NSW: 4,000 residents isolated by flood waters, but rain easing

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2009
NSW: 4,000 residents isolated by flood waters, but rain easing

SYDNEY, Feb 18 AAP - Rains have eased, but more than 4,000 people remain isolated by
flood waters in parts of northern NSW, the State Emergency Service (SES) says.

Heavy rains falling since Friday have soaked large parts of the state between Bourke
and Sydney, but began easing on Tuesday night, SES director general Murray Kear said.

"We've got about 4,000 people still isolated along the Bellinger River at the communities
of Bellingen, Darkwood and Thora," Mr Kear said.

"Those communities are isolated by the Bellinger River, which we are monitoring and
has showed a slight lowering.

"There have been no signs of an increase overnight, with no further rain, and the river
is steady at about 5.3 metres currently."

The river peaked at over eight metres on Tuesday.

"We've had a couple of evacuations from caravan parks in the areas, with about 20 people
taken to community centres," he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a further 100mm of rain in the area on Wednesday,
but Mr Kear said satellite images showed the rain falling over the Pacific Ocean.

"Once this east coast low disperses, they are forecasting finer weather for the rest
of the week, giving us a chance to mop up and assess the damage," Mr Kear said.

Since Friday, he said, more than 350mm of rain had fallen at Bellingen.

At Bourke in the state's central north, where a natural disaster zone has been declared,
200mm of rain has fallen in the past few days, equivalent to two-thirds of the city's
annual rainfall.

"I visited that area (on Tuesday) where it is predicted some $6 million worth of damage
has been caused by the rains," Mr Kear said.

"I will visit Coffs Harbour and Bellingen with Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan
today, and we will be looking at the damage in that area."

Between Bourke and Sydney and stretching to the coast, the SES has received more than
2,000 calls for assistance since Friday.

"We've conducted nine flood rescues across the north coast - people stranded in vehicles,
et cetera," Mr Kear said.

On Tuesday night and early on Wednesday morning, the SES received 100 calls for help
in the greater Sydney area from people beset by water inundation.

AAP ad/wjf/jl

KEYWORD: RAIN NSW UPDATE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Catcha Media sees a big catch in online advertising

Bilqis Bahari
New Straits Times
07-11-2011
Catcha Media sees a big catch in online advertising
Byline: Bilqis Bahari
Edition: Main/Lifestyle
Section: Business Times
Type: Company

KUALA LUMPUR: Catcha Media Bhd, one of the country's largest new media companies, is planning to launch websites for all its magazines as part of its plan to grow online advertising business.

Group chief executive officer Patrick Grove told Business Times that currently, there are four magazines that have their own websites namely Juice, Home-Pride, Mint and Clive.
"Juice just launched its own website. Stuff and Prestige magazine will be launching its websites this year. So when we launch these websites, they will get integrated into the MSN platform," he said.

The company operates all of Microsoft's online properties in Malaysia, including the MSN portal, and has exclusive sales rights for leading Malaysian website Lowyat.net. It also publishes 14 magazines such as Clive, HomePride, Juice, Mint, Stuff and Prestige, among others.

Currently, Catcha Media has about 410 brands that advertise with the company every month, of which 60 are online and 350 in magazines.

Grove said the company is encouraging its clients to advertise online by educating them about the Internet and Internet advertising.

"Every month we're working with new clients and try to do something on the Internet ... We still have a lot more clients to go through to upsell them to advertise online," he added.

According to Frost & Sullivan, online advertising expenditure in Malaysia is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 56.63 per cent per year for the next five years.

The Internet environment in Malaysia is expected to reach its peak now that Malaysia has high speed broadband like Unifi, P1 and YES.

"When Internet grows, more people will advertise online ... Internet is faster, cheaper and more measurable," said Grove.

Catcha Media is also in talks to partner another Internet company in a year's time.

"I would say within the next 12 months we definitely will be partnering another big American company. I don't know which one yet. It's either Google, Yahoo, Ebay or Skype," Grove added.

The company plans to enter the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) market by expanding its business in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines in the next two years.

The company which operates online media and magazine publishing business is en route for a listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on July 22.

It expects to generate about RM55 million in revenue this year.

For its financial year ended December 31 2010, the company recorded RM35.42 million in revenue, while revenue for the first half of this year was RM20.09 million.

(Copyright 2011)

FED:Marriage changes will end in court: lawyer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2011
FED:Marriage changes will end in court: lawyer

By Paul Osborne

CANBERRA, Dec 7 AAP - A prominent human rights lawyer says any change to federal law
to allow gay marriage is likely to be challenged in the High Court of Australia.

Labor backbencher Stephen Jones will bring a private member's bill to parliament in
early 2012 to change the definition of marriage in the Marriage Act.

The move follows the ALP's decision last week to change its platform, to "ensure equal
access to marriage under statute for all adult couples irrespective of sex who have a
mutual commitment to a shared life".

Jesuit priest and academic Fr Frank Brennan, writing in the online magazine Eureka
Street, said he had no doubt there would be a High Court challenge if the bill passed
parliament.

"Even if the Australian parliament does legislate to expand the definition of marriage
beyond its traditional meaning in the Marriage Act, there will undoubtedly be a constitutional
challenge in the High Court given that the parliament does not have the power to expand
its legislative competence beyond the wording of the constitution," Fr Brennan wrote.

Under the constitution, the parliament has the power to "make laws with respect to marriage".

In 1991, High Court judge Daryl Dawson said the commonwealth power to legislate with
respect to marriage "is predicated upon the existence of marriage as a recognisable (although
not immutable) institution".

Justice Dawson warned: "Just how far any attempt to define or redefine, in an abstract
way, the rights and obligations of the parties to a marriage may involve a departure from
that recognisable institution, and hence travel outside constitutional power, is a question
of no small dimension."

Fr Brennan said a better approach would be for the states and territories to uniformly
legislate for civil unions.

"I would (support this) ... because I think the states should not discriminate against
couples who have a mutual commitment to a shared life whatever their sexual orientation,
while affirming that the bearing and nurturing of the children of the union is a constitutive
good of marriage even though not all marriages produce children," he said.

Queensland parliament passed civil unions legislation last week, following in the footsteps
of Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT.

The federal ALP platform change affirmed amendments to the Marriage Act would not impose
any obligation on ministers of religion to solemnise any marriage.

AAP pjo/rl/psm/

KEYWORD: GAY COURT

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Collective Acquires Web TV Enterprise

Wireless News
04-04-2011
Collective Acquires Web TV Enterprise
Type: News

Collective, a full service provider of media and technology solutions for display and video advertising, said that it has acquired online video advertising network, Web TV Enterprise.

In a release, the Company said that the deal, which follows only six months after its expansion into the UK and just weeks after acquiring video advertising platform Oggifinogi, furthers Collective's position as a leader in delivering audiences to brand advertisers utilising unified in-banner and in-stream video ad formats.
Collective said that Web TV Enterprise is the UK's largest online video ad network, representing many of the UK's leading web publishers and content owners. Web TV presents advertisers, the Company noted, with the widest range of premium video channels on the web, reaching more than 25 million UK viewers a month.

"Collective is committed to accelerating the shift of broadcast advertising spend online," said Joe Apprendi, CEO, Collective. "Unlike most video networks, Web TV's revenues come largely from broadcast media budgets versus smaller digital plans. Our acquisition of Web TV will allow us to tap video's incredible potential and further strengthen our rapidly expanding capabilities."

"The promise of online video advertising lies in its ability to allow brand advertisers to engage with their audiences within the most appropriate content environments, where the most impact and opportunity exist," said Jamie Estrin, Managing Director, Web TV Enterprise. "Collective's success in combining data, targeting and analytics with the most engaging advertising format available makes this a natural fit for us. Our combined efforts will drive the advancement of online video advertising."

"We are delighted for Jamie Estrin and his team. His vision in 2006 has found success in a rapidly evolving industry through hard and smart work," said Mark Sterling, Managing Director, Marster Capital, which backed the Web TV Enterprise's creation and supported the company through its growth and onto sale. "Backing the individual as much as the idea, we saw an opportunity to partner Jamie in a world before video existed on the Internet."

((Comments on this story may be sent to health@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

FED:QLD floods keep crews busy with rescues

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2010
FED:QLD floods keep crews busy with rescues

A family has managed to escape from their submerged vehicle .. while another person
has been rescued from a car swamped in a paddock .. during continued flooding in Queensland.

Rescue crews have also responded to reports of a car being swept away at Wallaville
.. north of Brisbane.

The three incidents have prompted authorities to again warn people not to cross flooded roads.

In New South Wales .. forecasts offer hope of a reprieve from the natural disaster
.. which has plagued the state since late last month.

But the residents of Coonamble and Wee Waa remain isolated due to flooding of the Castlereagh
and Namoi rivers .. and major flood alerts remain in place for several regions.

AAP RTV bzs/jen/

KEYWORD: FLOODS NATIONAL (SYDNEY)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Main stories on 0000 ABC 702 News

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2010
Main stories on 0000 ABC 702 News

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - Main stories in today's 0000 ABC 702 News:



- Kevin Rudd says he's absolutely committed to campaigning for Julia Gillard.

- Former prime minister Paul Keating has attacked Tony Abbott's economic credentials.

- Economists say the latest record trade surplus is a reminder of the money flowing
in from the mining boom.

- Iranian officials have denied the president has been the target of an assassination
attack, attributing a blast to a firecracker.

- The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon says Israeli troops were on their side
of the border at the start of yesterday's deadly clash.

- One of Britain's biggest retail banks, Lloyds, has bounced back to profit.

- A 14-year-old Dutch teen has set out at the start of her bid to sail around the world.



AAP RTV aw/ajw/

KEYWORD: MONITOR 0000 ABC 702

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Government policy a blow to wind farm

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2009
Vic: Government policy a blow to wind farm

An 800 million dollar wind farm planned for Victoria's west may not go ahead .. as
a collapse in the price of renewable energy certificates threatens the industry's future.

The Age newspaper says AGL Energy may dump the wind farm planned for Macarthur .. near
Hamilton in Victoria's southwest .. unless the federal government can resolve the uncertainty
in the sector.

AGL Energy director MICHAEL FRASER says the 350-megawatt wind farm would go ahead under
enormous pressure .. but he's warned that the value of renewable energy certificates issued
for green power production has almost halved.

Mr FRASER says prices have dropped because the certificates are now being issued to
householders who install solar hot water systems and other renewable energy products that
don't generate power.

AAP RTV jrd/af

KEYWORD: WIND VIC (MELBOURNE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Oppn will oppose abolition of ABCC 'every step of the way'

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2009
FED: Oppn will oppose abolition of ABCC 'every step of the way'

By Julian Drape and Crystal Ja

CANBERRA, Aug 13 AAP - The federal coalition has vowed to oppose Labor's plan to abolish
the controversial construction industry watchdog "every step of the way".

The Rudd government wants to replace the Australian Building and Construction Commission
(ABCC) - a creation of the previous Howard government - with an industry inspectorate
within Fair Work Australia from February next year.

But opposition workplace relations spokesman Michael Keenan says the coalition will
try to block the legislation setting up the inspectorate.

It means Labor will have to bring the Australian Greens and independents Nick Xenophon
and Steve Fielding onside to get it through the Senate.

"This bill abolishes the body that ensures that in the building and construction industry
law and order is enforced," Mr Keenan told parliament.

"The opposition will be opposing this legislation at every step of the way because
every Australian employer and every Australian employee deserves to be able to go to work
... in a culture free of lawlessness and thuggery."

Mr Keenan said the Fair Work Australia inspectorate was a "toothless tiger" that couldn't
deal with militant construction union.

The industry had a culture similar to organised crime, where serial thuggery and lawlessness
ruled, he said.

"It's been plagued by strikes, assaults, bribes, intimidation, trespass, vandalism,
sabotage, threats, coercion, boycotts, blackmail, stalking, collision, wilful damage.

You name it and this industry has it."

But Labor backbencher Jon Sullivan says Labor would welcome another fight on industrial
relations.

The coalition's unpopular Work Choices regime was widely seen as contributing to the
2007 election loss.

"If you want to take us on over industrial relations in this community, you feel free,
take us on," Mr Sullivan said.

The Queensland MP also argued the ABCC hadn't resulted in safer workplaces.

Since it was introduced in late 2005 there'd been more deaths on construction sites, he said.

There were 18 fatalities nationally in 2004/05, 25 in 2005/06, 28 the following year
and 36 in 2007/08.

The bill would also seek to strip the ABCC of its "draconian" powers forcing workers
to disclose information, which Labor MP Shayne Neumann claimed overrode national terror
laws.

"The ABCC was given extraordinary powers in an industrial context which were not even
given to police to investigate major crimes," he said.

"There are no safeguards, warrants are not there."

But Liberal backbencher Jamie Briggs said workers who had done no wrong had nothing
to fear from the ABCC.

The government's proposed changes were about pandering to "union bosses, not workers
on the ground", he said.

Debate on the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Transition
to Fair Work) Bill continues.

AAP jcd/cj/dep

KEYWORD: BUILDING

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Fed govt endorses UN declaration on indigenous people

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2009
Fed: Fed govt endorses UN declaration on indigenous people

The federal government's officially endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The former HOWARD government voted against the declaration in 2007 .. saying it would
elevate customary law above Australian law.

But in Canberra today .. Indigenous Affairs Minister JENNY MACKLIN said endorsing the
declaration is an important symbolic step for building trust and black and white relations
in Australia.

AAP RTV bsb/kms/rt

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS UN (CANBERRA)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Fairfax workers to return to work tomorrow

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2008
Vic: Fairfax workers to return to work tomorrow

Striking Fairfax Media journalists in Victoria and New South Wales will return to work
tomorrow .. after an agreement was reached to end the standoff between staff management.

At union meetings held in Sydney .. Melbourne .. Newcastle .. Woollongong and Canberra
journalists resolved to return to work Monday morning.

Staff and management have been locked in an industrial dispute since last week .. over
pay negotiations and job cuts.

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance spokesman MIKE DOBBIE say union members today
heard details of revisions to the company's enterprise bargaining agreement.

He says the company's withdrawn threats to lockout members and to sue the union and
individuals for damages.

AAP RTV md/af

KEYWORD: FAIRFAX RETURN (MELBOURNE)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Woman found hog tied in park missing for six days, police

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2008
NSW: Woman found hog tied in park missing for six days, police

Police are looking into the possibility that a woman found hog tied in a Sydney park
today might have been abducted last Sunday.

They've confirmed the 29-year-old woman was reported missing five days ago.

Locals found her in in Ashfield Park this morning as they went for their tai chi exercises.

Police say she was suffering severe exposure and was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Police won't give any further details .. but are eager to hear from anyone who has
information about the case.

AAP RTV ab/wz

KEYWORD: PARK (SYDNEY)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Jewish outrage at visit of 'anti-Semitic' entertainer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2007
Fed: Jewish outrage at visit of 'anti-Semitic' entertainer

A Croatian entertainer accused of anti-Semitism will be forced to undergo tolerance
counselling as a condition of entry to Australia.

A Jewish rights group's today expressed fury at the federal government's decision to
allow MARKO PERKOVIC into Australia.

Mr PERKOVIC .. who's part of the Croatian band Thompson .. has been criticised for
making strongly anti-Semitic remarks and for supporting the Ustashe regime.

This is the fascist Croatian movement responsible for the slaughter of Jews and other
ethnic minorities during World War II.

THOMPSON's scheduled to play several shows across Australia during Christmas-new year.

AAP RTV dcr/rl/af/bart

KEYWORD: PERKOVIC (CANBERRA)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Father and son appear in court on murder charge=3

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2007
Vic: Father and son appear in court on murder charge=3

Police say a sixth person's been arrested late today.

AAP RTV pmu/af

KEYWORD: LIKIARDOPOULOS 3 MELBOURNE (REOPENS)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Cop's family distraught at overturned murder conviction

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2007
NSW: Cop's family distraught at overturned murder conviction

SYDNEY, Feb 16 AAP - The family of slain NSW police officer Glenn McEnallay is "distraught"

that a second man jailed over his shooting murder has had his conviction overturned, says
the police association.

John Taufahema was found guilty of murdering Senior Constable Glenn McEnallay, who
was shot after pursuing a stolen car at Hillsdale, in Sydney's south-east, in March 2002.

Taufahema, one of four occupants in the car, was jailed for a maximum 24 years in 2003,
even though he did not fire the shot that killed the 26-year-old policeman.

The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal today upheld his appeal - in which he argued the jury
was not properly instructed - quashing the conviction and ordering a new trial.

He is the second man to have his conviction overturned after his brother, Montekiai
Taufahema, also successfully appealed in May last year.

NSW Police Association president Bob Pritchard said today's decision had angered the
police force and placed renewed distress on Constable McEnallay's family.

"They (the family) are distraught and certainly angry at the events, they want to see
justice done," Mr Pritchard said.

"We're very disturbed at the decision ... we need to move forward immediately, order
a new retrial and get on with it."

Mr Pritchard has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to fast-track the retrial.

He said the police force had become used to the drawn-out processes of the judicial
system, with almost five years passing since Constable McEnallay was killed.

"In some cases, they've come to expect that these matters seem to go on forever, (but)
they need finality," he said.

"If (Taufahema's) guilty he should be put in jail and never be released."

Meanwhile, NSW Police Minister John Watkins said Premier Morris Iemma had spoken to
the McEnallay family and passed on his best wishes and support.

Mr Watkins said the court's decision to uphold the appeal was very disappointing for
Constable McEnallay's colleagues, family and friends.

"We just hope that the matter is dealt with very quickly through the court system and
that justice is done," he told reporters.

AAP cj/hn/it/sp

KEYWORD: TAUFAHEMA POLICE

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

WA: WA welcomes fed govt skills plan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2006
WA: WA welcomes fed govt skills plan

Western Australia has praised the federal government for a proposed five thousand dollar
incentive for unemployed people to relocate to areas with skills shortages.

WA Employment Minister JOHN BOWLER says skill shortages delay projects .. particularly
in the mining industry.

He says the incentives will help because it's expensive to move to WA where there are
plenty of job vacancies.

But he doesn't think it will make a significant impact on the state's chronic skills shortage.

AAP RTV lk/cp/bart

KEYWORD: SKILLS WA (PERTH)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA: Driver unhurt in busway incident

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2006
SA: Driver unhurt in busway incident

A bus has run off Adelaide's O'Bahn guided busway .. at suburban Klemzig.

Police says there were no passengers on the bus at the time .. and the driver was unhurt.

The O'Bahn busway runs between the city and the north-eastern suburbs.

It allows buses to run on concrete tracks at high speed .. using a special guidewheel.

AAP RTV tjd/jmt

KEYWORD: BUS (ADELAIDE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

wounding

wounding n. Breaking the continuity of the skin or of a membrane (such as that lining the cheeks or lips). Scratching, bruising, burning, or breaking a bone without tearing the skin do not constitute wounding. Malicious wounding is an offence punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. It requires an intention to cause some physical harm (not necessarily a wound) or foresight of the risk of causing physical harm. A person is not guilty of this offence if he intended only to frighten his victim but in fact accidentally wounded him, although he would be guilty of assault or battery.

Low-price issues for investors

Dear Mr. Berko: In mid-July you wrote a column in response to a reader who wanted to "roll the dice" with $50,000 and speculate with 15 low-priced stocks. I wanted to roll the dice also but not with that amount of money, so I bought just 200 shares of each of the 15 stocks.

Considering what the stock market has been doing since that time, my speculative portfolio isn't doing badly. Eight of the issues are higher than my purchase price, one went bankrupt (WCOM) and the remaining six are lower than my purchase price. I realize that these issues are long-term (18-month) plays, so I'm not disturbed that seven of these picks are lower in price.

I still have about $10,000 to speculate with, and I hope you will recommend eight to 10 more that are similar to the 15 you mentioned in July. Like the writer from Kankakee, Ill., I will not hold you responsible if they crash.

D.K.

Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Dear D.K.: You've got to have the metabolism of a snake and the emotional range of a cigar-store Indian to purchase July's minatory issues. You must have a very high level of masochistic molecules in your bloodstream because you're coming back for more. So if you like skydiving without a parachute, if you get kinky thrills walking a tightrope without a net and if you get jollies from kissing cobras, then the following issues may give you that "high" you seem to enjoy.

Tellabs (TLAB-$6.56) traded in the high $70s a few years ago. TLAB makes, markets and services optical networking, broadband access and voice quality-enhancement products. This $2 billion revenue company has no debt, a bundle of bucks in the bank and trades a few pennies under book value. TLAB should be profitable this year. Its huge cash position might be attractive to a larger competitor.

Cirrus Logic (CRUS-$4.93) is a $425 million revenue company that makes integrated circuits for the personal computer, consumer and industrial markets. CRUS has no debt, a very strong cash position, traded in the high $40s two years ago, has a $2 book value and should return to profitability next year.

Interdigital Communications (IDCC-$9.25) develops advanced technology solutions (third generation) for the wireless and Internet industry. IDCC, with revenues of $52 million, traded in the $80s two years ago, has tons of cash, negligible debt and could be smartly profitable next year. IDCC's large cash position may tempt others in the industry.

Sycamore Networks (SCMR-$2.94) develops products that transport voice and data traffic over wavelengths of light. This $375 million revenue company traded over $200 a share a couple years ago and won't earn a profit till late next year. Meanwhile, SCMR has no debt, trades at 60 percent of its $5 book value

and has a scandalously large cash horde. SCMR may be appealing to its more aggressive industry colleagues.

Rambus (RMBS-$6) designs and develops high-speed chip connection technology that enhances the performance of computers. This $117 million revenue company has zero debt, will earn a quarter a share this year, owns a mighty impressive cash position and traded over $135 a share two years ago.

Igate Corp. (IGTE-$3.62) provides cross-enterprise integration, network consulting, information management, Internet trading and e-procurement solutions, customer care services, Web-based business processing, plus offshore services to companies around the world. This $420 million revenue company traded in the high $70s a short while ago, has a lovely cash position, negligible debt, a $2 book value and expects to be in the black this year and next.

Legato Systems (LGTO-$3.41) is a $240 million revenue company that develops and sells network-storage software products, which are used to safeguard and manage information assets. LGTO has zero debt, a very clean balance sheet, traded in the $80s a couple of years ago and today the shares trade less than its$2.75 book value . LGTO expects to be profitable next year.

And finally, Palm Inc. (PALM-95 cents) develops and sells hand-held personal computer products and derives its $1 billion in revenues from both consumer and business customers. PALM, which expects to turn a profit next year, traded over $160 a share two years ago, has no debt and a very comfortable cash position.

I believe that in the next 18 months some of these issues may be bought out by larger competitors, others could triple or quadruple in value and some may just fold their tents while their corporate umbrellas go tulips in the rain. In my opinion, in an 18-month time frame, this investment has a low risk and high reward potential. All it takes is guts to do it.

As you know, the best time to own stocks is when the streets are covered and the gutters are running with blood. That's when no one wants these stocks and that's right now. Please address your financial questions to Malcolm Berko, P.O. Box 1416, Boca Raton, FL 33429 or visit his Web site at berkoradio.com. Distributed by Copley News Service.

Vitria Integrates Enterprise Applications for Fujitsu PC Corporation.

Vitria BusinessWare Integrates Front and Back Office Systems to Automate

Configure-to-Order Process for Notebook Computers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitria Technology Inc., today announced that Fujitsu PC Corporation (FPC) of Milpitas, Calif., a leading supplier of high-performance mobile computing solutions, has chosen Vitria BusinessWare to integrate the information systems that support their custom-configuration business initiative. Systems integrated by BusinessWare will include a Web-based order configuration system, manufacturing and distribution applications from Oracle, and a manufacturing execution system. The BusinessWare solution will help FPC configure and ship notebook computers

to business partners in a fraction of the time it takes today.

FPC chose Vitria BusinessWare because of its powerful combination of model-driven process automation tools and industrial-strength, standards-based messaging. This unique blend will enable FPC business analysts to graphically model their entire configure-to-order process, together with related business rules, and then use the model to automate the flow of information across the underlying information systems. The BusinessWare solution will give FPC managers end-to-end visibility and control of the entire process -- helping them to quickly identify and eliminate processing bottlenecks and significantly reduce the time it takes to assemble and ship custom-configured notebook computers.

FPC also selected Vitria BusinessWare for its scalability and flexibility. In an environment where customer needs, manufacturing and distribution processes, and information systems undergo constant and rapid change, FPC required a solution that could grow and evolve as quickly as their business. BusinessWare will allow FPC business analysts to control and coordinate cross-application information flows using graphical process models that can be changed manually -- or dynamically based on user-specified business rules -- as needed. In addition, BusinessWare's federated architecture -- based on the same design principles as the Web -- provides an integration solution that supports incremental and unlimited growth.

"As competition in the PC notebook market intensifies, continuously enhancing the customer experience is a critical success factor for FPC," said Steve Andler, FPC's vice president of marketing. "Our goal is to make it significantly easier and more satisfying for customers to do business with us. End-to-end supply chain automation, with the help of the BusinessWare application integration platform, will help us move closer to this goal within a very aggressive timeframe."

"The return on investment for supply chain automation provides a clear and compelling reason to invest in application integration solutions like BusinessWare," said JoMei Chang, CEO and co-founder of Vitria. "FPC and Vitria share a common vision of using innovative technology to transform business operations and service customers in new and imaginative ways. We look forward to working closely with FPC to deliver on this vision."

About Fujitsu PC Corporation

Fujitsu PC Corporation (FPC) is a subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited, a leading provider of information technology products and solutions for the global marketplace with revenues of $37.7 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31,1998. FPC delivers high-performance mobile computing solutions for the North American market. FPC introduced the award-winning LifeBook(TM) Family of notebook computers in 1996 and has since become the eighth* largest supplier of notebooks in the U.S. FPC emphasizes leading-edge technology, exceptional product quality, user comfort and productivity, and outstanding customer service as primary competitive advantages. The company is headquartered in Milpitas, Calif. and has configuration and customer support centers in Memphis, Tenn. Visit the FPC web site at www.fujitsu-pc.com or call 888-4-ON-THE-GO for additional information.

About Vitria BusinessWare

BusinessWare is Vitria's industry-leading solution for Enterprise Application Integration (EAI). It includes the following four components:

-- BusinessWare Communicator: BusinessWare's messaging component provides the messaging backbone that allows independent applications to share information by exchanging messages based on open Internet standards like XML and CORBA IDL.

-- BusinessWare Connectors: BusinessWare's components for data extraction, translation, and transformation link applications, messaging systems, and databases into the messaging backbone provided by BusinessWare Communicator.

-- BusinessWare Automator: BusinessWare's model-driven business process automation component allows business analysts to define and execute graphical business process models -- with embedded business rules -- that control and coordinate multi-step business processes across multiple independent applications.

-- BusinessWare Analyzer: BusinessWare's business process monitoring and analysis component allows business analysts to continuously monitor and analyze business processes, providing instant and incremental updates on key performance metrics.

About Vitria

Vitria Technology Inc. provides the first process-driven software solution for Enterprise Application Integration. Vitria BusinessWare helps companies gain end-to-end visibility and control of business processes that span multiple information systems. BusinessWare solutions are driven by graphical business process models that allow business analysts to control and coordinate cross-application information flows without programming. This unique approach reduces the time and cost of integrating applications, and provides the flexibility companies need to continuously adapt processes and supporting systems to changing business conditions. Dozens of leading companies including CableVision, Deutsche Bank, Federal Express, Hewitt Associates, Inacom, KPMG, Qwest Communications, and SBC Communications have already chosen BusinessWare to integrate their business-critical information systems. Vitria also works closely with leading product and service partners including Clarify, HP, KPMG, Microsoft, Netscape, Oracle, and Sun Microsystems.

Founded in 1994 by recognized innovators in application integration technology, Vitria is a privately held, venture-backed company based in Mountain View, California. BusinessWare is available on Microsoft Windows NT and Sun Solaris, and HP-UX. For more information, call 650-237-6900, visit the Web site at www.vitria.com, or send email to info@vitria.com.

NOTE: Vitria and Vitria BusinessWare are registered trademarks of Vitria Technology, Inc. Fujitsu and the Fujitsu logo are registered trademarks and LifeBook is a trademark of Fujitsu Limited. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. The statements provided herein are for informational purposes only, and may be amended or altered by FPC without notice or liability. FPC disclaims liability for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions in this press release.

* Based on Total U.S. Mobile PC Shipments, Dataquest

People, stop wasting so much paper.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

WHEW! Weighs me down the way too much of paper is wasted out here.A Look around you people -- newspapers, adverts, handbills, all going where?!?! To every doorstep of every office, home and shop plaguing the entrance.

Value our resources?A What's that?A Don't scatter handbills and free newspapers. Put them at a convenient place, where the 'interested' reader can pick one up. Just as we know if something is handed-out as free, it is valued "only" as much. PRINT Right!

Best Regards,

CAROL SANCHIS

Sharjah

[c] 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Webcast Alert: Jones Lang LaSalle Announces Second Quarter 2011 Results and Conference Call.

CHICAGO, July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) announces the following Webcast:

What:	Jones Lang LaSalle Webcast
When:	7/27/11 @ 9:00 AM ET
Where:	http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=80962
How:	Live over the Internet -- Simply log on to the web at the address above.

If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived on the Web site http://www.joneslanglasalle.com.

Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate. The firm offers integrated services delivered by expert teams worldwide to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying or investing in real estate. With 2010 global revenue of more than $2.9 billion, Jones Lang LaSalle serves clients in 60 countries from more than 1,000 locations worldwide, including 185 corporate offices. The firm is an industry leader in property and corporate facility management services, with a portfolio of approximately 1.8 billion square feet worldwide. LaSalle Investment Management, the company's investment management business, is one of the world's largest and most diverse in real estate with more than $43 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit our website, www.joneslanglasalle.com.

SOURCE Jones Lang LaSalle

Aksoy Group to Back New Entrepreneurs.

Aksoy Group, the founder of sahibinden.com, Turkey's most visited e-commerce platform with over 2 billion monthly page views, is aiming to support promising Internet projects through its newly established "Aksoy Internet Ventures".

Aksoy Group Vice-Chairman Taner Aksoy said "We founded sahibinden.com [http://www.sahibinden.com/en ] in 2000, and the Turkish information technology sector has developed and undergone a major change since then. It's a great pleasure for us to witness the whole process, especially after having secured a place among the most experienced companies. Nowadays, without a doubt, raising funds for the right project will not be so difficult in such a promising sector. Our differentiation will be to share our vision and experience on top of our financial support. Shortly, Aksoy Internet Ventures brings 'smart money' "

Aksoy said the company was willing to invest in a portfolio of companies diversifying risk. "We are primarily considering investing in Turkey. We may get involved in projects that directly target foreign markets, as well as those that are extending from Turkey to abroad." Investors who share a common vision with Aksoy Internet Ventures will also have the opportunity to co-invest in these new projects, the group said.

According to a release, Aksoy Internet Ventures made its first investment to dakick.com. Serkan UEnsal, General Manager of dakick.com, said they provide a personalized social calendar service which facilitates the automatic collation of all sorts of social activities that might fall in to a user's field of interest. The service helps users to keep up with city life by informing them about parties, concerts, sports games and similar events, as well as sending notifications about what is going on in the city, including the whereabouts of their favorite celebrities and most popular venues. The users can also share calendars with friends and establish a social network of their own.

Commenting on the investment and support they had received from Aksoy Internet Ventures, UEnsal said, "We are shaping the future of dakick.com together with a team that has more than 10 years of experience in the Internet sector, and a team that has made a great success with sahibinden.com."

"Partnering with a platform that serves more than 2 billion pages monthly (Turkey record) and 22 million unique visitors per month is an unprecedented advantage for new Internet projects", UEnsal said in noting the opportunities for growth. "The synergy of using common resources in logistics, infrastructure and technology will become the driving power for our success in the next term," he said.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

TCP Showcases "Smart" Lighting Technology at LightFair Show.

AURORA, Ohio -- TCP, the leader in energy efficient lighting technology and manufacturing, is demonstrating its advanced and extensive array of new CFL products and enhancements at this week's LIGHTFAIR International show in Philadelphia, PA. At the center of this, TCP is introducing its new Lighting Control System (TCP-LCS).

TCP-LCS integrates energy efficient lighting into an overall multi-channel energy management system, allowing consumers, commercial customers and even utility providers unprecedented control and monitoring capability for their overall energy usage. This exclusive Smart Lighting technology features TCP's integrated-remote controlled ballast technology, incorporating the GreenChip[TM] smart lighting solution from NXP Semiconductors, plus lighting control hardware and software developed by partner GreenWave Reality.

"By integrating wireless connectivity into our energy-efficient lighting technology, TCP is transforming the way we control and manage our lights," said Ellis Yan, CEO of TCP. "This enables consumers to manage their whole lighting environment - lights that turn on and off when and where you need them, at the desired level of brightness - all while saving power and reducing electricity costs." TCP's Lighting Control System also allows all lighting and other home electrical devices to be monitored and controlled via a custom network gateway device and innovative application software designed by TCP's development partner, GreenWave Reality.

TCP's LCS utilizes Mesh-Capable Transmission Control Protocol (MCTCP) to allow an almost infinite number of lamps to be controlled over long distances using lamp-to-lamp signal relay. MCTCP gives users the ability to control an extensive "closed-loop" meshed network of lamps and other electrical devices using smart phones or other internet-enabled devices. This mesh-networking capability also enables users to "step-gang" lighting controllability, which can reduce the number of lighting motion sensors or dimmer controls that would be required in a circuit.

The LCS system is fully web-enabled, meaning you can control the full enterprise of lighting and other applications using a PC or other internet enabled devices. The system will allow users to monitor individual bulb energy consumption and lamp life and operational condition, which can dramatically increase a facility manager's real-time visibility of the condition of the network. TCP's LCS will offer optional system reporting software and hardware options that can be used to further expand the reach of the LCS network to control an almost limitless assortment of devices.

TCP is also introducing the availability of its new Remote Control CFL system, which allows wireless control of an almost unlimited number of CFLs directly from a simple to use, low cost discreet handheld remote controller. This exciting new technology allows an unlimited number of CFLs to be directly controlled for on/off and dimmable functions from one of four different channels on the remote control handset. TCP's Remote Controlled CFL's will be available initially as a 23-watt Spiral CFL set, beginning mid-summer 2011. Additional CFL and LED lamp applications will follow later in the year.

All of the new TCP CFL and LED lighting products are tested and certified to meet/exceed FCC and UL compliance, and they also meet the new RoHS requirements which came in to effect in some parts of the US early in 2010. TCP currently has over 300 products which have earned the US Department of Energy's "ENERGY STAR" designation. TCP is also proud to have received the "ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year" award in 2010.

TCP is the global leader in energy efficient lighting innovations dedicated to creating high-quality products that are brighter, longer lasting and better for the environment. From its U.S. headquarters outside Cleveland, Ohio, the company markets a variety of energy efficient lighting products for professional, specifier and consumer markets under several brands including TCP, TCP Pro, SpringLight[TM], DuraBright[TM], Lightstyles[TM], and TCP EcoVations[TM] . TCP's extensive product line includes compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), LED lamps and fixtures, halogen lamps, cold cathode lamps, exit and emergency lighting, HID, decorative and outdoor fixtures, as well as a linear fixtures, lamps, and ballast offerings. TCP is a privately held company employing more than 200 people in Northeast Ohio. For more information, visit us at www.tcpi.com or call (800) 324-1496.

CHINESE FIRMS BUILD IN US IPO CALENDAR.(Calendar)

BEIJING, China -- The following information was released by the China Venture Capital Association (CVCA):

Source: www.RenaissanceCapital.com

With much of the attention this week focused on the roughly $700 million US stock market debut of China's leading social network Renren (RENN), three more Chinese companies kicked off their IPO roadshows last week with pricing for all three slated for the week of May 9. Mobile Internet security software provider NetQin Mobile (NQ), yet another China-based issuer, also hopes to complete a $75 million IPO this week.

This Week's Chinese IPOs: All Eyes On Renren

Renren (RENN)

Having increased the price range for its IPO by 30% last Friday, Renren has already received tremendous interest from US investors in what is shaping up to be the largest US offering by a Chinese Internet company. Founded in 2002 and backed by Softbank, Doll Capital and General Atlantic, Renren is one of the largest social networks in China with 117 million registered users. While an update to its reported active monthly user statistic in an amended filing late last week has been met with much criticism, the company is still experiencing rapid growth in its user base and big things are expected of its newly launched Groupon-like service.

Renren currently plans to issue 53.1 million ADSs at a range of $12-$14 (vs. an initial filing range of $9-$11). Including a $110 million planned private placement, Renren stands to raise upwards of $800 million. The company plans to trade this week on the NYSE under the symbol RENN. Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, BofA Merrill Lynch and Jefferies and Co. are serving as the IPO bookrunners. At the midpoint of its $12-$14 range, Renren will command a market value of $5.4 billion.

NetQin Mobile (NQ)

While much smaller than Renren, China-based NetQin also plans to make its US stock market debut this week, hoping to raise $75 million by selling 7.1 million ADSs at a price of $9.50 to $11.50. The company, which is backed by two Beijing-based venture firms and Sequoia Capital, provides mobile security services such as anti-malware and spam filtering. NetQin claims more than 30 million active monthly users, two-thirds of which are in China. NetQin was founded in 2005 and booked $18 million in sales in 2010, up from $5 million in 2009.

NetQin also expects to trade this week on the NYSE under the symbol NQ. Piper Jaffray, Oppenheimer and Co and Canaccord Genuity are underwriting the IPO. At the midpoint of its proposed range, NetQin Mobile will command a market value of $498 million.

Three New Chinese IPOs Kick Off US IPO Roadshows for Pricing Week of May 9:

China Zenix Auto International (ZX)

China Zenix Auto International Limited, a leading China-based manufacturer of commercial vehicle wheels for OEMs and the aftermarket, set pricing terms last week. The Zhangzhou-based company plans to raise $135 million by offering 12.9 million ADSs at a price range of $9.50 to $11.50. China Zenix, which was founded in 2003, booked $485 million in sales in 2010, up 50% from 2009. Net income rose 79% to $50 million.

China Zenix plans to list on the NYSE under the symbol ZX. Morgan Stanley, William Blair and Oppenheimer and Co. are underwriting the IPO. At the midpoint of its proposed range, China Zenix will command a market value of $542 million.

Jiayuan.com International (DATE)

Jiayuan.com International Ltd., China's largest online dating site with over 40 million registered users, also announced terms for its IPO last week. The Beijing, China-based company plans to raise $78 million by offering 7.1 million ADSs at a price range of $10 to $12. Jiayuan.com, which was founded in 2003, booked $25 million in sales in 2010, up from $10 million in 2009.

Jiayuan.com plans to list on the NASDAQ under the symbol DATE. BofA Merrill Lynch, Citi, CICC, Oppenheimer and Co and Stifel Nicolaus Weisel are underwriting the IPO. At the mid-point of the proposed range, Jiayuan.com will have a market value of $348 million.

Phoenix New Media Limited (FENG)

Phoenix New Media Limited, an integrated platform enabling users to access news on the Internet and through mobile devices, set terms for its IPO last Wednesday. The Beijing, China-based company plans to raise $166 million by offering 12.8 million ADSs at a price range of $12 to $14. Phoenix New Media Limited, which was founded in 2000, booked $80 million in sales in 2010, up from $40 million in 2009.

Phoenix New Media plans to list on the NYSE under the symbol FENG. Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank Securities, Macquarie Capital, Cowen and Company and CICC are underwriting the IPO. At the mid-point of the proposed range, Jiayuan.com will have a market value just over $1 billion.

VoiceCash Group launches VoiceCash Bank.

A significant step to connect mobile phone users to financial services

MUNICH -- VoiceCash Group is now providing bank services. Its subsidiary VoiceCash Bank Ltd. has received a European Banking license. VoiceCash Bank is registered in Malta and supervised by the Maltese regulatory authorities. "For us this is a logical and important step forward towards providing world-wide access to mobile banking" says Group CEO Michael Kramer. "Money transfers across international borders are one of the biggest growth markets and are emerging worldwide as a significant part of the economic development process.There are millions of people that have a mobile phone but donot have a bank account. VoiceCash Bank is connecting individuals and domestic mobile payment initiatives via a mobile financial services roaming. VoiceCash Bank is the first of its kind, a pure mobile transaction bank."

In fact private support remittances wired to their homelands by migrant workers reached approximately 338 billion Dollar ([euro]229.8 bn) in 2008. With this field firmly in view, VoiceCash Group has strategically expanded their business segment with the new bank. Speaking further Michael Kramer stated, "With the VoiceCash Bank we are establishing new services worldwide in the international mobile money transfer sector, for example we can offer cellular phone companies, service partners, and even other banks the real possibility to offer new services to customers."

Based on a unique and patented SMS and voice biometrics callback functionality, VoiceCash already enables mobile phone users to transfer funds and make payments in realtime. It has recently issued the first prepaid MasterCard Twin-Card for the German market. The two prepaid cards working in tandem to enable the rapid transfer of money internationally, allowing one family member to easily and quickly transfer money to another. These can also be used to pay for anything at the 28 million locations where MasterCard is accepted. Furthermore they allow the holder to access cash at 1.5 million ATMs located worldwide.

"Our internal policy has always been to provide banking for the millions - rather than banking for millionaires", explains Kramer. "In the past we have been struck by the fact that those who are most dependent on the international banking industry are some of the least able to access it. Eventually, and in the not too distant future, our aim is to empower everyone with a mobile phone to transfer money as and where they need, whenever they need to."

With this in view, VoiceCash Bank is currently planning to introduce a salary card as their next product in this segment to meet the demand of the mainly migrant workers dependent on prepaid cards in the Middle East. As many of these do not have bank accounts in their respective host countries, their wages have to be paid in cash or by some form of prepaid card. At present, these workers have to transfer this money by complex and expensive routes. In the future, VoiceCash Bank will offer simplified and cheaper mobile payment options.

The new bank is headed by Josef Leckel who was formerly Director of Operations for Western Union Financial Services in Central and Eastern Europe. "VoiceCash Bank gives us the opportunity to be a single source of all financial services for mobile operators and its customers. With this advantage, we are the leading service provider in Germany and one of the strongest market players worldwide in the area of international mobile money transfer. Our business partners and our customers will clearly benefit from our strong focus on mobile money transfer."

About VoiceCash:

VoiceCash specializes in International Mobile Money Transfer. The VoiceCash services enable mobile users to share money with family members or friends abroad without a credit check. VoiceCash issues the first prepaid twin-card for electronic payments, a Prepaid MasterCard twin-card, in Germany. Thus VoiceCash enables cross-border mobile payment services and provides access to 28 million locations, where MasterCard is accepted. Cash withdrawals are possible at 1.5 million ATMs worldwide. The VoiceCash Prepaid MasterCard[R] twin-card can be managed online via Internet, via mobile phone SMS commands or using VoiceTrust's innovative and certified voice verification system. This also increases the safety level of existing user facilities. For more information, see http://www.voicecash.com

VoiceCash Services GmbH & Co. KG Geisenhausenerstr. 15 81379 Munich, Germany

Parent company: VoiceCash Holding B.V. PO Box 30010 6803 AA Arnheim The Netherlands Trade register: Arnhem, Niederlande: 09178615 CEO: Michael Kramer VAT: NL818929492B01

@Home Network Selects General Instrument's NextLevel Satellite Data Networks Group

              To Provide SURFboard(TM) Telco-Return Cable Modems; 

Comcast first to trial @Home with SURFboard Telco-Return Cable Modems

NEW YORK, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that will enable widespread availability of high-speed data services over cable TV networks, General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC) announced today that its NextLevel Satellite Data Networks Group has been selected as preferred vendor by @Home Network, a pioneering provider of high-speed, interactive services via the cable infrastructure. NextLevel will provide its SURFboard(TM) telco-return cable modems and associated network to cable operators for delivery of @Home's Internet and multimedia service over the cable TV system to the personal computers (PCs) of cable subscribers.

Comcast Cable Communications will be the first cable operator to use SURFboard cable modems to provide the @Home service to subscribers. Comcast has signed a letter of intent under which General Instrument will provide an initial 5,000 SURFboard cable modems, and potentially up to 50,000.

General Instrument's SURFboard cable modem network provides high-speed data services to subscribers' PCs over a standard 6 MHz cable TV channel at shared transport rates of up to 27 Mbps. The return path is enabled via a telephone connection. This technology approach enables the SURFboard cable modems to be deployed in virtually any cable TV system today, without a network upgrade to two-way over cable. According to Lisa Pelgrim, Senior Analyst at Dataquest, today roughly 90% of the cable infrastructure that reaches 65 million subscribers in the U.S. is not capable of delivering two- way data communications.

@Home Network uses cable modems and its own network architecture to deliver highspeed Internet services. By connecting cable directly to subscribers' PCs, the @Home service enables users to download information at speeds more than 100 times faster than conventional modems. By eliminating time wasted waiting for downloads, @Home's service offers users an enhanced, more efficient Internet experience. For example, a file that takes 9 minutes to download over a 28.8 modem connection would take 2 minutes on ISDN, compared to 2 seconds on the @Home Network at optimum speed.

"Telco-return cable systems allow our partners to accelerate deployment of high-speed data services, enabling them to extend market reach, drive penetration and meet consumer demand as they upgrade their cable plants," said Milo Medin, Vice President, Networks of @Home Network. "Along with meeting our core network requirements, SURFboard cable modems provide our partners with a cost-effective solution in rolling out telco-return cable services."

Comcast, the nation's fourth largest cable operator, will be the first to deploy the SURFboard cable modems with the @Home service. The cable TV operator, along with @Home, will move forward with a trial of the SURFboard cable modems. A launch of commercial high-speed data service is slated for later this year in Philadelphia.

"We want to use SURFboard cable modems to drive early acceptance of high- speed cable-based Internet services," said Bradley P. Dusto, Senior Vice President, Engineering, Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. "@Home is really catching on in our two-way markets, and using SURFboard cable modems to bring downstream speed to our non-two-way areas will allow us to expand our service footprint significantly."

@Home launched its service on September 5, 1996 with two-way over cable modems in Fremont, California. Through its partnerships with TC1, Comcast Corporation, Cox Communications, Intermedia Partners and Marcus Cable, the service has distribution access to more than 40 million U.S. households. Home will use the SURFboard telephone return cable modems to complement its current two-way cable modem deployments in service areas that have not been yet been upgraded.

"@Home and Comcast's selection of the SURFboard cable modem is an important endorsement of the technology and the viability of data services over cable systems," said Geoffrey S. Roman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Telecom Systems of GI's NextLevel Satellite Data Networks Group. "Right now we have customers with successful commercial deployments of data services using cable-forward SURFboard cable modems. The connection with Home will enable a rapid, nationwide roll-out of cable modem-based data services."

GI's SURFboard telco-return cable modems and associated network were first deployed in August 1996. The first generation SURFboard cable modem, model SB1OOO, is an internal ISA card that fits into the subscriber's PC. Available now, it offers minimal customer entry cost. GI has also announced an external version, model SB1 100, that will use an Ethernet connection to the user's PC. The SE31 100 supports laptops, Macintosh(R) and multiuser environments. It will be available in May 1997. Comcast plans to use both the internal and external versions of the cable modem.

The SURFboard network is the first commercially deployed 64 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) data network. QAM is a digital modulation scheme that enables data compression to enhance system capacity up to 300%. The SURFboard network also features digital MPEG-2 transport, the standard for state-of-the-art digital television delivery systems, and standard Internet Protocol (IP). GI offers complete support, training, and systems integration services for its SURFboard network customers.

@Home Network distributes high-speed interactive services to residences and businesses using the cable industry's hybrid-fiber coaxial infrastructure and its own network architecture. The cable connection provides users significant increases in speed over conventional Internet access, and @Home's network allows for unique content offerings that go beyond current Web experiences. @Home Network and its cable partners are marketing the high- speed Internet access in Arlington Heights, Illinois; Fremont, California; Baltimore, Maryland; Hartford, Connecticut; Sarasota, Florida; Orange County, California; and Union County, New Jersey.

Based in Mountain View, California, @Home Network was formed in 1995. Investors in the company include Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), Comcast Corporation, Cox Communications, and Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers. Home Network's home page on the World Wide Web is http://www.home.net.

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is principally engaged in the development, management and operation of wired telecommunications including cable television and telephone services; wireless telecommunications including cellular, personal communications services and direct to home satellite television; and content through principal ownership and management of QVC, the world's premier electronic retailer, through majority ownership of Comcast- Spectator and a controlling interest in E! Entertainment, and through other programming investments. The Company's consolidated and affiliated operations serve more than ten million customers worldwide.

Comcast's Class A and Class A Special Common Stock are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbols CMCSA and CMCSK, respectively.

Upon completion this summer of its recently announced strategic restructuring, General Instrument Corporation will divide into three separate public companies that are leaders in distinct global growth markets. NextLevel Systems, Inc., comprised of the Broadband Networks Group, based in Hatboro, PA, the Satellite Data Networks Group, based in San Diego, CA, and GI's NextLevel Communications subsidiary, based in Rohnert Park, CA will emerge as a leading worldwide supplier of systems and components for high- performance networks delivering video, voice and Internet/data services. CommScope, Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer of coaxial cable and a leading supplier of high-performance electronic cables. General Semiconductor, Inc. (currently Power Semiconductor) is a world leader in the sale of discrete semiconductors. Visit General Instrument's Web site at http://www.gi.com

SOURCE General Instruments Corporation

     -0-                                 04/07/97 

/NOTE TO EDITORS: @Home Network, @Home and the @ logo are trademarks of Home Network and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brands and products are trademarks of their respective companies. Macintosh(R) is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc./

/CONTACT: Brigitte Engel, SURFboard(TM) networks, 619-535-2599, brigitte@surfboard.com; Dick Badler, VP, Corp. Communications, 773-695-1030, dbadler@gi.com; Matt Wolfrom, Manager, Corporate Public Relations, @Home, 415-569-5195, mwolfrom@home.net; or Joe Waz, Vice President, External Communications, Comcast Communications, 215-981-7607/

(GIC CMCSA)

CO: General Instrument Corporation; NextLevel Systems, Inc.; Satellite Data

Network Group; Comcast Corporation; @Home Network. ST: Pennsylvania, California IN: MLM CPR SU:

RM -- NYM050 -- 8081 04/07/97 08:07 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com

Media that offers the greatest opportunity for learning and growth for children and teens * according to U.S. Parents.(metrics)

 Media That Offers the Greatest Opportunity for Learning and Growth for Children and Teens * According to U.S. Parents  May 2006 (Percentage of respondents)  Radio          1% DVDs/videos    7% TV             8% Magazines     10% Internet      74%  Note: * ages 11-16   Source: Insight Research Group for Common Sense Media, June 2006 

In Brief: EverBank Posts 8% Profit Rise.(EverBank Financial Corp.)(Brief Article)

EverBank Financial Corp. of Jacksonville, Fla., said first-quarter net income totaled $7.1 million, 8% more than a year earlier, thanks to strong deposit growth and mortgage production.

Assets totaled $3.09 billion, up 29% from a year earlier and 1.6% from yearend, the privately held company said Thursday.

"Across the board we were enjoying strong results," chairman and chief executive Robert Clements said Friday.

"The contribution from our banking operations," branched and branchless, "has become a much larger percentage of our overall" earnings, he said.

The company's Internet bank had "a lot of momentum" in the quarter, Mr. Clements said. As for the four branches that operate under the name EverBank of Florida, he said he plans to build "at least one more by the end of the year in Jacksonville."

Mortgage production almost doubled with the opening of four sales offices, in Des Moines, Denver, Dallas, and Hartford, Conn., Mr. Clements said.

(c) 2005 American Banker and SourceMedia, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.americanbanker.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

Medicare HMO ills to again hit seniors.

Byline: Judith Graham

CHICAGO _ Some 200,000 senior citizens across the United States will experience disruptions in their health-care coverage next year, as HMOs limit their participation in Medicare or withdraw from the giant government health program altogether, according to a major survey released Monday.

A much larger number of seniors will be hit with the double whammy of reduced benefits and higher costs, reported the American Association of Health Plans, the survey's author.

In particular, seniors can expect less coverage for prescription drugs from Medicare HMOs, as well as sharp increases in monthly premium payments or co-payments due when services are delivered, said Karen Ignani, president of the health plan association.

These trends are not new: HMOs have been beating a significant retreat from Medicare since 1999, and benefit reductions were especially sharp last year, as financially stressed HMOs tried to regain a stronger economic footing.

Still, the trend's persistence for another year spells considerable problems for large numbers of elderly men and women who will be forced to switch health plans or convert to traditional Medicare, and who might need to buy expensive Medicare supplemental policies or sign up with new doctors.

Furthermore, the planned HMO pullbacks from Medicare underscore the Bush administration's failure to stabilize Medicare's troubled managed-care program and reverse declining participation, despite vows to do so last year.

"We're disappointed," admitted Tom Scully, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. But "we'll lose less people than we did last year or the year before," he noted.

In 2001, 934,000 seniors had to scramble for new Medicare coverage when their HMOs left the program or limited coverage. This year, 536,000 seniors found themselves in a similar predicament.

HMOs were to tell the government Monday whether they plan to stay in the Medicare program or limit participation, although the association's survey gave early indications of intended pullbacks. Health plans will begin making public announcements of their decisions in the next several weeks.

Scully and Ignani blamed inadequate funding for the problems of Medicare HMOs. For the past several years, annual funding increases for Medicare HMOs in most urban areas have been limited to 2 percent to 3 percent, while expenses covered by the health plans have been rising by 15 percent or more.

"We hope Congress will step forward to help save this program," Ignani said.

The House of Representatives has approved $3.2 billion in additional payments over the next 10 years for Medicare managed-care plans; the Senate has not acted on a similar measure. The Bush administration has proposed a one-time 6.5 percent rate increase next year to stem the growing tide of Medicare HMO defections.

But some lawmakers may balk when they realize that HMOs have turned out to be more expensive than traditional Medicare and not the money savers they were originally made out to be.

According to a March report of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, spending for beneficiaries in Medicare HMOs averaged 4 percent higher last year than spending for demographically similar beneficiaries in the traditional Medicare program.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups suggest that other health-care priorities should take precedence over bolstering Medicare managed care.

"A prescription drug benefit for everyone on Medicare has to come first, before any (extra payments) to HMOs, doctors, hospitals or other providers," said Joyce Dubow, senior policy adviser to AARP's Public Policy Institute.

Judy Stein, executive director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy in Mansfield, Conn., said: "It would be one thing if beneficiaries were crying out for more choice of insurance plans, like HMOs, but they're not. What they want is freer choice of doctors, hospitals, home health-care providers and medical-supply companies."

Nationally, nearly 5 million of the 38 million Americans covered under the Medicare program belong to HMOs. In Illinois, about 71,500 senior citizens participate in the managed-care option.

___

(c) 2002, Chicago Tribune.

Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicago.tribune.com/

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

ITXC deploys NexTone session controllers.(VoIP)

NexTone has announced that ITXC has deployed the multiprotocol session controller in the company's VoIP network, ITXC.net.

The NexTone multiprotocol session controller enables ITXC to extend its service with interconnection to SIP or H.323-based VoIP network. The NexTone solution enables interconnection between VoIP networks regardless of network's call control protocol, equipment vendor, or internal architecture.

The Multiprotocol Session Controller on the border of ITXC.net serves as an intermediary to affiliate VoIP networks, providing call-admission control, SIP/H.323 signaling interworking and network address translation (NAT) capabilities. The NexTone solution also eliminates many of the T.38 fax interoperability issues that are common among different equipment vendors' VoIP gateways. These VoIP interconnection capabilities enable ITXC to interconnect to local VoIP carders directly across the Internet backbone, without requiring or creating technical dependencies between ITXC.net and its peer networks.

With the NexTone solution, ITXC.net serves as a universal adaptor, exchanging traffic among many otherwise incompatible VoIP-based carriers and also classic circuit-switched carriers.

GameStop Provides Webcast Details for Its 2011 Investor Day.

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world's largest multichannel video game retailer, will webcast the presentations at its 2011 Investor Day on Friday, April 1, 2011.

The webcast, including slide presentations and question and answers sessions, will take place at the below times. The tour of a local store and the refurbishment facility are not included in the webcast.

Friday, April 1, 2011
7:30-8:30 a.m. CDT		Kick-off/Executive presentation
12:15-3:00 p.m. CDT		General Session and Q&A

GameStop's Investor Day will be webcast on the Internet at http://investor.gamestop.com/.

About GameStop

GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is the world's largest multichannel video game retailer. GameStop's retail network and family of brands include 6,670 company-operated stores in 17 countries worldwide; www.Kongregate.com, a leading browser-based game site with more than 12 million monthly unique visitors; and Game Informer(R) magazine, the leading multi-platform video game publication. The company also sells video games and related merchandise at www.GameStop.com. General information on GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company's corporate website. Follow GameStop on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/GameStop and find GameStop on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/GameStop.

National Customer Satisfaction Index Results.

The National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI-UK) continues to climb, up 0.8% to 74.7 on the 100-point index scale. With the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) stalling at 75.3, the gap between UK and US customer satisfaction is narrowing.

"It is interesting to note that customer satisfaction continues to move upwards in the UK while it is either down or stalling in the US," said ACSI Founder Claes Fornell, professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. "Even though some of the satisfaction weakness in America comes from the public sector, it has created another obstacle for economic recovery. Consumer demand is not helped by it. Despite disturbingly rapid inflation growth in the UK, customer satisfaction is not only holding up well, it is getting stronger. If the trend continues, households in Britain would be more likely to frequent retail stores and the prospects for economic expansion to return from last quarter's backslide would be higher."

Improvements in the retail sector have driven UK customer satisfaction to its highest level in two years. All retail categories have improved; electrical retailers increase the most, while supermarkets department stores, petrol stations and e-commerce make smaller gains. Electrical Retailers Customer satisfaction with electronics stores improves by 4% to 78. According to customers, electrical retailers offer more value for money than they did a year ago, but service lags behind department stores. Nevertheless, customer service is improving, and is the strongest driver of customer satisfaction for the sector. If these improvements are sustained, the threat to domestic retailers by competition from US giant Best Buy would be somewhat mitigated.

The aggregate of smaller electrical retailers remains well ahead of all large competitors (up 3% to 81). Among the large companies, Argos leads with a 3% gain to 77, followed closely by Comet, up 3% to 76. While still below others in the category, Currys shows the largest gain for a second consecutive year, rising 4% to 75, following a similar improvement in 2009. Supermarkets Customer satisfaction with supermarkets rises slightly to an NCSI score of 75, but remains lower than other retail categories due to rising prices and weak customer service. The improvement is almost entirely due to smaller supermarkets and food stores, which also saw a 3% increase in sales in the past year.

The big supermarkets have not changed much in terms of customer satisfaction. John Lewis's Waitrose brand remains far above the others with an NCSI score of 85. Asda is unchanged from a year ago (79). Waitrose and Asda have maintained strong customer satisfaction with very different business models. Waitrose relies on high quality merchandise and strong customer service, while Asda, like its US parent Wal-Mart, concentrates on low priced products. Waitrose customers do pay a premium, but the quality of goods and service has a greater impact on customer satisfaction than low price. Therefore, Waitrose enjoys much higher customer satisfaction and customer loyalty than Asda.

The aggregate of smaller grocery stores shows a massive improvement (up 11% to 78). Morrisons remains at 77, Sainsbury's is at 73 and Tesco at 72. Despite Tesco's increased emphasis on its own brands and low pricing, customers rate value for money below the industry average.

Ever since The Co-operative Group acquired Somerfield stores, customer satisfaction with the combined supermarket chain has increased. After three years of NCSI scores in the low 60s, by far the lowest of any retailer, The Co-operative improves 11% to 70. While this rise does not lift The Co-operative from last place in the supermarket category, the gap has narrowed considerably. For the first time, the Co-operative is now positioned within striking distance of Tesco and Sainsbury's. Department Stores Customer satisfaction with department stores rises 1.3% to an NCSI score of 79, due to customer service, product quality, variety of merchandise, promotional pricing, and few complaints. John Lewis remains the customer satisfaction leader, up 1% to 84. According to customers, John Lewis offers the best shopping experience in terms of both merchandise and service.

Marks and Spencer advances by 3% to 79, followed by the "all other" aggregate of smaller department stores (up 1% to 78). House of Fraser is unchanged at 76. Debenhams is up 1% to 75, but remains at the bottom of the category, with weaker customer service than its competitors. E-Commerce Customer satisfaction with e-commerce improves slightly for a second straight year, up 1.2% to an NCSI score of 84, the highest score of any sector. Internet sales continued to grow rapidly and accounted for nearly 11% of all retail sales during the holiday shopping season. Customers regard online retail as the best way to shop, with greater convenience and value, not only for the pure online retailers, such as Amazon and eBay, but also for the multi-channel retailers in the "all others" aggregate.

Amazon is the leader (up 1% to 88) of the e-commerce category, and holds the highest customer satisfaction score of any retail company, both in the UK and the US. Play.com loses the top spot (down 2% to 86). eBay is up 3% to 82, and iTunes moves up 1% to 81. The payoff for high customer satisfaction is evidenced by eBay sales growth, up 25% in the fourth quarter, a faster rate than for e-commerce overall. Ticketmaster improves slightly, up 1% to 77 at the bottom of the e-commerce category. While customer satisfaction has improved over the past two years, service costs such as surcharges and delivery fees have damped customer satisfaction with Ticketmaster. Visit CFI Group for the full report. Contact askcfi@cfigroup.com to find out how organisations use NCSI/ACSI methodology for customer satisfaction measurement, benchmarking, and improvement prioritisation. About NCSI-UK www.ncsiuk.com The National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI-UK) is an economic indicator of customer evaluations of the quality of products and services available to household consumers in the United Kingdom. Results are based on survey data from more than 5,000 customers, collected via online panel during Q4 of 2010. The NCSI applies the technology of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) developed by CFI Group and the University of Michigan. NCSI updates quarterly with data from different sectors of the economy.

Keywords: CFI Group, Economic Indicator, Economics, Electronics, Technology.

This article was prepared by Economics Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Economics Week via VerticalNews.com.