News

Nextag Acquires Leading German Comparison Shopping Site, Guenstiger.de GmbH

Acquisition Accelerates Nextag's Growth and Global Reach in Europe and Continues Company's Transformation Into the Ultimate Product for Online Shoppers and Value-Added Partner for Merchants

SAN MATEO, Calif., April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nextag, (Nextag.com), a leading comparison shopping website for products and services, today announced the acquisition of Germany's Guenstiger.de GmbH, the leading provider of online comparison shopping services in Europe's largest market.  Guenstiger provides shoppers in six countries with a rich user experience and valuable product information, including reviews, recommendations, and local product availability, to help users make easy and informed purchases. 

"Over the past 10 years, Guenstiger has placed a premium on building an outstanding user experience and market leading brand in the German market and other countries.  Consequently, Guenstiger has an extremely loyal user base and a reputation as one of the most authoritative and trusted comparison shopping sites in Europe," said Jeffrey Katz, Chief Executive Officer of Nextag.  "By joining forces with Guenstiger, we will quickly accelerate our growth internationally, diversify our traffic sources and deliver a shopping experience that consumers love and merchants value.  We are also delighted that Guenstiger's managing directors, Philipp Hartmann, Aske Magdalinski, and Torsten Schnoor, will join Nextag's senior team and continue leading Guenstiger after the closing of the transaction.  This is a significant victory for Nextag."

"The purchase of Guenstiger by Nextag is a great validation of what we have built in Germany," said Aske Magdalinski, Managing Director of Guenstiger. "By combining our talents in brand building and user experience design with Nextag's unsurpassed skills in traffic generation and monetization, we will create a company that is uniquely well positioned for future growth and expansion."

This acquisition marks the most significant strategic transaction for Nextag to date.  During the past nine months, Nextag has also acquired Wize, Inc., a product review and recommendations site, and NextCoupons.com, a coupon site.   These acquisitions are part of a broad growth plan, which also includes strategic hiring, technology development and global expansion.

Nextag will purchase Guenstiger with a combination of cash and stock. Other transaction details have not been released and the transaction is subject to approval by regulatory agencies.  Going forward, Guenstiger will maintain its leading brands and continue to be led by its current management team. While Guenstiger is expected to run independently, the two companies will work closely to leverage each other's capabilities going forward.

About Nextag

Nextag is the ultimate resource for online shoppers, offering a fun, reliable and expansive browsing experience for everything from toys to travel plans. Our best-in-class search technology and proven expertise ensure that all of our 30 million+ monthly customers find the products, prices and information they need, when and where they need them.  Nextag operates comparison shopping sites in the US (Nextag.com), the UK (Nextag.co.uk), France (Nextag.fr), Germany (Nextag.de), Spain (Nextag.es), Italy (Nextag.it), Australia (Nextag.com.au), Japan (Nextag.co.jp), and Canada (Nextag.ca). Nextag is headquartered in San Mateo, California with offices in Chicago, London, Tokyo and Gurgaon, India.

About Guenstiger

Guenstiger.de GmbH is a leading price comparison service for products in the area of telecommunications, computers, consumer electronics household and leisure goods. Consumers use Guenstiger's brands to easily and quickly compare products and prices of thousands of online merchants and offline retail shops throughout Germany. Guenstiger also operates websites in Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and Russia.

Contact:
Joshua Weinberg
The Digital Life Consulting Group
joshua@DLifegroup.com
(415) 777-3339

SOURCE  Nextag, Inc.

Nextag, Inc.

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

Hardy Fly Fishing Releases Online Store with Shopatron

SAN LUIS OBISPO, California, April 26, 2011/PRNewswire/ --

    Hardy has been producing fine fly fishing equipment since 1872, but until
recently those products weren't available for purchase on Hardy's branded
website so that Hardy could support its retailer partners.

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101109/SHOPATRONLOGO)

    That changed last month when Hardy partnered with Shopatron to launch an
online store that allows its United Kingdom customers to purchase fly fishing
gear in the store and receive those orders from Hardy's network of hometown
fly shops.

    The online store, accessible via HardyFishing.com, allows Hardy to
strengthen relationships with dealers by passing online orders to the closest
local retailer. Shopatron's retail-integrated model
(http://ecommerce.shopatron.com/brand/solutions/coex-freedom) also improves
customer relationships, giving end consumers the convenience of buying at any
time on a branded website they trust, while still having access to support
from expert local dealers.

    "The Internet is important for customers looking for information and
increasingly for buying products," said Ken Brewster, Hardy's Sales and
Marketing Director. "We want to help our customers find the information they
want to know and then, if they so wish, buy items online quickly and
securely. We also want to support our network of Hardy dealers. This system
does exactly that by using the retailers to fulfill the orders."

    Hardy products that are available for online purchase include fly rods,
reels, accessories and clothing. The company joins more than 20 fishing
brands on Shopatron, a network that includes 250 sporting goods brands
working with over 5,000 sporting goods retailers to fulfill orders placed
online.

    In the first quarter of 2011, those sporting goods stores on the
Shopatron Exchange saw same-store sales growth of 44% over the previous year.

    ABOUT HARDY FISHING

    Established in 1872, Hardy is one of the world's most famous fishing
tackle manufacturers and has consistently been at the forefront of fishing
tackle innovation. Still based in Alnwick, England Hardy designs and produces
a range of tackle, from modern performance rods and reels to more classically
designed and built products, and distribute all over the world. Find out more
at http://www.hardyfishing.com.

    ABOUT SHOPATRON

    Founded in 2001, Shopatron is the No. 1 retail-integrated eCommerce
solution for branded manufacturers, distributors and multi-channel retailers.
Working with more than 800 manufacturers and 12,000 retail partners across 35
industries, Shopatron meets the evolving eCommerce needs of branded
manufacturers and multi-channel retailers.

    Shopatron's European headquarters is located in Swindon, United Kingdom.
It provides support in the local language for many great brands across
mainland Europe like Marshall Amplification, Katadyn, K2 Sports and Sevenoaks
Sound and Vision.

Source: Shopatron

Micaela Hichborn of Shopatron, Inc., +1-805-269-5200, pr@shopatron.com

The Official App of Final Exams: StudyBlue Flashcards for Android and iPhone

StudyBlue releases new mobile applications for Android, iPhone and iPod Touch that allow students to study online flashcards and class notes on the go.

MADISON, Wis., April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As college and high school students prepare for finals and year-end exams, StudyBlue has released innovative mobile apps that allow students to study their notes and online flashcards stored or created on StudyBlue.com anytime, anywhere.

The new iPhone, iPod Touch and Android apps have been put to the test by thousands of students worldwide, and the new releases incorporate their feedback. The most popular request from students was "offline study mode," which allows them to review their most recent materials when no Internet connection is available.

College Students Heart SB Mobile Apps

Rebekah, a college student studying abroad in South Africa, used the StudyBlue iPhone app to complete an aggressive course load that included two new languages.

"I've been using StudyBlue for about a school year now, and I just wanted to thank you for creating such an easy and truly useful way of studying. Using your app on my iPhone, I have studied all over the world - even when no wi-fi is available!"

Teachers Embrace Mobile Study Tools

Susan Dillon, a high school English teacher in Modesto, California was one of the first high school teachers to implement StudyBlue in her classroom. She found increased engagement with studying and improved quiz scores.

"I am amazed that students now 'recommend' that I use StudyBlue for a myriad of activities and that they wish their other teachers would use it. Vocabulary quiz grades improved. I believe the immediacy and efficacy of StudyBlue.com and its mobile applications have contributed to this success."

StudyBlue Mobile App Features

+ OFFLINE MODE. Study your online flashcards and notes even when there's no Internet.

+ MULTIMEDIA FLASHCARDS. It's easy to study photos, diagrams, and audio.

+ SEARCH. Find online flashcards and notes to supplement your own.

+ CLASS MANAGEMENT. Add and remove classes from your StudyBlue.com account.

+ MESSAGES. Contact classmates to collaborate.

About StudyBlue

STUDYBLUE makes things that make you better at school. Things like online flashcards with photos and audio. Things like personalized quizzes and friendly study reminders. Think of it as a digital backpack, with access to all of your study materials online and on your phone. STUDYBLUE exists to make studying efficient and effective for every student, for free.

Noted Links

StudyBlue: http://www.studyblue.com/

iOS App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/studyblue/id323887414

Android App: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.studyblue

SOURCE  StudyBlue, Inc.

StudyBlue, Inc.

CONTACT: Matt Messinger, Director of Learning, matt (at) StudyBlue (dot) com

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

NTT Com, VNNIC to Offer Tier-1 Global IPv6/IPv4 Transit Service in Vietnam

TOKYO and HANOI, Vietnam, April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NTT Communications (NTT Com) and the Vietnam Internet Network Information Center (VNNIC) jointly announced on April 26 an agreement to cooperate in providing Internet service providers (ISPs) and Internet content providers (ICPs) in Vietnam with global access via NTT Com's Tier-1 network, beginning no later than the end of June.

VNNIC, a Ministry of Information and Communication affiliate that manages domain names and Internet exchange points, approached NTT Com to collaborate in meeting the growing demand for access in Vietnam, where Internet traffic has increased more than four times in the past three years.

NTT Com will work with local partners to provide direct connection to NTT Com's Tier-1 network via VNNIC-prepared infrastructure. The result will give ISPs and ICPs a new option for providing customers with enhanced, low-latency Internet environments and robust connection to content and services worldwide. NTT Com's Tier-1 IP backbone network offers direct connections to ISPs in more than 150 countries.

The collaboration also will enable VNNIC, an IPv6 facilitator, to provide companies in Vietnam with IPv6/IPv4 dual-stack connectivity to the world-class Tier-1 IPv6 network powered by NTT Com.  Strengthened development of IPv6  in Vietnam will represent an important milestone in the ongoing global effort to move beyond the limitations of IPv4 technologies.

NTT Communications Vietnam, NTT Com's local subsidiary, will collaborate with VNNIC on service provision, as well as provide end-user companies with technical support for transitioning to IPv6.

About NTT Communications Corporation

Please visit  http://www.ntt.com/index-e.html

About Vietnam Internet Network Information Center

Vietnam Internet Network Information Center (VNNIC) is an government affiliate to the Ministry of Information and Communication, founded on April 28, 2000, and carries out the functions of managing, allocating, supervising and promoting the use of Internet domain names, addresses, and autonomous system numbers (ASNs) in Vietnam (collectively called "Internet resources") providing Internet-related guidance and statistics on Internet; and joining international activities on Internet. VNNIC's main tasks and powers: planning, managing and allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and ASNs at national levels; managing and allocating domain names for Internet-related activities at national levels, including second-level domain names under .VN and third-level domain names under generic second-level domain names; managing and operating VNIX (Vietnam National Internet eXchange).

SOURCE  NTT Communications Corporation; Vietnam Internet Network Information Center

NTT Communications Corporation; Vietnam Internet Network Information Center

CONTACT: (Mr.) Norifumi Egi or (Ms.) Rumi Ogawa or (Ms.) Lina Chang, Global Business Division NTT Communications, Tel. +81-3-6733-8157, e-mail: gin-marcom-gl@ntt.com, (Mr.) Nguyen Manh Thuan, Director of Public Relation Department Vietnam Internet Network Information Center, Tel: +84-4-3556-4944, ext 701, e-mail: thuan@vnnic.net.vn

Web Site: http://www.ntt.com/index-e.html

Sony Announces Optimally Designed "Sony Tablet" With Android 3.0 That Complements Network Services for an Immersive Entertainment Experience

~Also strengthening VAIO in expanding PC markets~

TOKYO, April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Corporation ("Sony"), announces "Sony Tablet" that delivers the perfect combination of hardware, content and network with seamless usability for a high-quality, engaging entertainment experience. Based on decades of engineering heritage, Sony is developing two tablets with unprecedented design, including S1 (codename) which is optimized for rich media entertainment and S2 (codename) which is ideal for mobile communication and entertainment. "Sony Tablet" will become available in the global market starting in fall 2011.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110426/LA88996)

"Sony Tablet" is equipped with the latest Android 3.0 which is designed for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. Both tablets are WiFi and WAN (3G/4G) compatible and users can not only browse the internet or check e-mail but they can also smoothly access digital content including videos, games and books through Sony's premium network services and more, on-the-go at any time.

S1 has a 9.4-inch display for enjoying the web and rich content on a large screen. Its off-center of gravity design realizes stability and ease of grip as well as a sense of stability and lightness, offering comfortable use for hours.

S2 has two 5.5-inch displays that can be folded for easy portability. In contrast to existing tablets, its unprecedented dual screen presentation and usability allows its displays to be combined and used as a large screen or for different functions such as playing video on one screen while showing control buttons on the other.

"'Sony Tablet' delivers an entertainment experience where users can enjoy cloud-based services on-the-go at any time. We're aiming to create a new lifestyle by integrating consumer hardware, including 'Sony Tablet' with content and network," said Kunimasa Suzuki, Corporate Executive, SVP, and Deputy President of Consumer Products & Services Group.

"Android 3.0 is a new version of the Android platform with a new holographic user interface that is designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. I'm excited about "Sony Tablet" as it will further spur the development of applications and network offerings which users are looking for," said Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President, Mobile, Google Inc.

Also, in the mobile computing category, the market for PCs which realize high productivity is expected to steadily grow, particularly in emerging markets. Therefore, Sony will also remain committed to strengthening its VAIO brand and introduce increasingly compelling products which offer new value propositions to the market.

    "Sony Tablet" features.

               Designed for portability and intuitive
    --          gripping
               With its off-center of gravity form
               factor, the 9.4-inch S1 offers
               stability and a sense of lightness,
               offering comfortable use for hours.
               The dual screen S2 comes with two
               5.5-inch displays which can be used
               together as one large screen to
               browse websites and more. They can
               also be used for different functions
               as users can watch a video on one
               screen and input commands on the
               other, or check email on one screen
               and use the other as a soft keyboard.

    --         Seamless Usability and Performance
               Through Sony's knowhow for combining
               hardware and software, "Sony Tablet"
               realizes optimal usability and
               performance. Because of Sony's rapid
               response technologies, users can
               perform smooth, quick touch-screen
               operations and enjoy fast and
               efficient website loading. The
               keyboard arrangement is also
               optimized for the large screen,
               making email and SNS communication a
               breeze.

               Rich entertainment experiences through
    --          various network services
               Through Qriocity(1) music and video
               services, users can enjoy rich video
               and music content. Also, through
               PlayStation(R)Suite, users can immerse
               themselves in high quality first
               generation PlayStation(R) titles.
               Additionally, users can easily
               download ebook content from
               Reader(TM)Store(2) and use both tablets
               as digital reading devices. The
               integration with various services
               allows users to take their
               entertainment experiences on-the-
               go. Furthermore, "Sony Tablet" is
               equipped with functionality that
               organizes content for easy access.

               Remote access functionality with AV
    --          devices
               Through "Sony Tablet", users can
               control home entertainment devices as
               well as enjoy content in new ways. S1
               uses infrared technology and works as
               universal remote controls for a
               variety of AV devices starting with <
               BRAVIA >. Users can perform functions
               like turning on their TVs, changing
               the channel and adjusting the volume.
               Also, through DLNA functionality on
               "Sony Tablet", users can "throw"
               personal content to large screen
               televisions or music to wireless
               speakers.

In 2010, Sony launched a network platform called "Qriocity" which connects many of Sony's network-enabled devices, and has been expanding its services into global markets. Also, Sony Computer Entertainment has been providing various contents and services for PlayStation users through PlayStation®Network, which now has over 75 million registered accounts (as of March 20, 2011) worldwide.

Simultaneously, Sony will continue to announce various devices which leverage these services. Starting in early 2011, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the next-generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP) while Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications brought "Xperia(TM)PLAY" to the market. Sony is introducing "Sony Tablet" to deliver an entertainment experience which integrates hardware with network services that deliver rich content.

With the establishment of Consumer Products and Services Group in April 2011, Sony will focus on accelerating the development of innovative next generation products and aim to deliver a new lifestyle by strengthening the integration of hardware and network services.

    (1)  In markets where service is available
    (2)  In markets where service is available

    "Sony Tablet", "Qriocity" and "Reader" are trademarks of Sony Corporation
    VAIO and < BRAVIA > are registered trademarks of Sony Corporation
    PlayStation is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Xperia is a trademark of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB.
    Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

SOURCE  Sony Electronics

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110426/LA88996
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Sony Electronics

CONTACT: Linda Barger, +1-858-942-2986, linda.barger@am.sony.com, or Valerie Motis, +1-858-942-8016, valerie.motis@am.sony.com, both of Sony Electronics

RealNetworks Announces Rinse, an Easy-to-Use Music Clean-Up Product that Automatically Cleanses Your iTunes Collection

Gracenote's world-leading music recognition technology and Global Media Database power Rinse to fix music collections with just a few clicks

RealNetworks Announces Rinse, an Easy-to-Use Music Clean-Up Product that Automatically Cleanses Your iTunes Collection

Gracenote's world-leading music recognition technology and Global Media Database power Rinse to fix music collections with just a few clicks

SEATTLE, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks® Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK) today announced Rinse(TM) a new music clean-up product that can rinse iTunes® music collections clean. Available today, Rinse makes iTunes music collections much easier to browse, organize and enjoy by automatically cleaning up song duplicates, misspellings and missing album art that can plague collections.   Entire iTunes music libraries can be fixed with just a few clicks.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/SF89229LOGO)

"An individual's music library is a very personal investment," said Peter Kellogg-Smith, RealNetworks' vice president of product marketing for emerging products. "Rinse was designed to enhance this investment -- and then to get out of the way."

According to analyst estimates, avid music collectors have an average of 3,500 songs in their digital music collections.  Duplicate songs, missing album art, and misspelled song titles and artist names make a music library disorganized and difficult to navigate.

RealNetworks, known for its extensive experience in digital media management, uses Gracenote®'s widely-acclaimed music recognition and identification technology and its media database to power Rinse.  The Gracenote Global Media Database contains more than 8 million albums and 100 million tracks, ensuring that Rinse users will have the largest and most up-to-date database to fix their music libraries.

"Most music fans have acquired their digital music collections over several years, resulting in libraries that have inaccurate track titles, artists and missing cover art.  This hampers music navigation, both on your devices, desktop and in the car," said Ty Roberts, Gracenote CTO.  "We are pleased that RealNetworks is using our technology and database to keep the collections of music fans accurate and complete."

How Rinse Works

Rinse automatically looks up songs in the Gracenote music database and downloads the correct details for each song.  Users can choose to fix songs one at a time in order to see and edit the details before saving them or choose to fix songs automatically.

Free Trial of Rinse

Rinse is a downloadable service available for $39 at http://www.rinsemymusic.com/ and is compatible with iTunes collections on both Windows and Macintosh.  A free trial version is available that cleans up 50 songs in a user's library.

Follow Rinse on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rinsemymusic

Follow Rinse on Twitter:   http://twitter.com/RinseMyMusic

About RealNetworks

Real creates innovative applications and services that make it easy to connect with and enjoy digital media. Real invented the streaming media category and continues to connect consumers with their digital media both directly and through partners, aiming to support every network, device, media type and social network. Real's corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com/about-us

RealNetworks, Rinse and Real are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. Gracenote is a registered trademark and Gracenote Global Media Database is a trademark of Gracenote, Inc.iTunes is a registered trademarks of Apple Inc.  All other trademarks, names of actual companies and products mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE  RealNetworks Inc.

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/SF89229LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
RealNetworks Inc.

CONTACT: Media, Dana Smith of Krause Taylor Associates for RealNetworks, +1-510-682-3141, dana@krause-taylor.com; or Investors, Marj Charlier, VP-Investor Relations of RealNetworks, Inc., +1-206-683-2079, mcharlier@real.com

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

RealNetworks Announces Rinse, an Easy-to-Use Music Clean-Up Product that Automatically Cleanses Your iTunes Collection

Gracenote's world-leading music recognition technology and Global Media Database power Rinse to fix music collections with just a few clicks

SEATTLE, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks® Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK) today announced Rinse(TM) a new music clean-up product that can rinse iTunes® music collections clean. Available today, Rinse makes iTunes music collections much easier to browse, organize and enjoy by automatically cleaning up song duplicates, misspellings and missing album art that can plague collections.   Entire iTunes music libraries can be fixed with just a few clicks.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/SF89229LOGO)

"An individual's music library is a very personal investment," said Peter Kellogg-Smith, RealNetworks' vice president of product marketing for emerging products. "Rinse was designed to enhance this investment -- and then to get out of the way."

According to analyst estimates, avid music collectors have an average of 3,500 songs in their digital music collections.  Duplicate songs, missing album art, and misspelled song titles and artist names make a music library disorganized and difficult to navigate.

RealNetworks, known for its extensive experience in digital media management, uses Gracenote®'s widely-acclaimed music recognition and identification technology and its media database to power Rinse.  The Gracenote Global Media Database contains more than 8 million albums and 100 million tracks, ensuring that Rinse users will have the largest and most up-to-date database to fix their music libraries.

"Most music fans have acquired their digital music collections over several years, resulting in libraries that have inaccurate track titles, artists and missing cover art.  This hampers music navigation, both on your devices, desktop and in the car," said Ty Roberts, Gracenote CTO.  "We are pleased that RealNetworks is using our technology and database to keep the collections of music fans accurate and complete."

How Rinse Works

Rinse automatically looks up songs in the Gracenote music database and downloads the correct details for each song.  Users can choose to fix songs one at a time in order to see and edit the details before saving them or choose to fix songs automatically.

Free Trial of Rinse

Rinse is a downloadable service available for $39 per year at http://www.rinsemymusic.com/ and is compatible with iTunes collections on both Windows and Macintosh.  A free trial version is available that cleans up 50 songs in a user's library.

Follow Rinse on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rinsemymusic

Follow Rinse on Twitter:   http://twitter.com/RinseMyMusic

About RealNetworks

Real creates innovative applications and services that make it easy to connect with and enjoy digital media. Real invented the streaming media category and continues to connect consumers with their digital media both directly and through partners, aiming to support every network, device, media type and social network. Real's corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com/about-us

RealNetworks, Rinse and Real are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. Gracenote is a registered trademark and Gracenote Global Media Database is a trademark of Gracenote, Inc.iTunes is a registered trademarks of Apple Inc.  All other trademarks, names of actual companies and products mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE  RealNetworks Inc.

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/SF89229LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
RealNetworks Inc.

CONTACT: Media, Dana Smith of Krause Taylor Associates for RealNetworks, +1-510-682-3141, dana@krause-taylor.com; or Investors, Marj Charlier, VP-Investor Relations of RealNetworks, Inc., +1-206-683-2079, mcharlier@real.com

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

Uticity(TM) Offers Simple Solution To Amazon Cloud Outage

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The recent outage of Amazon's Cloud Computing service (EC2) in its US East region last week shows the importance of a backup for servers in the cloud.  As affordable as cloud systems are, it's not smart if you don't have an alternate backup available in case of an outage.  There's little extra cost, so there's no excuse.  For Managers of cloud IT resources, there's a lesson in last week's Amazon outage.

Cloud servers are very reliable, but at some point all systems fail, so backup servers are required.  Amazon's data-center melt-down caused a regional outage, and that will happen again.  So you must have a backup ready in an alternate Amazon region, or with an alternate vendor.

CompuPro Services' Uticity(TM) Servers has solved this problem for its clients with its "Standby Server" as an option.  When a server is not available, or fails to start, the administrator is offered a selection of alternate servers available.

Uticity(TM) "Standby Server" works with another Uticity(TM) Server option, "Terrestrial Backup".  Backups that are locked within a failing Amazon data center don't help when you need immediate access to do business.  Uticity(TM) Server "Terrestrial Backup" is portable - enabling the option to move away entirely from Amazon, at the customer's will or in case of an emergency.

CompuPro Services, Inc. Uticity(TM) Servers are small business and departmental servers run in Amazon Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2) environment.  For example, a typical small office server with 5 gigabytes of data costs $120 per month with 24 hour monitoring and management, and on-site interactive control console.  Terrestrial and Standby backups are reasonably priced for as little as $30 and $45 monthly.

CompuPro Services, Inc. has been a South Florida computer consultancy since 1991, of service primarily to the financial services sector.  More information is available at http://www.compu-pro.com or by calling 954-791-7700.

ABOUT COMPUPRO SERVICES, INC.:  President, John M. Langstaff is available for further comment, and on-air TV, radio, or web interviews.  Prior to founding CompuPro in 1991, Mr. Langstaff designed and managed the implementation of networks and software systems for Lazard Freres & Co., and Barclays Bank.  He was also a Microsoft System's Engineer.

SOURCE  CompuPro Services, Inc.

CompuPro Services, Inc.

CONTACT: Jonathan H. Parker, Parker & Maloney, P.A., Telephone: +1-305-444-4900 ext 701, Facsimile: +1-305-865-4200, jhp@jonathanhparker.com

Web Site: http://www.compu-pro.com

Nirvanix CEO Brings the Cloud to Symantec Vision 2011

Scott Genereux to Highlight "One Click to the Cloud" Software Solutions at Annual User Conference

SAN DIEGO, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nirvanix, the leading provider of enterprise-class cloud storage services, today announced that its President and CEO Scott Genereux will present at both a breakout session and a panel at Symantec Vision 2011.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090113/LA58239LOGO)

What: Nirvanix's battle-hardened, proven enterprise-class cloud storage technology is fully integrated with Symantec NetBackup(TM) and enables One Click to the Cloud(TM) for secure and seamless data migration. Genereux will present at a breakout session at Symantec Vision titled "One Click to the Cloud" and participate in a panel titled "2011, the Year of Cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service? Ramps and Roadblocks," which will be hosted by John Magee, Vice President of Cloud Initiatives at Symantec.

When/Where:

"One Click to the Cloud" breakout session, Wednesday, May 4, at 3:45 pm Pacific in Roman Ballroom 2.

"2011, the Year of Cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service? Ramps and Roadblocks" panel discussion, Tuesday, May 3, at 11 am in Florentine Ballroom 3&4.

Symantec Vision 2011:May 2-5, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada.

At Symantec Vision 2011

Nirvanix will be demonstrating its One Click to the Cloud integration with Symantec backup and archive software products and running a "Test Drive the Cloud" promotion at exhibit 306. "Test Drive the Cloud" is a promotional offer of 1TB of cloud storage for free for 30 days to qualified show attendees. This offer enables companies to test drive cloud storage and experience its benefits without making a financial commitment.

About Nirvanix

Nirvanix is the leading provider of enterprise-class cloud storage services. The company offers cloud storage solutions designed specifically for customers with expectations of extreme security, reliability and redundancy levels. Under its CloudComplete(TM) portfolio, Nirvanix provides variable cloud deployment options, including CloudNAS® Gateways, the public cloud Storage Delivery Network(TM) (SDN), and hNode(TM) hybrid and private cloud solutions. The company's battle-hardened, proven second generation technology is fully integrated with Symantec NetBackup(TM) and enables One Click to the Cloud(TM) for secure and seamless data migration. Nirvanix has over 1,200 global customers accessing its SDN, from SMBs to Fortune 500 companies.

For more information visit http://www.nirvanix.com and follow Nirvanix on Twitter.

Trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of the companies with which they are associated.

Contact:
Sonal Dave
sdavepr@gmail.com
(949) 533-1655

SOURCE  Nirvanix

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Nirvanix

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

New Facebook® Send Button Launched on Examiner.com

Simple, Direct Sharing Tool Integrated Into Local Content Leader

DENVER, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Examiner.com, the insider source for local, is among the launch partners for Facebook's new Send button, released today. The tool simplifies and expedites the sharing of content readers discover on Examiner.com, using a button that distributes a link directly to people they are connected to on Facebook.

"The Send button adds another exciting sharing feature to Examiner.com," said Suzie Austin, SVP of Content and Marketing for Examiner.com. "The plugin makes it easy for people to share articles via direct access to their Facebook friends. This quick and straightforward method is a great way for both our Examiners and their readers to share articles and photos with the most relevant people rather than sharing everything with all their friends on Facebook."

The Send button is now available on all sharable Examiner.com content, with the option to send directly to a friend's Facebook inbox, or to multiple friends in a Facebook Group using the type ahead functionality. There is also the opportunity to insert individual email addresses.

"Our 70,000 contributors continue to produce high-quality local content that is valuable and relevant to the communities in which they live," said Austin. "The addition of the Send button allows for more fluid distribution and promotion of their contributions to the engaged online communities they actively participate in. The traffic we see from Facebook continues to be of high quality--both in session length and return visits--and we expect this plugin will further advance that trend."

This is the second time Examiner.com has been a partner in launching a new Facebook feature. In March Examiner.com implemented the Facebook Comments plugin, allowing users to easily participate in conversations on Examiner.com with their real identity as well as populating the comments in their Facebook News Feed, increasing engagement on both articles as well as the related conversation on Facebook.

Read more about Examiner.com, its staff and achievements at blog.examiner.com, and visit the site at Examiner.com. The Examiner.com Facebook Page is available here.

About Examiner.com

Launched in April 2008, Examiner.com serves 244 markets across North America and is the insider source for local. Examiner.com feeds the passion the local community has for its favorite interests, activities and establishments by connecting them with credible and informed contributors who write and share information with the passion and insights only a local insider can. Examiner.com is a division of the Clarity Digital Group, LLC, wholly owned by The Anschutz Company, a Denver-based investment company with a broad array of assets in print and digital media, live sports and entertainment, hospitality, film production and exhibition and wind energy development.

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

SOURCE  Examiner.com

Examiner.com

CONTACT: Justin Jimenez of Examiner.com, +1-303-990-0951, jjimenez@examiner.com

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

New Online Certificate Programs Offered at Walden University

New graduate offerings in education help support educators' effectiveness

MINNEAPOLIS, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University announced today the addition of four new online certificate programs to help educators enhance their effectiveness in the classroom as they explore ways to motivate and support students and colleagues in their organization.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110112/CL29101LOGO)

Walden's new graduate certificate programs for educators are:

    --  The Graduate Certificate in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
        provides educators with the tools to plan, develop and implement
        standards-based curricula and instruction to motivate students and
        promote their academic success. Educators also identify how to measure
        performance through effective, ongoing assessments and to support
        students in monitoring their own learning progress.
    --  The Graduate Certificate in Engaging Culturally Diverse Learners engages
        educators to explore learning that reflects global societal concerns
        about teaching students from diverse backgrounds. They study the latest
        tools and technologies, including models such as Universal Design for
        Learning (UDL) and differentiated instruction, to create supportive and
        effective learning environments.
    --  The Graduate Certificate in Integrating Technology in the Classroom
        allows education professionals to explore the most current knowledge and
        strategies in the field as they gain the technological skills they need
        to enhance learning and support problem-solving in the digital age.
    --  The Graduate Certificate in Teacher Leadership offers education
        professionals the opportunity to discover their leadership strengths and
        learn to apply them to key educational challenges, including increasing
        student achievement and fostering parental involvement.

Walden's Riley College of Education and Leadership also recently introduced online graduate certificate programs in College Teaching and Learning, Enrollment Management and Institutional Marketing and Professional Development. For more details about Walden's new online certificate programs, visit http://www.WaldenU.edu.

About Walden University

For more than 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 42,500 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries are pursuing their bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network--a global network of more than 55 online and campus-based universities in 27 countries.

Walden offers more than 50 degree programs with more than 225 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. For more information, visit http://www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, http://www.ncahlc.org.

SOURCE  Walden University

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110112/CL29101LOGO
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Walden University

CONTACT: Jerry Sweitzer, +1-410-843-6576, jerry.sweitzer@waldenu.edu

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

The TradeBridge Creates Revolutionary Web-Based Sales Platform For Food Service Special Opportunity Products

NATICK, Mass., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The TradeBridge just announced the launch of their new state-of-the-art, web-based sales facilitation system. This system, housed online, allows food service manufacturers to cost effectively offer Special Opportunity Products (SOPs) at a value to their customers in a controlled environment.

The TradeBridge creates a virtual showroom online for SOP. Products are put up for negotiation and/or bid within the system, and customers can procure these products via the interactive process based on their needs, timing and budget. Products are offered in two primary processes: Auction and Negotiation.

    --  In the Auction process products are put on the market for a selected
        period of time, allowing interested customers to place bids for selected
        product. Bids are placed and monitored, watching the auction in
        real-time as it takes place or via the suite of tools in The TradeBridge
        system that allows for starting bids, ending bids and other actions
        enabled with an automated "unattended bidding assistant" created by the
        customer.
    --  In the Negotiation process products are also put on the market, but
        outside of an "auction format" and at a set price. Customers can
        immediately purchase the available products at the listed price.
        However, they can also begin to electronically negotiate with the
        seller, making offers on price and quantity. Negotiations can continue
        until an agreement is reached or until the product inventory is
        depleted.

These two methods give the seller unprecedented, real-time control over their products and pricing, and afford the buyer a wealth of purchasing options to meet their individual needs.

"The TradeBridge streamlines the negotiation and communication process for both our manufacturers and their customers," said John Geary Director of Sales & Marketing for The TradeBridge. "There are no start up costs, no monthly or annual fees, and no software or hardware requirements. We manage and facilitate all aspects of the sale on the manufacturer's behalf. And for the customers, they can find the very best industry deals on SOPs in our virtual showroom, and manage their bottom line with just a few clicks. It's a great blend of convenience and technology for all the trading partners."

The TradeBridge is a state-of-the-art, web-based sales facilitation system that allows food service manufacturers to cost effectively offer Special Opportunity Products at a value to their customers in a controlled environment. For more information, visit http://www.thetradebridge.com.

SOURCE  The TradeBridge

The TradeBridge

CONTACT: John Geary, 1-800-524-1188 x1404

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

Peapod Expands Chicago's Best Selection of New Bakery and Gluten-Free Products

Peapod Offers Exclusive Bakery Items From Deerfield Bakery, Palermo Bakery and Kay's Candies

CHICAGO, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Internet grocer Peapod has new offerings to add to its Chicago's Best department.  The Chicago's Best department features a group of leading brand-name products not available in the typical supermarket. 

In just one stop, Chicagoans can purchase their favorite bakery items like Deerfield Bakery's Out of This World Cheesecake (Gluten-Free) and Devils Food Fudge Cake, Palermo Bakery's Eclairs and Napoleons and Kay's Candies Rum Fudge Balls and Peanut Butter Crunch candy. These new partners are an addition to the already successful Chicago's Best line including Wildfire steaks and side dishes, Garrett Popcorn, Bob Chinn's Crabhouse and Eli's Cheesecake.

"The Chicago's Best department offers a convenient way for our customers to get restaurant quality food delivered right to their front door," says Tony Stallone, VP Merchandising. "We try to add to the 'menu' frequently to keep it exciting."

"Deerfield Bakery is thrilled to partner with Peapod to deliver its delicious top-quality products and renowned reputation way beyond the North and Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Peapod is a first-rate service offering convenience, quality, and amazing customer service. The relationship between Deerfield Bakery and Peapod will undoubtedly be a sweet success for everyone," says Tim Schmitt, President, Deerfield Bakery.

Founded in 1989 as a smart shopping option for busy people, Peapod today stands as the country's leading Internet grocer, serving 23 U.S. markets in communities in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey. The Skokie, Ill.-based company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Ahold in The Netherlands, has achieved over 18 million deliveries since its late 1980s inception. For more information on Peapod, call 1.800.5.PEAPOD (573.2763); e-mail service@peapod.com or visit http://www.peapod.com

SOURCE  Peapod

Peapod

CONTACT: Elana Margolis of Peapod, +1-847-583-6313, margolis@peapod.com

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

Equifax Releases Mobile App for Android Users

Equifax app features real-time access to credit file information and credit scores

ATLANTA, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --Equifax (NYSE: EFX) continues to embrace mobile marketing and mobile commerce, announcing the latest version of its Equifax Mobile app for Android users.  Now, Android users can access freemium features like Equifax Places, which enables users to view credit and fraud averages by GPS location or zip code anywhere in the United States.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/CL88755 )

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060224/CLF037LOGO )

Equifax monitoring product subscribers can also protect the power of their credit and identity on-the-go with real-time access to their credit file, including the ability to lock and unlock their Equifax Credit Report(TM).

Equifax Mobile App Key Features:

    --  Equifax Places*
        --  Equifax Credit Rankings(TM) - Credit averages such as total debt,
            utilization, and late payments
        --  Equifax Fraud Index(TM) - Frequency of fraud by age, gender, income,
            and credit score
    --  Equifax Credit Report Control(TM) - Ability to lock and unlock your
        Equifax Credit Report+
    --  Equifax Web Detect(TM) - Find out if your sensitive personal information
        is found on suspected Internet trading sites++
    --  Alerts of key changes to your credit files (e.g. account balance
        changes, activity on dormant accounts, new account openings)

For more information about Equifax Mobile, visit http://www.equifax.com/mobile, or to download the free Equifax Mobile app, visit the Android Market at https://market.android.com/details?id=com.equifax.

About Equifax

Equifax empowers businesses and consumers with information they can trust. A global leader in information solutions, we leverage one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data, along with advanced analytics and proprietary technology, to create customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.

With a strong heritage of innovation and leadership, Equifax continuously delivers innovative solutions with the highest integrity and reliability. Businesses - large and small - rely on us for consumer and business credit intelligence, portfolio management, fraud detection, decisioning technology, marketing tools, and much more. We empower individual consumers to manage their personal credit information, protect their identity, and maximize their financial well-being.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax Inc. operates in the U.S. and 14 other countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Equifax is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500(R) Index. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX.

http://www.equifax.com.  Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Equifax.

* Equifax Places is free to use and does not require and Equifax membership.

+ Locking your credit file with Equifax Credit Report Control will prevent access to your Equifax credit file by certain third parties, such as credit grantors or other companies and agencies. Credit Report Control will not prevent access to your credit file at any other credit reporting agency, and will not prevent access to your Equifax credit file by companies like Equifax Personal Solutions which provide you with access to your credit report or credit score or monitor your credit file; Federal, state and local government agencies; companies reviewing your application for employment; companies that have a current account or relationship with you, and collection agencies acting on behalf of those whom you owe; for fraud detection and prevention purposes; and companies that wish to make pre-approved offers of credit or insurance to you. Requires active subscription to eligible Equifax monitoring product.

++ WebDetect scans thousands of internet sites where consumers' personal information is suspected of being bought and sold, and is constantly adding new sites to those it searches. However, the internet addresses of these suspected internet trading sites are not published and frequently change, so there is no guarantee that WebDetect is able to locate and search every possible internet site where consumers' personal information is at risk of being traded. Requires active subscription to eligible Equifax monitoring product.

SOURCE  Equifax

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http://photoarchive.ap.org/
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Equifax

CONTACT: Media, Demitra Wilson, +1-678-795-7885, demitra.wilson@equifax.com

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

Protiviti's New Pre-IPO Guide Offers Roadmap for Preparing to Go Public and Avoiding Pitfalls

As IPO market heats up, Protiviti offers readiness guide to address governance, compliance, regulatory issues, transparency, IT infrastructure, post-recession challenges and more

MENLO PARK, Calif., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The IPO market continues to pick up momentum, even as the process of going public has become increasingly complex. To help companies prepare for a successful initial public offering (IPO) and for ongoing life as a public company, Protiviti (http://www.protiviti.com), a global business consulting and internal audit firm, has published a resource guide for businesses looking to go public and launch a strong IPO. Protiviti's Guide toPublic Company Readiness: Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.protiviti.com/publiccompanyreadiness)covers a broad range of important considerations  from critical financial reporting requirements to compliance issues and risk management. The guide also describes how companies can approach the public-company readiness (PCR) process in the most efficient and cost-effective manner while also staying focused on critical growth initiatives.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090115/AQTH541LOGO)

With detailed answers to nearly 90 questions, Guide toPublic Company Readiness addresses many key aspects of the PCR process, including how long it typically takes, major milestones within the process, how the nature of public company requirements has changed in recent years, and the cost of taking a company public and being public. Protiviti's guide also offers insight on governance and regulatory/procedural issues; handy PCR assessment aids for quick reference; and advice on safeguarding against the various risks associated with incomplete or ineffective preparation for an IPO.

"With the growing demand for transparency in public offering initiatives, the pace and complexity of regulatory change have intensified steadily in recent years. Add to that, the windows of time for companies to access the capital markets are more volatile than in the past, frequently requiring those organizations pursuing a public offering to achieve readiness in a much shorter period," said Steve Hobbs, a Protiviti managing director and leader of the firm's Public Company Readiness practice. "We've observed that many organizations don't have a full understanding of how the public company readiness process needs to permeate nearly every part of the pre-IPO organization, from finance and IT to human resources and operations. Protiviti's new guide can help organizations navigate the many potential pitfalls of the public company readiness process by focusing on the key infrastructure considerations that are so crucial to a successful IPO effort."

In Guide to Public Company Readiness, Protiviti provides an in-depth review of many facets of the pre-IPO process including:

    --  PCR Effort Overview - Offers insight into various aspects of the
        process, from the most costly and time-consuming remediation activities
        pre-public companies typically undertake to ongoing operational and
        management challenges.
    --  Accurate Financial Reporting - Covers the financial issues that
        accompany the PCR process, from public company financial reporting
        requirements to the role of disclosure committees in establishing an
        accurate financial reporting process.
    --  Efficient Financial Close - Provides an insightful review of the
        paperwork that must be completed to ensure that pre-public companies
        meet  and public companies maintain  the requirements for sufficient
        financial records on a quarterly and annual basis.
    --  Sarbanes-Oxley Act Compliance - Guides companies through the process of
        meeting Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, and presents key questions to
        help organizations determine their state of compliance readiness.
    --  A Scalable IT Environment - Outlines the IT policy and process-related
        evaluations and activities pre-public companies should conduct.

"Few IPOs have been executed successfully without a solid understanding of infrastructure issues. Protiviti's guide provides a starting point for building an infrastructure foundation that will support a healthy IPO effort," said Chris Wright, Northeast regional managing director with Protiviti and leader of Protiviti's Finance Remediation and Reporting Compliance practice, which supports important aspects of PCR efforts.

To obtain a complimentary copy of Guide toPublic Company Readiness: Frequently Asked Questions, please visit http://www.protiviti.com/publiccompanyreadiness.

About Protiviti

Protiviti is a global business consulting and internal audit firm composed of experts specializing in risk, advisory and transaction services. The firm helps solve problems in finance and transactions, operations, technology, litigation, governance, risk, and compliance. Protiviti's highly trained, results-oriented professionals provide a unique perspective on a wide range of critical business issues for clients in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Protiviti has 60 locations worldwide and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half International is a member of the S&P 500 index.

Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services.

SOURCE  Protiviti

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Protiviti

CONTACT: Kathy Keller, +1-650-234-6252, kathy.keller@protiviti.com

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

AMETEK Launches RS Series AC and DC Power Sources For High Power, Flexible Control

SAN DIEGO, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AMETEK Programmable Power(http://www.programmablepower.com) today introduced the California Instruments RS Series of high-power AC/DC power systems.  The units provide controlled AC and DC output for a wide variety of ATE and product test applications at an affordable cost. In AC mode, the RS Series delivers anywhere from 90 kVA up to 540 kVA of AC power.  In DC or AC+DC mode, 50 percent of the AC power level is available simultaneously.

The RS Series provides a powerful combination of high power density and simple installation. The RS Series offers the highest AC power density available for high-performance test applications. This high power density is achieved by using state-of-the-art PWM switching techniques that enables the RS Series to be packaged in a compact, floor-standing chassis with a footprint no larger than a typical refrigerator. Further, this high power density is achieved without the need for elaborate cooling schemes. 

Output Flexibility

The base unit of the RS Series is the RS90. It provides up to 90 kVA of AC power or 60 kW of DC power. AC output is three phase and can easily be switched between AC and DC mode of output from the front panel.

For higher power requirements, up to 540 kVA, the RS180, RS270, RS360, RS450 and RS540 models are available. When outfitted with multiple controllers, these units can be made to work as though they were individual RS90 units and used for different applications. This ability to reconfigure the system provides a level of flexibility not commonly found in power systems.

The controller for the RS Series uses the latest DSP technology and allows users to define a wide variety of output waveforms, including outputs with harmonic distortion and waveforms that simulate AC and DC transients. The controller features control of individual phases separately, allowing users to simulate single phase anomalies and unbalanced harmonic line conditions.

To program these waveforms, a Windows program with a graphical user interface (GUI) is provided.  Using the GUI, a user specifies the waveform to be output, and the program then generates the waveform data points and downloads them to the unit via remote interface. Each unit can store up to 200 waveforms in nonvolatile memory for easy recall.

A unique feature of the RS Series is that it can both source and sink (traditional 4-Quadrant type) current and can reverse the phase relationship between the AC input voltage and current in order to regenerate up to 85 percent of the power back onto the utility grid resulting in significant reduction in the cost of operation.  This mode of operation is particularly useful when testing grid-tied products that feed energy back onto the grid.  An example is testing grid-tied Photovoltaic Inverters.

The RS Series Makes Measurements, Too

The RS Series incorporates an advanced digital signal processor-based data acquisition system that digitizes voltage and current waveforms in real time. The sample buffer is 4K deep. Users can trigger waveform acquisitions at any point in the waveform output, such as a specific phase angle, to allow precise positioning of the captured waveform with respect to the AC source output.

The data acquisition system automatically monitors common AC and DC parameters, including frequency, Vrms, Irms, Ipk, crest factor, real power (W), apparent power (VA), and power factor, and displays them on the front panel LCD display. These measurements are also available via the GUI which includes data logging capabilities.

The system also provides detailed amplitude and phase information on up to 50 harmonics of the fundamental voltage and current (up to 16 kHz). Users can display this information in both tabular and graphical formats on the front panel LCD or download this information to a computer to display, print or save the data. Total harmonic measurements of distortion for both voltage and current are calculated from the harmonic data.

Avionics Stimulus Test Routines

With an output frequency range of up to 1,000Hz the RS Series is ideally suited for aerospace applications.  A full suite of Avionics Stimulus test routines such as Mil.Std. 704 Rev. A-F, DO-160 Rev. A-F, B787 Rev. A-C, ABD100.1.8 Rev. D-E and A350 Rev. A-C are optionally available.

Easy to Use

The RS Series can be operated completely from its menu-driven front panel controller. A backlit LCD display shows menus, setup data, and read-back measurements.  For remote control and ATE applications, users can use the standard RS232C, USB and IEEE- 488 or the optional LAN interfaces. The popular SCPI command protocol is used for programming, and instrument drivers for popular ATE programming environments are available.

Windows application software is included that provides easy access to the power source's capabilities without the need to develop any custom code. With this program, users can graphically measure and log standard measurements; capture, display, and print output voltage and current waveforms; capture, display, and print harmonic voltage and current measurements; create, run, save, reload, and print transient programs; generate and save harmonic and arbitrary waveforms; and display IEEE-488, RS232C, USB and LAN bus traffic to and from the AC Source to help you develop your own test programs.

Availability

The RS Series units are available 10-12 weeks after receipt of order.

For more information, contact AMETEK Programmable Power sales at http://www.programmablepower.com or contact an authorized sales representative.

AMETEK Programmable Power is a division of AMETEK, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with 2010 sales of $2.47 billion.

Full data sheet and associated white papers are available at:http://www.calinst.com/go/rs

For high resolution image: http://www.ggcomm.com/Ametek/RS_Series.JPG

CONTACT:  Craig Frahm
858-678-4459
craig.frahm@ametek.com

SOURCE  AMETEK Programmable Power

AMETEK Programmable Power

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

New GameRunner Technology to Revolutionize Computer Interface

AUBURN, Calif., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In April, 2011, the first patent was granted for a new technology which will revolutionize the way people interact with their computers. With the first application of this tech you can now:

Literally Run and Walk Through Your Favorite 3D Video Games!

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/SF88262)

It's not from Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo. However, it is the most accurate and intuitiveway to physically "get around" in a 3D digital world today. It also boasts an Engineering & Design award from the Consumer Electronics Association. No wonder it didn't come from one of the "big three". With budgets for marketing & hyping like they have, who needs real innovation?

This new interfacing technology is first used in the GameRunner(TM), which plugs directly into any PC, MAC, Laptop or Notebook with a simple USB cord. It's universally compatible with any computer generated 3D landscape. Just plug it in and you're ready to start walking, jogging or running (yes, with your legs) right through any 3D landscape or online 3D game, or even Google's Street View.  Look at the GameRunner here.

It all started when the GameRunner's inventor, Charlie Van Noland got tired of his son "destroying chairs" from violently wriggling around while playing 3D computer games. Charlie, an engineer by trade, had an idea that would ultimately far surpass the game controllers which are limited to kicking, swatting, leaning or "stepping-in-place" the big companies have hyped. Yes, children want to move their whole bodies. See for yourself what instantly happens when you put a teenager on a GameRunner HERE.  For more Demo Videos, go HERE. 

Charlie surmised he could create a controller that would make it necessary to really walk or run to get through these games. He also knew he could make it as real-time accurate as digital mouse & keyboard. After building the first working-prototypes, Charlie built an R & D shop where he created a version of the GameRunner which could be made available at an affordable price.  Now Charlie's working on other  exciting applications for this technology.

While drafting the patent claims, Charlie and Joy realized that this approach to human interface devices (HID) had never been attempted before, even though it is the only real solution to the many perceived limitations in human interfacing.  The first application in the GameRunner has many practical and fun benefits. For instance, on the GameRunner, when you step gingerly around a corner to take a peek at your enemy, or suddenly sprint, that's what you see in the game, in real coordination. It's also got laser-perfect aim and steering, along with more thumb-and-finger accessible controls than you can map. Yes, you're really chasing that alien now.

The GameRunner release date is April 25th, 2011. For a limited time, you can lock in the price of $495.00 by reserving a unit at:  http://www.gamerunner.com .

CONTACT:
Joy Garner:  530-210-1001
joy@gamerunner.us
12122 Dry Creek Road #103
Auburn, CA 95602

SOURCE  GameRunner

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/SF88262
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GameRunner

Broadcom Completes Acquisition of Provigent

IRVINE, Calif., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced it has completed the acquisition of Provigent Inc., a leading provider of highly integrated, high performance, mixed signal semiconductors for microwave backhaul systems.

In connection with the acquisition, Broadcom paid approximately $313 million, net of cash assumed, to acquire all of the outstanding shares of capital stock and other rights of Provigent. The purchase price was paid in cash, except that a portion attributable to certain holders of unvested employee stock options will be provided in the form of Broadcom equity awards. A portion of the cash consideration payable to the stockholders was placed into escrow. Excluding any purchase accounting related adjustments and fair value measurements, Broadcom expects the acquisition of Provigent to be approximately neutral to earnings per share in 2011.

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a prominent technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications.  Broadcom products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment.  We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and embedded software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices.  These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything®.

Broadcom, one of the world's largest fabless communications semiconductor companies, with 2010 revenue of $6.82 billion, holds more than 4,800 U.S. and 2,000 foreign patents, and has more than 7,800 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video, data and multimedia.

Broadcom, a FORTUNE 500® company, was recognized in FORTUNE's 2011 "World's Most Admired Companies" survey as the innovation leader in the semiconductor category. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at http://www.broadcom.com.

Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, references to the impact of the acquisition on Broadcom's earnings per share. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Important risk factors that may cause such a difference for Broadcom in connection with the acquisition of Provigent include, but are not limited to charges resulting from purchase accounting adjustments or fair value measurements.

Additional factors that may cause Broadcom's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the list that can be found at http://www.broadcom.com/press/additional_risk_factors/Q42010.php.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss the foregoing risks as well as other important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances.

Broadcom®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything®, and the Connecting everything logo are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

    Media Relations                           Investor Relations
    Tamara Snowden                            Chris Zegarelli
    Senior Manager, Corporate Communications  Director, Investor Relations
    408-922-6505                              949-926-7567
    tamaras@broadcom.com                      czegarel@broadcom.com

SOURCE  Broadcom Corporation; BRCM Infrastructure & Networking

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060609/BROADCOMLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Broadcom Corporation; BRCM Infrastructure & Networking

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

Art.com Unveils Innovative New Visual Search Experience and Changes the Way People Explore, Discover, Share and Buy Art

EMERYVILLE, Calif., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Art.com Inc., (http://www.art.com) the world's leading online specialty provider of wall art, today announced the introduction of two new innovative visual art search tools, Match My Imageand Inspire My Discovery, that will change the way people explore, discover, share and purchase art.  Both Match My Imageand Inspire My Discovery use a combination of art expertise and sophisticated proprietary algorithms to sort through a collection of more than one million works of art and deliver images based on style, color, period, artist and more.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091208/ART-COMLOGO)

"Art.com has one simple goal--to make art accessible to all--and I'm thrilled that interactive tools like Match My Image and Inspire My Discovery take people on a fun and visually captivating journey through the amazing world of art," said Geoffroy Martin, CEO of Art.com Inc.  "From Van Gogh to Basquiat, art has the power to provoke, inspire and delight, and we're excited to continue to offer new ways for people to engage with art all around them--whether it hangs on the walls of their homes or appears on the screens of their tablets, smart phones or TVs."

With Match My Image, users simply provide an image they like, taken at a restaurant, gallery, etc.

    --  Art.com will pinpoint exact and similar matches from the collection.
    --  Once a match or similar work of art has been found, users can learn more
        about the piece or begin exploring other works based on the following
        categories: more art from the designated artist, more art with similar
        color schemes, more art with a similar look, and more art from a related
        subject matter or theme.
    --  See what the chosen image will look like in an assortment of high
        quality frames and add it to the cart.  The work of art will arrive
        ready to hang on the wall.

Inspire My Discoverytakes art lovers on a fun and visually enticing journey in a few simple steps:

    --  Get started by selecting one of 16 art themes, including Abstract, Pop
        Art, Renaissance, Impressionist and more. Art.com will present initial
        artwork results from that category.
    --  Choose up to four images or/and a color from the results. Our technology
        will examine the color, artist, and style of each piece and deliver a
        new set of similar images.
    --  Continue your exploration by scrolling through interactive galleries of
        artwork results, selecting any image to further refine and refresh what
        you see or view in a slideshow.
    --  See what the image will look like in an assortment of high quality
        frames and add it to the cart.  The work of art will arrive ready to
        hang on the wall.

Start exploring today http://www.art.com/visualsearch.

About Art.com Inc.

Art.com Inc. is the world's leading online specialty provider of wall art.  The company was founded in 1998 with one goal-- to make art accessible to all by transforming the way the world discovers, personalizes, shares and purchases art.  From Water Lilies to Warhol and every style in between, the site's sophisticated visual search tools make it fun and easy to explore Art.com's vast collection of more than one million works. Art.com Inc. runs three sites in the USA-Art.com, AllPosters.com, and ArtistRising.com-and has a strong international presence with 25 local sites in Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, Mexico, and South America.

Art.com Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Emeryville, CA, with other facilities in Ohio, North Carolina and the Netherlands. For more information, visit http://www.art.com and http://www.AllPosters.com. "art.com" and "AllPosters" are registered trademarks of Art.com. Other trade names and trademarks appearing above are the properties of their respective owners and are not used to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other companies.  Art.com's new visual search tool leverages image-recognition services developed in collaboration with Albumeyes Corporation.

SOURCE  Art.com Inc.

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091208/ART-COMLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Art.com Inc.

CONTACT: Liz Scanlon of Art.com, Inc., +1-510-295-7542, lscanlon@art.com; or Tara Reid of Formula, +1-619-234-0345, Reid@formulapr.com, for Art.com

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

Take Your 'Likes' to the Next Level

SNICKERS® Peanut Butter Squared Gives Fans a Reason and Way to Share Their "Love" on Facebook

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Love conquers all ... including Facebook.  Today Mars Chocolate North America announced SNICKERS® Brand has introduced a new Facebook "Love Button" application that allows fans to exhibit their true emotions by upgrading their "Likes" to "Loves."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/CG88342)

The "Love Button" was developed to celebrate the launch of new SNICKERS® Peanut Butter Squared, which combines the classic SNICKERS® flavor of peanuts, caramel, nougat and milk chocolate with the great taste of peanut butter. The application is one tool in a campaign aimed to reach fans of peanut butter and chocolate, because: "if you like peanut butter and chocolate, you'll love peanut butter and SNICKERS®."

Fans can now share the love by elevating pages they currently "Like" on Facebook to "Love," which will be shared with their friends via their wall.  Fans of the SNICKERS® fan page will also receive a roundup of the "Most Loved" content on Facebook. The "Most Loved" list will be fan-generated by the most popular pages, content or comments that people upgrade from "Like" to "Love."

"SNICKERS® Peanut Butter Squared will inspire more than 'like,'" said Debra A. Sandler, Chief Consumer Officer, Mars Chocolate North America.  "Fans everywhere have made it clear that sometimes they want to do more than just 'Like' something, so we created a way for people to express their newfound passion for SNICKERS® Peanut Butter Squared and everything else they love on Facebook."

LOVE RULES ... SO DOES PEANUT BUTTER

SNICKERS® Peanut Butter Squared retains all the ingredients people love about SNICKERS® including peanuts, caramel, nougat and milk chocolate and pairs them with delicious peanut butter. 

Each 1.78-ounce singles pack includes two delicious square-shaped bars and sells for a suggested retail price of $.89. Peanut butter and SNICKERS® lovers can find Peanut Butter Squared nationwide at their favorite food, mass, convenience and drug stores.

To upgrade your Facebook "Likes" to "Loves" or for more information about the "Love Button" or SNICKERS® Peanut Butter Squared, "Love" us at http://www.facebook.com/SNICKERS.

About Mars Chocolate North America:

Mars Chocolate North America is the North American chocolate operations of Mars, Incorporated.  In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington, kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar.  In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the philosophy of a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders - this vision serves as the foundation of the Mars, Incorporated we are today.  Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $30 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience.  More than 65,000 Associates worldwide are putting our Mars Principles in action every day to make a difference for people and the planet through our performance.

Mars brands include: Chocolate - M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare - PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley - ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food - UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks - ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS(TM), THE BRIGHT TEA CO.(TM), KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience -SERAMIS®, CIRKU(TM) and COCOAVIA(TM).

For more information, please visit http://www.mars.com.

SOURCE  Mars Chocolate North America

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/CG88342
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Mars Chocolate North America

CONTACT: Lauren Nodzak of Mars Chocolate North America, office, +1-908-850-2291, mobile, +1-908-914-5701, lauren.nodzak@effem.com; or Russ Dyer of Weber Shandwick, office, +1-312-988-2384, mobile, +1-240-888-3921, rdyer@webershandwick.com, for Mars Chocolate North America

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

National Instruments Introduces Industry's Highest Performance PXI Digitizers

3 GHz and 5 GHz Digitizers Feature Tektronix®, Enabling Technology and Extend Digitizer Performance for Automated Test Applications

AUSTIN, Texas, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) today released the industry's highest bandwidth PXI digitizer, complementing the rapidly expanding suite of performance instrumentation available in PXI. Co-developed with Tektronix, the world's leading manufacturer of oscilloscopes, the NI PXIe-5186 digitizer employs Tektronix, Enabling Technology to achieve up to 5 GHz bandwidth and 12.5 GS/s sample rates. The company also announced the NI PXIe-5185, which delivers 3 GHz bandwidth along with 12.5 GS/s sample rate. Both digitizers are part of the National Instruments PXI-based hardware and software platform, which provides optimized performance for automated test applications.

"We are excited about our work with Tektronix to jointly develop a product that combines the strengths of both companies: Tektronix for high-speed digitization and NI for software-defined instrumentation," said Dr. James Truchard, president, CEO and cofounder of National Instruments. "These new digitizers further demonstrate the impact of Moore's Law on test applications, bringing higher performance to smaller footprints such as PXI."

Proprietary Tektronix performance oscilloscope ASICs in the new digitizers provide the foundation for high-speed signal acquisition with low noise and high linearity, and are based on the highly-reliable IBM 7HP SiGe process. An example of the superior signal fidelity delivered by Tektronix, Enabling Technology is the incredibly low sampling jitter of the digitizer. The very low 500 fs RMS integrated jitter of the digitizers results in a remarkable 5.5 effective number of bits (ENOB) at 5 GHz. National Instruments proprietary technology delivers high-data throughput for faster test execution and precision multimodule timing and synchronization for building high-channel-count, integrated test systems. Designed for the 3U PXI Express platform, the digitizers can stream at rates as fast as 700 MB/s and synchronize channels on multiple modules to within 160 ps resolution. These capabilities make the digitizers ideal for applications such as automated production test, semiconductor ATE and high-energy physics measurement systems.

"As the world standard in oscilloscopes, Tektronix is committed to delivering technology that meets our customers' needs, including automated test users whose production test applications require a card-modular instrument format," said Kevin Ilcisin, chief technology officer for Tektronix. "Customers benefit from our industry-leading signal acquisition technology complimented by world class instrument control via National Instruments, the pioneer of the PXI standard and the world leader in instrument automation."

The digitizers work with NI LabVIEW graphical design software for instrument control and automation, the NI LabWindows(TM)/CVI ANSI C software development environment and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET development tools for a wide range of programming options. Engineers can program the digitizers using the NI-SCOPE instrument driver or the new LabVIEW Jitter Analysis Toolkit, which offers a library of functions optimized for high-throughput, jitter, eye diagram and phase noise measurements.

Readers can visit http://www.ni.com/digitizers to learn more about the new digitizers and the LabVIEW Jitter Analysis Toolkit.

About National Instruments

National Instruments (http://www.ni.com) is transforming the way engineers and scientists design, prototype and deploy systems for measurement, automation and embedded applications. NI empowers customers with off-the-shelf software such as NI LabVIEW and modular cost-effective hardware, and sells to a broad base of more than 30,000 different companies worldwide, with no one customer representing more than 4 percent of revenue and no one industry representing more than 15 percent of revenue. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has more than 5,200 employees and direct operations in more than 40 countries. For the past 12 years, FORTUNE magazine has named NI one of the 100 best companies to work for in America. Readers can obtain investment information from the company's investor relations department by calling (512) 683-5090, e-mailing nati@ni.com or visiting http://www.ni.com/nati. (NATI-G)

About Tektronix

For more than sixty years, engineers have turned to Tektronix for test, measurement and monitoring solutions to solve design challenges, improve productivity and dramatically reduce time to market. Tektronix is a leading supplier of test instrumentation for engineers focused on electronic design, manufacturing, and advanced technology development. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix serves customers worldwide and offers award-winning service and support. Stay on the leading edge at http://www.tektronix.com.

    Pricing and Contact Information

                                        11500 N Mopac Expwy, Austin,
    NI PXIe-5186                        Texas 78759-3504
    Priced* from $31,999; euro 30,800;  Tel: (800) 258-7022, Fax: (512)
     4,480,000 yen                      683-9300
    NI PXIe-5185                       E-mail: info@ni.com
    Priced* from $21,999; euro 21,199;
     3,080,000 yen
    NI LabVIEW Jitter Analysis Toolkit
    Priced* from $2,999; euro 3,149;
     420,000 yen
    Web: http://www.ni.com/digitizers

    *All prices subject to change

CVI, LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI and ni.com are trademarks of National Instruments. The mark LabWindows is used under a license from Microsoft Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

    Editor Contact:                           Trisha McDonell, (512) 683-6215
    Reader Contact:                           Ernest Martinez, (800) 258-7022

SOURCE  National Instruments

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080723/LAW030LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
National Instruments

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

Bureau Veritas Expands Knowledge Center Portal with New Offerings

BUFFALO, N.Y., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, a world leader in managing risk and regulatory compliance for brands, retailers, manufacturers, and compliance professionals, is pleased to announce the addition of two offerings -  The Global Compliance Monitor and White Papers - to its  Knowledge Center (http://www.bureauveritas.com/knowledge), a portal dedicated to providing the most comprehensive and relevant regulatory solutions and information in the industry. The offerings are designed to help companies better understand today's complex regulatory environment and keep informed of upcoming changes.

The Global Compliance Monitor is a weekly subscription-based service designed to keep companies up-to-date on international regulatory compliance issues. The publication offers comprehensive monitoring of regulatory issues around the globe for major consumer product categories and topics including toys, hard goods, apparel and textiles, corporate social responsibility, health and beauty products, food, and electrical items. To introduce The Global Compliance Monitor to the industry, a special free two-week trial is available for a limited time.

For more information, visit: http://www.bureauveritas.com/globalcompliancemonitor.

White Papers are a catalog of research based documents that provide focused information in a clear and easy-to-understand format on a wide variety of industry topics, including new and emerging compliance issues. The catalog is scheduled to expand throughout 2011. A sample of current titles includes:

    --  The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA): Addressing the "Modern
        Realities" of Product Safety in Canada
    --  Apparel Flammability in the US & Canada
    --  Toy Safety in the EU: New Responsibilities per the Revised Toy Safety
        Directive
    --  International Recall Roundup: Monitoring Product Safety on the Internet

Regarding the new offerings, Joe Skulski, Bureau Veritas Director, Global Knowledge Products, remarked, "The Knowledge Center was launched in February as the destination for innovative solutions and compliance tools to help companies identify and understand applicable requirements when selling or producing consumer products. This is particularly important when companies look to expand into new markets, develop new consumer products, or seek to keep current products compliant. Our new offerings - The Global Compliance Monitor and White Papers are designed to further help companies meet these objectives and represent our continued commitment to providing the best regulatory information in the industry."

About Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas is the world's second largest group in conformity assessment and certification services. Created in 1828, the group has more than 47,000 employees in 1,000 offices and 330 laboratories located in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performances by offering services and innovative solutions to confirm that their products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility. Bureau Veritas is listed on the Euronext Paris (Compartment A, code ISIN FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI). http://www.bureauveritas.com and services in excess of 370,000 customers around the world.

About the Knowledge Center Portal (http://www.bureauveritas.com/knowledge):

The Knowledge Center is a portal dedicated to providing the most comprehensive and relevant regulatory solutions and information for the consumer products industry. The portal offers a variety of knowledge-based tools and solutions including: 

> The Global Compliance Monitor:  Weekly subscription-based service designed to keep companies up-to-date on international regulatory compliance issues.

> White Papers: A catalog of research based documents that provide focused information in a clear and easy-to-understand format on a wide variety of industry topics, including new and emerging compliance issues.

> Bulletins: Complimentary e-notifications featuring immediate announcements of regulatory activity.

> Webinars & Training: Web-based seminars and training presented by technical subject matter specialists.

> Research Reports: Investigative research covering individual countries' regulatory requirements.

> Customized Information: On-demand research to meet specific needs. A complimentary consultation is available to help companies identify their needs.

Information on the portal is prepared by the Information Resources Center (IRC), a focused research group at Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services with experience in regulatory and industry-related subject matter. This team has worked with top companies around the world for more than 15 years to help them better understand the global consumer market and regulatory environment. It actively monitors over 34,000 databases and regulatory and standard bodies to collect the most up-to-date information for publication on the portal.

Website:  http://www.bureauveritas.com/cps

SOURCE  Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services

Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services

CONTACT: Margaret Collopy, +1-716-505-3300, irc@us.bureauveritas.com

Web Site: http://www.bureauveritas.com/knowledge

Flagstar's DocVelocity Release 3.0 Brings Back-Office Speed and Flexibility to the Front End with New Customer Service Collaboration Environment

TROY, Mich., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- DocVelocity, a Web-based paperless processing system for mortgage bankers and brokers, has released DocVelocity 3.0. The centerpiece of the new 3.0 version is an all-new interactive Threads feature for multiple users all along the loan process, as well as major enhancements to the functionality of the DV Desktop components.

"Our customers asked us to make it easier for their borrowers and partners to interact and do business with them," said Jason Dufner, director, product development, at DocVelocity. "We responded by creating version 3.0 to make it happen."

Key features of version 3.0 include:

    --  DocVelocity Threads - This online customer portal connects everyone
        involved in the processing of a loan, from the originator's staff to the
        borrower and third parties such as the title and appraisal companies.
        Originators can interact directly with the wholesale underwriter in the
        Thread to streamline and speed communication. Threads create a
        transparent process where everyone can see all relevant documents,
        without compromising security.

    --  DocVelocity Desktop - The enhanced Desktop (formerly DocVelocity
        Messenger) functionality in DocVelocity 3.0 combines the scalability and
        flexibility of a Web-based application with the speed and power of a
        desktop application. The new DocVelocity Desktop revolutionizes how
        users navigate and organize loan documents, thus increasing their
        productivity in an industry environment that requires employees to do
        more with less.

DocVelocity is a Web-based paperless solution designed to simplify the mortgage loan origination experience, enabling mortgage bankers, correspondent lenders or brokers to shift easily to entirely paperless processing. It creates a paperless environment by allowing originators to collect, review and share mortgage loan documents electronically. It has easy options for turning paper into electronic files, accepts documents in most electronic formats, automatically names and sorts documents as they enter the system, and enables instant sharing of documents among staff, borrowers and lenders with the click of a button.

The system provides cost reduction, time savings, increased productivity, better management of compliance and risk, and reduced bottlenecks in the loan process.

To learn more about DocVelocity, call (877) 362-8356 or visit docvelocity.com.

About DocVelocity and Flagstar

DocVelocity is the flagship product of Paperless Office Solutions, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Flagstar Bancorp (NYSE: FBC). With $13.6 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2010, Flagstar Bank, FSB, another wholly owned subsidiary of Flagstar Bancorp, is the largest publicly held savings bank headquartered in the Midwest. Flagstar operated 162 banking centers in Michigan, Indiana and Georgia and 27 home loan centers in 13 states at year-end 2010. For more information, please visit flagstar.com.

SOURCE  Flagstar Bancorp

Flagstar Bancorp

CONTACT: Susan Cherry of Flagstar Bancorp, +1-248-312-6237

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

Bonus AVATAR Blu-ray 3D Disc Available With Purchase of 2011 Panasonic Blu-ray 3D Disc(TM) Player or 3D Home Theater System

SECAUCUS, N.J., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, a worldwide leader in Full HD 3D technology, announced today that the Blu-ray 3D Disc(TM) version of the critically-acclaimed movie AVATAR by director James Cameron will be available as a bonus with purchase of a Panasonic Blu-ray 3D Disc Player or 3D Home Theater System.  The 3D version of this popular title is not available on retail shelves, but only through this and other Panasonic promotional offers such as Panasonic's Essential Kit (3D Avatar Blu-ray Disc plus two pair of 3D eyewear) and on-going bundles with purchase of select Panasonic Full HD 3D Plasma TVs.

Consumers who purchase a Panasonic Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc Player (DMP-BDT310, DMP-BDT210, DMP-BDT215, DMP-BDT110, DMP-BDT115) or a Panasonic Blu-ray 3D Home Theater System (SC-BTT770, SC-BTT370, SC-BTT270, SC-BTT268, SC-BTT273) between March 1, 2011 and February 29, 2012 will be able to receive the Blu-ray 3D title via mail-in coupon.  Complete details on the offer are available on the Panasonic website at http://www.panasonic.com/promos/avatar/index.asp.

"As a leader in Full HD 3D technology, Panasonic is proud to offer this exclusive bonus designed to give consumers the opportunity to bring the immersive world of 3D and AVATAR 3D into their homes," said Richard Simone, Vice President of Panasonic's Entertainment Group. "We are confident that a Panasonic Blu-ray 3D Disc player or system is the best possible way to fully appreciate the added dimension of this stunning movie while in the comfort of one's home." 

Panasonic's Full HD 3D technology offers consumers the highest possible quality visual experience. To enjoy Full HD 3D programming users wear stylish and lightweight active-shutter eyewear. Featuring Panasonic's renowned Full HD 3D Playback, the new Blu-ray 3D Disc players and systems not only deliver powerful 3D images with dramatic effects, enhanced depth, luster and texture, but allow the user to tailor the image display as desired. The 3D Effect Controller adjusts the amount of the depth effect for more expansive images and enables the viewer to enjoy 3D movies with exactly the preferred level of 3D effects. 

Panasonic's range of Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma HDTVs, when coupled with Panasonic's Blu-ray 3D Disc Players and Blu-ray 3D Home Theater Systems bring a new era of immersive visual entertainment into consumers' homes by creating a 3D experience that easily rivals the best that can be seen in cinemas. 

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in High Definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations.  Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs.  Information about Panasonic products is available at http://www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at http://www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

SOURCE  Panasonic

Panasonic

CONTACT: Martha Whiteley of Panasonic, +1-201-348-7781, martha.whiteley@us.panasonic.com; or Blayne Murphy of Cohn & Wolfe, +1-212-798-9763, blayne.murphy@cohnwolfe.com; or Chris De Maria of Panasonic, +1-201-348-7182, christopher.demaria@us.panasonic.com

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

Lexmark extends color workgroup product line with new MFPs

Addition of new 'smart' devices with productivity solutions is latest advancement in Lexmark's suite of business-oriented printers, MFPs

LEXINGTON, Ky., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In an announcement made today, Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE: LXK) introduced two new color laser multifunction products (MFPs) powered with intelligent, productivity-enhancing solutions to streamline paper-intensive business processes. Targeted to the rapidly growing mid-size workgroup segment, these intuitive MFPs exhibit a wide array of features and functions, adding to Lexmark's impressive portfolio of leading-edge hardware and innovative software and solutions.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, go to: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/lexmark/48232/

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/MM87886)

X548 Color Laser MFP Family

The Lexmark X548de and X548dte color laser MFPs deliver the high performance, wide-ranging capabilities, time-saving solutions and advanced security features representative of more costly devices in the market - but with a smaller footprint and at an affordable price point.

Accentuated by a sophisticated, 7-inch color touch screen, the Lexmark X548 color laser MFP family comes standard with pre-loaded applications and can easily be customized with tailored workflows based on unique business needs. A step up from the Lexmark X548de base model, the Lexmark X548dte adds a hard disk to enable extra features, as well as a 650-sheet Duo Drawer for additional media handling capabilities.

The Lexmark X548 color laser MFP family is included in the exclusive Lexmark Rewards program(1), which rewards customers with free genuine Lexmark toner and imaging kits for sending their empty cartridges back to Lexmark for recycling or remanufacturing. Additionally, both models include the Lexmark Supplies Price Guarantee, an innovative program through which Lexmark pledges never to raise the price of toner cartridges for the life of these devices(2).

Supporting Quote:

"The introduction of the X548 smart MFPs strengthens Lexmark's position in a strategic growth area for our company - workgroup color laser devices," said Marty Canning, Lexmark executive vice president and president of Imaging Solutions and Services. "We are committed to driving innovative, disruptive A4 technology with smart devices, customizable with industry-leading software and tailored solutions, to make our business customers more productive."

Supporting Resources:

For a closer look at the Lexmark X548 color laser MFPs, see this video demonstration.

For additional information on product specs, click here to access the Lexmark X548 color laser MFP family product brochure.

About Lexmark

Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE: LXK) provides businesses of all sizes with a broad range of printing and imaging products, software, solutions and services that help customers to print less and save more. Perceptive Software, a stand-alone software business within Lexmark, is a leading provider of enterprise content management software that helps organizations easily manage the entire lifecycle of their documents and content, simplifying their business processes, and fueling greater operational efficiency. In 2010, Lexmark sold products in more than 170 countries and reported more than $4 billion in revenue.

To learn more about Lexmark, please visit http://www.lexmark.com. For more information on Perceptive Software, please visit http://www.perceptivesoftware.com.

For more information on Lexmark, see the Lexmark Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For more information about Perceptive Software, please visit the company's Facebook and Twitter profiles.

Lexmark and Lexmark with diamond design are trademarks of Lexmark International, Inc., registered in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

All prices, features, specifications and capabilities are subject to change without notice.

(1) The Lexmark Rewards program is not available in all countries. Visit http://www.lexmarkrewards.com for details.

(2) U.S. dollar price only. Other currency prices listed subject to currency fluctuation based on the U.S. dollar. This guarantee only applies to initial end-user pricing listed on Lexmark.com and does not apply to dealer and/or distributor pricing. Lexmark reserves the right to discontinue selling these toner cartridges any time after it discontinues service support for this printer.

SOURCE  Lexmark International, Inc.

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Video:http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/lexmark/48232
Lexmark International, Inc.

CONTACT: Melissa Lucas, +1-859-232-5806, mlucas@lexmark.com

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

Groundbreaking Facebook Game Depicts a Divided States of America and Challenges Players to Change the Future

Breakthrough launches "America 2049" combining transmedia experiences with real-world events

NEW YORK, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --, Global human rights organization Breakthrough's groundbreaking 12-week Facebook gaming event, "America 2049," today enters its 4th week with over 11,000 players "networking for freedom." "America 2049" -- in which players explore how the choices we make today will shape the our nation's future -- features appearances by Harold Perrineau (LOST), Victor Garber (Alias), Cherry Jones (24), Anthony Rapp (Rent) and Margaret Cho (Notorious C.H.O.), who generously donated their time and talents to help Breakthrough put a face on complex issues. "America 2049" is the first Facebook game integrating features, online clues and real-life events at leading cultural institutions. It has sparked enthusiastic responses from TIME.com, Gawker.com, HuffingtonPost.com and others.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/breakthrough/49863/

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/MM88012 )

"America 2049" players portray agents assigned by Jefferson Williams II (Garber) to capture fugitive Ken Asaba (Perrineau). As gameplay unfolds, they encounter an America splintered by race and ethnicity, hostile to women and self-expression. "America 2049" challenges us to ask: how close are we already to "America 2049" -- and how can we work together for a better future?

"'America 2049' resonated with me because I love the idea of people fighting at all costs for their right to pursue the life they choose, without fear of persecution," said Harold Perrineau. "I hope the game will inspire young people, especially, to help stop institutionalized hatred and intolerance -- today."

"'America 2049' is literally a game-changer," said Breakthrough President & CEO Mallika Dutt. "It parachutes us into an alternate reality not far from our own, where we must make critical decisions about how we want to define ourselves as a nation. While immersing us in one possible future, it inspires us to recommit to an America built on diversity and human rights."

As players solve puzzles via videos, voice-overs, graphics, micro-sites and social media, they also encounter human rights themes including immigration, sexual orientation, trafficking, and labor. Events linked to these themes will take place at leading cultural organizations nationwide (including members of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience):

    --  Jane Addams Hull-House Museum (Chicago, IL)
    --  Lower East Side Tenement Museum (New York, NY)
    --  United States Immigration Station, Angel Island (San Francisco, CA)
    --  Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (Birmingham, AL)
    --  Bosque Redondo Memorial (Fort Sumner, NM)
    --  Levine Museum of the New South (Charlotte, NC)
    --  Skirball Cultural Center (Los Angeles, CA)
    --  Arab American National Museum (Dearborn, MI)
    --  Ellis Island Immigration Museum (New York, NY)

Breakthrough (breakthrough.tv), based in the United States and India, is a global human rights organization that uses the power of media and pop culture to advance equality and justice. Breakthrough also created ICED: I Can End Deportation, the first 3D social change game, which has reached over 150,000 players.

SOURCE  Breakthrough

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/MM88012
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Video:http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/breakthrough/49863
Breakthrough

CONTACT: Lynn Harris, Breakthrough, +1-212-868-6500 x308, lynn@breakthrough.tv; or Maura White, Goldin Solutions, +1-646-727-4307, maura@goldinsolutions.com

Web Site: http://www.breakthrough.tv

Visual Network Systems' OmniPoint(TM) Element Addresses Application Performance Management in the Cloud

New Technology measures the End User's Experience of mission critical applications Providing IT Organizations and Service Providers with Actionable Visibility into Service Delivery and Support in the Cloud

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Visual Network Systems, a leading provider of application and network performance management solutions for IT organizations, today announced the availability of OmniPoint(TM) Element , a ubiquitous point-of-presence solution that provides IT organizations and cloud service providers with visibility across the entire service delivery infrastructure in public, private and hybrid cloud environments. OmniPoint(TM) Element joins the family of performance management data sources that provide Visual Network Systems' Visual Performance Manager (VPM) with the depth of visibility needed to help organizations develop a strategy for service support and service delivery performance in a cloud environment to ensure quality end user experience of key business applications. 

As a VPM data source for virtual environments, OmniPoint(TM) Element offers a unique and flexible deployment model that supports an array of environments including a Cisco SRE, a Riverbed Steelhead appliance, guest application on a virtual machine or a standalone appliance.  OmniPoint(TM) Element is ubiquitous and can provide visibility wherever it is needed along the business service delivery path, be it a remote site, WAN demarcation point, at an edge router or in virtual machines inside a datacenter.

The adoption of cloud computing has presented many opportunities and challenges for managing service delivery and support requirements.  Without flexibility in the placement of their data source, IT organizations and cloud service providers can be left blind in their ability to support availability management, problem management and incident management with root cause analysis across the entire service delivery infrastructure.  These organizations need actionable visibility to be able to quickly resolve complex performance issues in real time, from the remote end user and through the network to the multi-tier application infrastructure. 

When there is degradation, OmniPoint(TM) Element can measure the end user's response time of an application and rapidly determine the root cause.  In addition to providing layer 1-7 visibility with real time and historical views of performance degradations, this new technology advancement is capable of measuring usage, metrics for SLA, transaction response time, and performing active test, application dependency mapping and problem segmentation.  These capabilities provide IT organizations and service providers with the ability to quickly and easily restore critical services.

"With a majority of enterprises actively transitioning to virtual and cloud environments, the need for re-establishing operational performance visibility through new types of software instrumentation specifically designed for these environments is becoming increasingly urgent," said Jim Frey, Managing Research Director, Enterprise Management Associates, Inc. "Our research indicates such solutions need to also integrate into broader, service-oriented management in order to allow cross-domain operations teams to assure networks are performing their critical role by relating them directly to the applications and services they are entrusted to deliver."

"OmniPoint(TM) Element strengthens our technology leadership and our Enterprise Service Intelligence vision by extending our visibility into the cloud and virtualized environments.  Because OmniPoint(TM) Element is flexible in its deployment options, our customers will have the unique ability to measure performance wherever visibility is needed," said Daryle DeBalski, vice president and general manager, Visual Network Systems. "OmniPoint(TM) Element represents a new generation of performance management data sources that will provide even more analytical advancements moving forward, so our customers can rest assured that as their needs grow, Visual Network Systems' Visual Performance Manager will provide them with the actionable visibility they need to ensure their service delivery and support requirements are met, and their investment is protected." 

For more information about OmniPoint(TM) Element visit, http://www.visualnetworksystems.com/omnipoint.

About Visual Network Systems

Visual Network Systems provides innovative solutions that support IT professionals responsible for enterprise-wide application, network and VoIP performance. The company's flagship solution, Visual Performance Manager, is a unified system that provides enterprise service intelligence to help organizations effectively deliver these services. Its solutions are available directly to enterprises or as part of a managed services offering. Visual Network Systems is headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, and distributes its products in more than 50 countries. More information can be found by visiting Visual Network Systems web site at: http://www.visualnetworksystems.com or by calling (888) 293-5853. Follow Visual Network Systems on Twitter @vnetsystems (http://twitter.com/VNetSystems).

SOURCE  Visual Network Systems

Visual Network Systems

CONTACT: Tara Hanney, GolinHarris for Visual Network Systems, +1-713-513-9561, thanney@golinharris.com

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

Novacoast Announces Acquisition of Network Design & Integration

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Novacoast, Inc., an IT professional services and product development firm, announces the acquisition of Network Design & Integration, a privately held company that has served the national market in enterprise security for over 15 years.

David Balcar, President of Network Design & Integration, welcomes the expansion potential afforded by this acquisition. "We are very excited," said Balcar. "Novacoast's acquisition of NDI will permit us to grow our business and provide a broader range of solutions and expertise to our customers."

Because both companies work extensively in Novell (NOVL) services, Vice President of Channels and Partners for Novell Americas Joe McLaughlin expressed excitement at the acquisition. "NDI has been a Novell partner for years, and Novacoast has consistently been one of the top solution providers in the Americas for Novell," says McLaughlin. "Customers of NDI and Novacoast will benefit greatly from this move, which will allow greater reach for both companies into new areas of the country."

McLaughlin continues, "Novell is focused on building and supporting our partner ecosystem, so we are extremely excited when strategic partners like Novacoast are growing to service our joint customers more effectively."

"I am very excited about this acquisition," says Paul Anderson, President and CEO of Novacoast. "I have known David Balcar for many years. His excellent reputation and commitment to excellence is a great addition to the Novacoast family."

Anderson continues, "This acquisition positions Novacoast to make significant expansions into regional and technical markets. NDI brings skill sets to the table that will broaden our national service offerings, especially in the security space."

About Network Design & Integration

Network Design & Integration is a solutions company committed to delivering the highest quality network design and professional & integration services for business. We have built trust for NDI with a combination of national reach, a commitment to service and a highly trained and experienced group from IT Services, Military and Information Protection, and Security Audit backgrounds.

About Novacoast, Inc.
Novacoast is an IT Professional Services and Product Development company. We offer organizations our technological experience so they can make informed decisions and avoid costly IT mistakes. We combine our customers' expertise with our technical knowledge to rapidly deploy fixed-cost solutions customized for their environment. http://www.novacoast.com

Contact:
Sam Rolens
Novacoast, Inc.
srolens@novacoast.com
800-949-9933 x 2000
http://www.novacoast.com/blog

SOURCE  Novacoast, Inc.

Novacoast, Inc.

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

Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council to Develop Nation's Largest Metro Health Information Exchange to Improve Quality of Care and Cost Efficiencies

MCHC selects combined Microsoft Amalga and CSC SaaS solution to power data aggregation and analysis.

CHICAGO, April 25, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- The Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) is pleased to announce its decision to develop the MetroChicago Health Information Exchange (HIE), which is expected to be the largest metropolitan HIE in the nation, serving more than 9.4 million people. The new exchange will use Microsoft Corp., CSC and HealthUnity Corp. technologies to drive quality care improvements and cost efficiencies for Chicago healthcare consumers.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

The MCHC recognizes the potential for HIEs to improve individual care and population health through selected technologies that support both goals. By enabling the flow of data across healthcare organizations, the MetroChicago HIE expects positive outcomes due to more comprehensive views of patient information. These include decreased costs from fewer redundant tests across care settings, reduction in time spent gathering information about patients, and greater efficiency in identifying patients requiring ongoing ambulatory care.

"MCHC is charting a new course with the MetroChicago HIE," said Mary Anne Kelly, vice president of MCHC. "The HIE will be one of the largest in the country and will allow our region's healthcare market to improve efficiency by creating a network where health information flows with the patient, no matter where care is received. The reaction from local hospitals has been overwhelmingly positive. Seventy percent of hospitals in the Chicago metro area have already become founding members of the HIE, which is a testament to area healthcare organizations' stalwart commitment to improving quality and patient safety."

The MetroChicago HIE will use Microsoft Amalga, an enterprise health intelligence platform, to aggregate and present a unified view of patient medical history data at the time and point of care, and CSC will provide project management, implementation, hosting and support services. Software components from HealthUnity will work in combination with Amalga to provide foundational HIE services and continuity of care document exchange services. These technologies will give the MetroChicago HIE a powerful engine to quickly aggregate and analyze data across patient cohorts and populations, enabling care transformation.

"As the industry continues to focus on delivering value -- better care at the same, or lower, costs -- the flow of data across organizational boundaries and the ability to analyze and report on data across patient populations is increasingly important," said Peter Neupert, corporate vice president of the Health Solutions Group at Microsoft. "MCHC is leading its healthcare provider members to adopt technologies that can help drive value throughout the care delivery process, enabling a healthier population."

"CSC is looking forward to delivering a powerful solution that gives MCHC the ability to analyze data across populations, enhance quality of care within that community and use the data to improve coordination across the continuum of care," said Mark Roman, president of CSC Global Healthcare Group. "Our experience designing, building and running the nation's first health information exchange in Massachusetts, and advanced capabilities in software-as-a-service cloud delivery platforms, will bring technology to deliver better information for better decisions to improve patient care for MCHC and residents of the Greater Chicago Metropolitan area."

The MetroChicago HIE will initially build use cases that are aligned with meaningful use incentives, as outlined in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, passed in 2009. The goal is to implement functionality that offers value to the largest number of stakeholders and that can be deployed quickly. The first two use cases to be deployed will be Clinical Summary -- Emergency Department (ED) Linking, allowing authorized healthcare providers to see a consolidated view of the patient's medical history, with input regarding test results, problems and medication information from other providers across the region. This information is crucial, especially during medical emergencies, when patients may not be able to tell providers about their health history, medications they take or allergies.

And, because of available information from the ED, Public Health Reporting can be supported to monitor emerging outbreaks of influenza or disease patterns for early surveillance across the MetroChicago region. More than 66 hospitals and major outpatient care organizations have submitted letters of intent to MCHC to participate in this industry-led initiative. Participating organizations will fund the HIE, as opposed to short-term grant funding from government or other outside entities.

Join the Conversation

A Twitter session accompanying this announcement will be held tomorrow, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central Daylight Time and hosted at the Microsoft Connected Health Conference. To follow and participate in the conversation use the hashtag #HIEChicago2011.

About Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council

The Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council is a membership and service association comprising more than 150 hospitals and health care organizations working together, since 1935, to improve the delivery of health care services in the greater metropolitan Chicago area.

About CSC

CSC is a global leader in providing technology-enabled business solutions and services. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., CSC has approximately 93,000 employees and reported revenue of $16.2 billion for the 12 months ended December 31, 2010.

About HealthUnity

Founded in 2004, HealthUnity Corp. is a leading provider of standards-based MPI, HIE and PHR software, services and solutions.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE  Microsoft Corp.

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Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT: Rapid Response Team of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, +1-503-443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.com, for Microsoft; or Elizabeth Leonard of Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC), +1-312-906-6142, eleonard@mchc.com; or Chris Grandis of CSC, +1-703-641-2316, cgrandis@csc.com

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

Eternity Technologies Sets up World's Most Modern Industrial Battery Manufacturing Facility With Investment of AED 200mn

RAS AL KHAIMAH, U.A.E, April 25, 2011/PRNewswire/ --     His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and
Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, on Wednesday inaugurated the state-of-the-art
industrial battery manufacturing plant of Eternity Technologies at the
Industrial Park in Al Jazeera Al Hamra.

    The Eternity Technologies FZ LLC plant, owned by the UAE-based Al Dobowi
Group, has been set up with an investment of Dh200 million ($54.6million). It
is the Gulf region's largest industrial battery plant, which will design and
develop motive power batteries for use in electric fork lift trucks,
industrial cleaning machines, access platforms and personnel transport.

    With an annual capacity of producing one million 2-volt cells, the
company plans to export 85 per cent of its output to global markets including
US, Europe and Asia, apart from servicing the UAE and GCC countries.

    Speaking at the function, Shaikh Saud said: "The opening of this advanced
plant is a high point in the development of the industrial sector of Ras Al
Khaimah and we are delighted to see that Eternity Technologies have brought
in most modern R&D technologies to their plant."

    He added that the UAE has the geographical advantage of being a gateway
to a market of over two billion people, which presents a great opportunity
for companies to base their operations here.

    "We have created entities like Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority
(RAKIA) to provide optimum conditions for entrepreneurs to invest and succeed
by adopting business-friendly laws and regulations, one-stop shop licensing
procedures and excellent logistics infrastructure."

    Shaikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al
Khaimah, and MK Lokesh, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, were also present at
the inauguration of the factory.

    Surender Singh Kandhari, Chairman of Al Dobowi Group, said that the new
plant features state-of-the-art product and manufacturing technologies and
has a strong research focus.

    The company has invested heavily in product development and design and
has set up advanced chemical laboratories and electrical test laboratories.
It incorporates latest manufacturing equipment from Germany, Austria, Italy,
the US â?¨and the UK.

    He added that the Al Dobowi Group, operating for 35 years in the UAE, has
become a leading player in the motive industry ranging from tyres to
automotive battery and industrial battery sectors.

    Contact: Ms. Clotilda Fernandes Tel : +971-4-8836661 extn 132

Source: Eternity Technologies FZ LLC

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