2007'02.01.Thu
Atos Origin and Axiom Systems Announce Strategic Alliance for End-to-End Service Fulfillment
PR
April 26, 2006
LONDON, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Atos Origin, a leading
IT services company, and Axiom Systems, a market leader in
service fulfillment software have announced a strategic
partnership to provide telecommunications providers with a
solution to manage the end-to-end service fulfillment
processes for services such as broadband (DSL/LLU), Triple
Play, IPTV, VOIP and IPVPNs.
The alliance between the two companies stems from their
collaboration on customer projects which have proved
successful in terms of efficiency, simplicity, transparency
and cost. Key to each project's success has been the cost
control measures with improved levels of customer service
which have enabled clients to gain tangible and sustainable
benefits.
Atos Origin will integrate Axiom Systems' solutions as
part of their end-to-end Operation Support System (OSS)
solution offering and developing an enhanced deployment and
support methodology. This will enable service providers to
take advantage of the award winning AXIOSS(R) Suite
currently used by Tier 1 carriers around the world such as
TeliaSonera, TDC and Telecom New Zealand.
Atos Origin's industry leading OSS knowledge and
implementation skills will be utilized to develop and
implement integrated solutions, particularly in areas of
network integration and network operation, key to the
success of today's Carriers. Atos Origin are unique in that
they offer experience in differing business models including
the outsourcing of facilities management which appeals to
the varying range of Service Providers around the globe.
Mark Becker, managing director of Media, Telecoms and
Utilities at Atos Origin says, "Having worked on
successful projects with Axiom Systems before we have built
up a working relationship which has left our customers in no
doubt that they are choosing a Service Fulfilment platform
which provides best in class management for all aspects of
broadband fulfillment. In addition, it also delivers a high
capacity value add data services activation, and a services
organization that has the skills and expertise required by
today's competitive Service Providers."
About Atos Origin
Atos Origin is an international information technology
services company. Its business is turning client vision
into results through the application of consulting, systems
integration and managed operations. The company's annual
revenues are EUR 5.5 billion and it employs over 47,000
people in 40 countries. Atos Origin is the Worldwide
Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and
has a client base of international blue-chip companies
across all sectors. Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris
Eurolist Market and trades as Atos Origin, Atos Euronext
Market Solutions, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting.
For more information, please visit the company's web
site at http://www.atosorigin.com
About Axiom Systems
Axiom Systems(R) is the leader in software for the
design and delivery of wireline and wireless services for
communications providers. Axiom Systems provides customers
with advanced solutions that include IPTV, VoIP, IP VPN and
Triple Play. The company provides the AXIOSS(R) Suite of
operational solutions for order management, service
inventory and service activation. More Service Providers in
Europe use AXIOSS for IP and broadband fulfillment than any
other vendor. Global customers include -- Cable &
Wireless, Deutsche Telekom, TeliaSonera, Wanadoo, AOL,
Telekom Austria, TDC, Telecom New Zealand, NTL, Telecom
Italia and TelMex. The company is headquartered in the UK,
with regional offices in Rome, Munich, Paris, Madrid,
Budapest, Seattle, WA, Sydney and Singapore.
For more information, please contact:
Caroline Crouch,
Atos
Tel: +44-20-7830-4233
Martine Parsons,
Axiom
Tel: +44-118-9294133
Email: mparsons@axiomsystems.com
Web: http://www.atosorigin.com
SOURCE Axiom Systems Ltd
2007'02.01.Thu
Resilience Corp. Closes $10 Million Round of Preferred Equity Funding
April 26, 2006
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Resilience(R) Corporation, a fast-growing manufacturer of
ultra-high-availability security appliances, today
announced the closing of a $10 million round of preferred
equity funding. Kennet Venture Partners LLC led this round
and was joined by current investor Baring Private Equity
Asia.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040831/SFTU058LOGO )
The new funding will be used to fuel rapid growth that
began last year when Resilience launched its Ndurant(R) and
Ndurant Express(TM) appliance lines for Check Point
firewalls/VPNs. Resilience also released in the first
quarter of 2006 their new NetSquad(TM) appliances for
Websense Web security and Protak(TM) appliances for Check
Point's Connectra SSL VPN application.
Eric Filipek, director of Kennet Venture Partners LLC
in Foster City, CA, has joined the board of Resilience as a
result of the investment. "Resilience represents a
great example of a technology business that re-invented
itself on a model of capital efficiency and is now
thriving," states Mr. Filipek. He adds, "This
financing provides the capital to enable Resilience to now
scale its sales and marketing infrastructure globally and
continue its rapid revenue growth. The market for
best-of-breed applications delivered via an open, hardened
appliance is very large and fast growing. Resilience is
well positioned and now well financed to be a leading
player."
Resilience president and CEO Dr. Theodore J. Marr
stated, "Last year was a time of innovation and rapid
growth at Resilience. Besides the launch of three product
lines that use our patented Integrated High
Availability(TM) technology, we also launched our
revolutionary Continuous Secured Ownership Warranty(SM)
program that effectively eliminates hardware end of life
from customers' solutions. The new funding will let us
build on the momentum we started last year to expand our
market share and build value for our investors."
About Resilience Corporation
Resilience sets the standard for solutions that advance
business continuity through its ultra-available technology
for networks and its landmark Continuous Secured
Ownership(SM) program that eliminates hardware EOL.
Resilience has delivered innovative fault-tolerant and high
availability network appliances since 1995. The company
holds three key patents in fault-tolerant computing.
Resilience partners with leading application providers to
offer a growing family of High Availability solutions for:
firewalls, Web security, SSL VPN, and others. Resilience is
a privately held, venture-backed company with corporate
headquarters in Mountain View, California and sales offices
throughout the world. For more information:
http://www.resilience.com .
About Kennet Venture Partners Limited
Kennet Venture Partners is a leading transatlantic
venture capital firm, which invests in growth companies
providing information technology products and business
services that leverage information technology. Kennet
provides expansion capital to firms that want to accelerate
growth and build exceptional shareholder value in
partnership with an experienced investor. Kennet Venture
Partners acts as an advisor to Kennet I LP, a Jersey
limited partnership and to Kennet II LP, a Guernsey limited
partnership. Kennet Venture Partners is authorized and
regulated by the Financial Services Authority. For more
information: http://www.kennet.com .
About Baring Private Equity Partners Asia
Baring Asia specializes in providing expansion capital
to rapidly growing middle market companies in Asia Pacific.
Baring Asia currently has over US$ 800 million in capital
committed for investment in Asia. Baring Asia has been a
private equity investor in Asia since 1997 and has 20
investment professionals in offices in Hong Kong,
Singapore, Shanghai, Delhi, Bombay and San Francisco. For
more information: http://www.bpep.com/asia.html .
NOTE: Resilience, Ndurant, NetSquad, RESlink, iHA, and
Continuous Secured Ownership are trademarks of Resilience.
Other trademarks are the property of their owners.
For more information, please contact:
Bob Matlow
Resilience Corporation, U.S.A.
Tel: +1-888-297-8515 x931 or +1-650-230-2200
Email: bob.matlow@resilience.com
SOURCE Resilience Corporation
2007'02.01.Thu
Renee Franklin Joins Tower Automotive as Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources
April 26, 2006
NOVI, Mich., April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Tower
Automotive (OTC Bulletin Board: TWRAQ.PK) announced E.
Renee Franklin has joined the company as senior vice
president, global human resources. Based at corporate
headquarters in Novi, Mich., Franklin will be a member of
the company's enterprise leadership team with leadership
responsibility for all strategic and tactical issues
affecting the human resources of the global enterprise.
She will report directly to Kathleen Ligocki, president and
CEO of the company.
"Renee brings tremendous breadth of experience to
Tower," said Ligocki. "Her energy, insight, and
international depth will be crucial as Tower Automotive
emerges from reorganization and continues to grow as a
successful global automotive supplier."
Franklin will provide thought leadership and strategic
support on such issues as compensation, retention,
leadership development, organizational design, recruiting,
labor contracts and negotiations, pension and benefits, and
HR support.
Since 2004, Franklin has been vice president of human
resources at the Colgate-Palmolive Co., where she has held
worldwide human resources responsibility for the company's
research and development, supply chain, information
technology and business development units. She joined
Colgate-Palmolive in 2003 as vice president of human
resources in the Africa/Middle East Division.
Prior to joining Colgate, Franklin spent 14 years with
Ford Motor Co., earning a series of promotions in
recruiting, labor relations and human relations positions,
culminating with her appointment in 2000 as human resources
director for Ford of Mexico, a multi-billion dollar business
with more than 10,000 employees. Earlier in her career, she
served as a human relations associate at the Pepsi-Cola Co.
Franklin holds a Master of Business Administration
degree in human resources and marketing from Vanderbilt
University and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology
from the University of Illinois. She has served as a
member and president of the Vanderbilt MBA Alumni Board.
She is a lifetime member of the National Black MBA
Association.
About Tower Automotive
Tower Automotive, Inc. is a global designer and
producer of vehicle structural components and assemblies
used by every major automotive original equipment
manufacturer, including BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford,
GM, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen and
Volvo. Products include body structures and assemblies,
lower vehicle frames and structures, chassis modules and
systems, and suspension components. Additional company
information is available at http://www.towerautomotive.com
.
For more information, please contact:
Joe Kirik,
Tower Automotive, Inc.
Tel: +1-248-675-6253
Web: http://www.towerautomotive.com
SOURCE Tower Automotive, Inc.
2007'02.01.Thu
Malaria Vaccine Can Save Millions
April 26, 2006
Africa Malaria Day Statement by Inventor of the First Effective Malaria Vaccine
RIXENSART, Belgium, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The
following is a statement from Joe Cohen, the inventor of the
RTS,S malaria vaccine and Vice President of R & D,
Vaccines for Emerging Diseases & HIV for
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals.
Few scientists ever have the chance to see their daily
work transformed into new medicines or vaccines that have
the potential to save millions of lives. It is mind
boggling to think that I may be one of the lucky few.
Indeed, earlier this year, I and other scientists from
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals visited the construction site
for the plant that is destined to produce millions of doses
of the malaria vaccine, known as RTS,S. For the past 20
years, I have been closely involved in the development of
this vaccine of which I am one of the inventors.
This vaccine made history last year when The Lancet
published the results of a clinical trial that proved it
was effective for at least 18 months in reducing clinical
malaria by 35 percent and severe malaria by 49 percent, in
a study that involved about 2000 Mozambican children. If
all goes well, this vaccine could be licensed as early as
2011-2012, and the new GSK production plant in Belgium
should be ready to begin supplying millions of doses each
year to children in many of Africa's poorest countries.
As the world pauses this week to commemorate Africa
Malaria Day, it is necessary to consider how important a
step this vaccine may be, but also to recognize how many
challenges remain. Malaria kills between one and three
million people each year, mostly young African children,
and is among the world's leading causes of childhood
mortality. Malaria also robs Africa of crucial resources
necessary for development -- as much as US$12 billion each
year in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity, a
sum that is roughly equivalent to all the foreign aid that
flows into Africa each year.
For too long, the world has considered a malaria
vaccine as some kind of "pie in the sky." In the
light of the recent scientific breakthrough resulting from
the successful RTS,S scientific trial, we must rethink our
views on the feasibility of vaccination against malaria.
Now is the time for the world to start thinking about how
to use the RTS,S vaccine with other existing or soon to be
implemented malaria prevention tools such as insecticide
treated bed nets, indoor pesticide spraying, and
intermittent prospective treatment of infants (IPTi).
International organizations need to begin preparing demand
forecasts, national agencies need to lay the groundwork so
this vaccine can be approved as quickly as possible and
introduced into national disease control strategies.
Fundamentally, all people across Africa and the
industrialized world need to begin building political
support to ensure the resources, both financial and
infrastructural, are in place to ensure that this vaccine
reaches every child who needs it.
It will take a few more years to license the malaria
vaccine, but we don't have to wait that long to start
saving lives. Many countries are already far behind on
immunizing children against diseases such as measles,
rotavirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b disease, for
which vaccines already exist. Immunization is one of the
most cost-effective public health interventions in history,
yet funding for vaccines is only a fraction of what it needs
to be. A recent report by the research group SmartPharma
published in the journal Vaccine found that just doubling
the money the world spends on vaccines could reduce
vaccine-preventable deaths by half in five years. This will
translate into millions of lives saved.
And that is only by providing vaccines that already
exist. Major scientific hurdles need to be overcome if we
are to develop effective vaccines for other diseases such
as HIV/AIDS and TB that are devastating the developing
world. We are committed, working in partnership, to address
these challenges. However, billions of dollars more will be
needed to fund the development and purchase of these
vaccines. New types of long-term financing that are
currently making headlines, sponsored by forward thinking
governments, could mean a positive overhaul of the
short-term funding and aid mechanisms traditionally used.
These new institutions include the UK-sponsored
International Financing Facility for Immunisation and the
G8-sponsored Advance Market Commitment for vaccines.
But financing for R&D and purchase is only part of
the problem. Improving health in the developing world is a
complex challenge. In many countries, major investment is
required in healthcare infrastructure -- hospitals,
clinics, distribution networks -- not only for
immunization, but to provide daily healthcare. In
particular, how these new vaccines will be introduced in
low income countries and how long it will take regulatory
authorities to approve them are two other hurdles that need
to be overcome in order for these vaccines to get to the
people who need them most as quickly as possible. Our
company's research pipeline is filled with more than 20
vaccines in development, including new vaccines against
HIV, TB, cervical cancer, dengue fever and meningitis.
These and other new vaccines provide hope to millions of
families around the world.
The successful effort to develop the RTS,S malaria
vaccine proves a new approach to vaccine development
public-private partnerships (PPP) is working. PPPs combine
the potential financial power of governments, foundations
and NGOs with the expertise of pharmaceutical companies in
order to produce new medicines and vaccines. GSK's
partnership with the Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) is an
example of this model. Working with MVI, we have been able
to rapidly move forward new clinical trials to bring the
malaria vaccine to market as quickly as possible and
explore promising ways to improve the vaccine to make it
more effective. I am deeply convinced that public-private
partnerships are an important mechanism for the development
of new vaccines for the developing world, and I hope our
partnership inspires other teams of researchers to work
together to solve other urgent global health problems.
As excited as I was to tour our malaria vaccine
manufacturing facility last year, I am sure that feeling
will pale in comparison to how I feel when the first dose
of the vaccine is given to a child. It is heartening to
think that the biggest challenge facing a malaria vaccine
today is not scientific, but logistical. Over the next few
years, the world needs to move quickly so the production of
the RTS,S vaccine can be scaled up so it is available to the
75 million babies born in Africa each year. On Africa
Malaria Day this year, we should be proud of how far we
have come, but also humbled and inspired by how much work
remains to rid the world of malaria.
About GSK Biologicals
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, one of the world's leading
vaccine manufacturers, is located in Rixensart, Belgium. GSK
Biologicals employs more than 1,100 research scientists who
are devoted to discovering new vaccines and developing more
cost-effective and convenient combination products to
prevent infections that cause serious medical problems
worldwide. In 2004, GSK Biologicals distributed more than
1.5 billion doses of vaccines to 168 countries in both the
developed and developing world, an average of 45 doses per
second. GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the world's leading
research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies --
is committed to improving the quality of human life by
enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.
For more information, see http://www.gsk-bio.com .
For more information, please contact:
Louise Dunn
GSK International Communications
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
Tel: +44-208-047-4785
Alice Grasset
GSK Biologicals Communications
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
Tel: +32-475-309-020
Alice Hunt
UK Media Enquiries
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
Tel: +44-20-8047-5502
Patricia Seif or Nancy Pekarek
U.S. Media Enquiries
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
Tel: +1-215-751-7709
Web: http://www.gsk-bio.com
SOURCE GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
2007'02.01.Thu
Key Safety Systems and Chery Automobile Company Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Advanced Safety Restraint System Development for Export Markets
April 26, 2006
SHANGHAI, China, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Key
Safety Systems, Inc. ("KSS") -- a leader in
global automotive safety systems and components -- has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chery
Automobile Company (Chery), located in Wuhu city of the
Anhui Province in P.R. China. This MOU sets forth a
framework for both KSS and Chery to establish a strategic
partnership for the design and development of advanced
automotive safety system solutions for Chery vehicles to
meet the requirements of the global markets, including
North America and Europe.
(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060425/DETU028 )
"We are extremely excited about this MOU signing
and look forward to working closely with Chery on their
advanced safety system solutions for export markets. We
intend to fully utilize our new state-of-the-art Asia
Technology Center located in Shanghai to enable this
relationship. Obviously, this strategic partnership
provides a win-win solution for both companies moving
forward in the global automotive market," said Jason
Luo, President & COO of Key Safety Systems, Inc.
"The relationship with Chery reflects our strong
commitment to the China market and Asia-Pacific region as a
whole and underscores the significance of the $30M
investment in our new technology and manufacturing center
in Shanghai," added B. Edward Ewing, Chairman and CEO
of Key Safety Systems, Inc. "In addition, we are
prepared to expand our manufacturing capacity in China as
needed to better serve our customers."
About Key Safety Systems
Key Safety Systems, Inc., a Key Automotive
Group-affiliated company since April 2003, is a leading
global designer and manufacturer of safety-critical
components and systems including airbags, seat belts and
steering wheels. Key Safety Systems' products are used in
more than 300 vehicle models produced by over 45 automobile
manufacturers worldwide. Key Safety Systems' global reach
comprises 32 manufacturing, technical and sales facilities
in 12 countries generating over $1.1 billion in sales and
employing more than 9,000 people.
About Key Automotive Group
The Key Automotive Group of companies is an affiliation
of premier suppliers of components and systems to the global
automotive industry. A noted affiliate is Key Plastics. As
a leading supplier of injection molded products to the
automotive market, Key Plastics provides engineering,
design, program management and production services
throughout North America, Europe and Asia. With production
facilities in Shanghai through the joint venture Shanghai
Key Automotive Plastic Component Co. Ltd., Key Plastics
provides world-class quality, delivery, cost and
engineering support to their Tier 1 and OEM customers.
Established in 2002 by the Ewing Management Group, the
Key Automotive Group companies generate more than $1.8
billion in sales and employ more than 14,000 employees in
state-of-the-art technical and manufacturing facilities in
15 countries in North America, Europe and Asia.
For more information, please contact:
Ron Feldeisen,
Key Safety Systems, Inc.
Tel: +1-586-726-3841
SOURCE Key Safety Systems, Inc.
2007'02.01.Thu
Global Logistics Co., LTD Adds New Business in China
April 26, 2006
SEOUL, South Korea, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Global Logistics Co., LTD, a Seoul-based global logistics
services provider, is pleased to announce new trading
business in the third quarter of this year in China. This
new trading business enables Global Logistics to set-up
their new office and factory for manufacturing accessories
and fashion belt in Dongguan, Guangzhou.
At the beginning of this year, G.B. Kim, founder of
Global Logistics, met with a US buyer, who is purchasing
accessories, including fine jewelry from China, in order to
provide for Fantasia, Madeco and Emporio in the US. With
the first step taken, some sample orders are being
processed, and at the same time, he is checking suitable
places for local office and factory facilities in Dongguan
and other local areas.
G.B. Kim, Global Logistics CEO, commented, "I am
very pleased to add new business possibilities in China,
and so the logistics service business with HK and US
forwarding partners is expected to be expanded."
Established in 1999, Global Logistics provides
international integrated logistics services and industry
support in worldwide air and sea freight, and in all
associated logistics services.
For more information about the company, please contact:
G.B. Kim
Tel: +82-2-2668-1305
Fax: +82-2-2668-1309.
SOURCE Global Logistics Co., LTD
2007'02.01.Thu
Quadrem Q1 2006 Revenues 41% Higher Than in Q1 2005
April 26, 2006
Supplier Network Increases Community Membership 81% to 26,500 Companies, 2006 Order Throughput on Track to Exceed $12 Billion
SINGAPORE, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Quadrem's
first quarter 2006 revenues grew 41% year-over-year, a
continuation of the company's explosive year-over-year
revenue increases which exceeded 60% in both 2004 and 2005.
Additionally, Quadrem increased its supplier network 81%
over Q1 2005 to more than 26,500 companies. Order
throughput value reached a record $1.1 Billion in March,
bringing the Q1 totals to 490,000 purchase orders worth
approximately $3 Billion.
"Quadrem's success stems from our commitment to
expanding value delivery to our customers and
shareholders," said Quadrem CEO Charles Jackson.
"We continue to develop the acumen necessary to solve
customer pain points and have established a solid track
record for successful global supply chain initiatives.
We're capitalizing on this experience as we roll out new
solutions and expand our geographic footprint to lower
supply chain costs for our growing global customer
base."
"Quadrem is off to a great start this year,"
said CFO Gary Ito. "We've set aggressive goals for
the company, and performance is in line with the company's
strong growth expectations."
Quadrem's 2006 results build on a trend of rapid
growth. The supplier network has charted community growth
of 96% to 233% year-over year since its inception.
About Quadrem
Quadrem ( http://www.quadrem.com ) provides business
solutions that connect buyers and suppliers to maximize
supply chain efficiencies. Quadrem's global transaction
platform, vibrant international trading community and
high-quality content services enable customers to implement
the most effective supply chain initiatives for buyers and
suppliers. Established in 2000, Quadrem has locations in
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Korea, Mexico,
The Netherlands, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South
Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
For more information, please contact:
Katherine Kirkpatrick
Tel: +1-972-543-8044
Email: kkirkpatrick@quadrem.com
Choon Boon Heng
Tel: +65-6550-9683
SOURCE Quadrem
2007'02.01.Thu
D-Link Selects Intellon's HomePlug ICs to Enable Whole-House IPTV Service for Chunghwa Telecom
April 25, 2006
D-Link's HomePlug(R) 1.0 With Turbo Adapters Provide Robust Entertainment Backbone and Reliable Self-install for Telco IPTV
TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan and FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., April
25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- D-Link Corporation, a leading
designer, developer, and manufacturer of networking,
wireless, broadband, digital electronics, and voice and
data communications products, today announced it has
designed a new HomePlug product to address the emerging
market of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) for Chunghwa
Telecom using Intellon's(R) HomePlug with Turbo IC's.
(http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010327/DLINKLOGO
)
In recent years, telecom service providers have
introduced innovative new services for delivering digital
content over ADSL networks to digital media adapters (DMA)
and IPTV set-top-box that require easy setup and
connectivity.
D-Link's DHP-200 adapters leverage HomePlug-based
technology, allowing IPTV subscribers of Chunghwa Telecom
to achieve connectivity between their access modems and
IPTV set-top-box using the existing power lines in their
homes. Based on Intellon Corporation's advanced HomePlug
1.0 with Turbo technology, customers can solve their end to
end connectivity problem around their entertainment center.
After successfully testing the HomePlug 1.0 with Turbo
adapters from D-Link, Chunghwa Telecom decided to adopt
D-Link adapters for its subscribers.
"D-Link is excited to be selected by the largest
telecom service provider in Taiwan for their IPTV
deployments," said AJ Wang, CTO of D-Link.
"D-Link's new HomePlug adapter represents the simplest
way to connect to end points for IPTV installations."
"We are happy to be working with D-Link to address
Chunghwa Telecom's need for fast, secure and reliable
whole-house networking for their IPTV service," stated
Cameron McCaskill, vice president of business development
for Intellon. "Our No New Wires(R) Homeplug-based
integrated circuits are being chosen by manufacturers and
service providers worldwide to meet the technical demands
of whole-house service deployment and media
distribution."
About D-Link
D-Link is the global leader in connectivity for small,
medium and large enterprise business networking. The
company continues to strive for excellence as an award
winning designer, developer, and manufacturer of
networking, broadband, digital electronics, voice and data
communications solutions for the digital home, Small
Office/Home Office (SOHO), Small to Medium Business (SMB),
and Workgroup to Enterprise environments. With millions of
networking and connectivity products manufactured and
shipped, D-Link is a dominant market participant and
price/performance leader in the networking and
communications market. D-Link U.S.A., Canadian, and Mexico
headquarters are located at 17595 Mt. Herrmann Street,
Fountain Valley, CA, 92708. Phone (800) 326-1688 or (714)
885-6000; FAX (866) 743-4905; Internet www.dlink.com.
About Intellon Corporation
Intellon is the world leader in powerline
communications, providing HomePlug(R) compliant and other
powerline integrated circuits for home networking,
networked entertainment, BPL access and commercial
applications. Intellon created and patented the baseline
technology for HomePlug 1.0, and is a major contributor to
the baseline technology for the new HomePlug AV powerline
standard. With over five million HomePlug ICs sold,
Intellon holds the dominant market share of the rapidly
growing HomePlug market. The company was founded in 1989
and is headquartered in Ocala, Florida, with offices in San
Jose and Toronto. For additional information, visit
http://www.intellon.com .
Intellon and No New Wires are registered trademarks of
Intellon Corporation. HomePlug is a registered trademark of
the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. All other trademarks
mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
D-Link and the D-Link logo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of D-Link Corporation or its subsidiaries in the
United States and other countries. All other third party
marks mentioned herein may be trademarks of their
respective owners. Copyright (C) 2005 D-Link
Corporation/D-Link Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
For more information, please contact:
Les Goldberg, APR, Media Relations Manager,
D-Link Systems, Inc.
Tel: +1-800-326-1688 x6095
Email: les.goldberg@dlink.com
Nancy Robbins, Marketing Communications,
Intellon Corporation
Tel: +1-408-501-0320 x110
Email: nancy.robbins@intellon.com
SOURCE D-Link Corporation
2007'02.01.Thu
C O R R E C T I O N -- Modern Beauty Salon Holdings Limited/
April 25, 2006
Hong Kong, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- For the news
release, "Modern Beauty Salon Announces Operational
Update Plans to Add Six Service Centres by the End of
FY2006", issued through Xinhua PR Newswire on Monday,
24 April, 2006, we are advised by the company that the
correct headline should read "Modern Beauty Salon
Announces Operational Update
Plans to Add Six Service Centres by the End of
FY2006/07", as originally issued inadvertently. The
full, corrected version is enclosed below:
Modern Beauty Salon Announces Operational Update Plans to
Add Six Service Centres by the End of FY2006/07
Continued Service Enhancements to Expand Market Share in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong, April 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Modern
Beauty Salon Holdings Limited ("Modern Beauty" or
"the Company"; HKSE stock code: 919), one of the
leading providers of comprehensive beauty and healthcare
services in Hong Kong, announced official opening of two
new beauty salons in Tuen Mun and Tai Wai, adding the total
number of service centres operated by the Company to 17.
Network Expansion
Modern Beauty also plans to invest approximately HK$30
million to HK$40 million in opening new service centres and
renovating existing branches in FY2006-07 (i.e. April 1,
2006 to March 31, 2007). The Company plans to open six new
service centres in FY2006-07 which is expected to have the
capacity of increasing the sales from the provision of
additional beauty and healthcare services by 15%.
Including the service centres in Tuen Mun and Tai Wai,
Modern Beauty will operate a total of 23 service centres by
the end of this financial year.
In response to customers' requests for quality beauty
and healthcare services, the Company is proactively looking
to expand its network and evaluating its service quality and
operational systems with the aim of providing the best
customer services to maintain its leading position in Hong
Kong's beauty and healthcare market. The major developments
of the Company include:
Operational Update
Modern Beauty reported good progress in its operations
and business development. The Company recorded
satisfactory growth in its customer base, from 149,000
customers as at January 17, 2006 to 151,000 customers as at
February 17, 2006. In response to customers' requests for
quality beauty and healthcare services, the Company is
proactively looking to expand its network and evaluating
its service quality and operational systems with the aim of
providing the best customer services to maintain its leading
position in Hong Kong's beauty and healthcare market.
Service Enhancement Program
As of July 31, 2005, the Company's service centres
recorded an average idle capacity of approximately 25%. To
further enhance operational efficiency and customer service,
the Company has launched a "service enhancement
program" which includes the following initiatives:-
-- Extending the validity period for prepaid packages:
Effective
immediately, the validity period of new prepaid
packages to be sold
is extended from two years to three years so as to
provide additional
flexibility to customers to enjoy these services.
-- Online booking: Modern Beauty plans to launch a new
online booking
system. Apart from making their bookings via
telephone, fax, e-mail
and in person, customers can now book services
through the Modern
Beauty website directly. The new online booking
system is expected
to come online in June this year.
-- Enhanced customer service: To more effectively
handle customer
enquiries, Modern Beauty will establish a special
IVRS customer
service hotline ((852) 2688-0919) and has a
dedicated customer
service team to promptly process all enquiries.
Notes to the Editor:
About Modern Beauty Salon Holdings Limited (HKSE stock
code: 919)
Established in 1991, Modern Beauty Salon Holdings
Limited provides comprehensive beauty and healthcare
services which can be broadly categorized into beauty and
facial services, spa and massage services, slimming
services and fitness services under tradenames of
"Modern Beauty Salon", "be Sanctuary
Spa", "Slim Express", "Modern
Fitness", "be homme" and "Moment of
Serenity".
Modern Beauty now operates 17 service centres in Hong
Kong and has approximately 151,000 customers. The Company
was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange in February 2006.
For further information, please contact:
Modern Beauty Salon Holdings Limited
Investor Relations Manager
Priscilla Ip
Tel: +852-2302-6116
Fax: +852-2757-3453
Email: ir@modernbeautysalon.com
Hill & Knowlton Asia Ltd
Gary Li
Tel: +852-2894-6283 / +852-9652-9002
Email: gary.li@hillandknowlton.com.hk
Angie Tang
Tel: +852-2894-6262 / +852-6100-0199
Email: angie.tang@hillandknowlton.com.hk
SOURCE Modern Beauty Salon Holdings Limited
2007'02.01.Thu
Stora Enso has Signed a Joint-Venture Agreement with Shandong Huatai Paper
April 25, 2006
BEIJING, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Stora Enso has
signed an agreement with Shandong Huatai Paper to form a
publication paper company. As announced on 28 October
2004, Stora Enso and Shandong Huatai Paper have been
conducting a feasibility study concerning publication paper
production in China. The agreement establishing the joint
venture, in which Stora Enso will hold 60% of the share
capital, is subject to approval by the Chinese
authorities.
The joint venture's paper machine at Dongying in
Shandong province in China will have an annual production
capacity up to 200,000 tonnes of super-calendered (SC)
magazine paper and other publication paper grades based on
recovered fibre. Dongying city is located between Beijing
and Shanghai.
The total investment of the joint venture will be
approximately USD 100 million (EUR 83 million) of which
Stora Enso's share is 60%. Assembly of the production line
will start in mid 2007, depending on the permission process.
The production of the paper machine, which is expected to
start up in late 2007, will be utilised to satisfy the
growing market for offset printing papers in China. Key
components of the joint-venture equipment are to be sourced
from a machine formerly at Stora Enso's Maxau Mill in
Germany.
"The key strategic aims for Stora Enso are to
strengthen our market position in the core product segment
of publication paper, to grow with our key customers and to
continue expanding in new growth markets such as China. Our
co-operation with Huatai Paper, the leading producer of
newsprint in China, will open up new business segments for
Stora Enso in China," says Stora Enso's CEO Jukka
Harmala who signed the agreement in the presence of
Finland's Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.
Shandong Huatai Paper Co. Ltd, is a company listed on
the Shanghai Stock Exchange with sales of EUR 290 million
in 2005. It is part of the Huatai Group, which is involved
in paper manufacture, the chemicals industry, printing,
energy, forestry, logistics and trading. The Huatai Group
has over 10 000 employees, including about 4 470 at Huatai
Paper. All of the company's paper and board manufacturing
assets are located in Shandong province and its annual
production capacity is 1 200 000 tonnes of paper and
board.
Some previous press releases concerning Stora Enso's
activities in China available at
http://www.storaenso.com/press :
-- 3 April 2006: Corenso expands in China
-- 29 March 2006: Stora Enso to sign an agreement for
co-operation with
UNDP China
-- 10 November 2005: Stora Enso strengthens its
presence in Guangxi
-- 10 June 2005: Stora Enso signs loan agreement with
International
Financing Corporation
-- 31 March 2005: UNDP to Assess Environment and
Social Impact of a
Forestry Investment Project in Guangxi, China
-- 28 October 2004: Stora Enso joint venture in China
-- 4 February 2004: Stora Enso to modernise its fine
paper machine at
Suzhou, China
For further information, please contact:
Bernd Rettig,
Senior Executive Vice President,
Stora Enso Publication Paper
Tel: +49-211-581-2310
Markku Pentikainen,
Executive Vice President,
Corporate Technology and Asia Pacific
Tel: +86-1376-430-0175
Kari Vainio,
Executive Vice President,
Corporate Communications
Tel: +44-779-934-8197
Keith B Russell,
Senior Vice President,
Investor Relations
Tel: +44-20-7016-3146
http://www.storaenso.com
http://www.storaenso.com/investors
SOURCE Stora Enso
2007'02.01.Thu
TI Jump Starts Embedded Designs with Free, Easy to Use Complete MCU Development Tool
April 25, 2006
Worldwide 430 Day to Showcase MSP430 Ultra-Low-Power MCU Flexibility and Ease of Use
HOUSTON, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Helping make embedded control design easier, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) has announced plans to give away over 5,000 eZ430 development tools at the fourth annual MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) "430 Day," a free, three-hour lunch-and-learn event to be held at over 100 locations worldwide, beginning May 11. The sessions will include an overview, product updates, and technical demonstrations. For more information, dates and locations please see: http://www.ti.com/430day . Attendees will take home a free eZ430-F2013 development tool that allows new users to evaluate the MSP430 MCU architecture in minutes and also gives experienced developers all the resources they need to complete an entire project based on the MSP430F20xx series of devices. In a compact Universal Serial Bus (USB) stick form factor, the eZ430-F2013 is the world's smallest, complete MCU development and evaluation tool. For more information on the eZ430-F2013 tool, see http://www.ti.com/ez430 . The 2006 "430 Day" event, hosted by TI distributors worldwide, teaches designers of embedded applications how the MSP430 MCU platform enables countless system design possibilities with its modern 16-bit RISC architecture, advanced peripheral set and wide portfolio - all while maintaining the world's lowest MCU power consumption. Attendees will also learn how MSP430 development tools, including the new eZ430-F2013, and other resources can make getting started on new designs as "eZ" as 1-2-3. "430 Day" is Held Worldwide: Australia & New Zealand: June 8 - 28, 2006 China: June 6 - July 14, 2006 Europe: May 11 - 25, 2006 India: May 17 - June 23, 2006 Japan: May 23 - June 2, 2006 North America: May 25 - 30, 2006 Taiwan: June 8 - June 20, 2006 For the latest details on specific locations please see: http://www.ti.com/430day . TI Enables Innovation with Broad Range of Controllers From ultra low power MSP430 and 32-bit general purpose TMS470 ARM7 family-based MCUs to high performance TMS320C2000(TM) digital signal controllers, TI offers designers the broadest range of embedded control solutions. Designers can also accelerate their design to market by tapping into TI's complete software and hardware tools, extensive third party offerings and technical support. For more information on the broad range of TI's controllers, see http://www.ti.com/mcu. About TI Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com . Trademarks TMS320C2000 is a trademark of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information, please contact: Stephan Beek Texas Instruments Tel: +1-281-274-2321 Email: sbeek@ti.com Lindsey James Golin/Harris Tel: +1-713-513-9568 Email: ljames@golinharris.com SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated
2007'02.01.Thu
Lemmi Fashion Selects Checkpoint Systems RFID Hangtags to Improve Customer Service and Delivery Reliability
April 25, 2006
Apparel Manufacturer Partners with Checkpoint to Ensure RFID Tag Performance, Production and Fulfillment Requirements
HONG KONG, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Checkpoint
Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CKP), one of the largest manufacturers
and marketers of RF and RFID based solutions for security,
identification, tracking and merchandising applications in
the world, today announced they were chosen by Lemmi
Fashion, a Fritzlar, Germany-based producer of children's
apparel, to supply the company and its strategic partners
with RFID (radio frequency identification) hangtags. The
RFID consumables will be used as part of a strategic
initiative to help improve Lemmi's speed to market,
inventory management, and order accuracy.
Checkpoint Systems is supplying Lemmi's manufacturing
partners in Asia and Europe with Performa(R) 13.56 MHz
RFID-enabled hangtags. The hangtags, which include a
visible version of the RFID tag and a traditional bar code,
contain data such as article number, size, and color.
The tagging process begins when Lemmi's partners apply
Performa RFID-enabled garment tags to items at their
production sites. The goods are recorded when they are
shipped from the manufacturer to Lemmi's distribution
center (DC), and upon receipt at the DC. Movements within
the DC are also recorded, and Lemmi reads the RFID tags a
final time at the shipping area to confirm that all items
required for the shipment have been packed.
As specialists in custom fit clothing for children in
the European and Asian markets, Lemmi offers approximately
250-280 styles per season, and about 1 million garments per
year. The company differentiates itself from other
manufacturers by its high number of seasonal SKUs and short
production runs. Tight control of a complex inventory
assortment is an important part of its strategy.
"Because of our small lots and multiple product
offerings, we needed to find an RFID tagging provider that
could satisfy our unique performance and production
requirements," said Gotz Pfeifferling, CIO of Lemmi
Fashion. "Checkpoint's experience, responsiveness and
ability to deliver a high quality RFID tag at a reasonable
price have enabled us to dramatically improve our business
processes."
"Lemmi's business has been built on world-class
customer service and reliable delivery," said Saleem
Miyan, Checkpoint Vice President and General Manager of
Global RFID & Emerging Technologies. "Lemmi's
commitment to improving business processes that are tightly
aligned with its position as an innovative technology
leader, demonstrates their understanding of how RFID can
drive value for a company, its suppliers and customers.
The value is real, measurable, and sustainable."
Since becoming fully operational with its RFID system
in mid-2005, Lemmi has benefited tremendously through
improvements to its supply chain visibility. Lemmi has
also experienced improved item-level visibility to better
manage its inventory mix. The company reports all
RFID-supported processes are now completed more quickly and
accurately, which drives expenses out of operations.
About Checkpoint Systems Inc.
Founded in 1969, Checkpoint Systems, Inc. is one of the
largest manufacturers and marketers of RF and RFID based
solutions for security, identification, tracking and
merchandising applications in the world. With a presence
in more than 80 countries and a network of more than 25
service bureaus worldwide, the company is the global leader
for scalable, sure-performing UHF and HF, EPC and ISO based
RFID consumable products and services.
Checkpoint's newest offering, the Performa(R) line of
RFID tickets, tags, labels, inlays and reusables are custom
designed to meet the specific application, performance,
pricing and fulfillment requirements of customers in a wide
variety of industries including consumer package goods,
retail, pharmaceutical, public transit and library.
Applications for the Performa line include supply chain
management, pallet tracking, item/case tracking, returnable
transit item tracking, manufacturing work-in-process
management, transportation and event ticketing, counterfeit
management, access control, asset tagging and related usage.
For additional information, visit Checkpoint Systems'
web site located at http://www.checkpointsystems.com .
About Lemmi Fashion
Lemmi Fashion has been long established in the
children's fashion industry. Based in Germany, they have
been designing and manufacturing high quality children's
clothes since 1959.
Their high quality, functional and practical
collections are a trademark of their brand, their
experience and their knowledge of the childrenswear
industry.
Lemmi Fashion pride themselves on the knowledge that
children love to be comfortable and flexible in their
clothes and that the Lemmi Fashion team, who have 45 years
of experience in this market segment understand their
needs.
Lemmi Fashion's goal has always been to produce
childrenswear that fits well and looks great.
They offer a vast variety in trouser styles in up to 6
different fitting sizes, matching tops and waterproof
jackets, with laminated fabrics, sealed seams and highest
quality padding in winter and for skiwear. The collection
offers practical zip-off trousers, insulated trousers with
cotton lining, for health and safety they use nickelfree
accessories only, reflective bands and hoods have no cords.
Children love to be comfortable and flexible in their
clothes. It is our biggest reward when children say:
"Lemmi clothes are my favorite clothes."
For additional information, visit Lemmi Fashion's web
site located at http://www.lemmi-fashion.com .
For more information, please contact:
Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
Natalie Chan
Tel: +852-2995-8350
Email: natalie.chan@checkpt.com
SOURCE Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
2007'02.01.Thu
It Takes a Neighborhood: Introducing the Scent of Peace
April 25, 2006
NEW YORK, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Bond No. 9, a
specialist in defining the scents of New York's
neighborhoods and bottling them into eaux de parfum, has
now taken on the greatest neighborhood of them all. It's
the one that hovers over all of our city, the
see-and-be-seen A-list place called peace -- where we all
want to thrive.
(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060425/NYTUD001 )
New York has always defined itself by its derring-do
and its clear-cut goals. Yet this hodge-podge
multi-ethnic, multi-visioned metropolis has also reigned as
a place of tolerance and detente. It is a city built on
non-aggression pacts that are cobbled together street by
street, neighborhood by neighborhood. This is the way that
New York thrives. Post-9/11 has defined us even more by our
mutual conviction that the future of our precious city
depends on world peace. Bond No. 9's latest fragrance, The
Scent of Peace, was born out of this consensus that hovers
like a balm (like a dove) over our entire city.
Intended for men and women alike, The Scent of Peace
(arguably the most beautifully civic-minded fragrance ever
devised) starts off with sparkling, energizing grapefruit
and black current notes, that soon are balanced by the
sheer loveliness of lily of the valley, and by those
mellowing base notes, cedarwood and musk. The flacon
displays a dove in graceful flight. We see this emissary
of peace soaring through our city, across the country,
across the seas, bringing its message to the world.
The Scent of Peace is available at all four Bond No. 9
stores, and is also sold countrywide at selected branches
of Saks Fifth Avenue, in Harvey Nichols, UK, Paris Gallery,
U.A.E, and in Lane Crawford, Hong Kong.
Launch Date: May 1st 2006
Suggested Retail Prices:
Available in its 3.4 oz. artist-designed bottle and box
presentation ($195) and 1.7 oz travel size ($120).
For more information, please contact:
Claire Cabaron
Bond No. 9 New York
Tel: +1-212-228-0842 x15
Email: bondno9newyork@aol.com
SOURCE Bond No. 9 New York
2007'02.01.Thu
Websense and Resilience Release NetSquad Series of Web Security Appliances
April 25, 2006
A Family of Purpose-Built Appliances for Websense Web Security Suite to Deliver Web Security for Small Businesses to Large Enterprises
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and SAN DIEGO, April 25
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Websense, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBSN) a
global leader in web security and web filtering
productivity software, and Resilience Corporation,
manufacturer of Integrated High Availability(TM) security
appliances, today announced the release of NetSquad 05(TM)
and NetSquad 30 appliances. The new dedicated
Websense/Resilience appliance-based solutions offer simple,
easy-to-deploy security-risk detection and protection in a
single appliance.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040831/SFTU058LOGO )
Resilience designed and developed both NetSquad
appliances to specifically optimize the performance of
full-featured Websense(R) Web Security Suite(TM) software.
Websense Web Security Suite complements existing security
products that secure organizations from internal and
external internet dangers such as spyware, malicious mobile
code (MMC), and phishing attacks with a comprehensive web
security solution. The Websense Web Security Suite quickly
identifies new web based threats, decreases threat exposure
time, and mitigates spyware, crimeware and malicious code
attacks.
Engineered for the small-to-medium business and remote
offices market, the NetSquad 05 is capable of providing
Websense best-of-breed web security for up to 1000 users
while the NetSquad 30 delivers the processing power
required to meet the web security demands of large
enterprises with up to 5000 users. All Resilience NetSquad
appliances ship with Websense pre-loaded providing fast and
easy deployment. The NetSquad 05 and NetSquad 30 are the
first models deployed in a series of Websense/Resilience
products.
"We view Resilience as bringing value to our
relationship with Websense three ways. Resilience's
appliance technology is purposely engineered to run all
Websense Web Security Suite modules and features at optimum
performance levels and with affordable prices," said
Dr. Theodore Marr, president and CEO of Resilience
Corporation. "Building on our technology, Resilience's
landmark Continuous Secured Ownership Warranty(SM)
eliminates hardware end of life from Websense solutions
adding further value to Websense solutions. Lastly,
Websense and Resilience distribution channels are highly
complementary which lets both companies reach a larger
number of potential customers."
NetSquad solutions offer customers a unique
high-availability approach for security appliances. The
proprietary Resilience iHA(TM) technology approach
virtually eliminates security-related network downtime.
NetSquad appliances are also covered by the revolutionary
Resilience Continuous Secured Ownership Warranty(SM)
program which prevents hardware End-of-Life and lets
customers upgrade to higher performance hardware by paying
only the cost difference between their old Resilience
hardware their new Resilience hardware and a modest service
fee.
"Websense Web Security Suite proactively protects
organizations by closing the window of exposure from the
time a vulnerability is exploited to when a remedy becomes
available." said Steve Kelley, director of strategic
alliances for Websense, Inc. "The integration of the
Websense Web Security Suite with NetSquad appliances offers
high-performance, high-availability advanced security
solutions that are at an affordable cost to customers of
all sizes."
Resilience is a member of the Websense Web Security
Ecosystem(TM) -- a comprehensive framework of technology
integrations that provides enhanced security and ease of
deployment of Websense web security solutions in enterprise
environments. The Websense Web Security Ecosystem
incorporates world-class security and networking
technologies, including internet gateways, network-access
control, security event management, identity management,
and appliance platforms. Through seamless integration with
more than forty different technology solutions, the Websense
Web Security Ecosystem helps organizations identify and
mitigate web-based threats and vulnerabilities.
For a more information on protecting your organization
from a wide range of threats including spyware,
peer-to-peer, virus outbreaks and internal hacking
exploits, on purpose-built NetSquad appliances please visit
www.resilience.com or www.websense.com. Websense Security
Labs offers free email security updates as new internet
threats are discovered and is available at
www.websensesecuritylabs.com.
About Resilience Corporation
Resilience sets the standard for solutions that advance
business continuity through its ultra-available technology
for networks and its landmark Continuous Secured
Ownership(SM) program that eliminates hardware EOL.
Resilience has delivered innovative fault-tolerant and high
availability network appliances since 1995. The company
holds three key patents in fault-tolerant computing.
Resilience partners with leading application providers to
offer a growing family of High Availability solutions:
firewalls, Web security, SSL VPN, secure email gateway, and
IDS/IPS. Resilience has installed solutions in leading
finance, health care, telecommunications, aerospace,
wireless data services, transportation, and manufacturing
companies around the world. Resilience is a privately held,
venture-backed company with corporate headquarters in
Mountain View, California and sales offices throughout the
world. For more information, contact info@resilience.com.
About Websense, Inc.
Websense, Inc., a global leader in web security and web
filtering software, is trusted to protect 24 million
employees worldwide. Websense proactively discovers and
immediately protects customers against web-based threats
such as spyware, phishing attacks, viruses and crimeware
with maximum protection and minimal effort. With diverse
partnerships and integrations, Websense enhances our
customers' network and security environments. For more
information, visit http://www.websense.com .
NOTE: Websense and Websense Enterprise are registered
trademarks of Websense, Inc. in the United States and
certain international markets. Websense has numerous other
unregistered trademarks in the United States and
internationally. Netsquad is a trademark of Resilience
Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
Ronnie Manning of Websense, Inc.
Tel: +1-858-320-9274
Email: rmanning@websense.com
Bob Matlow of Resilience Corporation, U.S.A.
Tel: +1-888-297-8515 x931 or +1-650-230-2200
Email: bob.matlow@resilience.com
SOURCE Resilience Corporation
2007'02.01.Thu
RealNetworks Granted Fundamental Streaming Media Patent, Enhancing Helix Licensing Program
April 25, 2006
Over 60 Million Helix-Enabled Devices Already Licensed
SEATTLE, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
RealNetworks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the leading creator
of digital media services and software, today announced it
has received a fundamental patent for streaming media
technology and applications. The recently-issued patent
(U.S. Patent No. 6,985,932, "Click-to-Stream")
covers the core methods used when consumers select links to
stream audio-visual media via web browsers and other media
players. Reflecting Real's role as the pioneer of streaming
media, the patent covers innovations going back to November
30, 1994, more than four months before Real introduced the
groundbreaking RealAudio(R), which transformed the Web by
bringing streaming audio to the Internet for the first
time.
(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060424/SFM089-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060424/SFM089-b )
The Click-to-Stream patent and technology will be a
cornerstone of Real's comprehensive technology licensing
program, the Helix(TM) Community (
http://www.helixcommunity.org ), where RealNetworks' core
streaming media encoding, delivery and playback technology
is developed, managed and licensed. Click-to-Stream joins a
portfolio of over 35 patents related to the world of
Internet media delivery. Real has more than 100 additional
patent applications pending relating to digital media
technology and services. Since its establishment in 2002,
over 50 companies, including Nokia, Motorola, Novell, Red
Hat, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Sun Microsystems, have
joined the Helix Community and licensed Real's Helix DNA
software and patented technology to build media-enabled
products. Through 2005, Helix licensees shipped over 60
million handsets and consumer devices, up from 25 million
the previous year.
"In 1994, the World Wide Web was a mute collection
of words and pictures," said Rob Glaser, chairman and
CEO of RealNetworks. "In 1995, Real gave it a voice.
That innovation was a shot heard 'round the Web,
influencing the evolution of whole industries aimed at
delivering voice, music and video to consumers. This
fundamental new patent recognizes our breakthrough
innovation, and provides Real with an exciting opportunity
to expand the Helix Community's role as the centerpiece of
the digital media marketplace."
Real licenses the Helix DNA Client software, including
Real's related essential patents, under both commercial and
open source licenses. Companies that want a standard
commercial license can use RealNetworks Community Source
Licensing (RCSL). Open source developers can opt for the
OSI-certified open source RealNetworks Public Source
License (RPSL). These programs span the different needs and
strategies of development and product organizations
worldwide.
In addition, RealPlayer(R), Rhapsody(R), SuperPass(TM)
and Real's Helix system software all contain Real's
patented technology. Consumers, Internet portals,
broadband, mobile service providers, and corporate
enterprises using and promoting these or other Real
products, and services are automatically licensed to use
the RealNetworks patents embodied within these product and
services.
About the "Click-to-Stream" patent
The "Click-to-Stream" patent covers the core
methods used when an end user selects a digital media asset
(audio and accompanying video or other metadata) to be
played, causing digital packets of the selected digital
media to be transmitted over an Internet Protocol network
and received by the end user's playback device when
playback begins prior to delivery of the entire digital
media asset to the consumer's device. The patent applies
whether the digital media is played back on a personal
computer, mobile phone, or other hardware device. The
patented "Click-to-Stream" method is most
commonly initiated when an end user accesses media links
from web browser pages, embedded multimedia advertising,
and links managed by network-enabled software media
players.
Real's history of innovation
For nearly 12 years, Real has been driving innovation
in the streaming media market by introducing market-leading
technologies, products and services. Real was the first to
bring real-time sound to the Internet with the
groundbreaking introduction of RealAudio and RealAudio
Player in April 1995. Real extended this innovation into
online video with the introduction of RealVideo(R) in 1997.
Real was also the first company to offer an integrated music
jukebox with the launch of RealJukebox(R) in 1999, the first
to offer an Internet-based multimedia subscription service
with the introduction of RealPlayer GoldPass(TM) in 2000,
and pioneered the digital casual games market with the
launch of the RealArcade(R) product in 2001. In addition,
Real was the first company to reach 1 million paying
subscribers for its premium audio and video services,
including Rhapsody, RealArcade and SuperPass. Real
continues to lead the paid content market, with more than
2.25 million paying subscribers for those premium services
as of the end of 2005.
ABOUT HELIX
Helix is a digital media technology platform and a
community for the standardization and expansion of digital
media technology. The Helix platform consists of source
code for the creation, delivery and playback of digital
media, as well as a set of interfaces for building
media-enabled applications. Helix Community members are
able to use this source code to build media-capable
products with industry-leading technology and commonly used
interfaces. The Helix Community offers source code and
related patents rights for Helix DNA Client, Helix DNA
Server and Helix DNA Producer under commercial community
and open source licenses.
ABOUT REALNETWORKS, INC.
RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital
media services and software including Rhapsody(R),
RealPlayer(R) 10 and casual PC and mobile games.
Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and
enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to
create and deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and
consumer electronics devices. RealNetworks' corporate
information is located at
http://www.realnetworks.com/company .
Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties, including those
relating to RealNetworks' ability to expand and grow the
Helix Community through the addition of the Click-to-Stream
patent and other patents. Actual results may differ
materially from the results predicted. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ from the results predicted
include the risks associated with the development of new
digital media delivery technologies, the sustained adoption
and use of RealNetworks technology by customers, the
strength and value of Real's patent portfolio, and
customers' willingness to license and use Real's
technology. More information about potential risk factors
that could affect RealNetworks' business and financial
results is included in RealNetworks' annual report on Form
10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and from time
to time in other reports filed by RealNetworks with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information, please contact:
Maureen (Mo) Farley
RealNetworks
Tel: +1-206-892-6653
Email: mfarley@real.com
Ronda Scott
RealNetworks
Tel: +1-415-934-2016
Email: rscott@real.com
SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.
2007'02.01.Thu
Alpha Century Operations in China, Sales and Marketing Offices Serves SMEs to Become Annual Fee Membership of Subaye.com
April 25, 2006
HONG KONG, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Telecom
Communications, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: TCOM) the Total
Solutions Provider, announced today that its subsidiary,
Alpha Century Holdings Limited (Alpha), has opened sales
offices in Beijing, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Hunan and
Chongqing.
Alpha is operating as a sales office in China to
provide full service to SME's internet business services of
IBS v5.0 and Subaye.com value chain, as 100,000 SMEs move
fast into B-B-C e-commerce market through IBS v5.0. The
primary results of sales and marketing show 3,126 SMEs have
been become members to Subaye.com. All members will be paid
an annual fee of $900 beginning on July 1, 2006.
"Based on successful results of sales and
marketing of Alpha operations in China, Subaye.com business
development allows investments by internal resources of
Alpha without the need to raise $10 million through an IPO.
The board of TCOM has canceled the plan of IPO for
Alpha," Victor Li, CFO of TCOM stated.
About Telecom Communications, Inc.
Telecom Communications, Inc. (TCOM) is a Total
Solutions Provider that offers Integrated Communications
Network Solutions and Internet Content Service in universal
voice, video, data web and mobile communications for
interactive media applications, technology and content
leaders in interactive multimedia communications. It
develops, markets and sells a universal media software
solution for enterprise-wide deployment of integrated
voice, video, data web and mobile communications and media
applications. Telecom Communications, Inc. does business in
Asia via its wholly owned subsidiaries, Alpha Century
Holdings Ltd. ( http://www.subaye.com ), IC Star MMS, Ltd.
( http://www.icstarmms.com ) and 3G Dynasty Inc. (
http://www.skyestar.com ).
Safe Harbor
The statements made in this release constitute
"forward-looking" statements, usually containing
the words "believe," "estimate,"
"project," "expect," or similar
expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such
differences include, but are not limited to, changing
economic conditions, interest rates trends, continued
acceptance of the Company's products in the marketplace,
competitive factors and other risks detailed in the
Company's periodic report Filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking
statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update
these statements for revisions or changes after the date of
this release.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Sandy Tang
Telecom Communications, Inc.
Tel: +852-2782-0983
Email: pr@tcom8266.com
SOURCE Telecom Communications, Inc.
2007'02.01.Thu
16 Winners from Across China to Receive 2006 BusinessWeek/Architectural Record China Awards
April 25, 2006
Inaugural Design Competition in China Shows How Good Design Is Good Business
BEIJING, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The recipients
of the 2006 BusinessWeek/Architectural Record China Awards
will be honored on April 26 at the Global Construction
Summit in Beijing. Sixteen winners from across China will
be recognized, and their designs prove that good design can
help make companies more profitable, government agencies
more efficient and cultural organizations more popular.
Winners are:
Best Public Projects
* Luyeyuan Stone Sculpture Art Museum, Chengdu,
Sichuan, for The Labour
Organization Of Xiangcai Securities. Designed by
Jiakun Architect &
Associates
* Yuhu Elementary School and Community Center, Lijiang,
Yunnan, for Yuhu
Village. Designed by Li Xiaodong Atelier
* Shenzhen Urban Planning Bureau, Shenzhen, Guangdong,
for Shenzhen Urban
Planning Bureau. Designed by Urbanus
Best Residential Projects
* Jianwai SOHO, Beijing, for SOHO China Ltd. Designed
by Riken Yamamoto &
Field Shop, C+A, and Mikan
* Villa Shizilin, Beijing, for Antaeus Group. Designed
by Atelier
Feichangjianzhu
* Longyang Residential Complex, Shanghai, for Shanghai
Kangwei Development
Co. Designed by MADA s.p.a.m.
* Zhujiajiao Cambridge Water Town, Shanghai, for
Shanghai Cambridge
(Group) Co. Designed by benwoodSTUDIO SHANGHAI
Best Commercial Projects
* Qingpu Private Enterprise Association Building,
Shanghai, for Qingpu
Branch of Shanghai Industry and Commerce
Administration Bureau.
Designed by Atelier Deshaus
* Jianianhua Center, Chongqing, Sichuan, for Chongqing
Financial Street
Real Estate Co. Designed by Skidmore, Owings &
Merrill
Best Planning Projects
* Caohai North Shore Conceptual Master Plan, Kunming,
Yunnan, for Shui On
Land Ltd. Designed by Sasaki Associates, Inc.
* Qiaonan Village Historic Preservation Scheme,
QuanZhou, Fujian, for
Quanzhou Luojiang Real Estate Co. Designed by EDAW
Ltd.
Best Preservation Projects
* Two to One House, Shanghai, for C. Tse. Designed by
Chang Bene Design
Limited
* Lijiang Ancient Town Conservation Plan and Trust,
Yunnan, for Lijiang
Ancient Town / UNESCO World Heritage Center. Designed
by TongJi
Shanghai University Department of Urban Design and
Planning, and Global
Heritage Fund
* Jianfu Palace Garden, Beijing, for The Palace Museum;
China Heritage
Fund. Designed by The Palace Museum Historical
Architecture
Conservation Center, China Heritage Fund, TsAO &
McKOWN Architects, and
Pei Partnership Architects
Best Green Project
* 2008 Beijing Olympic Green, Beijing, for Beijing
Municipal Commission of
Urban Planning. Designed by Sasaki Associates, Inc.
Best Client
* Shui On Land
"As our inaugural BusinessWeek/Architectural
Record China Awards show, a successful project is one where
good design and measurable results come together," said
Robert Ivy, FAIA, vice president, editorial director, and
editor-in-chief of Architectural Record. "All of the
winners embody a set of values in which design is seen as
an investment, not just an expense. And all of them show
the benefits of architects and clients working together to
rethink basic assumptions and explore new ways of solving
design challenges. With China in the midst of an
unprecedented building boom, we feel that an awards program
that honors the best of this work will set a standard that
others will have to follow."
To view the winning designs and for additional
information, please visit
http://www.archrecord.com/ar_china/default.asp. and
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/architecture/index.html
. Stories about the winning projects are published in the
Spring issue of Architectural Record China edition.
According to Joyce Barnathan, BusinessWeek's Executive
Editor, Global Franchise, "This competition
demonstrates China's prowess in architecture, design and
innovation. Some of the world's most important buildings
are now found in China."
Since 1997, the BusinessWeek/Architectural Record
Awards have honored the achievement of important objectives
through good design and exceptional collaboration between
architects and clients around the world. Projects are
evaluated by a jury of distinguished architects, business
leaders and BusinessWeek/Architectural Record editors. The
China Awards will be issued every second year, in
conjunction with the bi-annual Global Construction Summit,
organized by McGraw-Hill Construction and China
International Contractors Association, in the hope that it
will become an important record of the best architecture
built in China and encourage clients to employ design as a
powerful tool in establishing their brand identities,
expressing their goals, and organizing their work forces.
About McGraw-Hill Construction
McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill
Companies (NYSE: MHP), connects people, projects and
products across the design and construction industry. From
project and product information to industry news, trends
and forecasts, the Company provides industry players the
tools, resources and applications that help them save time,
money, and energy, especially through the new McGraw-Hill
Construction Network(R). Backed by the power of, Dodge,
Sweets, Architectural Record, Engineering News-Record (ENR)
and 12 regional publications, McGraw-Hill Construction
serves more than one million customers within the $4.6
trillion global construction community. For more
information, visit http://www.construction.com .
About BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek is a leading global business media
organization, providing unparalleled insight and analysis
to a worldwide audience of business leaders. Founded in
1929 and published by the McGraw-Hill Companies,
BusinessWeek magazine is the market leader, with more than
4.7 million readers each week in 140 countries. Local
language editions include Chinese, Russian, and Bahasa
Indonesian. Launched in 1994, BusinessWeek Online is the
preeminent provider of daily, essential business news,
information, and services to business decision-makers.
Reaching 80% of the nation's households, BusinessWeek
Weekend delivers important business, consumer and financial
news to television viewers every week.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading
global information services provider meeting worldwide needs
in the financial services, education and business
information markets through leading brands such as Standard
& Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D.
Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 290
offices in 38 countries. Sales in 2005 were $6.0 billion.
Additional information is available at
http://www.mcgraw-hill.com .
For more information, please contact:
Kathy Malangone
McGraw-Hill Construction
Tel: +1-212-904-4376
Email: kathy_malangone@mcgraw-hill.com
Rob Kulat
Kulat Communications
Tel: +1-732-219-5816
Email: Kucomm@hotmail.com
SOURCE McGraw-Hill Construction
2007'02.01.Thu
SecureMedia to Showcase Encryptonite ONE(TM) With Demonstrations of Converged Media Protection at NAB 2006
April 24, 2006
Encryptonite ONE(TM) System Secures Content Delivery and Playback on Home and Mobile Devices Opening New Business Opportunities for Content Owners and Service Providers
LAS VEGAS, NAB 2006, April 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SecureMedia ( http://www.securemedia.com ), the technology leader in content protection software for secure video and multimedia delivery over IP networks, announced today that it is demonstrating at NAB 2006, April 24-27, its Encryptonite ONE(TM) System CA/DRM (conditional access/digital rights management) software solution protecting converged media delivery to set-top boxes, PVRs, PCs, portable players and mobile phones. With its ultra-light decoder client and low overhead operation, the Encryptonite ONE System truly enables secure content consumption "anywhere at anytime" extending the business of content owners and service providers beyond the home to customers "on the go." SecureMedia's Encryptonite ONE System is the only open platform CA/DRM system that can simultaneously secure content delivery to multiple device types including home and mobile devices. With the Encryptonite ONE System, the same encrypted content that is delivered to a set-top box, for example, can also be delivered to a mobile phone. By contrast, other CA/DRM system providers that address the home and mobile markets offer one system for securing content to the home and a completely separate system for securing content to mobile devices which effectively doubles the cost of content security infrastructure. "Following our tradition of content security breakthroughs, SecureMedia is excited to be demonstrating the inherent flexibility and portability of the Encryptonite ONE System at NAB 2006 that extends the business opportunities for content owners and service providers," said Fred Ellis, CEO of SecureMedia. "The Encryptonite ONE System has been engineered with long-term, extensible design applicability to enable the new world of media convergence. With its lightweight, processor-efficient client and low key delivery overhead, the Encryptonite ONE System is unique in its ability to protect media delivery across a range of current and future consumer receiving devices including set-top boxes, home gateways, PVRs, PCs, portable players and mobile phones. " To schedule an appointment, contact Whit Jackson at +1-415-246-0841 or email: nab2006@securemedia.com. About SecureMedia, Inc. SecureMedia, www.securemedia.com, is the leading provider of proven open platform content protection software for the delivery of video-on-demand, IPTV and other digital content over broadband IP networks. The Company provides a range of content security solutions from the comprehensive Encryptonite ONE System CA/DRM software suite to software toolkits, hardware cores and plugins for third party media delivery systems. SecureMedia's customers represent industry leaders and include Cavalier Telephone, Reeltime Infotainment, TV Sierre, Sony, China Data Broadcasting, Eona and others. SecureMedia has offices in Boston, San Francisco and Auckland, New Zealand with representatives in Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo. SecureMedia is a registered trademark and Encryptonite and Encryptonite ONE are trademarks of SecureMedia, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, please contact: Michael Krems Krems Public Relations Tel: +1-650-759-7133 Email: krems@kremspr.com SOURCE SecureMedia
2007'02.01.Thu
KongZhong Corporation Announces Court Approval of Settlement of Class-Action Lawsuit
April 24, 2006
BEIJING, April 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- On April 14,
2006, Judge Shira A. Scheindlin of the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York
approved the settlement agreement reached by KongZhong
Corporation (Nasdaq: KONG), a leading provider of wireless
value-added services and one of leading wireless internet
portals in China, to resolve a securities class action
arising out of the Company's 2004 initial public offering.
Under the settlement, the Company will pay $3.5 million to
resolve all claims asserted against it and the other
defendants in this action. Persons who purchased or sold
the Company's ADSs between July 9, 2004 and August 17, 2004
may be eligible to recover pursuant to the settlement. The
Company set aside the settlement amount of $3.5 million in
an escrow account and made a provision during the third
quarter 2005.
The Company believes that it has been in compliance
with securities laws and made appropriate and necessary
disclosures in its prospectus dated July 9, 2004 at the
time of the initial public offering. The Company
nevertheless agreed to this settlement to avoid the
expense, distraction and uncertainty associated with
continued litigation without admitting any fault, liability
or wrongdoing.
About KongZhong
KongZhong Corporation is a leading provider of wireless
value added services and one of China's leading wireless
internet portals. The Company delivers wireless value
added services to consumers in China through multiple
technology platforms including wireless access protocol
(WAP), multimedia messaging service (MMS), JAVA, short
messaging service (SMS), interactive voice response (IVR),
and color ring back tone (CRBT). The Company also operates
a wireless internet portal which enables users to access
media and entertainment content directly from their mobile
phones.
This press release contains "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements
include statements regarding the settlement of pending
litigation. These statements involve risks and
uncertainties and our actual results may differ materially
from those expressed or implied in the statements in this
press release. Potential risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to, any uncertainties associated with
the signing of the memorandum of understanding preliminary
to a settlement agreement, the negotiation of a definitive
settlement agreement and its approval by the court. For
additional discussion of these risks and uncertainties and
other factors that may impact the reliability of the
forward-looking statements in this press release, please
see the documents we file from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no
obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which
apply only as of the date of this press release.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Contacts:
JP Gan
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +86-10-8857-6000
Email: ir@kongzhong.com
Tip Fleming
ChristensenIR
Tel: +1-917-412-3333
Email: tfleming@ChristensenIR.com
Media Contact:
Xiaohu Wang
Manager
Tel: +86-10-8857-6000
Email: xiaohu@kongzhong.com
SOURCE KongZhong Corporation
2007'02.01.Thu
Zsoft, a Gateway for International Outsourcing Companies Entering China
April 24, 2006
BEIJING, April 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Zhongguancun
Software Association announced today that approximately US$
2 million in outsourcing software development business was
up for grabs in the Second Software Outsourcing Summit in
Beijing, which kicked off on April 18 and ended on April
20.
Four foreign outsourcing companies, mainly from Europe
and America, were planning to find software developers at
the summit to handle their to-be outsourced projects valued
at about US$ 2 million. Among them, a US-based national
chain supermarket company would outsource its information
system construction work in the next 10 years, which was
part of its management system. The first phase of this
project alone would amount to US$ 500,000, according to
Zsoft.
The software outsourcing fair, organized by
Zhongguancun Software Association (Zsoft), is a platform
for domestic software developers and mainly overseas
outsourcing companies to meet business partners and strike
deals.
During the second summit, Zsoft also launched its
English version website http://www.zsoft.cn , enabling
prospective participants to book the outsourcing summit
admission tickets online.
The English website would also serve as a platform
through which software developers and business outsourcers
could meet.
A transaction platform, which is jointly sponsored by
Zsoft and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, was also
launched in the summit to lure American outsourcing
business.
In a bid to facilitate the software outsourcing
business flowing from America to China, Zsoft had already
set up a special platform last November which is
specifically targeting American outsourcing companies and
where small-sum outsourcing business deals can be
negotiated and traded.
So far, a total of US$ 6 million worth of software
outsourcing business is now in talks with American
companies thanks to the platform, which is in addition to
the US$ 1.6 million deal that has already been secured,
Zsoft said.
The software outsourcing summit, organized by Zsoft, a
Beijing-based non-profit software industry association,
will be held four times a year, in April, July, September
and November respectively.
Zsoft also signed an agreement with US-based
International Association of Technology Trade(IATT) at the
summit, which would facilitate IATT's 10,000-strong member
firms to outsource their software business to Zsoft's
member firms.
IATT, according to the agreement signed with Zsoft,
will certify 10 Chinese software developers that are
qualified to handle America-originated software outsourcing
business and promote them in its own website. IATT will
also help train those 10 Chinese firms until they secure
outsourced business deals from America.
The outsourcing event also attracts domestic companies
that are planning to outsource their software development
business.
An unnamed domestic construction and decoration company
is interested in outsourcing its information system
construction work, indicating that the outsourcing market
is not only confined to overseas outsourcers.
Zsoft, the software industry association, is hoping to
set up a "software factory" by consolidating the
sector. It is also planning to train those software
developers, which are in great demand by many software
companies.
The industry association, which is composed by
5000-strong member firms, has also set up a special
committee to deal with the software business originating
from America.
It is currently seeking a liaison officer in America
who will be in charge of finding potential software
outsourcers in America and introducing them to attend the
Zsoft-organized outsourcing summit.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Ada (Lu Jun)
Zhongguancun Software Association
Tel: +86-10-8232-8001
Email: adalu@vip.sina.com
SOURCE Zhongguancun Software Association
2007'02.01.Thu
Modern Beauty Salon Announces Operational Update Plans to Add Six Service Centres by the End of FY2006
April 24, 2006
Continued Service Enhancements to Expand Market Share in Hong Kong
HONG KONG, April 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Modern
Beauty Salon Holdings Limited ("Modern Beauty" or
"the Company"; HKSE stock code: 919), one of the
leading providers of comprehensive beauty and healthcare
services in Hong Kong, announced official opening of two
new beauty salons in Tuen Mun and Tai Wai, adding the total
number of service centres operated by the Company to 17.
Network Expansion
Modern Beauty also plans to invest approximately HK$30
million to HK$40 million in opening new service centres and
renovating existing branches in FY2006-07 (i.e. April 1,
2006 to March 31, 2007). The Company plans to open six new
service centres in FY2006-07 which is expected to have the
capacity of increasing the sales from the provision of
additional beauty and healthcare services by 15%.
Including the service centres in Tuen Mun and Tai Wai,
Modern Beauty will operate a total of 23 service centres by
the end of this financial year.
In response to customers' requests for quality beauty
and healthcare services, the Company is proactively looking
to expand its network and evaluating its service quality and
operational systems with the aim of providing the best
customer services to maintain its leading position in Hong
Kong's beauty and healthcare market. The major developments
of the Company include:
Operational Update
Modern Beauty reported good progress in its operations
and business development. The Company recorded
satisfactory growth in its customer base, from 149,000
customers as at January 17, 2006 to 151,000 customers as at
February 17, 2006. In response to customers' requests for
quality beauty and healthcare services, the Company is
proactively looking to expand its network and evaluating
its service quality and operational systems with the aim of
providing the best customer services to maintain its leading
position in Hong Kong's beauty and healthcare market.
Service Enhancement Program
As of July 31, 2005, the Company's service centres
recorded an average idle capacity of approximately 25%. To
further enhance operational efficiency and customer service,
the Company has launched a "service enhancement
program" which includes the following initiatives:-
-- Extending the validity period for prepaid packages:
Effective
immediately, the validity period of new prepaid
packages to be sold
is extended from two years to three years so as to
provide additional
flexibility to customers to enjoy these services.
-- Online booking: Modern Beauty plans to launch a new
online booking
system. Apart from making their bookings via
telephone, fax, e-mail
and in person, customers can now book services
through the Modern
Beauty website directly. The new online booking
system is expected
to come online in June this year.
-- Enhanced customer service: To more effectively
handle customer
enquiries, Modern Beauty will establish a special
IVRS customer
service hotline ((852) 2688-0919) and has a
dedicated customer
service team to promptly process all enquiries.
Notes to the Editor:
About Modern Beauty Salon Holdings Limited (HKSE stock
code: 919)
Established in 1991, Modern Beauty Salon Holdings
Limited provides comprehensive beauty and healthcare
services which can be broadly categorized into beauty and
facial services, spa and massage services, slimming
services and fitness services under tradenames of
"Modern Beauty Salon", "be Sanctuary
Spa", "Slim Express", "Modern
Fitness", "be homme" and "Moment of
Serenity".
Modern Beauty now operates 17 service centres in Hong
Kong and has approximately 151,000 customers. The Company
was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange in February 2006.
For further information, please contact:
Modern Beauty Salon Holdings Limited
Investor Relations Manager
Priscilla Ip
Tel: +852-2302-6116
Fax: +852-2757-3453
Email: ir@modernbeautysalon.com
Hill & Knowlton Asia Ltd
Gary Li
Tel: +852-2894-6283 or +852-9652-9002
Email: gary.li@hillandknowlton.com.hk
Angie Tang
Tel: +852-2894-6262 or +852-6100-0199
Email: angie.tang@hillandknowlton.com.hk
SOURCE Modern Beauty Salon Holdings Limited
2007'02.01.Thu
InterContinental Hotels Group Scoops Five Top Titles at China Golden Pillow Awards
April 24, 2006
-- Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts named Best
Mid-scale International Brand
-- Crowne Plaza Shenzhen named Most Recommend Theme
Hotel of the Year and
-- InterContinental Financial Street Beijing named Top
10 Business Hotels
in Bohai Delta
-- Jiuzhai Paradise Resort (soon to be relaunched as
InterContinental
-- Resort Jiuzhai Paradise) named Top 10 Resorts in
China
BEIJING, 24 April /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
InterContinental Hotels Group has received five top
accolades across various categories at the prestigious
China Golden Pillow Awards 2006. The awards, presented
today to the Group's three key brands operating in China -
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels
& Resorts and Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts - are a
clear reflection of the hotel brands' popularity amongst
guests, industry observers and the local communities. They
include:
-- Best Mid-scale International Brand award for Holiday
Inn Hotels &
Resorts
-- Most Recommended Theme Hotel of the Year for Crowne
Plaza Shenzhen
-- Top 10 Business Hotels in Bohai Delta award for
InterContinental
Financial Street Beijing
-- Top 10 Resorts in China award for the Jiuzhai
Paradise Resort, which
will soon be relaunched as the InterContinental
Resort Jiuzhai Paradise
-- Top 10 Business Restaurants in China award for
InterContinental Pudong
-- Shanghai's concept all-day dining restaurant Level
1.
The China Golden Pillow Awards, launched in 2004 as the
leading awards programme for China's hospitality industry,
is organized by the 21st Century Business Herald newspaper
and Business Class magazine. This year, the online awards
nomination attracted the participation of some 300,000
frequent travellers from across China and the Asia Pacific
region. Winners were then judged by a 40-member panel of
travel industry experts and senior journalists.
Mr Edmond Ip, chief operating officer of
InterContinental Hotels Group, North Asia said, "This
is a really significant achievement for InterContinental
Hotels Group, in one of our fastest growing markets
worldwide. All of our three key hotel brands operating in
China received top recognition in various categories and
what's even more significant is that our
soon-to-be-rebranded luxury resort in Jiuzhaigou is among
the winners. This is clear evidence of our commitment in
delivering the standards that our guests have come to
expect of our hotels, and our success in securing
development agreements with the most reputable partners in
the business."
As China's top mid-scale international brand, Holiday
Inn Hotels & Resorts is a name that is recognised
internationally. The brand is backed by an impressive
track record spanning more than five decades since the
first Holiday Inn was launched in 1952 in the US. It is
also the most established international hotel brand in
China, opening its first hotel in Hong Kong in 1975 and in
China in 1986. There are currently 30 Holiday Inn Hotels
& Resorts properties in operation across Greater China.
The world's largest hotel group by number of rooms,
InterContinental Hotels Group is also the largest
international hotel group in Greater China. Its current
portfolio includes 52 hotels across four well known brands
in nearly 30 cities across Greater China.
About InterContinental Hotels Group PLC
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom
[LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel
group by number of rooms. InterContinental Hotels Group
owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various
subsidiaries, over 3,600 hotels and 537,500 guest rooms in
nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The
Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected
hotel brands including InterContinental(R) Hotels &
Resorts, Crowne Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Holiday
Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express(R),
Staybridge Suites(R), Candlewood Suites(R) and Hotel
IndigoTM, and also manages the world's largest hotel
loyalty programme, Priority Club(R) Rewards.
Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for
InterContinental Hotels Group worldwide. The Group's
portfolio in this region includes more than 160 hotels and
over 45,000 guest rooms under the InterContinental(R)
Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts,
Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts, and Express by Holiday
Inn(R) brands.
InterContinental Hotels Group offers information and
online reservations for all its hotel brands at
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com and information for the
Priority Club Rewards programme at
http://www.priorityclub.com .
For the latest news from InterContinental Hotels Group,
visit our online Press Office at http://www.ihgplc.com/media
.
For more information, please contact:
Sharona Tao,
Brand Public Relations & Communications Manager,
Greater China
InterContinental Hotels Group
Tel: +86-21-2893-3309
Fax: +86-21-2893-3399
Email: sharona.tao@ichotelsgroup.com
SOURCE InterContinental Hotels Group PLC
2007'02.01.Thu
The International Exhibition on Die & Mould Technology and Equipment (Die & Mould China 2006) to Open Soon
April 24, 2006
SHANGHAI, China, April 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd. of Shanghai
World Expo (Group) Co., Ltd. announced recently that the
International Exhibition on Die & Mould Technology and
Equipment (Die & Mould China 2006), hosted jointly by
China Die & Mould Industry Association and Shanghai
International Exhibition Co., Ltd., will be held in the
Shanghai New international Expo Center (SNIEC) from May 8
to May 12, 2006.
Die & Mould China 2006 is sponsored by China's
Machinery Industry Federation, China Aviation Industry No.1
Group Corporation, China Electronics Corp., China Aviation
Industry No.2 Group Corporation, China South Industries
Group Corp., and China North Industries Group Corp.;
co-organized by China National Machine Tool Corporation and
China Die & Mould Industry Association (CDMA); supported
by China Aero-space Tooling Association, China Rubber
Industry Association, China Association of Automobile
Manufacturers, China Association for Mechatronics
Technology & Applications, China Heat Treatment
Association, CPPMIA and regional Die & Mould Industry
Associations in over 40 provinces, cities and regions
including Beijing, Tianjin and Guangdong.
Features of Die & Mould China 2006:
I. A Record Scale
Occupying a show area of nearly 60,000 square meters,
Die & Mould China 2006 is 160% larger than last year's
exhibition, attracting more than 1200 exhibitors and also
maintaining its position as the World's No. 2, and Asia's
No. 1, die and mould exhibition. Participants from 16
countries and regions bring with them a large variety of
dies and moulds, related processing equipment and products.
II. High-quality Exhibits
According to preliminary statistics, about 500 kinds of
equipment will be displayed at the exhibition. Large
equipment, such as: machining centers and high speed
milling machines will be exhibited by more than 60
enterprises which will present their latest products. Many
of them are internationally renowned, for example: Japanese
MAKINO, OKUMA, MAZAK, MORI SEIKI and TOSHIBA MACHINERY,
German DMG, American HASS, HARDINGE and FADAL, and Italian
FIDIA. The event also received warm response from many
prestigious manufacturers of other metal cutting equipment
and precision electric processing equipment, cutting tools,
materials and software from all parts of the world,
including, AGIECHARMILLES, SODICK, HEXAGON, DME, Swede
SANDVIK, Japanese TOSHIBA TOOL, DAIDO and HITACHI, German
ZEISS and SIEMENS, British LK and DELCAM, Hong Kong LUNG
KEE, and Taiwan KAOMING, HARTFORD and JOHNFORD. In
addition, Shenyang Machine Tool (Group) Co., Ltd., the
leading and backbone machine tool maker in China will have
a great display at the exhibition by presenting its
machining center, CNC milling machine and CNC milling and
drilling machine and exchange and compete with elite
counterparts in the world. Guilin Machine Tool Co., Ltd.
will display its machining center that is equipped with a
universal milling head and can make five-side processing.
It has already been used by some die and mould enterprises.
Moreover, the latest products from Beijing Machine Tool
Research Institute, Hanchuan Machine Tool Co., Ltd.,
Hangzhou Machine Tool Group Co., Ltd., Suzhou
Electromachining Machine Tool Research Institute, Shanghai
Measuring & Cutting Tool Works, Shanghai Baosteel Group
Corporation and other organizations will also be showcased
at this exhibition.
In view of the dies and moulds to be exhibited, the
automotive panel die manufacturers like Die Manufacturing
Co., Ltd. of FAW, Dongfeng Motor Die & Mould Co., Ltd.,
Tianjin Motor Dies Co., Ltd., Sichuan Chengfei Integration
Technology Corp. Ltd., China Push Group International Co.,
Ltd., Yuejin Motor Group Nanjing Tooling Co., Ltd., Beiqi
Foton Motor Co., Ltd. Weifang Die & Mould Plant and
Beijing BYD Die Co., Ltd., which are the major automotive
die manufacturers in China will, together with many other
automotive die companies, demonstrate China's overall
strength in automotive punch dies. Many plastic mould
makers led by Qingdao Haier Molds Co., Ltd, precision punch
die makers led by Wuxi G.S. Precision Tool Co., Ltd., tire
mould makers led by Shenyang Radial Tire Mold Co., Ltd. and
Guangdong Greatoo Molds Inc., foundry moulds makers
represented by FAW Foundry Co., Ltd. Foundry Mould &
Equipment Plant and Ningbo Heli Mould Co., Ltd., extrusion
die makers led by Tongling Sanjia Mould Co., Ltd. and so on
will display their representative products at the exhibition
to sketch a new picture of the Chinese die and mould
industry. In terms of region, Guangdong and Zhejiang will
show their strengths as being powerful die and mould
provinces. The exhibitors from these two provinces almost
occupy an entire exhibition hall. In West China, the
exhibitors from Shaanxi and Sichuan showed great enthusiasm
toward this event and the number of exhibitors exceeds 20.
III. Various Economic, Trade and Technological Exchange
Activities
During the exhibition, CDMA will hold Advanced Die
& Mould Manufacturing Technology Seminar, while CDMA
Technology Committee will organize a series of activities
as it did for past exhibitions, such as, appraising the
level of exhibited die and mould products, and commenting
on the advancement of the die and mould manufacturing
technologies, equipments, tools, materials and software
reflected by the exhibition. During the event, the
appraisal of excellent die & mould manufacturing
equipment and tool suppliers, excellent die & mould
designing and manufacturing software suppliers and
excellent die & mould material suppliers will be
conducted; the 3rd Session of the 5th CDMA Board of
Governors will be convened; China Advanced Die & Mould
Technology Seminar of the International Exhibition on Die
& Mould Technology and Equipment hosted by CDMA
Technology Committee will open on May 10, at which lectures
will be given by senior Chinese and foreign experts; the
annual conference of CDMA Technology Committee and Standard
Parts Committee will be held at the same time; 2006
Automotive Die & Mould Manufacturing Technology Seminar
jointly organized by CDMA Automobile Body Mould and
Equipment Committee and AI Automobile Industry magazine
will start on the morning of May 11.
Moreover, many foreign exchange activities will be
launched during the exhibition. The Sino-German Die &
Mould Forum hosted by CDMA and organized by VDMA, DIHK and
relevant organizations will be held on May 11 where 52
automotive and die & mould makers from Germany and
other European countries, including the purchase managers
and sales managers from German Audi AG, BMW AG and so on
will be present. CDMA will exchange and hold talks with
delegations from PMA, VDMA, KODMIC and TAGMA on matters of
common interest. The die & mould associations from
Asian countries, including Singapore, are preparing for the
visit to China.
Die & Mould China 2006 will exhibit all kinds of
dies and moulds, die & mould equipment and related
products at W1, W2, W3, W4 and E1 exhibition halls of
SNIEC. It occupies a show area of nearly 60,000m2,
attracts more than 1100 exhibitors, 160% larger than last
year's exhibition and maintains to be World No. 2 and Asia
No. 1 die and mould exhibition.
Thus far, advertisement and communication regarding this
exhibition have been made through more than 30 media
outlets more than 80 times. Unremitting efforts will be
made to intensify publicity. CDMA is planning to publish a
special issue for this event in MM Machineinfo and Machinist
and will also publicize the die and mould enterprises
targeting at auto parts users through Auto Shanghai hosted
by Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd.
Advertisement on Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway and
Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway has been published.
Meanwhile, the exhibition has also set up its own website
at http://www.diemouldchina.com .
According to current statistics, exhibitors from over
30 countries will attend the exhibition. It is predicted
that the audience will exceed last year's exhibition. PMA,
VDMA, and the die and mould industry associations from Asia
including TAGMA are organizing delegations to China.
About Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd.
(SIEC)
Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd. (SIEC) is
jointly invested by Shanghai World Expo (Group) Co., Ltd.
and the Council for the Promotion of International Trade,
Shanghai. The SIEC was founded on July 1st, 1984 with the
approval of the Ministry of Foreign Trade & Economic
Cooperation and the People's Government of Shanghai
Municipality.
The SIEC is a full member of Union des Foires
Internationales (UFI). The SIEC has held 500 international
exhibitions of various themes and sizes. It also has
successfully held a number of solo exhibitions at national
level.
"AUTO SHANGHAI," "SHANGHAITEX,"
"CHINA CYCLE," "FASHION SHANGHAI,"
"ELE/PT COMM CHINA" are among the first eight
exhibitions approved excellent by THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE
OF SHANGHAI CONVENTIONAL & EXHIBITION INDUSTRIES.
For more information, please contact:
Cheng Laiping, Executive Show Director
Add: 8/F, OOCL Plaza, 841 Yan An Zhong Road,
Shanghai 200040, China
Tel: +86-21-6279-2828
Fax: +86-21-6545-5124
Email: info@siec-ccpit.com
Web: http://www.siec-ccpit.com
SOURCE Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd.
2007'02.01.Thu
Gemplus Reports Strong Sales Growth for the First Quarter 2006
April 24, 2006
First quarter 2006 highlights:
-- Net sales up 19.3% year-on-year driven by Financial
Services and ID &
Security.
-- Gross margin at 30.5%, down 1.6 percentage point
year-on-year.
-- Operating income up 12.3%, at 8.4 million euros.
-- Attributable net income(1) at 6.3 million euros.
LUXEMBOURG, April 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Gemplus
International S.A. (Euronext: LU0121706294 - GEM and
Nasdaq: GEMP), a world leading provider of secure card
solutions, today reported results for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2006.
In millions of euros Q1 2006 Q1 2005
Year-on-
year change
Net sales 230.3 193.1
+19.3%
Adjusted for currency
fluctuations, disposals
and acquisitions
+5.3%
Gross profit 70.2 61.9
+13.5%
Gross margin 30.5%
32.1% -1.6 ppt
Operating expenses 61.8 54.4
+13.6%
Operating income 8.4 7.5
+12.3%
Operating margin 3.7% 3.9%
-0.2 ppt
Attributable net income 6.3 7.2
-13.7%
Free cash flow (2) -13.8 8.8
NM
Cash and cash equivalents 409.9 395.1
+3.7%
Per share data (in euros)
Earnings per share (fully diluted) 0.01 0.01
NM
Note: The consolidated financial statements of the
Company have been
prepared in accordance with International
Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS).
Commenting on the performance for the first quarter
2006, Alex Mandl, President and Chief Executive Officer,
said: "Gemplus improved its position in all of its
core businesses. Beside buoyant shipments in Wireless, we
are very satisfied to report robust revenue growth in
Financial Services and ID & Security. These results
validate our strategy and confirm the strong potential of
these segments. Finally, we are optimistic about the
outcome of the proposed Gemalto transaction to create a
world-class leader in digital security."
First quarter 2006 financial review
-- Income statement
First quarter 2006 highlights:
-- Net sales up 19.3% year-on-year driven by
Financial Services and ID &
Security.
-- Gross margin 30.5%, down 1.6 percentage point
year-on-year.
-- Operating income up 12.3%, at 8.4 million euros.
Net sales were up 19.3% driven by Setec and strong
organic growth in Financial Services and ID &
Security.
On a geographical basis, strong demand in all segments
led to adjusted revenue growth of 27.8% in the Americas.
Adjusted(3) revenue in EMEA(4) was up 5.8%, year-on-year,
driven by Financial Services and down 17.5% in Asia,
reflecting price pressure in Wireless.
Gross margin was down 1.6 percentage point
year-on-year, to 30.5%, reflecting the change in the
business mix, Wireless price pressure and purchase
accounting.
As a percentage of sales, operating expenses decreased
to 26.8%, compared to 28.2% a year ago, although in value,
they increased 13.6% year-on-year, to 61.8 million euros,
mainly due to Setec.
Consequently, operating income was up 12.3%, at 8.4
million euros.
Attributable net income for the first quarter was
slightly down 1.0 million euros to 6.3 million euros,
mainly due to minority interests and income tax.
-- Balance sheet and cash flow statement
First quarter 2006 highlights:
-- Free cash outflow of 13.8 million euros reflecting
increase in working
capital.
-- Continuous strong cash position, at 409.9 million
euros.
Working capital was up 18.6 million euros
quarter-on-quarter, but decreased, as a percentage of
sales, to 14% at March 31, 2006, compared with 16% a year
ago.
The Group's cash position remains strong and is down
8.4 million euros compared to December 31, 2005.
Segment analysis
-- Telecom
First quarter 2006 highlights:
-- Record wireless shipments, at 100.6 million
units.
-- Wireless ASP down 33% year-on-year, currency
adjusted.
-- Rebound in prepaid phonecards.
In millions of euros Q1 2006 Q1 2005 %
change Adjusted(3)
change (%)
Wireless products &
services net sales 134.3 132.7
+1.2%
Wireless gross profit 50.2 51.1
-1.8%
Wireless gross margin 37.4% 38.6% -1.2
ppt
Prepaid phone cards &
scratchcards net sales 14.0 11.6
+21.2%
Prepaid phone cards &
scratchcards gross
profit 1.9 1.2
+60.7%
Prepaid phone cards &
scratchcards gross
margin 13.2% 9.9%
+3.3 ppts
Telecom net sales 148.4 144.3
+2.9% -2.4%
Telecom gross profit 52.1 52.3
-0.4%
Telecom gross margin 35.1% 36.3%
-1.2 ppt
Telecom operating expenses
38.3 35.8
+7.0%
As a % of sales 25.8% 24.8%
+1.0 ppt
Telecom operating profit 13.7 16.5
-16.4%
Operating margin 9.3% 11.4%
-2.1 ppts
Wireless revenue:
-- Wireless products & services revenue(5) was up
1.2% year-on-year (down
3.3%, currency adjusted), to 134.3 million euros.
-- Wireless shipments grew 48% year-on-year, to 100.6
million units,
largely driven by emerging countries.
-- High-end card shipments (3G and above) accounted for
14% of the first
quarter total, compared to 10% a year ago.
-- Wireless average selling price (ASP) was down 16%
quarter-on-quarter and
33% year-on-year, both currency adjusted, reflecting
ongoing price
pressure.
The slight decline in Wireless gross margin was due to
product and regional mix, as well as strong price
pressure.
-- Financial Services
First quarter 2006 highlights:
-- Very strong growth in payment microprocessor
cards: shipments up 75%,
to 22.3 million units.
-- EMV(6) roll-out gained further momentum in Latin
America, Southern
Europe and Japan.
In millions of euros Q1 2006 Q1 2005 %
change Adjusted (3)
change (%)
Net sales 56.4 37.9
+48.6% +30.0%
Gross profit 10.5 5.8
+80.6%
Gross margin as
a % of sales 18.6% 15.3% +3.3
ppts
Operating expenses 11.4 10.4
+9.8%
As a % of sales 20.3% 27.4% -7.1
ppts
Operating income -0.9 -4.6 NM
Operating margin as
a % of sales -1.6% -12.1% +10.5
ppts
Revenue reflects strong growth in all sub-segments.
Payment microprocessor card revenue rose 55%
year-on-year. Shipments of payment microprocessor cards
grew 75% to 22.3 million units.
The strong performance in payment cards was mainly
driven by the EMV roll-out, which gained momentum in Latin
America (Mexico, Brazil), Southern Europe (Italy, Portugal,
Greece) and Japan.
As a result, operating income came close to breakeven.
-- Identity and Security
First quarter 2006 highlights:
-- Very strong growth, driven by Government ID and
Corporate Security
projects.
In millions of euros Q1 2006 Q1 2005 %
change Adjusted (3)
change (%)
Net sales 25.6 10.9
+134.3% +26.0%
Gross profit 7.6 3.8
+102.1%
Gross margin as
a % of sales 29.8% 34.6% -4.8
ppts
Operating expenses 12.1 8.2
+47.8%
As a % of sales 47.1% 74.7% -27.6
ppts
Operating income -4.4 -4.4 NM
Operating margin
as a % of sales -17.3% -40.1% +22.8
ppts
Strong growth was driven by a substantial increase in
Government ID projects, notably e-passports and healthcare
solutions, and Corporate Security projects, particularly in
Americas, in addition to those from Setec.
Outlook
The Group continues to see strong momentum in its core
segments and will maintain its focus on cost efficiency.
Gemplus confirms that it is firmly on track to realize
its mid-term objective to achieve a 10% operating margin in
2007.
The Group remains confident in its ability to further
strongly improve its operating income in 2006 taking into
account the usual seasonality effect of stronger organic
growth in the second half than in the first half.
Gemplus also continues to expect the Financial Services
and ID & Security segments to turn profitable in 2006.
Business Highlights
-- Telecom
At the 3GSM World Congress, Gemplus launched its new
software and SIM platform, bridging telecom and PC/internet
communications. Called .sim (DOTSIM), it extends the
traditional SIM roles of authentication and security from
mobile networks to the PC/Internet world and offers
advanced multimedia services across both channels. This is
a solution already generating significant interest from
mobile operators such as Orange, as a way of reinforcing
brand, unifying services across the board and supporting
their digital convergence strategy.
Gemplus's OTA over IP platform, GemConnect OTA, was
selected by Telefonica Moviles Expana for the high speed
delivery of multimedia services and applications for 3G
mobile subscribers.
-- Financial Services
Gemplus launched its range of innovative card bodies,
Plastic Fantastic, which is designed to help banks and
financial institutions set themselves apart from the
competition. The cards range from unusual shapes, perfumed,
tactile and even glow in the dark, and will support
customers in their branding and customer segmentation.
Gemplus' product, GemSense Instant Issuance, also won
an award from the ECPA/ ECR (European Payments Consulting
Association / European Card Review) Payment Innovation
Awards in the category for the most innovative and advanced
payment software/hardware product. This is a personalization
and card issuance solution which allows banks and retailers
to deploy or replace cards on the spot. Each cardholder
walks away with a fully personalized smart payment card
within a matter of minutes.
Continuing to support banks in their migration to EMV,
Gemplus was selected by Indonesian Bank, Bank Buana, to
provide the highest level of secure smart payment cards.
The cards use random data for the generation of each
signature for transactions which makes them difficult to
duplicate. They also offer off-line transaction processing
capabilities which reduce the cost of network
communication.
-- Identity and Security
Gemplus was selected by BearingPoint to supply an
additional 1 million cards to the US Department of Defense
for their Common Access Card program. This is the US
Federal Government's biggest roll-out to date with more 4
million smart ID cards issued to bring strong
authentication for its employees. The cards supplied in the
contract are FIPS 140-2 validated -- a security
pre-requisite for the CAC program.
Gemplus launched its first product aimed at Small and
Medium-sized enterprises. GemEvidence is a One Time
Password token-based solution which improves the security
of remote connections in a cost-effective manner.
Gemplus, with the full integration of Setec, passed the
significant milestone of half a million e-passports
delivered in the last six months. This makes Gemplus the
leading e-passport supplier in the world.
Gemplus's contactless reader technology, GemProx, was
selected and integrated into Saflink's SureAccess(TM)
biometric smart card reader, designed to comply with the US
Government Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)
201 requirements. As such, Gemplus provides the technology
for reading the contactless ID cards carried by authorized
personnel in secure facilities such as seaports and
airports.
Earnings calendar
Second quarter 2006 results are scheduled to be
reported on July 26, 2006, before the opening of Euronext
Paris.
Conference Call:
The company has scheduled a conference call for Monday,
24 April 2006 at 2:30 pm CET (1:30 pm GMT and 8:30 am
New-York time). Callers may participate in the live
conference call by dialing:
+44 (0) 207 138 0813 or +1 718 354 1157 or +33 1 55 17
41 44, access code 2815143.
The slide show will be available on the web site at
12:30 CET (11:30 GMT). The webcast will also be available
on the IR section of http://www.gemplus.com .
Replays of the conference call will be available
approximately 3 hours after the conclusion of the
conference call until May 8th, 2006 midnight by dialing:
+44 (0) 207 806 1970 or +1 718 354 11 12 or +33 1 71 23
02 48, access Code: 2815143#.
About Gemplus
Gemplus International S.A. (Euronext: LU0121706294 -
GEM and NASDAQ: GEMP) is a world leading player in the
secure card industry in both revenue and total shipments
(source: Gartner-Dataquest 2005, Frost & Sullivan,
Datamonitor). It has sold over 5.5 billion smart cards.
Gemplus delivers a wide range of portable, personalized
solutions in areas including Identity, Mobile
Telecommunications, Public Telephony, Banking, Retail,
Transport, Healthcare, WLAN, Pay-TV, e-government, and
access control.
Gemplus' revenue in 2005 was 939 million euros.
http://www.gemplus.com
Gemplus, the Gemplus logo, are trademarks and service
marks of Gemplus S.A. and are registered in certain
countries. All other trademarks and service marks, whether
registered or not in specific countries, are the property
of their respective owners.
Some of the statements contained in this release
constitute forward-looking statements. These statements
relate to future events or our future financial performance
and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and
other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to
be materially different from any future results, levels of
activities, performance, or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual events
or results may differ materially. Although we believe that
the expectations reflected in the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those estimated by the forward-looking
statements contained in this release include, but are not
limited to: trends in wireless communication and mobile
commerce sectors; our ability to develop new technology,
and the effects of competing technologies developed and
expected intense competition generally in our main
segments; profitability of our expansion strategy;
challenges to or loss of our intellectual property rights;
our ability to establish and maintain strategic
relationships in our major businesses; our ability to
develop and take advantage of new software and services;
and the effect of future acquisitions and investments on
our share price. Moreover, neither we nor any other person
assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of
such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking
statements contained in this release speak only as of this
release. We are under no duty to update any of the
forward-looking statements after this date to conform such
statements to actual results or to reflect the occurrence
of anticipated results.
Gemplus International SA
Press Release - Financial statements
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006
Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands of euros, except shares and
per share amounts)
Three
months ended
March 31,
2006
2005
(unaudited)
Net sales 230,332
193,102
Cost of sales (160,104)
(131,210)
Gross profit 70,228
61,892
Research and development expenses (15,958)
(12,981)
Selling and marketing expenses (31,008)
(25,707)
General and administrative expenses (15,611)
(16,101)
Restructuring reversals 67
438
Other operating income (expense), net 691
(52)
Goodwill amortization and impairment -
-
Operating income 8,409
7,489
Financial income (expense), net 2,251
1,795
Share of profit (loss) of associates 120
(824)
Other non-operating income (expense), net (578)
362
Income before taxes 10,202
8,822
Income tax expense (3,119)
(1,704)
NET INCOME 7,083
7,118
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company 6,252
7,242
Minority interest 831
(124)
Net income per share attributable to equity
holders of the Company (in euros)
Basic 0.01
0.01
Diluted 0.01
0.01
Shares used in net income per share
calculation:
Basic 630,137,679
607,039,538
Diluted 649,357,638
622,407,315
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in
thousands of euros)
March 31, 2006
December 31, 2005
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 409,927
418,365
Trade accounts receivable, net 167,115
183,022
Inventory, net 121,394
107,673
Derivative financial instruments 6,296
4,187
Other current receivables 53,759
82,128
Total current assets 758,491
795,375
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net 158,237
158,284
Goodwill, net 90,789
90,826
Deferred development costs, net 20,948
21,227
Other intangible assets, net 21,497
23,600
Deferred income tax assets 29,756
32,788
Investments in associates 14,089
16,309
Available-for-sale financial assets, net 2,477
2,469
Other non-current receivables, net 41,360
40,846
Total non-current assets 379,153
386,349
TOTAL ASSETS 1,137,644
1,181,724
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable 105,187
106,085
Derivative financial instruments 4,525
2,592
Salaries, wages and related items 45,812
62,641
Current portion of provisions and other
liabilities 42,528
73,434
Current income tax liabilities 4,680
5,228
Other current tax liabilities 20,328
20,821
Current obligations under finance leases 5,383
5,539
Total current liabilities 228,443
276,340
Non-current liabilities:
Non-current obligations under finance leases 25,052
26,425
Non-current portion of provisions 20,654
23,482
Other non-current liabilities 13,176
13,417
Deferred income tax liabilities 3,520
4,354
Total non-current liabilities 62,402
67,678
Shareholders' equity:
Ordinary shares 133,733
133,466
Additional paid-in capital 1,064,235
1,063,145
Retained earnings (358,775)
(365,940)
Other comprehensive income (4,622)
(4,407)
Less, cost of treasury shares (1,395)
(1,395)
Equity attributable to equity holders of
the Company 833,176
824,869
Minority interest 13,623
12,837
Total shareholders' equity 846,799
837,706
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY 1,137,644
1,181,724
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in
thousands of euros)
Three months ended
March 31,
2006
2005
(unaudited)
Cash flow from operating activities :
Net income (loss) 7,083
7,118
Adjustments to reconcile net income
(loss) to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and impairment 10,550
9,326
Changes in non-current portion of provisions
and other liabilities, excluding restructuring (2,612)
(446)
Deferred income taxes (benefit) expense 1,887
(339)
(Gain) / loss on sale and disposal of assets -
132
Share of (profit) loss of associates (50)
824
Share-based compensation 914
805
Other, net 198
(937)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable and related current
liabilities 13,706
14,084
Trade accounts payable and related current
assets (2,592)
(15,735)
Inventories (13,970)
8,946
Value-added and income taxes (2,395)
1,354
Salaries, wages and other (17,199)
(8,929)
Restructuring reserve payable (1,587)
(3,611)
Net cash (used for) from operating activities (6,067)
12,592
Cash flows from investing activities:
(Purchase)/Sale of activities net of cash
(acquired)/disposed 4,632
-
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (8,597)
(4,439)
Purchase of other assets (538)
(197)
Change in non-trade accounts payable
and other 1,414
846
Net cash used for investing activities (3,089)
(3,790)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 1,358
-
Payments on borrowings (30)
-
Principal payments on obligations under
finance leases (1,529)
(1,472)
Increase (decrease) in bank overdrafts (683)
(1,555)
Dividends paid by subsidiaries to minority
shareholders (270)
-
Changes in non-trade accounts payables on
financing activities 2,099
779
Net cash (used for) from financing activities 945
(2,248)
Effect of exchange rate changes on
cash (227)
114
Net increase (decrease) in cash (8,211)
6,554
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
the period 418,365
388,430
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period 409,927
395,098
1) Accounting principles:
The consolidated financial statements of the Company
have been prepared in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
2) Segment information
First Quarter 2006 compared with First Quarter 2005
2.1) Operating Segments
(in
millions of euros)
Three months ended
Adjusted
Net sales March 31, March 31,
%change change(%)(*)
2006 2005
Telecommunications 148.4 144.3
3% -2%
Financial Services 56.4 37.9
49% 30%
Identity and Security 25.6 10.9
134% 26%
Total 230.3 193.1
19% 5%
(in
millions of euros)
Gross profit March 31, (% of net March
31, (% of net
2006 sales) 2005
sales) % change
Telecommunications 52.1 35% 52.3
36% 0%
Financial Services 10.5 19% 5.8
15% 81%
Identity and Security 7.6 30% 3.8
35% 102%
Total 70.2 30% 61.9
32% 13%
(in
millions of euros)
Operating expenses March 31, (% of net
2006 sales) March 31,
(% of net
2005
sales) % change
Telecommunications (38.3) 26% (35.8)
25% 7%
Financial Services (11.4) 20% (10.4)
27% 10%
Identity and Security (12.1) 47% (8.2)
75% 48%
Total (61.8) 27% (54.4)
28% 14%
(in
millions of euros)
Change in
March 31, March 31,
Operating
Operating income (loss) 2006 2005
income (loss)
Telecommunications 13.7 16.5
(2.7)
Financial Services (0.9) (4.6)
3.7
Identity and Security (4.4) (4.4)
(0.0)
Total 8.4 7.5
0.9
(*) Adjusted for currency fluctuations, disposals &
acquisitions
2.2) Geographical Segments
Three months ended (in
millions of euros)
Net sales March 31, March 31,
Adjusted
2006 2005 %
change change(%)(*)
Europe, Middle East
and Africa 121.9 99.3
23% 6%
Asia 41.3 46.4
-11% -18%
Americas 67.1 47.4
42% 28%
Total 230.3 193.1
19% 5%
(*) Adjusted for currency fluctuations, disposals &
acquisitions
(1) Net income attributable to equity holders of the
Company.
(2) Free cash flow is defined as net cash flow from
operating activities
less the purchase of property, plant and equipment
and other
investments related to the operating cycle (and
excluding acquisitions
and financial investments).
(3) Adjusted for currency fluctuations, disposals &
acquisitions
(4) Europe, Middle East and Africa
(5) Wireless products & services revenue comprises
wireless microprocessor
cards and related applications (embedded software
and Over The Air
platforms) and services (system integration and
operated services).
(6) EMV is a jointly defined set of specifications
adopted by Europay,
MasterCard and Visa for the migration of bank cards
to smart card
technology.
For more information, please contact:
Press
Gemplus
Jane Strachey
Tel: +33-4-4236-4661
Mob: +33-6-7946-3593
Email: jane.strachey@gemplus.com
Edelman
Frederic Boullard
Tel: +33-1-5669-7395
Email: frederic.boullard@edelman.com
Investor Relations
Gemplus
Celine Berthier
Tel: +41-22-544-5054
Email: celine.berthier@gemplus.com
Fineo
Tel: +33-1-5633-32-31
Email: investors@gemplus.com
SOURCE Gemplus S.A.
2007'02.01.Thu
Corning to Locate LCD Glass Finishing Facility in Beijing
April 24, 2006
Corning Will Be First TFT-LCD Glass Substrate Supplier with Production Facility on The China Mainland
CORNING, N.Y., April 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Corning
Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) announced today that it will
locate its liquid crystal display (LCD) glass substrate
finishing facility, the first on the China mainland, in the
Beijing Economic Technological Development Area. The amount
of funding for the project was not disclosed.
Commenting on today's announcement Corning's Chief
Executive Officer for Greater China, Clark S. Kinlin said,
"I want to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to
the municipalities and authorities that we had the
opportunity to work with during the selection process. As
we have said many times, Corning is fully committed to the
LCD industry in China and to growing with our customers in
this important region of the world market. Today's
announcement is further proof of that commitment."
"We are pleased that we are able to make this
announcement today," said Nitin S. Kulkarni, president
of Corning Display Technologies, China. "We recently
concluded a rigorous site selection process, and while each
location had much to offer we reached the decision that the
Beijing Economic Technological Development Area is the
appropriate location for our finishing facility."
Historically, Corning has been first in the
LCD-producing regions in which the company operates;
beginning with glass finishing and then assessing the need
for other operations at a later date, based on market and
customer demand. With its facility in China, Corning is
continuing its proven, strategic approach to developing new
markets.
About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated ( http://www.corning.com ) is a
diversified technology company that concentrates its
efforts on high-impact growth opportunities. Corning
combines its expertise in specialty glass, ceramic
materials, polymers and the manipulation of the properties
of light, with strong process and manufacturing
capabilities to develop, engineer and commercialize
significant innovative products for the telecommunications,
flat panel display, environmental, semiconductor, and life
sciences industries.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements
that involve a variety of business risks and other
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially. These risks and uncertainties include the
possibility of changes or fluctuations in global economic
and political conditions; tariffs, import duties and
currency fluctuations; product demand and industry
capacity; competitive products and pricing; manufacturing
efficiencies; cost reductions; availability and costs of
critical components and materials; new product development
and commercialization; order activity and demand from major
customers; capital spending by larger customers in the
liquid crystal display industry and other businesses;
changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium
products; facility expansions and new plant start-up costs;
possible disruption in commercial activities due to
terrorist activity, armed conflict, political instability
or major health concerns; ability to obtain financing and
capital on commercially reasonable terms; adequacy and
availability of insurance; capital resource and cash flow
activities; capital spending; equity company activities;
interest costs; acquisition and divestiture activities; the
level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of
technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product
and components performance issues; changes in key
personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation
or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors
are identified in Corning's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only
as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no
obligation to update them in light of new information or
future events.
For more information, please contact:
Media relations contact
China
Cynthia Fang
Tel: +86-21-5467-4666
Email: fangcj@corning.com
Corning
Paul A. Rogoski
Tel: +1-607-74-8832
Email: rogoskipa@corning.com
Investor relations contact
Kenneth C. Sofio
Tel: +1-607-974-7705
Email: sofiokc@corning.com
James E. Terry
Tel: +1-607-974-7343
Email: terryje@corning.com
SOURCE Corning Incorporated
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