The BOSS Expense Tracker allows users to keep their business expenses on a single app

LAS VEGAS  (Profitable.com)  BOSS Business Services has long been a leader in the traditional business formation & business tax services industry. Now BOSS is branching out to embrace the future of business taxes by developing its first iPhone App for tracking business expenses. Toby Mathis, President of BOSS Business Services and author of both the 1st and 2nd editions of Tax-Wise Business Ownership, lead the development team. “Our focus was to make tracking business expenses fast and easy with the added benefit of having access to the information entered at a later date,” stated Mathis. “Users of the BOSS Expense Tracker will find that taking a photo of a receipt and then filling in the prompts is simple — the email function sends everything off to your email or whomever you want to send it to.”

Business expense tracking has never been easier. The BOSS Expense Tracker allows you to document an expense, including the who, what, where, when and why, directly from your iPhone. Not only that, but you can take a photo of the receipt, invoice or any other documents as a “proof of claim” — meaning it meets the IRS’ standards of tracking a business expense.

The Boss Expense Tracker keeps your data and you can conveniently email it to yourself or your tax professional. “Keeping track of your business deductions can be done via an iPhone instead of a shoebox,” commented Mathis.

Mathis concluded, “Our hope is that the BOSS Expense Tracker App for the iPhone is just one version of many to come on many additional platforms.”

The BOSS Expense Tracker for iPhones is available via iTunes and many other App sites. The cost is 99 cents ($0.99). The name of the App is the “BOSS Expense Tracker.”

About BOSS

BOSS is a repeat Inc. 5000 honoree. Since 1993, BOSS Business Services has been a leader in asset Protection planning, tax advice, tax preparation, estate planning and business entity structuring. Our clients are located throughout the nation as well as throughout the world. We are a “one-stop-shop” for business owners handling everything from pre-formation planning to succession planning. BOSS can form your business, help you keep a paper trail of important decisions and meetings, keep your business books and file any necessary tax returns.

Contact
Toby Mathis
888.969.BOSS (2677) x205

AVG users with LinkScanner already installed are protected in real-time from sites containing malware. Threat Labs complements this software by enabling the user to type in the URL of a specific Web site to gather more information. Users not currently using AVG software still benefit from visiting Threat Labs as this unique tool provides an instant and complete safety analysis of a Web site including detection statistics, a detection timeline, an analysis of linked sites and a detection map. AVG’s Threat Labs augments AVG’s existing free, downloadable anti-virus software and enhances the company’s unique “people powered protection” approach to security.

“Web threats are constantly evolving and it is our mission to provide consumers with the resources they need to not be victims of Internet crimes,” said JR Smith, Chief Executive Officer of AVG Technologies. “What really excites me about Threat Labs is that it is all about what makes AVG a different security software company to our competitors because it is based on people powered protection. From the standard AV tools and malware detection, to more cutting edge resources like threat labs and our new social media tools, AVG is committed to a product line that is effective against the risks we understand today and the threats that are evolving as we speak.”

The full consumer launch and availability of AVG’s Threat Labs is slated for late September 2010. It will be part of a set of tools for the AVG Internet Security suite to help consumers more safely navigate the murky waters of social networks as well as resources such as Threat Labs that bring together the quantitative data with reputational data to empower consumers on the Web. AVG’s product suite will create a global army of citizens, nearly 100 million strong, working together to thwart Internet crime.

AVG Threat Labs Beta can be accessed at http://www.avgthreatlabs.com/sitereports. AVG Free or LinkScanner can be downloaded at the AVG Download Web page free of charge, or at www.download.com.

Keep in touch with AVG

• For breaking news, follow AVG on Twitter at www.twitter.com/officialAVGnews
• For security trends analysis, follow AVG blogs at http://blogs.avg.com
• Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/AVGfree

About AVG Technologies

AVG is a global security software maker protecting more than 110 million consumers and small businesses in 170 countries from the ever-growing incidence of Web threats, viruses, spam, cyber-scams and hackers on the Internet. AVG has nearly two decades of experience in combating cyber crime and one of the most advanced laboratories for detecting, pre-empting and combating Web-borne threats from around the world. Its free, downloadable software allows novice users to have basic anti-virus protection and then easily upgrade to greater levels of safety and defense when they are ready. AVG has nearly 6,000 resellers, partners and distributors globally including Amazon.com, CNET, Cisco, Ingram Micro, Play.com, Wal-Mart, and Yahoo!.

ATLANTA  (Profitable.com)  Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) today announced the expansion of their identity fraud management suite of solutions, providing businesses with a more complete approach to fighting both true-name and synthetic identity fraud.  Identity fraud impacts millions of consumers annually, and causes billions of dollars in losses.

The Identity Suite provides businesses with proven Equifax analytics and technology solutions that create multiple layers of defense against attempted application fraud.   At the heart of the Identity Suite is a patented real-time identity verification and authentication tool that provides automated, non-intrusive protection using statistical fraud models and adaptive quiz capabilities. The eID real-time risk assessment score helps assess and prioritize any suspicious activity, making the review process more efficient and effective.  Authentication helps customers significantly reduce fraud losses, reduce manual reviews and decrease abandonment during the application process.

“Our fraud solutions leverage powerful analytics and technology to offer our customers greater control and flexibility over their fraud mitigation processes,” said Rajib Roy, President of Equifax Technology and Analytics. “And our customers are seeing significant positive impact from our Identity Suite of solutions.”  

Equifax is currently providing its fraud detection solutions to thousands of customers including 38 of the top 50 banks and all four of the major telecommunications companies.

The Identity Suite utilizes identity screening solutions to quickly identify suspicious information and known fraud schemes. Equifax’s fraud-screening capabilities leverage extensive public and proprietary database sources to effectively detect potential identity theft during the application process.  

In addition, the Identity Suite leverages the new SSN Affirm tool to alert businesses to whether an inquiry Social Security number is associated with the consumer making the application.  SSN Affirm checks whether the SSN belongs to a real person using a proprietary comparison algorithm and data.  The Identity Suite additionally includes the Account Verify product that is used to verify account numbers presented by consumers.  

“Our Identity fraud solution has helped businesses catch as much as 75% fraudulent applications without impacting or delaying the account opening process,” said Roy.

Equifax offers professional services to help customers easily integrate their fraud solutions into existing processes and gain greater control over their fraud automation processes.  

Equifax’s fraud solutions leverages the company’s deep experience across multiple industries and helps businesses minimize fraud losses while improving compliance and staff productivity.  For more information on Equifax fraud solutions, call (800) 530-5749 or email technology@equifax.com.

About Equifax

Equifax empowers businesses and consumers with information they can trust. A global leader in information solutions, we leverage one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data, along with advanced analytics and proprietary technology, to create customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.

With a strong heritage of innovation and leadership, Equifax continuously delivers innovative solutions with the highest integrity and reliability.  Businesses – large and small – rely on us for consumer and business credit intelligence, portfolio management, fraud detection, decisioning technology, marketing tools, and much more.  We empower individual consumers to manage their personal credit information, protect their identity, and maximize their financial well-being.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax Inc. operates in the U.S. and 14 other countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Equifax is a member of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500® Index. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX.

TEMPE, Ariz.  (Profitable.com)  Inc. magazine today ranked LifeLock (www.lifelock.com), an industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, eighth on its 29^th Annual Inc. 500 List, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. In addition, LifeLock is recognized as No. 1 in the Inc. 500’s Security category. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. Companies such as Microsoft, Visa, Zappos, Go Daddy, Under Armour, Jamba Juice, American Apparel, Oracle and hundreds of other powerhouses gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 500.

“This is an enormous milestone in the history of our organization,” said Todd Davis, LifeLock Chairman and CEO. “I truly see this recognition as a testament to our employees’ never ending commitment to provide consumers with the means necessary to help fight the fast growing crime of identity theft. Despite a down economy, the pressure of creating an industry and unwanted distractions, we have been able to stay focused on our overall mission and deliver the most innovative products and world-class customer service.”

The 2010 Inc. 500 measures revenue growth from 2006 through 2009; LifeLock’s growth was more than 11,474 percent. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2006, and therefore able to show four full calendar years of sales. Additionally, they had to be U.S. based, privately held, for profit and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2009. The minimum revenue required for 2006 was $100,000; the minimum for 2009 was $2 million. Of the top 10 ranked companies, LifeLock’s 2009 revenue ranked third with $131.4 million.

In the 29-year history of the Inc. 500 list, there have been only two other Arizona companies ranked higher than LifeLock. In 1992, Insight Direct was ranked fifth, and in 1983, Forever Living Products was ranked sixth. The Go Daddy Group also had a ranking of eighth in 2004.

According to a study released August 12, 2010, by ID Analytics, a leader in consumer risk management, more than 20 million Americans have multiple Social Security numbers (SSNs) associated with their name in commercial records. The research shows that SSNs may not uniquely identify an individual, and organizations can expose themselves and their customers to risk if they solely rely on the SSN to verify an individual. Proactive identity theft protection can help combat the crime and protect the good name of consumers whose personal information could already be readily available to criminals. LifeLock works relentlessly to help protect its members from identity theft before it happens.

About LifeLock

LifeLock, Inc. (www.lifelock.com) is an industry leader in proactive identity theft protection. Since 2005, LifeLock has been providing consumers with the tools and confidence they need to help protect themselves from identity theft. The company has a strong focus on educating consumers and working with law enforcement and elected officials to better understand the increasing threats of identity theft. A multiple award-winning organization, LifeLock has been recognized by AlwaysOn to the Top Global Company 250 list, by Arizona Corporate Excellence as Arizona’s Fastest Growing Company, and most recently by the American Business Awards as having the Best New Product or Service of the Year for the LifeLock Identity Alert™ system.

About Inc. Magazine

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. (www.inc.com) is the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies that delivers real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. With a total paid circulation of 712,961, Inc. provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology. Visit us online at Inc.com.

Consumers Union Calls on Regulators to Require Mobile Payment Providers to Abide by Strong Consumer Protections

SAN FRANCISCO  (Profitable.com)  Recent news stories have highlighted how consumers in the U.S. soon will be able to pay for products and services with a wave of their smart phones.  But while mobile payment technologies may offer a convenient new way to pay for goods and services, consumers could be at risk of losing money when mistakes are made by merchants and processors or as a result of fraud, according to Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.      

“As mobile payments systems come to the U.S., product providers and regulators need to make sure that they are at least as safe for consumers to use as traditional credit card and debit card payments,” said Michelle Jun, staff attorney for Consumers Union.  ”It is critical that mobile payment systems are covered by strong rules to protect consumers from losing money because of fraud, processor error or a dispute with a retailer.”

Federal law protects consumers in the event that their credit card or debit card is lost, stolen or misused. But current protections are badly fragmented and don’t apply to all new types of payments.

Credit cards carry a $50 limit on consumer responsibility for unauthorized use, but fraud on debit cards can expose cardholders to $500 or more in liability, depending on how soon consumers report it.  Voluntary payment network “zero liability” policies offered by debit card issuers contain significant loopholes.   Prepaid cards where funds are pooled from many cardholders may lack even the protections that apply to traditional debit cards.

Consumer rights involving disputes with merchants can be even more confusing.  Credit cards provide protections in case of bank errors, unauthorized use, and disputes with merchants, but debit cards provide only protections for bank errors and unauthorized use, not for disputes with the merchant.  

These varying protections make it difficult for customers to determine what protections apply to new payment services.  If mobile payment transactions are backed by a credit card and appear on the credit card bill, then consumers are entitled to all available protections.  If the transaction amount is deducted from the consumer’s deposit account with a financial institution like with a debit card, it should receive the same protections as any other electronic fund transfer.  This means consumers receive a legal right to get back money for errors and theft, but not for a dispute with a merchant about the goods and services.

However, if the transaction is funded by a prepaid card, even the protections for unauthorized use may be missing, and there also will be no legal guarantee of protection in the event of a dispute with a merchant.  If the payment service is provided directly by the mobile carrier and the charges appear on the customer’s cell phone bill, the way it is done in Japan and South Korea, the product might escape consumer protections entirely.  If the cell phone company asks the consumer to make a prepaid deposit to the phone company to cover future charges, protections also will be missing unless the contract provides them.

“Consumers should not be expected to figure out what protections apply to each competing new payments venture,” said Jun.  ”Regardless of the technology or business organization involved, the same high level of consumer protections should be guaranteed by law and contract for any payment service.  Now that mobile payment ventures are emerging in the U.S., it’s time to harmonize and extend consumer protections for all payment services.”

Consumers Union called on companies offering mobile payment systems to include in their contracts the full consumer rights provided under existing federal law for both debit and credit cards, and to provide true voluntary “zero liability” assurance for consumers without loopholes. The consumer group also noted that regulators need to use their current statutory authority to ensure that existing consumer protections are applied to all new payment methods. For example, the Federal Reserve Board should apply full debit card protections to payments backed via a prepaid card through a simple interpretation of Regulation E.

If the Federal Reserve Board fails to act, Consumers Union noted that the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created under the recently passed financial reform legislation has the authority to address unfair payment practices.  

For Consumers Union’s tips for mobile payment users, see:

http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/06/consumers_unions_tips_for_mobi.html

NEW YORK  (Profitable.com)  Zagat Survey, the world’s leading provider of consumer generated survey information, and Foodspotting, a site where members share photos of restaurant dishes, today announced a digital partnership.  Forthcoming versions of Zagat’s mobile applications will offer users access to thousands of Foodspotting photos of dishes at Zagat Rated restaurants nationwide.

“Our goal is to help users make smart dining decisions,” said Nina Zagat, Co-Founder, Zagat Survey. “In our most recent New York City survey, 85% of respondents said that they look at a restaurant’s menu before going.  By providing users with Foodspotting photos on their mobile devices, we’ll be giving them a chance to actually see the food as well. ”

Foodspotting’s online and mobile users will be able to earn a Zagat Badge by adding photos of their favorite dishes from Zagat Rated restaurants in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York or San Francisco.

Alexa Andrzejewski, CEO and Co-founder of Foodspotting stated, “We’re excited to have Zagat be the first partner to leverage Foodspotting data to enhance their restaurant listings. By integrating Foodspotting photos, the Zagat apps will not only be a great resource for helping people decide where to eat, but they’ll also help you decide what to eat once you’re there.”

About Zagat Survey, LLC

Known as the “wildly popular” “burgundy bible”, Zagat Survey is the world’s most trusted source for consumer generated survey information. With a worldwide network of surveyors, Zagat rates and reviews restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, shopping and a range of other entertainment categories and is lauded as the “most up-to-date”, “comprehensive” and “reliable” guide, published on all platforms. Zagat content is available to consumers wherever and whenever they need it: on ZAGAT.com, ZAGAT.mobi, ZAGAT TO GO for smartphones and in book form.

About Foodspotting

Foodspotting is an investor-backed startup that enables people to stumble upon good things in the world around them. The Foodspotting website and mobile apps make it easy to find and share food recommendations: Instead of reading and writing restaurant reviews, you can share photos of specific foods you recommend and see what’s good around you wherever you go. Foodspotting has received attention from The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Techcrunch and been named a “Top Travel Application” by Travel + Leisure magazine. Since launching in January 2010, over 100,000 foods have been spotted around the world by over 120,000 app users.

Contact: Nick Sampogna, nsampogna@zagat.com, 212-404-6417

Melle Hock, melle.hock@edelman.com, 212-642-7793

ST. LOUIS  (Profitable.com)  FormFast, a leading provider of enterprise workflow solutions, has announced that it has been named a Microsoft Certified Partner, passing the rigorous testing required to achieve this designation. FormFast workflow automation tools demonstrate the robust functionality necessary to operate in both the Windows® XP and Windows® 7 operating environments, and to integrate with and augment select features of Microsoft SharePoint®.

“We are pleased to be recognized as a Microsoft Certified Partner,” says Rob Harding, president and CEO of FormFast. “We are confident that our compatibility with Microsoft operating systems enables clients to get maximum value from our workflow tools and accelerate their efforts to become high performance hospitals.”

He adds that the certification ensures that FormFast applications will continue to run seamlessly during any transition hospital clients make as they upgrade to more capable Microsoft platforms. “This will be one less factor to address during the upgrade.”

FormFast pursued certification and partnership to underscore its compatibility with Microsoft’s SharePoint application as well. With SharePoint, FormFast improves transactional power by adding electronic forms and automated processes, simplifying and managing deployed workflows, leveraging SharePoint’s record management features, and enabling Web integration. “This increased functionality benefits hospitals by unifying distinct administrative and clinical units across the enterprise,” notes Harding.

About FormFast

Since 1992, FormFast software has enabled healthcare organizations to achieve significant process improvement across the enterprise, supporting HR, contract management, rogue clinical processes, risk management and countless other workflows. A top-ranked provider of electronic workflow solutions, FormFast serves more than 800 hospitals internationally. Our software, deployed by our partners and professional service staff under our managed services model, helps healthcare organizations accelerate their progression from time-consuming manual processes to fully automated workflows. FormFast solutions integrate with legacy business systems such as databases, archiving systems and portals, allowing users throughout the organization to gain efficiency, improve coordination of tasks, reduce supply costs, and eliminate errors resulting from misdirected routing, mistakes in form completion and delayed delivery.

‘AT&T Broadband on the Go’ Enables Connectivity Virtually Everywhere, Capitalizing on Rapid Growth in Small Business Mobile Broadband Spending

DALLAS  (Profitable.com)  In today’s economy, small businesses are demanding “on-the-go” high-speed connectivity more than ever before to stay competitive, enhance productivity and grow their businesses. Thanks to a new bundled offer – “AT&T Broadband on the Go” – announced today, the options companies use to keep in touch with their office, customers and business partners just got better.

The new bundle includes high speed Internet access, Wi-Fi, and mobile broadband, plus unlimited online computer data backup with remote access from any broadband web-connected device, starting at an introductory price of less than  $90 a month** through August 31. “AT&T Broadband on the Go” is now available to small businesses across AT&T’s 22-state local footprint. The services, which enable small businesses to access their data from anywhere while staying connected to the Internet and their corporate applications, include:

• High Speed Internet from AT&T: Available with downstream speeds up to 24Mbps (on the U-verse platform) to help accommodate the needs of any small business, the service includes U.S.-based business-class technical support, all-in-one protection suite for selected tiers, and up to 11 e-mail accounts.
• Mobile Broadband with AT&T LaptopConnect***: Offering the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T LaptopConnect creates the opportunity for small businesses to stay productive when away from the office.
• AT&T Tech Support 360(SM) Backup and Go: With automatic online backup of computer files, the service protects data, while enabling small businesses to remotely access saved files from any web-connected laptop or mobile broadband device and send links to files or folders for sharing and collaboration.
• AT&T Wi-Fi(SM) : Basic connectivity at more than 20,000 hot spots at convenient locations nationwide.

According to Compass Intelligence, a high-tech market analytics firm, small businesses (less than 100 employees) spent $5.6 billion in 2009 on wireless data services and expect to spend $18.9 billion in 2014, resulting in a compound annual growth rate of 27.6 percent.  

“We estimate that small businesses make up roughly 38 percent of business wireless subscribers, while comprising about 45 percent of wireless data spend,” said Kneko Burney, president of Compass Intelligence. “As such, small businesses are a crucial segment of the wireless data market, and these customers’ spending is only expected to rise in the coming years.  Additionally, our research shows that small businesses spend more on average per user for wireless data than their enterprise counterparts, primarily because a greater percentage of their workforce is mobile and likely to rely only on wireless for their business connectivity.”

According to the AT&T Small Business Technology Poll, a national study released earlier this year by AT&T, 71 percent of small businesses responding indicate they use laptop data cards and nearly 79 percent indicate they use Wi-Fi hotspots to conduct business-related activities. Moreover, 60 percent of small businesses indicate they use their laptop more now to access data through mobile networks than they did two years ago and nearly 68 percent use Wi-Fi hotspots more now to access data than they did two years ago.

In addition, the study revealed that nearly 85 percent of small businesses feel that recovering data would be important following a disaster. Yet only 30 percent of small businesses use off-site data backup, such as online backup. So in the event of a disaster that destroys their office, a majority of small businesses might well lose critical data because they’re not fully prepared. The Tech Support 360 Backup and Go component of the new broadband bundle addresses that potential risk.

“In today’s highly connected marketplace, small businesses need to be plugged into their work at all times,” said Ebrahim Keshavarz, Vice President, AT&T Small Business Marketing. “Through our widespread service capabilities, robust mobile network, and a comprehensive product portfolio second to none, this unique bundle enables small businesses to work with their data on the road, anytime by giving them the tools to maximize efficiency and productivity on their terms and schedule.”

“We understand the challenges small businesses face in balancing their business and personal lives, and the importance of giving them the freedom to conduct business how they choose.”

For more information or to purchase AT&T Broadband on the Go, small businesses should call a small business advisor toll-free at (888) 423-9129 or visit Broadband on the Go.

Small businesses looking to find information about other AT&T products and services can visit www.att.com/smallbusiness. For free business resources such as webinars, white papers, training, case studies and best practices, they can visit www.att.com/smallbusinessinsite.

Additionally, real-time information can be found on the AT&T Small Business Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz) and Twitter channel (www.twitter.com/smallbizInsite).

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**Depending on customer location.

***Laptop Connect – Coverage not available in all areas.  See coverage map at store for details. Limited-time offer. Other conditions & restrictions apply. See contract & rate plan brochure for details. Subscriber must live & have a mailing addr. within AT&T’s owned wireless network coverage area.  Up to $36 activ. fee applies.   Equipment price & avail may vary by mrk & may not be available from independent retailers.  Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but up to $35 restocking fee may apply to equipment returns; Thereafter, the ETF will be up to $325 if purchasing certain specified equipment (check www.att.com/equipmentETF for list) or up to $150. Independent agents may impose additional equipment-related charges. Early Termination Fee subject to change. Some agents impose add’l fees.  Offnet Usage:  If your mins of  data use on other carrier’s networks (“offnet usage”) during any month  exceeds your offnet usage allowance, AT&T may at its option terminate your svc, deny your contd use of other carriers’ coverage, or change your plan to one imposing usage charges for offnet usage.  Your data offnet usage allowance is the lesser of 24 MB or 20% of the KB incl’d with your plan).  DataConnect Plan is not unlimited and substantial charges may be incurred if included allowance is exceeded.  Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment.  AT&T Wi-Fi – A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for additional services, restrictions and locations.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz  to discover more about our small business services.

© 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 3G service not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

Program helps legal professionals attain certification as experts in interpreting Black Duck code assessment results

WALTHAM, Mass.  (Profitable.com)  Black Duck Software (www.blackducksoftware.com), the leading global provider of products and services for accelerating software development through the managed use of open source software, today announced the availability of a certification program for legal professionals with clients involved in acquiring technology companies. More than 40 attorneys worldwide and their firms have participated in the certification program, which trains legal professionals in best practices for introducing Black Duck code assessment services into a software IP transaction.

Many legal firms advise clients on open source licensing in the context of software M&A engagements. By working with Black Duck, these legal professionals can help their clients effectively manage the risks of open source-related intellectual property issues. To date, Black Duck has participated hundreds of transactions cumulatively valued at over $40B.

The Legal Certification program, open to IP and M&A attorneys with open source experience, introduces participants to Black Duck code assessment services and tools. It walks participants through process and provides valuable tips for working with both acquirer clients and target organizations. Finally, the Certification Program aids participants in understanding code assessment reports, communicating findings and providing recommendations to clients.

Certified participants are listed on Black Duck’s website in a directory that can be accessed by clients looking for IP and M&A counsel.

“Many lawyers are familiar with open source software and understand that licensing and IP issues can affect transactions,” said Robert Blasi, Esq., a partner in the Boston office of Goodwin Procter LLP. “The Black Duck certification course really helps one understand how technology can help an acquirer determine what they are buying.”

For more information on the Black Duck Legal Certification Program visit http://blackducksoftware.com/certification/directory. To participate in a Legal Certification Program, contact podence@blackducksoftware.com.

About Black Duck Software

Black Duck Software is the leading provider of products and services for automating the management, governance and secure use of open source software, at enterprise scale, in a multi-source development process. Black Duck™ enables companies to shorten time-to-market and reduce development costs while mitigating the management, security and compliance challenges associated with open source software.  Black Duck Software powers Koders.com, the industry’s leading code search engine for open source, and is among the 500 largest software companies in the world, according to Softwaremag.com. The company is headquartered near Boston and has offices in San Mateo, California, London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Tokyo. For more information, visit www.blackducksoftware.com.

Black Duck, Know Your Code and the Black Duck logo are registered trademarks of Black Duck Software, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. Koders is a trademark of Black Duck Software, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

Consumers Can Also Create Personal Mobile Barcodes with AT&T Create-a-Code

DALLAS  (Profitable.com)  AT&T* is furthering its innovation with mobile barcodes with the availability of a free mobile application to read barcodes utilizing a variety of mobile devices across multiple platforms including Android™ and BlackBerry®.

Today’s announcement is the latest milestone in AT&T’s efforts to develop mobile barcodes into an effective direct response solution for brands and their consumers. To that end, the company is investing in AT&T Mobile Barcode Services, a suite of products and services that enables marketers to provide measurable experiences with their target audience, at the moment of interest.

AT&T Mobile Barcode Services include:

• AT&T Code Scanner: a free mobile application** which provides a fun and easy way to scan 2D (QR and datamatrix codes) and 1D (UPC and EAN) barcodes found in magazines, stores, and online, unlocking new ways to experience the world. Consumers can download the free application through several app stores including BlackBerry® App World™ and Android Market™ or go to http://scan.mobi on their mobile device. AT&T Code Scanner provides consumers with the tool they need to experience a sneak-peak into the exciting potential of this emerging mobile technology. Consumers are encouraged to visit www.att.com/mobilebarcodes to see examples of how mobile barcodes can be used.
• AT&T Create-a-Code: is a free service that allows consumers to create their own personal mobile barcodes by visiting www.att.com/createacode. Mobile barcodes can be created to direct friends and family to a v-card, Facebook account, personal blog or favorite website.
• Code Management Platform: built for business to create, manage and measure mobile barcodes campaign experiences for their customers. It is available now for AT&T’s Mobile Barcode Charter Program members, with future availability to all business segments.

“Our focus on the opportunity that mobile barcode offers businesses to connect directly with their consumers is the latest example of the work AT&T is doing to drive the emergence of new categories of devices and applications that are enhanced by wireless network connectivity,” said Michael Antieri, President, Advanced Enterprise Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions. “Over the course of this year, we intend to help our business customers create measurable and fully managed brand experiences with mobile barcodes to better interact with their consumers.”  

Consumer barcode scanning represents the next generation of interactive targeted marketing, enabling advertisers to deliver relevant content and offers to consumers, as well as being a valuable and efficient tool for consumers to search for promotions and information using their mobile device.

In a recent United States consumer survey, 80% of respondents indicated interest in scanning barcodes with their mobile phone. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed want to scan barcodes to capture and redeem coupons and discounts(1).

Earlier this year, AT&T announced the formation of a 2D barcode charter program designed to provide AT&T and its customers with a better understanding of the marketing and advertising potential that 2D barcodes offers. AT&T is working closely with the companies presently participating in the program to test consumer response rates as well as the effectiveness of consumer barcode scanning technology as an interactive marketing vehicle.  

To download and begin using the AT&T Code Scanner, go to www.att.com/codescanner or go to http://scan.mobi on a mobile device.

To create a mobile barcode for personal use, go to AT&T Create-a-Code at www.att.com/createacode.

To learn more about AT&T Mobile Barcode Services, go to www.att.com/mobilebarcode.

AT&T also provides many other solutions for consumer direct response including AT&T Toll-Free, AT&T Interactive, AT&T Digital Media Solutions and the Yellow Pages.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**Standard data and data transfer charges apply, see your plan for details.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine. 

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.

© 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 3G service not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

Android and Android Market are registered trademarks of Google Inc.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.  

(1) Source: ABI Research, custom report, March 2010

Patents Protect HSN’s Proprietary HSN Shop by Remote® Interactive TV Service as well as Improved E-Commerce Shopping Options For Customers

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.  (Profitable.com)  HSN, a leading interactive multichannel retailer, announced today that it had secured U.S. Patent No. 7,752,083, which includes its innovative and proprietary HSN Shop by Remote® interactive television service.  HSN Shop by Remote, currently available in more than 30 million homes, is the only service of its kind in the U.S. that gives consumers the ability to purchase products with just a few clicks of their remote control.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070214/CLW048LOGO-b )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070214/CLW048LOGO-b )

“This patent reinforces our position as a revolutionary force in television and retail as we continue to bring exciting innovations to our customers that enable them to shop whenever and however they choose,” said John McDevitt, VP of Advanced Services for HSN.

The HSN patent entitled “System for Improved Interactive Television Processing” covers many of the proprietary aspects of the HSN Shop By Remote platform and provides for a transactional environment between a server and one or more display devices.  Utilizing the unique identity of a given customer operating a display device, the HSN Shop by Remote system generates and transmits customized transaction data, creating an individualized transactional experience.

In addition, HSN secured U.S. Patent No. 7,756,758 entitled “Method and System for Improved E-Commerce Shopping.”  The patent includes many of the proprietary features of the HSN.com platform that allows consumers to view multiple video product presentations.  The system, which provides both a live video feed as well as pre-recorded video segments that may be related to one or more product presentations, offers consumers a superior format to watch videos as well as the ability to shop for various goods and services.

“Consumer appetite for online video viewing and shopping options is rapidly expanding, creating tremendous opportunities for e-commerce providers to monetize these channels,” continued Mr. McDevitt.  “Our second patent helps protect our video and e-commerce technology and reaffirms our leadership position in transactional innovation.”

As part of its strategy to provide customers with access to great shopping experiences across multiple platforms, HSN has deployed the HSN Shop by Remote interactive television service and is also today the only retailer streaming live HD video on three screens: TV, online and mobile.  With a focus on capturing additional growth opportunities in mobile, HSN has over the last year launched an i-phone app, an android app and, most recently, a WAP site.  And, beginning on August 1, HSN will launch HSN2 and effectively become the only multichannel retailer with a second TV shopping channel.  HSN2 will provide customers with more viewing and shopping options as it offers 24 hours of encore airings of HSN’s favorite brands, products and personalities.

About HSN

Headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, HSN is a leading interactive multichannel retailer, offering a curated assortment of exclusive products and top brand names to its customers. It incorporates experts, entertainment, inspiration, solutions, tips and ideas to provide an entirely unique shopping experience. At HSN, customers find exceptional selections in Health & Beauty (e.g. M. Asam, Carol’s Daughter, Coty, FranBrand, FusionBeauty, Andrew Lessman’s Procaps, Lancome, Perlier, Serious Skin Care, Wei East, ybf Beauty); Jewelry (e.g. Heidi Daus, Grayce by Molly Sims, R.J. Graziano, IMAN Global Chic, michaeLisa, Noir, Amedeo Scognamiglio, Tori Spelling, Serena Williams Signature Statement); Home/Lifestyle (e.g. Nate Berkus, Bissell, Colin Cowie, Dyson, Todd English, GreenPan with Thermolon, Emeril Lagasse, Joy Mangano, MoMA Design Store, Wolfgang Puck); Fashion/Accessories (e.g. American Glamour Badgley Mischka, Curations with Stefani Greenfield, Sam Edelman, Loulou de la Falaise, Chi by Carlos Falchi, Diane Gilman, “Timeless” by Naeem Khan, Adrienne Landau, Sharif); and Electronics (e.g. Canon, Gateway, GE, HP, JVC, Kodak, LG, Sony).

A leader in transactional innovation, HSN is currently the only retailer offering live streaming HD video on three screens: TV network, which broadcasts live to 95 million households in the US in HD 24/7; http://www.hsn.com, which is a top ten trafficked e-commerce site featuring more than 15,000 product videos; and mobile via its mobile-optimized site and iPhone and Android shopping applications. HSN, founded 33 years ago as the first shopping network, is an operating segment of HSN, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSNI).

Baltimore, MD  (Profitable.com)  Barcoding Inc., a national systems integrator specializing in the development, deployment, and management of supply chain and mobility systems, today announced that it has achieved Platinum Partner status with Psion Teklogix.

As a Platinum Partner, Barcoding Inc. is now a member of Psion Teklogix’s partner council. Council members provide direct and focused feedback to Psion Teklogix about its devices. In addition, Platinum Partner status provides Barcoding Inc. with access to a variety of service and support initiatives including additional marketing support.

Acting as a single point of contact for clients, Barcoding Inc. advises clients on best of breed products and services surrounding automated identification and data capture (AIDC) technology. The company’s capabilities range from barcode scanners and RFID data collection devices to wireless local and wide area networks, technical support and training, software applications, and professional services.

With national presence in the industry, Barcoding Inc.’s partnership with Psion is a natural fit. Psion’s rugged handhelds are industry-leaders in performing all functionalities in harsh, extreme work environments. Barcoding Inc. recommends a wide array of these Psion devices, including the new Workabout Pro 3 and the Neo, to clients who require that level of ruggedness. Barcoding Inc. clients also rely on mobile devices from Psion because of their modularity and ability to easily scale.

“Psion Teklogix products stand up to the test whether it’s working in a hot warehouse or a sub-zero cold storage freezer. They’re built tough,” said Ken Currie, business development manager at Barcoding Inc. “This new partnership will give Barcoding Inc. customers better access to the latest Psion devices such as the new Workabout Pro 3, as well as more input into Psion’s future product development.”

“As a Platinum Psion Partner, Barcoding Inc. is a key member of our reseller network that will help Psion to further infiltrate the manufacturing and logistics markets,” said Mike Jachimiec, vice president of channel sales at Psion Teklogix. “This new partnership status for Barcoding Inc. will help us to provide our joint customers with access to more technical support so that they can bring Psion’s rugged devices into service faster than ever for a more rapid return on their investment.”

About Barcoding Inc.

Barcoding Inc. is a national systems integrator, specializing in the development, deployment, and management of supply chain and mobility systems based on automated identification and data capture (AIDC) technology. More than 2,500 organizations depend on Barcoding Inc. as their trusted advisor for barcoding, radio frequency identification (RFID), and wireless applications automating operations in: field service, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution, retail, transportation and logistics, and wholesale inventory. For more information, visit http://www.barcoding.com.

About Psion Teklogix, Inc.

Psion is the pioneer in quality mobile handheld computers and their application in industrial b2b markets around the world. We’ve innovated in mobile computing since 1980, helping our global customers solve their business problems, including Volkswagen, SNCF, RWE nPower, E.ON, BMW, Goodyear, Copenhagen Airports and major international transport hubs.  

Our mobile devices are rugged, resilient and built to last. They are tailor-made solutions through our open innovation philosophy in which we co-create mobile hardware, software and services, together with our customers and partners on our community site, www.ingenuityworking.com. Psion is a public company on the London Stock Exchange. It is headquartered in London with corporate offices located in Europe, North America, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

For more information, visit http://www.psion.com.

Barcoding Inc. is a national systems integrator, specializing in the development, deployment, and management of supply chain and mobility systems based on automated identification and data capture technology.

Travel GPA has now partnered with e-Travel Technologies to offer travel alerts to destintations around the world and employee tracking for travel managers

Medfield, Massachusetts  (Profitable.com)  Travel GPA® has announced a partnership with e-Travel Technologies to offer the comprehensive security risk management suite of products from e-Travel Technologies including e-Travel Alerts, e-Travel Advisories, and e-Travel tracker to TMCs and the business travelers that they service. With the ability to incorporate real-time security risk notification and advisories along with global employee tracking, Travel GPA has further enriched its current product offering built around performance benchmarking and “Best in Class” travel policy and program analysis. The new service provides travelers official updates and alerts about destinations around the world and allows companies to locate travelers with a single click through the Travel GPA dashboard.

“We are excited to be involved with Rock Blanco and Travel GPA,” said Don Churchill e-Travel Technologies’ founder and president. “The opportunity to work with a seasoned and respected industry veteran like Rock, and Travel GPA’s impressive client base, is a significant opportunity for us.  With rapidly developing events and ever-changing conditions around the world, keeping customers informed of these events has become a necessary component for leading travel service providers.”  

Travel GPA provides real-time, in-depth policy and benchmarking analysis on corporate travel spend.  The data is live and can be scored against internal goals or benchmarked against the Travel GPA database of more than 32,000 companies and totaling more than $4 billion in spend.  The data is presented to users in the form of a “dashboard” into which the new e-Travel Alerts will be integrated.

e-Travel Technologies has designed their services for travel management companies, corporate travel departments and social media travel providers.  Their e-Travel Alerts tickers and marquees can be linked directly to company intranets.  In addition, the company has also provided travel risk management information services to multinational chains, corporate client desktops and company intranets.  

“Travel GPA is all about getting the right data to the right people at the right time,” said Rock Blanco, president of Prime Numbers the company behind Travel GPA.  “Our platform is also very adaptable to the needs of our clients from TMS to corporate business travel facilitators.  Discussions with those who have been using our tool showed a very high demand for more information like e-Travel Technologies has to offer.  It’s just one more tool in the toolbox that Travel GPA brings to TMCs and corporate travel facilitators”

About Prime Numbers Technology and Travel GPA

Prime Numbers Technology provides industry leading technology solutions for the travel community and was founded by industry veteran Rock Blanco. Travel GPA provides real-time corporate travel spend analysis and benchmarking. Prime Numbers also offers a suite of document delivery and productivity products and services including eInvoice and Profile Manager. To learn more about Travel GPA visit www.TravelGPA.com To learn more about Prime Numbers Technology visit www.PrimeNumbersTechnology.com, email marketing@primenumberstechnology.com, or call (800) 595-4923 X-3

CUPERTINO, Calif.  (Profitable.com)  Apple® today unveiled a new Mac® Pro line with up to 12 processing cores and up to 50 percent greater performance than the previous generation.* Featuring the latest quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors, all-new ATI graphics and the option for up to four 512GB solid state drives (SSD), the new Mac Pro continues to deliver amazing performance and expandability for the most demanding consumers and professionals.

“The new Mac Pro is the most powerful and configurable Mac we’ve ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With up to 12 cores, the new Mac Pro outperforms our previous top-of-the-line system by up to 50 percent, and with over a billion possible configurations, our customers can create exactly the system they want.”

At the heart of the new Mac Pro’s performance are next generation quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors running at speeds up to 3.33 GHz. These multi-core processors use a single die design so each core can share up to 12MB L3 cache to improve efficiency while increasing processing speed. These systems feature an integrated memory controller for faster memory bandwidth and reduced memory latency; Turbo Boost to dynamically boost processor speeds up to 3.6 GHz; and Hyper-Threading to create up to 24 virtual cores. The Mac Pro now comes with the ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor with 1GB of memory and customers can configure-to-order the even faster ATI Radeon HD 5870 with 1GB of memory.

For the first time, Mac Pro customers have the option to order a 512GB SSD for the ultimate in reliability and lightning fast performance. With the ability to install up to four SSD drives in the system’s internal drive bays, the new Mac Pro can provide ultra high-speed disk bandwidth and random disk performance, two times faster than the average performance of a standard disk drive.** Mac Pro also now features two Mini DisplayPorts and one dual-link DVI port. The additional Mini DisplayPort output allows customers to connect two LED Cinema Displays without an additional graphics card or adapter and the dual-link DVI port supports legacy DVI-based displays up to a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.

Every Mac Pro comes with Apple’s innovative Magic Mouse and customers can also order Apple’s new Magic Trackpad as an option. The Magic Trackpad brings the intuitive Multi-Touch™ gestures of Mac notebook trackpads to the desktop. With its glass surface, the wireless Magic Trackpad allows users to scroll smoothly up and down a page with inertial scrolling, pinch to zoom in and out, rotate an image with their fingertips and swipe three fingers to flip through a collection of web pages or photos. The Magic Trackpad can be configured to support single button or two button commands and supports tap-to-click as well as a physical click. Magic Trackpad is available separately for $69.

Continuing Apple’s commitment to the environment, Apple’s desktop lineup is a leader in green design. The Mac Pro meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.*** The Mac Pro enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and the interior is designed to be more material-efficient. The Mac Pro uses PVC-free internal cables and components and contains no brominated flame retardants. The new Apple Battery Charger provides a convenient and environmentally friendly way to always have a fresh set of batteries for your Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and Wireless Keyboard. The Apple Battery Charger is available as an option for $29 and comes with six long shelf life rechargeable batteries.

Every Mac also comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto®, with breakthrough ways to organize and manage your photos by who appears in them and where they were taken; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand® which offers a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Optional Apple professional applications include Aperture®, Final Cut® Express, Final Cut Studio®, Logic® Express and Logic Studio®.

Pricing & Availability

The new Mac Pro will be available in August through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The new quad-core Mac Pro, with a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:

• one 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3530 processor with 8MB of fully-shared L3 cache;
• 3GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 16GB;
• ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
• two Mini DisplayPorts and one DVI (dual-link) port (adapters sold separately);
• 1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• 18x SuperDrive® with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW);
• four PCI Express 2.0 slots;
• five USB 2.0 ports and four FireWire® 800 ports;
• AirPort Extreme® 802.11n;
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; and
• Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and Magic Mouse.

The new 8-core Mac Pro, with a suggested retail price of $3,499 (US), includes:

• two 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon E5620 processors with 12MB of fully-shared L3 cache per processor;
• 6GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 32GB;
• ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
• two Mini DisplayPorts and one DVI (dual-link) port (adapters sold separately);
• 1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• 18x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW);
• four PCI Express 2.0 slots;
• five USB 2.0 ports and four FireWire 800 ports;
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n;
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; and
• Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include:

• one 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3565 processor for the quad-core Mac Pro;
• one 3.33 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon W3680 processor for the quad-core Mac Pro;
• two 2.66 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5650 processors (12-cores) for the 8-core Mac Pro;
• two 2.93 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5670 processors (12-cores) for the 8-core Mac Pro;
• two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
• one ATI Radeon HD 5870 card with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
• up to 16GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory for the quad-core Mac Pro;
• up to 32GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory for the 8-core Mac Pro;
• up to four 512GB solid state drives (SSD); or
• up to four 1TB or 2TB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm;
• Mac Pro RAID card;
• dual-channel or quad-channel 4Gb Fibre Channel card; and
• up to two 18x SuperDrives with double-layer support.

Accessories include: Magic Trackpad, Apple Battery Charger, wired Apple Mouse, wireless Apple Keyboard, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, the AppleCare® Protection Plan; and pre-installed copies of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server; iWork®, Logic Express 9, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 3. Complete options and accessories are available at www.apple.com/macpro.

*Testing conducted by Apple in July 2010 using preproduction Mac Pro 12-core 2.93 GHz units and shipping Mac Pro 8-core 2.93 GHz units, all configured with 6GB of RAM. Based on render performance of Maxwell Render 2.0.3 using Benchwell’s sculpture.mxs. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of Mac Pro.

**Testing conducted by Apple in July 2010 using preproduction Mac Pro 12-core 2.93 GHz units configured with 6GB of RAM, 1TB 7200-rpm hard disk drive and 512GB solid-state drive. Testing conducted using Iometer 2006.07.27 with a 30-second ramp-up, 5-minute run duration, 128KB request size, 8 outstanding IOs, and 150GB test file. Average rotational media performance calculated by creating the test file on the outer, middle and inner sectors of the drive and averaging the results from all three measurements. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of Mac Pro.

***EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

© 2010 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, Snow Leopard, iLife, iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, Aperture, Final Cut, Final Cut Studio, Logic, Logic Studio, Apple Store, SuperDrive, FireWire, Airport Extreme, AppleCare and iWork are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

iPhone users can now access prescription drug information and CVS Caremark plan members can manage their prescriptions

WOONSOCKET, R.I.  (Profitable.com)  CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) announced today the release of the Caremark.com iPhone application.  Available at no cost at the iPhone App Store, this new application provides iPhone users with the ability to access the Drug Information Database to learn more about various prescription drugs and allows CVS Caremark plan members to log-in and securely manage their prescriptions on-line.  The application can be used with all versions of the Apple iPhone, the iPod Touch and the iPad.

“As an organization that is focused on finding innovative ways to engage and communicate, we know our members are looking for opportunities to utilize new technologies to manage their prescriptions and keep them connected,” said Tim Kurth, Vice President, eBusiness at CVS Caremark.  ”This new app is an example of how we provide our plan members with convenient access to their Caremark.com account through their preferred channel, this time through their iPhone.”

Any iPhone user can download the application and use the Drug Information function. This function will connect users to the Drug Information Database where they can research particular prescription medications, get information about how to take them, learn about available generic drug alternatives, see an image of the drug, learn about side effects and precautions, and much more.

CVS Caremark PBM members can use the application to register on Caremark.com or log-in securely to their existing Caremark.com account from their iPhone. Once they are logged in, members can perform a variety of functions, including:

• Refill a Prescription
• Check Prescription Order Status
• View Prescription History
• FastStart (ability to request a new prescription from their iPhone)
• Check Drug Cost
• Find a Nearby Network Pharmacy  (by zip code/address or by using their iPhone GPS locator)

About CVS Caremark

CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States. Through our integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care, we are uniquely positioned to provide greater access, to engage plan members in behaviors that improve their health, and to lower overall health care costs for health plans, plan sponsors and their members. CVS Caremark is a market leader in mail order pharmacy, retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, and retail clinics, and is a leading provider of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As one of the country’s largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), we provide access to a network of more than 64,000 pharmacies, including approximately 7,000 CVS/pharmacy® stores that provide unparalleled service and capabilities. Our clinical expertise includes one of the industry’s most comprehensive disease management programs. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the Company’s Web site at http://info.cvscaremark.com.

Store owners nationwide gain speed, security, and enhanced IP applications

GERMANTOWN, Md.  (Profitable.com)  Chevron gas and convenience store owners can now get faster broadband performance, better data security, and cool new Internet services to help attract customers and simplify store operations, thanks to a new provider relationship between Chevron and Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES).

Hughes, a worldwide leader in managed network solutions and the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, has been named the certified provider of secure managed broadband services for Chevron marketer and retailer stations nationwide, beginning July 2010.

Marketers and retailers now have more options for broadband connectivity that is PCI-compliant and also provides the high performance needed to support new web-based store applications. New connectivity options include broadband DSL, cable, 3G wireless and satellite service. And because it’s a fully managed broadband service, marketers and retailers can enjoy an always-on turnkey system that includes installation, proactive monitoring, and technical support.

The new broadband offering is part of Chevron’s mission to help marketers and retailers succeed in the extremely competitive retail petroleum market by giving them access to the best available technology.  

Hughes Managed Services provide secure point-of-sale connectivity to Chevron’s credit card authorizer. Its stringent PCI-compliant network and wireless intrusion detection technology greatly reduce security breach risks, while helping operators comply with evolving regulations.

“We are working with Hughes for broadband services to increase our retail operators’ long-term opportunities for success,” said Ken Morse, sales automation coordinator at Chevron. “They now can have direct access to their own suite of applications while meeting stringent PCI security requirements. Chevron-certified network services from Hughes deliver a worry-free solution for our retailers’ commerce and connectivity needs — all from a single vendor.”

The higher bandwidth of Hughes broadband services enables stations to streamline operations with enhanced IP-based services such as video surveillance, tank and temperature monitoring, inventory scanners, and digital signage.

Chevron marketers and retailers can also enhance the in-store customer experience with their own new services like free Wi-Fi, ATMs, car wash coupons, and photo kiosks.  

Old Friend, New Services

The Chevron/Hughes relationship has deep roots. Hughes has been providing secure credit card transactions over a Hughes very small aperture terminal (VSAT) network for more than 20 years. Today’s announcement offers marketers and retailers new options for fast and secure broadband connectivity combined with the latest IP services and the toughest security safeguards. Similarly, store owners with existing VSAT-based connectivity can enhance their operations with new web-based services, with one provider handling both their POS and broadband connectivity.

The new Hughes broadband services are available immediately. For more information, visit www.enterprise.hughes.com.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet® encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Its broadband satellite products are based on global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU standards organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A and GMR-1. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 2.2 million systems to customers in over 100 countries.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices worldwide. Hughes is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: HUGH). For additional information, please visit www.hughes.com.

GREENBELT, Md.  (Profitable.com)  Gryphon Technologies, LC was awarded a competitive-bid $26.6 million contract by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane, for logistics and technical support services in support of the Above Water Sensors Radar and Technologies Division (Code GXR).  Gryphon Technologies will provide technical support services for repair and installation of equipment, production support and test support in the areas of ship platform level systems including combat, hull mechanical and electrical, and communication logistics and associated components in support of electronic warfare, Fire Control, search radars and communication systems for Joint and Coalition Forces.

“We are very pleased with this win which reinforces our commitment to NSWC Crane and the surrounding communities,” said P.J. Braden, founder and President of Gryphon Technologies.  Crane Manager and Technical Director, Clint Jacobs also commented that “We welcome the opportunity to help NSWC Crane excel in existing business areas and grow in strategic importance.”

Gryphon Technologies, LC is a premier engineering and technical services firm supporting national security and coalition forces. The company has been named one of Maryland’s 50 fastest growing technology companies. Gryphon is a CMMI Level 3 rated company.

LONDON  (Profitable.com)  SunGard has been named as “Technology Provider of the Year” in the Global Securities Lending (GSL) Securities Lending Industry Awards 2010.

The awards are designed to recognize excellence in securities finance, with industry participants invited to nominate those firms they feel are top performers. In total 43 firms were nominated in 22 categories, and just under 6,000 votes were received. SunGard was recognised for both its new technology innovation and its commitment to an existing portfolio of well-established securities lending solutions.

GSL Editor-in-Chief Roy Zimmerhansl commented: “We’d like to congratulate SunGard on being named Technology Provider of the Year at the Securities Lending Industry Awards 2010. In what has been a turbulent time for this industry, the voting public has clearly decided that SunGard has continued to perform at a high level. They join our other winners in leading what we hope will be a strong second half for 2010, and we wish them well.”

Brian Traquair, president of SunGard’s capital markets and investment banking business, said, “This continued recognition from GSL’s readers is testimony to the confidence our customers have in our people and solutions. We recognize that the securities lending industry is ever evolving, and by launching new solutions such as Apex, we have shown our commitment to working together with our customers to address new market requirements as they arise. Our goal is to help our customers gain increased transparency, improved efficiency and reduced costs across their business, and this award shows that we are going the right way.”

About SunGard’s Apex

SunGard’s Apex offers a single, integrated solution for securities finance that covers real-time position management, flexible trade capture, exception processing and process automation.  It can help all types of securities finance practitioners to optimize their activities across trading desks, regions and product lines. For more information, visit www.sungard.com/securitiesfinance.

About SunGard

SunGard is one of the world’s leading software and technology services companies.  SunGard has more than 20,000 employees and serves 25,000 customers in 70 countries.  SunGard provides software and processing solutions for financial services, higher education and the public sector.  SunGard also provides disaster recovery services, managed IT services, information availability consulting services and business continuity management software.  With annual revenue exceeding $5 billion, SunGard is ranked 435 on the Fortune 500 and is the largest privately held business software and IT services company. For more information, visit www.sungard.com.

Trademark Information: SunGard, the SunGard logo and Apex are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunGard Data Systems Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. All other trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

OKLAHOMA CITY  (Profitable.com)  a la mode today announced that SureDocs, the company’s eSignature system, has applied its 3.5 millionth eSignature.

SureDocs has been used by thousands of mortgage professionals to apply secure eSignatures on mortgage disclosure docs, substantially speeding the process since originators can have signatures in minutes rather than days.  SureDocs has also saved mortgage originators from escalating shipping fees and the wasted time involved in manually mailing packages.

“We’ve saved $61,250 this year alone in overnight shipping bills, copier and storage expenses,” said Andy May with American Dream Residential.  ”We’ll send the GFE with SureDocs and if something changes or if we switch lenders, we would be hit with shipping fees and delays every time if we didn’t have SureDocs.  And the other thing you can’t put a price on is the peace of mind. With SureDocs, there’s a full audit trail I can access for any signature on any doc.”

With increasing regulatory scrutiny on mortgage professionals, SureDocs’ audit trail has become as important as the time and cost savings associated with eSignatures.  SureDocs’ end-to-end audit trail helps mortgage originators document HERA compliance, prevent GLBA violations, and provide safeguards against mortgage fraud.

“When we first introduced SureDocs in 2006, usage was limited to the most progressive mortgage companies,” stated Brad Eaton, Chief Product Officer at a la mode.  ”However, eSignature use is exploding now because of a perfect storm of four factors.  First, more lenders are announcing their acceptance of and preference for e-Signatures.  Second, the current regulatory environment has mortgage professionals looking for more security and more compliance documentation.  Third, in this economy, mortgage professionals are looking for ways to cut costs and speed closings.  And finally, HUD recently announced their plan for full eSignature acceptance on disclosure docs by Fall of 2010, if not earlier.  These factors have propelled SureDocs to this staggering 3.5 million milestone.”

The momentum will continue when a la mode broadens the reach of SureDocs with market-specific versions.  The company announced SureDocs for Appraisers™ and SureDocs for Agents™ in April (announcement).  In contrast to generic eSignature products, these market-specific applications will make eSigning much easier for appraisers and real estate agents since their documents will be pre-tagged for signatures.  Pre-tagging eliminates the manual work involved with other solutions, and ensures signature and initial blocks aren’t missed in a manual tagging process.  These markets will also benefit from SureDocs’ annual flat-fee pricing, rather than paying per document.

More information on SureDocs can be found at the company’s website at www.alamode.com/SureDocs.

About a la mode

Founded in 1985, a la mode develops desktop tools, mobile tools, web sites for real estate professionals, mortgage brokers, and appraisers. a la mode’s flagship product, WinTOTAL form-filling software for appraisers leads the residential appraisal industry. a la mode’s Mercury Network, a vendor management platform for lenders, provides the most experienced local appraisers in an HVCC-compliant, easy-to-use loan ordering and management application. a la mode’s mission-critical products are used by hundreds of thousands of appraisers, agents, inspectors, and lending professionals to complete the nation’s real estate transactions.  The company’s state-of-the-art offices are located in Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, and Washington, DC.  To learn more, visit www.alamode.com

EDMONTON, ALBERTA  (Profitable.com)  Randy Marsden, CEO of Cleankeys Inc., an Edmonton-based company revolutionizing the way medical professionals work, is proud to be selected as a finalist in the Prairies region for the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Awards.

Recognized in the technology category, Cleankeys produces a one-wipe-clean wireless keyboard, which is quickly becoming the new global standard in keyboard infection control. Since launching its next generation keyboard in February 2010, sales have increased 295%, with online traffic expanding over 1,000%.

“It is an honour to be recognized as a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year award,” says Randy Marsden, CEO of Cleankeys Inc. “This incredible accolade is shared with all my hard-working and innovative colleagues who have helped make Cleankeys an internationally recognized leader in technological advancements for professionals in the healthcare industry.”

Marsden has pioneered specialized computing technologies for people with disabilities for more than two decades. Muhammad Ali and Christopher Reeve are two of the millions who have benefitted from Marsden’s products including the OnScreen keyboard available in Microsoft Windows. Reeve was full of praise, “The assistive technology provided is amazing in its ability to erase the boundaries of disability.” Marsden is also co-founder of Swype, the world record-breaking text-input software used in numerous smart phones.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Awards recognizes high-achieving entrepreneurs in Canada and around the world who drive growth, build communities and transform industries. The Canadian program is in its 17th year of honouring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business.

The names of the Prairies winners will be announced at a gala banquet in Calgary on October 14, and the overall Prairies winner will represent the region at the national banquet in Toronto on November 17.

About Cleankeys

Cleankeys Inc. has been a world-leading designer and manufacturer of groundbreaking computer input solutions for over 20 years. Their head office is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The company has won an Ingenuity CME Award, an Alberta Science and Technology Award for technological innovation and the American Dental Association Award for Best New Product. Cleankeys was also recently commended by the British Safety Industry Federation and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.