Industry News
IBM Wins Interior Department Financial and Business Management Contract
Representatives of: IBM announced Wednesday it won a contract to provide the Department of the Interior with services to standardize and integrate the agency's financial and business management (FBMS) systems.
The deal is valued at more than US$110 million over six years. As part of the contract, IBM will help Interior enable an SAP software solution designed to replace the agency's 80 current finance and business-management efforts with one comprehensive system. That system will be fully integrated and standardized, and will meet all applicable current and future accessibility, security and privacy requirements.
IBM also will provide the department with business-intelligence (BI) capabilities to its financial and business management processes to strengthen the decision-making capabilities of the agency's executives, managers and employees.
Additionally, the new FBMS system will ensure that all financial and business management data and transactions are recorded properly, efficiently, in a timely manner and meet all internal controls. It also will be designed to accommodate changes in federal laws and regulations regarding financial and business management processes.
As part of the effort, IBM and its team will provide Interior with consulting services that examine the best practices for such systems in government and the private sector. The intent is not simply to streamline operations, but to create a fully compliant system that improves agency performance.
The Interior Department has made a priority of aligning its FBMS system with its overall strategy of modernizing the agency, better integrating its various divisions and making it more accountable to citizens.
The project has other objectives, most notably to help the agency develop the workforce skills necessary to run such a comprehensive program and to communicate Interior's financial and business management efforts both internally and outside the agency.
IBM will act as the prime contractor for the project. In addition to SAP AG headquartered in Waldorf, Germany, team members include Acumen Solutions, Inc.,Vienna, VA; Alta Via Consulting LLC; Compusearch Software Systems, Inc. Dulles, Virginia; Bart & Associates, Inc., McLean, Virginia; Reznick Group, PC, Tysons Corner, Virginia;Science and Technology Research, Inc., of Virginia and Washington Consulting, Inc., Vienna, Virginia.
[ FYI Index ]
U.S. Army Awards General Dynamics $27 Million Contract for Stryker Logistics Support
The U.S. Army has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, a US$27 million contract modification for contractor logistics support on deployed Stryker combat vehicles. This modification has a total potential value of $56 million.
This funding extends the Interim Contractor Logistics Support (ICLS) contract for the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, close-out support for the 172nd, and predeployment support for the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. The initial ICLS contract was awarded in May 2002.
Work began March 1 and will be performed by existing General Dynamics employees in Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Sterling Heights, Mich.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; London, Ontario, Canada; Vilseck, Germany; Iraq; and Kuwait. Work is expected to be completed by February 28, 2007.
[ FYI Index ]
Raytheon Receives $13 Million Patriot Missile Facilities Support Contract
Raytheon Company has been awarded a US$13.4 million U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command contract to provide material and technical services in support of the Patriot missile field surveillance program.
The contract calls for Raytheon to provide technical personnel and material to support the processing of Patriot missile rounds and the operation of the Patriot missile facilities, missile assembly/disassembly facilities and the Patriot missile transmitter facility.
This effort will be performed at Raytheon's Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass.; IDS headquarters, Tewksbury, Mass.; and Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC, Burlington, Mass., as well as Texarkana, Texas, and overseas locations.
Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Joint Battlespace Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a strong international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. armed forces.
[ FYI Index ]
Samsung Unveils the World’s First 8GB Hard Disk Embedded Phone – the i1310
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a leading provider of mobile phones and telecom systems, is reinforcing its technology leadership by unveiling the world's first 8GB Hard Disk embedded smartphone (model: SGH-i310).
Samsung breaks the storage limit in mobile phones by introducing the world's first mobile phone equipped with a 8GB hard disk drive (model: SGH-i310). With the large storage of 8GB, SGH-i310 will change the way people manage and use the mobile phone.
Samsung is the first to adopt a hard disk drive into mobile phones and has launched three models equipped with a hard disk drive; the world's first 1.5GB HDD embedded phone (model: SPH-V5400), the world's first 3GB HDD embedded phone (model: SCH-V7900) and the world's first 3GB HDD Music smartphone (model: SGH-i300).
The i310 works as a perfect platform for users by combining a phone, a digital camera, and a MP3 player with its immense storage capacity. It enables users to carry around 2,000 songs (4MB/song) wherever they go.
The i310 comes with the latest version of Windows Mobile 5.0 for Smartphone which allows users to view files and easily carry their music library with them. This Windows Mobile 5.0 enables users to sync the playlists, songs, and videos from their personal PCs so that the experience with the i310 is identical to the users' personal computer. It also offers USB 2.0 and Plug & Play feature which allows the phone to be utilized as a removable hard disk. Businessmen and students can easily store and transfer files to/from their computers in any format conveniently.
The i310 has all the latest features including a 2 megapixel camera with flash, microSD slot, document viewer and TV output. Users can record video with the 2 megapixel camera in high quality resolution.
It also supports enhanced music function with Bluetooth® stereo (A2DP), digital power amp and dual speakers. Users can download music conveniently from online music store from their personal computer or directly via air.
The i310 will be shown to public at CeBIT from March 9 to March 16 . It will be introduced in Europe market during the second half of this year.
[ FYI Index ]
Cisco Systems, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire SyPixx Networks
Representatives of Cisco Systems announced Tuesday a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held SyPixx Networks, Inc. of Waterbury, Connecticut. SyPixx Networks offers network-centric video surveillance software and hardware that enable existing analog video surveillance systems to operate as part of an open IP network. This acquisition will enable Cisco to deliver video surveillance as part of an Intelligent Converged Environment.
Now Cisco will make it possible for customers to continue using their existing video surveillance systems and to integrate them into an overall physical security program, while enhancing the safety of people and the protection of assets. Video will be accessible at any time from any place, enabling real time incident response, investigation and resolution. This will support the deployment and control of new security applications and maximize the value of live and recorded video.
As a result of this acquisition, Physical Security will become a new Emerging Technology area for Cisco.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco will pay approximatelyUS $51 million in cash and options for SyPixx. The acquisition is subject to various standard closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the third quarter of Cisco's fiscal year 2006 ending April 28, 2006.
Complementing Cisco's expertise in securely supporting mission critical voice, video and data over an intelligent IP network, the SyPixx portfolio includes analog to digital (IP) video camera encoders, digital (IP) to analog video monitor decoders, analog video transmission equipment, video recording and management software and servers. SyPixx was founded in 2004 and has 27 employees in Waterbury, Connecticut; Carlsbad, California; and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Upon close of the transaction, SyPixx video surveillance products will be part of a new business unit in Cisco's Emerging Markets Technology Group, reporting to De Beer.
[ FYI Index ]
Sakhatelecom Selects Alcatel to Deploy a Next Generation Network in Russia
Representatives of Alcatel announced that the company has signed a contract with Sakhatelecom, one of the leading regional incumbent operators in Russia, to deploy a next-generation (NGN) network in the Republic of Sakha, also known as Yakutiya. The project will start in the second quarter of 2006 in the cities of Yakutsk and Mirny and is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
Alcatel's IP-based solution will enable Sakhatelecom to further continue dynamic development of its telecom network in Yakutiya based on the latest technologies, to offer its customers next generation services such as NGN, IP-video, including IP Centrex, videoconferencing, virtual private networks and unified messaging, as well as enhanced Internet services. This should give a new impulse to the growth of its ADSL subscribers' base, the introduction of multimedia and many other broadband services.
Under the terms of the contract, Alcatel will provide its comprehensive IP multimedia subsystem (IMS)-compliant NGN solution including the Alcatel 5020 Softswitch and Alcatel 7515 family of media gateways. Alcatel will also provide its data-aware Optical Multi-Service Node (OMSN) systems and the Alcatel 7750 Service Router, which provides a service, and subscriber aware infrastructure that allows the service provider to achieve economies of scale and maximize the profitability of services. Alcatel will also provide a state-of-the-art broadband access network based on its 7302 ISAM, the market's leading high-end IP broadband services access platform. The Alcatel ISAM includes a Voice Package that adds a voice over IP media gateway as well as legacy POTS and ISDN line cards to support a smooth migration to an NGN/IMS network.
Globally, more than 90 fixed NGN projects have been undertaken by Alcatel to date including operators such as BT, Asia Pacific Telecom Group (Taiwan) and Telecom Austria.
[ FYI Index ]
London Hydrogen Bus Trial Receives One Year Extension
BP has successfully received a one-year extension to the hydrogen demonstration project they have undertaken in association with Transport for London.
Under the nine-city CUTE program, BP provides hydrogen for three London buses at its retail site in Hornchurch. The programme – currently the largest hydrogen bus trial in the world – was due to end in January 2006. However, following the success of the trial in London and other cities, the European Union has agreed to part-fund the programme for another 12 months. Seven cities will take part in the extension.
London will be one of those seven locations and following local consultation and a successful planning application process Hornchurch will continue to provide service as a refuelling station.
The station has been developed in partnership with First Group, DaimlerChrysler, London Buses and the Energy Saving Trust. The technology used at the site is supplied by BOC.
The Hornchurch station is the first in the UK and Europe to use underground storage of liquid hydrogen for transportation purposes – a method that has been successfully used for industrial purposes for many years.
Part funded by the European Commission, the site is BP’s third to be located at a public service station, after Singapore and Berlin. Vasso Tsatsami, BP’s Hydrogen Business Development Manager said: “Hornchurch continues to be an important project for BP, hydrogen and the UK. We are delighted to be providing hydrogen for another year as we continue to learn valuable, practical lessons about how we can make hydrogen available at an easily accessible location. It is part of BP’s commitment to provide a portfolio of clean, sustainable energy solutions.”
[ FYI Index ]
Fujitsu and BT Sign Up for 21st Century Network
Representatives of Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe announces Monday that it has formally signed contracts with BT, as a key preferred supplier in the access domain, providing Multi Service Access Node (MSAN) solutions to link BT’s existing access network to the 21CN core IP-based network. The contract follows on from April 2005’s announcement of Fujitsu as one of eight key preferred suppliers. It highlights Fujitsu’s ability to deliver a major component within the world’s first realisation of an IP converged network, supporting both voice and data services in a packet-based infrastructure, as BT advances its investment in world-leading next-generation network technology.
Fujitsu’s MSAN solution is based around its award-winning GeoStream Access Gateway, which provides a common platform for the support of fibre and copper terminations across a wide range of existing and next-generation services to end-users. A key element of GeoStream Access Gateway involves the ability to deliver H.248 voice interoperability as a cost-effective platform to provide broadband alongside voice services on a common platform.
Fujitsu was one of the first companies to demonstrate the successful realisation of H.248 in the UK, highlighting its commitment to network innovation and the concept of genuine interoperability and open systems. The multi-service capability of the GeoStream Access Gateway offers support for the widest breadth of service delivery, including ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+, SDSL, VDSL, Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, PON, GPON, WiMAX, SDH and PDH – all from the same platform, vastly reducing the operational cost of the Access Network. Over the past months, GeoStream Access Gateway has undergone exhaustive interoperability testing with the other 21CN vendors.
BT’s 21CN vision positions the UK as a leader on the world telecommunications stage. As legacy PSTN equipment installed 20 years ago becomes obsolete, it is anticipated that many operators will follow this approach.
