The New Nation - Internet Edition

Microsoft launches new anti-virus solutions

Microsoft Bangladesh today unveiled Forefront, Microsoft's latest range of Antivirus and IT security solutions, taking the Antimalware and Spam protection in a new height with its unique technological advantages. Together with partners, Microsoft is making rapid advances to enable fundamentally new and improved ways for businesses to have a more secured IT infrastructure.

Ms. Jacqueline Peterson-Jarvis, Manager SMI, Microsoft Asia Pacific delivered the key note presentation while Anith Anand, Security Lead Specialist for APAC, Microsoft Asia Pacific presented the key solutions and M. Moshiur Rahman, Solutions Manager, Microsoft Bangladesh conducted the event.

Joined by customer and partners at the local launch event, Microsoft presented this latest state of the art Antimalware and Defense in Depth security solutions offering that brings together multiple industry leading antivirus engines like Kaspersky, Sophos, CA, AhnLab, Norman, Authentium, VirusBuster and Microsoft's own antivirus making it a combination of eight antivirus engines picked up from different corners of the world into one single antivirus engine. The Forefront Security includes:

Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server integrates multiple scan engines from industry-leading security firms into a comprehensive, layered solution, helping businesses protect their Microsoft Exchange Server messaging environments from viruses, worms, spam, and inappropriate content. The new Forefront Security for Exchange Server with SPl release is now available and provides support for Exchange Server 2007 SPl and Windows Server 2008, as well as content filtering and manageability enhancements.

Forefront Security for SharePoint is optimized to provide advanced protection for Microsoft Office $harePoint Server 2007 and Windows® SharePoint Services 3.0. Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies facilitate easy collaboration across an organization, connecting people, processes and systems within and beyond organizational boundaries. Forefront Security for SharePoint uses the combined power of multiple antivirus engines from leading security providers to protect against viruses, unwanted files and inappropriate content.

Unified virus and spyware protection for business desktops, laptops, and server operating systems Built on the same highly successful Microsoft protection technology already used by millions of people worldwide, Forefront Client Security helps guard against emerging threats, such as spyware and root kits, as well as traditional threats, such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses.

By delivering simplified administration through central management and providing critical visibility into threats and vulnerabilities, Forefront Client Security helps you protect your business with confidence and efficiency. Forefront Client Security integrates with your existing infrastructure software, such as Microsoft Active Directory, and complements other Microsoft security technologies for enhanced protection and greater control.

Hundreds wait for BlackBerry Storm

Reuters, New York

Hundreds of people lined up at some Verizon Wireless stores on Friday to buy the BlackBerry Storm, the first touch-screen phone from Research In Motion that aims to compete with Apple's iPhone.

More than 200 people had waited at a Verizon store in mid-town Manhattan early in the morning, many of whom were turned away after it ran out of the new phones less than an hour after opening at 8 a.m. The angry customers caused a ruckus and police came to restore order.

Verizon said hundreds of others were in lines outside its stores up and down the US east coast, but added that it had "plenty of phones" and would keep getting more shipments. It declined to give specifics on inventory levels.

Anthony Lewis, who was at a Verizon store near New York's Bryant Park, at first tried to get the Storm at electronics stores nearby. But he was disappointed, despite putting his name on a list ahead of the Friday debut.

"I had two pre-orders at Best Buy and Circuit City. Now I'm here and I'm hearing it's sold out," said Lewis, 28, of Brooklyn, New York. "I guess 8 a.m. in the morning is too late."

A Verizon employee at the store told customers that if they ordered the phone online or in the store, they would get the gadget in five to seven days.

Vodafone Group Plc, part owner of Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone, had said on Thursday that it was struggling to meet demand for the Storm, which it launched on November 14.

Vodafone, which is giving away the phone to UK customers who sign a contract, had said it had thousands of pre-orders.

STORM OR BRIGHT SPOT?

After briefly rising as much as 5 percent Verizon shares were up 40 cents, or 1.5 percent, at $26.90 in afternoon trade on New York Stock Exchange where rival AT&T Inc shares were down 3 percent at $23.76. Both stocks have been volatile in recent months due to the weakening economic situation.

But analysts said the Storm launch was likely the cause of the share moves on Friday.

"We've heard nothing but good things about it. It's a small bright spot in a really bleak world.," said Charter Equity Research analyst Ed Snyder referring to the Storm. He said that he had even "heard from some competitors who thought it was pretty impressive."

Verizon Wireless is making a big bet on the Storm for the crucial holiday season. The No. 2 U.S. mobile service heavily promoted four different phones last holiday season, but its focus this year is on the first touch-screen BlackBerry.

Both the Storm and iPhone cost $200 for customers who agree to a two-year service contract and both come with a built-in camera, and music and video players.

Verizon said it was getting reports of queues elsewhere in the country, with more than 100 people lining up outside a store in Bridgewater, New Jersey and another on L Street in Washington, DC. Spokeswoman Brenda Raney said it was too soon to say if stores were selling out.

"If a store has already run out, it's evidence of pent up demand," she said. "We don't normally have people line up."

However excitement over the launch stilled paled in comparison to iPhone debuts, when ardent fans camped out days in advance to ensure that they got their hands on the first devices. AT&T Inc is the exclusive US carrier for the iPhone.

In San Francisco, smaller lines of about 20 were seen at Verizon stores at 8 AM. At one of them, an employee estimated that the store had sold about 100 phones since 7 o'clock.

Standing on line in San Francisco's financial district, Fred Vassard, a systems administrator, said he owns both versions of iPhone, but was dissatisfied with its phone capabilities. He wants Storm for both work and personal use.

"It's a touch-screen so it has more real estate, the reviews were so-so, so I'm hoping I can find some positives in it. But the phone part will work better," he said.

After rising almost 7 percent at one point in the session Research in Motion's US shares were up 80 cents or almost 2 percent at $42.32 on Nasdaq.

GyPSii gets the Nokia touch

GyPSii Location-Based Social networking available on Touch for the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

November 24th, 2008, Salo, Finland and Amsterdam, The Netherlands: GeoSentric Oyj's (NASDAQ OMX: GEO1V), GeoSolutions BV Business Unit (GyPSii), the market-leading mobile digital lifestyle application and geo-mobility social networking platform, today announced that it is the first location-based social networking application with touch screen experience to be able to support the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.

"GyPSii is ideally placed as the leading innovative application that incorporates social networking and communities with location-aware features - in particular, the ability to provide a location and social graph context to any media captured on the device. GyPSii's ability to deliver a touch screen experience in one integrated application is key to the Nokia Touch device customer," said Jure Sustersic, Business Development Manager at Forum Nokia EMEA.

GyPSii's launch on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, further support's the Company's capability to deliver on a global reach and extend reach into more mass markets. As a member of Forum Nokia, GyPSii has developed a strong relationship with the world's largest handset manufacturer.

GyPSii is already available for current Nokia S60 devices - including the N95, the N73, the N78, the N82, N6210, N6220, E66, E71 and the 6110 Navigator phone. The continued expansion onto devices further opens up the application to mass-market adoption.

"GyPSii allows people to record their lives, and explore and share their world with their social networks and communities," said Dan Harple, Executive Chairman of GeoSentric. "And unlike any other social networking platform, GyPSii is designed and built for a mobile device and uses location information and social graph relationships to not only drive details about where you are - but also about who or what is close by." GyPSii members can uniquely experience a broad range of location-specific functions and mobile lifestyle services - including user generated content, content-sharing, mobile geo-location content search and social networking, as well the ability to view it all on a map - all within a single user experience. Using GyPSii, members can access and enjoy "real-time" mobile features on their device, such as "Locating Friends" and sharing information on nearby point of interests, including places - restaurants, bars and clubs - contributed by friends and fellow GyPSii members.