HP Strengthens Thin Client Computing Offering with Acquisition of Neoware Inc.

HP today announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to purchase Neoware Inc. (Nasdaq: NWRE), a provider of thin client computing and virtualization solutions, at a price of $16.25 per share, or an enterprise value (net of existing cash) of approximately $214 million on a fully diluted basis.

The acquisition is part of HP's strategy to expand in growth markets and further its leadership in personal computing. Acquiring Neoware is intended to accelerate the growth of HP's thin client business by boosting its Linux software, client virtualization and customization capabilities, expanding its regional sales footprint and broadening its hardware portfolio.

"Our objective is to become the preferred brand of thin clients and software for virtualized client computing," said Kevin Frost, vice president, Business Desktops, Personal Systems Group, HP. "Thin clients are an important component in today's overall computing strategy and play a critical role in HP's virtualization strategy. Acquiring Neoware confirms our commitment to thin client computing and client virtualization solutions."

Thin clients provide reduced maintenance costs, minimal application updates and a higher level of security compared to other desk-based computing products. The solid-state devices connect over a network to a server where all processing and storage takes place.

The transaction will combine the respective strengths of each company: Neoware's Linux-based thin client solutions and software with HP's thin clients based on Microsoft Windows® XPe and Windows CE and its virtualized client solutions, such as blade PCs, blade workstations, virtual desktop infrastructure and server-based computing. HP plans to leverage the acquisition to remain an industry leader in reducing its environmental footprint through reduced noise, power and packaging versus desktop PCs.

"Acquiring our company will further strengthen HP's PC business as it extends its portfolio of remote client solutions and delivers secure, low-cost access to centralized personal computing," said Klaus Besier, president and chief executive officer, Neoware Inc. "We are proud to be joining HP, where together we will continue to promote the shift to virtualized client computing."

Following completion of the transaction, HP plans to integrate Neoware into the Business Desktop Unit of HP's Personal Systems Group.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Neoware stockholders will receive $16.25 for each share of Neoware stock that they hold at the closing of the merger. The acquisition is subject to a number of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the approval of Neoware's stockholders. HP expects the closing to occur in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2007.

Media conference call

HP and Neoware plan to conduct a joint audio conference call today at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT with media and analysts to discuss HP's intent to acquire Neoware.

The call will be hosted by Kevin Frost, vice president of Business Desktops in the Personal Systems Group at HP, and Klaus Besier, president and chief executive officer, Neoware Inc.

Dial-in phone number: +1 866 825 1692

Passcode: 45109820

About Neoware

Neoware Inc. (Nasdaq: NWRE) is a global provider of thin client computing solutions that allow organizations to cut costs by centralizing desktop management, alleviating threats of security breaches and reducing energy consumption. Forward-thinking companies enable their desktop virtualization strategies with Neoware's desktop, laptop and software offerings. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pa., Neoware has offices in Europe and Asia.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world's largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $97.1 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

HP to Acquire Opsware Inc.

HP today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Opsware Inc. (Nasdaq: OPSW), a market-leading data center automation software company, through a cash tender offer for $14.25 per share, or an enterprise value (net of existing cash and debt) of approximately $1.6 billion on a fully diluted basis.

Upon closing, the acquisition will enhance HP's portfolio of Business Technology Optimization (BTO) software. Combining Opsware's solutions with HP's enterprise IT management software will deliver a comprehensive and fully integrated solution for IT automation. Opsware is the latest in a series of strategic software acquisitions, including Mercury Interactive and Peregrine Systems, which expands HP's leadership in BTO.

"The acquisition of Opsware is intended to enable HP Software to help our customers resolve one of their critical pain points: controlling the increasing complexity and cost of managing the data center," said Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president, Software, HP. "We expect Opsware's outstanding team will help us drive leadership across our BTO offerings."

Opsware Chief Executive Officer Ben Horowitz said, "We are about to see one of the biggest application and infrastructure build-outs in history. The addition of Opsware to the HP Software portfolio will make HP the obvious choice for powering the next generation of data centers to come."

The acquisition of Opsware is intended to extend HP Software's capabilities to automate the entire data center – from initial provisioning of servers, networks and storage devices to managing ongoing changes and compliance requirements – with integrated process automation, removing the latency inherent in today's IT environments.

"Following last year's acquisition of Mercury Interactive, the addition of Opsware is expected to enhance HP's standing as one of the world's leading software companies and drive profitable growth for HP," said Ann Livermore, executive vice president, Technology Solutions Group, HP. "With this strategic acquisition, I believe customers will see HP as the clear vendor of choice to help them transform how they manage and automate IT to drive better business outcomes."

Following the close of the transaction, Opsware will become part of the HP Software business. At that time, HP also expects to appoint Ben Horowitz to lead the Business Technology Optimization organization reporting to Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president, HP Software.

The acquisition will be conducted by means of a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Opsware, followed by a merger of Opsware with an HP subsidiary. The tender offer is subject to a number of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close before the end of HP's fourth fiscal quarter of 2007.

IBM Completes Acquisition of Watchfire

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that on July 20, 2007, it completed the acquisition of Watchfire Corporation, a privately held security and compliance testing software company based in Waltham, Massachusetts.



IBM announced a definitive agreement to acquire Watchfire, a leading provider of web application vulnerability assessment and compliance solutions, on June 6, 2007, to help customers guard against online security attacks and compliance breaches.

The acquisition extends the IBM Governance and Risk Management strategy by broadening security and compliance management capabilities in the software development lifecycle. Successfully managing IT governance and risk management as a lifecycle is critical as businesses today are facing increasing globalization, staggering regulatory complexity and an ever-evolving security threat landscape.

Watchfire helps customers manage web application security and web content quality and compliance to help ensure the business integrity of their online businesses. The combination of Watchfire and IBM will help customers integrate web application security and compliance management early on and throughout the software development process -- effectively allowing them to define, test and track the compliance of their applications with security, legal and corporate guidelines.

"For the past 11 years, Watchfire has provided customers with innovative and effective web application security software to help minimize exposure to personal information, customer records and corporate intellectual property," said Dr. Danny Sabbah, general manager, IBM Rational software. "Watchfire technology incorporated into the IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform will help our customers address online security and compliance management requirements early in the software development process -- before their applications go live."

IBM is integrating its Rational software quality management solutions with Watchfire's security and compliance testing services to enhance and simplify the web application development process. With the ability to create applications with protective measures against attacks, infringement, and violations of compliance standards, customers will be able to deliver better products to market faster while reducing costs and improving efficiency in the application development process. As part of the IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform, Watchfire also complements existing IBM Tivoli identity, access and compliance management software offerings and IBM Internet Security Systems by extending security and compliance testing as an integrated element of the application development lifecycle.

"Watchfire has long been committed to helping customers avoid online security breaches," said Peter McKay, vice president, Watchfire, IBM Rational software and former CEO of Watchfire Corporation. "With the Watchfire technology fully integrated into the Rational portfolio, our customers will be able to guard against online attacks long before they happen. By integrating Watchfire technology early in the software development process, IBM will help customers deliver more secure and compliant applications to the market."

In addition to Watchfire, IBM has added several governance and risk management capabilities through recent acquisitions in its Global Technology Services and Software Group divisions, including Internet Security Systems, Consul, FileNet and Micromuse.

For more information, visit www.ibm.com/rational

IBM to Acquire DataMirror to Deliver Real-Time Information on Demand

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and DataMirror Corporation (TSX: DMC) today announced an agreement for IBM to acquire DataMirror based in Markham, Ontario. Under the Arrangement Agreement, IBM will acquire all of the outstanding DataMirror common shares at a price of C$27.00 per common share payable in cash, amounting to total consideration of approximately C$170 million (approximately $161 million USD).

DataMirror is a provider of technology that identifies and captures data that has been added, updated or deleted and allows the changed data to be delivered in real time to processes, applications and databases, ensuring that continuous, accurate and trusted information is available for decision-making.

"Organizations need the ability to capture and use information in real-time to help them make better business decisions, better serve their customers and increase operational efficiencies," said Ambuj Goyal, general manager, IBM Information Management. "The combination of DataMirror technology and IBM information management software will help customers bring real-time data analysis closer to actual business processes, allowing them to be more competitive and to generate more value from their information."

"IBM's global reach and industry leading integration solutions will rapidly expand the impact of DataMirror software," said Nigel Stokes, chief executive officer and founder, DataMirror. "This transaction represents a validation of the hard work of the DataMirror team over the last ten years, and an opportunity for our customers to continue to leverage our unique solutions."

The acquisition of DataMirror will further IBM's cross-company Information on Demand business initiative, aimed at capturing the growing market opportunity for enabling customers to use information as a competitive and strategic business asset. IBM's strategy is to provide customers with the data they need -- when they need it -- to help them quickly respond to changing market demands, rapidly identify new business opportunities, and improve business results.

For example, with DataMirror technology, a retailer can incorporate information from point of sale systems into a data warehouse in real-time and automatically trigger important business decisions and events, such as replenishing low stock based on current sales and inventory figures. Likewise, a telecommunications company's billing system information can be integrated into customer resource management systems for a near real-time view of customers.

Following completion of the acquisition, IBM intends to:

Integrate DataMirror with IBM's Information Management Software unit led by General Manager Ambuj Goyal.
Employ DataMirror software to support IBM Information Server, IBM's first-of-a-kind information integration platform, making it easier for clients to apply real-time data integration techniques from a single platform across their businesses.
Utilize DataMirror technology to bring heterogeneous real time change data capture to clients.

DataMirror has approximately 220 employees and more than 2,200 customers including Debenhams, FedEx Ground, First American Bank, Priority Health, Tiffany & Co., and Union Pacific Railroad.

The acquisition is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. It is anticipated to close in the third calendar quarter of 2007.

The desire by businesses to access, manage and deliver information more efficiently is driving rapid change in the information technology marketplace. Companies grappling with business demands are striving to capture and integrate information in a more seamless, real-time fashion across their enterprises. The combination of IBM and DataMirror allows both sets of customers to utilize DataMirror's industry leading data-change event capture technology together with the industry's most powerful information integration platform, IBM Information Server, delivering more value to customers by allowing information integration to be driven at the speed of business.

About IBM

For more information about IBM, go to http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/

About DataMirror

DataMirror, a leading provider of real-time data integration and data protection solutions, improves the integrity and reliability of information across all of the systems that create and store data. DataMirror's flexible and innovative integration solutions allow customers to easily and continuously detect, translate, and communicate all information changes throughout the enterprise. DataMirror helps customers make better decisions by providing access to the continuous, accurate information they need to take timely action and move forward faster. More than 2,200 companies have gained tangible competitive advantage from DataMirror software. DataMirror is headquartered in Markham, Canada, and has offices around the globe. For more information, visit www.datamirror.com

Information About the Transaction

This transaction reflects significant value for DataMirror shareholders, representing a premium of 19.42 percent over the twenty-day volume weighted average trading price of C$22.61 for DataMirror common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The Arrangement Agreement has been reviewed by a Special Committee of the Board of Directors of DataMirror and has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of DataMirror following the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee. The Board of Directors of DataMirror unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote in favour of the transaction. PageMill Partners, LLC acted as financial advisor to DataMirror, and the Special Committee and the Board of Directors have received an opinion from Orion Securities Inc. that the consideration offered under the transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to DataMirror shareholders. The fairness opinion of Orion Securities Inc. will be included in the meeting materials to be sent to DataMirror shareholders. Holders of 2,543,669 DataMirror common shares, representing approximately 40.3% of DataMirror's outstanding common shares, have agreed to vote in favour of the transaction.

The transaction will be carried out by way of a statutory plan of arrangement. Subject to court approval, the transaction must be approved by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast by DataMirror shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders expected to be held on or about August 24, 2007. Closing is subject to certain other conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

Shareholders may obtain a copy of the Arrangement Agreement, management information circular, and other meeting materials when they become available at www.sedar.com.

IBM and APC Partner to Create Energy Efficient Green Data Center for Bryant University

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it has implemented the IBM Scalable Modular Data Center at Bryant University, in order to meet the school's technology requirements of its growing enrollment while simultaneously being energy conscious by implementing a "green data center." The IBM Scalable Modular Data Center is a cost saving, energy efficient solution that was rapidly deployed as a pre-engineered data center, using IBM Global Services' capabilities, coupled with APC's InfraStruXure® data center architecture.

In addition to these services, Bryant replaced their Sun Microsystems hardware infrastructure with IBM Power processor-based BladeCenter servers running Linux and IBM virtualization software technology, driving higher utilization rates and helping save energy costs. These technologies are part of Project Big Green, a plan which IBM recently announced to help clients sharply reduce data center energy consumption.

Founded in 1863, Smithfield, R.I.-based Bryant University has a history of excellence and innovation, both academically and technologically. The university prides itself on being wired with "one port per pillow" in each of its dorm rooms, but as the university was growing, its three data centers were not able to handle enterprise information technology (IT) for either communication or computing. After years of working with both IBM and APC, Bryant University learned about their alliance and turned to them to create this new solution.

"In the past 10 years, Bryant University has added 144,000 square feet of new facilities and has experienced a 300 percent rise in applications," said Arthur Gloster, CIO of Bryant University. "We were not properly set up to handle this growth and it was time for Bryant University to make a cost-saving and energy efficient change. The IBM Scalable Modular Data Center solution allows us to concentrate on continuing to provide the student body, faculty and staff with the tools necessary to succeed."

The Scalable Modular Data Center service product is available from IBM's Site and Facilities Services business unit. IBM's data center design and build experience and services expertise are utilized to bring the solution to clients. Scalable Modular Data Center services include data center strategy, data center design, server and storage integration, relocation planning, project management, infrastructure equipment sourcing, installation services and management, data center testing and start-up management. The entire solution can be implemented in eight to 12 weeks and is 15 percent less expensive than traditional data center builds.

"IBM's long history and expertise with data center implementations enabled us to create a solution to save energy and ensure efficient server performance for Bryant University," said Steven Sams, vice president of IBM Global Site and Facilities Services. "IT departments won't be as concerned with growing energy costs when selecting the IBM Scalable Modular Data Center solution, which provides an efficient, reliable and secure data center."

The IBM Scalable Modular Data Center solution uses the APC InfraStruXure design, which integrates power, cooling, rack, management, services and security, allowing for selection of standardized components to create a solution through modular configurations. By using standardized components, the architecture easily scales to meet the evolving needs of the university.

"Bryant University is the beneficiary of what happens when two leading companies combine to create the best of both worlds," said Dave Johnson, senior vice president and chief sales officer at APC-MGE. "IBM and APC have created an energy efficient solution that addresses Bryant's current and future IT needs. By adopting a scalable, modular approach to building its new data center, the university also realized increased speed in system design and deployment. This enabled the university to move quickly from design to commissioning the system."

About Bryant University

More information about Bryant University is available at www.bryant.edu

About IBM

More information about IBM Site and Facilities Services and IBM Scalable Modular Data Center is available at www.ibm.com/services/siteandfacilities, and more information about IBM's Project Big Green and efforts around the green data center is available at www.ibm.com/press/greendatacenter.

About APC-MGE

APC and MGE UPS Systems recently combined to form a $3 billion (EUR 2.4 billion) Critical Power & Cooling Services business unit of Schneider Electric. Together, APC and MGE offer the industry's most comprehensive product and solution range for critical IT and process applications in industrial, enterprise, small and medium business and home environments. APC and MGE solutions include uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), precision cooling units, racks, and design and management software, including APC's InfraStruXure architecture the industry's only integrated power, cooling, and management solution. Backed by the industry's broadest service organization and an industry leading R&D investment, the combined company's 12,000 employees help customers confront today's unprecedented power, cooling and management challenges. Schneider Electric, with 112,000 employees and operations in 190 countries, had 2006 annual sales of $18 billion (EUR 13.7 billion). For more information on APC and MGE, please visit www.apc-mge.com. All trademarks are the property of their owners.

Merck Names Peter Kellogg as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Merck & Co., Inc. announced that Peter N. Kellogg has been named Merck's executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective August 14, 2007. He is currently serving as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Biogen Idec Inc.

Mr. Kellogg will oversee Merck's worldwide financial organization, investor relations, corporate development and licensing. He also will be responsible for leading the Company's relationships with AstraZeneca and DuPont. Mr. Kellogg will report directly to Richard T. Clark, Merck's chairman, president and chief executive officer, and will succeed Judy C. Lewent, who is retiring from Merck.

"In every aspect of our business - from the discovery, manufacture and sale of medicines, to our internal supporting operations and systems - we look to the chief financial officer for business leadership and financial discipline to ensure that we have the necessary financial flexibility to execute our strategies. This is critical to our ability to deliver value to our shareholders and to the patients, payers, and health care community," said Mr. Clark.

"We conducted a comprehensive search for the right person and considered a number of excellent candidates both inside and outside of Merck," Mr. Clark continued. "Our objective was to find an individual with exemplary financial experience and a proven track record. And, we looked for a person with the right values and the kind of personal leadership attributes that are required for the important responsibilities that come with this position. Peter Kellogg has all of the credentials, experience, and qualities that we were seeking."

"This is an outstanding opportunity to work with Merck's very talented management team, Board of Directors and Dick Clark as they transform Merck's business and better position the Company for the future. I am excited about the plan they have in place and my role, along with others, in achieving it," Mr. Kellogg said. "I'm pleased to be able to join a financial organization that is known throughout the industry and the business community as one deeply committed to excellence and the highest standards."

As executive vice president and chief financial officer at Biogen Idec Inc., a position he held since 2004, Mr. Kellogg was responsible for the company's worldwide finance function. A member of the Executive Committee at Biogen Idec, he provided strong leadership in long-range planning, business development, and merger and acquisition processes. While in this role, he had key responsibility for investor relationships, and was accountable for Board review of financial performance, long-range plans, and all Board Finance and Audit Committee activities.

Prior to that position, Mr. Kellogg held the same position at Biogen, Inc. - which merged with IDEC Pharmaceuticals in 2003. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kellogg was with PepsiCo Inc., where he held senior financial and general management roles, including senior vice president of PepsiCo E-Commerce, and senior vice president and chief financial officer of Frito Lay International. Mr. Kellogg was also a senior partner at both Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc., and Arthur Andersen and Co., two respected consulting firms.

Mr. Kellogg holds an MBA in Management from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. in Engineering from Princeton University.

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit www.merck.com

Amazon.com and Microsoft Team Up to Help Indie Filmmakers Jump Into HD DVD

Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. today announced the 1,000 HD DVD Indies Project, designed to lower the barriers to entry for filmmakers to produce and distribute movies in the HD DVD format through the innovative manufacturing-on-demand technology of CustomFlix, a part of an Amazon group of companies. Jointly sponsored by Amazon and Microsoft, the project will provide free authoring and setup services for up to 1,000 selected indie titles.

“This collaboration with Microsoft is a great opportunity for independent filmmakers to reach Amazon customers with their films via the HD DVD format,” said Peter Faricy, vice president of music and movies at Amazon.com. “By working together with Microsoft and leveraging the proven CustomFlix DVD on Demand model, we can lower the barriers to entry for independent filmmakers and dramatically increase the selection we offer our customers.”

The project will be spearheaded by CustomFlix, which will bring as many as 1,000 feature-length independent films to Amazon customers using the CustomFlix DVD on Demand technology, which produces and ships DVDs only as they are ordered. This model greatly improves the cost structure for independent filmmakers by eliminating the need for costly inventory.

“From a technical standpoint, we found that the HD DVD format fits our business model perfectly,” said Dana LoPiccolo-Giles, co-founder and managing director of CustomFlix. “With retail shelf space at a premium, our model eliminates the risk of carrying inventory and immediately expands the number of great HD DVD titles available to consumers.”

“Programs like this one from Amazon lower barriers to entry for independent artists and provide audiences with increased access to high-quality, high-definition content,” said Christian Vesper, senior vice president of programming, acquisitions and scheduling for Sundance Channel.

Sundance Channel will be reviewing the high-definition features for potential broadcast on the network as well as making its own HD original eco-series, “Big Ideas for a Small Planet,” available for purchase through Amazon’s HD DVD program.

“Amazon’s participation in this project will be a major benefit to independent filmmakers wanting to break into the high-definition market segment,” said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president for the Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft. “The use of Microsoft® technology and authoring expertise will ensure that all the HD DVD titles offered by Amazon have impeccable quality, thanks to the VC-1 codec and innovative interactive scenarios with HDi™.”

Amazon.com offers a broad and growing selection of HD televisions, players and DVDs through its HD DVD store at http://www.amazon.com/hddvd. Filmmakers interested in submitting their HD DVD work for consideration as part of the 1,000 HD DVD Indies Project can go to http://www.customflix.com/hddvdindies

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc., (Nasdaq: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food, sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs, electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, and www.joyo.com.

About CustomFlix

CustomFlix, a member of the Amazon.com group of companies, is the leader in manufacture on demand services for independent and enterprise media content owners. CustomFlix was founded in 2002 with the mission of profitably connecting content owners to a worldwide audience. Today, CustomFlix offers professional digitization into the Future-Proof Archive service, as well as inventory-free physical media distribution via both CD and DVD on Demand and video downloads through Amazon Unbox.

IBM Brings Collaboration and Search Together to Enhance Enterprise Information Access

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today introduced enhanced enterprise search software designed to allow users to quickly and securely search intranet portals, databases, public Web sites and file systems to obtain results highly-relevant to their individual needs.

The new version of IBM's OmniFind Enterprise Edition search software provides a single interface for enterprise search, discovery and analysis for IBM Lotus Domino environments. The new software also delivers an unprecedented view into the rich content that can be exposed when the Lotus software platform is mined from a seamless enterprise search interface. Also announced today are new security and search capabilities for WebSphere clients.

By providing full-text indexing and search of Domino databases, users can find and access information stored in IBM Lotus Document Manager, IBM Lotus Quickr and in IBM Lotus QuickPlace documents, as well as other enterprise information from applications, repositories and shared files from across an organization. New Web 2.0 features in the OmniFind Enterprise Edition administrative console make it easy to customize the search application and preview changes immediately.

With extensive server-side support for Lotus Domino, the new software enhances search and sharing of business-critical information like collaborative documents, presentations, specifications and other files, improving productivity and knowledge sharing. OmniFind Enterprise Edition also provides an ideal foundation for enterprise search and text analytics strategies for organizations that need to easily access all their information.

CB&I, a global engineering, procurement and construction company specializing in large-scale, turnkey projects, relies on IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition to manage the challenge of sharing knowledge and expertise of the company's 13,000 employees spread across 60 locations. With information stored in more than 50 project-specific databases along with myriad other sources -- customer account and contact applications, document distribution and project control systems, Lotus Domino files and even local file servers in each office -- employees can now use a single search interface to access project-related information, knowledge and specialized expertise spread across the enterprise.

"With OmniFind software, we can now provide our staff with fast access to documents that they might not have even known existed," said John Shaull, senior technical analyst, CB&I. "Employees have told us that this is making their jobs easier, which, in turn, is increasing staff productivity and efficiency. The OmniFind implementation beat our expectations and was in place well ahead of schedule. Additionally, the administration and maintenance of the software is much easier than we had anticipated."

IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition delivers rich indexing of all Lotus Domino fields including attachments, as well as fielded search. It also understands the structure of Lotus Notes databases and comes with pre-built support for Lotus Quickr, Lotus QuickPlace and Domino.Doc databases, Windows SharePoint Services and Microsoft Exchange as well as the ability to crawl IBM Workplace Web Content Management.

Additionally, the software provides scalable and secure enterprise search directly from within IBM WebSphere Portal. This provides WebSphere Portal clients the ability to scale to millions of documents and provides secure search of non-Web enterprise content sources. It also allows WebSphere Portal clients to conduct searches through the familiar WebSphere Search Center portlet or the OmniFind portlet directly through WebSphere Portal using native security.

OmniFind Enterprise Edition has the ability to bring conceptual understanding to keyword search through semantic interpretation and can also serve as a platform for text analytics applications. Using the advanced information extraction capabilities through the Unstructured Information Management Architecture (UIMA), an open source framework for building advanced search and text analytics applications, OmniFind Enterprise Edition enables users to search for facts and concepts within the underlying content. It also includes a sample text analytics configuration to detect phone numbers, URLs and e-mail addresses included together with a matching synonym dictionary.

The new version of IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition optimized for Lotus Domino and WebSphere Portal supports Lotus Domino on Linux, Windows, and System i platforms. It comes with pre-built crawlers for WebSphere Portal Document Manager, WebSphere Portal Web pages and Workplace Web Content Management. The software is currently available from IBM and IBM Business Partners.

For more information visit: http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/enterprise-search/omnifind-enterprise/

IBM Expands High Performance Computing Capabilities for Clusters

IBM Introduces Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 for IBM Clusters; Microsoft Deploys IBM System Cluster 1350 for AIDS Research
IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced today the availability of Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 for the IBM System Cluster 1350, to help enable more mid-market and enterprise clients -- including those in life sciences, computer-aided engineering (CAE) and financial services -- to take advantage of high-performance cluster computing. IBM also announced today expanded server, storage and networking options for the cluster solution, to help provide unprecedented levels of speed, choice and flexibility for high performance computing environments.


"IBM has successfully enabled clients to leverage clusters for high-end supercomputing work for over six years," said Wendy McGee, director, IBM Cluster Solutions. "Today by combining leading IBM systems and storage along with the familiar computing interface from Microsoft and new networking offerings from Cisco, IBM has extended high performance computing capabilities to a broader client base."

Microsoft Research is using the IBM System Cluster 1350 to aid in HIV vaccine research. To run simulations of how the HIV virus mutates in response to attacks by the immune system, Microsoft researchers required a system that could manage massive amounts of computation with a technology interface that was easy to use. Using Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 (CCS) on the IBM cluster has enabled researchers to achieve at least 100 CPU years of results in less than two years, and run simulations 50 percent faster than before.

"Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 running on the IBM System Cluster 1350 has allowed us to dramatically increase the speed at which we process calculations critical to HIV vaccine research," said David Heckerman, lead researcher of Microsoft Research's Machine Learning and Applied Statistics Group. "We have been able to provide relevant solutions for our client base and leverage the same leading technology solutions for our own efforts to advance AIDS Research."

High performance computing clusters can range from as few as two to thousands of servers woven together to deliver high-speed performance demanded by a broad range of applications. IBM hardware offerings in this space include the IBM System Cluster 1350, an integrated, factory built and tested cluster with networking from leading vendors, as well as System x, System p and BladeCenter servers and IBM System Storage. For customers interested in running Microsoft Windows CCS along with IBM's latest cluster technology, the IBM benchmarking center at the IBM Customer Center in Montpellier, France just added a new program on customer benchmarking around Microsoft-based clusters.

Product Details and Availability

Today IBM updated the System Cluster 1350 to include IBM multi-core processor-based BladeCenter and System x servers, IBM System Storage and networking technologies from Cisco, SMC and Voltaire. The new systems include Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor technology to enhance high performance computing with more capability. The clustered system is also designed to leverage Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES), and now supports the SLES10 operating system.

Products available in the new IBM System Cluster 1350 portfolio today include:

IBM BladeCenter and System x servers featuring multi-core and dual-core processors from AMD and Intel, including: BladeCenter HS21-XM, HS21, LS21, LS41; and System x3550, x3650, x3455, x3655, x3755
New storage options, including: IBM System Storage DS3400 SAS/SATA Fiber Channel Host Interface, DS3200 SAS Host Interface, EXP 3000 (SAS/SATA)
New networking options, including a range of both Ethernet and InfiniBand switches from Cisco, SMC and Voltaire.
IBM System Cluster 1350 pricing will vary depending upon specific configuration.

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

IBM Blue Genes Dominate List of Fastest Supercomputers

IBM's (NYSE: IBM) Blue Gene®/L supercomputer continued its four-year reign atop the TOP500 Supercomputer Sites list announced today. IBM systems account for 42% of the combined computational might of the planet's most powerful computers -- more than any other supercomputer vendor, according to the list.

In addition, the development version of IBM's newest Blue Gene/P solution(1) burst onto the list at number 30. Launched yesterday, the two-rack test system delivers 20.86 teraflops in a space the size of two refrigerator-sized racks. When it is fully scaled out, Blue Gene/P can be configured to reach up to three petaflops -- or three thousand trillion calculations per second.

IBM dominates the Top 10 with a total of six systems -- four of them Blue Gene supercomputers. The number one Blue Gene/L system, installed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, delivers a sustained performance of 280.6 trillion operations per second or teraflops.

IBM systems account for 46 of the Top 100. Thirty-nine of them are built on IBM's POWER® architecture hardware running versions of Unix (AIX) and Linux software.

This year, two new IBM Blue Gene supercomputers entered into the Top 10. "New York Blue," at the New York Center for Computational Science in Stony Brook, N.Y., and the Blue Gene system at the Computational Center for Nanotechnology Innovations at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.

Joining the Blue Gene/L system at Lawrence Livermore in the TOP500 list's Top 10 are IBM Watson Research Lab's own Blue Gene system at 91.29 teraflops. In addition to Blue Gene systems, IBM's POWER-based ASC Purple supercomputer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is number six.

IBM's MareNostrum supercomputer, built on IBM BladeCenter JS21 blade servers and located at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, retained its position as the most powerful supercomputer in Europe, ranking number 9 on the overall list. IBM also has the biggest system in China, a BladeCenter cluster at Sinopec ShengLI Oilfield Branch Company, Geophysical Research Institute.

Based on IBM's POWER Architecture, the IBM System Blue Gene Solution is optimized for bandwidth, scalability and the ability to handle large amounts of data while consuming a fraction of the power and floor space required by today's fastest systems. A variety of industries are using Blue Gene systems to advance their research capabilities for life sciences, financial modeling, hydrodynamics, quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics, astronomy and space research and climate modeling.

The "TOP500 Supercomputer Sites" is compiled and published by supercomputing experts Jack Dongarra from the University of Tennessee, Erich Strohmaier and Horst Simon of NERSC/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Hans Meuer of the University of Mannheim (Germany). The entire list can be viewed at www.top500.org

HP and Microsoft Alliance Continues to Drive Productivity in High-Performance Computing

HP and Microsoft Corporation today announced an extension of their worldwide sales and marketing agreement that addresses the high-performance computing (HPC) market.

The companies have come together to drive high-performance computing into the mass market by delivering supercomputing clusters that are easier to deploy, support and manage for enterprise and mid-market customers.

The extension of the alliance entails a multimillion dollar investment by both HP and Microsoft, and includes HP selling Microsoft Windows® Compute Cluster Server (CCS) 2003 direct and via reseller channels as part of the HP Unified Cluster Portfolio, which is supported on HP ProLiant servers, HP BladeSystem and HP Cluster platforms.

“High-performance computing is poised for continued strong growth, averaging over 20 percent a year for the last four years, with HPC standards-based clusters growing at even higher rates. End-users are looking for easy-to-use systems and will likely go with vendors that can provide an easy transition from their desktop to HPC servers,” said Earl Joseph, program vice president, IDC, an industry analyst firm. “The HP and Microsoft partnership to provide Windows Compute Cluster Server on ProLiant and Blades platforms has the potential to address these key user requirements and enable more customers to take advantage of HPC technologies. Many users, especially desktop users, are already familiar with the Windows environment, and this partnership provides an easy transition to an HPC solution.”

The combination of Windows CCS and HP servers enables users to effortlessly expand their compute capability and easily tap into the power of clusters. Windows CCS is designed specifically to make HPC clusters easier to design, integrate and manage within organizations so employees are more productive.

HP enhancements to Windows CCS include custom installation scripts and documentation that greatly streamline deployment. The optional HP Message Passing Interface and InfiniBand drivers offer increased scalability and performance in applications that require high-speed, low-latency communications. Using HP’s custom installation kit for Windows CCS, a customer can realistically expect to have a 64-node cluster deployed and running within two hours.

“We see the addition of Microsoft as an important part of our Unified Cluster Portfolio program to expand the market and bring HPC technology to the mainstream,” said Winston Prather, vice president and general manager, High Performance Computing, HP.

As part of the alliance, HP and Microsoft have established technology centers in Houston and Grenoble, France, for customers and independent software vendors. The technology centers provide a venue for benchmarking, testing and validating applications on HP servers based on AMD and Intel® processors running Windows CCS.

HP and Microsoft team with ANSYS to bring HPC to vertical industries

HPC resources are in wide use in industries such as computer-aided engineering (CAE), oil and gas and financial services. To help more customers take advantage of HPC solutions based on Windows, HP and Microsoft are teaming with ANSYS, Inc., a global innovator of simulation software and technologies. The three companies are delivering the ANSYS portfolio of CAE applications as part of a cost-effective, easy-to-use and security-enhanced Windows HPC solution.

“By working collectively with HP, an industry leader in HPC, and Microsoft, the world’s leading software provider, ANSYS is providing customers with access to the most productive and powerful engineering simulation solutions available,” said Chris Reid, vice president of marketing, ANSYS. “ANSYS software is a valuable tool for anybody making fundamental design and engineering decisions, and our joint solutions with HP and Microsoft allow those decision makers to stay focused on innovation instead of lengthy IT deployment.”

Recently, Microsoft and ANSYS agreed on worldwide sales and marketing initiatives focused on joint solutions for the manufacturing industry. As part of these initiatives, ANSYS worked through the Microsoft and HP technology center to port, performance-tune and conduct benchmarks with its ANSYS® 11 and FLUENT® 6.3 CAE applications and the 64-bit Windows Server® platform.

“Microsoft is making long-term investments in HPC to help the community collaborate on innovative solutions that can accelerate the pace of discovery and insights,” said Bill Laing, general manager, Windows Server Division, Microsoft Corp. “Microsoft’s work with HP and ANSYS will deliver greater productivity and performance so they can tackle today’s most complex, technical computing challenges. Our long-established relationship with HP, and strong reseller channels, will enable us to bring HPC solutions to enterprise and mid-market customers.”

More information about HP high-performance computing is available at www.hp.com/go/hptc Further information about Microsoft high-performance computing is available at www.microsoft.com/hpc

IBM Triples Performance of World's Fastest, Most Energy-Efficient Supercomputer: New Blue Gene/P Designed to Break the Quadrillion Barrier

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced Blue Gene/P, the second generation of the world's most powerful supercomputer. Blue Gene/P nearly triples the performance of its predecessor, Blue Gene/L -- currently the world's fastest computer -- while remaining the most energy-efficient and space-saving computing package ever built.

The result is a machine that towers over other systems. It enables science and commercial supercomputing to attack vital problems in ways never before possible -- modeling an entire human organ to determine drug interactions, for example. Drug researchers could run simulated clinical trials on 27 million patients in one afternoon using just a sliver of the machine's full power.

The IBM® System Blue Gene®/P Solution scales to operate continuously at speeds exceeding one "petaflop" -- or one-quadrillion operations per second. The system is 100,000 times more powerful than a home PC and can process more operations in one second than the combined power of a stack of laptop computers nearly 1.5 miles high. The Blue Gene/P supercomputer can be configured to reach speeds in excess of three petaflops, a performance level that many thought unattainable only a few short years ago.


"Blue Gene/P marks the evolution of the most powerful supercomputing platform the world has ever known," said Dave Turek, vice president of deep computing, IBM. "A new group of commercial users will be able to take advantage of its new, simplified programming environment and unrivaled energy efficiency. We see commercial interest in the Blue Gene supercomputer developing now in energy and finance, for example. This is on course with an adoption cycle -- from government labs to leading enterprises -- that we've seen before in the high-performance computing market."

A Green Design Ahead of its Time

The Blue Gene® supercomputer line was born from a visionary IBM initiative to develop a hugely scalable and highly reliable scientific computing platform. With Blue Gene, designers sidestepped two key constraints on state-of-the-art supercomputing -- power usage and space requirements. The Blue Gene supercomputer was purpose-built to fit in smaller spaces and use less electricity compared to other commercially available designs. Today, the Blue Gene/P supercomputer is at least seven times more energy efficient than any other supercomputer.

The influence of the Blue Gene supercomputer's energy-efficient design and computing model -- once considered exotic -- can be seen everywhere in the industry where people have attempted to lower energy use and get performance without traditional reliance on chip frequency. The breakthrough BlueGene supercomputer design uses many small, low-power embedded chips each connected through five specialized networks inside the system.

Some of the world's leading research laboratories and universities have already placed orders for Blue Gene/P supercomputers. The U.S. Dept. of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Ill., will deploy the first Blue Gene/P supercomputer in the U.S. beginning later this year. In Germany, the Max Planck Society and Forschungszentrum Julich also plan to begin installing Blue Gene/P systems in late 2007. Additional Blue Gene/P system rollouts are being planned by Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y., and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire, England.

"We view the installation of the Blue Gene/P system as the next phase of a strategic partnership furthering advances in computation in support of breakthrough science," said Robert Rosner, director, Argonne National Laboratory.

At FZ Julich, where researchers have been using a Blue Gene/L machine for two years, a Blue Gene/P system will allow for more breakthrough science -- in such areas as particle physics and nanotech, for example -- while keeping the research facility within acceptable power budgets. "The big computing power at low electricity rates allows us to boost the performance of very complex and computationally intensive algorithms," said Thomas Lippert, director of the supercomputing center at FZ Julich.

Inside the Fastest Computer Ever Built

Like its predecessor, the Blue Gene/P supercomputer is a modular design, composed of "racks" that can be added as requirements grow.

Four IBM® (850 MHz) PowerPC® 450 processors are integrated on a single Blue Gene/P chip. Each chip is capable of 13.6 billion operations per second. A two-foot-by-two-foot board containing 32 of these chips churns out 435 billion operations every second, making it more powerful than a typical, 40-node cluster based on two-core commodity processors. Thirty-two of the compact boards comprise the 6-foot-high racks. Each rack runs at 13.9 trillion operations per second, 1,300 times faster than today's fastest home PC.

The one-petaflop Blue Gene/P supercomputer configuration is a 294,912-processor, 72-rack system harnessed to a high-speed, optical network. The Blue Gene/P system can be scaled to an 884,736-processor, 216-rack cluster to achieve three-petaflop performance. A standard Blue Gene/P supercomputer configuration will house 4,096 processors per rack.

For Programmers, Friendlier Interfaces & Application Compatibility Speed Productivity

There are some key differences between Blue Gene/L and Blue Gene/P supercomputers. In hardware, the Blue Gene/P supercomputer moves to more (four vs two) and speedier (850 MHz vs 700 MHz) processors per chip; more memory and an SMP mode to support multi-threaded applications. This new SMP mode moves the Blue Gene/P system to a programming environment similar to that found in commercial clusters. The Blue Gene/P supercomputer dramatically scales up collective network performance to minimize common bottlenecks inherent in large parallel-computing systems. Software marks the third key upgrade for the Blue Gene/P solution -- system management, programming environment and applications support have all been refined in Blue Gene/P.

In Germany, a Blue Gene/P supercomputer will become the platform for new applications scaled for petaflop-level performance at the Max Planck society. "The next-generation Blue Gene system will improve our capacity to prepare, develop and optimize applications from the Max Planck Society for future peta-scale computing," said Hermann Lederer, head of application support at Max Planck's RZG/Garching Computing Center.

The Blue Gene supercomputer operating system is based on the open-source Linux operating system. Applications are written in common languages such as Fortran, C and C++ using standards-based MPI communications protocols. The Blue Gene/P supercomputer is compatible with the diverse applications currently running on the Blue Gene/L supercomputer, including leading research in physics, chemistry, biology, aerospace, astrophysics, genetics, materials science, cosmology and seismology.

A variety of independent software vendors have plans to port existing tools and applications to the Blue Gene/P supercomputer. These include Gene Network Sciences, TotalView Technologies, Inc., Tsunami Development LLC and Visual Numerics, developers of IMSL.

For more information, go to: http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/deepcomputing/bluegene.html

Broadcast-quality video clips of Blue Gene systems, and of IBM Vice President David Turek discussing Blue Gene/P are available for download by journalists at http://www.thenewsmarket.com/ibm

IBM and OECD to Focus on Global Collaboration for Innovation

IBM (NYSE: IBM) has contributed a new social computing software called 'Many Eyes' for use during the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development) World Forum on Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies, this week in Istanbul. The innovative technology allows for the democratization of complex data by enabling users to upload any type of data and collaborate on the analysis of that information.

For example, Many Eyes users are currently uploading publicly available or personally gathered data regarding local or global issues -- such as tax rates, crime statistics, global warming, water safety, and healthcare -- and are offering opinions and insights on these topics. The information is displayed in a dynamic, easy to understand format that allows for real-time knowledge sharing.

IBM and OECD representatives believe that social computing software will help people from all over the world make more informed decisions and create a new level of civic dialogue about the issues affecting them in their communities, their countries and at a global level.

Nick Donofrio, IBM's executive vice president, Innovation and Technology, and a keynote speaker at the OECD World Forum, will address the issue of collaboration on a global level. "Nations, institutions and enterprises must work together to create a climate and culture for innovation; one that embraces cross-border, cross-organizational and cross-disciplinary collaboration," said Donofrio. "Innovation is more than just the availability and accessibility of information technology; it is fostered when information technology combines with deep insight to create new value for business, government, academia and our global society."

"Global discussion based on solid statistics allows society to understand its current state and provides a base from which to make progress and innovate," said Enrico Giovannini, Director of Statistics and Chief Statistician of OECD. "Providing OECD's 2007 Factbook data to the public offers citizens around the world an opportunity to collectively explore, discuss and tackle the societal challenges of our time."

IBM's Many Eyes enables users to upload and view large amounts of complex scientific data or playful, social content. Communities of people can then explore, discuss, and collaborate on visual content. Current data sets and visualizations reflect a diverse range of interests, including scientific (temperature and CO2 levels over time), political (U.S. political party affiliation over time), global (fertility rates around the world), and financial (venture capital investment in Europe). The addition of OECD 2007 Factbook data to Many Eyes will enable an even broader range of discussion, as data on health, science and technology, trade, GDP, energy use, education, and other globally relevant topics will now be available.

IBM and OECD will demonstrate the innovative technology during the conference by providing access to the OECD 2007 Factbook information guide to the general public. The data can be accessed by visiting http://services.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes and searching for OECD Factbook. The Factbook includes information on a variety of issues such as the environment, individual country economies, and healthcare. Concerned citizens, leaders, and institutions all over the world are invited to upload other sources of data they think are relevant to major world issues and to engage in debate and discussion using the technology.

The OECD World Forum (June 27-30, 2007) will bring together representatives from public and private sectors, and developed, developing and emerging countries for discussions on "Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies" (see www.oecd.org/oecdworldforum). Key world issues, such as changes in climate, health, and economic globalisation, are among the topics that more than 900 ministers, parliamentarians, academicians, business executives, and non-governmental organizations from over 100 countries will explore.

For more information on IBM, please visit www.ibm.com and for more information on OECD, please visit www.oecd.org

IBM Data Center Technology Helps Solar-Powered Web Hosting Firm AISO.Net Build on Its 'Green' Commitment to Customers

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that AISO.Net, the world's first and only 100 percent solar-powered Web hosting company, has completed a massive data center consolidation initiative using IBM technology, resulting in a 60 percent reduction in overall power and cooling costs associated with the company's IT operations.

Romoland, Calif.-based AISO.Net worked with IBM and IBM Business Partner Sirius Computer Solutions to overhaul its data center and implement a high-end, scalable technology infrastructure solution based on the IBM Cool Blue portfolio that will help the company better serve its dedicated and shared hosting clients. IBM's Cool Blue portfolio is a gathering of IBM hardware and software technologies that allow customers to increase their energy efficiency in the data center.

"For the past decade, AISO.Net has used solar power to power our data center and network, providing customers with environmentally friendly Web hosting," said Phil Nail, technology manager, AISO.Net. "As a result of the tremendous growth in Web hosting and dedicated server client demand, we were faced with the dilemma of how to remain true to our commitment to the environment and continue to see rapid, top-line growth."

Faced with the challenges of rising hardware costs and maxed-out capacity within its data center, AISO.Net initiated a strategy to gain greater control over computing resources, while continuing to deliver high-quality performance to its customer base. After a four-month planning process and three months of implementation, AISO.Net was able to meet its efficiency goals. Data center consolidation through virtualization eased the strain on AISO.Net's solar panel system and helped ensure the company's 100 percent commitment to solar power. This was a significant accomplishment for AISO.Net, which had already eliminated nearly 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year from its operations by relying solely on 120 solar panels to generate power.

AISO.Net, by filling their data center with IBM System x3650 servers and introducing IBM Virtualization and IBM partner technologies, has achieved its goal of dramatically improving its internal energy efficiency while also continuing to reduce its environmental impact.

"AISO.Net's success in optimizing its data center is an excellent example of the work we are doing with clients through IBM's recently announced Energy Efficiency Initiative, called Project Big Green," said Rich Lechner, vice president of IT Optimization, IBM. "The $1 billion industry commitment that we launched in May 2007 to help our customers become more energy efficient, combined with our ongoing drive to help clients virtualize more and manage less, is resulting in outstanding, real-world examples like AISO.Net."

In addition to the immediate reduction in data center energy demands, the technology solution delivered by IBM Business Partner Sirius Computer Solutions also freed up space on AISO.Net's existing servers, eliminated the need to budget for new servers and solar panels for the foreseeable future and guaranteed 99.9% availability of data to customers, while also increasing the company's server utilization rate by more than 50%.

"We are finding that customers of all sizes and scopes are interested in more energy efficient computing," said Chris Lusk, VP of Systems and Storage at Sirius Computer Solutions. "Technologies like virtualization are helping them reduce their energy consumption. It is great to be able to offer companies like AISO.Net with solutions that advance green computing."

Nail, of AISO.Net, was recently named one of InfoWorld Magazine's top CTOs of 2007. The annual list honors 25 innovative senior IT executives who've demonstrated leadership within their companies and the IT community. Nail was commended for AISO.Net's commitment to "green" technologies in the data center and as an overall business practice.

About AISO.Net

AISO.Net has been a trusted name in environmentally friendly web hosting since 1997, providing a level of service that is unmatched in the industry. All network and server hardware is fully redundant with 24x7-automated systems monitoring to ensure the highest possible uptime. Using solar panels to power its data center and network, AISO.Net is the first and only 100% completely solar powered web hosting company in the world. Customers as far away as Kenya, East Africa rely on the service and reliability offered by AISO.Net.

About Sirius Computer Solutions

Sirius (www.siriuscom.com) is a national IT solution provider and IBM Premier Business Partner dedicated to helping customers implement advanced infrastructure solutions that provide a competitive advantage and a positive return on their investment. Backed by 26 years of IT experience, Sirius has a certified team of sales and technical professionals with the skills, product knowledge and commitment to help customers develop and implement the right solution to solve their business needs.

Cable Operators Can Deliver and Extend the Connected Life via Complete Cisco Cable ServiceMesh Solution

Cisco® today announced it is launching the Cisco Cable ServiceMesh solution, the industry's first integrated, end-to-end wireless architecture designed for cable operators who want to extend indoor Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) to outdoor mesh networks in municipalities, tourism centers, small businesses and universities in North America. This new architecture offers the foundation layer for broadband mobility.

Building on the Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture, the Cisco Cable ServiceMesh solution is a fully integrated outdoor wireless platform that helps enable operators to quickly deploy a variety of value-added, revenue-generating services via a single network infrastructure. By using the Cisco Cable ServiceMesh solution, cable operators can create new revenue opportunities through the deployment of an outdoor wireless mesh solution that utilizes existing infrastructure to cost-effectively expand their service offerings and their market reach, bringing the Connected Life to customers at home, at work or on the move.

The new Cisco Cable ServiceMesh solution is a comprehensive wireless broadband system comprising:

• Cisco Aironet® 1520 Series Lightweight Outdoor Mesh Access Points, a new set of wireless access points with integrated Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 2.0 cable interfaces used to create metropolitan-scale, outdoor wireless networks, providing access to any Wi-Fi compliant device;


• Cisco Wireless Services Modules, which provide the control, scalability and reliability needed to build highly secure, carrier-grade indoor and outdoor 802.11 wireless networks;


• Cisco Wireless Control System software, an industry-leading platform for wireless local area network (LAN) planning, configuration, management, troubleshooting, and mobility services for the Cisco Cable ServiceMesh solution;


• Cisco Intelligent Services Gateway, which delivers advanced subscriber awareness, resource provisioning and access control capabilities. The Cisco Intelligent Services gateway also simplifies the creation and speeds the delivery of advanced IP services over Cisco IP NGNs. The Cisco Intelligent Services Gateway has been designed to support both IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and non-IMS based applications;


• Cisco Service Control Engine, a solution that controls packets on a Layer-7 application level while utilizing the existing IP wireless network infrastructure to provide a variety of services; and


• Cisco 7600 Series Router, the industry's leading edge router that delivers robust, high-performance IP/MultiProtocol Label Switching (MPLS) features for a range of service provider edge applications.

This combination makes possible multiple applications, including extending data, voice and video streaming outside the home, police, fire and emergency services, as well as those for city operations, such as remote access to city applications, automated meter reading, and permit verification and compliance.

The Cisco Cable ServiceMesh solution is a proven solution for delivering pervasive wireless access and network services required for outdoor Wi-Fi networks. The network convergence layer of the Cisco IP NGN architecture helps enable the convergence of disparate, service-specific networks to a single, more efficient and flexible IP-based infrastructure. With the Cisco IP NGN, service providers can deliver services more efficiently and effectively and provide the means to support tomorrow's bandwidth-intensive municipal, residential and business services.

Cisco Cable ServiceMesh Solution Offers Benefits to Multiple System Operators


The Cisco Cable ServiceMesh design allows operators to rapidly deploy and monetize value-added services in new markets. In turn, cities, convention centers and small businesses can improve productivity and economic growth, while streamlining their operations with the wide variety of applications enabled by new Wi-Fi networks.

Key benefits to service providers include:

• Reduce customer churn by offering mobility extensions to existing service offerings;


• Generate new revenue by offering indoor/outdoor wireless services to municipalities, universities and businesses;


• Cost efficiently deploy ubiquitous Wi-Fi by using existing cable infrastructure;


• Efficiently manage the new operations with an integrated end-to-end architecture that includes management for all application, services, devices, and users; and


• Position the company for future rollouts of broadband mobility services.

"Service providers can extend their existing network with an outdoor mesh and offer a multitude of services, not just to cities, but to educational and health care institutions, public utilities, convention centers and even to consumers," said Jeff Spagnola, vice president, service provider marketing at Cisco. "A well-planned outdoor wireless mesh network can address all customer groups and allow them to interact securely on the same network. The Cisco Cable ServiceMesh solution offers all that and more."

Cisco Unveils New Aironet 1520 Series Lightweight Outdoor Mesh Access Point

A new component of the Cisco Cable ServiceMesh solution is the Cisco Aironet 1520 Series, an outdoor wireless mesh platform that integrates Wi-Fi client access and wireless backhaul in a rugged, outdoor enclosure and features an embedded DOCSIS 2.0 cable modem to connect to existing cable plant.

Scheduled to be available in July 2007 in North America, the Cisco Aironet 1520 Series is designed to support dual-band radios compliant with IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b/g standards. The integrated DOCSIS 2.0 cable modem also provides the ability to power by cable plant helps enable cable operators to easily deploy mesh networks without requiring pole access rights which can be costly and time consuming. The ability to strand mount the Cisco Aironet 1520 Series on existing cable strand provides the ultimate flexibility for cable operators to easily expand their cable services to reach new customers.

Multiple power and mounting options provide flexibility in outdoor installations for the mesh access point. Wireless mesh radio performance is improved with the 802.11g 3-channel Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) technology for better access coverage. The Cisco Aironet 1520 Series uses an intelligent wireless routing algorithm to create a mesh network with other Cisco Aironet 1520 Series mesh access points providing network reliability and availability to meet the challenging requirements of outdoor deployments.

The Cisco ServiceMesh solution recently won the International Engineering Consortium InfoVision Award that recognizes the leading broadband products in deployment. For more information on Cisco Cable ServiceMesh solution and Cisco Aironet 1520 Series, visit Cisco booth 865 at SCTE Cable-Tec EXPO (June 20-22) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., or click the following URL:

www.cisco.com/go/cableservicemesh

About Cisco
Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

HP Helps Enterprises Accelerate Delivery of IT Projects with New Software, Services

HP today announced a significant expansion of its Business Technology Optimization (BTO) capabilities to help IT organizations improve efficiencies and deliver better business outcomes.

With major software updates and new services in its quality management and service management offerings, as well as further integration across its software product line, HP is enabling customers to rapidly deliver IT projects and services to achieve on-time, on-budget product introductions and increased profitability.

The expanded portfolio was unveiled at HP Software Universe, the company’s annual customer event focused on its software business and related partners and resellers.

“With so much of business today relying on technology, CEOs need IT more than ever to fuel growth,” said Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president, Software, HP. “To help IT deliver the speed and agility the business needs, HP BTO software and services provide a platform to align with business requirements, automate for efficiency and increase collaboration across functions.”

According to a recently released study conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit on behalf of HP, companies are experiencing unacceptable levels of IT delays. Although 62 percent of companies surveyed said that faster IT meant higher profits, the study showed that one in four IT projects are delivered late. Furthermore, majority of those surveyed said no more than one in two IT initiatives produced positive business outcomes.

This gap results from tight budgets and limitations imposed by manual processes, point solutions and teams working in silos. To address this growing gap, the HP BTO portfolio helps IT organizations:

• Make sure IT and non-IT managers work on the same business goals;


• Speed up internal processes within IT functions such as IT strategy, applications and IT operations; and


• Automate processes across the different IT roles.

“As one of the world’s largest hotel and leisure companies, we are constantly identifying opportunities to grow our business online,” said Todd Thompson, chief information officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “By giving us the ability to rapidly update our business applications without compromising quality, HP Software helps us improve the customer experience and increase the loyalty of the hundreds of thousands of guests, business customers and travel agents that use our reservation system every day.”

Quality Management solutions

Updates to HP Quality Center software and HP LoadRunner software as well as new quality management services include:

• HP Quality Center Software – Includes the first ever business requirements and quality management capabilities fully integrated in a single real-time system. This major new release enables customers to adopt “agile testing” methods to facilitate more frequent software releases while taking a risk-based, business priority-driven view of quality management.


• HP LoadRunner Software – Enhancements help address the major shift in the way IT will deliver applications over the Internet, including advanced performance testing of Web 2.0-enabled service-oriented architectures and rich Internet applications.


• HP Quality Management Ecosystem – Provides customers with the broadest support for platforms, applications and environments by allowing HP Software partners to develop and market test accelerators for HP Quality Center and HP LoadRunner software.


• HP Quality Factory Services – Part of the HP Services Application Lifecycle Optimization offering, this set of best practices and services helps IT organizations successfully implement improved application quality and performance, process.

“Demand for greater business agility is driving the majority of new application implementations and changes, and it requires the optimization of every aspect of the application’s lifecycle,” said Thomas Murphy, research director, Gartner, an industry analyst firm. “When it comes to delivering applications that meet the needs of the business, quality assurance teams must look for ways to greatly accelerate their testing cycles in order to meet increasingly stringent schedules from business and application teams.”

Service Management solutions

Enhancements to HP Service Management portfolio include innovations in HP Change and Configuration Management Center, HP Service Management Center software solutions, and new related services. The offerings include:

• HP Change Control Management Software – Helps IT organizations accelerate the delivery of change by automating approval processes and eliminating the need for time-consuming change advisory board meetings. This new software release is part of HP Software’s end-to-end change control solution.


• HP Configuration Management Software – Helps reduce the risk of business disruptions by allowing customers to automatically and reliably deploy new applications and operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows Vista™ to the entire enterprise.


• HP Best Practices for Service Center – Provides pre-defined ITIL processes for service management that helps IT organizations accelerate HP Service Center deployment and optimize its ongoing use.


• HP Service Management Framework – This new services offering, which is a consolidation of HP’s solutions, expertise, methodologies and industry standards, including ITIL v3 and COBIT, help IT partner with the businesses it supports, by providing better governance, service management and efficiency.

“At Northwest Airlines we are able to provide efficient and reliable software services throughout our enterprise, in turn reducing our costs of doing business,” said Ken Gleason, manager client products, Northwest Airlines, Inc. “HP Configuration Management solutions have helped us successfully manage change across business-critical applications, including those used at every airport we service worldwide. We’re confident that HP solutions will help us reduce business risk, as we migrate our enterprise to Microsoft Windows Vista.”

Additional technology integration

Building on more than 75 integration points across its BTO portfolio, HP unveiled new cross-product integrations that help customers automate key processes across IT silos with a lifecycle approach, including:

• HP Universal CMDB – The only configuration management database (CMDB) built on dependency mapping and integrated with help desk, change and configuration management and business service management offerings. This helps reduce the risk of business disruptions by ensuring a consistent definition of a business service from the time it is ordered from the service catalog, through change impact analysis and approval, to the time it is deployed and monitored in production; and


• HP Service Center Software – Several new integrations help to better align the change request, approval and deployment processes and accelerate delivery of IT services to business users. For instance, HP Change Control Management and HP Configuration Management are integrated with HP Service Center to create a closed-loop change process and complete audit trail for compliance purposes.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $97.1 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com



(1) The Economist Intelligence Unit whitepaper, “Technology at the Speed of Business,” is available for download at EIU Report.

Autodesk Extends Visualization Leadership with Acquisition of Opticore AB

Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire certain assets of Opticore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Design Communication, based in Gothenburg, Sweden that provides software for interactive and realistic 3D visualizations and presentations. The acquisition underscores Autodesk's continued drive to deliver solutions that support best-in-class designers and manufacturers and enable them to implement a complete Digital Prototyping solution.

Opticore is a premier graphics communication software provider delivering advanced technology used to produce believable, highly interactive and realistic 3D digital product visualizations and presentations. Opticore products leverage digital prototypes from computer-aided-design (CAD) and computer-aided-industrial-design (CAID) to reduce the need for physical prototypes, shorten development cycles and increase communication between designers, managers and customers.

Autodesk currently plans to continue the development of Opticore technology and supporting Opticore customers. Through the combination of Autodesk and Opticore expertise and technology, Autodesk will be able to deliver even more advanced visualization solutions by leveraging real-time ray tracing and a deep engineering knowledge base.

"The acquisition of Opticore technology is part of Autodesk's commitment to set the direction for Digital Prototyping and offer a complete solution across the Manufacturing industry," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president, Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. "By adding Opticore products, Autodesk intends to offer the most complete design visualization solution in the market, providing automotive and product designers the opportunity to select the most cutting edge visualization product that best meets their needs."

"Autodesk and Opticore products together will offer the market a superior visualization solution," says Stefan Hallin, Chairman of Design Communications. "Customers of both companies will benefit from this announcement."

Opticore customers include major automotive manufacturers in all continents as well as large manufacturers. Automotive clients include: AUDI AG, Ford Motor Company (with the brands Ford, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover), Hyundai, KIA, FAW, Brilliance Auto, Tata Motor, Mahindra Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Honda and Nissan Mitsubishi. Consumer product and transportation customers include: Canon Inc, Philips Consumer, Nokia Mobile, Electrolux and Bombardier Trains. Opticore has almost 50 clients throughout Asia including all eight major automotive manufacturers in Japan.

Business Outlook
This transaction is expected to have no impact on targeted non-GAAP EPS for fiscal 2008. Non-GAAP EPS excludes in-process R&D expenses and the amortization of acquisition-related intangibles.


About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com/

CSCO: Airbus Takes Off with Cisco Unified Communications

Cisco® today announced that Airbus has completed deployment of a Cisco Unified Communications system to help improve collaboration, increase productivity and simplify its communications infrastructure, which will support 45,000 employees. The completion of the deployment marks the shipping of 12 million Cisco Unified IP Phones.

Airbus has migrated from a traditional private branch exchange (PBX) system to a fully IP-based telephony system, with 30,000 extensions in France and 10,000 extensions in the UK. Airbus is using Cisco Unified Communications Manager call-processing software to cover all sites. The contract to implement and manage Airbus' IP Communication over a five-year period was signed in 2005 by Orange Business Services, the communications service operator and integrator that represents the business communications solutions and services provided by France Telecom Group.

Cisco Unified Communications is helping Airbus extend consistent communication services to all employees working at Airbus campus locations in France and the UK. Orange Business Services took just nine months to install the central architecture following initial configuration and planning. The solution was rolled out at a rate of up to 600 phones a day, highlighting the speed and ease with which Cisco Unified Communications can be implemented.

"Effective communication systems that encourage collaboration between employees and help improve company efficiency are essential in helping us respond to growing customer demands," said Robert Louge, head of IT Projects, Airbus. "Cisco's solution has helped us improve communications, reduce our spending by simplifying our communications infrastructure and allowed us to make a quick and simple transition to an IP-based Unified Communications platform."

Chris Dedicoat, President, European Markets, Cisco, said: "Shipping our 12 millionth Unified IP Phone to Airbus highlights the speed at which Cisco Unified Communications is being adopted and the benefits it brings to customers. The system deployed by Airbus will help it meet the communication needs of a growing business, reduce costs and encourage collaborative working, which will help increase the productivity of its employees."

About Cisco Unified Communications
Cisco Unified Communications system is part of an integrated solution that includes network infrastructure, security, mobility, network management and lifecycle services. Cisco Unified Communications offers flexible deployment and outsourced management options, end-user and partner financing packages and third-party communications applications. For additional information on the entire Cisco Unified Communications family of products and applications visit: www.cisco.com/go/unified

About Airbus
Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus has delivered over 4,500 aircraft to more than 250 customers worldwide and boasts a healthy order book in excess of 2,500 aircraft for delivery over the coming years. With an annual turnover of around 26 billion euros in 2006, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and the Middle East. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS company.

About Cisco Systems
Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Europe is supplied by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

CSCO: Cisco and IBM Expand Alliance to Centralize Service Management for Service Providers

Cisco® and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced an expansion of their existing strategic alliance to deliver new standards-based telecommunications service assurance and fault-management solutions. Next month, Cisco will introduce a service-management solution that combines Cisco Active Network Abstraction (ANA) technology with the industry-leading IBM Tivoli software to help service providers centrally manage new services. The new offering, Cisco Assurance Management Solution, will provide network fault monitoring, trouble isolation, and real-time service-level event management for large multi-vendor networks on a next-generation mediation platform.

Using the Cisco ANA platform mediation capabilities and IBM Tivoli technology, the Cisco Assurance Management Solution will help service provider customers change and evolve network devices and configurations without having to change their service management and operations support systems applications. This solution will enable service providers to more effectively manage Internet Protocol (IP)-based services and help dramatically reduce implementation and maintenance costs.

"Cisco and IBM have a long history of working together to improve the competitiveness of our joint service provider customers," said Al Zollar, general manager of Tivoli Software for IBM. "This new agreement gives service providers the combined benefits of proven IBM Tivoli technology together with Cisco's breakthrough approach to network mediation with an open, standards-based solution. As IBM looks to help our service provider customers deliver higher return on their network and IT investments, Cisco is a natural partner."

The initial version of the Cisco Assurance Management Solution will include IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus and Netcool/Precision technology. Cisco is also able to incorporate other Tivoli technologies in future versions of assurance solutions. Cisco will offer professional services to help ensure rapid implementation by its customers.

"Cisco Active Network Abstraction is the basis of future solutions being delivered to our service provider customers. This expanded collaboration with IBM provides customers with the confidence that Cisco's new device management and mediation products will work with IBM software," said Cliff Meltzer, senior vice president of the Network Management Technology Group at Cisco. "The commitment from IBM demonstrates the unique capabilities of Cisco ANA and will provide our joint customers with a platform that transforms their network into a strategic business asset."

The Cisco ANA is designed to be interoperable with IBM Tivoli software, including Tivoli Netcool/Impact and Tivoli Business Service Manager. This expanded alliance will help enable both new and existing Tivoli Netcool and Cisco Info Center customers to effectively take advantage of the benefits of Cisco's ANA platform. Cisco Info Center is the Cisco-branded version of Tivoli Netcool which is used by more than 500 of Cisco's largest customers. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Since 1999, IBM and Cisco have forged a unique, broad-reaching strategic alliance to better enable their customers' ability to innovate. The IBM and Cisco strategic alliance has more than 25,000 joint customers. The companies are a proven resource for the seamless and rapid integration of business processes, industry knowledge, information technologies, and the intelligence of the network, maximizing their customers' ability to envision, design, and innovate to exceed business objectives.

For more information about Cisco Assurance Management Solution, Cisco ANA, and the collaboration, visit www.cisco.com/go/ana

IBM Tivoli Netcool software has been selected by more than 1,000 service providers globally, including all of the top 20 carriers. The software helps service providers ensure quality, reduce operational costs and speed time to market. IBM's recent acquisition of Vallent further extends IBM's ability to help service providers address emerging opportunities in next-generation network transformation, fixed/mobile convergence, and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) deployment.

For more information about IBM Tivoli and Tivoli Netcool software, visit www-306.ibm.com/software/tivoli/solutions/service-provider/ .