News

CMAP Points the Way to Converged Cable Services

CMAP merges CMTS and edge QAM into one, keeping up with high broadband traffic and IP video, says Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As cable operators move closer to all-IP delivery, converged multiservice access platform (CMAP) technology is emerging as a key to eliminating the barriers between video and data services to enable more efficient use of network bandwidth and the creation of new services that combine high-quality video with Internet-based offerings, according to the latest report from Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider (http://www.heavyreading.com/cable), a subscription research service from Heavy Reading (http://www.heavyreading.com).

CMAP: A Milestone on the Road to Cable Convergence explains CMAP, investigating the goals and major drivers behind the platform, as well as its implications for cable operators and suppliers. Included is a look at known CMAP activity by five suppliers that are leaders in CMTS and edge QAM technology.

For a list of companies covered in this report, http://img.lightreading.com/cii/pdf/cii0411_companies.pdf

"CMAP is a logical extension of existing headend technology that merges two capabilities, CMTS and edge QAM, into one," notes Craig Leddy, research analyst with Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider and author of the report. "Over the past several years, MSOs have been transitioning to all-digital delivery - adding more digital video services, increasing broadband capacity and speed, and studying a potential migration to all-IP service delivery. CMAP fits into all of that."

The industry needs CMAP to keep up with the rising tide of broadband traffic and IP video, and to keep expanding video services such as HD and VoD, Leddy says. "Cable's CMTS and edge QAM suppliers have already been addressing the capacity issues by developing high-density, lower-cost solutions. Now their innovations can be merged into a single platform," he continues. "CMAP fits into cable's all-digital transition and is a step toward migration to an all-IP environment. If cable goes all-digital, let alone all-IP, it could create new opportunities that have not even been thought about yet."

Key findings of CMAP: A Milestone on the Road to Cable Convergence include the following:

    --  CMAP is an emerging headend technology that combines data and video
        functions on a single delivery platform, as a step toward an all-IP
        environment.
    --  CMAP is expected to help MSOs manage increasing IP video traffic and
        advanced services, while lowering delivery costs.
    --  Comcast spurred the development of CMAP by creating product specs; other
        MSOs are supporting CMAP in various ways.
    --  CMAP can help remove technical and MSO cultural barriers between video
        and data services and promote cable convergence.
    --  CMTS and edge QAM suppliers are circling the product market, but pricing
        pressure will be heavy.
    --  CMAP trials are planned for late 2011, with initial deployments in 2012.

CMAP: A Milestone on the Road to Cable Convergence is available as part of an annual subscription (six issues) to Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider, priced at $1,595. Individual reports are available for $900.

To subscribe, or for more information about Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider, please visit: http://www.heavyreading.com/cable. For more information about other Heavy Reading Insider research services, please visit: http://www.heavyreading.com/research.

To request a free executive summary of the report, or for details on multi-user licensing options, please contact:

Jeff ClaudinoDirector of SalesInsider Research Services619-229-9940claudino@lightreading.com

Press/analyst contact:Jennifer BakerMarketing Director, Light Reading Communications Network617-871-1910jbaker@lightreading.com

About Heavy Reading (http://www.heavyreading.com)

Heavy Reading is an independent market research organization offering quantitative analysis of telecom technology to carriers, service providers, and vendors. Our remit is to provide the comprehensive competitive analysis needed today for the deployment of profitable networks based on next-generation hardware and software. This information is compiled via exhaustive surveys of both vendors' products and service-provider decision makers.

About Light Reading Communications Network (http://www.lightreading.com)

Founded in 2000, the Light Reading Communications Network is the world's leading research-led integrated media company serving the global communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technological and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading's research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, and TelcoTV Asia, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Europe, and The Tower Summit @ CTIA, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives in the US, Europe, India, and China. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

SOURCE  Heavy Reading

Heavy Reading

Web Site: http://www.lightreading.com

ChildCare Education Institute Announces Partnership with Association of Childhood Education International

DULUTH, Ga., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), a nationally accredited and IACET approved distance training institution dedicated exclusively to the child care industry, is proud to announce an agreement with the Association of Childhood Education International (ACEI) to offer online training and certificate programs of study.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101207/MM13548LOGO )

The partnership with ACEI recognizes CCEI as the preferred provider of online early childhood development programs. ACEI members will be able to enroll in CCEI courses through an online portal custom-designed for ACEI. This co-branded portal provides members with user-friendly enrollment, which allows them to access competency-based, self-paced, online coursework on popular child care training topics.

"Partnerships like this one are implemented to further the common goal of preparing the child care workforce to provide the best educational and developmental opportunities for young children. Educators can continue to broaden their skill set, advance their careers and maintain a life-work balance by enrolling in online professional development or certificate programs with CCEI," said Maria C. Taylor, ChildCare Education Institute President and CEO.

About CCEI

ChildCare Education Institute is a distance training institution dedicated to providing the child care industry with professional development programs and courses to meet their education requirements. Over 100 professional development courses are available in English and Spanish to meet annual training and licensing requirements, as well as online certificate course of study programs, such as the Child Development Associate (CDA), Director's Certificate and others. CCEI is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, approved by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training to award IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and authorized under the Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act of 1990, license number 837. For more information, visit http://www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907.

About ACEI

Association of Childhood Education International is a global community of educators and advocates who unite knowledge, experience, and perspectives in order to exchange information, explore innovation and advocate for children. ACEI has a mission to promote and support the global community in achieving the optimal quality of education and development of children, and to influence the professional growth of educators and the efforts of those committed to children's needs in a dynamic world.

Contact: ChildCare Education Institute, +1-800-499-9907

SOURCE  ChildCare Education Institute

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101207/MM13548LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
ChildCare Education Institute

Web Site: http://www.cceionline.edu

Utherverse Hosts and Provides a Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance to Virtually Participate in and Attend the Royal Wedding Over Its 50,000 Site Virtual World Web (VWW) Network

Open Event Provides PC and Mac Users the Opportunity to Become Royal Family Members or Attend Nuptials, Wedding Reception and After Party as Themselves, Intermingling with Fellow Guests

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- While this Friday's Royal Wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton is expected to be the most watched event in television history, members of Utherverse, the creator of the Virtual World Web (VWW), have the opportunity to virtually attend and, if they so desire, actually participate as one of five Royal Family members, including the bride and groom.

Utherverse's hosting of the virtual Royal Wedding, as well as a post-ceremony reception and after party, marks the debut of the Vancouver, B.C.-based company's use of technology allowing the creation of avatars that resemble real people; in this case, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker-Bowles and the inimitable Charlie Sheen, among other surprise after-party guests.

Virtual Royal Wedding attendees who invest a $20 (US) monthly fee to become Utherverse VIP members can "become" any of these five Royal Family members; "commoner" event attendees are welcome simply by registering and downloading the required software at: http://www.princewillswedding.com.

The VWW has 7 million PC and Mac users that use Utherverse's downloadable 3D Web browser to navigate a network encompassing 57,000 virtual 3D communities where members interact, socialize and conduct business in ways not possible on the "flat" Internet.

Brian Shuster, Utherverse founder and CEO, views this virtual groundbreaking event as the perfect setting for attendees to meet in the romantic atmosphere afforded by the grandest wedding of all time. "From the ceremony itself, and the exclusive setting of the wedding reception and party, the virtual Royal Wedding provides the unique opportunity for guests to meet and let their hair down in a safe environment," he said. "It will be quite like a virtual masquerade ball where people are free to openly communicate and express themselves.

"Where else for $20 can you become a virtual Royal Family member, or at no cost, attend the Royal Wedding?" Shuster asked, noting that significant numbers of Utherverse members regularly meet in-person, approximately 1,000 of whom got married in 2010 alone.

Just as the World Wide Web is comprised of websites, the VWW is made up of virtual worlds where users of the sophisticated, interactive virtual spaces have videogame-like avatars, although in this case everybody's a real person. Avatars/real people in the virtual Utherverse engage in real experiences, such as shopping for clothing that can actually be purchased and shipped. They can visit communities like the company's Virtual-Vancouver, which, in addition to shopping, includes nightlife, dating, concert and other kinds of satisfying venues and types of experiences such as those enabled by Utherverse's 3Dtunes.com interactive karaoke platform.

Some members also routinely attend otherwise unreachable virtual parties held in all four corners of the Earth.

A virtual Royal Wedding preview that provides a flavor for the event can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4LaXr4Hca4.

Shuster sees the virtual Royal Wedding as the first in a virtually limitless array of celebrity focused member events utilizing Utherverse's enhanced avatar technology. "We're continually keeping our eyes and ears open for new things, world and celebrity news and developments to inspire future virtual experiences," he said.

For example, he envisions parody inspired events engaging members' avatars with those of political figures including President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin. "Just think of some of the heated discussions that members can participate in," Shuster noted.

For more information on the Virtual World Web, visit: http://www.TheVWW.com. Additional information about Utherverse can be found at http://www.utherverse.net.

About Utherverse.net

Utherverse is the leading developer of the 3D Web, the Virtual World Web (VWW), which currently consists of more than 55,000 independently operated virtual worlds.  The company was formed in 2002 with the goal of supplementing the flat web with a 3D web that could bring a new kind of efficiency to businesses and users in entertainment, education, commerce and charity. 

Among Utherverse's offerings are the Virtual World Web - TheVWW.com - which provides simple software that enables anyone to create their own Virtual World, and Virtual-Vancouver.com, a music-focused online community.

For more information, please see http://www.utherverse.net

SOURCE  Utherverse

Utherverse

CONTACT: Amy Melamed, +1-847-415-9312, amelamed@sspr.com, for Utherverse

Web Site: http://www.princewillswedding.com

Scholar Combines Old, New with Bible Videos

Topics Include King James Version, Ten Commandments, and John 3:16

NEW YORK, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Combining new technology and ancient text, Bible scholar Dr. Joel M. Hoffman has released a series of short on-line Bible videos intended to bring the text of the Bible to life on screen.

Hoffman launched the series, entitled "Exploring the Bible," with three 2-3 minute videos, each focusing on a single topic.

The first video, just in time for the widely celebrated 400th anniversary of the King James Version (KJV) on Monday, May 2, offers viewers a quiz about the English in the KJV.

The second video addresses why "covet" is a mistranslation in the Ten Commandments.

The third video explains what "God so loved the world" in John 3:16 really means.

All three videos are available from http://www.ExploringTheBibleVideos.org as well as on a dedicated YouTube page.

Hoffman says he likes the medium of video because "it makes it possible to display text as I explain it." He adds that the videos "also target people who would rather watch information than read it."

Because the writing systems for ancient Hebrew and Greek -- the primary languages of the Bible -- are so complicated, Hoffman says special technology had to be developed to create the videos, which feature moving text in English, Hebrew, and Greek.

Hoffman, a frequent guest lecturer at churches and synagogues, is most widely known for unearthing significant mistranslations of the Bible. The videos combine results he has previously published with new material.

ABOUT DR. HOFFMAN

Dr. Joel M. Hoffman, a frequent guest lecturer at churches and synagogues, has held faculty appointments at Brandeis University and at Hebrew Union College, and lectured at universities on four continents. He is the author of And God Said: How Translations Conceal the Bible's Original Meaning (2010, Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press) and In The Beginning: A Short History of the Hebrew Language (2004, NYU Press), and the chief translator for the 10-volume series My People's Prayer Book (winner of the National Jewish Book Award). He also moderates the popular Bible-translation blog "God Didn't Say That."

He can be reached through his website at http://www.Lashon.net.

RELATED LINKS

http://www.ExploringTheBibleVideos.org

http://www.Lashon.net

http://www.AndGodSaid.com

http://www.GodDidntSayThat.com

SOURCE  Irene Goodman Agency

Irene Goodman Agency

CONTACT: Joel Hoffman, +1-718-834-1080, joel@lashon.net

Web Site: http://www.ExploringTheBibleVideos.org

AT&T Celebrates New High Tech Store in Edgewater

New York Yankees Legend David Wells Attends Ribbon-Cutting on April 30 at 11a.m.

EDGEWATER,  N.J., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To address the growing demand for advanced wireless data products and services, AT&T* today announced a grand opening celebration for a new high-tech wireless store on River  Road in Edgewater. New York Yankees Legend and perfect game pitcher David Wells will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11a.m. on April 30. Wells will also be on hand to sign AT&T autograph cards only between 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. No personal memorabilia will be permitted.

"Our newest store in Bergen County lets customers 'try before they buy' today's leading wireless devices," said Tom DeVito, vice president and general manager for AT&T in New Jersey and New York.  "No single cell phone or application is for everyone.  It's our job to make sure every customer makes the wireless selection and chooses the right plan to fit their wireless needs."

As part of the grand opening celebration, consumers can check out special discounts including up to $50 off select smartphone devices. **

Located at 75 River Road, the store is led by industry veteran Tim Boland and has a team of nine trained sales consultants who can demonstrate a wide range of products and assist both consumers and businesses with purchasing decisions, customer service and technical support.  Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The new Edgewater store brings the number of AT&T owned locations in Bergen County to six , including Fort Lee, Garden State Mall Plaza and Paramus. There are more than 40 AT&T owned stores in northern New Jersey including three device support centers in Metuchen, Union and Paramus, where customers can receive technical assistance and replacement services for their cell phones. Across northern New Jersey and metropolitan New York, AT&T has more than 135 AT&T owned locations.  AT&T's products and services are also available at a number of authorized dealer and national retail locations.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** Requires two-year service agreement with minimum $15/month data plan. Offer only available at the Edgewater and Paramus Route 4 AT&T store locations from April 28-May 1.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

SOURCE  AT&T Inc.

AT&T Inc.

CONTACT: Ellen Webner of AT&T, +1-973-775-1321, ellen.webner@att.com

Web Site: http://www.att.com

Globus Online Launches New File Transfer Capabilities

Updated SaaS Offering Lets Users Add Personal Machines to the Cloud; Supplies Transfer API for Developers

CHICAGO, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Computation Institute at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory announced this week a set of new features available in the latest version of Globus Online, the free SaaS-based service for fast, reliable file transfer.

Among the new features is the production version of "Globus Connect," which allows users to add local machines as endpoints in the Globus Online Cloud. With Globus Connect, users can transfer files to and from their personal computers or local servers, without requiring administrative privileges or dealing with the details of installing Globus or GridFTP. The system requires only outbound connections, so it works behind most firewalls and NATs.

"The standard transfer speed using scp for my work was around 0.25 megabits per second(Mb/s)," reported Luke Van Roekel, a Post-Doctoral Research Associate and Globus Online user from the University of Colorado. "It would have taken days to download just 1 slice of data to my desktop - I didn't even bother trying. With Globus Online, I'm averaging 40 Mb/s and can even reach 400 Mb/s on occasion - that's insanely fast!"

Dr. Van Roekel added, "One of the biggest benefits is the auto performance tuning. Choosing the right parameters for large transfers using other standard tools can be very complex, so Globus Online is an invaluable tool to me since it automates that process."

Globus Online is a secure, reliable file transfer service that makes it easy for researchers and others to move massive files without the need for complex infrastructure or system configuration. The service automates the data movement process and re-tried failed transfers, saving users hours or even days of valuable time.

At the University of Chicago's Sequencing Center, Globus Online is being implemented as a solution to deliver DNA sequencing results to customers. "Scientists shouldn't have to spend time managing file transfer - we wanted to make the system much easier for them," said Neil Bahroos, Associate Director at the Initiative in Biomedical Informatics. "Now, with Globus Online, the process will be trivial and our scientists will be able to move data to the right location with just a few clicks. File size will no longer be a barrier to productivity."

In November 2010, NERSC (the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center) became one of the first major research organizations to announce its selection of Globus Online as a recommended method of file transfer for its thousands of users.

"It just makes sense to enable Globus Online for our users," said David Skinner, software group leader at NERSC. "Our scientists are familiar with tools like scp and GridFTP, but with Globus Online we can offer a much simpler and faster method for moving data. Globus Online actually makes web-based data syncing an easy, nearly trivial process, so you don't have to be an IT or middleware expert to move your files."

The latest release also introduces significant improvements to the way users create and manage accounts, in keeping with the Globus Online mission of making it easy for researchers to use HPC resources. Users can now create a Globus Online account and easily associate multiple identities with it - including Google accounts and other OpenIDs - which greatly simplifies file transfer among systems that use different security schemes.

This approach, known as federated identity management, is emerging as a key requirement for users of distributed computing facilities and represents another example of how Globus Online brings grid and cloud computing together for an enhanced user experience. Future releases will support an even wider range of authentication infrastructures and identity providers, including Shibboleth, OAuth and InCommon.

Another new Globus Online feature is the Transfer REST API for developers, which provides a "RESTful" interface to Globus Online for developers who need to deliver solutions to a community of users. The Transfer REST API makes it possible to integrate reliable data movement into users' HPC workflows, such as integrating with Java clients or Web-based portals, with no requirement for specialized software. This feature ensures optimal usage of available computing resources; for example, users who only have a compute resource available to them for a specific time window can minimize the downtime spent getting data to the right machine.

To sign up for the Globus Online service, visit http://www.globusonline.org/signup.
For more information on Globus Online visit http://www.globusonline.org/whygo.

About Globus Online

Globus Online is a fast, reliable file transfer service recommended by high-performance computing centers and research communities worldwide. Globus Online is a collaborative effort led by a team housed at the Computation Institute (CI), a joint initiative between the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory. Contributors span the globe, and include the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Initiative for Globus in Europe, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. To learn more or use the service, visit http://www.globusonline.org/.

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

Media Contacts:
Mary Bass
512-299-2945
mary@ci.uchicago.edu

SOURCE  Computation Institute

Computation Institute

Web Site: http://ci.uchicago.edu

The Light Group Announces Second Season of Popular LGBT Pool Party, HEAVEN, at BARE Pool Lounge at The Mirage

The Light Group Announces New Website Dedicated to LGBT Offerings and Services Before April 30 Kick-Off of HEAVEN at BARE Pool Lounge

LAS VEGAS, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading hospitality development and management company The Light Group, along with premier LGBT promoter Eduardo Cordova, announces the return of HEAVEN at BARE Pool Lounge to The Mirage Hotel & Casino.  Kicking off its second season Saturday, April 30, HEAVEN will turn BARE Pool Lounge into an outdoor nightclub in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip by covering and transforming the pool into a distinct dance floor.  This dance party will treat LGBT partygoers to top-of-the-line live performances, celebrity appearances and the hottest DJs rotating every month.

Spinning at the grand opening will be international superstar DJ Chris Cox, followed by a special live set by electronica singer/dancer Erika Jayne, who will perform her Billboard dance hits, "One Hot Pleasure" and "Pretty Mess."  To add to the excitement, The Light Group and Cordova have teamed up with Los Angeles-based promoters Woody Woodbeck and Steve Machuca, who will bring in West Hollywood's hottest guys to heat up HEAVEN.

Positioned at the forefront of hospitality and nightlife, The Light Group acknowledges its platform to enforce positive change and is committed to raising the bar for LGBT locals and visitors in Sin City through groundbreaking gay-friendly events.  The Light Group now is making their events even more accessible to its LGBT clientele through the launch of a designated website listing all of its latest LGBT offerings and specialized concierge services. To access this website, visitors may visit http://lgbt.lightgroup.com/. In collaboration with Cordova, The Light Group's gay-friendly line-up currently includes Closet Sundays at the BEATLES Revolution Lounge, Tiger Heat Saturdays at the BBOX VIP Room at JET Nightclub, Sundanze at JET Nightclub and HEAVEN at BARE Pool Lounge.  The Light Group continues to be an innovator in the industry, hosting the most sought-after events both in and outside of the Las Vegas Strip.

ABOUT HEAVEN AT BARE POOL LOUNGE AT THE MIRAGE HOTEL & CASINO:

BARE Pool Lounge at The Mirage Hotel & Casino is located at 3400 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, Nev., 89109.

Starting at 10:30p.m., HEAVEN is a monthly dance party that will take place at BARE Pool Lounge on the following dates throughout the 2011 summer months:

    --  April 30
    --  May 7
    --  May 28
    --  June 18
    --  July 2
    --  August 6
    --  September 3

ABOUT THE LIGHT GROUP:

The Light Group is one of the United States' leading hospitality development and management companies, renowned for shaping the nightlife landscape on the Las Vegas Strip.  Founded by Andrew Sasson and Andy Masi, the company manages and operates 16 food and beverage venues within the AAA Five Diamond Bellagio Resort & Casino, The Mirage Hotel & Casino, The Monte Carlo Resort & Casino and ARIA Resort & Casino. The Light Group's portfolio expanded in December 2009 to include five new venues at ARIA at CityCenter: HAZE Nightclub, The Deuce Lounge, The GOLD Lounge (in partnership with Cirque du Soleil), Liquid Pool Lounge and UNION Restaurant & Lounge.  In February 2010, The Light Group opened its first overseas locale, Caramel Restaurant & Lounge Dubai, in the heart of the city's financial district.

SOURCE  The Light Group

The Light Group

CONTACT: Jamie D'Attoma, SHADOW PR, Office, +1-212-972-0277, Jamie@ShadowPR.com; or Beth Bartolini, The Light Group, Office, +1-702-693-8300, Bbartolini@lightlv.com

Web Site: http://www.lightgroup.com

Network Merchants, Inc. Announces the Release of SyncPay; a QuickBooks(TM) Plug-In

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Network Merchants, Inc. (NMI), a leading payment gateway provider for ISOs and MSPs, announces the release of SyncPay; a QuickBooks(TM) Payment Gateway Plug-In.

SyncPay provides support for payment processing from directly within QuickBooks Pro(TM), QuickBooks Premier(TM), and QuickBooks Enterprise(TM). The Plug-In allows merchants to pay invoices, generate sales receipts, process batch transactions, and view batch reports without ever leaving QuickBooks(TM). Additionally, merchants can process multiple payments against open invoices at the touch of a button. SyncPay also includes support for end-to-end encrypted card present swiped transactions after attaching a hardware encrypted secure card reader.

"We have worked extremely hard to create a QuickBooks(TM)Plug-In that works seamlessly within QuickBooks," said Ted Cucci, NMI's Chief Operating Officer. "SyncPay eliminates double entry by combining the payment and accounting process into one step," said Nick Starai, NMI's Director of Product Development.

About NMI:

Network Merchants Inc builds e-commerce payment gateways for companies that process retail and online transactions in real-time anywhere in the world.

With an exceptional team of software engineers, NMI created, maintains and delivers a substantial suite of payment solutions through a unique channel of distribution. This channel is comprised of financial institutions, ISOs/MSPs, payment processors, VARs, e-commerce developers and hardware manufacturers interested in retaining their existing merchant-customers and acquiring new business. With an easy to integrate transparent and private-label program, Affiliate Partners maintain their own look and feel while providing merchants with efficient and secure payment processing solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.nmi.com.

Contact:

Network Merchants Inc
800-617-4850
info@nmi.com

SOURCE  Network Merchants, Inc.

Network Merchants, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.nmi.com

Easy Shopping on TradeTang.com: Fine Quality, Inexpensive

BEIJING, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- With the simple mode, TradeTang.com provides the more convenient and inexpensive commodities for the shopping group of overseas people. The search box in the homepage and setting a navigator to meet different needs of cell phone lovers makes shopping on TradeTang.com much easier.

The Cell Phone Category of TradeTang.com is committed to the development of domestic multifunctional mobile phones and multi-function cell phones such as Smartphones, GPS cell phones, Wi-Fi cell phones, Quad-band cell phones, Watch phones as well as many kinds of cartoon phones and TV function cell phones, etc. In China there are lots of excellent quality cell phones with unbelievable low prices. Comparing with other B2B websites, you will find the price of the same kind of cell phones on TradeTang.com are below 1%. Many of cell phone manufacturers produce the Android system phones under the free and open source of the Android phone system. Therefore, Chinese cell phones will be of better quality and have much more entertainment and good functional applications.

Not only have the function and the quality of the mobile phones on TradeTang.com played a leading role but the styles are varied. TradeTang.com will provide overseas customers a safe and reliable shopping channel on the internet, thanks to the export of advanced cell phones abroad with both reasonable costs and trustworthy cell phone suppliers. There is still free shipping, bundle sales make your shopping online easy and effective. We can see that refund rates and dispute rates on TradeTang deal are only up to 2% while others are 10%.

Finally, if you have anything wrong with the cell phones you picked you may contact the personnel of TradeTang.com within 48 hours via phone or email, and they will help you out in a timely fashion.

In order to provide the fine quality cheap cell phones, TradeTang.com is giving support to Chinese cell phones. They pursue offering the good quality cell phones with competitive prices and will not go counter to the principle of integrity and fairness.

    For more information, please contact:
    Rebecca
    Marketing Manager
    Tel:  +86-10-6550-5021 x8029
    Email: rebecca@tradetang.com

SOURCE  TradeTang.com

TradeTang.com

AVerMedia Document Cameras Now Directly Integrate With Interactive Whiteboard Software

Easily display live document camera images in whiteboard software with AVerMedia's free Flash App

MILPITAS, Calif., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AVerMedia Information, Inc., the leading provider of digital multimedia, surveillance and presentation technology, recently launched the AVerVision Flash App that integrates AVerMedia document cameras into popular classroom software. Now with a free download, educators can bring in their live AVerMedia document camera images into interactive whiteboard software giving them one convenient interface to control all aspects of their lesson plans.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050426/SFTU118LOGO)

"AVerMedia is determined to stay ahead of the curve in providing solutions that enhance the teaching and learning experience," said Eric Yu, Director of Product Management. "Most document cameras on the market today either only integrate with a particular brand of interactive whiteboard or involve a complicated process to bring in mostly static images. The new AVerVision Flash App is the first fully-integrated interface that makes it easy for educators to connect and manage live document camera images or video from any Flash supported classroom technology. Now instead of learning and utilizing multiple interfaces, educators can use one single platform to capture, transmit and display their entire curriculum."

The new AVerVision Flash App is compatible with both PC and MAC computers. Once a live document camera image or video is inserted, educators can annotate, resize and manipulate it as a natural part of their interactive whiteboard software. And of course they still have full control of the document camera, so they can zoom, rotate, focus and pause the live image easily.

The AVerVision Flash App is available at no cost and can be downloaded easily at http://www.averusa.com/presentation/avervision-flash.asp.  For more information about AVerMedia's Flash App, or other classroom presentation solutions, visit http://www.averusa.com or call toll free: 1-877-528-7824.

About AVerMedia® Information, Inc:

AVerMedia is the technology leader in Digital Multimedia Video Convergence Technology. AVerMedia provides Hardware and Software Surveillance Systems, Document Cameras, Digital Video Makers, and PC-to-TV Converters for consumer and corporate/educational markets. As a leader in innovative manufacturing and environmentally friendly products, AVerMedia is also highly involved with community and social responsibilities. AVerMedia also partners with ODMs for the development of AVerMedia's technologies for integration applications.

AVerMedia is a registered trademark of AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT:  Kris Rangarajan 1-408-457-3309 kris.rangarajan@avermedia.com

SOURCE  AVerMedia Information, Inc.

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050426/SFTU118LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AVerMedia Information, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.averusa.com

PopCap Games Acquires ZipZapPlay

Casual Games Leader Expands Key Development Capabilities with Purchase of Established San Francisco-Based Social Games Creator

SEATTLE and DUBLIN, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PopCap Games, the worldwide leader in casual games, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire ZipZapPlay, a social games company based in San Francisco, California. With the acquisition, PopCap increases its Facebook games lineup, establishes a social studio in Silicon Valley, and positions itself for further growth and continued success in one of the hottest digital games categories. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

ZipZapPlay is a venture-backed social games startup with seventeen employees including founders Curt Bererton (CEO) and Mathilde Pignol (CCO), who will continue to direct game design and development at the San Francisco studio. ZipZapPlay's previous titles include Baking Life and other social games. "The team at ZipZapPlay is one of the best in the social games space, and combined with our existing group in Seattle gives us the opportunity to dramatically expand our development resources," said John Vechey, PopCap co-founder and VP of Corporate Strategy and Development, who oversaw the acquisition. "While the acquisition creates immediate cross-promotional and operations benefits, this is a strategic move with huge long-term potential; we believe ZipZapPlay can help us further evolve and expand the definition of social games."

"Adding ZipZapPlay's strong design and development team to our rapidly-growing social games group is a big move for us," said Jason Kapalka, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at PopCap. "ZipZapPlay is a great cultural fit: a truly creative company that lives and breathes in this space. And their next game is very innovative and exciting - we believe it has the potential to be a step forward in the evolution of social gaming."

"We're elated to join the leading casual games developer and help grow PopCap's presence in the social arena," said ZipZapPlay's Bererton. "PopCap's focus on innovative gameplay and user experience meshes with our own design philosophy. We can't wait to put our heads together with PopCap and start creating the next generation of games for Facebook and other social platforms."

ZipZapPlay will operate as an independent studio in San Francisco headed by Bererton and Pignol and reporting to PopCap VP of Social Games Development Jon David. With the resulting expansion of PopCap's social game development capabilities, the company expects to have four or five games available on Facebook by the end of 2011. PopCap's initial social games, Bejeweled® Blitz and Zuma® Blitz, already attract a total of approximately five million DAUs (Daily Active Users), making PopCap the third largest Facebook game developer, after Zynga and Electronic Arts.

About PopCap

PopCap Games is the leading global developer, publisher and operator of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to all ages across PC, mobile, social and other platforms. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of more than 400 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. PopCap's games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship franchise, Bejeweled®, has sold more than 50 million units.

The PopCap logo and all other trademarks used herein that are listed at http://www.popcap.com/trademarks are owned by PopCap Games, Inc. or its licensors and may be registered in some countries. Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc. Other company and product names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners and are used for the benefit of those owners.

SOURCE  PopCap Games

PopCap Games

CONTACT: North America, Garth Chouteau, +1-415-602-8147, garth@popcap.com, or International, Cathy Orr, +353 1 646 8107, corr@popcap.com, both of PopCap Games

Web Site: http://www.popcap.com

Trunkbow Forms Strategic Partnership to Distribute its Mobile Payment Solutions in 90,000 Internet Cafes across China

BEIJING, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Trunkbow International Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: TBOW) ("Trunkbow"), a leading provider of Mobile Payment Solutions ("MPS") and Mobile Value Added Solutions ("MVAS") in the PRC, today announced that it has entered a strategic cooperation agreement with Hangzhou Icafe Technology Co Ltd. (SHE: 300113) ("Icafe"), a leading provider of Internet cafe desktop application services in the PRC, to offer mobile payment applications and services for Internet cafe owners and individual users.

Under the agreement, Trunkbow will integrate its mobile payment solutions into Icafe's Internet cafe-based entertainment platform available to 50 million paying users visiting 90,000 Internet cafe locations The mobile payment solutions include a desktop application enabling various payment transactions to be made over the Internet, as well as mobile payment-enabled Point of Sale (POS) technology.

The Trunkbow platform will serve as the bridge between Icafe's desktops and mobile networks, enabling secure payment processing and account management via a desktop application, mobile app, or a mobile payment-enabled POS terminal.  Users can activate new accounts through the desktop application, giving them a new, convenient way to provide payment for physical or online transactions via a mobile phone or desktop.

"This agreement with Icafe is a significant step forward for Trunkbow and an important validation of our technology.  With a nationwide footprint and over 50% of China's Internet cafe desktops, Icafe is the ideal partner to bring our industry-leading MPS technology into Internet cafes as we continue growing our user base in an effort to bring MPS to the greater population," commented Trunkbow's CEO, Mr. Li Qiang.  "This deployment will further expand our MPS presence, both geographically and demographically. Our platform is currently in use by merchants and end-users in 16 provinces across China, and we are working aggressively to expand its coverage by continuing to build brand equity and leveraging our strong R&D capabilities through the introduction of new products.  Our current pipeline includes several exciting payment applications and services scheduled to be released later this year, which will increase the value we bring to merchants, mobile operators, and consumers."

Icafe's Chairman Mr. Hua Yong added, "We are excited to partner with Trunkbow and to bring their innovative MPS technology to our desktops across the country. I believe that the integration of their payment platform will bring substantial value and convenience to our 50 million subscribers. I am confident that the addition of MPS on our desktops will help drive continued revenue and market share growth, while further differentiating Icafe from other providers of Internet cafe desktop application services in the PRC."

Trunkbow's consolidated mobile payment solutions offer a comprehensive, single-source payment system combining hardware, software and services. The payment platform is easily integrated into a telecom carrier's mobile network and supports the processing of transactions and management of user data. The applications provide an easy-to-use interface, enabling communication between end-user devices and the network-based platform. The Company's services are aimed at end-users through mobile applications and MPS-enabled in-store POS terminals.

About Trunkbow

Trunkbow International Holdings (NASDAQ: TBOW), is a leading provider of Mobile Payment Solutions ("MPS") and Mobile Value Added Solutions ("MVAS") in PRC. Trunkbow's solutions enable the telecom operators to offer their subscribers access to unique mobile applications, innovative tools, value-added services that create a superior mobile experience, and as a result generate higher average revenue per user and reduce subscriber churn. Since its inception in 2001, Trunkbow has established a proven track record of innovation, and has developed a significant market presence in both the Mobile Value Added and Mobile Payment solutions markets. Trunkbow supplies to all three Chinese mobile telecom operators, as well as re-sellers, in several provinces of China.

About Icafe

Hangzhou Icafe Technology Holdings Ltd., founded in July 2005, is a leading provider of Internet cafe desktop application service in the PRC. With the aim of offering an all-in-one online entertainment platform, Icafe has built a leading Internet cafe-based Internet entertainment platform. Icafe's product offerings include content management applications, an on-demand platform, and a comprehensive identification and payment system. Icafe was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 300113 in August 2010.

Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, statements regarding the significance of the Company's listing on the NASDAQ Global Market, the ability of the Company to achieve its commercial objectives; the business strategy, plans and objectives of the Company. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially depending on a number of risk factors including but not limited to, the following: general economic and business conditions, development, shipment and market acceptance of products, additional competition from existing and new competitors, changes in technology or product techniques, and various other factors beyond the Company's control.  All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Cautionary Statement and the risk factors detailed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Trunkbow International Limited undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

    Company Contact:                 Investor Relations Contact:
    Trunkbow International Holdings
     Limited                         CCG Investor Relations
    Ms Alice Ye, Chief Financial      Mr. John Harmon, Senior Account
     Officer                          Manager
    Phone: +86 (10) 8571-2518
     (Beijing)                       Phone: +86 (10) 6561-6886 (Beijing)
    Email: ir@trunkbow.com           Email: john.harmon@ccgir.com
    Mr. John R. Herrera, Senior Vice  Mr. Roger Ellis, Senior Partner & SVP
     President                        for M.I.
    Phone:+1 (512) 568-2715 (Austin) Phone: +1 (310) 954-1332 (Los Angeles)

SOURCE  Trunkbow International Holdings Limited

Trunkbow International Holdings Limited

Voice Over Performers Learn From Their Peers in New Practice & Feedback Forum at EdgeStudio.com

New online feedback tool at EdgeStudio.com gives voice over talent fast, free advice from other VO professionals.

NEW YORK, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Professional voice-over talent know there are a dozen ways to read a line. But which way is better? And what does the listening public prefer?

Feedback from other listeners can help - especially when they are trained narrators. That's the thinking behind Edge Studio's Practice & Feedback Forum at EdgeStudio.com/voice-over/practice-scripts. The Forum provides fresh ears, many of which belong to established professionals.

Online visitors can upload their performance as an MP3 file, to receive constructive feedback from other visitors.

"In coaching voice over talent, Edge Studio stresses the importance of daily recorded practice," says David Goldberg, Edge Studio owner and director. "Even so, it often takes someone else to hear an error or suggest an alternative that the performer hadn't caught or thought of."

This peer-to-peer practice room is free, and has already enabled people to help other people more than 10,000 times.  An uploaded recording typically receives two or three comments.

"There are hundreds of blogs about the business side of voice over - they discuss voice over jobs, pricing, and the like," Mr. Goldberg notes, "but few focus on the performance side. Our Practice & Feedback Forum is unique in this respect."

Mr. Goldberg cites other benefits beyond feedback. The website tool also enables VO performers to:

    --  Hear the work of other voice over talent
    --  Ask questions
    --  Build peer relationships
    --  Build a reputation in the community
    --  Network
    --  Provide additional incentive to practice
    --  Support other professionals
    --  Share their work on the Web

"Like most other aspects of our studio services," adds Mr. Goldberg, "our students and clients can access Edge Studio's Practice & Feedback Forum from virtually anywhere."

Read More: http://www.edgestudio.com/voice-over/press-releases/2011/04/voice-over-performers-learn-their-peers

For more information, visit http://www.EdgeStudio.com.

About Edge Studio:

Edge Studio specializes in production of voice recordings, and training of voice actors, narrators and other spoken-word performers. Edge Studio facilities have produced or recorded more than 13,000 voiceover projects, spanning all genres.

Edge Studio has facilities in New York City, Connecticut, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles, and regularly produces and trains remotely via telephone, ISDN, Internet, Skype, and other technologies.

SOURCE  Edge Studio

Edge Studio

CONTACT: Sara Guttman, Assistant Director of Edge Studio, 1-888-321-EDGE (3343), press@edgestudio.com

Web Site: http://www.edgestudio.com

Calibrus, Inc.'s Fanatic Fans iPhone Application Now Available for Verizon iPhone Users

TEMPE, Ariz., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Calibrus, Inc., located in Tempe, Arizona, a development company in Social Media, Mobile Applications and leader in Third Party Verification Services (TPV) announces its Fanatic Fans iPhone application is now available for Verizon iPhone users which can be downloaded on the iTunes store.   The Fanatic Fans application is now available for all carriers Worldwide and to all AT&T and Verizon iPhone users in the United States under Entertainment and Social Networking categories in the iTunes store. 

Fanatic Fans is a revolutionary new mobile app that provides an easy and entertaining way to interact with other fans at sporting events, concerts and other live events.  Check-in, chat, share and get rewarded for simply doing what you love. 

Jeff Holmes, Calibrus, Inc. CEO said, "We are excited that Fanatic Fans is now available for all iPhone users.  We are working hard to bring Fanatic Fans to as many devices that we can to offer as many sports and music fans multiple ways to share their live event experience."

Fanatic Fans is free and can be downloaded from the iTunes store or you can go to FanaticFans.com and click on the "Download for iPhone" icon on the home page and be directed directly to the app for download. 

ABOUT CALIBRUS - Calibrus, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CALB) develops products and services in Social Media, Mobile applications, Third Party Verification, Hosted Call Recording and IVR Services.  In addition to Fanatic Fans mobile app and FanaticFans.com website, Calibrus operates the JabberMonkey website (http://www.jabbermonkey.com), a premier site for expressing and gathering public opinion on a global scale. For more information on Calibrus visit the Calibrus website at http://www.calibrus.com.

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence on third-party suppliers, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact: Kevin Asher, phone 602.778.7516, kasher@calibrus.com

SOURCE  Calibrus, Inc.

Calibrus, Inc.

Web Site: http://calibrus.com

NetDragon Releases a New EP 'Edge of Night' for Its Flagship Game Eudemons Online

HONG KONG, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- NetDragon Websoft Inc. ("NetDragon", Stock Code: 777), a leading online game developer and operator in China, announced open beta testing for the Chinese expansion pack ("EP")"Edge of Night" for its flagship online game Eudemons Online today.

Eudemons Online was an immediate hit upon its release. The game has gained increasing popularity among both new players and veterans with diversified versions since 2010, reaching a new high in concurrent players among recent years. The fifth EP introduces a mysterious "Vampire" class to provide veterans with more options and also attract new players captivated by vampire lore. The new EP highlights a variety of exclusive skills, powerful weapons and featured pets for the Vampire class, which will collectively kick off a new era for online games. In addition, the English version of "Edge of Night" is expected to be released in July 2011.   

"Edge of Night" is the result of two years' effort, and was designed to fully reflect players' expectation for the quality and content of the title. NetDragon expects that "Edge of Night" will inject fresh energy to this classic online game and help the title continue leading the Chinese developed fantasy MMORPG category.

About NetDragon

NetDragon Websoft Inc. is a leading innovator and creative force in China's online gaming and mobile internet industries. Established in 1999, we are a vertically integrated developer & operator of MMORPGs and a cutting-edge R&D powerhouse. We launched our first self-made online game Monster & Me in 2002, followed by multiple titles including Eudemons Online, Conquer Online, Heroes of Might & Magic Online and Disney Fantasy Online. We are also China's pioneer in overseas expansion, directly operating titles in overseas markets since 2004 in English, Spanish, Arabic and other languages. Our online games currently in development include World of Dungeon Keeper, TRANSFORMERS Online, icombo (previously named as Cross Gate), and a new version of Ultima Online.

In the mobile internet industry, we provide China's leading marketplace for smartphone users, offering applications and content for the most popular mobile operating systems. NetDragon currently offers its 91 portal, 91 PC Suite &91 Panda Space, hipak.com, Android market and Android ROM as its 5 major application distribution channels and two digital content distribution channels including 91 Panda Reader and Panda Home. 

    For further information please contact:

    NetDragon Websoft Inc.
    Ms. Maggie Zhou (Investor Relations Department)
    Tel:                                             +86 591 8754 3120
                                                     +86 591 8390 2825
    Email:       maggie@nd.com.cn
                 ir@nd.com.cn
    Website:     www.nd.com.cn/ir

SOURCE  NetDragon Websoft Inc.

NetDragon Websoft Inc.

Web Site: http://www.netdragon.com/

Leather Tree Sees Sales of Leather Briefcases, Luggage and Graduation Gifts Soar as Grad Season Approaches

ISLAND LAKE, Ill., April 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- LeatherTree.com, a leading online supplier of leather briefcases, luggage and office accessories, reaches its peak graduation gifts season second only to Christmas. Specializing in high-quality, practical leather products, Leather Tree finds their high school and college graduation gifts that encourage personal growth and confidence top sellers among all.

"So often we hear of the closets full of gifts that people receive and never use," explains Jacqueline Berger, President of Leather Tree, Inc. "But our customers know the importance of pushing our next generation to succeed. That's why they love our practical leather gifts that encourage these young adults to pursue their dreams with confidence."

For the high school graduate with seemingly unlimited opportunities and time, one of Leather Tree's quality leather backpacks or leather duffle bags makes for the perfect companion when traveling between home and college. And for the college graduate seeking the career they've worked so hard to reach, the leather padfolios and leather briefcases that bring that perfect amount of professionalism to the interview. All of which can also be personalized with initials or corporate logos for added detail.

LeatherTree.com offers more than quality leather padfolios, briefcases and other office accessories. With a BizRate Satisfaction Rating of 99% and an A+ from the Better Business Bureau, Leather Tree provides the exceptional service that keeps customers returning for every graduation, birthday, corporate event, and holiday.

"We know how important these milestone events are for our children, so it's important we show them how proud we are of their accomplishment and continue supporting their every endeavor," said Berger. "And a leather briefcase, padfolio or luggage set that they will use for years is one noble way to show your new graduate how much you care about their future."

For a limited time, customers who enter coupon code SEO at LeatherTree.com will receive a 10% discount off graduation gifts and purchases. For additional information on the top-of-the-line leather products from Leather Tree, visit http://www.LeatherTree.com.

Full press release available here: http://www.leathertree.com/Leather-Tree-Sees-Sales-of-Leather-Briefcases-Luggage-and-Graduation-Gifts-Soar-as-Grad-Season-Approaches.asp.

About Leather Tree:

Since 1997, LeatherTree.com has dedicated themselves to providing the highest customer satisfaction in the leather goods industry. Their leather products make great birthday, holiday and graduation gifts. They have been rated "1A" in customer service, ease of ordering, products, pricing and shipping.

SOURCE  LeatherTree.com

LeatherTree.com

CONTACT: Leather Tree, 1-800-792-7002, customerservice@leathertree.com

Web Site: http://www.leathertree.com

Domainmonster.com Announces Early Appointment as .XXX Domain Name Registrar

LONDON, April 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ --     Domainmonster.com have today announced their early appointment as one of
the very first registrars worldwide to be accredited by ICM Registry
(http://www.icmregistry.xxx), owners of the new .XXX domain name.

    The new .xxx extension has been live on the web since 15th April 2011 and
applicants will be able to start making pre-orders soon to own their .XXX
domain name at http://www.domainmonster.com/domain-name/xxx/

    "We are excited to have Mesh on board at this early stage. Their
consistent delivery and expertise on new domain launches has made them an
important partner for us", commented Russell King, COO, ICM Registry.

    Launching Summer 2011, the .XXX domain provides both willing consumers of
adult entertainment and those who wish to avoid it with an easily
identifiable mark - the end of the web address.

    Matt Mansell, CEO, Mesh Digital, commented further, "We anticipate the
.XXX launch to be the biggest we've seen in recent years. The demand our
support teams are seeing already far outstrips anything that's gone before".

    Pre-orders will also be available soon on Mesh Digital's new reseller
platform, Domainbox. The Domainbox platform processes over half a million
domain lookups every day for some of the world's largest domain resellers.
The platform includes a comprehensive Reseller API (Application Programming
Interface), Management Portal and Storefront product. All will offer full
support for every stage of the .XXX launch, making it instantly accessible
for those wishing to resell .XXX domains.

    For further information, please see:

    General .XXX domain name information -
http://www.domainmonster.com/domain-name/xxx/

    .XXX Domain Registration stages -
http://www.domainmonster.com/domain-registration/xxx/

    How to pre order a .XXX domain -
http://www.domainmonster.com/buy-domain/xxx/

    Reselling Domain Names - http://www.domainbox.net

    About Domainmonster.com

    Domainmonster.com has rapidly grown to become a Top 50 fastest
growing ICANN accredited registrar. With sales in Dollars, Sterling & Euros,
Domainmonster.com is a round the clock operation serving customers across the
globe. As a top tier performer worldwide for all new domain launches in the
past three years, Domainmonster.com is well known for its success securing
the web's best virtual real estate.

    Coupled with knowledgeable customer service and a consistently
low, "no catches", bulk pricing model, it's no wonder more than 30% of the
domains Domainmonster.com manages are inbound transfers! Domainmonster.com
brings a fresh outlook to domain registration and counts itself lucky to
serve endless domain portfolio holders and worldwide brands, amongst its many
customers.

    Domainmonster(R), Domainbox(R) and Mesh Digital(R) are
registered trademarks of Mesh Digital Limited. All other trademarks and
registered trademarks are acknowledged.

   
    Editor's notes
    For further information, please contact:
    Pete Osmond, Account Director: +44(0)1483-304030
    Matt Mansell, CEO, Domainmonster.com: +44(0)1483-304030

Source: Domainmonster.com

.

GameFly Releases Major Update for Mobile App: New Social Features Connect Gamers Like Never Before

With More Than 2.6M Downloads, The GameFly App is The Number One App for Video Games News and Information

LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GameFly, Inc., the leading online video game rental subscription service, today released a significant update to its popular mobile App, the number one App for video games news and information. It has seen over 2.6 million downloads to date on multiple operating systems. The updated App includes a number of next-generation features that connect users socially, and will transform the way gamers interact.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/LA91930LOGO)

The GameFly App is a comprehensive resource for gamers that features easy-to-use and free discovery tools for new games, as well as connecting avid gamers with each other. The updated App, available now in the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, includes the following:

    --  Create a profile page and browse others' profiles
    --  Find new people to play with on Xbox LIVE, PSN & Wii
    --  Post updates and share info with followers
    --  Follow friends and other gamers, and discover what they're playing
    --  View recent activity around any game
    --  Comment on others' posts and see comments on your posts
    --  Get notifications when people comment on your posts
    --  Connect Facebook and Twitter accounts seamlessly with the GameFly App
    --  GameFly members have the option to share the games they add to their
        GameQ or decide to keep

"Games have always been inherently social - and with these updates to our App, gamers can be more connected to one another than ever before," said Sean Spector, GameFly co-founder and SVP of Business Development and Content. "The GameFly App is an incredible resource for information on games - now we are providing the tools to build a broader, more engaged community for gamers."

The updated GameFly App is now available in the Apple iTunes App Store or it can be downloaded from http://www.gamefly.com/mobile.

About GameFly App

GameFly is the ultimate video game resource App for mobile devices and is available for the iOS, Android and Palm platforms. With up-to-date news and game trailers, as well as social networking connectivity and in-app access to GameFly account features, the GameFly App provides on-the-fly access to detailed and current information for more than 8,000 titles for all current consoles, handhelds and mobile devices, including Xbox 360(TM) Kinect, PlayStation® 3 Move, PlayStation® 2, Nintendo Wii(TM), Nintendo 3DS(TM), Nintendo DS(TM) and PSP(TM); iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Palm.

About GameFly

GameFly, the leading online video game rental subscription service, allows subscribers to rent one or more video games concurrently, with no due dates, late fees or shipping charges for a fixed monthly fee starting at $15.95 a month.  Subscribers select titles and manage their GameQ online from the GameFly website at http://www.gamefly.com or from its GameCenter mobile application for iOS, Android and Palm devices. Users receive games via First-Class Mail and return them to GameFly at their convenience using prepaid  mailers. In addition to selling video games through the "Keep" feature, GameFly also sells new and used video games to subscribers and others through the website.  To complement GameFly's subscription service and video game sales, the company operates a network of advertising-supported websites that provide video game content and information under the GameFly Media brand.

For press inquiries, please contact: Ryh-Ming PoonVP, Public Relations424.603.6913rpoon@gamefly.com

SOURCE  GameFly, Inc.

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/LA91930LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
GameFly, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.gamefly.com

COPAN Announces the Launch of WASPLab(TM)

MURRIETA, Calif., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- COPAN is proud to announce the worldwide launch of WASPLab(TM) , a barcode driven and conveyor-connected specimen processing system, which utilizes robotic plate management to automate specimen workflow in Microbiology. The unveiling of the system will be in Milan, during the 21st ECCMID General Meeting from May 7 to May 10, 2011, and in New Orleans, Louisiana, during the ASM's 111th General Meeting from May 21 to May 24, 2011.

WASPLab(TM) can manage various aspects of specimen processing and workup including planting and streaking, Gram slide preparation, enrichment broth inoculation, robotic incubation and storage, plate image analysis, AST/ID inoculum preparation, Kirby-Bauer disk application, and even MALDI-TOF Target Plate Seeding.

"We have developed WASPLab(TM) with the future of Microbiology in mind and an ongoing commitment to provide a solution for an automated single-piece flow system for specimen processing," says Norman Sharples, COPAN Diagnostics' Executive VP. At a time of diminishing resources where laboratories are pressured to grow business within current space, labor and expense constraints, WASPLab(TM) represents a clear solution to automate the tedious tasks of specimen processing and subsequent workup and frees scarce laboratory personnel to perform tasks that require their interpretative skills.

About COPAN Group

With a reputation for innovation in preanalytics, COPAN is the leading manufacturer of collection and transport systems in the world. COPAN offers a complete line of automation and a range of microbial sampling products used for traditional culture analysis and molecular diagnostic assays. For more information, visit http://www.copanusa.com

SOURCE  COPAN

COPAN

CONTACT: Gabriela Powers, Global Marketing Manager of COPAN, 1-800-216-4016, Gabriela.powers@copanusa.net

Web Site: http://www.copanusa.com

STMicroelectronics Boosts Next-Generation Basestations as Mobile Broadband Booms

Combined down-converter and synthesizer IC leverages ST process advantage to deliver cost-saving integration with optimum performance and flexibility

GENEVA, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, has announced a highly integrated device enabling wireless infrastructure equipment makers to meet the demand for more flexible and compact next-generation mobile network basestations, and at lower cost. The STW82100B series will also be used in equipment such as RF (radio-frequency) instrumentation and general wireless-infrastructure applications.

Demand for broadband services is driving the fastest growth ever seen in the mobile communications industry. Mobile network operators are quickly rolling out faster (HSPA/HSPA+) services offering data rates at 14.4Mbit/s and above. Commitment to the higher-speed next-generation standard 3GPP-LTE is growing more quickly still. Infonetics Research sees market for LTE infrastructure, which requires several types of basestations, exceeding $11bn by 2014.

ST's new ICs, the STW82100B series, meet the high-performance and low-cost demands of equipment suppliers by integrating important basestation functions, such as the RF frequency synthesizer and down-converter in a single device. Its suitability is already proven for new standards, such as LTE. ST's high-quality BiCMOS process has been used to achieve this advanced level of integration, while also meeting all key performance requirements. ST chips implemented in this advanced technology process are already being widely used by major basestation manufacturers.

"This family of products shows the effectiveness of silicon-germanium (SiGe) integration in challenging RF applications and demonstrates, once more, the potential of ST's proprietary BiCMOS technology," said Flavio Benetti, Marketing Director of ST's Networking and Storage Division. "Today, ST is also successfully serving other markets such as optical communications applications with BiCMOS process options offering high-speed transistors operating at up to 230GHz FT / 280GHz FMAX."

The STW82100B series (STW82100B, STW82101B, STW82102B, STW82103B) is built on the foundation of ST's proven RF frequency synthesizer ICs (STW81102 series), which are widely used in basestations and other wireless applications worldwide. It provides flexibility for designers by supporting different modes of operation. When used in the receiver section it can be configured to offer a dedicated LO (Local Oscillator) frequency generator for each antenna path, or can be used in a more traditional antenna-diversity scheme. In transmitter loopback circuits, designers can profit from its excellent gain flatness and the integrated 10-bit DAC to drive an external PIN diode for optimal signal level calibration.

Major features of the STW82100B:

    --  High input linearity
    --  8dB conversion gain
    --  10.5dB noise figure
    --  Excellent 'spurious performance'

The STW82100B is in mass production now in the VQFPN 7 x 7mm package, priced at approximately $6.00 in quantities of 1000. Alternative pricing options are available for larger quantities. An evaluation kit will also shortly be available.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2010, the Company's net revenues were $10.35 billion. Further information on ST can be found at http://www.st.com.

SOURCE  STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics

CONTACT: Michael Markowitz of STMicroelectronics, +1-781-591-0354, michael.markowitz@st.com

Web Site: http://www.st.com

No More Lawn Mowing: 15-Year-Old Maker of Flying Fatress Discovers Paid iPhone Apps as the New Paper Route

Most kids are playing mobile games, but this kid develops them

ASPEN, Colo., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Most high school students are content loading iPhone apps designed by other people. High school freshman Connor Rodriguez wasn't, however, which is why he created an iPhone app that's now for sale through the iTunes store.

Available for just $.99, Flying Fatress is a simple but highly addictive mobile game. The objective is to bounce the scantily clad Fatress on beach chairs for sodas and donuts, but be careful because vegetables will ruin her snack.

Rodriguez, 15, is in his first year at the Dunn School in Los Olivos, Calif., having graduated from Aspen Country Day School in Aspen, Colo., last year. He taught himself how to make iPhone apps for Apple using a textbook and YouTube training videos. Much trial and error was involved in creating the mobile game, but it was worth it in the end for him, particularly because of the satisfaction he got when Apple agreed his iPhone app was worthy of a price tag instead of making it free like so many thousands of others. Making some extra money has been a nice result, too, of course.

"I like making iPhone apps and enjoyed doing something that customers would like," Rodriguez said. "It's something I could create on my own terms. Flying Fatress is a funny mobile game and it was an original idea, which was important to me."

A Flying Fatress update, Version 1.2 of this addicting mobile game, is pending, and Rodriguez hopes to expand his burgeoning empire by making apps for others in addition to himself. Of course, this is all done in his spare time when he's not hitting the books.

Flipping burgers or diving for digital donuts to make some extra dough? Which would you rather do if you were in high school, work at a mindless job or develop iPhone apps? The choice is clear. Could this be the future of teen employment? For more on the mobile game Flying Fatress: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flying-fatress/id424558707?mt=8 or http://www.gamingland.com.

    Contact:    Meredith C. Carroll, (970) 319-7031
                meredithccarroll@hotmail.com

SOURCE  Flying Fatress

Flying Fatress

Web Site: http://www.gamingland.com

Shunra's PerformanceSuite With NetworkCatcher - Built to Drive Significant Savings in Application Deployment Costs

Discovering Real-World Network Conditions Enhances Accuracy of Application Performance Testing Efforts

PHILADELPHIA, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Shunra, the industry-recognized authority in Application Performance Engineering (APE) solutions for WAN, Web, Mobile and Cloud-based networks, today announced the release of Shunra NetworkCatcher(TM) 6.0, a breakthrough solution to discover real-world network conditions. Performance engineers, network analysts, consultants and other IT personnel now have a reliable means to precisely identify production network conditions, including bandwidth, latency and packet loss. This information can then be leveraged in performance test environments by Shunra PerformanceSuite(TM) to ensure test results accurately represent application performance under real-world conditions.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110203/NY41888LOGO)

"Shunra PerformanceSuite with NetworkCatcher 6.0 has dramatically altered the landscape for testing applications, because it is now possible to automatically detect network conditions and instantly emulate those conditions in the test lab to accurately predict the performance of an application before deployment to the network," said Tim Grant, NetworkCatcher Product Manager for Shunra. "Shunra's PerformanceSuite with NetworkCatcher enables our customers to save millions of dollars by proactively identifying, diagnosing and mitigating potential performance bottlenecks in advance of impacting end users. It costs far less to remediate an application performance issue before deployment and before the problem affects revenue, productivity or customer satisfaction."

NetworkCatcher 6.0 features automated, remote network analysis with graphical drilldown capability to display best-case, worst-case and average network performance, plus an easy-to-use recording library that retains conditions from multiple locations in the network indefinitely so current performance can be readily compared with historical data. NetworkCatcher also includes a web interface to enable team collaboration and analysis of data in all real-world network environments - WAN, Web, Mobile and Cloud.

"NetworkCatcher is a powerful tool that has instantly become a Shunra best practice, ideal for use by every Shunra customer," said Shunra COO Bill Varga. "Confidence in application deployment is driven by accurate discovery information about the deployment environment, and NetworkCatcher's capacity to paint a highly detailed picture of a real-world network brings the accuracy of our application performance data to levels unmatched by any competing technology on the market today."

About Application Performance Engineering (APE)

APE is the discipline applied at every phase of the application lifecycle that ensures an application will be designed, implemented and operationally supported to meet its non-functional performance requirements. APE includes the roles, skills, activities, practices and solutions required to confidently deploy and manage application performance.

APE Best Practices

    --  Discover: identify and record real-world infrastructure and network
        conditions, business processes, application topology and deployment
        scenarios
    --  Recreate Real World: incorporate network behavior, network emulation and
        business process automation scripts into the test environment
    --  Performance Testing: integrate with automation tools and enable
        single-user and multi-site/multi-user load testing
    --  Performance Analysis: conduct thorough results analysis to identify
        potential bottlenecks and validate performance and SLO compliance
    --  Remediation and Optimization: implement recommended best practices to
        improve performance and calculate performance ROI

About Shunra

Shunra is the industry-recognized authority in Application Performance Engineering (APE) and a pioneer in WAN Emulation. Shunra's customers include 75 of the Fortune 100 with some of the most complex and sophisticated networks in the world. Shunra's APE solutions discover, predict, emulate and analyze the performance of applications over WAN, Web, Mobile and Cloud networks. Shunra delivers dramatic cost savings through customized performance insight, enabling pre-deployment and post-production remediation and optimization. Customers include Apple, AT&T, Bank of America, Best Buy, Boeing, Cisco Systems, Citibank, eBay, FedEx, GE, IBM, ING Direct, Intel, Marriott, MasterCard, McDonalds, Merrill Lynch, Motorola, Oracle, Pepsi, Pfizer, Siemens, Target, Thomson Reuters, TJX, Verizon, Walt Disney and the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank. Shunra is headquartered in Philadelphia and privately held. For more information, call 1.877.474.8672 or visit http://www.shunra.com.

SOURCE  Shunra

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110203/NY41888LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Shunra

CONTACT: Nancy Leonard, +1-215-713-4836, nancy.leonard@shunra.com

Web Site: http://www.shunra.com

Royal Wedding Live on iPad & iPhone, Kings & Queens App

LONDON, April 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ --

    - Currently 'iPad of the Week' in the UK

    - No 1 iPad app in Book Category

    - 40th iPad app overall in the UK

    One of our finest historians transforms his acclaimed history
of the British Monarchy into a remarkable, fully integrated, high production
app which includes live TV coverage of the Royal Wedding

    In a world first, HarperCollins and TradeMobile, together with
celebrated historian David Starkey, bring history to the iPad and iPhone with
a truly interactive high production values app based on his latest book CROWN
AND COUNTRY.

    Spanning two thousand years of the British Monarchy right up to
the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, David Starkey's Kings &
Queens App enables users to explore the monarchy's roller-coaster history in
unprecedented detail and with stunning clarity and colour.

    Here, as never before, is a personal history class from one of
the country's greatest history teachers. Available for use on iPhone and
iPad, this highly interactive app transforms David Starkey's brilliant
overview of the history of Britain through her kings and queens from the
printed page to the handheld device. The app features:

    - Multiple navigation pathways enabling users to browse through
timelines, tap into family trees and explore maps and historical themes.

    - Extensive and exclusive video, allowing users to watch and
listen to David Starkey at the same time as dipping in and out of the
abridged text of CROWN AND COUNTRY.

    - A live stream of Sky TV coverage of the Royal Wedding available
on the day.

    - Curatorial input from historical experts and educational
specialists from the British Library and the British Museum.

    - Lavish illustrations, including high resolution images of
monarchs and their times.

    - Innovative technology that offers users a uniquely interactive
multi-layered reading experience.

    - Feature TV commentary on all aspects of the Royal Wedding, from
why fashionistas love Kate Middleton to how to be the perfect wedding guest.

    Available in Apple's App store from 21 April, 2011 for an
introductory price of GBP1.79

    From GBP3.99 after 30 April 2011

    Note to Editors:

    ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

    HarperCollins, one of the largest English-language publishers
in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX:
NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups
around the world including the HarperCollins General Books Group,
HarperCollins Children's Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK,
HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins
India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary
and commercial fiction, business books, children's books, cookbooks, mystery,
romance, reference, religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of
history HarperCollins has published some of the world's foremost authors and
has won numerous awards including the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize and
National Book Award, the Newbery Medal and the Caldecott. Consistently at the
forefront of innovation and technological advancement HarperCollins is the
first publisher to digitize its content and create a global digital warehouse
to protect the rights of its authors, meet consumer demand and generate
additional business opportunities. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers on
the Internet at http://www.harpercollins.com.

    ABOUT TRADEMOBILE LIMITED

    TradeMobile Ltd (TML) is a private company established in 2005
and headquartered in London with offices in New Zealand and Hong Kong.
TradeMobile develops proprietary platforms and targeted solutions enabling
businesses to interact directly with their customers through their mobiles.
TradeMobile's mobile solutions can be adapted to any business, any system and
any market around the globe. While there are hundreds of application stores
building individual apps for the iPhone, Android and other Smartphone models,
no other company owns and offers fully supported 'back-end' technology
platforms which negate the need or use of third party providers.

    The Beyond the Story + eBook treatment used in Kings & Queens:
This is the natural evolution for audiences who wish to consume their entire
reading experience on digital devices. The app uniquely marries an e-reading
experience with timelines, family trees, and learning trails using the
exclusive "BeyondTheStory" technology. Jump from an event on the timeline
straight in to the narrative in the book, or highlight a key location in the
book and be transported to the map showing where it took place. Everything is
linked together and gives you the unique ability to choose your own path of
discovery. You can visit TradeMobile on the Internet at
http://www.trademobile.co.uk.

Source: TradeMobile Ltd

Issued by: Helen Ellis,  Publicity Director, HarperPress, +44(0)20-8307-4250; Jen Porter, Director, CEO, TradeMobile Ltd, +44(0)7503-027-167

352 Media Group Unveils New Tampa Web Design & Digital Marketing Office

TAMPA, Fla., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 352 Media Group is opening its new Tampa office the only way it knows how: with a big party.

On May 25, 352 Media Group will officially cut the red ribbon and open its doors to the newest location of the Web development and digital marketing company, signifying its official entrance into the Tampa Bay area.

"We see the great opportunity for Web development and digital marketing in the Tampa Bay Area and south Florida," said Geoff Wilson, 352 Media Group's founder and president. "This office will allow us to better serve our Tampa Bay clients and help us continue to grow our relationships throughout Florida."

352 Media Group has already made a lasting impression on the Tampa web design and digital marketing market. Its new office will further help the company establish its presence by being better able to assist its clients in the Tampa Bay area, including The St. Petersburg Times, Outback Steakhouse, TechData, and CCS Medical.

352 Media Group's Tampa office is located in Ybor City at 2211 East 7th Ave., down the street from the world-famous Columbia restaurant. It will be run by 20-year veteran of technology sales and sales management Len Doland. Also heading up the Tampa office will be one of the company's senior account directors, Kelly Lammers, and long-time Tampa sales and marketing professional, Michael Blasco.

The Tampa Web development and digital marketing office will help support the company's headquarters in Gainesville, FL and regional offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Seattle.

About 352 Media Group

352 Media Group delivers a better experience. As a full-service Web development and digital marketing company, 352 Media Group provides a complete approach to business development. From developing websites and creating mobile applications to launching integrated marketing campaigns, 352 Media Group helps build and establish its clients as major players within their industries. 352 Media Group's holistic offerings include Web application development, such as Facebook app development; mobile development, such as Windows Phone app development; interactive motion graphics, such as Microsoft Surface and Silverlight development; and digital marketing, such as social media marketing campaigns and search engine optimization services.

CONTACT: Erin Everhart, 877-352-6334

SOURCE  352 Media Group

352 Media Group

Web Site: http://www.352media.com

Sonexis Technology, Inc. Selected for Membership in Avaya DevConnect Program

Network of companies creates innovative, IP-enabled Unified Communications applications that extend the value of multivendor networks

MONROEVILLE, Pa., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonexis Technology, Inc., a leading provider of on-premise audio and web conferencing platforms, today announced it has been selected by Avaya Inc., a global leader in business collaboration systems, software and services, for membership in the Avaya DevConnect program focusing on Avaya's flagship small to medium enterprise solution, Avaya IP Office.

Sonexis delivers a feature-rich collaboration solution well-suited for the small to medium enterprise (SME).   Sonexis ConferenceManager provides a high quality collaboration environment to customers looking to implement a secure, cost-effective solution for audio and web conferencing. As a result, SME customers gain more flexibility and cost savings over traditional conferencing service providers, and benefit from enhanced security features that are inherent in the platform.

The Avaya DevConnect program promotes the development, compliance-testing and co-marketing of innovative third-party products that are compatible with standards-based Avaya solutions.  Member organizations have expertise in a broad range of technologies - including IP telephony, contact centers and mobility applications - helping companies extend the value of multivendor networks and transform voice into an intelligent business application that delivers true value to the bottom line. 

"Membership in Avaya's developer community helps Sonexis deliver a comprehensive and secure collaboration solution to IP Office customers," said Dan Watkins, Executive Vice President with Sonexis. "ConferenceManager offers a robust and secure collaboration solution that can be seamlessly deployed to customers that require an expanded collaboration solution while preserving prior investments in telephony and data infrastructure.  The testing of the ConferenceManager solution with Avaya IP Office through the DevConnect program will provide Avaya customers with another option for enhanced audio and web collaboration." 

The Avaya DevConnect program currently includes thousands of software and hardware developer companies, integrators, service providers and customers.  Members have created a broad array of innovative solutions tested for Avaya compliance, including natural language speech recognition applications, wireless services, specialized computer telephony integration and reporting capabilities, and applications tailored for specific vertical industries.  Through the DevConnect program, Avaya provides a number of platforms and interfaces for member companies to develop with and enhance. 

"We welcome Sonexis Technology to the Avaya DevConnect community of development partners," said Eric Rossman, Vice President, Developer Relations, Avaya.  "Sonexis Technology's collaboration offering for the small-to-medium size enterprise marketplace will provide greater capability and choice for Avaya IP Office customers."

As a member of the DevConnect program, companies have access to a wide range of support from Avaya, including technical resources and training.  There are three levels of membership - Registered, Gold and Platinum - each entailing progressive levels of marketing and sales involvement.  Free Registered membership is available to anyone interested in designing Avaya-compatible solutions.  Gold-level members and Platinum members must meet rigorous Avaya criteria for customer satisfaction, product support, business operations, marketing and sales.  Sonexis Technology, Inc. is a Gold member of the Avaya DevConnect program.

Membership information and a listing of solutions developed and tested under the DevConnect program are available at http://www.avaya.com/devconnect.

About Avaya

Avaya is a global leader in business communications and collaboration systems, providing unified communications, contact centers, data solutions and related services to organizations of all sizes around the world. For more information please visit http://www.avaya.com.  For more information on the Avaya DevConnect program, visit http://www.avaya.com/devconnect.

About Sonexis Technology, Inc.

Sonexis is a leading provider of in-house audio and web conferencing platforms for the enterprise. Sonexis ConferenceManager has set new standards for ease of use and security. Designed to work within existing voice and data networks, hundreds of leading organizations have deployed Sonexis ConferenceManager with minimal cost, effort or administration.  A subsidiary of Compunetix with headquarters in Monroeville, PA and a technology center in Tewksbury, MA, Sonexis can be reached at 888-4SONEXIS (888-476-6394) or http://www.sonexis.com.

SOURCE  Sonexis Technology, Inc.

Sonexis Technology, Inc.

CONTACT: Media, Tamera Rousseau-Vesta, Sonexis, +1-978-640-2019, tvesta@sonexis.com, or DevConnect PR, +1-908-953-6432, devconnectpr@avaya.com

Web Site: http://www.sonexis.com

Cyber Switching Launches Single Phase Versions of ePower® Family of "Green" Power Distribution Units

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyber Switching (http://www.cyberswitching.com), a leading provider and innovator of power distribution and power management solutions, announced the immediate availability of single phase versions of its award winning ePower® intelligent power distribution units (iPDUs).  Recognized with a 2010 Best of INTEROP Green Award and a 2010 Smart Grid Excellence Award, the ePower iPDU is a green product featuring industry first technologies in the rack-mounted power distribution market.  With these newest additions to the ePower family, there are now over 300 PDU configurations available.

ePower has been specifically designed with "green" in mind.  Exceeding all RoHS-6 environmental standards and using the latest power-saving technologies, ePower helps customers "green" their power grid by providing critical metering data and remote management capabilities.  With ePower, customers lower operational costs, identify energy reduction opportunities, and even incentivize energy users to manage their own power consumption. For a colocation or enterprise datacenter with several groups of users, real-time power usage can now be tracked and attributed to each individual user, allowing the datacenter to charge customers based on actual usage and aligning user behavior with power reduction benefits.  ePower from concept through manufacturing and into the customers' environment is the "green" leader.

ePower PDUs support several remote management options, such as HTTP/S, Web Services, SSH, Telnet, Syslog, SMTP, and, most recently, Cisco® EnergyWise.  Cisco EnergyWise leverages the network as a platform, simplifying power management as an extension of your existing Cisco infrastructure.  Cisco EnergyWise can be used to enforce enterprise-wide power management policies, gather power metrics into user-friendly dashboards, and enable customers to gain control over their power usage in both the datacenter and building infrastructure.  The ePower PDU is the first intelligent PDU to support the latest version of Cisco EnergyWise, and provides power data and control for each outlet through the network.  ePower and Cisco EnergyWise enable "green," even faster.

"Cyber Switching's innovation continues in the ePower platform, providing the best value in the industry," said Tom Schoepf, Senior Product Manager at Cyber Switching.  "With the most input/outlet combinations and the most advanced power management features in the industry, ePower meets every datacenter's needs."

Key Features of ePower include:

    --  Interactive color LCD touchscreen
    --  Patented Cyber Breaker® the Virtual Circuit Breaker(TM) on each outlet
    --  Patented power metering and control technology on each outlet
    --  Support for Cisco EnergyWise v2.5 with individual outlet management
    --  IPv4 and IPv6 dual-stack support
    --  Two USB  ports with support of up to 127 simultaneous peripherals
    --  Slimmest PDU with individual outlet metering on the market
    --  300+ PDU configurations

ePower products are available direct or through Cyber Switching resellers worldwide.  Cyber Switching products are backed by a standard 5-year warranty, complete with customer support via telephone and email. For more information on Cyber Switching products and technology, please visit http://www.cyberswitching.com or call (888) 311-6277.

About Cyber Switching

http://www.cyberswitching.com

An Inc. 5000 company, Cyber Switching is a leading provider and innovator of power distribution and power management products.  Cyber Switching has a reputation for developing green solutions which integrate rich features with unsurpassed reliability and great value.

    CONTACT:    Chris Bulaon
                (408) 436-9830
                chrisb@cyberswitching.com

SOURCE  Cyber Switching

Cyber Switching

Web Site: http://www.cyberswitching.com

Innovative Social Media Event Chronicles Launch of New Carnival Magic With Series of Facebook Videos on May 1

Series of 11 videos to feature exclusive footage of naming ceremony, new amenities, interviews with top executives and more

MIAMI, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In an unprecedented social media event, Carnival Cruise Lines is inviting Facebook fans (http://www.facebook.com/carnival) to experience the excitement of Carnival Magic's May 1 launch from Venice, Italy, with a series of videos that showcase the ship's inaugural activities along with its many unique features and innovations.

A series of 11 videos will be posted every half hour between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. (U.S. Eastern time) on Sunday, May 1.  The videos take viewers on a journey as they enjoy a front-row seat at the Carnival Magic's naming ceremony, tour the ship's bridge, and learn more about the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub, WaterWorks aqua park, and Cucina del Capitano Italian restaurant, with insight from company executives who helped create these exciting new spaces.

The videos also offer an in-depth look at the ship's European ports of call and a recap of the day's events, including a chat with the ship's godmother, Lindsey Wilkerson, a former patient of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital who now serves as an employee and an ambassador of the organization. Carnival Magic's Senior Cruise Director John Heald will also answer questions submitted by Facebook fans as part of an informative "Ask John" segment.

After the videos are posted, fans can participate in a Facebook quiz based on the videos for a chance to win a seven-day Carnival Magic cruise for four to the Caribbean.

"Only a handful of people get to witness a ship launch in person so by using Facebook we're enabling fans from all over the world to be right there with us as we welcome Carnival Magic into the fleet," said Jim Berra, Carnival's chief marketing officer. "Those who are not already among our 725,000 and growing Facebook fans can visit us at http://www.facebook.com/carnival and simply hit the 'like' button."

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic will spend its inaugural season in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1 through October 16, 2011. Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will begin seven-day Caribbean cruises out of Galveston, Texas, on November 14, 2011, becoming the port's largest year-round ship.

Additional information on Carnival Magic is available at http://www.carnivalmagic.com.

For additional information on the "Fun Ship" vacation experience, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

About Carnival

Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line®," with 23 "Fun Ships" operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.  In addition to the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, which debuted in Europe May 1, 2011, the new 130,000-ton Carnival Breeze is scheduled to enter service in June 2012.  Additional information is available at http://www.carnival.com.

Carnival Cruise Lines is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.  Visit us at http://www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.

SOURCE  Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines

CONTACT: Jennifer de la Cruz or Tim Gallagher, +1-800-438-6744 or +1-305-599-2600, ext. 16000

Web Site: http://www.carnival.com

Softlib Announces iSolve v8 - Next-Generation Knowledge Solution for Service Delivery

New iSolve Offers Knowledge Collaboration and Delivery Capabilities That Increase Knowledge Usage

TEL AVIV, Israel, April 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ --     Softlib Software, a leading provider of Knowledge Solutions for immediate
service delivery, today announced the general availability of its latest
innovation - iSolve v8.

    iSolve is a Virtual Knowledge Base, allowing IT organizations, technology
vendors and call centers to organize, add, share, discover and analyze use of
federated knowledge from a single application, without moving information
around. ITIL-compliant iSolve can be used as a standalone application or as a
plug in within portals, CRMs, Service Desk systems, etc.

    New generation of iSolve revolutionizes the way knowledge is captured,
shared, delivered and discovered so that technical and service experts as
well as end users can get to the right knowledge on demand, quickly and
easily.

    iSolve v8 introduces the following new key capabilities:

    - New personalized Home page, displaying multiple widgets and showing:

    - Latest notes from peers. User notes can be independent or attached to
knowledge items. Once added they immediately become searchable.

    - New knowledge alerts for items that were added anywhere in the
federated knowledge environment, filtered by user areas of interest.

    - Knowledge search history and knowledge viewed history for direct access
to knowledge.

    - Automatically generated anthology/taxonomy. The anthology includes
corporate terminology and synonyms that help locate knowledge described in
different words than the search words. The software continues to update the
anthology/taxonomy as new knowledge is created.

    - Per user/group virtual knowledge universe allows users to organize and
pinpoint information for quick access by each role in the organization.

    "Making effective use of federated knowledge is a major challenge in
service environments," said John Ragsdale, vice president of technology
research for TSIA. "Softlib knowledge delivery technology and the
sophisticated knowledge discovery algorithms provide an innovative approach
to effective use of knowledge, facilitating faster service at lower costs to
both end users and experts."

    "We are thrilled with our latest innovative solution that delivers
effective and affordable knowledge to end users, Call Centers, IT Help Desk
and customer support organizations," said Boaz Grinvald, CEO of Softlib
Software. "iSolve v8 breakthrough technology is the latest weapon in the war
on shorter service cycles and first-call resolution."

    About Softlib

    Softlib is a leading provider of Knowledge On Demand software, enabling
our customers to reduce costs substantially while improving service to end
users. We bring innovative solutions to the marketplace that revolutionizes
the way Helpdesk/technical support/IT/Service is delivered. Softlib products
are used by thousands of users worldwide. Among our customers are financial
institutions, telecom companies, technology vendors and government agencies.
Softlib has global presence, with customers around the globe. For more
information, please visit http://www.softlibsw.com or contact: Vladimir
Urayev, vladimir@softlibsw.com

   
    Contact:
    Vladimir Urayev
    US phone: +1-551-226-6069
    Intl phone: +972-54-7766191
    Email: vladimir@softlibsw.com

Source: Softlib Ltd

.

Verizon Develops New Metric to Accurately Measure Company's Carbon Efficiency as Broadband, IP, Wireless and Video Services Grow

Metric Will Help Company to Continue Its Energy-Conservation Improvements Amid Increasing Demands on Its Network

NEW YORK, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon has developed a new metric for measuring carbon efficiency, enabling the company, for the first time, to accurately quantify the impact of all of its green initiatives.

The metric will help Verizon continue to make improvements in energy conservation and efficiency, as the rapid increase in demand for broadband, IP network services, wireless data and video increases the demands on the company's network - and the amount of energy needed to operate the network.

Called the "carbon intensity metric," the new measurement was developed by Verizon's Sustainability Office and tested over the past 12 months. The tests showed an improvement of approximately 15 percent in the company's carbon efficiency, from 2009 to 2010.

The metric is derived by first combining Verizon's total carbon emissions (in metric tons) from the electricity, building fuels and vehicle fuels used to run the company's business. Then, that total is divided by the number of terabytes of data that the company transports across its network. (One terabyte equals about 300 feature-length movies.) Verizon transported 78.6 million terabytes across its global network in 2010 - an increase of about 16 percent, compared with 2009.

By measuring how many metric tons of carbon emissions Verizon produces, on average, to move a terabyte of data, the company can better assess the success of its sustainability efforts and where it needs to focus more attention to continue improving.

"We want to make sure our sustainability claims are backed up by solid methodology and numbers that we can share with everyone," said James Gowen, chief sustainability officer for Verizon. "We developed this metric because we are a network company, and our core measure is the amount of information we transport on our network. So this ratio is closely aligned with our business and will allow us to assess how we are becoming more energy efficient even as our business expands."

Verizon is committed to reporting its carbon efficiency each year and has a goal of increasing its carbon efficiency by an additional 15 percent this year.

"The information transmitted over Verizon's networks every day is already equivalent to 215 million copies of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and customers want more," said Jeremy Symons, senior vice president at the National Wildlife Federation.  "It requires a lot of energy to deliver all that data.  By setting a goal of a 15 percent carbon-efficiency improvement for 2011, Verizon is helping to minimize the carbon footprint of the digital age even as customers ask for more services."

A Green Verizon

Verizon has implemented a wide range of green initiatives, including adding more alternative fuel and hybrid-engine vehicles to its fleet, deploying more energy-efficient network equipment, hosting recycling and other green-awareness events, and launching a campaign to encourage customers to switch to paperless billing.

The company has received numerous awards for its green initiatives.  In 2010, Verizon received 21 awards for its sustainability achievements, and in January, the company received the Groundbreaker Award from the Clean Economy Network Education Fund.

Verizon also deployed 1,642 hybrid-engine and alternative fuel vehicles in 2010, bringing the total to more than 1,900 or about 5 percent of its fleet. Those efforts were recently lauded by President Obama for leadership in deploying green solutions, which included vehicles powered by compressed natural gas, biodiesel and other alternative fuels as well as using hybrid-engine technology. By the end of 2011, 7.5 percent of the company's fleet will use alternative fuels.

Verizon has been named to several lists for sustainability, corporate ethical standards and social responsibility, including the FTSE4Good Index, Ethibel Sustainability Index and Calvert Large Cap Value Fund. The company also was placed on the NASDAQ Global Sustainability Index, a benchmark for stocks of companies that take a leadership role in disclosing their carbon footprint, energy usage, water consumption and other relevant data.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com. 

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at http://www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE  Verizon

Verizon

CONTACT: Raymond McConville, +1-908-559-3504, raymond.mcconville@verizon.com

Web Site: http://www.verizon.com

Sophia Enhances Online Social Teaching and Learning Site With New Navigation, Design and Search Options

Sophia.org Provides Free, Credible Academic Content

MINNEAPOLIS, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sophia, a first-of-its-kind online social teaching and learning platform that offers free academic content to anyone, anywhere, introduced several new enhancements to the site (Sophia.org) to streamline the process of creating content and sharing it with others.

Since the public beta launch in March, Sophia has welcomed tens of thousands of users from hundreds of institutions across 116 countries. Sophia uses Web 2.0 tools and methods to create a credible, crowd-sourced platform where information is organized in "learning packets" - bite-sized tutorials tagged to specific academic subjects or topics. The packets can be created by anyone using text, images, presentations, video, audio and more. Packets are rated for quality and evaluated for academic soundness by users and experts within the community.

"We are thrilled with the response we have received so far from people around the world who are using the site to teach what they know and learn what they don't," said Don Smithmier, founder and CEO of Sophia. "We created Sophia on the premise that there are millions of great ideas and people who can contribute to making education better and more effective, and it has been truly amazing to witness the collaboration among teachers, students and people everywhere who have joined the Sophia community."

Visitors to Sophia.org will experience several enhancements including:

    --  New layout and design that enables ease of navigation throughout the
        site.
    --  Upgraded search processes to enable Sophia users to easily find learning
        packets about specific topics.
    --  Streamlined registration so new users can easily create an account to
        develop content or start a group to share information.
    --  Additional assistance for new users that provides tips for using Sophia.
    --  Improved features to report inappropriate use of the site.

"We will continue to make changes to the site based on how individuals use it and also the feedback we receive," Smithmier said. "Our goal is to offer a credible resource for students, parents, teachers - anyone who wants to learn or share their knowledge in a world-wide learning community."

To learn more or to create a packet of your own, visit http://www.sophia.org.

About Sophia

Sophia is a social teaching and learning application that makes free, credible academic content available to anyone at anytime. It is a mission-driven organization that aims to break traditional cost and access barriers to post-secondary degree attainment. For more information, go to http://www.sophia.org.

SOURCE  Sophia

Sophia

CONTACT: Teresa McFarland, +1-952-440-6084, tmcfarland@mcfarlandcahill.com, for Sophia

Web Site: http://www.sophia.org