Crowdynews’ New Article Engager Helps Online News And Publishing Sites Increase Reader Engagement And Article Longevity

— Curated Content from 8 Social Media Sites and Added Sharing Functionality Gives News Content More Visibility and Longevity
NEW YORK, May 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Crowdynews, the social content curation platform for publishers, today announced the Article Engager, a new product that blends relevant social media conversations from popular social media sites with traditional news content. Article Engager helps publishers and news organizations increase reader engagement and content longevity by automatically finding and posting social conversations from sites such as YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and more, that are directly related to each article’s subject matter. The Article Engager is the only product on the market that automatically curates such a broad palate of social media content and is able to search and filter content in over 25 languages. Crowdynews will demonstrate the new Article Engager at the INMA World Congress in New York this week, booth # 11.

“Including more social media sites beyond Twitter in our Article Engager not only aligns with Crowdynews’ goal to give a broad social perspective, it was a direct request from our first customers,” said Jeroen Zanen, CEO of Crowdynews. “Making content easy to post and share on various social media sites increases the number of people who see published articles and content and gives new life to published stories. For publishers and news organizations site traffic is vital, and we’re helping them engage more readers in the social environments they prefer.”

Article Engager uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing technologies to find and filter relevant social media content and post it next to articles. Rather than just matching keywords from the RSS feed, Article Engager uses intelligent linguistic processing, which is available in over 25 languages, to match only pertinent and appropriate social media posts associated with specific news content.

The Article Engager also includes many customization capabilities that give editors full moderation control. While Crowdynews already offers sophisticated filtering technology, the new Article Engager lets editors manually edit social media feeds, if they prefer. Editors from each section of the site, be it sports or breaking news, can customize their social media feeds according to section’s content. Publishing organizations can also automatically match Article Engager’s language to the reader’s browser language, or they can choose the language to match the website.

Pricing and Availability
The Article Engager is available now to news and publishing organizations who want to combine relevant and compelling social media content with traditional news stories on their sites. Implementing Crowdynews is no cost upfront, and the publishing organization can earn extra revenue through Crowdynews’ shared ad revenue model, or can pay a fixed fee based on pageviews. For more information, visit http://www.crowdynews.com.

About Crowdynews
Founded in 2010, Crowdynews is a worldwide leader in social content curation and is headquartered in Groningen, The Netherlands. The company’s social content curation platform uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing to blend the crowd perspective with traditional news stories. Customers include the Chicago Tribune, Washington Times, AccuWeather, NBA, Sport.es, The Malaysian Insider, Philippine Star, and hundreds of publishing outlets around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.crowdynews.com.

Source: Crowdynews

Facebook Accounts for Three-quarters of Global Social Network Ad Spend

— North America Has the Highest Facebook Penetration at 95 percent
BOSTON, April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Boosted by solid growth in usage and advertising spend across major social networks, the global social network market continued to show strong growth in 2014, according to Strategy Analytics Global Social Network Forecast. Globally, Social Networks surpassed 2 billion users for the first time in 2014, of which Facebook accounted for 68%.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130207/NE56457LOGO-b

Click here for the report: http://bit.ly/1MAxHD8

Ad spend on social networks grew a robust 41% globally in 2014 totaling over $15.3 billion, accounting for 11% of global digital ad spend. Facebook accounted for three-quarters of global social network ad spend in 2014, while Twitter accounted for 8%. In 2015, ad spend on social networks is expected to grow by 29%, totaling $24.2 billion.

“Overall, the social network market continues to show strong growth across all regions as the major social network platforms drive usage and engagement via improved integration of digital media content,” said Leika Kawasaki, author of the report. “While Facebook currently dominates the global social network market, its absence in China allows local social networks such as QZone and Tencent Weibo to gain traction in the rapidly expanding Chinese digital advertising market.”

Other Key Findings from this report include:

Nearly half (46%) of social network users reside in the Asia Pacific region.
China accounts for almost 25% of global social network users with 495 million users in 2014.
North America had the highest ratio of social network users to its population (64%) in 2014, followed by Western Europe at 55%.
The US accounts for the largest share of global social network ad spend (41%), totaling $6.2 billion in 2014, up 35% YoY.
The UK is the second largest market for social network ad spend, accounting for 8.2% of global social network ad spend in 2014, just edging out China (8%).
The US had the highest social network ad spend per social network user at $31.37 in 2014. This is expected to grow 27% to $39.84 in 2015.
About Strategy Analytics

Strategy Analytics, Inc. provides the competitive edge with advisory services, consulting and actionable market intelligence for emerging technology, mobile and wireless, digital consumer and automotive electronics companies. With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, Strategy Analytics delivers insights for enterprise success. http://www.StrategyAnalytics.com

US Contact: Leika Kawasaki, +1-617-614-0738, lkawasaki@strategyanalytics.com

Source: Strategy Analytics

Qualcomm and China’s National Development and Reform Commission Reach Resolution

— NDRC Accepts Qualcomm’s Rectification Plan –
— Qualcomm Raises Midpoints of Fiscal 2015 Revenue and Non-GAAP EPS Guidance –
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that it has reached a resolution with China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) regarding the NDRC’s investigation of Qualcomm under China’s Anti-Monopoly Law (AML). The NDRC has issued an Administrative Sanction Decision finding that Qualcomm has violated the AML. Qualcomm will not pursue further legal proceedings contesting the NDRC’s findings. Qualcomm has agreed to implement a rectification plan that modifies certain of its business practices in China and that fully satisfies the requirements of the NDRC’s order. Although Qualcomm is disappointed with the results of the investigation, it is pleased that the NDRC has reviewed and approved the Company’s rectification plan. The following are the key terms of the rectification plan:

Qualcomm will offer licenses to its current 3G and 4G essential Chinese patents separately from licenses to its other patents and it will provide patent lists during the negotiation process. If Qualcomm seeks a cross license from a Chinese licensee as part of such offer, it will negotiate with the licensee in good faith and provide fair consideration for such rights.
For licenses of Qualcomm’s 3G and 4G essential Chinese patents for branded devices sold for use in China, Qualcomm will charge royalties of 5% for 3G devices (including multimode 3G/4G devices) and 3.5% for 4G devices (including 3-mode LTE-TDD devices) that do not implement CDMA or WCDMA, in each case using a royalty base of 65% of the net selling price of the device.
Qualcomm will give its existing licensees an opportunity to elect to take the new terms for sales of branded devices for use in China as of January 1, 2015.
Qualcomm will not condition the sale of baseband chips on the chip customer signing a license agreement with terms that the NDRC found to be unreasonable or on the chip customer not challenging unreasonable terms in its license agreement. However, this does not require Qualcomm to sell chips to any entity that is not a Qualcomm licensee, and does not apply to a chip customer that refuses to report its sales of licensed devices as required by its patent license agreement.
In addition, the NDRC imposed a fine on the Company of 6.088 billion Chinese Yuan Renminbi (approximately $975 million at current exchange rates), which Qualcomm will not contest. Qualcomm will pay the fine on a timely basis as required by the NDRC.

“We are pleased that the investigation has concluded and believe that our licensing business is now well positioned to fully participate in China’s rapidly accelerating adoption of our 3G/4G technology,” said Derek Aberle, president of Qualcomm. “We appreciate the NDRC’s acknowledgment of the value and importance of Qualcomm’s technology and many contributions to China, and look forward to its future support of our business in China.”

“Qualcomm has played an important role in the success of the mobile and semiconductor industries in China for many years, and we look forward to building upon this foundation as we grow our investments, engagement and business in China,” said Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of Qualcomm. “We are pleased that the resolution has removed the uncertainty surrounding our business in China, and we will now focus our full attention and resources on supporting our customers and partners in China and pursuing the many opportunities ahead.”

Qualcomm is proud to have contributed extensively for many years to the growth and success of the mobile and semiconductor industries in China, and plans to continue to grow its investments and collaborations going forward, including with China’s mobile operators and handset and other device suppliers, and within the Chinese semiconductor sector. Some recent examples of these investments and support include:

Providing extensive engineering assistance and support to China’s mobile operators in rolling out their 4G LTE networks in China.
Working closely with Chinese handset manufacturers to build their businesses both inside and outside of China as they seek to become top global brands and leading global suppliers of smartphones.
Expanding Qualcomm’s longstanding relationship with Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), one of China’s largest and most advanced semiconductor foundries, which has led to SMIC’s major milestone of producing high-performance, low-power mobile processors using cutting-edge advanced 28nm technology.
Creating a China-specific investment fund of $150 million to further the development of mobile and semiconductor technologies, including initial investments from the fund in five innovative Chinese companies.
Fiscal 2015 Guidance Update

Qualcomm is also updating its financial guidance for fiscal year ending September 27, 2015. The following estimates are based on our current business outlook:

Revenues: estimated to be $26.3 billion to $28.0 billion compared to our prior guidance range of $26.0 billion to $28.0 billion.
GAAP diluted earnings per share: estimated to be $3.56 to $3.76 (which includes an approximately $975 million charge, or $0.58 per share, related to the fine imposed by the NDRC), compared to our prior guidance range of $4.04 to $4.34.
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share: estimated to be $4.85 to $5.05 (which excludes the charge from the fine imposed by the NDRC), compared to our prior guidance range of $4.75 to $5.05.
Non-GAAP results exclude the QSI (Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives) segment and certain share-based compensation, acquisition-related items, tax items and other items. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we changed our methodology for reporting Non-GAAP results to exclude third-party acquisition and integration services costs and certain other items, which may include major restructuring and restructuring-related costs, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges and litigation settlements and/or damages. Detailed reconciliations between GAAP and Non-GAAP results and guidance are included within this news release.

The following table summarizes revenue and GAAP and Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) guidance for fiscal year 2015 based on the current business outlook.

FY 2014

Results

Prior Guidance

FY 2015 Estimates (2)

Current Guidance
FY 2015 Estimates (2)

Revenues

$26.5B

$26.0B – $28.0B

$26.3B – $28.0B

Year-over-year change

decrease 2% – increase 6%

decrease 1% – increase 6%

Non-GAAP diluted EPS

$5.27

$4.75 – $5.05

$4.85 – $5.05

Year-over-year change

decrease 4% – 10%

decrease 4% – 8%

Diluted EPS attributable to QSI

$0.01

($0.02)

($0.02)

Diluted EPS attributable to share-based compensation

($0.50)

($0.54)

($0.54)

Diluted EPS attributable to other items (1)

($0.13)

($0.15)

($0.73)

GAAP diluted EPS

$4.65

$4.04 – $4.34

$3.56 – $3.76

Year-over-year change

decrease 7% – 13%

decrease 19% – 23%

(1)

Other items excluded from Non-GAAP include certain acquisition-related items, tax items and other items. Current guidance for fiscal 2015 other items includes an approximately $0.58 per share charge related to the fine imposed by the NDRC.

(2)

Our prior and current guidance for fiscal 2015 includes an estimate of the benefit related to stock repurchases that we plan to complete over the remainder of fiscal 2015 under our current stock repurchase program.

Sums may not equal totals due to rounding.

Our outlook does not include provisions for future asset impairments or for pending legal matters, other than future legal amounts that are probable and estimable. Further, due to their nature, certain income and expense items, such as realized investment and certain derivative gains or losses, cannot be accurately forecast. Accordingly, we only include such items in our financial outlook to the extent they are reasonably certain; however, actual results may differ materially from the outlook.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Non-GAAP financial information presented herein should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, “Non-GAAP” is not a term defined by GAAP, and as a result, the Company’s measure of Non-GAAP results might be different than similarly titled measures used by other companies. Reconciliations between GAAP and Non-GAAP results are presented herein.

The Company uses Non-GAAP financial information (i) to evaluate, assess and benchmark the Company’s operating results on a consistent and comparable basis; (ii) to measure the performance and efficiency of the Company’s ongoing core operating businesses, including the QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) and QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing) segments; and (iii) to compare the performance and efficiency of these segments against each other and against competitors. Non-GAAP measurements used by the Company include revenues, cost of equipment and services revenues, R&D expenses, SG&A expenses, other expenses, operating income, net investment income, income or earnings before income taxes, effective tax rate, net income and diluted earnings per share. The Company is able to assess what it believes is a more meaningful and comparable set of financial performance measures for the Company and its business segments by using Non-GAAP information. As a result, management compensation decisions and the review of executive compensation by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors focus primarily on Non-GAAP financial measures applicable to the Company and its business segments. The Company presents Non-GAAP financial information to provide greater transparency to investors with respect to its use of such information in financial and operational decision making.

Non-GAAP information used by management excludes QSI and certain share-based compensation, acquisition-related items, tax items and other items.

QSI is excluded because the Company expects to exit its strategic investments in the foreseeable future, and the effects of fluctuations in the value of such investments and realized gains or losses are viewed by management as unrelated to the Company’s operational performance.
Share-based compensation expense primarily relates to restricted stock units. Non-cash share-based compensation is excluded because management views such expenses as unrelated to the operating activities of the Company’s ongoing core businesses.
Certain other items are excluded because management views such expenses as unrelated to the operating activities of the Company’s ongoing core business, including:
Acquisition-related items include amortization of certain intangible assets, recognition of the step-up of inventories to fair value and the related tax effects of these items starting with acquisitions completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, as well as any tax effects from restructuring the ownership of such acquired assets. Additionally, the Company excludes expenses related to the termination of contracts that limit the use of the acquired intellectual property. Starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company excludes third-party acquisition and integration services costs. Prior year amounts have not been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company excludes certain other items that management views as unrelated to the Company’s ongoing business, such as major restructuring and restructuring-related costs, goodwill and long-lived asset impairments and litigation settlements and/or damages. Prior year amounts have not been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Certain tax items that are unrelated to the fiscal year in which they are recorded are excluded in order to provide a clearer understanding of the Company’s ongoing Non-GAAP tax rate and after tax earnings. Also, the provision (benefit) to reconcile the tax provisions (benefits) for each column to the total GAAP tax provision for the quarter is excluded. At fiscal year end, the quarterly tax provision (benefit) for each column equals the annual tax provision (benefit) for each column computed in accordance with GAAP. In interim quarters, the sum of these provisions (benefits) may not equal the total GAAP tax provision, and this difference is included in the tax provision (benefit) in the “Other Items” column. In interim quarters of prior fiscal years, this difference was allocated to the tax provisions (benefits) among the columns.
Conference Call

Qualcomm will hold a conference call to discuss the NDRC resolution on February 9, 2015 beginning at 2:30 p.m. PT on Qualcomm’s Investor Relations website at: http://investor.qualcomm.com/events.cfm. This conference call will include a discussion of “Non-GAAP financial measures” as defined in Regulation G. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and information reconciling these Non-GAAP financial measures to the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as other financial and statistical information to be discussed on the conference call, will be posted at http://investor.qualcomm.com/events.cfm immediately prior to commencement of the call. An audio replay will be available at http://investor.qualcomm.com/events.cfm and via telephone following the live call for 30 days thereafter. To listen to the replay, U.S. callers may dial (855) 859-2056 and international callers may dial (404) 537-3406. U.S. and international callers should use reservation number 83971934.

About Qualcomm

Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) is a world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit http://www.qualcomm.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to statements regarding changes to our business practices in China; our compliance with the NDRC’s decision; our licensing business now being well positioned to fully participate in China’s rapidly accelerating adoption of our 3G/4G technology; our plans to continue to grow our business, engagements, investments and collaborations in China going forward, including with China’s mobile operators and handset and other device suppliers, and within the Chinese semiconductor sector; focusing our attention and resources on supporting our customers and partners in China and pursuing the many opportunities ahead; our business outlook; and our estimates and guidance related to revenues and GAAP and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by words such as “estimates,” “guidance,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks” and similar expressions. Actual results may differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, including but not limited to risks associated with commercial network deployments, expansions and upgrades of CDMA, OFDMA and other communications technologies, our customers’ and licensees’ sales of products and services based on these technologies and our ability to drive our customers’ demand for our products and services; competition in an environment of rapid technological change; our dependence on a small number of customers and licensees; the continued and future success of our licensing programs; attacks on our licensing business model, including current and future legal proceedings or actions of governmental or quasi-governmental bodies or standards or industry organizations; the enforcement and protection of our intellectual property rights; government regulations and policies, or adverse rulings in enforcement or other proceedings; the commercial success of our new technologies, products and services; claims by third parties that we infringe their intellectual property; acquisitions, strategic transactions and investments; our dependence on a limited number of third-party suppliers; our stock price and earnings volatility; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; global economic conditions that impact the mobile communications industry; foreign currency fluctuations and failures in our products or services or in the products or services of our customers or licensees, including those resulting from security vulnerabilities, defects or errors. These and other risks are set forth in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended December 28, 2014 filed with the SEC. Our reports filed with the SEC are available on our website at http://www.qualcomm.com. We undertake no obligation to update, or continue to provide information with respect to, any forward-looking statement or risk factor, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure Related to Prior Period
(In millions, except per share data)

Non-GAAP

QSI (1)

Share-Based

Compensation (1)

Other Items (1)

GAAP

12 MONTHS – FISCAL 2014

Net income (loss)

$9,032

$15

($856)

($224)

$7,967

Diluted EPS

$5.27

$0.01

($0.50)

($0.13)

$4.65

Diluted shares used

1,714

1,714

1,714

1,714

1,714

(1)

At fiscal year end, the quarterly tax provision (benefit) for each column equals the annual tax provision (benefit) for each column computed in accordance with GAAP.

Sums may not equal totals due to rounding.

Qualcomm Contacts:
Tina Asmar
Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com

Warren Kneeshaw
Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
e-mail: ir@qualcomm.com

Source: Qualcomm Incorporated

Start-Up Creates World’s Simplest Market Alert Tool

-New App Brings Trading Back to Basics

SINGAPORE, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Local start-up Call Levels has created a mobile app that simplifies trading and investing by focusing on a single primary need — the need for investors to be alerted when their selected assets hit pre-set price levels.

The start-up’s co-founder, Daniel Chia, who was a sovereign wealth and hedge fund portfolio manager for the past eight years, created the app after realising that the complexity of existing finance and trading apps put off users who needed them most.

“It’s for part-time investors, businessmen who watch currency moves and even finance professionals themselves” says Daniel. “Call Levels keeps things simple for anyone with an interest in the markets by focusing on only doing one thing well — free, reliable, real-time price alerts.”

The app allows users to select their assets to track, set price levels with a responsive slider, and then receive push notifications when the asset prices hit the desired levels. Users can also notify friends, brokers and bankers when the Call Levels hit by adding their contact details to the app.

Call Level app users will get the most updated information reliably across multiple trading markets and stocks, with a system algorithm that scans the market every minute. Leveraging on Agile development methodology, Call Levels team and 2359 Media built the app within two months, with a system that notifies users within seconds, ensuring critical information reaches users in a timely manner.

The simplicity which Call Levels offers has received warm reception in an industry where complexity is the norm, raising USD$100,000 in funding within a month of its inception. One of the company’s angel investors, former GIC Director of Foreign Exchange, Commodities and Short Term Rates, Timothy Teo, feels the app may fundamentally change the way people trade.

“Call Levels meets a very important need for investors and traders to be informed about price levels whether for entry or exit,” says Mr Teo. “It will level the playing field for smaller players, who can now easily access customised news, views and relevant research whenever they set a price alert.”

Call Levels currently offers users real-time alerts for 930 currency pairs, gold, silver and other metals, with equities and indices to be introduced soon. There are plans to deliver market news to users over the app, customised to what assets they are tracking and where their alert levels are.

“Investors have become more self-directed, more informed and more tech-savvy these days,” says Daniel. “Even late adopters are now using technology on mobile to help them make investment decisions, but we have to make it as accessible as possible. This app helps to put critical information in everyone’s hands in real time so they can make informed decisions quickly.”

The free-to-download Call Levels app is available for Apple iOS devices on the iTunes Store. For more information, you can visit their website at http://www.call-levels.com.

About Call Levels

Call Levels is a simple mobile-based market alert application that allows users to track and set alerts for foreign currencies, stocks and commodities of their choosing. It will also provide snapshots for quick market analysis based on the customised alerts tracked by users. The app can be downloaded for free on iOS devices from the Apple iTunes Store.

For more information please go to https://www.call-levels.com/

To download Call Levels from the Apple iTunes store please go to https://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/id937109871

About 2359 Media Pte Ltd

Since 2009, 2359 Media has been helping clients define, strategize and create business value. 2359 Media is the one-stop source for enterprise applications, creating mobile, web and social experiences.

2359 Media has worked with prestigious companies and launched over 100 apps in the past five years from the banking industry – DBS, UOB, to leisure – with Sentosa, or Media with MediaCorp.

For media enquiries

Daniel Yap Right Hook Communications t: +65 8189 9587 e: daniel@righthook.com.sg

Cynthia Siantar Call Levels Pte Ltd t: +65 8484 8685 e: cynthia@call-levels.com

Source: Call Levels

Related Links:

• http://www.call-levels.com

RS Components Announces First Stocks of New Raspberry Pi Model A+ Combining Latest Advances with Economical Feature Set

-Smaller, lower-power board with HAT-compatible 40-pin GPIO as featured on Model B+ is more expandable, more embeddable and more mobile

HONG KONG, Nov. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, is now stocking the new and improved Raspberry Pi Model A+, which combines enhanced value and ease of use with smaller size and lower power consumption for applications such as industrial controls, remote monitors, and multimedia devices.

The Raspberry Pi Model A+ has the 40-pin GPIO connector introduced on the Model B+, with the same pin-out and mounting holes for standard Hardware Attached on Top (HAT) accessories allowing users to add extra functions quickly and easily. In addition, the Model A+ utilises the Model B+ power architecture to achieve lower power consumption than the earlier Model A. With smaller board dimensions of 65mm x 56mm, compared to 86mm x 56mm for the Model B+, the new Model A+ is more easily embeddable and better suited to mobile or battery-powered applications.

While bringing improvements derived from the Model B+, the Model A+ provides an economical feature set with 256MB RAM and a single USB connector offering adequate resources for numerous industrial and consumerprojects.

The Raspberry Pi Model A+ is available to order now for immediate shipping from RS Components. Visit the website at http://hken.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=raspberrypi for more information about all Raspberry Pi boards and accessories.

About RS Components

RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers. With operations in 32 countries, we offer around 500,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 44,000 parcels a day. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include semiconductors, interconnect, passives and electromechanical, automation and control, electrical, test and measurement, tools and consumables.

Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2014had revenues of GBP1.27bn.

For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-components.com.

 

RS Components
Tan Soo Chun
Public Relations Manager – Asia Pacific
Email: soochun.tan@rs-components.com
Telephone: +65-6391-5745

Edelman Public Relations (Singapore)
Yvette Yeo
Manager
Email: yvette.yeo@edelman.com
Telephone: +65-6347-2355

Further information is available via these links:

@RSElectronics; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS

RS Components on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components

RS Components on Weibo
http://e.weibo.com/u/3206377000?type=0

Relevant Links:

Electrocomponents plc
www.electrocomponents.com

RS Components
www.rs-online.com/

DesignSpark
www.designspark.com

Logo – http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2011/05/04/20110504368830.jpg

Source: RS Components Singapore

Related stocks: LSE:ECM OTC-PINK:EENEY

Related Links:

• http://hken.rs-online.com
• http://www.electrocomponents.com
• http://www.designspark.com
• http://hken.rs-online.com/web/generalDispl…

JDA and IBM Collaborate to Deliver Advanced Omni-Channel Fulfillment Capabilities that Drive Engaging Customer Experiences

-New integrated offering will provide retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers with intelligent sourcing, fulfillment and order management capabilities to deliver increased customer satisfaction and profits

SINGAPORE, Nov. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — JDA Software Group, Inc., and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced an initiative to provide solutions that help organizations deliver engaging customer experiences by intelligently processing and fulfilling product orders in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible. Together, IBM and JDA will provide an integrated omni-channel supply chain that enables businesses to make smarter sourcing decisions in real time and give their customers the best buying experience possible.

Retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers today are challenged to meet the demands of empowered consumers who demand the right product when they want it at the best price through their channel of choice. As more and more consumers demand advanced delivery methods such as “buy online and pick-up in store,” businesses are under increasing pressure to offer these flexible options across more channels in order to meet their customer’s expectations. Without a dynamic view into their complete supply chain picture, businesses are forced to make snap decisions based on static information resulting in inefficient fulfillment processes, shipping methods and inventory positions.

This new initiative between JDA and IBM will provide a holistic approach to solving this problem by synchronizing comprehensive order capture and order management with precision retail planning, efficient labor productivity and intelligent fulfillment. JDA Intelligent Fulfillment and Labor Productivity solutions combined with IBM Commerce and Order Management solutions will reveal the true cost of fulfilling an order — including inventory and labor costs — so that businesses can more responsively adjust inventory and resource allocations and execute decisions that meet and exceed customer expectations while also serving their bottom line. Delivered either on premise or in the cloud via SoftLayer, an IBM company, the solution will be part of IBM’s existing portfolio of over 110 SaaS applications and is expected to be available by late spring 2015.

For example, when a customer purchases an outfit online from a clothing retailer, there are several dynamic factors at play that can affect the profitability of the transaction, such as: if the customer wants the outfit delivered to a home or will pick it up in store; if the item is in stock at that store or needs to be fulfilled from an alternate location; or if warehouse or store labor is available to fulfill the order in a timely manner. With the combined solutions from IBM and JDA, these issues will be resolved in the background in real-time by applying knowledge of the retailer’s inventory planning and allocation during the order processing. This allows the retailer to intelligently initiate the best possible omni-channel fulfillment decision at the moment of the sale in the most profitable manner.

“The JDA and IBM initiative fills a massive void in the marketplace,” said Wayne Usie, senior vice president of retail at JDA Software. “Retailers need to become much more sophisticated and intelligent about how they source product for omni-channel fulfillment. Today there is far too much guess work, too many static policies, and no intelligence applied to the process. This landmark initiative cracks the code on intelligent sourcing, simultaneously allowing our customers to factor in supply chain planning and execution status, planned events like promotions and markdowns, and labor availability at the point of sale to maximize profits and customer satisfaction.”

“Whether they shop online, in store or on a device, consumers expect to have their product orders fulfilled exactly how they want it and at the lowest price without exceptions,” said Charles Chu, Vice President of B2B & Commerce at IBM. “Any business that ignores these changing expectations does so at the expense of customer loyalty and revenue growth. Now with this collaboration between JDA Software and IBM, businesses will be able to seamlessly orchestrate a superior order fulfillment process that provides real value to the customer while eliminating costs and inefficiencies.”

“By partnering to deliver this joint offering, JDA and IBM are enabling Lowe’s to deliver exceptional omni-channel fulfillment services, which gives our customers more flexible options to shop with us,” said Robin Bornkamp, Lowe’s VP of Inventory & Demand Planning.

Tweet this: .@JDASoftware and @IBM collaborate to deliver intelligent sourcing solutions to help companies rise to the omni-channel challenge

About JDA Software Group, Inc.

At JDA, we’re fearless leaders. We’re the leading provider of end-to-end, integrated retail and supply chain planning and execution solutions for more than 4,000 customers worldwide. Our unique solutions empower our clients to achieve more by optimizing costs, increasing revenue and reducing time to value so they can always deliver on their customer promises. Using JDA, you can plan to deliver. www.jda.com

About IBM Commerce and Order Management

IBM Commerce and Order Management solutions provide a differentiated commerce experience across all of a company’s business models to drive better customer engagement and increased sales. For more information on IBM Commerce, please visit http://www01.ibm.com/software/genservers/commerce/b2bdrp/index.html

“JDA” is a trademark or registered trademark of JDA Software Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name “JDA” is a trademark and/or property of JDA Software Group, Inc.

Source: JDA Software Asia

Related stocks: NYSE:IBM

ViewQwest Announces 2Gbps Fiber Broadband, First in the World Outside of Japan

— ViewQwest offers fastest residential Internet connectivity in Singapore

— Leads Singapore Internet Service Providers to explore possibilities of 2Gbps fiber broadband

— Streamlines existing fiber broadband price plans to provide consumers with simplified options

SINGAPORE, Nov. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — ViewQwest, Singapore’s premium fiber broadband operator, today announced its capability to offer 2Gbps fiber broadband — the first in the world outside of Japan, and the fastest residential Internet connectivity in Singapore. The 2Gbps fiber broadband will be undergoing limited trials with a select group of customers from now until end-2014, and will be commercially available in early 2015.

“Our customers are always connected and are active users of the Internet, using it for home entertainment like watching movies and TV shows on their TVs and computers. We know they demand the fastest Internet speeds and reliability, and ViewQwest is proud to be the first in Singapore — and in the world outside of Japan — to have the capability to offer 2Gbps fiber broadband. We look to continue leading the way for Singapore’s Internet Service Providers and pushing the boundaries in terms of our speed and content offerings,” said Vignesa Moorthy, CEO, ViewQwest.

Consumers will be able to try first-hand the possibilities of 2Gbps fiber broadband at SITEX from 27 to 30 November 2014 at the ViewQwest booth (5G20) at the Singapore EXPO.

New fiber broadband price plans

To further cater to consumer preferences, ViewQwest has streamlined its existing packages into two price plans that simplify the options for consumers. Consumers can now choose ViewQwest Fibernet™ broadband bundles that offer faster Internet speeds and incredible home entertainment value at more competitive prices than before.

Bundles continue to include ViewQwest’s Freedom VPN, which opens up a world of home entertainment, allowing consumers access to geo-restricted international streaming sites such as Netflix, Hulu, PPTV, Viki, BBC iPlayer, ITV and Tonton.

Also included in the bundles are free gifts such as ViewQwest TV, an Android-based media player that connects the TV to the Internet, and add-ons like OneVoice™, a residential fixed line that gives you free unlimited incoming and outgoing local calls.

The new ViewQwest Fibernet™ broadband bundles are:

• Freedom VPN 600Mbps Bundle — $65 per month
  • Fibernet™ Broadband 600Mbps
  • 3 Months Free Freedom VPN
  • Free ViewQwest TV
  • Free modem/ router rental
  • OneVoice™ residential phone line
• Freedom VPN 1000Mbps Bundle — $89.95 per month
  • Fibernet™ Broadband 1000Mbps
  • 3 Months Free Freedom VPN
  • Free ViewQwest TV
  • Free modem/ router rental
  • OneVoice™ residential phone line

The new price plans will be available from 12 November 2014.

About ViewQwest

ViewQwest is a Singapore Internet Service Provider (ISP) established in 2001 with a commercial and residential client base. Our core mission is to deliver an unparalleled service to each and every customer, and we have an unwavering commitment to deliver on our promises. As a Facilities Based Operator (FBO), we own cable systems between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as our own undersea cable between Singapore and Indonesia. ViewQwest challenges accepted norms and has a history of innovation over the past decade. We introduced services such as Freedom VPN to allow users to unblock popular streaming websites in select regions, established Points-of-Presence (PoP) in New York and Los Angeles for better connectivity to USA, and was the first Singaporean ISP to employ Latency Based Routing technology.

Media contact:

Edelman
Sng Su Min
+65–6494–1564
sumin.sng@edelman.com

Source: ViewQwest

Flabuless Makes Fitness Social For Companies

-First fitness rewards program in Singapore hopes to incentivise healthy lifestyles

SINGAPORE, Nov. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Corporate perks management service Rewardz has launched a first-in- Singapore online corporate fitness platform called Flabuless, that motivates users into pursuing healthy lifestyles with fitness challenges that can reap real-world rewards.

The Flabuless program encourages staff participation and competition for groups and individuals, and is targeted at medium to large organisations looking to reduce their company’s medical costs, boost morale and productivity, and improve staff health.

According to a JobsCentral survey conducted earlier this year, more than three in five Singaporean workers gain a considerable amount of weight after starting work, with 76% of weight gainers citing a lack of time to exercise due to their busy schedules as the cause.

“There is a growing concern among human resource professionals about hectic or irregular work hours contributing to a lack of an active lifestyle among working adults,” said Rewardz co-founder Nicole Seah. “With Flabuless, we hope to create a healthy and inclusive company culture, and build a happy, productive workforce.”

Flabuless aims to help companies motivate employees with prizes and perks through fitness events and challenges such as stair-climbing or cycling. Employers can also organise workshops, seminars, health screenings, fitness clinics and cooking demonstrations to drive their company workforce towards active, healthy living.

The online application can also be integrated with popular fitness tracking apps and devices, so users can track their physical activity and earn points on the Flabuless platform to win prizes such as vouchers and monetary rewards. Flabuless also acts as a social networking platform for sharing status updates, photos, healthy recipes and more, and is also integrated into the Rewardz perks ecosystem as well, allowing companies to enjoy corporate benefits provided by Flabuless’s parent program.

Following its successful implementation in the National University Healthcare System (NUHS), who has seen over a thousand participants covering a total of 4360km through the platform, or 493 times the height of Mount Everest, Nicole sees many other companies following suit in the name of achieving a healthy and productive workforce with happy employees.

“We see systems like Flabuless as a much better long-term solution to human resource healthcare provisions, rather than tweaking traditional employee health benefits,” said Nicole. “We want to create a win-win scenario for both employer and employee, by helping organisations build a cost-effective, productive work environment through a healthy and active workforce.”

About Rewardz

Rewardz is a corporate perks service based in Singapore that complements human resource (HR) efforts for medium to large organisations. The mobile and web-based platform helps organisations acquire company benefits from third-party vendors, as well as organise company events, handle corporate bookings and deliver customised push notifications for the organisation’s HR activities.

In just under two years, Rewardz has garnered more than 30 clients, including National University Healthcare System (NUHS). Courts, Crocs, Fuji Xerox, Aetos, SPRING Singapore, and the Public Utilities Board (PUB). Rewardz has also received recognition as “Best in Benefit Technology” during the Benefits Asia 2013 Conference.

By July 2015, the Rewardz platform is also expected to have more than 500 rewards from its growing vendor pool.

For media enquiries:

Daniel Yap Right Hook Communications t: +65 8533 5234 e: daniel@righthook.com.sg

Andy Lim Right Hook Communications t: +65 8533 5234 e: andy@righthook.com.sg

(*Statistics of the survey may be found here: http://goo.gl/QbH5zS)

NOTES TO EDITOR

WHAT IS FLABULESS?

Flabuless is a social health and engagement platform that makes it super easy to organise fun health challenges.

Newsfeed allows employees to share status updates, photos, healthy recipes and more.

Personalised experience for every employee with a view of how others are performing.

Seamlessly connected with Rewardz platform to reward healthy behaviour.

Fully integrated with some of the popular fitness tracking devices to track and reward a range of fitness activities

Source: Rewardz

New Season Automation Range Now in Stock at RS Components

-Latest PLC and HMI innovations from leading manufacturers take efficiency, space savings, flexibility, and ease of use to the next level

HONG KONG, Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, is unveiling its latest collections of industrial logic controllers and HMI modules from top brands, delivering improvements such as compact sizes, new features, reduced installation time, and lower costs for machine and panel builders and equipment maintainers.

RS276-PLCs and HMIs

RS is introducing the latest Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) from Schneider Electric and Omron, and will add further new models from Siemens and Crouzet before the end of the year.

Newly arrived in stock, Schneider Modicon M221 logic controllers minimise installation challenges by integrating SD and USB ports, two analogue inputs and up to 40 I/Os, while the choice of either standard or book formats give maximum versatility. The M221 PLCs can connect to a simple remote operator panel for instant maintenance and machine visualisation.

In addition, the Modicon PLC range at RS is boosted with the arrival of the M241 for high-performance applications. M241 has five embedded ports, supports CANopen for fieldbus architectures up to 63 devices, and features a built-in web server to allow monitoring and maintenance from any location using a mobile device. A wide range of I/O expansion modules and safety relays is also available.

The new Omron CP1L series delivers the capabilities of a modular PLC in a compact micro-PLC format. It provides comprehensive machine-control functions including outstanding positioning capability, with powerful options such as an embedded Ethernet port with socket services functionality, communication and I/O expansion boards, and the advantages of application compatibility with CP1H, CJ1, and CS1 PLCs.

Now also in stock at RS, the new NB HMI series from Omron enables a smart new look for user interfaces, and includes colour touchscreens from 3.5 to 10 inches. Long-life LED backlighting and large data storage support richer graphics, while improved window handling, animation support, and macros help designers create new and intuitive designs optimised for packaging, food, plastics, textiles or other industries.

Completing the first wave of the new technology refreshing the RS portfolio, the Schneider Modicon M580 is the world’s first Ethernet PAC (ePAC) automation controller. Bringing the benefits of open networking to process development, implementation and operation, the new M580 has built-in cyber security and also benefits from ATEX II certification for use in environments where gas or dust hazards are present. M580 is ideal for installations using Schneider’s PlantStruxure integrated automation architecture, which helps increase efficiency.

RS Components currently has over 3000 PLC, HMI and data-acquisition products in its portfolio, and will reveal further updates to the range supporting next-generation industrial automation systems later in the year.

About RS Components

RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers. With operations in 32 countries, we offer around 500,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 44,000 parcels a day. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include semiconductors, interconnect, passives and electromechanical, automation and control, electrical, test and measurement, tools and consumables.

Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2014had revenues of GBP1.27bn.

For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-components.com.

RS Components
Tan Soo Chun
Public Relations Manager – Asia Pacific
Email: soochun.tan@rs-components.com
Telephone: +65-6391-5745

Edelman Public Relations (Singapore)
Yvette Yeo
Manager
Email: yvette.yeo@edelman.com
Telephone: +65-6347-2355

Further information is available via these links:
@RSElectronics; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS
RS Components on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components

RS Components on Weibo
http://e.weibo.com/u/3206377000?type=0

Relevant Links:
Electrocomponents plc
www.electrocomponents.com

RS Components
www.rs-online.com/

DesignSpark
www.designspark.com

Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20141028/8521406296
Logo – http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2011/05/04/20110504368830.jpg

Source: RS Components Singapore

Related stocks: LSE:ECM OTC-PINK:EENEY

Piab bypasses barriers to strategic IT with iland’s global enterprise cloud and disaster recovery services

-A leader in factory automation offloads IT infrastructure burdens to focus on arming business with technology and processes that help fuel its competitive advantage

SINGAPORE, Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Alleviating the complexity of IT infrastructure, iland today announced Piab is leveraging iland’s Enterprise Cloud Services and Disaster-Recovery-as-a-Service offerings in order to focus on strategic IT initiatives that help grow and protect the company. Piab is known for its innovative industrial automation solutions that dramatically improve the productivity of factories around the world, and its IT team plays a critical role in ensuring its own corporate user base maintains the highest levels of efficiency to drive business forward.

“Our competitive advantage from an IT perspective does not come from running servers,” said Greg Anderson, CIO of Piab. “We stay ahead by refining business processes and finding tools and applications that make our users more productive. With iland’s enterprise cloud and disaster recovery services, we can focus less on making sure things are running and more on strategic IT initiatives. We looked at multiple vendors and iland was the best fit–everything from services to pricing.”

Established in 1951, Piab specializes in the creation of cutting-edge vacuum solutions that improve the efficiency and working environments for many of the world’s largest manufacturers. Based in Taby, Sweden, it is a global organization with subsidiaries and distributors in more than 50 countries. Facing significant business growth, the IT team refused to waste resources on procuring and managing additional hardware infrastructure. Instead, they turned to iland to manage its move to the cloud for both production and disaster recovery.

Increased efficiency and performance of IT systems and processes
Like many companies today, Piab faced procedural, performance, cost and security issues with maintaining its own hardware infrastructure. The company was using its own servers at a co-location data center in Stockholm, but any time a hard drive failed or the IT team needed to add RAM or storage, a staff member had to physically drive to the location more than 30 minutes away. Then, they had to deal with security procedures and equipment delivery in and out of the data center. Faced with the prospect of purchasing all new hardware infrastructure, Anderson took a more strategic step and tapped iland’s enterprise cloud to host its entire production environment.

“The biggest benefit of moving to iland’s cloud is that we are able to dynamically adjust our environment at any time,” Anderson said. “The fact that we don’t have to maintain any sort of hardware or deal with hardware system failures makes life a lot easier. And iland’s ECS portal enables us to not only see what’s going on in our cloud, but gives us the ability to control and manage our resources and costs on a global scale.”

Established robust disaster recovery plan with Cloud-to-Cloud replication
Piab also set out to improve its business continuity capabilities, as the IT team struggled with its existing software solution that required significant infrastructure resources and did not ensure recovery time objectives because it was too difficult to test. The company turned to iland to help plan and implement a robust disaster recovery plan that could safeguard against downtime.

With iland Disaster Recovery Services Powered by Zerto, Piab can run regular tests to ensure the company’s resources are protected in a real disaster and that employees will have access to the systems and data they need. Now, Piab is confident it will meet a Recovery Point Objective of between 5 and 60 minutes, depending on the application.

“We were looking for something really simple, reliable and familiar,” Anderson said. “The best thing about iland and Zerto’s DR solution is that when we need to switch over, we’re basically just switching tunnels from one location to another. It’s really easy.”

“We pride ourselves in working directly with customers to ensure they are able to fully harness the benefits of cloud,” said Lilac Schoenbeck, VP of product management and marketing at iland. “Piab’s success exemplifies how strategic cloud implementation — from production systems to disaster recovery — can help streamline processes and alleviate technical burdens so that IT can take a more proactive role in achieving overall business objectives.”

“We use iland’s enterprise cloud to run our full production environment,” said Anderson. “The solution allows us to forget about the hassles associated with maintaining a data center while at the same time providing us with a cost efficient, dynamically scalable and reliable solution. The Cloud2Cloud Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service allows me to sleep better knowing we have a fully managed solution in place if needed.”

iland is ranked as a leader in Forrester Research, Inc.’s report entitled, “The Forrester Wave™: Disaster-Recovery-As-A-Service Providers, Q1 2014.” Forrester refers to iland as “the dark horse champion” in the report. In the research firm’s evaluation, iland received the highest scores possible for its core DRaaS offerings, recovery objective capabilities, platform and application support, data resiliency and risk mitigation, security, value proposition and vision, as well as pricing, service levels and contract terms.

For more information on iland’s enterprise cloud and disaster recovery services, go to:

• iland Enterprise Cloud Services
• iland Disaster-Recovery-as-a-Service

About iland
With data centers in the U.S., U.K. and Singapore, iland delivers proven enterprise cloud solutions that help companies do business faster, smarter and more flexibly. Unlike any other provider, iland’s technology and consultative approach mean anyone–regardless of expertise, location or business objective–can experience the benefits of a hassle-free cloud. From scaling production workloads, to supporting testing and development, to disaster recovery, iland’s secure cloud and decades of experience translate into unmatched service.  Underscoring the strength of its platform, the company has been recognized as VMware’s Service Provider Partner of the Year, Global and Americas; is part of the Cisco Cloud Managed Service Provider Program for IaaS and DRaaS; and partners with other industry leaders including Zerto and Veeam. Visit www.iland.com.

Trademarks
All registered trademarks and other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

US Media Contact:
Kellie Willman
iland
+1–713-337-1347
kwillman@iland.com

Singapore Media Contact:
Melinda Ilagan/May Tan
EASTWEST Public Relations for iland
Tel: +65–6222–0306
Email: ilandcloud@eastwestpr.com

Source: iland