Verizon Wireless introduces LG Revolution smartphone (US)
Verizon Wireless has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of LG Revolution smartphone. The handset runs on Android 2.2 OS, which comes preloaded with the Neflix application, enabling Netflix subscribers’ to access movies and television shows.
The handset features 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen. Built-in HDMI output and SmartShare capacity allow customers to share multimedia content with HDMI compliant displays. Revolution by LG is LTE enabled offering customers’ download speeds of 5-12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2-5 Mbps in LTE Mobile Broadband coverage areas.
The smartphone also features 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, access to more than 200,000 applications available to download from Android Market, Bing search and maps, Adobe Flash Player, rear-facing 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat, HD video recording and playback and Wi-Fi connectivity 802.11 b/g/n.
It has Mobile Hotspot capacity that enables customers to share LTE with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices or a 3G connection with up to five devices and Bluetooth version 3.0 that support profiles such as headset, hands-free, object push, advanced audio distribution (stereo), audio/video remote control, file transfer, phone book access.
In addition, it comes packed with V Cast Apps, virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, Dolby Mobile, image editor and 16 GB preinstalled microSD card.
Revolution by LG will be available in Verizon Wireless Communication Stores and online at verizonwireless.com for US$249.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Revolution customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a data package.
Verizon Wireless and Verizon Foundation Donate $50,000 to American Red Cross for Joplin, MO Tornado Victims
Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Foundation have donated $50,000 to the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross to assist victims of the recent tornado in Joplin, Missouri. The contribution is intended to provide immediate help to people who are dealing with the aftermath of one of the worst tornadoes in Missouri history and who continue to face challenging weather conditions.
In addition to the contribution of cash, Verizon Wireless is deploying mobile cell towers to the area; providing courtesy phones to emergency workers; setting up a mobile cell phone charging station and Internet access point for all wireless device users; and continuing to provide Verizon Wireless customer assistance at the existing store in the North Park Mall on North Range Line Road.
“When a disaster of this magnitude hits a community, the need for reliable communications becomes even more important than ever,” said Brendan Fallis, president – Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless, who joined engineers and technicians on the ground in Joplin on Tuesday.
“We have committed our resources to the overall effort taking place in Joplin today, and will continue to provide the most reliable communications network in the nation to local individuals and businesses as they begin the process of rebuilding,” said Fallis.
Verizon Wireless, which operates the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network, is providing several Cells On Wheels (COWs) mobile cell towers in the area and has established a temporary Verizon Wireless mobile station near the permanent store location in the North Park Mall at 111 North Range Line Road in Joplin.
Verizon Wireless Encourages Mobile Donations
Verizon Wireless has implemented a mobile giving program for customers looking for a simple way to contribute to relief and recovery efforts following the devastation in Joplin, Mo. Customers can use their mobile phones to make $10 donations to a variety of nonprofit organizations responding to the tornado and the needs of local citizens in the aftermath – including American Red Cross Relief and United Way – Heart of Missouri. Donating is easy – customers simply text the specific word to the organization’s designated short code:
- American Red Cross Relief: Text “REDCROSS” to 90999
- Convoy of Hope: Text “CONVOY” to 50555
- Salvation Army: Text “JOPLIN” to 80888
- United Way – Heart of Missouri: Text “JOPLIN” to 864833
- World Vision, Inc.: Text “TORNADO” to 20222
Verizon Wireless always waives text-messaging fees for disaster relief, so text messages are free when used to make donations to any of these organizations, and 100 percent of each $10 donation goes to the relief organization. For Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills, the $10 donations will appear on the next regular monthly bill. For customers using the company’s prepaid services, the $10 donation will be taken from customers’ prepaid balance.
About the Verizon Foundation
The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention. In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation’s largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered nearly 6 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Sequent Selects ViVOtech to Provide Trusted Service Manager Software for NFC Mobile Payments (US)
Sequent Software (www.sequentsw.com), a leading provider of comprehensive products and services designed to make deployment of NFC-based mobile payments easy, and ViVOtech, the NFC software and systems company, today announced a partnership. Sequent will use ViVOtech trusted service manager (TSM) software as it drives commercial NFC mobile payment deployments of large customers and partners and allows consumers to make payments and other transactions with their mobile devices.
Sequent’s innovative Secure Element Administration platform enables mobile operators and smartphone manufacturers to securely transfer consumers’ bank, merchant, and transit cards into NFC-enabled phones. Sequent provides both the enterprise service and mobile device software so consumers can simply and securely use their multiple credit cards, gift cards, prepaid cards, and coupons at retail points-of-sale. ViVOtech’s unique TSM software architecture allows Sequent to securely transfer card, coupon, and ticket data directly from bank card systems, or the bank’s legacy card personalization bureaus—all without exposing sensitive data.
“Our partnership with Sequent transforms NFC mobile commerce from promise to reality,” said Mohammad Khan, president of ViVOtech. “ViVOtech pioneered NFC with leading payment industry partners around the world, and developed the essential, collaborative building blocks to deliver rich NFC mobile solutions for in-store commerce.”
“We are excited to be able to move commercial NFC service deployments forward with our collaboration with ViVOtech,” said Sequent CEO, Drew Weinstein. ”We are the only company whose sole focus is serving as a neutral, pervasive administrator of individuals’ personal identification and credentials between the payments world, retailers, smartphone providers and mobile network operators.”
About Sequent
Sequent provides the simplest solution for payment networks, retailers and the mobile ecosystem to offer NFC (near field communication) services to consumers. As the only company built as a dedicated Root TSM (Trusted Service Manager), Sequent’s comprehensive, turnkey suite of innovative software and services enables companies to quickly and easily enable payment cards from financial institutions, merchants, and transit agencies on NFC-enabled mobile devices. Sequent applies a highly secure yet nimble architecture to unleash the next generation of personal interactions on mobile devices in the physical world. For more information, please go to www.sequentsw.com.
About ViVOtech
ViVOtech, the near field communication (NFC) software and systems company, enables rich mobile commerce solutions for in-store payment, loyalty, marketing, and merchandising. Merchant, payment, mobile, web and advertising companies use ViVOtech solutions to enhance customer experience and grow their business. ViVOtech’s NFC software and systems are the broadest, most tested and deployed worldwide. Founded in 2001, Silicon Valley-based ViVOtech provides the key building blocks of the NFC ecosystem: smart applications for enhancing the customer experience, wallet and trusted service manager, (TSM) software, and point of sale systems. ViVOtech’s’ investors include Alloy Ventures, Citigroup, Draper Fisher Jurveston, First Data Corporation, Motorola Ventures, Nokia Growth Partners, NCR, and Sprint. Join the NFC revolution at http://www.ViVOtech.com.
Telkonet announces Wireless Pilot And Renewal Of Nationwide HSIA Support Agreement
Telkonet, Inc. (OTCQB: TKOI), operator of the EthoStream Hospitality Network, announced today the signing of a renewal extension with one of the largest timeshare management companies in North America and has started an 802.11n wireless pilot at two prominent vacation resorts. The renewal extends a three-year agreement signed in 2007 for an additional two years of property and guest support.
EthoStream currently services all 65 properties through a mix of Telkonet iWire PLC equipment and wireless hotspots for public area Internet access. The timeshare company is seeking to extend this wireless coverage to all areas of these properties to address the growing wireless demands of its timeshare owners.
“The PLC systems installed in 2007 were able to effectively service these very diverse properties at a time when wireless demand was relatively low, and reliable wireless coverage for campus locations was difficult. With the explosion of portable wireless devices consuming huge quantities of rich media, there is a huge need for ubiquitous wireless coverage,” said Matt Koch, VP of Operations for Telkonet. “Our 802.11n wireless solutions provide better coverage and capacity than was previously available, and will prepare these properties for the growing bandwidth need.”
The wireless pilot programs focus on two Southern California properties and will feature Ruckus 802.11n controller-based access points, a gigabit Ethernet backbone, and a Pro Dual EthoStream Gateway Server to supply the necessary bandwidth. The EGS Pro Dual supports multiple ISPs for bandwidth aggregation and failover while the gigabit backbone and 802.11n access points provide an exceptional base for integrating additional applications.
The EthoStream Hospitality Network is one of the largest HSIA networks in North America, servicing over 2250 sites and 3.4 million users monthly. Providing service to a wide range of properties from five-diamond locations to small bed and breakfasts, EthoStream’s “Total Solution” provides end-to-end installation and support for HSIA networks.
About Telkonet
Telkonet is a leading energy management technology provider offering hardware, software and services to Commercial customers throughout the world. The EcoCentral Platform, in conjunction with the EcoSmart Suite of products, provides comprehensive savings, management and reporting of a building’s energy consumption. Telkonet’s energy management products are installed in properties within the Hospitality, Military, Educational, Healthcare, Public Housing and Residential markets reducing energy consumption, carbon footprints and eliminating the need for new energy generation. www.telkonet.com
Statements included in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties such as competitive factors, technological development, market demand and the Company’s ability to obtain new contracts and accurately estimate net revenue due to variability in size, scope and duration of projects, and internal issues in the sponsoring client. Further information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results, can be found in the Company’s Registration Statement and in its Reports on Forms 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Cellular South launches mobile phone switching facilities (US)
Cellular South, which operates in US has introduced two multi-million dollar, ‘super switches’ offering added protection and service for customers in south Mississippi, Gulf Coast and in south Alabama and the Florida panhandle.
The high-tech mobile switching facilities are designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane with winds up to 200 miles an hour, connect millions of voice calls, mobile data transmissions and other customer services daily for Cellular South consumer and business customers.
In addition to hardened and reinforced shells, the all-steel structures house a 500 kilowatt diesel power generator, a grid of back up batteries and other redundant back-up systems, operations and technologies.
The 4,800 square foot, US$2.1 million centre in Mobile and the 2,600 square foot, US$6 million facility in Hattiesburg feature switching bays, reinforced interior walls, concrete block and reinforced steel structures for windows and a double steel reinforced roof grid that protects against debris strikes from roof tile, road signs and tree limbs that might be airborne during a hurricane or severe storm.
Each facility is designed to operate even after the loss of commercial power.
Wapple introduces Developer Program (US)
Wapple, a mobile web technology provider has introduced a Developer Program to make ‘an army’ of mobile web experts, and offer them with all the tools necessary to mobilize millions of businesses worldwide.
The program will allow designers and developers to contact Wapple community tutorials, forums, videos and case-studies that will offer and share knowledge on mobile web design, development, marketing, optimization and the Wapple suite of technology products, Canvas, Architect & Exhibit. The Developer Program creates a channel for mobile web optimization.
Sprint offers add to cart & other features to website (US)
In a move to enhance customer shopping experience, Sprint, an operator in US has announced that it has added ‘add to carts’ and other features to its website Sprint.com.
Sprint’s online store can be accessed at sprint.com/phones and features and functionality that allows customers to select handset, scan and compare service plans, and change plans and add-ons in the online store.
Customers who want to learn about the handset can visit the phone section where they can use the comparison tool to compare their existing devices’ features with that of other devices. Phones can be filtered by over 45 different features, including style, price, operating system, and special deals.
While looking for service plans, shoppers can see a side-by-side display to compare the gains and value of different plans. Visual cues and styling will also communicate the value of Sprint’s worry-free all-inclusive plans. The purchasing tool provides a step-by-step guide of the sales process.
It also enables customers to select a purchase path, whether it is improving or adding a new line, and keep track of where they are in the process. It qualifies a customer’s intent to purchase, confirms what the customer has done, what they are doing and what they will do next.
The tool also allows customers to change their selections at anytime during the purchase process. The checkout process will make the final steps of purchasing a snap.
AisleBuyer introduces multi-channel checkout service (US)
AisleBuyer, which is an US-based mobile payments start-up, has launched a multi-channel checkout service for retailers and shoppers. The app can be used either on iPhone or Android-powered devices.
This service allows shoppers to use a single application for in-store mobile self-checkout and mobile ordering of items for home delivery.
Users can scan barcodes, read product info and reviews, receive discounts and check out without waiting in line and also make online purchases as part of a single transaction from one application.
In addition, the app allows shoppers to create personalized wish and gift lists, and save items for future reference. They can also surf a retailer’s entire product catalogue from the app which can be purchased in-store or online.
Amazon.com launches Kindle 3G with Special Offers (US)
Amazon.com has launched a special offers for Kindle 3G. Kindle 3G with Special Offers includes the latest Pearl electronic ink display.
The special offers will be available in the coming weeks include US$10 for a $ 20 Amazon.com Gift Card offer, 20% discount on 200 HDTVs from brands, including Sony, Panasonic, LG and Vizio, USD 1 for a Kindle book offer.
Users can select from books including Water for Elephants and the Hunger Games trilogy. Users can spend $10 on Kindle books and get a free $10 Amazon.com Gift Card. Kindle 3G with Special Offers is available for $164 to customers in the US at amazon.com.
Freescale to raise $1 bn in IPO (US)
Freescale Semiconductor has announced the terms of its planned IPO shares. According to the company, it will trade 43.5 million common shares at US$22-24 per share.
At the mid-point of the range, this would raise US$944 million after expenses, which the company is planning to use to pay off debt and management fees. The underwriters have a 30 day option to buy up to an additional 6.525 million common shares to cover over-allotments.
The offering is expected to open soon, and the shares will be listed on the NYSE under the symbol FSL.
