Mar 04, 2003 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX)
A new program, Spamtrap, will intercept junk e-mail on the Internet. Sean Howard, who founded OzEmail, has set up a new company called MessageCare. Many of the investors and programmers from the first company are involved in the new venture. The program was developed because other software to block spam is not foolproof. Spamtrap tags each spam message with a unique identifier. By recognising the tag, the spam can then be intercepted. At present, customers' e-mail is diverted through MessageCare's servers. At this stage, 83.76 per cent of spam is intercepted.
Publication Date: 5 March 2003
MESSAGECARE: OZEMAIL LIMITED: WORLDCOM AUSTRALIA
By David Crowe
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Expert Faculty to Provide Solutions for Business in the Electronic Marketplace
BOSTON, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Electronic Commerce Association, a non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting the electronic commerce industry in Massachusetts and to providing a forum for organizations and businesses involved in emerging technologies, today announced Electronic Commerce Essentials '98, a three-day, intensive educational workshop designed to help industry executives learn about e-commerce trends and gain an understanding of how to profit in the emerging electronic marketplace. The workshop is co-sponsored by Compaq Computer Corporation, GTE CyberTrust, IBM, Sun Microsystems and Mass High Tech, and will be held October 26-28, at the DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel in Waltham, Massachusetts.
"Electronic Commerce Essentials is an educational workshop designed specifically for executives who recognize the importance of understanding how e-commerce will impact their business, but lack sufficient time to devote to the process," said Tom Hopcroft, President of the Massachusetts Electronic Commerce Association. "It is not intended to bombard attendees with new products, sales pitches, or multi-channeled keynote speeches."
Sessions will be taught by executives from such leading authorities as Armstrong World Industries, Compaq Computer Corporation, Concord Communications, Electronic Press Services Group, Forrester Research, Granitar Systems, GTE CyberTrust, IBM, IDC Research, Larry Miller Productions, nCipher, OneWave, OrderTrust, Silknet Software, Sun Microsystems, Tibersoft Corporation, WebPromote and the Yankee Group. Through a combination of presentations and case studies, attendees will gain an understanding of issues surrounding the new Internet economy, as well as an in-depth look at the technological aspects and the business opportunities of selling on the Web. Most importantly, attendees will come away with actionable ideas that can help their businesses succeed in this new marketplace.
"Our goal is to create an environment for learning and to deliver useful information that will enable our attendees to take advantage of e-commerce," Hopcroft said. "I am confident that attendees will return to their companies with a clearer understanding of how to prepare their businesses to benefit from the expanding world of e-commerce."
For more information contact the Massachusetts Electronic Commerce Association at info@massecomm.org, 617-722-9319, fax: 617-988-2040; 66 Charles Street, Suite 140, Boston, MA 02114, or visit the Association's online resource publication at http://www.ebuzz.org/
DOHA: Al-Jazeera satellite news channel on Sunday condemned what it called a campaign of threats against its journalists because of its coverage of uprisings in the Arab world.
"Al-Jazeera presenters have been the targets of a campaign of threats, with in some cases their own safety and that of family members being threatened," the Doha-based channel said in a statement.
The campaign "is aimed at influencing Al-Jazeera's coverage of the uprisings and protests that have swept many Arab countries," it said.
"Al-Jazeera now knows the source of these threats which convey nothing but the moral bankruptcy of those behind them," it added.
The statement did not name the source but said it was planning legal action.
However, a source at the broadcaster said the threats emanated from Syria, which has been rocked by protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar Al-Assad since mid-March.
"I began receiving emails swamped with curses and threats nearly three weeks ago," Tunisian presenter Laila Al-Shayeb told AFP.
Shayeb, who presents Al-Jazeera's daily evening program "Hassad Al-Yawm" (the day's harvest), said the last email she received on Saturday carried a direct death threat.
"Look into the camera in front of you and behind it you will find a machete preparing to harvest your brain and decorate the walls with it," she said.
At the end of the email, the sender posted an "indecent" fabricated photo of Shayeb threatening to post a full similar video on the Internet, she said.
Another Al-Jazeera journalist, Gahda Oweis from Lebanon, told AFP she had received similar messages.
Meanwhile, a presenter who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "I was forced to cancel my annual vacation which I usually spend in my country" due to the daily threats he had been receiving.
Al-Jazeera has held meetings with its journalists to reassure them of their safety and that of their families, said the source at the news channel.
The broadcaster said in its statement that "these continuous pressures against it and against its journalists will only make it more determined to hold on to the professional editorial line it has followed.
Syrian authorities accuse Al-Jazeera and other international satellite channels of exaggerating the protests and of broadcasting footage without verifying their authenticity.
But Shayeb rejected such accusations, saying: "We deal carefully with the material we receive. We only air videos which we have managed to verify."
Because few foreign journalists gain entry to Syria, international media rely heavily on video footage filmed and released by the protesters themselves on Internet sites such as YouTube.
Rights groups say that security forces have killed more than 1,300 civilians and arrested at least 12,000 since the anti-government protests began.
The pan-Arab satellite television channel has been in hot water with several autocratic Arab regimes over its coverage of uprisings sweeping the region since January.
During the protests in Egypt that toppled president Hosni Mubarak, the channel was banned from operating inside the country and nine of its journalists were briefly detained.
In Libya, Al-Jazeera cameraman Ali Hassan Al-Jaber was killed on March 12 in an ambush near Benghazi that the rebels blamed on Moammar Qaddafi's forces, and several Al-Jazeera journalists have also been arrested covering the revolt.
Also in March, Yemen evicted Al-Jazeera after it said footage of torture in an Iraqi jail was broadcast as having been filmed in the Arabian peninsula state, also the scene of anti-regime protests.
Since its launch 14 years ago, pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera has become a major player in the Arab world, giving a voice to opposition figures of various backgrounds.
Founded in gas-rich Qatar in 1996, Al-Jazeera - with apparently limitless resources - has revolutionized the Arabic-language media and reporting on the Middle East, a region where state channels have dominated.
Last May, Bahrain also banned the news channel.
Daily NewsEgypt 2011
Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company
According to a study from Philadelphia, United States, "This aim of the review was to describe differences in ethical approaches to research on Internet communication during illness and to report conclusions drawn relevant to a proposed narrative analysis of parent blogs of childhood illness. As the study of the online expression of illness experiences becomes more expansive, discussion of related ethical issues is central to promoting research trustworthiness and rigour."
"Ethical considerations are central to the patient-provider relationship. The EBSCO Host, CINAHL, Medline, Communication & Mass Media Complete, and Google Scholar databases were searched from January 1990 to September 2009 using the terms 'Internet research and ethics', 'Internet research, illness and ethics' and 'blog, Internet research and ethics'. Of the 4114 references found, 21 met the inclusion criteria for the review. Review methods. The review was designed to be a comprehensive assessment of the concepts analysed and the qualitative research measures taken concerning ethics in Internet research across formats. Three main approaches to ethical conduct in Internet research on illness experiences were found: human subjects, representation and open source approaches. The personal and sensitive nature of online illness narratives demand their consideration in health care as 'human subjects' research," wrote C.M. Heilferty and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: "The best hope for ethical treatment of author-participants is the creation of a comprehensive plan for addressing any and all potential ethical conflicts that may arise in the collection, analysis and reporting of data, taking into consideration rapid changes in technology."
Heilferty and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing (Ethical considerations in the study of online illness narratives: a qualitative review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2011;67(5):945-953).
For more information, contact C.M. Heilferty, Profess Holy Family University, School Nursing & Allied Health, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Publisher contact information for the Journal of Advanced Nursing is: Wiley-Blackwell, Commerce Place, 350 Main St., Malden 02148, MA, USA.
Keywords: City:Philadelphia, State:Pennsylvania, Country:United States, Region:North and Central America, Advanced Nursing, Ethics, Pediatrics, Technology
This article was prepared by Pediatrics Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Pediatrics Week via NewsRx.com.
HONG KONG, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- NetDragon Websoft Inc. ("NetDragon", Stock Code: 777), a leading online game developer and operator in China, announced that it will host a conference call and webcast to review its unaudited financial results for the first quarter 2011 ended March 31, 2011 on Wednesday, 15 June, 2011 Hong Kong time.
Details of the conference call are as follows:
Time: 8:00PM Hong Kong Time / 8:00AM Eastern Daylight Time, 15 June, 2011
| Dial in numbers: | |
| International Toll | 1-617-614-2712 |
| US Toll Free | 1-800-659-2032 |
| Hong Kong Toll Free | 800-96-3844 |
| South China Toll Free/China Telecom | 10-800-130-0399 |
| North China Toll Free/China Telecom | 10-800-152-1490 |
| China Toll | 4008-8116-29/4008-8116-30 |
| Passcode | 656-625-02 |
Replay service is available from 11:00PM June 15 to 12:00PM, June 22, 2011. Below are the replay numbers for different regions. International Toll: 617-801-6888; US Toll Free: 888-286-8010; Replay passcode: 48-827-168. A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of NetDragon's website at http://ir.netdragon.com/investor/ir_events.shtml. Participants in the live webcast should visit the aforementioned website 10 minutes prior to the call, then click on the icon for "1Q 2011 Results Conference Call" and follow the registration instructions.
About NetDragon
NetDragon Websoft Inc. is a leading innovator and creative force in China's online gaming and mobile internet industries. Established in 1999, we are a vertically integrated developer & operator of MMORPGs and a cutting-edge R&D powerhouse. We launched our first self-made online game Monster & Me in 2002, followed by multiple titles including Eudemons Online, Conquer Online, Heroes of Might & Magic Online and Disney Fantasy Online. We are also China's pioneer in overseas expansion, directly operating titles in overseas markets since 2004 in English, Spanish, Arabic and other languages. Our online games currently in development include World of Dungeon Keeper, TRANSFORMERS Online, icombo (previously named as Cross Gate), and a new version of Ultima Online.
In the mobile internet industry, we provide China's leading marketplace for smartphone users, offering applications and content for the most popular mobile operating systems. NetDragon currently offers its 91 portal, 91 PC Suite &91 Panda Space, hipak.com, Android market and Android ROM as its 5 major application distribution channels and two digital content distribution channels including 91 Panda Reader and Panda Home.
SOURCE NetDragon Websoft Inc.
While our industry has begun making some progress incorporating technology into our businesses, we still have a long way to go.
Consumers want choices in how they interact with their lender, and they are demanding ease, convenience and clarity around the process--all with a personal touch. Without technology, these things are unachievable.
The days of shuffling papers and living in a subjective processing world are long gone. To survive in today's market, you have to be part mortgage banker, part legislative policy expert and part technologist--and not necessarily in that order. Outside of having amazing people in your company, great technology coupled with strong processes stand head and shoulders above the rest as the single most important asset in a mortgage lender's toolbox.
As we know, the mortgage process is very complicated, and always changing. There are countless variables that impact the outcome and service received by our clients. Complicating matters, to this day many lenders still rely on a subjective, paper-intensive system to work a loan through the process.
We've all cringed while reading articles about servicers losing documents as clients try to go through the modification process, or the lengthy turn times clients had to endure during the refi boom of 2010.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
These unfortunate scenarios can be avoided by implementing the right processes and workflow that well-designed technology can create.
But investing in technology alone will not suffice. You can't sign a check, plug in some wires and expect to see your business transformed. You also have to invest in creating processes to best leverage that technology. At Quicken Loans, we have created several specialized business process teams, each of which are adept at technology and work closely with our information technology (IT teams) to develop workflows and systems around all aspects of our loan process. It is this partnership between, and commitment to, technology and process that will allow mortgage lenders to not only survive, but to set themselves apart from the pack.
We've learned this is a recipe that works, thanks in large part to nearly 15 years of trial and error. Our company was fortunate to recognize the importance of technology and the Internet early on. I still have the e-mail that our founder and chairman, Dan Gilbert, sent in March 1998, challenging us to embrace technology and the Internet. Gilbert saw then what many are just realizing now: Technology is a game changer.
Whether you buy technology off the shelf or build it yourself, as we decided to do, we must recognize that technology's main purpose is to make our clients' lives easier and our team members' job functions more clear and objective.
Many times, lenders only focus on how technology can save them money. While it can create some savings, the most significant benefit technology can provide is a fantastic client experience.
One example of this is electronic signatures, otherwise known as eSignatures. By being able to deliver application documents to consumers online and allowing them to review and use a simple click of a mouse to digitally sign them, lenders can cut days off of cycle times. This also provides convenience for the clients, who can log on from anywhere in the world to approve their paperwork. By allowing clients to upload their supporting documents (income statements, asset statements, etc.) to a secure website, both clients and lenders can be sure that the documents are received.
By employing a properly programmed scanning and indexing system, a lender can convert paper documents into an image file. Once these documents are imaged, multiple people in a lender's back office can work on the file simultaneously, thus reducing the redundant steps of passing paper around and ensuring the documents are viewed, reviewed and stored for future reference.
Another area that creates tension and noise for clients is visibility into the mortgage process and where they are in that process. Many lenders still rely on phone calls, e-mails or, in some shocking cases, don't update clients at all.
Technology improves the client communication process and provides a much better experience. By utilizing a secure portal that is integrated into the lender's origination system, clients can view the progress of their loans in real time. Creating this isn't easy and requires significant planning and programming, but the win is substantial for both the client and the lender.
Cycle times in 2010 for many lenders averaged 90 to 150 days from start to finish for even the most qualified of borrowers. At Quicken Loans, we were able to maintain cycle times of 30 days on average, even though our volumes tripled. We wouldn't have been able to do that without a clear investment in, and dedication to, technology and the objective process it creates. That process and technology led many of our peers to reach out to us for help in providing their clients with a better experience.
Technology and process can also be invaluable tools when addressing compliance issues in your business--as demonstrated over the past two years with the advent of new Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) rules, mortgage banker licensing regulations and the soon-to-be-clearer requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (SAFE Act) went into play in 2010, and with that came our daunting task of licensing 1,500 mortgage bankers in 50 states. As a 50-state, centralized non-bank lender, we had to figure this process out--and technology was key to making it happen.
With the help of our technology, legal compliance and training teams, we wrapped our arms around the rules, developed training programs, implemented systems to track licensing and added logic to our origination system to ensure our clients were being routed to mortgage professionals licensed in their states.
The government essentially created a barrier of entry to just about every non-bank multi-state lender that we--with technology, brainpower and more than just a little bit of manpower--were able to crack.
And the need to leverage technology and processes to deal with the regulatory environment will only continue to grow. We are just beginning to get a glimpse at the compliance demands created by the Dodd-Frank Act. Those in our industry who have the technology, processes and people in place to quickly become compliant with these rules will find themselves with a significant advantage over their peers.
The lesson in all of this is to continue innovating. Don't get mired in the "this is the way we have always done things" mindset. At Quicken Loans, we have an ISM (our name for a guiding principle) that challenges us all to be "obsessed with finding a better way."
That is my challenge to our industry. Be obsessed with harnessing the latest technology and using it to amaze homeowners and homebuyers alike. Be obsessed with transforming the image of our industry.
Bill Emerson is chief executive officer of Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc., the nation's largest online retail mortgage lender and one of the five largest overall home lenders in the country. He can be reached at billemerson@quickenloans.com.
In Prime Votes, a first of its kind campaign, RLTV is empowering and mobilizing seniors to make their voices heard and affect change.
BALTIMORE, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Retirement Living TV (RLTV), the only cable network dedicated to covering matters of concern for Boomers, retired and mature Americans and advocating on behalf of seniors, is launching Prime Votes, a series of programs designed specifically to address the issues of fundamental importance in the upcoming election. This November, choices will be made that will directly impact older adults. The outcomes will have long-term repercussions.
As part of its extensive and informative programming in the Prime Votes initiative, RLTV is proud to present a two-part 60-minute special, Prime Votes: The National Forums hosted by Cokie Roberts , the senior news analyst for NPR and chief congressional analyst for ABC News. Each show will provide the opportunity for extensive input from the public as pollsters Frank Luntz and Mark Mellman lead "Man on the Street" packages giving seniors a chance to have their voices heard. Cokie Roberts will also moderate a discussion in the studio in front of a live audience. The forums will be centered on roundtable discussions featuring an impressive panel of leading opinion-makers and political insiders from both parties who will delve deeply and candidly into the troubling issues imperative to seniors in the upcoming election.
Prime Votes: The National Forums will premiere on Thursday and Friday, October 21[sup.st] and 22[sup.nd] at 8pm on RLTV. The National Forums will also air the weekend of October 23[sup.rd] on C-SPAN.
As part of its extensive and informative programming in the Prime Votes initiative, RLTV is providing ongoing dispatches called Prime Votes: Election 2010 Newsdesk. Sam Donaldson, 42-year veteran of ABC News and former White House Correspondent, and John Palmer, former anchor for NBC's The Today Show, host daily news segments, five days a week, at 5, 7, 9, and 11pm on RLTV. Along with the incisive and compelling commentary of the anchors these timely updates will also feature field reports from a range of notable contributors and will examine the latest news as it develops and investigate trends in the political landscape, all from a senior perspective. This is essential viewing for RLTV's viewers to better prepare them for the crucial election ahead.
Issues of vital importance to the well-being of those adults 55+ will be decided in the coming years and it is imperative that seniors -- already the most powerful voting bloc -- be fully informed and make their votes count. Issues such as healthcare, education, the environment, social security, along with the ongoing economic downturn that is disproportionately affecting seniors, make this election a turning point. This isn't about politics, it's about your future.
About the Hosts:
Cokie Roberts:
Cokie Roberts serves as a senior news analyst for NPR where she was the congressional correspondent for over ten years. Roberts is also a political commentator and chief congressional analyst for ABC News -- reporting for World News Tonight and other broadcasts-and co-anchored "This Week with Sam Donaldson & Cokie Roberts."
Before joining ABC News in 1988 Roberts was a contributor for The MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour on PBS where her coverage of the Iran-Contra Affair won her the Edward Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting. She has also been a reporter for CBS News, stationed in Athens, and the producer and host of a public affairs program on WRC-TV in Washington, D.C.
Roberts is a former president of the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association and has won numerous awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for coverage of Congress, and an Emmy Award for her contribution to "Who is Ross Perot?" In 2002 Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer for which she was successfully treated.
Sam Donaldson
Sam Donaldson is 42-year ABC News veteran, serving two appointments as chief White House correspondent and anchoring a variety of shows including "World News Sunday," "This Week With Sam Donaldson & Cokie Roberts," and -- with Diane Sawyer -- "PrimeTime Live." He has hosted his own national radio show and also the first regularly scheduled Internet webcast produced by a television network.
Mr. Donaldson has covered the greatest, most notable, and most notorious events of the last five decades including Vietnam, Watergate, and the Lockerbie bombing. He has unflinchingly interviewed everyone who's mattered during the last five decades, from actor Sean Connery and baseball great Willie Mays to Presidents Carter, Ford, Clinton, and Bush.
Mr. Donaldson has won many awards, including four Emmys, three Peabodys, Broadcaster of the Year from the National Press Foundation, and The Washington Journalism Review's Best Television Correspondent in the Business in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.
John Palmer
With over five decades of experience in broadcast news, John Palmer has covered the world. He has served as a correspondent in Chicago, Paris, and the Middle East, as well as in the White House covering Presidents Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and Bush. For seven years Mr. Palmer was the news anchor for The Today Show and later anchored NBC News at Sunrise. During his almost 40 years with NBC, he briefly stepped away to host a weekly series for the Discovery Channel and, following that, to anchor the Christian Science Monitor's daily national news broadcast, World Monitor with John Palmer. Currently, Palmer hosts two shows for RLTV: Encore with John Palmer and Prudent Advisor.
Prime Votes: 2010 Election Newsdesk and The National Forums Executive Producer is Jay Garfinkel and Senior Producer Terry Irving.
About Retirement Living TV
Retirement Living TV (RLTV) is the only cable network dedicated to serving the needs of adults 55+ with information and entertainment that inspires and enhances the perception of aging. The network has Emmy award-winning programming that addresses a variety of subjects and genres including health, finance, travel, reality, comedy, and drama. It is RLTV's vision to be the top television network, online destination, and media brand for adults 55+. For more information, log on to WWW.RL.TV.
SOURCE Retirement Living TV
Freescale Semiconductor technology is powering the recently announced Sharp NetWalker (PC-Z1) product, a lightweight, compact consumer device that offers instant-on functionality and mobile phone-like battery life.
The advanced capabilities of the Freescale i.MX515 processor help the NetWalker PC-Z1 product deliver functionality for the smartbook category such as ultra-long battery life and a streamlined form factor.
Commonly powered by processors based on ARM technology, smartbooks are connected mobile devices that combine elements of smartphones and netbooks. The Sharp NetWalker PC-Z1 incorporates the best features of a mobile phone, PC and e-book; providing low power consumption, instant-on capability and Internet browsing functionality.
Freescale has built an ecosystem of partners and complementary technologies for smartbooks, including software and industrial design resources.
"Freescale is playing a central role in the creation of the next generation of wireless connected devices," said Glen Burchers, director of consumer segment marketing for Freescale. "Freescale congratulates Sharp for its compelling new NetWalker product and we look forward to driving future innovation with this worldwide consumer electronics leader."
Weighing in at only 409 grams, the Sharp NetWalker delivers 10 hours of battery life between charges. It runs the Ubuntu OS, includes a full keyboard, features a five inch, 1024 x 600 LCD touchscreen display and offers fast launch functionality. The device will be initially available in Japan beginning Sept. 25, with other markets to follow in the future.
((Comments on this story may be sent to health@closeupmedia.com))
Experts credit Obama's social media tactics and consistent messaging as factors in his solid win.
Barack Obama's solid victory as the next president of the US will likely be remembered as a landmark event in time. Yet, in addition to its historical significance, the win will likely make a lasting impact on the communications sector.
On the days leading up to the election, PRWeek solicited predictions from PR pros on who would become the next president and what in their communications strategy would propel him to victory. They overwhelmingly pointed to an Obama victory. His campaign's savvy social media tactics, its focused messaging, and even its impressive fundraising efforts contributed to his electoral edge. And the tactics developed in that campaign will become the new norm, communicators say.
Jason Booms, president and CEO of Booms Research & Consulting, says Obama's win reflects a broader trend toward more interactive communications rather than conventional top-down messaging.
'(John) McCain understood an older form of communications that was hierarchal and corporate,' Booms says. 'The new way of doing things is more about relationship-building. Obama just captured that better.'
Obama's effort was widely lauded for having a keen understanding of new media, the epicenter of the conversation-driven media. According to data compiled by The Wall Street Journal, Obama nearly doubled the number of unique visitors to his Web site compared with McCain. It also showed Obama's Facebook network topped more than 2 million, while McCain was just shy of 600,000.
'Here's a case when the Democrats were way ahead of the Republicans in how to get their message across on the Internet and build dialogue,' Booms notes. 'It's not just the young that use the Internet, it's older voters, too.'
Another winning strategy for Obama was the consistency of his 'change' slogan and the widely recognized symbol he used in his primary fight all the way to his victory.
Jeff Mascott, MD at the Adfero Group and an adjunct PR/communications professor at Georgetown University, says, 'What's interesting is (Obama) was the first to come up with a visual brand for his campaign in the same way you would for a corporate brand.'
The image resonated strongly with voters because Obama's campaign remained focused on the themes it evoked - hope and change. The effort stayed on message, he adds, even when confronted with challenges.
The campaign used the same consistency with Obama himself, remarks Derek LaVallee, VP of public affairs at Waggener Edstrom.
'He never over-steered,' says LaVallee. 'We saw John McCain do that a lot. He saw one thing against him then completely overacted. That became the message. Obama didn't really react to anything other than with the race issue (which was raised) during the primaries.'
His coolness might have also opened an opportunity for people to read more deeply into his actions, LaVallee adds.
'I think just his personality gave him a couple points with the independent swing voters who would think, 'maybe ... he's thinking what I am thinking,'' he says.
The McCain campaign's rhetoric of socialism and Marxism might have made their candidate seem out of touch, points out John Hlinko, president and CEO, Grassroots Enterprise.
'That's the kind of rhetoric you would have expected to hear 30, 40, or 50 years ago,' Hlinko points out.
Obama also benefited from circumstances beyond both the candidates' control, like the economy, LaVallee adds. Amid uncertainty, Americans tend to gravitate toward the more optimistic message, which Obama conveyed consistently.
'Americans are optimists,' he says. 'Hope always trumps fear.'
To read PR pros pre-election day predictions, visit www.prweek.com.
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Latest Network Enhancements Come As AT&T Gears Up to Deliver Supercharged Mobile Access, Interactive Content and Mobile Applications
GREENVILLE, S.C., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T Inc. , the nation's largest wireless carrier, today announced an upgrade and expansion of service by launching new cell sites to enhance the wireless network in the Greenville and Spartanburg area. Also, AT&T will deploy its upgraded third-generation (3G) broadband mobile network the first half of 2008. This will give customers the ability to access voice and high speed data features simultaneously, as well as more options in how, when and where they can access the Internet, use e-mail or view a variety of entertainment services.
"We want to provide the best service possible for all of our customers in Greenville and Spartanburg, which we consider major markets in the Carolinas," said Alison Hall, vice president and general manager for the company's North and South Carolina market. "These new cell sites, along with 3G deployment, help us to provide superior coverage to give customers an 'invisible wire' that extends their broadband experience beyond their office or home."
Currently, AT&T is adding additional cell sites to strengthen coverage in the following areas:
-- State Scenic Highway 11, east of Table Rock State Park -- North of Highway 492 (Pelham Road) in Greer -- Eastern Spartanburg -- U.S. Highway 221 and the surrounding commercial and residential areas in Spartanburg
With AT&T's 2008 deployment of its 3G network in Greenville, Spartanburg and Clemson, the cities will join a growing list of markets in the Carolinas with 3G coverage that already includes Columbia, S.C., Myrtle Beach, S.C., Charlotte, N.C., Raleigh, N.C. and Greensboro, N.C. As part of AT&T's 2008 launch plans for the Carolinas, the company is also scheduled to deploy its 3G broadband network in Charleston, S.C., Fayetteville, N.C. and Jacksonville, N.C. Since 2004, the company has invested nearly $230 million on wireless network enhancements to expand coverage, add capacity and grow its 3G network in South Carolina.
"This expansion is evidence of our ongoing commitment to invest in the state of South Carolina," said Pamela Lackey, state president of South Carolina. "AT&T will continue to invest in the communications infrastructure essential for this state's growth."
THE BENEFITS OF AT&T's 3G NETWORK
AT&T's 3G network uses HSDPA/UMTS (High Speed Downlink Packet Access/Universal Mobile Telephone System) technology. The company's 3G network is also based on the GSM (Global Systems for Mobile Communications) standard, the most widely used technology in the world. More than 2.6 billion people use wireless devices powered by GSM - representing more than 85 percent of the world's wireless users.
Customers who use a GSM phone, such as those offered by AT&T, can take their device with them when they travel abroad and can benefit from worldwide access through the GSM standard. AT&T subscribers have the ability to browse the Web and perform other data functions in more than 135 countries, and they can make a phone call in more than 190 countries and territories. The 3G network also provides the simultaneous delivery of voice and data - a capability not offered by all wireless providers. AT&T Video Share is an example of a 3G service that enables users to share live video over wireless phones while carrying on a voice call - providing a new way to share personal moments and key events beyond the capabilities of voice and text. Users can allow others to "see what I see, when I see it." Earlier this summer, AT&T Video Share was launched in 3G markets nationwide.
Among several other benefits, the simultaneous data and voice capability allows customers to participate on a conference call from their 3G device while they download a presentation or access the Internet.
Another benefit of GSM technology is that customers who leave AT&T's growing 3G service footprint automatically convert to the AT&T EDGE network without dropping the call or data connection. The EDGE network is the largest high speed wireless data network in the country, with availability in more than 13,000 cities and towns and in areas along 40,000 miles of highway. EDGE technology is also available in more than 120 countries and is available to AT&T customers who are traveling internationally.
Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. 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. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. 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/.
(C) 2007 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Knowledge Ventures. For more information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.
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DULLES, Va. & SAN JOSE, Calif. -- AOL LLC and Covad Communications Group, Inc. (AMEX:DVW), a leading national provider of integrated voice and data communications, today announced that consumers will now be able to access the AOL service with Covad's ADSL 6.0 high-speed broadband access product for as low as $39.95 per month.
"Covad's ADSL 6.0 access product is another example of our flexible approach to meeting consumers' needs as they move to broadband," said Joe Redling, president of AOL's Access Business. "Covad's national broadband network, high quality products, and expertise in DSL make them an ideal partner as we continue to expand our coast-to-coast AOL High Speed offer with even more provider and access speed options."
"This announcement signals a promising new direction in our longstanding strategic partnership with AOL," said Charles Hoffman, Covad president and chief executive officer. "We view ADSL 6.0 as the first of many innovative Covad products that will help AOL capture consumers' growing interest in moving to broadband."
Residential users will increasingly adopt high-bandwidth data services as they accelerate their move away from dial-up, according to Parks Associates, a leading industry and consumer research firm. "By deploying Covad's ADSL 6.0, AOL positions itself to take advantage of the residential user's increasing interest in high-bandwidth data access for applications such as online gaming, streaming video, and downloading music," said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst, Parks Associates.
Key features of AOL High Speed with Covad ADSL 6.0 include:
--High-Speed Access: Covad ADSL 6.0 features download speeds of up to 6.0Mbps and up to 768K upstream.
--Fast & Easy Setup: Plug-and-play installation makes establishing a wireless Internet connection quick and easy.
--Customer Service: Help that's available 24/7, including help via phone, e-mail or instant message.
--Safety: A comprehensive set of safety and security tools available to keep users safer against viruses, spyware, identity theft, and other online threats for no additional charge.
--Content: AOL-exclusive and original programming including commercial free radio, streaming video and music are all more enjoyable than ever.
--Storage: Additional benefits like unlimited email and picture storage on AOL.
Covad currently offers ADSL 6.0 to consumers only through wholesale partners such as AOL, who will begin offering the service this summer. AOL members and consumers should visit http://www.aol.com/highspeed to learn more and to sign-up.
About AOL LLC
AOL LLC and its subsidiaries operate a leading network of Web brands and the largest Internet access subscription service in the United States. Web brands include the AOL.com(R) website, AIM(R), MapQuest(R) and Netscape(R). AOL offers a range of digital services in the areas of education, safety and security, communications and music. The company also has operations in Europe and Canada. AOL, which is based in Dulles, Va., is a majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.
About Covad
Covad is a leading nationwide provider of integrated voice and data communications. The company offers DSL, Voice Over IP, T1, Web hosting, managed security, IP and dial-up, wireless broadband, and bundled voice and data services directly through Covad's network and through Internet Service Providers, value-added resellers, telecommunications carriers and affinity groups to small and medium-sized businesses and home users. Covad broadband services are currently available across the nation in 44 states and 235 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and can be purchased by more than 57 million homes and businesses, which represent over 50 percent of all US homes and businesses. Corporate headquarters is located at 110 Rio Robles San Jose, CA 95134. Telephone: 1-888-GO-COVAD. Web Site: www.covad.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
The foregoing contains "forward-looking statements" which are based on management's current information and beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made by management. Examples of forward-looking statements include expectations regarding the success of the relationship described in this press release and the adoption of high-bandwidth services by consumers. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside Covad's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These risk factors include the ability of Covad to sell and deliver its services efficiently, to effectively compete with other providers of voice and broadband services, and to maintain an efficient cost structure, as well as potential changes in telecommunications regulations, among other risks. For a more detailed description of the risk factors that could cause such a difference, please see Covad's 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Covad disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This information is presented solely to provide additional information to further understand the results of Covad.
