Archive for June, 2009
Digitalsmiths Launches VideoSense 2.0 Platform With Frame-By-Frame Video Search
Sunday, June 28th, 2009Achieve CCA debt-management company could bring 205 jobs
Thursday, June 25th, 2009from Business First of Louisville – by John R. Karman III Staff Writer
A 2-year-old company that provides debt-management services and financial counseling to health care patients plans a major expansion that would bring 205 jobs to Louisville.
Achieve CCA Inc. moved its three-person executive staff and headquarters to Louisville from Evansville, Ind., in March to be closer to its principal investment group, Chrysalis Ventures Inc., as Business First reported on its Web site earlier this year … READ MORE >
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AfterBOT Awarded Patent For Retail Industry Digital Receipt System
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Norcross, GA (June 25, 2009)– afterBOT, Inc., the retail industry leader in digital receipt technology and services, announced today that it has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,552,087, entitled “Electronic Transaction Receipt System and Method” from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its revolutionary system for generating and storing in a central repository digital sales receipts from multiple retailers. With this invention, consumers can securely access, view and download their own electronic receipts from multiple retailers using their computer or mobile device. Additionally, because afterBOT’s invention allows the digital receipt data to be securely parsed, stored and de-identified from individual consumers, the same system can use data from aggregated sales transactions across multiple retailers to perform detailed market performance analysis for retailers and their suppliers.
“While this type of detailed consumer purchase data has historically been available to leading retailers through their internal systems, our patented system is the first to allow the secure aggregation of this data across retailers” said John Simon, CEO of afterBOT. “We believe that this will revolutionize the way consumers view receipts and interact with retailers. By converting paper receipts into digital ones, we empower the customer and provide the retailers with a much more timely and targeted system to merchandise to, reach and promote goods to their customers. The invention supports the valuable role suppliers play in marketing and servicing consumers with their retailer partners, and we are committed to continuing to work with industry associations like ARTS, NRF and VICS in developing standards and making the central receipt system work across all parts of the retail industry and the supporting technology infrastructure. We are working with a leading consumer software and services company to test market the system with consumers, retailers, suppliers and selected third-party solution providers this fall.”
This patent strengthens afterBOT’s TransAccess® solution, which extends the NRF ARTS XML Digital Receipt schema to provide a “real time retailing” solution that stores, analyzes and transforms transaction data into actionable insights across the extended retail enterprise, inclusive of both customers and suppliers. TransAccess leverages an atomic-level POS post sale transaction management database to deliver secure, unique views of POS data to customers, employees, and suppliers; improving operational efficiency, increasing marketing effectiveness and enabling an enhanced consumer / vendor collaboration platform.
About afterBOT
afterBOT, Inc. combines a “digital receipt” based technology solution and professional services to provide a comprehensive business management solution driving top and bottom line growth through a suite of customer, marketing and business services focused applications. afterBOT was founded in 2000 and is privately held. AfterBOT’s investors include Chrysalis Ventures, Blue Ridge Ventures, e-RM Ventures and Kenzie Lane. For more information visit us at www.afterBOT.com.
Mobile Armor Attains Multi-Million Dollar Enterprise-Wide Award to Provide U.S. Department of Navy Data at Rest
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009Mobile Armor to provide its centralized policy management and data protection solutions, including maintenance, training and other support programs
St. Louis, MO (June 24, 2009) – Mobile Armor, Inc., the technology leader in mobile data protection for the U.S. Government contracting with MTM Technologies, Inc., today announced that the company’s data security software has been selected by the U.S. Department of Navy to protect its data at rest. Under this enterprise-wide contract, Mobile Armor will provide its centralized policy management and data protection solutions. The agreement also includes maintenance, training and other support programs.
Beginning with this award and selection by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Data-at-Rest Tiger Team (DARTT) – Mobile Armor has met or exceeded the rigorous requirements of those set by the U.S. Government for data protection. Using this exacting standard, the U.S. Navy conducted a thorough review of the approved vendor products. Their conclusion clearly identified Mobile Armor to be the number one choice for data-at-rest protection for all U.S. Navy personally-identifiable information (PII) and other types of sensitive DAR on mobile computing devices and portable storage media.
“Mobile Armor recognizes the significance of achieving this award and we take great pride in being selected to protect our nation’s most sensitive data while our Navy’s war fighters protect our nation,” said Chand Vyas, chairman and CEO of Mobile Armor. “Today’s announcement once again reinforces the fact that we are an emerging leader in data security technology,” continued Vyas.
“The potential value Mobile Armor can expect over time across all product lines could exceed $40+ million dollars,” said Steve Stringer, president and CEO of MTM Technologies. “That demonstrates the scope of securing cyberspace as it continues to expand at exponential growth while facing the challenges and threats within. MTM Technologies offers a complete solution of technologies that meet that growing challenge, including Mobile Armor’s data-at-rest suite–all the tools we believe necessary to meet evolving data security requirements in commercial, education, government or military sectors.”
Purchase of Mobile Armor’s DoN-wide BPA N00104-09-A-ZF30 approved data security solutions can be made through the authorized reseller MTM Technologies under the United States General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule contract, number GS-35F-0225T.
About Mobile Armor
Mobile Armor, Inc., is an innovator and a visionary leader in data protection technology, headquartered in St Louis, Missouri. Mobile Armor is an American company that provides domestically developed trusted data security solutions to commercial and government organizations. Notable customers include the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, civilian agencies and customers in healthcare and financial services verticals. Mobile Armor offers a solution that provides centralized management of all mobile devices, including desktops, laptops, PDAs, smart phones, and removable drives (including thumb drives). The company is a recipient of the coveted DoD Data at Rest Tiger Team award for its data encryption products. Mobile Armor technology is certified to meet the standards and guidelines for security set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Additional information regarding Mobile Armor can be found at www.mobilearmor.com.
About MTM Technologies
MTM Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTMC) is a leading national provider of innovative IT solutions and services to Global 2000 and mid-size companies. Partnered with industry-leading technology providers such as Cisco, Citrix, Microsoft, HP, Sun Microsystems, and EMC, MTM Technologies’ practice areas include access infrastructure, IP telephony, enterprise storage, security and network and systems infrastructure. Service areas include managed services, consulting, professional IT staffing and implementation. For more information, visit www.mtm.com.
PCI Compliance: Fact vs. Fiction
Saturday, June 20th, 2009From CSP Magazine (download PDF)
By now, most of us understand that the Payment Card Industry (PCI) created the Data Security Standard (DSS) and others to better protect customers, payment card data and merchant data. However, as a managed service provider of security and networking solutions for PCI compliance, we routinely speak to organizations that have misconceptions regarding compliance and their need for action. Importantly, the cost of these false notions can outweigh the costs of compliance.
With 45 million and 4 million credit and debit cards compromised, respectively, T.J. Maxx and
Hannaford have been battling fines, lawsuits and, more important, the soft costs of lost business and brand damage. Estimated financial effects on a merchant range from $100 to $300 per compromised card. So understanding fact vs. fiction can save a retailer money and, in some cases, even their business.
Fiction: Only the big guys need to be compliant.
Fact: PCI compliance is required for any business that accepts payment cards, starting with only one transaction. As a provider of certified secure network solutions to Shell Oil, we often work with both big and small organizations.
Firms such as Green Valley Grocery, with 39 Shell-branded locations, or even companies with just one site face the same risks as the big guys.
Fiction: I’m small; hackers wouldn’t target me.
Fact: The reality is, small organizations are targeted just as frequently as larger firms. Recently published statistics show that about one-third of all PCI breaches occurred at firms with fewer than 100 employees. Typically, smaller firms also have the least-sophisticated technology, making them actually easier to compromise.
Fiction: IT can handle it.
Fact: Many IT organizations can barely keep up with the applications they support. Add PCI to this and they’re overloaded. Beyond IT, PCI requirements state that a business must maintain a security policy, which affects every level and function of a company. To make it all work, outside help from a specialist could be the right, timely answer.
Fiction: PCI compliance is too costly.
Fact: While the upfront costs could run into the thousands, compliance solutions do not have to be complex and costly to maintain. Actually lowering ongoing costs is generally what drives an organization to outsourced managed solutions. And remember, the financial risks associated with noncompliance such as loss of business, fines and legal fees can easily exceed compliance costs.
Fiction: We’re PCI compliant, so we’re secure.
Fact: PCI compliance is an assessment made at a point in time, not a guarantee. Security exploits are constant, making compliance a continual process to ensure safety to cardholder data. Also, PCI compliance is specific to payment data. The data associated with all other in-store applications may not be addressed by your current solution.
PCI requirements will continue to evolve just as the threats to your customer and company data will. Your best approach is to get the facts and not rely on false assumptions.
The continued viability of your business could rest with the actions you do or don’t take. Fortunately, the card industry has published numerous resources online, and solutions
providers stand ready to assist if you still have questions and are in need of proven, cost-effective solutions.
Open Kernel Labs Accelerates Smartphone Deployments with OK:Android
Thursday, June 4th, 2009Chicago, IL (June 4, 2009) – Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs), the leading provider of virtualization software for mobile phones and broadband internet devices, today introduced OK:Android, an off-the-shelf paravirtualized version of the Android smartphone platform. Using Secure HyperCell™ Technology, OK:Android enables Android to be used as a guest operating system running in a secure hypercell on top of the OKL4 microvisor, the OK Labs mobile phone virtualization platform. OK:Android gives handset manufacturers (OEMs) a short path to developing and delivering new designs with Android. The combination of OK:Android and OKL4 also extends new levels of security and robustness to the increasingly popular smartphone OS from Google and the Open Handset Alliance (OHA).
To date, Android-based handsets have been delivered by Taiwan-based HTC, with additional designs announced by Motorola, Samsung and other handset OEMs. Although Google and the OHA have been successful in engaging device suppliers and building a developer community, semiconductor suppliers, mobile OEMs and mobile network operators (MNOs) still face the significant challenges involved in porting and hosting Android on current chipsets and on new mobile hardware. By providing a flexible framework for Android integration with specific handset hardware and a straightforward way to reuse legacy software in new Android devices, OK:Android helps reduce time to market for a new wave of Android devices.
Since its introduction in 2008, Android has enjoyed a rapidly-growing market presence and bullish prospects for new deployments. One million Android-based handsets have shipped in 2008 as indicated by HTC; and research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics projects nine times that number in 2009. “Virtualization technology is being evaluated by many handset OEMs today, primarily for its significant time-to-market benefits for new phone designs,” noted Andreas Constantinou, lead analyst at VisionMobile. OK Labs virtualization technology already ships in over 300 million mobile handsets, including Android-based devices where OKL4 runs on the baseband processor. With OK:Android and the OKL4 microvisor, OK Labs can further accelerate Android adoption for new designs.
“OK:Android builds on the strong synergies between the OKL4 microvisor and the Android mobile OS,” said Steve Subar, OK Labs CEO. “Both Android and OKL4 are based on dynamic open source projects, both are shipping in volume, and both streamline development through abstraction – Android at the applications level and OKL4 for system software, including Android itself. Together in OK:Android, they offer OEMs, MNOs and ISVs a flexible, portable and secure applications and services platform.”
OK:Android – a platform for Mobile OEMs, MNOs and ISVs
The impact of OK:Android starts by helping OEMs bring designs to market faster, and further extends its impact by incorporating a range of benefits across the emerging Android ecosystem. In particular, OK:Android enables OEMs, MNOs and ISVs to:
• Offer new options for creating and prototyping Android-based devices and applications with embedded virtualization.
• Create more secure and robust mobile devices, applications and services with Android and OKL4.
• Run Android together with other mobile OSes and/or deploy multiple instances of Android on a single device.
• Consolidate hardware (e.g., base band and application CPU cores) for more aggressive price-points for Android-based handsets.
• Create new Android-based devices enabled for mobile-to-enterprise virtualization (M2E). M2E is a set of joint solutions developed by Citrix Systems, Inc. and OK Labs for delivering enterprise applications to mobile devices.
Availability
OK:Android and OKL4 are available immediately from OK Labs and its global channel partners. Contact OK Labs or visit http://www.ok-labs.com for additional information.
Webinar
In conjunction with Open Systems Media, OK labs will be hosting a Webinar: Migration at the Speed of Light on June 9, 2009 at 9AM EDT or 6PM EDT. An accompanying whitepaper will be available for download. Register: ecast.opensystemsmedia.com/139.
Open Kernel Labs
Open Kernel Labs is the global leader in open source virtualization software for mobile devices, consumer electronics, and embedded systems. Backed by the largest, independent team of microkernel developers, the OKL4 microvisor is deployed in more than 300 million mobile phones worldwide. Semiconductor suppliers, handset OEMs, and mobile network operators depend on OK Labs to deliver high performance solutions that decrease BOM cost, reduce complexity and speed time-to-market.
For information on the OK Community, please visit the Community Portal. Participants can join the Developer’s Mailing List.
Open Kernel Labs, OK Labs and Secure HyperCell™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.