IBM Drives Evolution of Software and Systems Delivery to Speed SOA Results

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform 7.0 desktop products to help global development teams better design, deploy and manage the delivery of software and systems architectures with an emphasis on lifecycle quality.

The offerings help customers take advantage of reliable architectural design to deliver software and services with greater efficiency -- especially in geographically diverse and decentralized environments often found in Service Oriented Architectures (SOA).
As customers adopt SOA to transform their businesses, they are challenged with mapping their enterprise architectures and business processes to IT services architectures and automating and coordinating various interrelated services. In addition, more and more systems teams, like those developing aircraft systems or electronics products, need to interact with the IT systems, manage co-development complexity and meet new compliance regulations. Increasingly, customers are looking for ways to use open source products in their software delivery.
The IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform 7.0 desktop products is a comprehensive set of Eclipse-based offerings and best-practices processes that help customers govern the process of software and systems delivery and tighten the relationship between IT and line of business. The offerings:

• Accelerate SOA results with sound architectural design and automated service delivery


• Ensure global architectural integrity including support for packaged applications


• Simplify modular systems development with improved hardware and software modeling and standards support


• Improve the adoption of IBM Rational products based on the latest Eclipse community standards with improved modularity and openness
  
  

ARS Computer und Consulting GmbH is a systems integrator and consultant company based in Germany that has been working with IBM around Eclipse since 2001. ARS teaches and coaches customers on their development and software architectures. ARS customers rely heavily on IBM Rational functionality in a multitude of projects from simple J2EE web projects to sophisticated SOA approaches.
"When IBM donated Eclipse five years ago, we were thrilled by the possibilities of an open and universal platform to build, blend and integrate development tools from various vendors and open source projects -- and with today's launch, it is here to use," said Joachim E. Gucker, COO of ARS. "The new delivery platform gives customers freedom of choice. It starts with an IBM-supported pure and current Eclipse environment and grows non-disruptive to completeness with the ability to use the integrated functionality of one of several Rational products. The result is a stunningly flexible and powerful development environment that adapts in the same way an SOA-based system would."
Today's announcement builds upon the January release of Rational Systems Developer and the June release of IBM Rational Software Development Platform 7.0 Team tools -- that enable better development team collaboration through the breaking down of organizational silos -- helping customers improve delivery times, lower costs and improve software quality.
"Our customers need to empower their development teams to more effectively design and implement the 'architecture' in SOA," said Danny Sabbah, general manager, IBM Rational Software. "The Rational Software Delivery Platform gives our customers the tools they need to get faster SOA results with global integrity -- ensuring that their IT processes and policies are in line with their business transformation objectives -- which is critical to their success."
The new and enhanced Version 7 products and services in the IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform desktop products include:

• IBM Rational Elite Support for Eclipse - provides enterprise level support for Eclipse open source development framework to address the needs of a broad range of practitioners from novice to enterprise to expert developers. IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform 7.0 desktop products will install directly into existing Eclipse 3.2 environments offering the maximum flexibility and ability to use the right tool for the need at hand.


• IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software - comprehensive IDE for developers to design, develop, analyze, test, profile and deploy SOA, Java, J2EE, and portal applications.


• IBM Rational Software Architect - provides advanced model-driven development for software architects and model-driven developers creating SOA, J2EE and portal applications.


• IBM Rational Software Modeler - a UML2.1-based visual modeling and design tool for architects, systems analysts and designers who need to ensure that their specifications, architectures and designs are clearly defined and communicated.


• IBM Rational Systems Developer - an Eclipse-based systems design and development tool supported by a rich partner ecosystem that includes plug- ins that enable systems and software architects and model-driven developers to create well architected C/C++, Java, J2SE and CORBA-based applications leveraging UML 2, analysis and development capabilities. IBM Rational Systems Developer allows customers to build and manage Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) views and work products.


• IBM Rational Functional Tester - An advanced, automated functional and regression testing tool for testers and GUI developers who need superior control for testing Java, VS.NET™, web-based and packaged applications.


• IBM Rational Functional Tester Plus - a functional and regression testing solution bundle that allows teams to test a wide variety of software applications, including Java, web, web-services, .NET and thick client technology-based applications.


• IBM Rational Manual Tester - A manual test authoring and execution tool that promotes test step reuse to reduce the impact of software change on testers and business analysts.


• IBM Rational ClearQuest and Functional Testing - a comprehensive quality and change management bundle that offers testing teams an integrated solution for test management, defect management and automated and manual functional testing.


• IBM Rational Professional Bundle - Includes all the desktop tools your enterprise needs to design, construct and test J2EE, portal and SOA applications on both Windows and Linux, as well as test .NET applications.


• IBM Rational Data and Application Modeling Bundle - Provides IBM Rational Data Architect 7.0 and IBM Rational Software Modeler 7.0 combining enterprise data modeling, integration and development capabilities with UML visual application modeling tools.

Rounding out the portfolio of offerings, IBM has integrated product support for the desktop products including WebSphere Services Registry Repository, Tivoli Component Application Manager and WebSphere Business Modeler. Some Rational team product offerings are now integrated with the desktop products to help companies get SOA results faster using a services architecture model. Rational RequisitePro is integrated with WebSphere Business Modeler for improved efficiency. Rational Unified Process guidance (RUP for SOMA) improves design of the services architecture, and the Rational Method Composer SOA Plug-in allows for integration with an SOA governance infrastructure.


IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software and IBM Rational Software Architect, IBM Rational Performance Tester, IBM Rational Functional Tester, IBM Rational Manual Tester, IBM Rational Software Modeler, IBM Rational Systems Developer, IBM Rational Software Modeler include autonomic tools, based on open industry standards, that help developers capture and pinpoint the root cause of problems -- by importing and analyzing multiple log files based on a customized catalog of problem symptoms so they can be fixed based on historical knowledge. The "system catalog" is essentially an automated cheat-sheet that operations staff can use if these problems come up when deploying and running the application, saving time and money.

DHL and IBM Develop SOA-Based Logistics Platform for Karstadt

DHL Exel Supply Chain, the logistics specialist at Deutsche Post World Net and IBM today announced a four year, multi-million euro hardware, software and IT services contract with Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH for a new warehouse-management solution based on a service oriented architecture (SOA). Beginning in mid-2008, 11 DHL locations will be equipped with the new solution, known as system platform logistics. Once the system goes into operation, Karstadt will profit from significantly improved logistics processes and reduced costs.

System platform logistics will modernize and update IT operations for Karstadt Warenhaus AG, the logistics arm of Karstadt/Quelle AG, which was taken over by DHL Germany in 2005. The IBM SOA will replace more than 20 antiquated disparate systems with a single unified platform. This new platform will administer and manage all processes, including delivery, storage and the distribution of goods between facilities, providing enormous flexibility thanks to its modular design and scalability. It will be initially used in all DHL locations where logistics services for Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH are provided.

"With this new solution, we create a sustainable competitive edge for our customer Karstadt in the extremely tough retail business," says Dr. Thomas Ruffing, head of IT DHL Logistics Germany. "Together with our partner IBM, we also want to turn our logistics platform into a commercially successful sector solution."

System platform logistics is based entirely on IBM hardware and software solutions. IBM Global Business Services is overseeing the development of the new platform from conception through implementation to the start of operations. "To set yourself apart from the competition in the market it is no longer enough to continue improving existing structures and processes. Potential can only be exploited in full if solutions are able to flexibly meet business requirements. This is where service-oriented architecture comes in," said Matthias Hartmann, Managing Director IBM Germany and head of IBM Global Business Services, adding that "the new DHL logistics system platform will be one of the most advanced storage management solutions in the industry."

The contract was signed in October 2006. The system rollout will start in July 2008 and be completed for Karstadt Warenhaus AG's 11 distribution centers over two years.

Deutsche Post World Net is the world's leading logistics group.

Its integrated Deutsche Post, DHL and Postbank companies offer tailored, customer-focused solutions for the management and transport of goods, information and payments through a global network combined with local expertise. Deutsche Post World Net is also the leading provider of Dialog Marketing services, with a unique portfolio of efficient outsourcing and system solutions for the mail business. The Group generated revenue of 56 billion euros in 2005. With currently some 500,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories Deutsche Post World Net is one of the biggest employers worldwide.

VZ: Verizon Now Offers Data Backup for Its Small- and Medium-Sized Business Customers

Verizon just added automatic online backup to its product portfolio, so small- and medium-sized business customers can concentrate on running their businesses without having to worry about whether their data is protected from viruses and system crashes.

Verizon Online Backup helps protect company and customer information and enables easy collaboration with colleagues who are working off-site, file sharing with clients, or accessing files when away from the office.

With Verizon Online Backup, businesses can back up files to an online data storage site where they can be accessed anytime, as long as the user has access to the Internet. Additionally, with files accessible online, the cumbersome chore of individually uploading large graphics or documents to others, which can take up a lot of bandwidth and slow down everyone's access to the Internet, is avoided.

A key feature of Verizon Online Backup allows the small-business user to enable automatic backups, which will help protect files and documents from hardware failure, natural disasters and even human error. Verizon Online Backup provides security both during transmission and at the online facility. Data is encrypted during transmission and at the online facility.

Verizon Online Backup also includes an easy collaboration tool that allows users to mark files to be shared with others in their contact list so colleagues or clients can have access to these files. A link to the file, along with a password, is sent via e-mail to the contact, who can then retrieve the file from the Web site. Collaboration can be controlled by date or the number of times it can be downloaded.

"Every chance we get, we roll out key products and services that make it easy for our small- and medium-sized business owners to focus on their business and avoid having to worry about details like how to safeguard the data stored on their computers," said Colson Hillier, director of broadband products for Verizon. "I think our customers will find this product particularly useful because they will never have to e-mail large files again. And the automatic backup option covers even hard drives, which aren't typically backed up."

Verizon Online Backup blocks range from 1 GB (gigabyte) at $3.99 per month to up to 50 GB at $39.99 per month, and data can be backed up and restored from and to multiple PCs. There is no extra charge for setting up sub-accounts that allow backup space to be allotted to individual users within a company.

Verizon also offers a bundle that includes the backup product and Verizon Internet Security Suite, which has anti-virus coverage, firewall protection and more, starting at $7.99 for 1 GB of online backup storage and up to 3 PCs of internet security protection.

Verizon offers a variety of products and services that allow small and medium-sized businesses to customize the solutions they need to better compete in the marketplace. In addition to broadband Internet access, solutions include e-mail encryption and communications management tools.

Frost & Sullivan recently recognized Verizon for offering one of the most robust portfolios of products and services to small businesses. For broadband access, voice services and video - in select markets - Verizon also offers a "triple-play" bundle of unlimited calling, DSL and DIRECTV service to qualifying small businesses, starting at around $100.

For more information on Verizon's products and services for small- and medium-sized businesses visit http://business.verizon.net or call 888-649-9500.

ORCL: Oracle Announces General Availability of Oracle Business Process Analysis Suite

Oracle today announced the immediate availability of Oracle(r) Business Process Analysis Suite which provides business users the ability to model, publish, simulate and optimize end-to-end business processes that span the enterprise to increase operational efficiencies and improve business productivity. Oracle Business Process Analysis Suite, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, makes it possible for business or IT managers to model and automate multi-step processes and simulate and identify organizational, structural and technical problems in workflows before they occur - enabling better control over an organization's business processes.

The Oracle Business Process Analysis Suite together with Oracle SOA Suite provides the most comprehensive, standards-based business process management (BPM) software to manage the entire BPM lifecycle from modeling and simulation to execution, monitoring and optimization. The new suite helps improve collaboration between business users and IT departments to help them understand, document and modify business processes to meet dynamic business needs and compliance requirements more rapidly. Organizations can use the complete portfolio or individual components of Oracle's BPM offerings in heterogeneous IT environments to respond to changing business conditions quickly.

"Effective business process management strategies are critical to the success of organizations of all sizes and can be used to create a competitive advantage," said Amlan Debnath, vice president, Server Technologies, Oracle. "By adding Oracle Business Process Analysis Suite to our comprehensive BPM offering, Oracle is empowering business users to narrow the 'strategy-to-execution gap' within their organizations."

Built on an open, standards-based, hot-pluggable architecture, Oracle Business Process Analysis Suite can be used to model business processes that can be deployed with Oracle and non-Oracle J2EE application servers and packaged applications, such as SAP. The Suite is also uniquely optimized to support Oracle Applications including Oracle E-Business Suite, Oracle's PeopleSoft Enterprise and Oracle's Siebel applications. Oracle Business Process Analysis Suite consists of the following four components:

* Business Process Architect - A standards-based tool for process modeling that supports standards-based notations and templates including Business Process Modeling Notation;

* Business Process Repository Server - A server component for sharing the process repository across multiple users in a collaborative environment;

* Business Process Simulator - A tool for simulating the process models based on a set of discrete events to do "what if" analysis; and

* Business Process Publisher - Publishes process models to a large audience outside of the core team designing the process models.

For more information about the Oracle Business Process Analysis Suite, please visit: http://www.oracle.com/goto/bpm

About Oracle Fusion Middleware
The company's comprehensive, standards-based family of middleware software, Oracle Fusion Middleware enables customers to adopt and manage SOAs in heterogeneous computing environments. More than 31,000 customers now use Oracle Fusion Middleware and include leading organizations in the Financial Services, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Retail, Pharmaceuticals, Health Care and Public Sector industries. Oracle Fusion Middleware is also supported by 9,000 partners, including leading independent software vendors, value added resellers and system integrators.

IBM to Acquire Consul

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Consul risk management, Inc., a privately held software company headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, with a principal office in Herndon, Virginia. Financial details were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close in the first quarter of the 2007 calendar year. Upon approval, Consul will become part of IBM's Tivoli software unit.

Consul is a leading provider of compliance and security audit software that helps clients track, report and investigate non-compliant behavior, such as unauthorized activity by information technology (IT) administrators or other users.

This acquisition strengthens IBM's Service Management initiative by adding key data governance and compliance monitoring, auditing and reporting capabilities across mainframe and distributed environments, a unique capability unmatched by other competitors.

Many companies are unclear which of their employees need access to certain sensitive information sources, such as personal health records or a company's finances. According to a recent industry report, 86 percent of internal security incidents are perpetrated by a company's most privileged and technical users -- such as IT administrators, vendors, consultants, or other users. [1] Left unchecked, privileged user activities can violate compliance policies and potentially lead to incidents of identity theft.

Consul provides an "auditor-in-a-box" for compliance initiatives by using a single management technology dashboard. Consul's monitoring and auditing capabilities cover a wide array of systems, applications and resources, including IBM's mainframe environment. The technology provides powerful visibility of insider threats and specific reporting designed to help address customers' compliance activities related to various regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPAA [2]. This technology complements IBM's existing security information and event management capabilities to offer clients a portfolio of solutions that can monitor, audit and report on both users and technology.

The software monitors business compliance processes for compliance, automatically providing alerts when information or technology assets are at risk, when data is inappropriately accessed, or if compliance processes have been breached. Increasingly, security, risk, audit and compliance functions within companies are relying on business compliance technology to investigate abnormal activity or simply test whether they are compliant with government regulations. For example, a technology company could detect when an unauthorized identity accesses a system containing future product design concepts, or an online retailer could be notified if an abnormally high number of customer records are accessed.

"Consul is uniquely capable of rounding out the IBM portfolio to help clients more fully address compliance around access to private information to help reduce risk in their organizations," said Al Zollar, general manager, IBM Tivoli Software. "Together, IBM and Consul will be able to offer integrated security management and powerful user activity monitoring across the entire IT infrastructure from devices and systems to applications in both traditional and service oriented architectures."

"With today's high volume of compliance activity, auditors typically want to know that organizations have control of privileged user activities," said Joe Sander, CEO, Consul. "Beyond knowing who has the right to access specific data, companies need to ensure that only appropriate individuals are doing so, without hindering business productivity. Consul software is one of the industry's first solutions to address the intersection of audit and policy compliance efforts with information security and operational risk."

The product uses patent pending "W7" methodology (Who, did What, When, Where, Where from, Where to and on What) to consolidate and analyze vast amounts of user and system activity. It enables customers to consolidate, normalize and analyze vast amounts of user activity via native security logs; delivering instant alerts and reports on who touches what information and how those actions may violate external regulations or internal security policies. Additionally, Consul offers an array of solutions that enable easy user administration on the mainframe, adding depth to IBM's identity management capabilities.

More than 350 customers around the world rely on Consul to accelerate their security audit and compliance efforts, including Ford, Kroger, Office Depot, Hanes and Fidelity Bank.

IBM and Tivoli are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

[1] Secret Service and CERT Coordination Center/SEI -- Insider Threat Study: Computer System Sabotage in Critical Infrastructure Sectors May 2005

[2] Customers are responsible for ensuring their own compliance with various laws. It is the customer's sole responsibility to obtain advice of competent legal counsel as to the identification and interpretation of any relevant laws, including but not limited to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may affect the customer's business and any actions the customer may need to take to comply with such laws. IBM does not provide legal, accounting or auditing advice or represent or warrant that its services or products will ensure that customer is in compliance with any law.

QCOM: QUALCOMM Successfully Demonstrates Mobile Broadband using FLASH-OFDM at the Wireless Broadband East Africa Conference

QUALCOMM Incorporated, a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, today announced that it showcased the FLASH-OFDM® wireless broadband system at the Wireless Broadband East Africa 2006 conference in Nairobi, Kenya. QUALCOMM Flarion Technologies, a subsidiary of QUALCOMM, is the architect of FLASH-OFDM, the all-IP OFDMA technology currently in commercial service in Europe.



“FLASH-OFDM is a field-proven technology that meets the particular needs of wireless Internet users,” said Ed Knapp, senior vice president of marketing for QUALCOMM Flarion Technologies. “The wireless access system enables network operators to provide high-capacity broadband data and VoIP services to mobile and stationary users. The maximum data rate of 5.3 Mbps guarantees that even data-intensive applications, such as on-demand video streaming, can be received in excellent quality. The low latency ensures a speed to match that of wireline broadband connections for Internet browsing and large file transfers.”

FLASH-OFDM performance and specification highlights include:

• Average sector throughputs in the 1.25 MHz channels are 1.5 Mbps with peak downlink data rates of 5.3 Mbps


• Bandwidth: 1.25 MHz FDD spectrum


• Average peak uplink data rates of 1.8 Mbps


• Field-proven low-latency rates of 35 milliseconds.


• Mobility: Seamless handoff with 'make before break'


• Data Protocol: native IP, no tunneling or modifications required

QUALCOMM Incorporated (www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM is included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 2006 FORTUNE 500® company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market® under the ticker symbol QCOM.

AMD Drives Next Generation of Energy-Efficient Computing with 65nm Technology Transition

Launching the next generation of energy-efficient computing, AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the transition to 65nm process technology, beginning with the immediate availability of energy-efficient AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core desktop processors. The move to 65nm process technology enables AMD to produce more processors on a 300mm wafer, for increased production capacity, while continuing to aggressively scale performance and reduce power consumption. AMD processors built with 65nm line-widths are designed to deliver exceptional performance when running multiple applications, as well as enable small form factor PCs that complement both home and office environments. By mid-2007, AMD expects to be fully converted to 65nm production at Fab 36. With the rapid conversion to 65nm process technology, AMD is scaling capacity intelligently to meet growing demand worldwide for x86 processors.

“With AMD’s established leadership in desktop and server performance-per-watt, both businesses and consumers can benefit greatly from our energy-efficient AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors,” said Bob Brewer, corporate vice president, Desktop Division, AMD. “Customers continue to demand solutions that focus on low-power consumption and quieter operation. AMD is responding by increasing manufacturing efficiency to deliver on the next generation of energy-efficient desktop processors, enabling OEMS to innovate using highly reliable AMD64 processors and without compromising performance.”

OEMS offering systems ready to experience responsive and spectacular high-resolution 3D visual effects of Microsoft Windows Vista™ with 65nm AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors immediately, and beginning in Q1 of 2007, include Acer, Dell, Founder, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Packard Bell, and TongFang, as well as leading system builders worldwide.

“Acer is committed to delivering cutting-edge, dependable systems that enhance the efficiency and productivity of our customers,” said Jim Wong, president of IT Products Business Group, Acer Inc. “Our Aspire family of high-performing desktop systems with the new energy efficient AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors can enable powerful and cooler computing experiences that help break the barriers between people and technology.”

“Dell leads the industry in worldwide desktop computer shipments because we listen to customers and deliver innovative technology products at a high value and quality,” said Vivek Mohindra, vice president of desktop product marketing, Dell Product Group. “With the new energy-efficient AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors, Dell OptiPlex and Dimension desktops can provide customers breadth of choice and personalized, dual-core performance and power efficiency to meet their office productivity or entertainment needs.”

“As the world’s leading PC manufacturer, HP is committed to providing our customers with the latest, industry-leading technology as it becomes available,” said Shagorika Dixit, senior product marketing manager, Consumer Computing – North America, HP. “With the next generation of energy-efficient desktop processors from AMD, HP can continue to proactively develop energy-saving solutions for a variety of affordable, environmentally-friendly desktop products to help consumers and business customers reduce energy costs.”

Advancing Silicon Process and Manufacturing Technology
Building on AMD’s industry-leading 90nm high-performance, low-power Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology, AMD’s 65nm SOI technology takes full advantage of our 90nm high-performance technology, scalability and power efficiency. The move to 65nm allows for reductions in line widths which enable AMD to produce more processors on a 300mm wafer, for increased production capacity. As a result, AMD can deliver high output volumes and enhanced products for its customers. AMD’s 65nm processes have evolved from a technology agreement with IBM that has been highly beneficial to AMD.

Semiconductor Insights (SI), a leading technical advisor to the global microelectronics industry recently performed an analysis on the 65nm AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core desktop processor. Upon completion of the analysis, Semiconductor Insights awarded AMD with their 2006 INSIGHT Award for Most Innovative Process Technology.

“Our analysis of the device has confirmed that the 65nm AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor, produced at AMD Fab 36, uses minimum gate lengths of 35nm, nine copper and one aluminum metal levels, strained silicon channel and a Silicon on Insulator (SOI) substrate,” said Don Scansen, lead process analyst at Semiconductor Insights. “Put altogether, it is an impressive technology package”

AMD has an aggressive yet disciplined approach to transistor development through Continuous Transistor Improvement (CTI) and Shared Transistor Technology (STT). CTI involves making consistent improvements on an ongoing basis to the transistor. This continuous improvement cycle helps AMD stay at the forefront of transistor level performance and power efficiencies, while also allowing for the rapid and smooth introduction of the latest technologies into volume production. With STT, AMD uses its most advanced transistor from the previous generation as the starting point for next-generation process technology. This approach helps obtain maximum transistor reliability and performance within a new process node.

This combined approach continues to be highly successful in driving rapid technology transitions at world-class yields, as evidenced by AMD’s continued leadership in product performance and power management.

Continued Commitment to Global Environment
Energy-efficient AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors can deliver improved performance-per-watt and reduced power consumption. AMD will continue within the 65nm technology generation to enhance both AMD64 processors and process technology, to offer even more energy-efficient processors that demonstrate AMD’s commitment to an improved global environment. The next generation of energy-efficient processors complement AMD’s award-winning Cool‘n’Quiet™ technology, allowing a system to match processor utilization to the performance actually required.

In March 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded AMD’s Cool’n’Quiet technology special recognition for the advancement of energy efficient computer technologies. As a company committed to environmental stewardship, AMD supports the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other worldwide organizations that promote the development and delivery of energy-efficient technologies. Based on energy consumption data from AMD, AMD expects that systems built with our desktop and mobile processors can meet, and in many instances, exceed the EPA’s newly announced ENERGY STAR Version 4 computer specifications revised on October 20, 2006 and effective July 20, 2007

“The innovative spirit of the computer industry is now powering an energy efficiency revolution,” said Bill Wehrum, EPA's acting assistant administrator of Air and Radiation. “Through ENERGY STAR, the EPA and our partners are trying to preserve a sustainable environment for future generations. We celebrate innovative leaders like AMD for developing energy efficient microprocessor technologies that help computer users reduce their impact on the environment.”

Stable Platform for Innovative Solutions
AMD enables best-of-breed technologies designed for outstanding mainstream PC experiences that result in superior graphics performance, enhanced video quality and minimal idle power draw. Through relationships with leading OEMs and system builders, as well as major chipset, graphics and motherboard vendors, AMD provides an open platform approach that allows our customers to select leading-edge, stable technologies and build differentiated and innovative solutions. Socket AM2- compatible processors are designed to enhance the award-winning AMD64 architecture, enabling next-generation platform innovations such as AMD-Virtualization™ technology and high-performance, un-buffered DDR2 memory. Additionally, the use of socket AM2 streamlines the work for motherboard manufacturers, while reducing costs through economies of scale, which can result in better products at lower prices.

AMD64 processors are ready and capable today to provide users with the foundation needed to experience the power of Windows Vista.

“Microsoft and AMD have been working together to ensure customers get the quality, security and computing experience they deserve and expect using the upcoming Windows Vista operating system,” said Mike Sievert, corporate vice president, Windows, Microsoft. “We look forward to processor advances in energy efficiency and performance made possible with AMD's transition to 65nm technology, and expect that they will continue to enhance the customers' experience using Windows Vista.”

Pricing
Pricing for the 65nm AMD Athlon 64 dual-core processors 5000+, 4800+, 4400+, and 4000+ are $301, $271, $214, and $169, respectively in 1KU PIB. For pricing details, please visit www.amd.com/pricing

BEAS: BEA Provides Update on Internal Stock Option Review

BEA Systems, Inc., a world leader in enterprise infrastructure software, today provided an update on its internal stock option review.

As previously announced, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of BEA Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) is conducting a review of the Company’s historical stock option grants. The Audit Committee, with the assistance of independent legal and forensic accounting experts, has reached a determination that, under applicable accounting principles, the actual measurement dates for certain stock options differed from the recorded measurement dates for such stock options. The Company expects that the difference in these measurement dates will result in material non-cash, stock-based compensation expenses. Accordingly, on Nov. 30, 2006, the Company’s Audit Committee, after consultation with the Company’s management and Board of Directors, determined that the Company’s previously issued financial statements should no longer be relied upon. Consequently, the Company will restate previously issued financial statements as necessary.

The Audit Committee has not completed its work nor reached final conclusions, and is continuing its review of the circumstances that gave rise to the differences in option measurement dates. The Audit Committee has not reviewed all stock options for which the accounting measurement dates may have been incorrectly determined, nor determined the final aggregate amount of additional stock-based compensation expenses that may need to be recorded or the amount of such expenses that may need to be recorded in any specific prior period or in any future period.

The Audit Committee has not yet determined the tax consequences that may result from these matters or whether tax consequences will give rise to liabilities on behalf of the Company which may have to be satisfied in any future period.

The Audit Committee and the Company’s management have discussed these matters with Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

The Audit Committee is making every effort to complete its review, and the Company will make every effort to become current in its public filings as soon as practicable following the completion of the Audit Committee’s review.

BEAS: BEA Systems and NEC Corporation Collaborate to Enable Rapid IMS Service Creation and Delivery

BEA Systems, Inc., a world leader in
enterprise and communications infrastructure software, today announced a
successful collaboration with NEC Corporation to help accelerate the adoption
of next-generation telecom networks and services by telecom network operators,
based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architectural standard. This
collaboration is designed to help customers deploy new services on NEC IMS
networks faster, easier and with more flexibility than ever before.

The two companies have successfully completed interoperability testing between
NEC’s IMS platform and BEA WebLogic® SIP Server, the industry’s first
converged Java EE-SIP-IMS application server, providing a comprehensive,
integrated, and uniquely differentiated service execution environment that has
been proven in carrier-class environments. BEA WebLogic SIP Server is the
powerful, award-winning IMS application server component of the BEA WebLogic®
Communications Platform product family. With the completion of this
interoperability testing, BEA and NEC are solidifying their partnership and
offering the telecommunications network industry a pre-integrated,
best-of-breed, IMS network and services solution. 

“Network operators have spoken: they want a flexible IMS architecture that can
enable them to deliver next-generation services quickly and efficiently,” said
Mike McHugh, vice president and general manager, BEA WebLogic Communications
Platform. “This joint BEA-NEC IMS offering is designed to help enable
operators to establish tangible revenue generating opportunities from new and
innovative IMS services with a shorter deployment time.”

The pre-tested interoperability between BEA WebLogic® SIP Server and NEC IMS
platform is designed to offer several benefits for network operators. First,
the pre-tested joint solution is designed to help reduce time-to-market and
cost-of-integration for operators deploying an IMS network and services layer
architecture, based on a powerful IMS application server. Plus, by creating
unique IMS services based BEA WebLogic SIP Server, in combination with IMS
service enablers, operators can realize uniquely differentiated, high quality,
multimedia services more rapidly and more cost-effectively.

BEA Systems and NEC have agreed to continue to work together on customer
implementations using the wide range of products and services within their
portfolios. Through this joint collaboration, NEC can provide not only an IMS
platform, but also the network service enablers, as key parts of a SIP
application server, so that rich IMS services can be created using various
network capabilities.


BEA and NEC Bring Unique Technology Strengths to Market


NEC’s IMS platform brings voice and data services together, helping to allow
operators to generate new revenues by developing and deploying a variety of
new revenue-generating services. NEC’s IMS product line-up is built on telecom
industry standards-based architecture and protocols (3GPP and 3GPP2) to enable
operators to implement networks which can deliver new multimedia communication
services.

BEA WebLogic SIP Server is designed to provide enhanced support for IMS. The
product supports the key IMS application server standard interfaces specified
by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). BEA WebLogic SIP Server is a
converged Java EE-IMS application server, designed to provide an integrated
and cost-effective foundation for an IMS services layer architecture, with a
single converged application container supporting all the key IT and telecom
protocols and interfaces, such as SIP, HTTP, Java EE, XCAP, Diameter, ISC and
Web Services. By standardizing BEA WebLogic SIP Server as the core IMS
application server, network operators can use their IMS services layer to
rapidly create, deliver, and modify new and innovative IP multimedia
communication and collaboration services, while helping to maintain a very
cost-effective IMS service.

BEA WebLogic SIP Server is a key component of the BEA SOA 360° platform.
Announced in Sept. at BEAWorld 2006 in San Francisco, the BEA SOA 360°
platform is designed to deliver the industry’s most unified SOA platform and
spans all three of BEA’s product families, AquaLogic, WebLogic, Tuxedo® and
the company’s newly unveiled SOA collaborative tooling environment, BEA
Workspace 360°. (See Sept. 19, 2006, press release titled “BEA Announces SOA
360°; Industry’s most unified SOA Platform to transform and optimize
business.”). For more information about BEA WebLogic SIP Server, please visit bea.com/sip,
and the BEA WebLogic Communications Platform, please visit bea.com/wlcom.

BEAS: BEA Systems & Huawei Technologies Collaborate to Accelerate the Adoption of Next-Generation Telecom Networks

BEA Systems, Inc., a world leader in enterprise and communications infrastructure software, and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (“Huawei”), a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions, today announced they are partnering to collaborate in accelerating telecom network operator’s efforts to increase revenue by accelerating the adoption of next-generation telecom networks based on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS).

As a pioneer in global IMS application, Huawei IMS solution, based on 3GPP, 3GPP2 and TISPAN standard, can enable operators to reap real benefits from Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC). Marking a key milestone in their relationship, BEA Systems and Huawei have successfully completed interoperability testing and system integration between the Huawei IMS solution and the BEA WebLogic® SIP Server. With the completion of this system integration, BEA and Huawei are able to offer communications service providers a comprehensive, proven, best-of-breed, IMS network and services layer solution, greatly reducing the costs of development, costs of operation and time-to-market for innovative next-generation communication services.

Mr. Zha Jun, vice president of Huawei’s core network product line and director of IMS solution said, “Huawei has become a mainstream supplier of IMS, providing operators with a convergent, open and innovative service management platform. BEA Systems is a world leader in enterprise and communications infrastructure software. By integrating with BEA WebLogic® SIP Server, the Huawei IMS solution can help enable operators to deploy various integrated multimedia services efficiently. Huawei will continue to develop close partnerships with leading vendors and continue to build our competitive IMS ecosystem.”

Early in December 2004, Huawei established the IMS service experience center. Dedicating two years of time and resources, Huawei has built an expansive IMS industry ecosystem, and is going to market with several new value-added services, such as such as PES/PSS, IP Centrex, Multi-media Conference, MRBT/MCLI, VCC, Gaming, POC, Media sharing and so on.

Mike McHugh, vice president and general manager, BEA WebLogic Communications Platform, BEA Systems said, “Huawei has fast become a leading network equipment provider and system integrator in the Chinese and global telecom markets. The joint BEA-Huawei IMS offering presents our mutual customers with an unparalleled opportunity to leverage IMS technology to grow and strengthen their business.”

For more information about BEA WebLogic SIP Server, please visit bea.com/sip. BEA WebLogic SIP Server is a key component of the BEA SOA 360° platform. Announced in Sept. at BEAWorld 2006 in San Francisco, the BEA SOA 360° platform is designed to deliver the industry’s most unified SOA platform and spans all three of BEA’s product families, AquaLogic, WebLogic, Tuxedo® and the company’s newly unveiled SOA collaborative tooling environment, BEA Workspace 360°. (See September 19, 2006, press release titled “BEA Announces SOA 360°; Industry’s most unified SOA Platform to transform and optimize business.”)


About Huawei Technologies
Huawei Technologies is a leader in providing next generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world. The company is dedicated to providing innovative and customized products, services and solutions to create long-term value and potential growth for its customers. Huawei’s products and solutions are deployed in over 100 countries and serve 28 of the world’s top 50 operators, as well as over one billion users worldwide.

For more information, please visit huawei.com.

YHOO: Fox News Becomes Premiere Video Provider to Yahoo Finance

FOX News has become the premiere video provider of business news on Yahoo Finance, with the launch of a co-branded video initiative, FOX Business Now. The initiative, which debuts today on Yahoo! Finance, brings FOX News business programming to the Internet's number one financial destination, and includes nine original two-minute market reports each weekday between 9am and 5pm. The agreement was jointly announced by Jeremy Steinberg, Vice President, Digital Media Ad Sales & Business Development, FOX News and Scott Moore, head of news and information, Yahoo! Media Group.

In making the announcement, Steinberg said, "This new deal brings together two market leaders, providing the number one cable news channel a unique platform to deliver original business content on the number one financial website."

Moore added: "FOX Business Now significantly expands the video offerings of Yahoo! Finance, bringing original programming from the number one cable news network to our site, available free to all of our users. This agreement is an important example of how Yahoo! is meeting the growing demand for business news video, which we believe will help us extend our market-leading position."

In addition to the original market reports, FOX News will provide business news segments, investment programming and personal finance content. Combining television and original web content, FOX Business Now will be a fixture on the Yahoo Finance homepage and can also be accessed on Foxnews.com. FOX News will also have additional promotional placements on Yahoo!, and the initiative will also be promoted on-air on FOX News.

About FOX News

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour general news service covering breaking news as well as political, entertainment and business news. For more than four years, FNC has been the most watched cable news channel in the nation and currently presents 10 out of the top 12 programs in cable news. Owned by News Corp., FNC is available in more than 85 million homes.

About Yahoo! Finance

Yahoo! Finance helps consumers manage their financial lives by providing a comprehensive set of easy-to-use financial services, tools, and information. For investors, Yahoo! Finance offers breaking U.S. and international market news; market data for stocks, bonds, funds, and options; streaming real-time quotes and charts; brokerage research reports, investment analysis and management tools; and community resources like message boards and clubs. With Yahoo! Finance, consumers have one-stop access to the personalized financial information and services they need.

ORCL: Oracle Sets the Date of its Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2007 Earnings Announcement

Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCL) today announced that its second quarter fiscal year 2007 results will be released on Monday, December 18, after the close of the market. The company will host a conference call and live web broadcast at 2:00 p.m. (PST) / 5:00 p.m. (EST) to discuss the financial results. A live web broadcast of the event will be available on the Oracle Investor Relations website http://www.oracle.com/investor

INTC: Intel® Core™ Microarchitecture-Based Processor Line-Up Expands to Communications Solutions

Intel Corporation today announced building blocks for communication servers that deliver enhanced performance, value and choice for telecommunications equipment manufacturers and computing tasks such as call control, mobile location services and subscriber billing.

The Intel NetStructure® MPCBL0050 Single Board Computer is the first AdvancedTCA* (ATCA) blade server based on the Intel® Core™ microarchitecture. Also unveiled today were the new power-efficient Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processor LV 5138 and LV 5128. These new products are well suited for compute-intensive and space-constrained environments such as telecommunications central offices and datacenters. The fourth product announced is the Intel® Carrier Grade Server TIGW1U, powered by previously launched Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processor LV 5148, which offers customers high performance per watt in a small ruggedized form factor.

“Today’s new products, based on the revolutionary Intel® Core™ microarchitecture, expands the Intel portfolio of modular communications building blocks and turbo charges Moore’s Law for communications,” said Anthony Ambrose, general manager, Intel Modular Communications Platform Division. “Intel now offers the broadest choice of high-performance, standards-based building blocks for communication servers with the price and feature flexibility equipment manufacturers require.”

The Intel NetStructure MPCBL0050 blade server, powered by the new Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor LV 5138, delivers almost three times the performance per slot of the leading competitive blade server, which enables service providers to deliver new, revenue-generating services with fewer blades. It runs Carrier Grade Linux* operating system and offers significant performance improvements for compute-intensive and database-access applications, including IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS), wireless control plane and IPTV. Additionally, it is designed to be the first blade server to comply with the proposed Communications Platforms Trade Association (CP-TA) 1.0 standard to improve industry interoperability.

The Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor LV 5138 and 5128 combine the benefits of a dual-core processing with dual-processor capabilities, providing four high-performance cores on a single platform. The LV 5138 offers telecommunication customers robust thermal profiles and a low Thermal Design Power (TDP) for solutions that require compliance with ATCA form factor and NEBS Level-3 thermal specifications.

“HP works closely with Intel to incorporate the latest high-performance ATCA processor blade technology into comprehensive solutions that include hardware, software and worldwide services and support,” said Stephen Low, marketing director, carrier grade platforms, Business Critical Systems, HP. “With solutions based on ATCA blade servers such as the HP bh5700 series, HP can give its customers a time-to-market advantage.”

“Motorola is committed to adopting multi-core technology such as the Intel NetStructure MPCBL0050 Single Board Computer in our Centellis*™ and Avantellis*™ series AdvancedTCA* servers as it will enable us to deliver more cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions to meet network equipment provider requirements for compute-intensive applications,” said Wade Campbell, senior director, Strategic Marketing for Motorola’s Embedded Communications Computing business. “We believe this technology will allow us to increase the capacity on existing applications and will enable our industry-leading communications servers to address a broader range of next-generation applications.”

The Intel NetStructure MPCBL0050 Single Board Computer will cost $5,169 and the Intel Carrier Grade Server TIGW1U starts at $1,550. Both products will be available in the first quarter of 2007. The Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor LV 5138 and LV 5128 will cost $617 and $412, respectively, per 1,000 units, and will begin shipping in the fourth quarter of this year.



Intel, Intel NetStructure, Intel Xeon, Intel Core and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

SUNW: Sun Introduces Netra Dataplane Software Suite Targeted At High Performance Data Plane Applications In The Telecom Market

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) today introduced its Netra Dataplane Software (NDPS) Suite for the telecom market. Sun's new software is the first standardized tool to quickly and efficiently deliver dataplane applications for the aggregation, transport and routing of voice, video, and data for the telecommunications network. NDPS, which runs on Sun's Netra CoolThreads servers, makes it faster and less expensive for telecom customers to develop and deploy packet processing throughout the network.


"By delivering the first high-performance packet processing engine on Sun's CoolThreads servers, we are showing that Sun's general purpose OpenSPARC processors are ideal for pervasive IP networks," said Raju Penumatcha, vice president, Netra Systems and Networking, Sun Microsystems. "NDPS along with the Solaris 10 Operating System (OS) on CoolThreads will dramatically cut costs and time to market for service providers building such converged networks."

The demand for computation using IP packets is exploding as three million subscribers join the network per week on internet capable handsets. In addition, network service providers are offering higher bandwidth, new generation services, and the ability to move seamlessly between public and private networks. To do this requires many computational tasks for each packet in real-time such as encryption, classification, transcoding, header conversion and forwarding. Today, these "dataplane" functions are performed by specialized processors and proprietary servers. To get the needed performance, Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) are forced to make extreme trade-offs in the time to build these processors, servers and functions as well as in cost to overprovision the network to forestall reprogramming.

With NDPS, application development time for NEPs is shortened from years to months, without compromising performance. Sun and NDPS eliminate the need to over design and over provision the network, avoiding any reprogramming delays down the road. With NDPS operators can deploy only what they need now and add systems easily as their capacity requirements grow. Running along side Solaris 10 - the most advanced OS on the planet, NDPS can also enable a new level of consolidation - resulting in lower hardware costs as the servers provide the ability to run dataplane functions and service applications together. And Sun helps address OEM concerns by providing an expanded set of specialized OEM offerings - including dedicated sales, pricing, supply chain, and product support throughout the product lifecycle - Sun is stepping up its OEM partnerships.

Sun's Netra Dataplane Software (NDPS):

Sun's Netra Dataplane Software includes a lightweight run-time environment that performs packet processing functions at multi-gigabit line rates on Sun's CoolThreads servers. NDPS also includes a highly optimized development environment to simplify and accelerate development of these functions. Software portability is enabled by providing an ANSI C compiler and a programming model which is independent of the processor architecture. NDPS was also designed with its own library of reference applications that can be re-used and integrated into full-scale network elements. Sun will continue to add additional libraries over time – based on the work of a community of application developers and its own development.

Sun achieves industry comparable performance at dramatically reduced cost by leveraging the virtually unmatched thread density of its CoolThreads processors, System-on-Chip design and a scalable, high performance run-time environment. Sun can achieve up to an 80 percent reduction in development time and Sun's support for open standards means developers can avoid hardware lock-in, and can leverage a common, high-level development environment based on ANSI C and standardized APIs.

NDPS will be sold and supported on Sun's CoolThreads servers, including the T2000, Netra T2000 and CP3060.

For more information on Sun's Netra servers which run NDPS, go to: http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/hw/networking/t2000/index.xml and http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/hw/networking/ct900/ To learn more about Sun's entire Netra ATCA blade server family check out: http://www.sun.com/atca

To find out more information on how Sun steps up OEM partnerships, go to: www.sun.com/oem

MSFT: Microsoft Aims to Protect Holiday Shoppers, Retailers From Technology Pirates

With its potential payload of viruses, worms, spyware and other hazards, counterfeit software can quickly turn a high-tech holiday stocking stuffer into a smoldering lump of coal. Microsoft Corp. today filed copyright infringement lawsuits against alleged dealers of counterfeit versions of the company’s programs, sending a shot across the bow at pirates scheming to defraud consumers and the vast majority of legitimate businesses out of earned profits during the holiday season.

The lawsuits Microsoft announced today are against those companies that allegedly distributed counterfeit and pirated software and software components or participated in hard-disk loading (installing unlicensed software on computers they sold). The suits were filed in 25 cities across the U.S., from Riverbank, Calif., to Melbourne, Fla. The vast majority of software distributors are honest businesses that lose out to the dishonest dealers that attempt to defraud consumers.

“No one would want their newly purchased computer or software to be laden with problems caused by incomplete code, worms, viruses, spyware and other risks,” said Mary Jo Schrade, senior attorney at Microsoft. “Aside from a fight to protect our intellectual property, we are working to protect our partners and customers who buy computer software in good faith, expecting to get genuine Microsoft® Windows® and end up being exploited and defrauded by software pirates.”

To bypass installation and licensing protections in today’s software, counterfeiters must physically alter the software’s code. Essential elements of the program are often deleted, while unnecessary extras can be inserted. Deleted code will cause the software to behave erratically — displaying error messages or failing to work with other software and devices — and the extra code inserted by counterfeiters may include malware or spyware that can be used to infect a PC with viruses, change settings or even track how someone uses the computer, such as tracking Web sites visited or keystrokes entered. This malicious software can be used to steal personal information such as usernames, passwords and credit card numbers.

“No consumer has the ability to examine the code that a counterfeiter has offered for sale, so there’s no way to tell how it’s been altered until it’s too late,” said Laura Didio, Yankee Group analyst. “With so much reliance on the Internet and PCs for shopping and banking and communications today, the stakes are just too high to justify saving a few dollars buying counterfeit software.”

Microsoft software is an integral part of the company’s Genuine Software Initiative. The initiative focuses the company’s multiple activities and investments directed at fighting software counterfeiting and other forms of software piracy into a single initiative with increased investments across three strategic areas: education, engineering and enforcement. Within each area, Microsoft is investing in activities that educate and help protect consumers and business partners from counterfeit software and other forms of software piracy.

In addition to helping protect consumers, Microsoft also enforces its copyrights on behalf of the legitimate resellers that make their living selling genuine Microsoft software and services. The company partners with businesses of all sizes that are vital contributors to the local communities in which they are located. Often these honest companies lose business to companies offering pirated software at cheaper prices.

“Today’s announcement is part of an ongoing, programmatic effort by Microsoft to level the playing field for our partners,” said John Ball, general manager for U.S. Local OEM Business at Microsoft, which works with businesses that manufacture computers. “Ultimately, our goal is straightforward: To make sure that fair business practices prevail and that consumers get what they pay for and what they deserve when they purchase Microsoft software.”

Microsoft gathered evidence for these cases through its test purchase program: The company purchases hardware and software from computer dealers across the country in the same way that consumers and businesses do. Microsoft then tests the software and software components to determine their authenticity. Microsoft notified defendants of the illegal activity and provided them with information for acquiring and distributing legal, genuine software.

Complaints were also received about some of the defendants through the company’s anti-piracy hot line, (800) RU-LEGIT (785-3448).

MSFT: Microsoft Introduces Expression Studio, Enhances Family of Professional Design Tools

Microsoft Corp. today announced significant product line enhancements along with pricing and availability of the Microsoft® Expression® Studio for creative professionals. The quality of user experience is emerging as a core requirement for differentiating products and services while optimizing customers’ brand loyalty. Expression Studio, a key component of Microsoft’s strategy for improving the user experience delivered by applications, provides designers with an end-to-end tools platform that boosts collaboration with developers in the delivery of next-generation user experiences for the Web, Windows Vista™ applications and beyond.

Expression Studio comprises Expression Web for creating standards-based Web sites; Expression Blend (formally Interactive Designer) for designing rich interactive experiences for Windows®; Expression Design (formally Graphic Designer) for the design of visual elements for Web and Windows experiences; and a new tool, Expression Media, which provides digital asset management and unifies team workflow across the suite. Expression Web is shipping today, and the full Expression Studio is planned for delivery in the second quarter of 2007.

“The Expression family, together with our Visual Studio® development tools and platform technologies, uniquely elevates the craft of design and user experience to the forefront of the software development process,” said S. Somasegar, corporate vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft Corp. “Our goal is to enable designers to collaborate like never before with development teams so together they can raise the bar for user experiences and deliver compelling, rich, immersive, highly usable applications and content across the Web, the Windows desktop, mobile devices and the digital home.”

Better Design Tools for Better User Experiences

Product enhancements unveiled today in Expression Blend and Expression Design include a new user interface crafted specifically for professional designers and based on extensive feedback following more than half a million downloads of Expression community technology previews (CTPs). Expression Blend Beta 1 and the Expression Design December 2006 CTP are available for download.

Expression Media, based on the iView MediaPro product acquired by Microsoft earlier this year, supports more than 100 media formats and provides offline access to visual catalogs, making it easier for creative professionals to manage and use their digital assets. Expression Media includes Expression Media Encoder, a complete solution for the preparation, encoding and deployment of rich video and audio for Web and Windows experiences. A first CTP of Expression Media is expected early in 2007.

Also made available today is the first CTP of Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere (WPF/E). WPF/E is a cross-platform browser plug-in for delivering rich media, animation and video content based on the Emmy Award-winning Windows Media® technology, the industry’s most pervasive media platform for the Web, desktop and devices. Expression Media and Expression Design provide support for authoring content for the WPF/E CTP.

“The Expression tools leave no doubts about the seriousness with which Microsoft takes the importance of the user experience, both in the creation of applications and the use of applications,” said Bola Rotibi, senior analyst at Ovum Ltd. “Organizations will increasingly seek to differentiate their end-user services and retain and grow their customer base by delivering superior application user experiences. Microsoft’s product strategy acknowledges what we believe to be the new battle lines for environments tasked with delivering user-facing applications.”

New Resources, Downloads, Pricing and Availability

A new design professional community resource that includes forums, video demos and team blogs was launched today at http://www.microsoft.com/design The Web site underscores Microsoft’s vision for creative design and user experience, offering a behind-the-scenes view of the design process for major projects such as Xbox 360™, Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Technology downloads can be accessed at the updated Expression site at http://www.microsoft.com/expression and include a free full-version 60-day trial of Expression Web. With the first CTP of Expression Media expected early in 2007, customers can read about and download iView MediaPro at http://www.iview-multimedia.com The debut WPF/E CTP can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/wpfe

Microsoft also unveiled final product pricing and availability for the complete Expression product family. Expression Web is available for an estimated retail price (ERP) of $299 (U.S.), and qualifying users of FrontPage® can upgrade to Expression Web for $99 ERP. Shipping in the second quarter of 2007, Expression Blend will be available for $499 ERP, Expression Media for $299 ERP, and the full Expression Studio for $599 ERP. When it ships, Expression Studio will also be available as a $349 ERP upgrade to users who have purchased Expression Web and other qualifying Microsoft products. Full product pricing and availability information is available on the http://www.microsoft.com/expression All Expression products for English-speaking markets will include getting-started video training courtesy of Total Training Inc. Comprehensive video training will be available for purchase separately at http://www.totaltraining.com/expression

Jazztel Launches Video-on-Demand Programming With IBM BladeCenter

ITU Telecom World -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced today that Jazztel, a leading Spanish telecommunications and data transmission carrier, installed IBM BladeCenter T to support its new on-demand programming service. Called Videoclub, the service allows Jazztelia TV's users to purchase and view a wide variety of programming including films, television series, documentaries, cartoons, educational content and sports on demand.

"With Videoclub, we have combined the best of all worlds, including pay-per-view, on demand access and the comfort of viewing programming from home," said Concepción Ferreras, content manager, Jazztelia TV. "Customers can watch what they want, when they choose, all thanks to the IBM BladeCenter technology infrastructure that allows us to increase or reduce capacity based on viewer demand and scales to support our future growth."

Videoclub works like a DVD with all the key features, including a clear and easy-to-navigate menu from which customers can fast-forward, rewind, slow down and pause content. Also known as video-on-demand, the service provides access to a catalogue of free and pre-paid content. Each program is priced on its type and production year, and customers can choose from a wide catalog of options. In addition, the service offers customized recommendations and a "new features" section so that customers always know the newest offerings.

"IBM BladeCenter T provides a cost-effective, powerful infrastructure which combines and enables the best from both the telecommunications and information technology industries," said Jim Pertzborn, vice president, IBM Telecommunications Industry Servers. "IBM is bringing a powerful set of capabilities to companies like Jazztel, allowing them to focus on new revenue generating services such as video-on-demand while reducing infrastructure costs and simplifying systems management."

Jazztel's new service runs on twelve IBM BladeCenter T systems running Intel Xeon-based BladeCenter servers. BladeCenter T is designed specifically to satisfy Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Level 3 and European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) standards.

About Jazztel

Jazztel is a telecommunications and data transmission carrier with its own infrastructure in Spain. The company offers broadband solutions for voice, data and Internet traffic geared towards residential and business markets. Jazztel has rolled out its network in more than 100 metropolitan areas and business parks in Spain. This local access network infrastructure along with its backbone network is one of the most rapid telecommunications networks in Europe. Jazztelia TV is the name of the Jazztel's TV service for homes.

For more information about IBM BladeCenter, go to: www.ibm.com/bladecenter

IBM Establishes Inventory Financing Solution for Avnet Technology Solutions Customers in the UK

IBM Global Financing, the lending and leasing division of IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it has established an inventory financing solution for customers of Avnet Technology Solutions Ltd -- Partner Solutions (UK), a subsidiary of Avnet Inc. (NYSE: AVT).

Under the terms of the deal, IBM Global Financing will provide Inventory Financing, a specialized Commercial Financing offering created specifically to help resellers take control of their finances by changing the way they pay IT suppliers, such as Avnet. This offering enables resellers to take longer to pay, whilst ensuring the supplier is still paid to terms. Avnet's customers can therefore achieve payment from their downstream customers before needing to pay their supplier. Avnet however, can maintain their payment terms with a guaranteed payment from IBM Global Financing. This means assured cash flow for Avnet as well as improved cash flow for their customers.

"Inventory financing fits well within Avnet's existing credit control processes," said Laurence Cann, Credit Control Manager, Avnet Technology Solutions in the UK. "It reduces the workload of credit control as well as credit assessment for customers that sign up. It also provides access to IBM Global Financing solutions for transactions above normal credit lines and is now the credit solution of choice within Avnet."

IBM Global Financing continues to add more Avnet customers to this facility daily. Each customer is given a credit line and under a contract with IBM Global Financing, agrees to make payment on a given date between 15 and 30 days beyond Avnet's normal trading terms.

"Extended terms are becoming a key differentiator for distributors and indicates a level of customer support which is rewarded with increased revenues and customer loyalty," said Paul Foulkes, vice president of IBM Global Financing. "Inventory financing enables Avnet's customers to choose their supplier based on products, price and service rather than credit terms or availability."

CSCO: Cisco IP NGN Enables End-to-End Digital Video and IPTV Service Delivery for 'Video 2.0'

Cisco ® today announced a series of new and enhanced solutions that enable carriers of all types and sizes to deliver a "Connected Life" for businesses and consumers over the Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture. The Cisco IP NGN enables the development and delivery of application- and subscriber-aware services to help providers increase revenue and enhance efficiencies for improved profitability and control of their networks and businesses.

Today's video subscribers want choices, personalization, content sharing across communities and, often, instant gratification. They are no longer content to be just viewers; they are now producers or distributors, empowered by the worldwide IP network. This shift to "Video 2.0" recognizes that the network is now a "platform" driving the creation and interactive use of customized content for individuals and communities. This enables broad-scale collaboration, from social networking for consumers to TelePresence for business.


"Delivering the 'Connected Life' is about much more than just broadcast and on-demand video," said Mark Bieberich, Vice President, Communications Infrastructure, Yankee Group. "It's about personalized IP service bundles that integrate video, VoIP, Internet access, messaging, gaming and audio entertainment applications requiring dynamic multicasting, advanced QoS and policy management. The delivery of personalized service bundles that include video requires a new approach to service control at the network edge. The Cisco IP NGN architecture is a solid foundation upon which to develop these new service offerings and business processes."

Cisco continues to deliver on its IP NGN vision and architecture for carriers by introducing innovative solutions and reaching new customer milestones. Today's announcements are focused on defining, preserving and realizing digital video and IPTV. The Cisco innovations announced today also help ensure that service subscribers enjoy the highest-quality viewing experiences, regardless of content sources or device types.

For more information, please visit the Cisco Website: http://www.cisco.com/go/ipngn7

Defining Video Experience - To enable the personalized experience demanded by today's viewers, advanced content delivery systems must manage and deliver any content at any time. This "on-demand" requirement means formatting and provisioning content to any device across any network, anytime - streaming content to PCs, PDAs, iPods, cell phones and other devices - while maintaining the integrity of the visual experience.

Today's announcements include:

• Introduction of the Cisco Content Delivery System (CDS). This solution is designed to transcend the limitations of existing video on demand (VoD) systems, giving providers an intelligent, distributed network platform for the development of personalized entertainment, interactive media and targeted advertising. The Cisco CDS is designed to expedite content delivery to subscribers' televisions, and, soon, to PCs, mobile handsets and other multimedia-capable devices.


For more information, please visit the Cisco Website: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_120306d.html

Preserving the Video Viewing Experience - Once video is defined, it must be delivered to subscribers over the network. If not performed properly, the transport process can significantly degrade video quality, negatively affecting the overall viewing experience. To maintain content integrity and the overall quality of experience (QoE) their subscribers receive, providers are looking for both the advanced technology and the service expertise necessary to maximize their differentiation from competitive offerings.

Today's announcements include:

• Significant enhancements to the Cisco 7600 Series Router portfolio, establishing it as the industry's first comprehensive Carrier Ethernet service edge platform for converged video, voice and data services with mobility (any-play). This integrated intelligence includes support for Cisco's Intelligent Services Gateway (ISG) - announced earlier this year on the Cisco 10000 and 7200 Series platforms - which provides policy control, service control, and subscriber management. Further enhancements include integration of video/voice Session Border Control (SBC) for IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and non-IMS applications.


For more information, please visit the Cisco Website: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_120306c.html


• Visual Quality Experience (VQE) technology improves the quality of video service and viewing experiences. VQE enables network-based rapid channel-change and video error repair, two significant challenges in the development and delivery of digital cable and IPTV services. Based on industry standards, including Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) and Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), VQE enables providers to prepare networks for delivery of advanced video services such as IPTV and digital video by detecting and repairing packet loss on degraded copper lines. It further enables network-based rapid channel-change to enhance the viewing experience for IPTV subscribers. VQE will initially ship as an appliance and will soon be integrated into Cisco 7600 Series Routers.


For more information, please visit the Cisco Website: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_120306b.html

For more information about each of the solutions being announced today, please visit the Cisco Website: http://www.cisco.com/go/ipngn7.

Realizing Video Experience - The final stage in the process is the "realization" of the video experience on the end device. This, too, has very strict requirements in order to present the content in its truest form and to help enable subscriber personalization of the viewing experience. In the "Connected Home", set-top boxes, the subscriber-facing component of system, are particularly important.

• Scientific Atlanta, a Cisco Company, announces today that it has shipped more than 30 million set-top boxes and more than six million digital video recorders.



• Scientific Atlanta innovations such as single-slice encoding help display video content most accurately. Scientific Atlanta developed digital video recording technology and multi-room viewing of live and recorded video to help deliver a more personalized experience to the subscriber.

Cisco and Scientific Atlanta have also combined their IP and video expertise to deliver complete lifecycle services including end-to-end solution integration to help providers develop and deliver the "Connected Life" experience. Cisco's phased approach to services allows providers to tailor services to meet their unique business and technical requirements.

"The world of video and television as we know it has changed forever," said Mike Volpi, senior vice president of the Cisco Router and Service Provider Technology Group. "We are extremely pleased with our momentum in innovation in the digital video and IPTV space over the last year, especially regarding continued global momentum and the ongoing successful integration of Scientific Atlanta. We look forward to evolving the role of video both with consumers and businesses, and we will continue to work closely with providers of all sizes and in all geographies to help ensure their continued development and deployment of advanced video services."

Global Cisco IP NGN Service Provider Deployments

Cisco continues to accelerate service provider adoption of its IP NGN solutions globally. Recent carrier deployments include:

• BT (UK): Completed the first live deployments of eleven CRS-1 Carrier Routing Systems in the Internet Protocol / Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) core of BT's 21st Century Network (BT 21CN). Additional CRS-1 systems will be deployed within approximately 100 BT core points of presence (PoPs) for BT 21CN over the next year. The BT 21CN core network will support voice, business virtual private network (VPN), IP and broadband traffic, including consumer video and mobility services, throughout the UK. For more information, see the separate announcement issued today.





• Cable& Wireless (UK): Expanding its deployment of the Scientific Atlanta iLYNXTM platform to create a nationwide contribution and distribution platform on behalf of a major U.K. broadcaster. The network will link studios across the U.K. and will transport standard-definition, high-definition and analog TV services. Cable & Wireless also deployed Scientific Atlanta's ROSATM Network Management System for this project and worked with Scientific Atlanta's EMEA SciCareTM Professional Services group of systems integration experts. For more information, see
  http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_090706b.html





• Charter Communications, Inc. (USA): Expanding availability of its converged data, voice and video services with a network based on the Cisco IP NGN architecture. For more information, see
  http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_101806.html





• HEF Bredbånd A/S (Denmark): Building a new 5,000-kilometre fibre-optic network based on the Cisco IP NGN architecture to bring entertainment- and business-grade communication services, including IPTV featuring 150 channels and video-on-demand (VoD), to more than 80,000 customers. The network uses Cisco Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Ethernet technology. For more information, see
  http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_092606.html





• TDC Kabel TV A/S (Denmark): Deploying Scientific Atlanta's MPEG-4 advanced video compression (AVC) encoder for delivery of cable and DSL video services. TDC plans to use the MPEG-2 encoding option to deliver high-quality digital video to its cable customers, while initial plans call for bandwidth-saving MPEG-4 AVC encoding to support DSL video. For more information, see
  http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_090806b.html





• VTR (Chile): Deployed the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System to facilitate the growth of any-play (data, voice and video with mobility) services over residential broadband connections. VTR is the leading Chilean provider of cable TV and broadband Internet and is the country's second-largest provider of residential telephone service. VTR has more than 2.2 million residential subscribers, with 1.2 million digital cable TV subscribers, 300,000 Internet subscribers and 400,000 IP telephony subscribers. For more information, see
  http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_071706.html

Industry Recognition

Cisco continues its culture of innovation to enable providers to deliver profitable converged data, voice and video services with mobility. Recent industry recognition includes:

• Scientific Atlanta HD Encoder Named CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Honoree - The Scientific Atlanta MPEG-4 HDTV Advanced Compression Encoder (Model D9054TM) has been acknowledged as an International CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree by the Consumer Electronics Association. For more information, see: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_110906b.html



• Cisco Wins Metro Network Technologies and Services Award at the InfoVision Awards 2006 - Held at Broadband World Forum Europe in Paris and presented by the International Engineering Consortium (IEC). The product nominated under this category was Cisco Integrated Video Admission Control. For more information, see: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_101206.html.

For more information about how Cisco is enabling providers and their customers to benefit from the shift to "Video 2.0", please visit the Cisco Website: http://www.cisco.com/go/ipngn7.

CSCO: Cisco Content Delivery System Enables Delivery of Personalized Digital Video and IPTV Services

Cisco® today expanded the video and IPTV delivery capabilities of its Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture with the introduction of the Cisco Content Delivery System (CDS). This solution offers both cable and wireline providers a highly-extensible platform for the delivery of video-on-demand and time-shifted video services. The Cisco CDS enables carriers to accelerate the creation and distribution of advanced entertainment, interactive media and advertising services to subscribers' televisions, PCs, mobile handsets, portable media players and other media-capable devices.

The Cisco CDS is the latest addition to the Cisco IP NGN Service Exchange Framework, a suite of technologies designed to enhance IP service control and enable content personalization.

"People today are determined to choose not only what they watch, but also when, how and where they watch it," said Ron Westfall, principal analyst, broadband infrastructure for Current Analysis. "Video content delivery systems must be able to quickly and seamlessly respond to open-ended viewing patterns, as well as address the trend toward social networking and user-generated content. The scalability of the Cisco CDS makes it uniquely capable of handling the video storage, personalization and streaming requirements needed to meet subscribers' rising expectations."

The Cisco CDS is composed of a network of appliances known as Content Delivery Engines (CDEs) which implement content storage, ingest, distribution, personalization and streaming capabilities. Groups of CDEs form a virtual platform for deployment of a variety of Content Delivery Applications (CDAs). In various combinations, CDAs enable service providers to deploy multiple high-value subscriber services such as targeted ad-insertion in broadcast video and video-on-demand (VoD); program time-shifting; local programming; "long tail" content; and public, educational and government channels.

The Cisco CDS offers a network-centric approach to digital video and IPTV delivery that differs significantly from the monolithic, centralized, server-based products available to date. The existing solutions are proprietary, hardware-centric, application-specific devices that are difficult and expensive to scale, cumbersome to operate and maintain, and unable to support the growth of video content and the proliferation of end-user devices.

The Cisco CDS offers the following advantages over existing solutions:

Industry-leading scalability: Regardless of system size and the number and mix of CDEs deployed, the Cisco CDS (in centralized, decentralized or hybrid configurations) operates as a single logical system with virtually unlimited capacity for ingest, storage and streaming. By physically separating ingest, storage and streaming into separate CDEs, each function scales independently of the others. This makes the Cisco CDS a particularly flexible, efficient and cost-effective solution for delivering long-tail content, time-shifted programming, and user-generated content. The solution takes advantage of a unique hierarchical storage design that enables the development of large content libraries while simplifying content storage management. Programming is preserved in a common, shared storage array that is instantly accessible for streaming anywhere in the network, while intelligent caching automates delivery of the content to the network edge in response to viewer demand. As a result, the most popular content at any point in time is cached locally on CDEs at the edge of the network. The resulting decrease in bandwidth demand on the network backbone helps providers lower costs and improve scalability.

Nonstop service availability: Through resource pooling and load balancing, the Cisco CDS dynamically allocates storage and streaming resources across available CDEs based on real-time subscriber demand. This allows any CDE within an array to instantly assume the identity and state of another, enabling automatic failover and maintaining a high-quality viewing experience when a server is unavailable due a maintenance upgrade or hardware failure.

Network linkages: Unlike traditional VoD systems, the CDS eliminates the need to pre-position content at every streaming node in the network. Delivery of any content, from ingest to play-out on the subscriber's screen, occurs within 300 milliseconds, regardless of where the content is physically stored within the network. This imperceptibly low latency - much lower than any other available solution - also enables the first true convergence of live TV with on-demand content, delivering personalized streams to each subscriber in the network without disrupting the broadcast timeline.

The Cisco CDS solution has been chosen by Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable and is in trials with a number of leading wireline providers around the world.

"Global adoption of digital, high definition and on-demand video services is accelerating - giving consumers greater choice and control while transforming the entertainment experience," said Paul Bosco, Cisco vice president of cable and video initiatives. "Exciting new changes are also emerging in advertising, subscriber content and interactive services. The CDS family extends the Cisco portfolio of video broadcast and digital media products to power this revolution. We now offer next generation video and interactive service delivery platforms, built within our IP-NGN architecture, and complementing our set-top and other product portfolios to enable the 'Connected Life'. Our goal is to deliver the products, solutions and support services which enable the success of our customers in this fast-paced period of change."

For more information about how Cisco is enabling providers and their customers to benefit from the shift to "Video 2.0", please visit the Cisco Website: http://www.cisco.com/go/ipngn7

HPQ: HP Doubles Green Power Purchase

HP today announced that it will double its purchase of green power for its U.S. operations as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge.

The company is committing to purchase 25 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power. HP currently ranks No. 16 on the EPA’s Fortune 500 list of Green Power Partners.

The goal of the EPA’s 13-month campaign – announced at the National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference in San Francisco today – is to approximately double the existing green power purchases among Fortune 500 Green Power Partners in order to exceed 5 billion kWh of green power purchasing annually. Green power purchases help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.

“EPA applauds HP’s leadership in green power purchasing and its support of EPA’s Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge,” said Bill Wehrum, acting assistant administrator, Air and Radiation, U.S. EPA. “We encourage all of America’s Fortune 500 companies to purchase green power and demonstrate that what’s good for the environment is also good for business.”

The EPA, using data on national average avoided carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, estimates that HP’s purchase will avoid the CO2 emissions of more than 3,100 passenger cars each year or the electricity use from more than 1,800 U.S. households annually.

As part of its commitment to global citizenship and the environment, HP offers a full range of energy-efficient products and enterprise solutions that help customers save money while reducing environmental impact. HP has more than 10 years of investment in energy efficiency-related programs and a dedicated HP Labs power and cooling research team with numerous patents. HP also drives energy efficiency throughout its operations. In 2004 and 2005, the company implemented more than 100 million kWh worth of energy-efficient projects.

More information about global citizenship at HP is available at www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/index.htm .

About the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership

EPA’s Green Power Partnership encourages organizations to purchase green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. The Green Power Partnership currently has hundreds of partners voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium-sized businesses, local, state and federal governments, trade associations, as well as colleges and universities. For a full listing of EPA’s Green Power Partners and information about buying green power, visit the partnership’s website at www.epa.gov/greenpower/