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HP Energizes IA-32 based Product Suite - April 2002 HP Energizes IA-32 based Product Suite - April 2002
WITH NEW SERVERS AND STORAGE DEVICE
Expanded Offerings Help Improve Customer Productivity, Increase Return on Investment and Maximize Uptime
Hewlett-Packard Company announced a suite of new products that enhance its IA-32 based server and storage
product lines. Designed to be low maintenance and easy to operate, the servers and storage device help
customers maximize uptime and increase operational efficiencies while reducing costs.
The new HP IA-32 based servers and the storage system are engineered to strengthen customers' always-on internet infrastructures. Two of these servers are designed in particular to help small- to medium-sized businesses keep their IT operations running at affordable prices with easy deployment, backkkup, troubleshooting and expansion features.
HP also has added to its comprehensive range of easy-to-use management tools to help ensure maximum productivity and rapid deployment of the devices. Additionally, easy servier upgrade options help protect technology investments. The IA-32 based servers announced today include the following:
In addition to the new line-up of IA-32 based servers and storage device, HP is introducing enabling software products and capabilities to complement the new servers, including:
More information on each of these products is available at www.hp.com/go/a32servers.
Nexus Bags HP Award. . . Again
PREMIER BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Nexus Technologies is awarded Hewlett-Packard's Commercial Business Partner of the Year for the second year. At the recent HP anniversary party and award ceremonies, Raymund del Val, HP Philippines president (left), and Han Kong Leong, HP SEA Business Customer Sales Organization GM (far right), pose with Nexus VPs Lionel Ting and Alfonso Olondriz (holding trophy).
Text Us. With yet another number to reach us, get in touch with us through SMS by texting our Sales Customer Care Specialists at (0916) 492 2674.
Visit www.nexustech.com.ph. Same address, different look. Redesigned by our sister company, Spinweb, Inc., you can now register online for tech updates. Know more about our latest promos and events. Read the latest IT news.
WatchGuard Firebox SOHO
WITH MOBILE USER VPN AND CUSTOMIZED FIREWALL RULE CAPABILITIES
Tighter integration between Firebox III and Firebox SOHO products to benefit system administrators
WatchGuard Technologies, Inc., a leader in Internet security solutions, introduced
the Firebox SOHO 5.0 and Firebox SOHO|tc 5.0, a comprehensive firewall and
virtual private networking (VPN) solution with new mobile user VPN capabilities and
increased customization functionality. The new version 5.0 software offers a
significant update to the operations and capabilities of the Firebox SOHO firewall,
bringing firewall functionality to a new level for small businesses.
Standalone Firebox SOHO 5.0 users will benefit from the redesigned Web-based
management interface that provides a substantially higher level of firewall functionality, in an easier to use format. Recognizing the need for control by IP address and service for both incoming and outgoing traffic, WatchGuard took the powerful filtering capabilities of the Firebox III family and integrated them into the Firebox SOHO products. The closer integration of Firebox III models and Firebox SOHO capabilities will benefit network administrators by making it easier for them to efficiently implement uniform security policies for corporate and branch offices.
The new Mobile User VPN option allows the Firebox SOHO to host up to five remote user IPSec VPN connections. Using the latest SafeNet VPN client which includes personal firewall capabilities, remote users can securely connect directly to the Firebox SOHO, and gain full access to the protected network. In addition, a new secure remote management feature offers remote administrators with a PC and Internet connection direct, full, and secure access to the Firebox SOHO and their network.
WatchGuard's enhanced software delivers enriched firewall functionality, flexible VPN communications and enhanced interoperability for the SOHO market," said Mark Stevens, senior vice president of network security at WatchGuard. "With our new Firebox SOHO capabilities we've furthered our reputation and leadership for ease-of-use, security and manageability. "
Pricing, Availability and Support
The Firebox SOHO software includes a one-year subscription to WatchGuard's award winning LiveSecurity Service, providing access to security advisories, information, counsel and technical support. The Firebox SOHO 5.0 software will be available directly from WatchGuard for current LiveSecurity Service subscribers at no charge beginning October 30th. To purchase a Firebox SOHO or Firebox SOHO|tc and for pricing information, contact your local reseller at www.watchguard.com/sales
About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.
WatchGuard is a leading provider of dynamic, comprehensive Internet security solutions designed to protect enterprises that use the Internet for e-business and secure communications. The Company is a pioneer in the creation of the plug-and-play Internet security appliance, the Firebox®, and server security software. The Company's innovative LiveSecurity™ Service enables organizations and users to keep their security systems up-to-date, and its ServerLock™ and AppLock/Web™ software provide server content and application security to protect critical data and services against unauthorized or unintentional access or manipulation. For more information, please call 206-521-8340 or visit www.watchguard.com.
Service Says It All
The most basic service required by PeopleSupport from Nexus is to provide hardware for a company that uses computers like other offices use staplers.
- Ed Macaso, IT Director, PeopleSupport (Phils), Inc.
There was no doubt about it. The structure was a room at the backside of a large building. It was really a conference room of sorts. A few chairs surrounded a round glass table with a computer on top of it. Instead of walls, big glass windows, shaded by what looked like light gray Japanese curtains, encased most of the room. This was where we conducted this interview, in a structure on the 14th floor of this prestigious Makati address overlooking the buildings on Paseo de Roxas and part of Salcedo Village.
Before we got there, we entered a purple-colored lobby with a large visitor's lounge. You couldn't go in without your host fetching you. To enter the offices, you will pass through a glass door connected to glass walls, so you can see a panoramic view of the offices from the lounge. On the right of this lounge, inside the office area was a large room that housed servers and computer information storage units. All these and a purple-carpeted floor. The office looked classy, and technical. We were at PeopleSupport (Philippines), Inc.
We were greeted at the door by Ed Macaso, the IT Director, who then led us to this place from the lobby
through a flight of stairs down. We passed a corridor between huge spaces filled with desks separated by
modular dividers, all purple and dark gray and black, with desks topped by what looked like hundreds of
computers, with CallMaster Phones and Headsets especially made for call centers, attached to each unit.
PeopleSupport is what is known as a contact center. It is not just a call center; it is a contact center.
PeopleSupport uses more than telephones to communicate with the people they talk to, all of whom are in North America. They serve their clients and customers via phone calls, e-mail and chat support. What those North Americans may never know when they make contact with the staff is that they are actually talking to someone in the Philippines.
So what does PeopleSupport do?
It is a contact center, and this means transactions are made through this center by phone, by e-mail, and by chat -all through several point-to-point T1 1.5MB international private leased lines (IPL) connections to the US. The beauty of an information technology business is well-demonstrated in this large facility, all of two floors of a huge Makati building.
PeopleSupport is the Manila (or Philippine) subsidiary of an American company that provides people contact through communication technologies as its core competency. PeopleSupport is part of a global network that includes the Philippines, St. Louis, Missouri and Los Angeles, where the company is headquartered. Because of the advancements in communication and information passing through IPL's provided by the world's top telecommunications companies, making contact is efficient, as it is easy. And because labor is less expensive to source from the Philippines than from the United States, the contact business also becomes economically viable to conduct from here.
How does a Contact Center work?
The way business is in the millennium, there are many different ways that customers can use to get after-sales service and answers to their inquiries and service problems. PeopleSupport has North American clients who sell products and services in the United States and around the world. As with any product or service, problems do crop up every now and then, and consumers will need help with their goods.
With a computer, it's like clicking on the help button to get solutions for troubleshooting or just getting the
products to work properly. The consumer can call the product company (a client of PeopleSupport) for help
with some product procedure or problem, and the company receives the call but does not by itself take care
of the problem. The call is routed to PeopleSupport and is then transferred to the appropriate customer
service representative who will take the call, listen and understand the customer's problem, and determine
the appropriate solution… and proceed to assist the consumer.
Via a computer and a connection to that client's data center, PeopleSupport's Customer Service Representative, agent, or e-Rep accesses data that resides in their client's transaction and data warehouse systems. To handle common problems, the e-Rep uses a predefined script and may also use predefined procedures to troubleshoot, and help the customer address problems. The e-Rep will take the customer through the product procedure if necessary, and will handle the call transaction in either of PeopleSupport's three ways: by an actual telephone conversation, by e-mail communication, or through chat via the Internet. Whichever way is chosen or appropriate, the solution is made available to the consumer.
The calls originate from North America, but are actually answered in the Philippines. PeopleSupport uses its
global IT infrastructure which provides redundancy and allows the e-Reps or agents across its global contact
centers to answer calls, e-mail and chats as if they were sitting side-by-side. PeopleSupport's service is
leading edge, as it is one of the few centers that have the capability to service clients using different touch
points, and the requirement is such that this large an operation is required. It must be big business, and a
good investment idea for the Philippine economy.
So, how does Nexus Technologies fit in all this?
Ed Macaso relates that to PeopleSupport, Nexus is basically a hardware, sometimes software solutions provider. The most basic service required by PeopleSupport from Nexus is to provide hardware for this facility that uses computers like other offices use staplers. PeopleSupport maintains a system made up of some 600 computers and a good number of servers, storage, and peripheral equipment. And yet the facility does not store any product or customer data, except the details of the calls like time, location, and possibly, remarks on the results of the call. All other data, specifically product or service data, is accessed from the systems and databases of the North American clients of PeopleSupport. All that data stays with those companies in the United States.
The equipment must run well at all times, because the contact center is an all-day, all-night operation, and with all that information running through the system, breakdowns and problems are inevitable. Nexus' role is critical in this sense, because service must be made immediately, and replacements, if necessary, must be ready within a moment's notice.
Ed Macaso maintains that there is no such thing as a perfect product, and as such, service will be required from a provider from time to time. It is important for the provider to maintain good customer relations with their clients, and become a good business partner. For PeopleSupport, the sourcing of equipment means more than just the sale of the equipment to them. It also means that the provider must be flexible, and be capable of delivery beyond just the physical arrival of shipments to clients, and also in terms of its intangible aspects. While he subscribes to the textbook parameters of a provider's menu such as product quality, technical support, corporate support, cost and pricing, Macaso goes beyond these parameters and into a real and involved relationship with his provider not only in deploying the systems, but also in the flexibility of the provider to offer terms and values not listed on any order form.
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Macaso considers these factors as the credentials critical to building the provider's brand. With Nexus, the
equity of its name and all the values attached to it form the Nexus brand, sometimes including off-the-menu
service favors. And it is this brand of service that IT clients and customers look for in their providers.
It is, as Macaso says, knowing that he can count on the other guy. When we asked him what was the one word
that describes Nexus best, he said "service." If that is the word for Nexus in the IT consumer's mind, then that should say it all.
Simplified Data Protection with new applications for McAfee e-Business Server
Adds Preferred Application Interfaces to McAfee E-Business Server Software, Enabling Any Industry to Deploy Strong Encryption
New E-Business Client Software Offers End-Users Drag and Drop Encryption Functionality
SAN JOSE, Calif., RSA Conference, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - McAfee Security,
a division of Network Associates, Inc. (NYSE: NET), today announced new native
application interfaces and E-Business Client software designed to work with the McAfee
E-Business Server solution. The McAfee E-Business Server solution, which enables
customers to secure data transmissions using strong PGP encryption, enables any type
of business to send and store encrypted data within the organization or across the
Internet.
"Information-driven businesses have struggled with the alternatives for quickly, safely, and economically moving information internally within the organization and externally to and from partners. Leased-lines are expensive, VPNs are often seen as too complex, and full-blown PKI initiatives are outright prohibitive for many organizations," said Eric Hemmendinger, research director for security and privacy at Aberdeen Group. "McAfee's E-Business Server provides on-demand, application-level encryption capabilities that can be quickly and easily bolted on by developers who are not security experts and easily invoked by users with minimal training."
Implementation of the McAfee E-Business Server is simple, now offering Internet and IT developers new interfaces for the COM, Java or Perl programming languages. These native interfaces enable businesses to easily protect customer and business data by integrating automated encryption within existing Visual Basic, Perl and Java applications, so that data is protected even in the event of a security breach on a vulnerable Web server. Developers of these applications can easily encrypt, decrypt, digitally sign and authenticate data transmissions with simple commands within the developer language they know and prefer, resulting in increased data protection and better maintainability for any number of industries.
New McAfee E-Business Client software gives non-technical business end-users a simple installation, and drag and drop interface to encrypt and send data. Using E-Business Client software with the E-Business Server solution allows corporate end-users to securely exchange data with multiple partners by using a self-configured pull down menu. Files encrypted with PGP can be sent via SMTP e-mail or file transfer protocol (FTP), and audit trails ensure corporate end-users know that data has been successfully exchanged. This is useful for companies working toward compliance with industry, partner or government regulations in industries such as healthcare (HIPAA), finance (Gramm-Leach-Bliley), online retail (Visa's Cardholder Information Security Program) and energy (NAESB, formerly GISB).
"McAfee is continuing to lead the way in developing advanced security solutions that protect
customers from the latest Internet threats, while saving them time and money," said Jacqueline
Bury, product marketing manager for the McAfee E-Business Server product line. "The new Native
APIs and E-Business Client software enable businesses to protect data faster, more completely, and with less specialized and expensive development resources." Unlike other security software that only secures data during transit, the McAfee E-Business Server solution protects data during its entire lifespan, including as it is stored, processed and transferred over the Internet.
Powered by PGP encryption, the de facto industry standard for encryption used by more than seven million people worldwide, the McAfee E-Business Server encrypts data as it is stored on the mainframe or server, including vulnerable Web servers, adding a layer of security that protects the data from internal or external attacks and other unauthorized access. With PGP's 128-bit minimum encryption and the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) model, data is also protected during access and while in transit.
Availability
The McAfee E-Business Server solution is available today from Network Associates. The product is compatible with the COM, Java and Perl application protocol interfaces (APIs), and supports the AIX, HP-UX, Linux, Solaris, Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 platforms, offering the widest platform support available in the industry. McAfee E-Business Client software exchanges data with McAfee E-Business Server and is available on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP platforms.
For more information and pricing, please visit www.mcafeeb2b.com or call 888-VIRUS-NO.
McAfee Security is a division of Network Associates, Inc. that protects e-businesses from security breaches and virus attacks. McAfee has aggressively focused on the burgeoning mobile and wireless marketplace, developing the VirusScan Wireless family of products. McAfee is also actively addressing the service provider market through McAfee ASaP, which offers Internet security and virus protection. All McAfee products are backed by the world's leading anti-virus research organization, McAfee AVERT (Anti-Virus Emergency Response Team), the team which first identified Melissa, Bubbleboy and Phage, the first wireless virus. For more information, McAfee can be reached at 888-VIRUS-NO, and on the Internet at www.mcafeeb2b.com and www.mcafeeasap.com .
With headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Network Associates, Inc. is a leading supplier of network security and availability solutions. Network Associates is comprised of three product groups: McAfee, delivering world-class anti-virus and security products; Sniffer, a leader in network availability and system security; and Magic, a leader in innovative service management solutions. For more information, Network Associates can be reached at 972-308-9960 or on the Internet at www.nai.com.
Planet Partners Program
For more information about HP's commitment to the environment, log on to
www.hp.com/abouthp/environment.
In keeping with Hewlett-Packard's long-established commitment to balancing company progress and efficiency
with good corporate citizenship, HP offers the Planet Partners Program. Since 1990, with increased consumer
input, HP was able to divert over 18 million pounds of materials from landfills by recycling every toner cartridge received. Returned HP cartridges are converted back into raw materials. From design to manufacture to packaging and recycling, HP has met critical environmental goals. And HP is determined to go right on improving its performance too. Here's how you can help achieve this objective. When your cartridges are of no further use, you may call the following couriers to pick-up your used/empty cartridges, free of charge. For Metro Manila pick-ups, you may directly call MET Delivery at (02) 717-1284/5; just mention that it is in connection with "HP's Planet Partners Program". For pick-ups outside of Metro Manila (i.e. Norther/Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), you may call WWWExpress (formerly DHL Phils.) at (02) 879-8888.
hp Printing Supplies Return & Recycling Program FAQs
What is the HP printing supplies return & recycling program?
The HP printing supplies return & recycling program (RRP) provides our customers with a way to return and recycle original HP print cartridges and engine consumables free of charge. Established in 1991, the HP toner cartridge RRP is now available in more than 48 countries worldwide, providing 89% of the world markets selling HP products with this service. Since 1991, HP has recycled over 47 million LaserJet print cartridges worldwide, diverting nearly 60,000 tons of material from landfills.
In 1997, HP also began an RRP for inkjet cartridges. Today, this program is available in more countries than any other inkjet manufacturer in the world. The HP inkjet program is offered in 5 major markets around the world and continues to grow. HP recycles more than 3 million lbs. of inkjet cartridges a year.
Why does HP offer a printing supplies recycling program?
One of HP's longstanding values is our commitment to the environment. HP accomplishes this by both providing HP customers with inventive, high quality products and services that are environmentally sound, and by conducting our operations in an environmentally responsible manner. HP has demonstrated this support for nearly a decade, by offering an RRP for our supplies. By participating in HP's printing supplies RRP, you can help us in protecting the environment.
Does the HP printing supplies return & recycling program recycle both inkjet and LaserJet print cartridges?
Yes. HP currently has an RRP for LaserJet supplies in many countries, and programs for HP inkjet supplies in the United States, France, Germany, and Singapore. HP is also constantly evaluating print cartridge take back programs around the world, with several countries currently under assessment. To show our environmental leadership, HP offers RRPs for print supplies in more countries than any other printing supplies manufacturer in the world.
What happens to the printing supplies when they are returned?
HP s toner cartridges are bulk shipped to our recycling partner's facilities around the world where they are sorted by model type. The cartridge box and packing materials are separated from the cartridges and recycled independently. Using proprietary processes, materials such as plastic cartridge housings and metal parts are crushed into small chips and made into a raw material that can be used in a variety of other plastic and metal products.
Plastic is the largest byproduct of the recycling process and HP's recycling partner constantly seeks out appropriate uses for these plastic materials. Examples of products made from recovered plastic include cable spools, clothing buttons, tractor parts, food trays, eyeglass cases and acoustical coatings for sound-proofing in residential homes.
Returned inkjet cartridges are processed at HP recycling facilities around the world. At these facilities, inkjet cartridges are sorted, crushed, and separated into their component parts, which are then used to make new plastic and metal products. Depending on the cartridge model, HP is able to recycle up to 65% of the inkjet print cartridge by weight. The remaining parts that cannot be recycled (ink, foam & composite parts) are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. Each year, HP recycles more than 1,000 tons of our inkjet cartridges, including those returned from our customers, and those returned from our manufacturing facilities. Examples of products made from recycled inkjet cartridge materials include; film, gold and copper for electronics and electrical equipment, automobile parts, coal mining safety devices, and trays used in microchip fabrication processes.
Does HP use recycled materials in packaging and is the packaging recyclable?
All packaging received into HP's RRP is recycled as part of this program. Packaging not returned to HP is designed, whenever possible, so that it can be easily recycled using municipal recycling programs. HP has made great progress in increasing the recyclability of our packaging for LaserJet supplies. Some of our accomplish-ments include:
HP has also made great progress in increasing the recyclability of our packaging for inkjet supplies.
COGNOS wins SSPA Webstar Award
FOR OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE LEADER EARNS PRESTIGIOUS SERVICE AWARD FOR THE THIRD YEAR
Cognos, the leading global provider of business intelligence solutions, announced that it has won the Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA) WebStar Service Award for its ongoing commitment and leadership in delivering outstanding Web-based service and support through the Cognos Global Customer Services Portal.
The WebStar Service Awards are presented annually to the companies that excel at delivering superior customer service via the Web. This is the third year in a row that Cognos has won this particular award, which was presented at the annual SSPA San Diego Summit February 4, 2002, and the fifth Web site related support award for the Cognos Global Customer Services Portal (http://support.cognos.com) since February 2000.
"Excellent customer support is a critical differentiator for companies that do business on a global scale," said Bill Rose, SSPA founder and executive director. "Cognos continues to demonstrate it is the best practices leader when it comes to effectively supporting today's global enterprises. By harnessing the power of the Web, Cognos delivers one of the industry's most complete suites of services, supporting its solutions with specialized knowledge, training and consulting." Cognos business intelligence solutions transform massive amounts of raw data into powerful, accurate, and actionable information for global enterprises, and their networks of suppliers, customers and partners. Global support has become a mission-critical requirement for transnational corporations, and a deal-clincher for companies standardizing on software solutions for worldwide deployment.
"The enterprise marketplace for any business application today is a very complex environment. When companies invest in Cognos technology, we want to ensure they realize a full return on their investment as quickly as possible," said Ed Shepherdson, Cognos vice president of worldwide support. "To this end, we continue to adopt and adapt new technologies to deliver fast, comprehensive and effective support for our customers-anywhere in the world, day or night. We are honored to have been selected by SSPA for this award for a third year in a row."
Nexus Earth
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Nexus Technologies joins the growing concern for environment preservation and conservation by adopting one
native tree per employee. Last December 15, a small contingent of Nexus managers and staff planted 10 native
trees at the Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning (CELL) in Silang, Cavite, to kick-off the project.
During the rainy season this year, a larger group of Nexus employees will help plant wildlings (small trees) in a
tree sanctuary in Batangas. Bulong-Ita, Bagirawa, Dungon-native trees endemic to the forests of Mt. Katmon, Mt. Gilen, and Mt. Dagoldol in Batangas will be planted, grown and nurtured by a support community in this tree sanctuary.
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The Nexus tie-up is with an NGO called Happy Earth whose dream is "to build forests that will benefit
succeeding generations, increase biodiversity, and enrich the lives of all who participate in this project."
Penny Velasco of Happy Earth and Roberto Mina of CELL gave the enthralled Nexus employees a walking
lecture-tour of CELL and explained how the place has been running through a complete recycling of all waste
products. Mang Turing, the resident forester, also provided helpful tips on how to plant the wildlings properly. The half-day tree planting activity afforded the Nexus employees a renewed awareness and appreciation for the environment.
Nexus Events.jpg)
Nexus Technologies recently donated 12 computers to the Vince Hizon Foundation. Nexus supports the
Partners in Education program of the Foundation which aims to develop, promote and support educational
programs for the underprivileged youth. The computers will be shipped to a public high school in Gen. Santos.
The PBA basketball star inspected the computers with Nexus AVP and basketball team coach Renato
Dimaliwat and Roland Tabilin. Nexus Asst. Sales Manager.
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LEFT PHOTO Paul Pandy was recently awarded Nexus Account Manager of the Year for
fiscal year 2001. Pandy was also cited for effective coverage of accounts and for exhibiting
the positive winning working attitudes, aside from exceeding his sales quota by 11%.
RIGHT PHOTO Asst. Sales Mgr. Roland Tabilin was also cited for exceeding his 2001
sales target. Pandy and Tabilin are shown above with Nexus president Juan Chua and VP
for Sales Alfonso Olondriz.
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Ascential Software and Microsoft hosted a tech update on Best Practices in Datawarehousing for Nexus
clients last March 6. Ascential's Luke Kwong presented the new features of Ascential's Datawarehousing
tools -- DataStage, MetaStage and Quality Manager.
Missing Link for Successful Web Services
Ascential Software Corp. announced that it intends to provide real-time data transformation and integration capabilities between incompatible Web services, thereby allowing enterprises for the first time to successfully develop and deploy complex Web services applications.
Ascential™ is extending its enterprise data integration leadership to solve what analysts say is a rapidly growing problem that will become a significant inhibitor to the success of Web services for the integration of enterprise applications.
"As customers begin to explore how they use Web services to integrate applications, they will quickly encounter problems with data incompatibility," according to Daryl Plummer, Group VP & Research Group Manager, Software Infrastructure, for Gartner Research. "Clearly, any kind of Web services development that requires two or more systems to share common data elements will need data transformation built into the process."
Providing the Missing Data "Link"
Web services have the same data compatibility requirements of all applications integration projects. In business, web services are all about connecting incompatible applications. Connectivity alone, though, does not ensure the successful interoperability of applications.
"Today, the world of Web services consists mainly of pipes that can be bolted together successfully, without regards to whether the data flowing through those pipes will mix well together to achieve the customer's objective," said Bob Zurek, Ascential VP of Advanced Technologies.
"At Ascential, our goal with Web services is to change that old paradigm and minimize the investment our customers need to make to integrate data by using all forms of connectivity between enterprise systems, leveraging existing investments and integrating those with new investments in Web services," said Zurek.
The following functional additions are scheduled to be introduced within the Ascential DataStage® data integration product family this year:
About Ascential
Ascential Software is the leading provider of Information Asset Management solutions to the Global 2000. Customers use Ascential products to turn vast amounts of disparate, unrefined data into reusable information assets that drive business success. Ascential's unique framework for Information Asset Management enables customers to easily collect, validate, organize, administer and deliver information assets to realize more value from their enterprise data, reduce costs and increase profitability. Headquartered in Westboro, Mass., Ascential has offices worldwide and supports more than 1,800 customers in such industries as telecommunications, insurance, financial services, healthcare, media/entertainment and retail.
WITH NEW SERVERS AND STORAGE DEVICE
Expanded Offerings Help Improve Customer Productivity, Increase Return on Investment and Maximize Uptime Hewlett-Packard Company announced a suite of new products that enhance its IA-32 based server and storage
product lines. Designed to be low maintenance and easy to operate, the servers and storage device help
customers maximize uptime and increase operational efficiencies while reducing costs.
The new HP IA-32 based servers and the storage system are engineered to strengthen customers' always-on internet infrastructures. Two of these servers are designed in particular to help small- to medium-sized businesses keep their IT operations running at affordable prices with easy deployment, backkkup, troubleshooting and expansion features.
HP also has added to its comprehensive range of easy-to-use management tools to help ensure maximum productivity and rapid deployment of the devices. Additionally, easy servier upgrade options help protect technology investments. The IA-32 based servers announced today include the following:
- HP Server tc2110 The first Intel® Pentium® 4-based server from a major vendor, this uni-processor tower server provides price-conscious small- and medium-sized businesses with server features at a desktop price.
- HP Server tc3100 With world-class ease of use in a dual-processor Intel Pentium III-based tower server, the HP Server tc3100 provides small- and medium-sized businesses with easy deployment, back-up, troubleshooting and expansion to support their growth.
- HP Server tc6100 Featuring up to 2 Intel Xeon processors, this tower server provides mid-range corporate customers with high performance, integrated remote manageability and outstanding investment protection. The HP Server tc6100 also is highly scalable with an upgrade kit to the 4-way HP Server tc7100.
- HP Server tc7100 Offering outstanding expandability in a rackable 5U design, this tower server uses up to four Intel Xeon processor MP CPUs and helps provide mid-range enterprise customers with maximum uptime, superior performance and integrated remote manageability.
- HP Server rc7100 A dense 3U rack-optimized server featuring up to 4 Intel Xeon processor MP CPUs, the HP Server rc7100 is designed for space-constrained enterprise customers. It offers excellent performance density without sacrificing valuable rack space, expandability, serviceability and integrated remote manageability.
- HP Surestore Disk System 2300 HP also introduced the HP Surestore Disk System 2300, an Ultra160 SCSI storage system that improves system uptime through hot-swappable components as well as fully redundant power supplies, fans and bus control cards. The storage system's high availability, flexibility and reliability make it a smart investment for IT managers. For mid-range and enterprise customers who require a flexible, reliable and easily managed high-performance disk storage system for servers, the HP Surestore Disk System 2300 improves the productivity of system users by helping ensure they can access data stored on the system, even during most upgrades and repairs. The system holds 14 disks in a 3U SCSI enclosure for up to 1 terabyte of storage.
In addition to the new line-up of IA-32 based servers and storage device, HP is introducing enabling software products and capabilities to complement the new servers, including:
- Rapid Deployment HP's rapid deployment software allows customers to quickly deploy multiple local or remote HP IA-32 based servers simultaneously from a single desktop or notebook PC. HP's rapid deployment software helps customers install and configure current and new servers fast. HP rapid deployment will support Linux.
- Plug-and-play Linux HP's Linux optional preloaded software recognizes the server on the LAN the first time it is turned on, whether a keyboard and monitor are attached or not. It can be used standalone as a pre-configured file and print server (Samba) or Web server (Apache) or for firewall and caching in a larger end-to-end solution. Server addresses are easily discovered and the whole server can be managed and easily changed from any client browser. The plug-and-play Linux option is available on select new and existing HP IA-32 based servers. HP has made it easier than ever to troubleshoot these servers with a simple-to-read internal LED panel that shows the opening status of key server components allowing customers to quickly identify and replace failed components.
More information on each of these products is available at www.hp.com/go/a32servers.
Nexus Bags HP Award. . . Again
PREMIER BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Nexus Technologies is awarded Hewlett-Packard's Commercial Business Partner of the Year for the second year. At the recent HP anniversary party and award ceremonies, Raymund del Val, HP Philippines president (left), and Han Kong Leong, HP SEA Business Customer Sales Organization GM (far right), pose with Nexus VPs Lionel Ting and Alfonso Olondriz (holding trophy).
Text Us. With yet another number to reach us, get in touch with us through SMS by texting our Sales Customer Care Specialists at (0916) 492 2674.
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WatchGuard Firebox SOHO
WITH MOBILE USER VPN AND CUSTOMIZED FIREWALL RULE CAPABILITIES
Tighter integration between Firebox III and Firebox SOHO products to benefit system administrators
WatchGuard Technologies, Inc., a leader in Internet security solutions, introduced the Firebox SOHO 5.0 and Firebox SOHO|tc 5.0, a comprehensive firewall and
virtual private networking (VPN) solution with new mobile user VPN capabilities and
increased customization functionality. The new version 5.0 software offers a
significant update to the operations and capabilities of the Firebox SOHO firewall,
bringing firewall functionality to a new level for small businesses.
Standalone Firebox SOHO 5.0 users will benefit from the redesigned Web-based
management interface that provides a substantially higher level of firewall functionality, in an easier to use format. Recognizing the need for control by IP address and service for both incoming and outgoing traffic, WatchGuard took the powerful filtering capabilities of the Firebox III family and integrated them into the Firebox SOHO products. The closer integration of Firebox III models and Firebox SOHO capabilities will benefit network administrators by making it easier for them to efficiently implement uniform security policies for corporate and branch offices.
The new Mobile User VPN option allows the Firebox SOHO to host up to five remote user IPSec VPN connections. Using the latest SafeNet VPN client which includes personal firewall capabilities, remote users can securely connect directly to the Firebox SOHO, and gain full access to the protected network. In addition, a new secure remote management feature offers remote administrators with a PC and Internet connection direct, full, and secure access to the Firebox SOHO and their network.
WatchGuard's enhanced software delivers enriched firewall functionality, flexible VPN communications and enhanced interoperability for the SOHO market," said Mark Stevens, senior vice president of network security at WatchGuard. "With our new Firebox SOHO capabilities we've furthered our reputation and leadership for ease-of-use, security and manageability. "
Pricing, Availability and Support
The Firebox SOHO software includes a one-year subscription to WatchGuard's award winning LiveSecurity Service, providing access to security advisories, information, counsel and technical support. The Firebox SOHO 5.0 software will be available directly from WatchGuard for current LiveSecurity Service subscribers at no charge beginning October 30th. To purchase a Firebox SOHO or Firebox SOHO|tc and for pricing information, contact your local reseller at www.watchguard.com/sales
About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.
WatchGuard is a leading provider of dynamic, comprehensive Internet security solutions designed to protect enterprises that use the Internet for e-business and secure communications. The Company is a pioneer in the creation of the plug-and-play Internet security appliance, the Firebox®, and server security software. The Company's innovative LiveSecurity™ Service enables organizations and users to keep their security systems up-to-date, and its ServerLock™ and AppLock/Web™ software provide server content and application security to protect critical data and services against unauthorized or unintentional access or manipulation. For more information, please call 206-521-8340 or visit www.watchguard.com.
Service Says It All
The most basic service required by PeopleSupport from Nexus is to provide hardware for a company that uses computers like other offices use staplers.
- Ed Macaso, IT Director, PeopleSupport (Phils), Inc.
There was no doubt about it. The structure was a room at the backside of a large building. It was really a conference room of sorts. A few chairs surrounded a round glass table with a computer on top of it. Instead of walls, big glass windows, shaded by what looked like light gray Japanese curtains, encased most of the room. This was where we conducted this interview, in a structure on the 14th floor of this prestigious Makati address overlooking the buildings on Paseo de Roxas and part of Salcedo Village.
Before we got there, we entered a purple-colored lobby with a large visitor's lounge. You couldn't go in without your host fetching you. To enter the offices, you will pass through a glass door connected to glass walls, so you can see a panoramic view of the offices from the lounge. On the right of this lounge, inside the office area was a large room that housed servers and computer information storage units. All these and a purple-carpeted floor. The office looked classy, and technical. We were at PeopleSupport (Philippines), Inc.
We were greeted at the door by Ed Macaso, the IT Director, who then led us to this place from the lobby through a flight of stairs down. We passed a corridor between huge spaces filled with desks separated by
modular dividers, all purple and dark gray and black, with desks topped by what looked like hundreds of
computers, with CallMaster Phones and Headsets especially made for call centers, attached to each unit.
PeopleSupport is what is known as a contact center. It is not just a call center; it is a contact center.
PeopleSupport uses more than telephones to communicate with the people they talk to, all of whom are in North America. They serve their clients and customers via phone calls, e-mail and chat support. What those North Americans may never know when they make contact with the staff is that they are actually talking to someone in the Philippines.
So what does PeopleSupport do?
It is a contact center, and this means transactions are made through this center by phone, by e-mail, and by chat -all through several point-to-point T1 1.5MB international private leased lines (IPL) connections to the US. The beauty of an information technology business is well-demonstrated in this large facility, all of two floors of a huge Makati building.
PeopleSupport is the Manila (or Philippine) subsidiary of an American company that provides people contact through communication technologies as its core competency. PeopleSupport is part of a global network that includes the Philippines, St. Louis, Missouri and Los Angeles, where the company is headquartered. Because of the advancements in communication and information passing through IPL's provided by the world's top telecommunications companies, making contact is efficient, as it is easy. And because labor is less expensive to source from the Philippines than from the United States, the contact business also becomes economically viable to conduct from here.
How does a Contact Center work?
The way business is in the millennium, there are many different ways that customers can use to get after-sales service and answers to their inquiries and service problems. PeopleSupport has North American clients who sell products and services in the United States and around the world. As with any product or service, problems do crop up every now and then, and consumers will need help with their goods.
With a computer, it's like clicking on the help button to get solutions for troubleshooting or just getting the products to work properly. The consumer can call the product company (a client of PeopleSupport) for help
with some product procedure or problem, and the company receives the call but does not by itself take care
of the problem. The call is routed to PeopleSupport and is then transferred to the appropriate customer
service representative who will take the call, listen and understand the customer's problem, and determine
the appropriate solution… and proceed to assist the consumer.
Via a computer and a connection to that client's data center, PeopleSupport's Customer Service Representative, agent, or e-Rep accesses data that resides in their client's transaction and data warehouse systems. To handle common problems, the e-Rep uses a predefined script and may also use predefined procedures to troubleshoot, and help the customer address problems. The e-Rep will take the customer through the product procedure if necessary, and will handle the call transaction in either of PeopleSupport's three ways: by an actual telephone conversation, by e-mail communication, or through chat via the Internet. Whichever way is chosen or appropriate, the solution is made available to the consumer.
The calls originate from North America, but are actually answered in the Philippines. PeopleSupport uses its global IT infrastructure which provides redundancy and allows the e-Reps or agents across its global contact
centers to answer calls, e-mail and chats as if they were sitting side-by-side. PeopleSupport's service is
leading edge, as it is one of the few centers that have the capability to service clients using different touch
points, and the requirement is such that this large an operation is required. It must be big business, and a
good investment idea for the Philippine economy.
So, how does Nexus Technologies fit in all this?
Ed Macaso relates that to PeopleSupport, Nexus is basically a hardware, sometimes software solutions provider. The most basic service required by PeopleSupport from Nexus is to provide hardware for this facility that uses computers like other offices use staplers. PeopleSupport maintains a system made up of some 600 computers and a good number of servers, storage, and peripheral equipment. And yet the facility does not store any product or customer data, except the details of the calls like time, location, and possibly, remarks on the results of the call. All other data, specifically product or service data, is accessed from the systems and databases of the North American clients of PeopleSupport. All that data stays with those companies in the United States.
The equipment must run well at all times, because the contact center is an all-day, all-night operation, and with all that information running through the system, breakdowns and problems are inevitable. Nexus' role is critical in this sense, because service must be made immediately, and replacements, if necessary, must be ready within a moment's notice.
Ed Macaso maintains that there is no such thing as a perfect product, and as such, service will be required from a provider from time to time. It is important for the provider to maintain good customer relations with their clients, and become a good business partner. For PeopleSupport, the sourcing of equipment means more than just the sale of the equipment to them. It also means that the provider must be flexible, and be capable of delivery beyond just the physical arrival of shipments to clients, and also in terms of its intangible aspects. While he subscribes to the textbook parameters of a provider's menu such as product quality, technical support, corporate support, cost and pricing, Macaso goes beyond these parameters and into a real and involved relationship with his provider not only in deploying the systems, but also in the flexibility of the provider to offer terms and values not listed on any order form.
Macaso considers these factors as the credentials critical to building the provider's brand. With Nexus, the equity of its name and all the values attached to it form the Nexus brand, sometimes including off-the-menu
service favors. And it is this brand of service that IT clients and customers look for in their providers.
It is, as Macaso says, knowing that he can count on the other guy. When we asked him what was the one word
that describes Nexus best, he said "service." If that is the word for Nexus in the IT consumer's mind, then that should say it all.
Simplified Data Protection with new applications for McAfee e-Business Server
Adds Preferred Application Interfaces to McAfee E-Business Server Software, Enabling Any Industry to Deploy Strong Encryption
New E-Business Client Software Offers End-Users Drag and Drop Encryption Functionality
SAN JOSE, Calif., RSA Conference, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - McAfee Security, a division of Network Associates, Inc. (NYSE: NET), today announced new native
application interfaces and E-Business Client software designed to work with the McAfee
E-Business Server solution. The McAfee E-Business Server solution, which enables
customers to secure data transmissions using strong PGP encryption, enables any type
of business to send and store encrypted data within the organization or across the
Internet.
"Information-driven businesses have struggled with the alternatives for quickly, safely, and economically moving information internally within the organization and externally to and from partners. Leased-lines are expensive, VPNs are often seen as too complex, and full-blown PKI initiatives are outright prohibitive for many organizations," said Eric Hemmendinger, research director for security and privacy at Aberdeen Group. "McAfee's E-Business Server provides on-demand, application-level encryption capabilities that can be quickly and easily bolted on by developers who are not security experts and easily invoked by users with minimal training."
Implementation of the McAfee E-Business Server is simple, now offering Internet and IT developers new interfaces for the COM, Java or Perl programming languages. These native interfaces enable businesses to easily protect customer and business data by integrating automated encryption within existing Visual Basic, Perl and Java applications, so that data is protected even in the event of a security breach on a vulnerable Web server. Developers of these applications can easily encrypt, decrypt, digitally sign and authenticate data transmissions with simple commands within the developer language they know and prefer, resulting in increased data protection and better maintainability for any number of industries.
New McAfee E-Business Client software gives non-technical business end-users a simple installation, and drag and drop interface to encrypt and send data. Using E-Business Client software with the E-Business Server solution allows corporate end-users to securely exchange data with multiple partners by using a self-configured pull down menu. Files encrypted with PGP can be sent via SMTP e-mail or file transfer protocol (FTP), and audit trails ensure corporate end-users know that data has been successfully exchanged. This is useful for companies working toward compliance with industry, partner or government regulations in industries such as healthcare (HIPAA), finance (Gramm-Leach-Bliley), online retail (Visa's Cardholder Information Security Program) and energy (NAESB, formerly GISB).
"McAfee is continuing to lead the way in developing advanced security solutions that protectcustomers from the latest Internet threats, while saving them time and money," said Jacqueline
Bury, product marketing manager for the McAfee E-Business Server product line. "The new Native
APIs and E-Business Client software enable businesses to protect data faster, more completely, and with less specialized and expensive development resources." Unlike other security software that only secures data during transit, the McAfee E-Business Server solution protects data during its entire lifespan, including as it is stored, processed and transferred over the Internet.
Powered by PGP encryption, the de facto industry standard for encryption used by more than seven million people worldwide, the McAfee E-Business Server encrypts data as it is stored on the mainframe or server, including vulnerable Web servers, adding a layer of security that protects the data from internal or external attacks and other unauthorized access. With PGP's 128-bit minimum encryption and the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) model, data is also protected during access and while in transit.
Availability
The McAfee E-Business Server solution is available today from Network Associates. The product is compatible with the COM, Java and Perl application protocol interfaces (APIs), and supports the AIX, HP-UX, Linux, Solaris, Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 platforms, offering the widest platform support available in the industry. McAfee E-Business Client software exchanges data with McAfee E-Business Server and is available on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP platforms.
For more information and pricing, please visit www.mcafeeb2b.com or call 888-VIRUS-NO.
McAfee Security is a division of Network Associates, Inc. that protects e-businesses from security breaches and virus attacks. McAfee has aggressively focused on the burgeoning mobile and wireless marketplace, developing the VirusScan Wireless family of products. McAfee is also actively addressing the service provider market through McAfee ASaP, which offers Internet security and virus protection. All McAfee products are backed by the world's leading anti-virus research organization, McAfee AVERT (Anti-Virus Emergency Response Team), the team which first identified Melissa, Bubbleboy and Phage, the first wireless virus. For more information, McAfee can be reached at 888-VIRUS-NO, and on the Internet at www.mcafeeb2b.com and www.mcafeeasap.com .
With headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Network Associates, Inc. is a leading supplier of network security and availability solutions. Network Associates is comprised of three product groups: McAfee, delivering world-class anti-virus and security products; Sniffer, a leader in network availability and system security; and Magic, a leader in innovative service management solutions. For more information, Network Associates can be reached at 972-308-9960 or on the Internet at www.nai.com.
Planet Partners Program
For more information about HP's commitment to the environment, log on to www.hp.com/abouthp/environment.
In keeping with Hewlett-Packard's long-established commitment to balancing company progress and efficiency
with good corporate citizenship, HP offers the Planet Partners Program. Since 1990, with increased consumer
input, HP was able to divert over 18 million pounds of materials from landfills by recycling every toner cartridge received. Returned HP cartridges are converted back into raw materials. From design to manufacture to packaging and recycling, HP has met critical environmental goals. And HP is determined to go right on improving its performance too. Here's how you can help achieve this objective. When your cartridges are of no further use, you may call the following couriers to pick-up your used/empty cartridges, free of charge. For Metro Manila pick-ups, you may directly call MET Delivery at (02) 717-1284/5; just mention that it is in connection with "HP's Planet Partners Program". For pick-ups outside of Metro Manila (i.e. Norther/Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), you may call WWWExpress (formerly DHL Phils.) at (02) 879-8888.
hp Printing Supplies Return & Recycling Program FAQs
What is the HP printing supplies return & recycling program?
The HP printing supplies return & recycling program (RRP) provides our customers with a way to return and recycle original HP print cartridges and engine consumables free of charge. Established in 1991, the HP toner cartridge RRP is now available in more than 48 countries worldwide, providing 89% of the world markets selling HP products with this service. Since 1991, HP has recycled over 47 million LaserJet print cartridges worldwide, diverting nearly 60,000 tons of material from landfills.
In 1997, HP also began an RRP for inkjet cartridges. Today, this program is available in more countries than any other inkjet manufacturer in the world. The HP inkjet program is offered in 5 major markets around the world and continues to grow. HP recycles more than 3 million lbs. of inkjet cartridges a year.
Why does HP offer a printing supplies recycling program?
One of HP's longstanding values is our commitment to the environment. HP accomplishes this by both providing HP customers with inventive, high quality products and services that are environmentally sound, and by conducting our operations in an environmentally responsible manner. HP has demonstrated this support for nearly a decade, by offering an RRP for our supplies. By participating in HP's printing supplies RRP, you can help us in protecting the environment.
Does the HP printing supplies return & recycling program recycle both inkjet and LaserJet print cartridges?
Yes. HP currently has an RRP for LaserJet supplies in many countries, and programs for HP inkjet supplies in the United States, France, Germany, and Singapore. HP is also constantly evaluating print cartridge take back programs around the world, with several countries currently under assessment. To show our environmental leadership, HP offers RRPs for print supplies in more countries than any other printing supplies manufacturer in the world.
What happens to the printing supplies when they are returned?
HP s toner cartridges are bulk shipped to our recycling partner's facilities around the world where they are sorted by model type. The cartridge box and packing materials are separated from the cartridges and recycled independently. Using proprietary processes, materials such as plastic cartridge housings and metal parts are crushed into small chips and made into a raw material that can be used in a variety of other plastic and metal products.
Plastic is the largest byproduct of the recycling process and HP's recycling partner constantly seeks out appropriate uses for these plastic materials. Examples of products made from recovered plastic include cable spools, clothing buttons, tractor parts, food trays, eyeglass cases and acoustical coatings for sound-proofing in residential homes.
Returned inkjet cartridges are processed at HP recycling facilities around the world. At these facilities, inkjet cartridges are sorted, crushed, and separated into their component parts, which are then used to make new plastic and metal products. Depending on the cartridge model, HP is able to recycle up to 65% of the inkjet print cartridge by weight. The remaining parts that cannot be recycled (ink, foam & composite parts) are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. Each year, HP recycles more than 1,000 tons of our inkjet cartridges, including those returned from our customers, and those returned from our manufacturing facilities. Examples of products made from recycled inkjet cartridge materials include; film, gold and copper for electronics and electrical equipment, automobile parts, coal mining safety devices, and trays used in microchip fabrication processes.
Does HP use recycled materials in packaging and is the packaging recyclable?
All packaging received into HP's RRP is recycled as part of this program. Packaging not returned to HP is designed, whenever possible, so that it can be easily recycled using municipal recycling programs. HP has made great progress in increasing the recyclability of our packaging for LaserJet supplies. Some of our accomplish-ments include:
- The paperboard box and packaging inserts are recyclable through most municipal solid waste recycling programs.
- The end caps, which protect the cartridge if dropped, are molded from 100% post-consumer recycled paper-pulp in most products and can be recycled anywhere cardboard is recycled. In a minority of products, polystyrene end caps are used, which can be recycled anywhere that polystyrene recycling is available.
- Corrugated sleeves that secure the cartridge within the box of most products can be recycled where cardboard recycling is available.
- The metalicized bags, which protect the LaserJet cartridges from moisture damage, were replaced with recyclable polyethylene bags.
- All of our in-box literature is printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.
- The cartridge box also contains recycled material and is recyclable where cardboard recycling is available.
- Monochrome toner cartridges are shipped in polyethylene bags that can be recycled where recycling is available.
HP has also made great progress in increasing the recyclability of our packaging for inkjet supplies.
COGNOS wins SSPA Webstar Award
FOR OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE LEADER EARNS PRESTIGIOUS SERVICE AWARD FOR THE THIRD YEAR
Cognos, the leading global provider of business intelligence solutions, announced that it has won the Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA) WebStar Service Award for its ongoing commitment and leadership in delivering outstanding Web-based service and support through the Cognos Global Customer Services Portal.
The WebStar Service Awards are presented annually to the companies that excel at delivering superior customer service via the Web. This is the third year in a row that Cognos has won this particular award, which was presented at the annual SSPA San Diego Summit February 4, 2002, and the fifth Web site related support award for the Cognos Global Customer Services Portal (http://support.cognos.com) since February 2000.
"Excellent customer support is a critical differentiator for companies that do business on a global scale," said Bill Rose, SSPA founder and executive director. "Cognos continues to demonstrate it is the best practices leader when it comes to effectively supporting today's global enterprises. By harnessing the power of the Web, Cognos delivers one of the industry's most complete suites of services, supporting its solutions with specialized knowledge, training and consulting." Cognos business intelligence solutions transform massive amounts of raw data into powerful, accurate, and actionable information for global enterprises, and their networks of suppliers, customers and partners. Global support has become a mission-critical requirement for transnational corporations, and a deal-clincher for companies standardizing on software solutions for worldwide deployment.
"The enterprise marketplace for any business application today is a very complex environment. When companies invest in Cognos technology, we want to ensure they realize a full return on their investment as quickly as possible," said Ed Shepherdson, Cognos vice president of worldwide support. "To this end, we continue to adopt and adapt new technologies to deliver fast, comprehensive and effective support for our customers-anywhere in the world, day or night. We are honored to have been selected by SSPA for this award for a third year in a row."
Nexus Earth
Nexus Technologies joins the growing concern for environment preservation and conservation by adopting one
native tree per employee. Last December 15, a small contingent of Nexus managers and staff planted 10 native
trees at the Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning (CELL) in Silang, Cavite, to kick-off the project.
During the rainy season this year, a larger group of Nexus employees will help plant wildlings (small trees) in a
tree sanctuary in Batangas. Bulong-Ita, Bagirawa, Dungon-native trees endemic to the forests of Mt. Katmon, Mt. Gilen, and Mt. Dagoldol in Batangas will be planted, grown and nurtured by a support community in this tree sanctuary.
The Nexus tie-up is with an NGO called Happy Earth whose dream is "to build forests that will benefit succeeding generations, increase biodiversity, and enrich the lives of all who participate in this project."
Penny Velasco of Happy Earth and Roberto Mina of CELL gave the enthralled Nexus employees a walking
lecture-tour of CELL and explained how the place has been running through a complete recycling of all waste
products. Mang Turing, the resident forester, also provided helpful tips on how to plant the wildlings properly. The half-day tree planting activity afforded the Nexus employees a renewed awareness and appreciation for the environment.
Nexus Events
Nexus Technologies recently donated 12 computers to the Vince Hizon Foundation. Nexus supports the
Partners in Education program of the Foundation which aims to develop, promote and support educational
programs for the underprivileged youth. The computers will be shipped to a public high school in Gen. Santos.
The PBA basketball star inspected the computers with Nexus AVP and basketball team coach Renato
Dimaliwat and Roland Tabilin. Nexus Asst. Sales Manager.
LEFT PHOTO Paul Pandy was recently awarded Nexus Account Manager of the Year for fiscal year 2001. Pandy was also cited for effective coverage of accounts and for exhibiting
the positive winning working attitudes, aside from exceeding his sales quota by 11%.
RIGHT PHOTO Asst. Sales Mgr. Roland Tabilin was also cited for exceeding his 2001
sales target. Pandy and Tabilin are shown above with Nexus president Juan Chua and VP
for Sales Alfonso Olondriz.
Ascential Software and Microsoft hosted a tech update on Best Practices in Datawarehousing for Nexus clients last March 6. Ascential's Luke Kwong presented the new features of Ascential's Datawarehousing
tools -- DataStage, MetaStage and Quality Manager.
Missing Link for Successful Web Services Ascential Software Corp. announced that it intends to provide real-time data transformation and integration capabilities between incompatible Web services, thereby allowing enterprises for the first time to successfully develop and deploy complex Web services applications.
Ascential™ is extending its enterprise data integration leadership to solve what analysts say is a rapidly growing problem that will become a significant inhibitor to the success of Web services for the integration of enterprise applications.
"As customers begin to explore how they use Web services to integrate applications, they will quickly encounter problems with data incompatibility," according to Daryl Plummer, Group VP & Research Group Manager, Software Infrastructure, for Gartner Research. "Clearly, any kind of Web services development that requires two or more systems to share common data elements will need data transformation built into the process."
Providing the Missing Data "Link"
Web services have the same data compatibility requirements of all applications integration projects. In business, web services are all about connecting incompatible applications. Connectivity alone, though, does not ensure the successful interoperability of applications.
"Today, the world of Web services consists mainly of pipes that can be bolted together successfully, without regards to whether the data flowing through those pipes will mix well together to achieve the customer's objective," said Bob Zurek, Ascential VP of Advanced Technologies.
"At Ascential, our goal with Web services is to change that old paradigm and minimize the investment our customers need to make to integrate data by using all forms of connectivity between enterprise systems, leveraging existing investments and integrating those with new investments in Web services," said Zurek.
The following functional additions are scheduled to be introduced within the Ascential DataStage® data integration product family this year:
- Existing Data Integration Tasks Converted into Web Services. Customers will be able to specify integration tasks within DataStage to make results available as a Web service. Customers are likely to select this capability if they have already invested in connecting to their mainframe and server-based data systems and do not see the need to invest in an additional connectivity framework.
- Transformation Brokering Web Services. Supporting a new category of software that Gartner Research's Plummer calls "Transitionary Web Services," this capability will allow customers to use DataStage to request, normalize and deliver data between two or more incompatible Web services.
- Real-Time Data Integration Web Services. Customers will be able to use DataStage to gain real-time visibility into an enterprise's internal and partner systems. DataStage is expected to extract the appropriate data, normalize and combine the data in real time in order to service the information request.
- Call Web Services within Data Integration Tasks. Customers will be able to call external Web services directly within a data integration task. This capability will in turn significantly reduce costs of data integration by incorporating the benefits of inexpensive, Web service-enabled connectivity.
About Ascential
Ascential Software is the leading provider of Information Asset Management solutions to the Global 2000. Customers use Ascential products to turn vast amounts of disparate, unrefined data into reusable information assets that drive business success. Ascential's unique framework for Information Asset Management enables customers to easily collect, validate, organize, administer and deliver information assets to realize more value from their enterprise data, reduce costs and increase profitability. Headquartered in Westboro, Mass., Ascential has offices worldwide and supports more than 1,800 customers in such industries as telecommunications, insurance, financial services, healthcare, media/entertainment and retail.