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Detox Your PC Campaign Launched

BSA or the Business Software Alliance has launched a campaign called “Detox Your PC to Keep Your Business Healthy” campaign, which tackles about encouraging the entrepreneurs to remove the “toxins” or pirated softwares inside their PC.  

Tarun Sawney, Director of Anti-Piracy for Asia, explained several risks of having pirated software in a business, and the benefits of having licensed ones. “Buying an unlicensed software, may put a big smile on your face because of the big savings that you will have. But what if suddenly you’re having some technical problems like system crashes, bugs, viruses, which these pirated softwares usually contain within? Who will you run to? You can’t ask for technical assistance from professionals or from the original manufacturing company itself because you’ve been using unlicensed softwares. Then soon, you’ll observe that you had spent more money resolving it.”  

Penalties of having unlicensed software are from 1 to 9 years of imprisonment, P50,000 to P1,500,000 cash penalty. The BSA-IDC Global Software Piracy Study released last 2003 showed that piracy rate in the Philippines stood at 72% with retail revenue losses amounting to over P3 billion or U.S. $55.3 Million. Cutting on the use of pirated softwares will benefit the business and the country’s economy. A 10% reduction of piracy rate in the Philippines will save up to P19.2 billion losses in the economy. 

This campaign, supported by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, not only promotes software copyright, but also aims for the growth of the ICT industry. ”Software piracy in the Philippines continues to be a problem and restrains the local ICT industry from reaching its maximum potential. This campaign is also a call to boost the ICT industry through the use of licensed software. The country will stand to gain from increased investments, job creation, and tax revenues if software piracy is lowered,” added Sawney. 

BSA will also be giving a free SAM (Software Asset Management) seminar for companies to further help them take full IT advantage of their IT investments. Additional information about the campaign and SAM resources are available on the BSA Philippines website, http://www.bsa.org/philippines/. The BSA also has a dedicated anti-piracy hotline for anyone who wishes to report illegal software usage in businesses and companies. The hotline for Metro Manila residents is 819-5897, while toll-free number 1-800-1-888-8787 is available for those living outside Metro Manila. Reports can also be done online via the BSA website. - Jason Cheng, Copyright 2005

Alcatel Starts WiMAX Field Trials

Communications solutions provider, Alcatel, together with chip-maker Intel had expanded their strategic alliance with WiMAX to accelerate the delivery of end-to-end residential, nomadic, mobile WiMAX solutions based on the IEEE 802.16e standard. 

The companies will begin field trials in the first half of 2006, with commercial network deployments starting mid-2006, using user devices based on Intel’s next-generation WiMAX client chipsets. The companies, under their agreement, will share engineering and customer lab resources to develop, combine and test interoperability testing for Alcatel’s WiMAX network infrastructure solutions and Intel’s next-generation WiMAX client silicon meant for wireless devices. 

There are about 70,000 DSL subscribers in the Philippines, and Alcatel foresees a 100% expected growth in 2005, and accelerating onwards. Broadband service providers in the Philippines cater to a growing market. At this time enjoying niche penetration by providing access to less than 1% of the country’s population. But with the right strategy, as proven by major telecom players such as Globe Telecom, Smart and Sun Cellular, broadband may yet be the next locomotive of growth for business in the Philippines.

The company also sees a great opportunity for its vision of User-Centric Broadband in the Philippines, where communication is central to business and everyday life. Leveraging segments such as business process outsourcing, gaming, other consumer applications, and e-government are drivers of broadband growth. 

The innovation of communications throughout the world has deepened and expanded. With ingenious business solutions, the saga of modern technology will continuously make this world’s communications technology better and better. - Jason Cheng, Copyright 2005

EMC Launched Retrospect 7

EMC Corporation, in partnership with Dantz and Smarts, launched its latest proactive backup and recovery software EMC Dantz Retrospect 7 for Windows.

It has four updated versions: Retrospect 7 Multi-Server, Disk-to-Disk, Single Server, and Small Business Server. This software has wizard-based features: set-up, backup, duplicate and restore wizards that enables seamless accessibility for the users. 

Retrospect 7 also has file servers, 24x7 applications, and Operating Systems protected from any kinds of system failure by instantaneously updating backups to a backup server. Included is an option to encrypt the data stored with its 128-bit AES data encryption feature and moves the backups onsite or offsite by network storage technologies NAS (Network-Attached Storage), SAN (Storage Area Networks), and CAS (Content Addressed Storage). 

Besides Retrospect 7, EMC also offers platforms CLARiiON AX100 and CLARiiON CX Family. The CLARiiON networked storage systems delivers a wide set of Fiber Channel. Combined with iSCSI storage networking solutions, CLARiiON iSCSI systems enables customers to deploy affordable SANs by using their existing IP network infrastructure.  

All these products make SMB’s ILM (Information Lifecycle Management) more secured and safe from any “out of the blue” circumstances, at an affordable cost, a sound path for a continuous and rapid growth for the companies. - Jason Cheng, Copyright 2005

Solutions from Intellectual Creativity and Partnership

March 9, 2005, a day wherein three remarkable companies, namely Avaya Inc, ADC Krone, and Juniper Networks launched their unmatched solutions for modern IP based business infrastructure.

 

Avaya

Avaya’s services embedded communications technology into the fabric of the enterprise, using software, services and systems that layer flawlessly on any network.

 

One of their claimed achievement was Australia’s largest IP telephony network, Australian National University(ANU). The challenging part here for Avaya was the ANU’s PABX network was at the end of its life, and the external copper cable plant supporting it was deteriorating and creating support issues.

 

The ANU required a solution that was IP connected and still provided traditional services. Avaya’s solution was designed to blend in with the ANU’s new IP-based Gigabit Ethernet campus area network, supporting 15,000 IP telephone handsets around its 130 building and 3 remote campuses – enough for all of the University’s 3,000 staff and 10,000 students to simultaneously be on the phone and online.

 

Avaya Labs Australia has also established a combined research and development arrangement that will enable ANU researchers to work closely with Avaya engineers on advanced communications technology. “The collaboration of the researchers and the Avaya engineers shows that Australian operation has been recognized as a best-in-class technology research and development facility by one of Australia’s premier tertiary institutions,” Managing Director Mr. Carlton Taya of Avaya Australia said.

 

ADC KRONE

On the other hand, ADC KRONE One Company, had launched the world’s first 10-gigabit UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) copper cabling system called CopperTen. CopperTen lend its benefits to customers such as enterprise network operators, broadcast TV operators, telecommunication companies, cable TV operators, Internet/data communications providers, and also wireless service providers. To measure 10 Gig performance today, Shannon’s Law(Capacity) formula which relates bandwidth in Hertz to information carrying capacity in bits per second. Formally:

 

Q=B log₂ (1+S)

Where Q=Information Carrying Capacity(ICC) in Gbps

             B=Bandwidth in MHZ

             S=Signal-to-noise ratio

This expression shows that the ICC is proportional to the bandwidth, but is not identical to it.

 

CopperTen has the necessary characteristics to enable 10Gbps Ethernet transmission over a full 100 meters. Connectivity problems like alien crosstalks (interference from adjacent cables) and signal noise emerging from cellphones are fixed by KRONE’s conductor separator, often referred to as star separators, that results to alien crosstalk prevention.

 

ADC Krone’s solution to 10 Gig capable infrastructure is happening, and has lend a step forward in making modern IP infrastructure move to another level, thus, a landmark for entrepreneurs who are envisioning of unmatched data transfer speed.

 

Juniper Networks

Along with these companies, Juniper Networks introduced a new solution for secured and assured wireless networking to distributed remote sites and small offices, and that is the NetScreen-5GT Wireless.

 

NetScreen-5GT is the first positional integrated deep inspection 75 Mbps firewall to support wireless security zones, and it has ScreenOS functionality.

 

ScreenOS is an operating system wherein auxiliary users are actively observed, and with this functionality, the security of the zones is sound. The security of NetScreen-5GT is flexible when it comes to support for wireless LANs or WLAN, 802.11i or WPAv2 authentication technology, and modifiable zone by zone security policies. Tested from simple Wired Equivalent Privacy authentication, including Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP), Tunneled Transport Layer Security and TLS authentication, worked for the first time. This level of interoperability allows each WLAN to have different types of authentication which defines NetScreen-5GT’s flexibility.

                                    All-in-one Rapid Deployment Solution:

Firewall + IPSec VPN + Deep Inspection + Anti-virus (Trend Micro) + Web Filtering + VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Security + Wireless Connectivity = NetScreen-5GT Wireless

 

A good demonstration of this product: Enterprises wherein they have remote offices and allow customers to connect using WiFi in which the enterprise will charge customers for their payments for using the WLAN connection. With NetScreen-5GT technology, the enterprise may hire a manager for all firewalls and access points, and assign appropriate levels of security to different user groups: if it’s either an SSID (Service Set Identifier) for employees or an SSID for visitors.

 

Internal servers may customize the security level of SSID for employees to access internal servers and the internet with the firewall policies, and SSID for visitors to block internal access and limit access to internet only. “Juniper Networks provides the backbones for businesses to be more stable in terms of security, and with our business partners, this solution is made possible,” Regional Security Product Manager Andy Leung from APAC Juniper Networks stated.

 

Imagine, all solutions applied to an individual company will truly make its profitability better, not only providing fast, well secured 10 Gigabit online services, but also an unmatched IP based WLAN infrastructure wherein the customers are well connected with the firm itself, thus, outstanding all other services in terms of security level, seamless WLAN structure, and most of all, the quality of the service that the business renders to the customers. - Jason Cheng, Copyright 2005

Play, Surf, and Chat As WeRoam

Had you ever imagined of chatting with your friends on the Internet while sitting at the backseat of your Dad’s Car? Ever wished of researching data for group projects in just a snap, even when you aren’t home? All these situations are now made possible by PLDT’s WeRoam wireless Internet access service.

 

WeRoam offers a solution for SMEs, large corporations with remote offices, and road warriors. Thus helping too, those companies who are offering part-time jobs for students.

 

“Wireless data technology does not only help businesses to extract productivity, but also for the employees themselves to work, upload their works instantly, and most of all, anywhere,” Mr. Ernesto R. Alberto, SVP & Corporate Business Group Head of PLDT briefly stated.

 

Academically, having WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) technology in schools and universities would be a great help. Imagine, placing a computer in every classroom without bothering to connect LAN cables in every room. It is seamlessly convenient and allows direct research to the Internet to be more easily accessible.

 

“We have our WeRoam services rendered in some public schools, one in Lapu-Lapu and one in Cavite. We are still taking progress on WeRoam service programs not only for aiding schools and universities, but also businesses and corporations in terms of mobility in research and communication for the students and the staffs,” said Mon Isberto, PR manager of Smart Communications Inc. 

 

The service deals four different packages. These are PLDT WeRoam Mobile with Internet, or with VPN-Virtual Private Network, and PLDT WeRoam Direct with LAN connection to the global Internet, or with LAN-to-LAN connection.

 

PLDT WeRoam Mobile will make use of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) technologies, providing the 170 kbps connection speed and nationwide cellsite-to-cellsite handover for a flawless connection while on the move using a laptop.

 

PLDT WeRoam Direct will have a higher speed of 1.024 megabits per second (mbps) through the use of WiFi technology. Unlike PLDT WeRoam Mobile, this package offers fixed wireless connectivity within an office or one premise only. “The administrator of the firm can detect employees which are accessing the Internet and also fraudulent users, so the administrator can just easily delete any username or curb the accounts that can use the fixed broadband,” Nerissa S. Ramos, SVP & Corporate Business Solutions of PLDT expounded.

 

The GPRS/EDGE and WiFi-enabled cellsites for this service will be provided by Smart Communications. PLDT WeRoam packages range from P1,500 to P14,500 a month depending on the type of the package. Email addresses and web space with anti-virus features are also provided. “The WiFi’s security has triple protection, namely the authentication protection using TrendMicro's Anti-Virus protection, and the protection from the user itself. Since 87% of the viruses comes from E-mail attachments, the users must be aware of it, not just relying on the security protection of WiFi,” Ramos added.

 

Sierra Wireless for this service will provide the Aircards or PC wireless access cards to enable wireless connectivity for the laptops. ”Sierra Wireless started from Canada 12 years ago, and has been continuously researching about wireless data technology. The Aircard 775 uses a SIM card to connect to Smart’s wide network coverage from the GPRS and EDGE technology, so you can connect anywhere around the major parts of the world, namely U.S, Russia and Asia by just using a laptop,” Sierra Director Mark Hui informed.

 

The WeRoam service is compatible with existing laptops, PDAs, desktop computers, and LAN routers – no upgrades or new devices required, and installation is easy and quick. “There are already about half a million Centrino notebooks that has been sold nationwide and costs from P80,000 to P120,000 per product, and having WeRoam wireless Internet access technology will definitely lend a hand to those who are always on the go,” Alberto added.

 

This is good news for everyone, especially for those who have been having a lot of problem about the fabric optic-wire for its connectivity. With PLDT WeRoam, the whole country is your surfing hotspot!

- Jason Cheng, Copyright 2005

Infotech alive once again!

Hello everyone. After a long silence, Infotech is alive once again as we got a young blood from the family involved. He is Jason Cheng, an incoming college freshman taking up Computer Science.

I believe that developing writers, who can be classified as a newbie but a heavy online games users, will bring fresh perspective and excitement as he sees these technologies for the first time.

May Infotech be useful to you once again. Cheers!

Ericsson Provides BayanTel with Ethernet DSL Access for Faster Broadband Services

Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. (Bayantel), a provider of data and communications services in the Philippines, has boosted its wireline business with the deployment of Ericsson’s Ethernet DSL Access solution to Metro Manila and major provincial cities.

The deployment allows BayanTel to offer high-speed connections to its customers in these areas and offer an enhanced platform of broadband services to a wider market. 

 

“The unique scalability of Ericsson’s Ethernet DSL Access solution enables us to offer superior performance and high capacities to our customers in a cost efficient way, while investing in an infrastructure that is prepared for the needs of tomorrow,” said David M. Rogers, BayanTel senior consultant for network operations.

 

“At the same time, the roll-out of the Ethernet DSL Access solutions expands our reach and extends our capability to deliver high bandwidth, high speed Internet access to key commercial and business centers in Makati and Ortigas,” adds Rogers.

 

The design of the Ethernet DSL Access secures the possibility to offer triple play services – data, video and voice – to home and office environments in a cost-efficient and future-proof way.

 

“Ericsson is honoured to be given this opportunity to support BayanTel’s goals in providing high-performance and advanced services to its customers in the fast-growing DSL market,” said Stefano O. Celsini, President & Country Manager of Ericsson Philippines. 

 

“We are pleased that our solution has enabled BayanTel to upgrade their services quickly, easily and profitably.  As a long-term partner, we are fully committed to supporting BayanTel as they expand their services further to meet growing customer demand,” he added.  

 

Ericsson’s EDA solution is a widely deployed IP/Ethernet DSLAM with over 60 contracts globally, utilizing ADSL2+ technology with Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, Ethernet aggregation switches and BRAS.