription Service to Offer Music Videos for Download to Devices Without Having to Pay Per Download

AOL launches AOL Music Now, the first digital music subscription service offering unlimited on-demand streams and downloads of more than 2.5 million audio tracks and thousands of music videos. With the launch of the AOL Music Now service ( www.aolmusicnow.com ), music fans have a new place to discover, listen, download and own songs, albums and videos from one of the largest music libraries on the web. Unlike other pay per download services, AOL Music Now lets users play as many songs and music videos as they want, in their entirety and on-demand. As long as they maintain a portable tier subscription, users can access music and videos they have transferred from AOL Music Now to their PCs and compatible portable devices.

The new service also features AOL Music programmed AOL Radio with XM offering more than 200 AOL Radio stations plus select premier XM Satellite Radio channels, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment. Additionally, AOL is introducing powerful community and personalization capabilities that make it easy for users to discover and listen to music that is right for them.

AOL Music Now is the first and only online music service to offer unlimited music video playback and download rolled into the subscription service so that users don’t have to pay for every download. Music videos are also available for a la carte purchase to subscribers and non-subscribers alike.

“With the addition of music videos and AOL Radio with XM stations, AOL Music Now has raised the bar in the digital music service space. And, with best-in-class personalization and automated discovery features, it’s easy for music lovers to navigate the thousands of mixes, playlists and radio stations the service offers,” said Amit Shafrir, President, AOL Music Now. “AOL Music Now is where great music finds you. It’s as simple as pushing play.”

AOL Music Now has a library of more than 2.5 million songs from all four major music labels and hundreds of independents. In addition, AOL has agreements with several labels, including SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, to provide thousands of music videos for use in the AOL Music Now service.

“We are delighted to participate in the launch of AOL Music Now, and we look forward to working with AOL to bring our artists’ videos to music fans through this innovative new service,” commented Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

The service requires no software to download and is available at www.aolmusicnow.com ), via a web-browser from any Internet-connected PC. In addition, the service works seamlessly with Microsoft“ Windows“ Media Player (version 10 and higher) and Winamp“ (version 5.2.3 and above available at www.winamp.com ). Visitors have the option to browse and purchase songs and music videos on an a la carte ($.99 per track, $1.99 per video) or subscription basis from any Internet-connected PC. Subscriptions to the service are available for $4.95 per month for AOL Radio with XM, $9.95 per month for unlimited, on-demand streaming and downloading to a computer, and $14.95 per month to download unlimited songs and music videos to ‘PlaysForSure’ compatible music devices.

Representing the next generation of digital music services, the AOL Music Now service also offers unique personalization features, such as daily custom playlists and the ability to view and share music profiles with other visitors. User listening activity and ratings are used to provide each member with custom music recommendations and hours of fresh tunes updated daily – further empowering music fans to customize their online experience. Members have personalized home pages and can search for and view the music profiles of other members to discover new music and share playlists. A Community area featuring the hottest member playlists and biggest fans for each genre or style will help fans find music through people with similar tastes.

Visitors without a subscription can personalize, create and share playlists and purchase music. Non-subscription visitors can listen to song samples until they decide to purchase songs a la carte or subscribe for on-demand playback of full-length songs, downloads and portability to a device.

In celebration of the launch, AOL Music Now has partnered with Creative Labs to offer its members $50 off the purchase price of the ZEN Vision:M 30GB video player, photo viewer and MP3 player. Designed with a stunning, 2.5-inch, high-resolution color LCD screen, the ZEN Vision:M displays rich, vibrant digital video, and photos, full-color menus and album art. The ZEN Vision:M plays up to four hours of video on a single battery charge and can carry up to 120 hours of video, making it an ideal product to use with AOL Music Now. Members can take advantage of this offer by signing in to the AOL Music Now service and clicking on banner promotions in the Music browsing area.

AOL LLC recently launched the AOL Music Now Web Services (http://developer.aolmusicnow.com ) developer site, offering tools to enable web developers, bloggers, and individual music fans to add custom feeds of artist, album, chart, playlist and other dynamic music information from AOL Music Now directly to other sites including their own email, web site, blog, or AIM Pages beta profile (http://www.aimpages.com ). The site provides easy to follow instructions and documentation and utilizes standard RSS feeds (Really Simple Syndication). Users can subscribe to AOL Music Now data feeds through My AOL (a compliant RSS Feed reader) or webs.

AOL Music Now LLC is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of AOL LLC. The web-based music subscription service was acquired from Circuit City in November 2005. Offering visitors the option to purchase or subscribe to access more than 2.5 million tracks of music from the entire major and more than one hundred independent labels, AOL Music Now is now available. For more on AOL Music Now, please visit (( www.aolmusicnow.com ).

VCLK: Mediaplex and EyeWonder to Offer Integrated Ad Serving, Rich Media, and Video Products and Services

ValueClick, Inc.'s (Nasdaq:VCLK) technology division, Mediaplex, and EyeWonder, Inc., a leader in online video and rich media advertising solutions, today announced they have entered into an agreement to provide advertisers and agencies with the best combination of integrated ad serving, rich media, and video ad technology and services. This agreement gives Mediaplex clients direct access to EyeWonder's full suite of advanced rich media and video ad products, including expandable and floating advertising for rich media and video, in addition to unsurpassed service excellence.

The integration provides standard and advanced rich media and video campaign metrics alongside display, email, and paid and natural search advertising campaign metrics through one centralized and easy-to-use system. Mediaplex clients will find it easier than ever to centrally manage, deliver, track, and measure their online campaigns, while enjoying the added benefit of a full-service offering from the EyeWonder team of experts in rich media and video. The advanced technology and service from the combined offering will allow clients to move beyond the constraints of standardized templates which are required with most rich media vendors, giving them the flexibility to deliver more innovative online advertising campaigns that typically generate better results.

"This new relationship is a unique combination of the industry's most comprehensive online ad server technology and the Internet's leading rich media and video ad products, reporting, and services," said Tom Vadnais, president ValueClick, Inc. (U.S.) and general manager of Mediaplex and Commission Junction. "We searched the market extensively for a single provider of rich media with a strong service offering so that we could bring the most cost-effective services to our clients along with the most innovative technology."

"We are proud that Mediaplex has selected EyeWonder as their rich media partner after an exhaustive search for the premier provider," said John Vincent, chief executive officer of EyeWonder. "Media planners and agencies are executing more innovative and technically-sophisticated online ad campaigns than ever, and this integrated solution makes it easier to push the creative envelope for the richest media and the richest results."

About ValueClick

ValueClick, Inc. (Nasdaq:VCLK) is one of the world's largest online marketing companies, offering comprehensive and scalable solutions to deliver cost-effective customer acquisition for advertisers and transparent revenue streams for publishers. ValueClick's performance-based solutions allow customers to reach their potential through multiple online marketing channels, including affiliate and search marketing, display advertising, lead generation, ad serving and email technology, and comparison shopping. ValueClick brands include Commission Junction, ValueClick Media, Mediaplex, and PriceRunner. For more information, please visit www.valueclick.com

About EyeWonder

EyeWonder, Inc. is a leading provider of rich media and online video advertising products and services. Since 1999, the company has been enabling advertisers and agencies to easily connect the most compelling and effective campaigns to their most desirable audiences. EyeWonder's in-page ad products combine the quality and power of Flash video, the latest interactive features, and the most comprehensive online tracking and reporting capabilities proven to dramatically enhance the impact and effectiveness of any new media ad campaign.

EyeWonder's rich media experts support every campaign from creative consultation and development to Q/A testing, trafficking, and reporting. EyeWonder services the world's top agencies and advertisers, and its rich media and video ad products are accepted by hundreds of online publishers, including Yahoo!, AOL, and MSN. For more information on Richer Media and Richer Results, please visit http://www.eyewonder.com

YHOO: Yahoo! Real Estate Introduces New Tools and Services to Enable Consumers to Quickly and Easily Find, Sell or Rent a Home; Over 3 Million Listing

Yahoo!(R) Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO), a leading global Internet company, today announced an extensively revamped site which combines access to one of the industry's most comprehensive databases of real estate listings with a new set of tools and services that provide everything home seekers need to buy, sell or rent a home accessible through Yahoo! Real Estate (http://realestate.yahoo.com).

Yahoo! Real Estate combines access to more than 3 million homes with easy-to-use tools such as interactive maps, access to millions of instant home valuations through www.zillow.com, mortgage tools with access to local market rates and more. Tightly integrated with Yahoo!'s powerful search and maps technology, Yahoo! Real Estate gives users all the information they need to find the ideal home, and even an agent and financing -- all in one easy to navigate Web site.

"Finding a home is one of the most important -- and often most expensive -- buying decisions a person makes in life. We've found that house hunters are most interested in prices, proximity to schools and restaurants, financing options and home values," said Andrew Braccia, Vice President of Search and Marketplace, Yahoo!. "By integrating our leading maps, local and search products into Yahoo! Real Estate, we are giving home seekers fast and easy access to the comprehensive information they need to make the right buying or renting decision."

Yahoo! Real Estate has integrated maps and local community information to transform the online buying and renting experience online. With house hunters spending an average of 8 weeks(1) researching homes before making a purchasing decision, they are hungry for information about their soon-to-be surroundings. Yahoo! Real Estate has added maps with satellite imagery so house hunters can easily see where homes for sale or rentals are located and their proximity to roads and other landmarks. Integration with Yahoo! Local allows users to also see "inside information" about their potential new neighborhood such as the location of parks, schools, restaurants and read reviews written by other Yahoo! users. Users can also see a market snapshot of each community with average house prices, and historical price trends. Local mortgage interest rates and trends can be accessed on feature-rich graphs so users can make more informed financing decisions. In addition, links to Yahoo! Answers allow users to post specific questions about a neighborhood, mortgage rate or rental, and access a living repository made up of real life experience, advice and opinion.

When beginning a home search, 77 percent(2) of all home seekers use the Internet to find everything from listings, financing options and home values. To improve the search experience, Yahoo! Search has created new shortcuts that make it fast and easy to find real estate information. Examples include:

-- Listings Shortcut: Go to Yahoo! Search and type "Chicago real estate" and it will return links to Chicago listings based on 3 different price ranges.

-- Mortgage Rate Shortcut: Go to Yahoo! Search and type "Miami mortgage rates" and quickly see the latest regional mortgage rates directly in search results

-- Home Values Shortcut: Go to Yahoo! Search and type "Home Values" and users can easily enter an address for an instant home valuation.

-- Prudential Home Listing: Through an agreement with Prudential Real Estate, home seekers can even search for details on a home they see offline, by searching the "Pru ID" found on a home's for sale sign.

Yahoo! Real Estate provides a complete set of tools and access to comprehensive listings including MLS properties in partnership with Prudential Real Estate, classifieds, apartment rentals, for sale by owner, foreclosures, and new home listings. Yahoo! users can easily access this information by visiting http://realestate.yahoo.com or by utilizing Yahoo! Search or other Yahoo! properties such as Finance, HotJobs, and the Yahoo! home page.

(1) 2005 National Association of Realtors(R) Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers

(2) 2005 National Association of Realtors(R) Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers

MSFT: Verizon and Microsoft Expand Alliance to Provide Windows Live Services for High-Speed Internet Subscribers

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE “VZ”) and Microsoft Corp.(Nasdaq “MSFT”) today announced an expanded alliance in which Verizon will offer its consumer DSL and FiOS Internet customers a co-branded suite of Microsoft® Windows Live™ services to help them enjoy more personalized Internet experiences with enhanced online security.

“We’re delighted to move forward with Microsoft in offering our broadband customers an enhanced, more-personalized Internet experience through a combination of Windows Live services and innovative features from Verizon,” said John Wimsatt, senior vice president, Broadband Solutions Marketing for Verizon. “By expanding our relationship with Microsoft, a leader in Internet solutions, we continue our commitment to creating the best value in broadband, offering more and better choices than cable and creating a superior online experience.”

As part of the new agreement, which is an expansion of the two companies’ broadband relationship that began in April 2002, Verizon customers will have access to co-branded information and communications services, including a co-branded Live.com home page with easy access to Verizon and Windows Live services, a Windows Live Toolbar, a co-branded Windows Live Search page, Verizon e-mail powered by Windows Live Mail, a co-branded version of Windows Live Messenger and safety protection via Windows Live OneCare™ safety scanner.

“Verizon continues to be a highly valuable partner for us in delivering Windows Live services that unite consumers’ interests, information and relationships in a way that’s most meaningful to them,” said Steve Berkowitz, senior vice president, Online Services Group at Microsoft. “This expanded alliance further solidifies the growth and success of the Windows Live platform.”

Verizon is working closely with Microsoft to develop additional integrated communications and personalized services on the new Windows Live services platform. Verizon will continue delivering MSN® Premium services to current subscribers, with new Windows Live offerings set to roll out early next year. The companies’ co-branded Windows Live services offer customers the following benefits:

• Flexibility. Customers will have access to key Verizon services and will be able to make the Internet more useful to them by personalizing their Verizon and Windows Live home page experience quickly using Microsoft tools and gadgets that make it easy to customize content for their individual needs.

• Communication. With co-branded Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Mail services, customers will be able to manage rich communications, with deep and seamless integration to help stay in touch with people.

• Safety. With Windows Live OneCare safety scanner, Verizon customers will have access to on-demand online tools to help protect themselves and their families online and keep their PCs healthy and running well.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 55 million customers nationwide. Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks. Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 252,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.


About MSN and Windows Live
MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Windows Live, a new set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. MSN and Windows Live will be offered alongside each other as complementary services.

Some Windows Live services entered an early beta phase on Nov. 1, 2005; these and future beta updates can be found at http://ideas.live.com. Windows Live is available at http://www.live.com. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com. MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx.

VZ: Verizon Ignites an Online Gaming Revolution With Launch of PlayLinc

New Age warriors in the online gaming arena now can play on PlayLincTM, a unique, new service from Verizon that provides a better, faster and more entertaining way to wage battle. PlayLinc, which is free, provides a wide variety of features, including free public servers, and the service allows players to host games on their own PCs and invite friends to private Internet gaming sessions.

Verizon also announced the launch of its new online community Web site, games.verizon.com, which showcases PlayLinc and includes forums, frequently asked questions, blogs, gaming news and other features for online gaming aficionados.

PlayLinc and the new Web site are key parts of Verizon's overall strategy to establish relationships with and encourage the growth of a large, loyal community of serious and casual gamers. These relationships with gamers will fuel business opportunities for Verizon, including digital distribution of games, in-game and on-site advertising, promotion of other Verizon services, and increased adoption of Verizon's FiOS and DSL broadband services.

Verizon's introduction of PlayLinc is the result of the company's new relationship with SuperComputer International (SCI), a leading provider of high-performance game-server hosting solutions, gameplay-related services and fully integrated gaming portals. Verizon acquired an equity position in SCI in May.

"PC gamers have long been held hostage, having to rent expensive servers to host games with their friends, or having to take their chances on public servers with ill-matched players of varying skills," said Colson Hillier, director of new product development for Verizon. "It's been frustrating."

Gamers also have traditionally had to use different services to enhance gameplay -- one for chat, one for voice, another for game browsing. Console gamers have been limited in their ability to play a wide variety of multiplayer games from different publishers online.

"We're changing the world for gamers," said Hillier. "PlayLinc sets players free to enjoy online gaming the way it should be -- fun, easy and affordable."

PlayLinc provides gamers with a free, easy-to-use, completely integrated interface that meets all their needs. It also gives console game players the ability to play all their LAN-enabled games online with other games.

Gaming industry analyst Michael Cai of Parks Associates said, "PlayLinc presents a new and very exciting experience for online gamers. It's yet another indication that Verizon understands how to successfully branch out from providing pipes and ping to becoming an entertainment powerhouse. Verizon has a significant opportunity through PlayLinc to not only gain revenue through avenues such as in-game advertising and digital distribution of games, but also attract high-value gaming customers to its fiber-based FiOS Internet and TV services."

PlayLinc provides gamers with a single, easy-to-use interface and all the tools they need for a superior playing experience. PlayLinc's industry-first suite of capabilities includes:


Ability for gamers to launch their own servers for free, giving them total control over whom they play with and eliminating expensive server rental fees.

Support for PC and console games, expanding the universe of games that players can enjoy together via their PCs. The service is compatible with about 1,600 PC and console games.

True server-based voice capabilities that allow up to 32 players to communicate with one another in real time. Other services rely on using peer-to-peer VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services.

Seamless integration of America Online's AIM® messaging service, providing gamers a connection to more than 80 million active users, along with industry-leading chat capabilities.

Game Area Network (GAN), which allows players to host any LAN-enabled multiplayer game on a virtual LAN -- whether on console, PC or handheld.

In-game and on-game chat and Internet browsing, letting players send and receive IMs and surf the net without having to leave their game screen.

Buddy tracking, team management and other tools that make team or clan play more organized and enjoyable.
Jason Baker of leading e-sports online news site, GotFrag, gives PlayLinc a rave review, writing, "This has to be the most useful product for gamers since the invention of the mouse." He added, "PlayLinc is the perfect solution for gamers wanting to control their game experience without paying a lot of money for game servers and voice servers. It is easy to use and built by guys who have set the standard for back-end server software in the gaming industry." For Baker's complete review, visit http://exe.gotfrag.com (click on the link for "PlayLinc Client").


The FiOS Connection: Less Lag, More 'Frag'
PlayLinc can be used with any broadband connection, but customers of Verizon's fiber-based FiOS Internet service will benefit from the power of a super-high-speed fiber connection directly into their homes.

"Our research shows that people who use broadband to play massively-multiplayer games have significantly higher expectations around the reliability and speed of their Internet service," said Cai. "Verizon's ability to offer the top reliability and speed of its fiber network, along with an innovative gaming service like PlayLinc, will be very attractive in drawing the high-value gamer audience to Verizon."

In addition to breakthrough download speeds ranging from 5 Mbps (megabits per second) to up to 50 Mbps in some areas, FiOS offers upload speeds ranging from 2 Mbps to 5 Mbps to consumer broadband users. These higher speeds maximize game players' reaction times by minimizing performance lag. In addition, PlayLinc servers are directly connected to the Verizon backbone network. This gives Verizon's FiOS Internet and DSL customers the most direct route over the Internet, with minimal hops and congestion.

"A high-speed connection is crucial," said online gaming champion Micah Ernst, who recently used PlayLinc over a 30 Mbps/5 Mbps FiOS connection to emerge from a field of more than 5,000 registrants to win the FiOS Grand Tournament completed July 29 in California.

"Competing on PlayLinc over a FiOS connection is like driving a Formula One race car instead of your mom's sedan." Ernst said. "The speed was incredible, and lag was virtually non-existent. It's an amazing experience."


Games for Casual Players
In addition to PlayLinc, Verizon offers a variety of gaming services to casual gamers and families. Verizon Games on Demand offers a choice of three packages:


Unlimited: Features unlimited click-and-play access to more than 450 full-version PC games for $14.95 a month.

Family Place: Provides 250 popular, family-friendly, casual games for $7.95 a month.

Quick Pac: Includes 40 fun "lunch break" games for $4.95 a month
These casual gaming services can be found at http://verizon.net/gamesondemand.