3Com New Wireless Voice Over IP Telephone

3Com Corporation today announced a new wireless, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based IP phone that provides enterprise users with greater mobility by delivering full-featured Voice over IP (VoIP) communications on a wireless LAN (802.11b/g) infrastructure. The 3Com® 3108 Wireless Phone enables users to roam a building or campus environment and stay connected with customers, partners and co-workers while utilizing VoIP, wireless email and data applications.

With the 3Com 3108 Wireless Phone, users are connected to an enterprise phone system so they can receive calls destined for their desks while they are anywhere in a building or campus environment — unlike a mobile cellular phone. Designed for people that have mobility requirements on the job in markets including education, government, healthcare and retail, end-users can also use the phone to transfer calls to other departments, gain access to a live receptionist and listen to office voice mail. These capabilities are delivered with no expensive per minute usage fees, enabling the 3Com 3108 Wireless Phone to be more cost effective than cellular phones.

This phone brings these capabilities together. With 3Com, customers can go to a single vendor to provide all of the elements of a secure, converged network — IP Telephony, wireless and data switches, Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) and a single service organization to provide support and make sure it all works."

The 3Com 3108 Wireless Phone delivers reliable and secure voice communications over any standards-based IEEE 802.11b/g wireless LAN infrastructure. Secure communication is assured with compliance to the latest Wireless Protected Access 2 (WPA2) protocol and advanced encryption. Since the phone is SIP compliant standards-based IP telephony systems can provide the phone with call control and applications for delivering robust communication capabilities and secure voice communications.

The 3Com 3108 Wireless Phone features a sleek clamshell flip form factor with a high-quality color display. The phone's keypad and intuitive four-way cursor lets users manage calls, access their phonebook, view call logs and view e-mails. Personal settings, such as ring tones, speed dials and connectivity settings, can be configured on the phone or via a Web browser-based management tool.

The 3Com 3108 Wireless Phone complements the recently introduced 3Com Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24, which makes it easy to add the phone to a corporate wireless infrastructure. The new switch provides 24 ports of Gigabit Ethernet switching that can be used to provide connectivity and where necessary power to any combination of traditional wired devices or wireless access points. It is part of a complete portfolio of enterprise class and small business wireless networking solutions.

The 3Com Unified Switch for SMBs can be fully-managed via a Web interface that features a simple five click set up wizard, or by the CLI, Telnet, Console and SNMP interfaces if desired. With full management capabilities, 3Com VARs can configure and deploy the switch as part of a managed solution for SMBs that want to outsource their network. By providing a single box solution, 3Com believes that both customers and VARs have the opportunity to realize cost savings when compared to solutions that require multiple boxes.

Global Availability
The 3108 wireless phone is the newest addition to 3Com's broad portfolio of IP phones. It works with 3Com NBX and 3Com wireless networking solutions as part of a complete VoIP solution. 3Com VCX is scheduled to support the 3108 wireless phone in early 2007. The phone is currently available through 3Com channel partners and distributors at a list price of $415 USD. [3Com]

Upgrade Your Last Internet Explorer To IE 7

Microsoft Corp. is giving its Web browser software its first major upgrade in years, amid signs that Internet Explorer's market share is eroding.

The release late Wednesday brings Microsoft's browser more in line with competing products such as Opera Software ASA's Opera and Mozilla Corp.'s Firefox. Internet Explorer 7, or IE7, adds features such as tabbed browsing, which lets people open several Web pages without cluttering their desktop with multiple open browser windows.

Microsoft has been heavily testing the new browser, releasing five beta versions over 14 months, and has periodically offered security updates for IE6, first released in 2001.

Still, a lag of more than five years between official releases has cost the company. Web analysis company WebSideStory estimates that Internet Explorer's U.S. market share is about 86 percent, while Firefox commands about 11 percent of the market and smaller offerings account for the rest. Two years ago, IE had about a 93 percent share.

Besides tabbed browsing, Microsoft has improved security to help keep users from falling victim to things like malicious software attacks and phishing scams. Microsoft products are a near-constant target of Internet attackers, and some people have recommended switching browsers because a less high-profile product might be more secure.

The Redmond software maker also has added a box in the browser that lets people search the Internet without going to a separate Web page, much like competitors.

In a last-minute change, people who are upgrading from the previous version of the browser will now have a clearer way to choose whether they want to use Microsoft's search engine or a competing one from companies like Google Inc. or Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - news) The change announced Friday was one of several aimed at soothing antitrust worries in Europe, where Microsoft faces a longrunning regulatory battle.

IE7 will be available as a free download beginning Wednesday evening. Next month, the company also will begin delivering it to Windows XP users who have signed up to automatically receive security fixes. Hachamovitch said that's because the product makes major security improvements.

Such distribution also will provide a powerful tool in countering competition from rival browsers.

Security updates typically download with little or no user intervention, but with IE7 people will get an extra opportunity to elect not to upgrade. Also, even people using automatic updates will have to agree to let Microsoft check whether their copy of Windows is pirated before they can get IE7.

Microsoft expects that it will take months to gradually release IE7 automatically. The browser also will be an integral part of Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista, due out for big businesses in November and for consumers in January. Source

New Video Ipod Infected With Windows Virus

Some of Apple Computer Inc.'s (AAPL) iPod digital music players shipped in the past month carry a computer virus, according to a posting on Apple's technical support Web site.

Apple said since September 12, less than 1 percent of video iPods — pocket-sized devices that can play music files and video clips — left its contract manufacturer carrying the virus RavMonE.exe, which affects computers running Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows operating system.

"So far we have seen less than 25 reports concerning this problem. The iPod nano, iPod shuffle and Mac OS X are not affected, and all Video iPods now shipping are virus free," the company said on the site.

Apple said the virus can be detected and removed using many popular anti-virus software programs.

Representatives for Apple and Microsoft were not available to comment further on Wednesday morning. Source

Toshiba Tecra M7

Toshiba's Tecra M7 is for users who want a good notebook system with some tablet functionality. Weighing in at almost 6 pounds and sporting a 14.1-inch widescreen display, the Tecra M7 is large and powerful enough for everyday computing, but it lacks the battery performance of its competitors.

The Tecra M7 is a convertible tablet PC and comes with Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005 installed. Weighing 5.9 pounds, the Tecra M7 measures 13.7 by 10.2 by 1.2 inches (1.57 inches in the rear).

The $1,519 base configuration of the Tecra M7 comes with Intel's 1.66GHz Core Duo T2300E processor, 512MB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, Intel's GMA (Graphics Media Accelerator) 950 and an integrated Intel Wi-Fi module capable of accessing 802.11 a, b and g networks.

Since the Tecra M7 came out, Intel has released the Core 2 Duo processor, which consumes less power than the Core Duo processor. Toshiba officials have said that the Core 2 Duo processor will be available to customers as a build-to-order option before the end of 2006.

Armed with the Intel GMA 950, the Tecra M7 is "Windows Vista Premium Ready," which means the machine can provide users with the full Microsoft Vista experience, including Aero Glass' 3-D graphics, translucency and windows animation. Toshiba placed a biometric fingerprint reader next to the screen, allowing us to log onto the machine regardless of whether we were using the Tecra M7 as a laptop or as a tablet.

The Tecra M7 offers the standard connectivity options, including the tri-band Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection, four USB 2.0 ports and a FireWire port,a five-in-one media card reader that supports Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MultiMedia and xD Picture cards and a hardware switch allowed us to turn the wireless on and off. Toshiba Tecra M7 unit did not have Bluetooth technology, but the Tecra M7 can be configured at purchase to support it.

The Tecra M7 comes with a keyboard that is almost full-sized, something that is rare in tablet PCs. Another rare feature, a dual-layer DVD burner, adds to the weight but also increases the Tecra M7's functionality.

The digitized stylus, which is included with the Tecra M7, is easy to grip, and writing with it while using the Windows Journal application was like writing on paper. When converting the Tecra M7 from notebook to tablet format, we can found the unit's hinge to be sturdy. The machine also was quick to recognize when we wanted to use it in tablet mode rather than laptop mode.
Source

Myspace Wants Google

MySpace, the popular social networking Web site owned by News Corp, wants to expand its commercial relationship with Google, after the Internet search giant snapped up online video sharing site YouTube, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

The report said that Google Inc chief executive Eric Schmidt and advertising sales vice president Tim Armstrong are expected to meet this week with executives from News Corp, including chairman Rupert Murdoch, to discuss new ways of working together.

One possibility the Journal reports is to expand Google's recently signed $900 million ad deal with MySpace to include video advertising on the Web.

The Journal quotes Ross Levinsohn, head of News Corp.'s Fox Interactive Media division as saying: "If we can figure out the ways to work with them or integrate with them, that would be really good for us."

News Corp and Google spokespeople were not immediately available for comment.
Source

Samsung's 10 Megapixel Multimedia SCH-B600 Phone

Samsung Electronics has started selling what it claims is the world's first 10 megapixel multimedia phone that offers crisp video and top-notch digital camera functions.

The newest addition to its line of multimedia phones is six millimeters (0.24 inches) thinner and 10 grams (0.35 ounces) lighter than the existing seven megapixel camera handset.

It sets itself apart from its previous megapixel camera phones by combining mobile TV capability at satellite standard, the company said.

It also offers the same level of picture-taking sophistication that a top-notch megapixel digital camera offers.

The front is designed as a bar-type mobile phone, while the back comes with a design reminiscent of a real digital camera.

It will sell for around 937 dollars in the South Korean market.
Source

Google To Acquire YouTube

TechCrunch's Michael Arrington rates his own rumor at about 40 percent likely, just so we get that out of the way. The "completely unsubstantiated" rumor is that Google is finalizing talks to acquire web video phenomenon YouTube.

Arrington received the information via email, confirmed the rumor and the price ($1.6 billion) with venture capitalist firm Sand Hill Road. Earlier reports have valued YouTube, which streams about 100 million videos per day, as high as $2 billion, even with its million-dollar-per-month bandwidth fees.

The commentators at TechCrunch are split on the rumor, some calling it "ludicrous," others exploring the possibilities of why it would make sense for Google to acquire YouTube. The first thought, at least from here, is that Google has to do something with all that cash.

But why, why acquire YouTube? Doesn’t Google already have Google Video? Why not build upon Google Video and wait for someone else to fall into the YouTube acquisition trap?

The reasons why do run a many and are difficult to be pinpointed in one simple statement, so here’s a rundown of reasons Google would pay $1.6 Billion for YouTube.

1) Popularity. YouTube is the 10th most popular online destination according to Alexa and if you don’t trust Alexa information, its also ranked as the third most popular steaming video site by comScore Media Metrix and #1 visited online video site according to Hitwise.

Google Video is no where near the top online video site, at this moment, and hovers among MSN and Yahoo among the other online dinosaur fossils according to the Hitwise rankings:

August Hitwise data reflects the following in terms of rankings (based on share of visits):

* YouTube: 45.46%
* MySpace Videos: 22.99%
* Google Video: 10.25%
* Yahoo! Video: 6.06%
* MSN Video: 5.92%

Additionally, in September, YouTube enjoyed a market share of visits 4 times greater than Google Video.

2) Not making the same mistake twice. Google made a $610 million mistake this year by not acquiring MySpace when they had the chance. Instead News Corp’s Fox Interactive bought MySpace for the bargain price of $580 as MySpace’s parent company was looking to sell fast in order to avoid lawsuits (over spamming, not copyrights).

Then, Google turned around and sunk $900 million into a MySpace advertising deal.

3) Community : YouTube enjoys a much more active, enthusiastic and loyal following than any video service which has been launched by a search engine company, even more active in terms of uploading and sharing by netizens than Yahoo Video.

With 35 million users in the United States alone, YouTube has proven that the success of online video is based upon sharing, commenting, ranking, embedding and suggestions… in other words; community.

YouTube users are using the interface to share, upload and comment on videos. Not just watch them. That’s the difference between users and community, and YouTube has community.

4) Usability & Stickiness : This kind of falls into the classification of popularity, but users like YouTube more than they do Google Video. They stick around and watch more content on YouTube, while at Google Video they don’t seem to stick around quite as long.

Hitwise says that “YouTube’s average session time is double that of Google Video’s, at 18 minutes 33 seconds in the month of September versus 9 minutes 9 seconds for Google Video. YouTube is just plain sticky compared to Google Video.”

5) Advertising and Money : Throw community, popularity and stickiness to the side for now and let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Purchasing YouTube at the price of $1.6 Billion would not be a crazy investment for Google.

If YouTube serves 100 million videos a day, that’s 365,000,000,000 a year… or roughly 3.65 cents per video. If anyone can turn a profit off of YouTube, it’s Google and in this case, given the users, popularity and traction a YouTube buyout would give Google, it would make more sense for the company to obtain 100% of YouTube AdWords revenue than 20% or 30% of it.

It's no secret that Google has been moving from search engine company to media company, and controlling a market like the one
YouTube commands would play straight into that strategy. Adding YouTube to Google Video would give Google tremendous video market share, adding to their search dominance.

Especially with the Google Video Ads program in the works by Google AdWords.

IBM Buy Back Program

Your old PCs aren't like a fine wine or a vintage car. Their value will never go up, and will eventually dwindle to zero. Your best move is to sell your used systems as soon as you're finished using them.
Effective August 15, 2006 through December 15, 2006 clients who enter into new contracts for Fixed Price Take-out and Revenue Share Asset Recovery Solutions will be entitled to transportation at no charge for selected PC assets (Desktops, Notebooks and Intel based servers) returned to IBM by December 31, 2006. This offer is available directly to clients shipping a minimum of 10 assets from one location per shipment. Those clients that do not reach the minimum clip level of 10 systems per shipment will be responsible for the applicable transportation charges either by opting to utilize ARS transportation services or by handling their own transportation. It is the client's responsibility to pack the IT systems in preparation for shipping; Asset Recovery Solutions does provide packing services for a fee.
For further information go to here