Press Release: November 30, 2012

Topics: Technology and Innovation

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HP Improves Customer Experience in Retail, Hospitality Environments

New fanless HP RP7 and compact HP RP3 retail systems bring flexibility to retail, hospitality settings

PALO ALTO -- HP today announced two versatile new point-of-sale systems designed to deliver fast, effective customer service while enabling retailers and hospitality business owners to better manage their operations.

The HP RP7 Retail System, model 7100, is a new fanless version of the RP7 All-in-One that is designed for the harsh hospitality environment yet retains a sleek, elegant design.

The HP RP3 is a compact and versatile retail system that allows many options for multiple store environments. Despite its small footprint, the HP RP3 does not compromise on the connectivity and reliability features that retailers of all sizes depend on.

HP will demonstrate the new systems for global retailers at two key events, HP Discover, in Frankfurt, Germany, Dec. 4-6, and at the Asia Retail Innovation Summit in Shanghai, Dec. 5-6.

“Retailers require highly reliable systems that can withstand the demands of a variety of environments,” said Ray Carlin, general manager and vice president, Retail Solutions, HP. “With these new offerings, HP is broadening our portfolio to meet the unique needs of our customers.”

Key features of the HP RP7 Model 7100 include:

• A fanless design that resists splashes, smoke and dust, offering enhanced reliability.
• Display-size and touch-technology options as well as optional integrated peripherals.
• Versatile mounting configurations support countertop  or wall.
• Reduced cooling and energy costs with the energy-efficient Energy Star® qualified and EPEAT® Gold registered design that delivers extremely low power consumption.
• Options for adding the HP RP7 10.4-inch customer-facing display (CFD) for additional advertising opportunities or the HP RP7 vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) customer display for a wider viewing area, offering easy-to-read price and product information.

The HP RP3 Retail System provides the reliability and connectivity features that meet the POS needs of retailers of all sizes.

Key features of the HP RP3 include:

• Compact design to maximize space.
• Connection to legacy and newer-generation retail peripherals with a wide range of serial and USB ports.
• Integrated wireless or wired LAN deliver network connectivity for supporting online customer transactions, inventory checks and back-office activities.
• Designed to operate in an ambient 40°C environment for longer run time with no external cooling.
• Reduced cooling and energy costs with the energy-efficient Energy Star qualified and EPEAT Gold registered design that delivers extremely low power consumption.

Pricing and availability

The HP RP7 Retail System, Model 7100 and the HP RP3 Retail system, Model 3100 will be available in Asia Pacific and Japan, including China in December, 2012. It will be available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa in December, 2012, and in North America in January, 2013.

Both come with a HP Standard three-year limited warranty. HP offers a variety of Care Pack Services to extend service contracts beyond the standard warranties.

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ENERGY STAR is a registered mark owned by the U.S. government.

Press Release: November 27, 2012

Topics: Global Citizenship

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New collaboration to invest over USD 3 million to help create jobs for youth in Tunisia

TUNIS -- A new collaboration announced today at the International Conference on Productive Work for Youth in Tunisia and the Middle East and North Africa region will invest some USD 3.3 million in fostering sustainable employment opportunities for young people in Tunisia.

The collaboration between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Italy, and Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) will leverage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as an effective avenue to facilitate economic development and foster entrepreneurship in order to drive new business creation within four vulnerable, underserved regions of Tunisia: El Kef, Kairouan, Kasserine, and Sidi Bouzid.

The collaboration will focus on two key activities: improved access and quality of services provided to predominantly young entrepreneurs by local institutions, and direct capacity-building for enterprises with high employment potential.

“Unemployment among educated youths emerges as a major challenge in Tunisia and collaborations like ours that put a strong emphasis on creating employment opportunities for young people entering the workforce will help empower and equip them well into the future,” said UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella.

Mara Rudman, Assistant Administrator of USAID, added: “This initiative will help enhance the knowledge and capacity of regional and local business while at the same time provide support and training for organizations that are already on the ground. Our collaboration will also provide much needed technical assistance to targeted companies, particularly those in the agribusiness, environmental and other critical sectors of Tunisia’s varied economy.”

The USAID contribution is an integral part of USAID’s USD150 million portfolio of assistance for Tunisia that prioritizes job and business creation, export promotion, and private investment in support of Tunisia’s political transition to democracy in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings.

The project is structured as a public and private collaboration to address jointly defined business and development objectives. Such cooperations are co-designed, co-funded, and co-managed by partners so that the risks, responsibilities, and rewards of the collaboration are equally shared.

The project will be implemented by UNIDO which draws on extensive experience in the region in assisting the creation and development of new businesses, in particular for young men and women, as well as clean production and resource efficiency.

The project will also include HP’s Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (HP LIFE), an entrepreneurship and IT training programme that was recently expanded to be wholly available online. Since 2008, UNIDO and HP have worked together to set up 122 LIFE training Centres, certify more than 270 trainers, train more than 50,000 students and create more than 20,000 jobs in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Pietro Benassi, the Ambassador of Italy in Tunisia, said: “Our partnership will reach approximately 10,000 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, including many of Tunisia’s young people who are struggling to find employment. From that, we expect that 2,000 additional jobs will be created through this work and then ripple out to their families, friends and others over the following months and years. Our Country attaches great importance to this programme. The Italian Development Cooperation has thus decided to further increase in 2013 its contribution to this initiative in order to extend project activities to two other priority Governorates, or rather Gafsa and Jendouba. This programme will be a way for Tunisia to facilitate local economic development and integrate into business partnership”.

Gabi Zedlmayer, HP Vice-President of sustainability and social innovation, said: “We are pooling our collective expertise and available resources to equip young people in Tunisia with relevant entrepreneurship skills to help create much needed new jobs. Our collaboration will promote innovative uses of IT that foster entrepreneurship and help create new business opportunities.”

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available athttp://www.hp.com.

Cyber Monday Lives on with Intel AppUp® center!

Cyber Monday Lives on with Intel AppUp® center!

Computer Security Day – Laptop Theft is an Ever-Increasing Problem

Computer Security Day – Laptop Theft is an Ever-Increasing Problem

Apple Press Release:

iPad mini & iPhone 5 Arrive in China in December

CUPERTINO, California―November 30, 2012―Apple® today announced the Wi-Fi versions of iPad® mini and fourth generation iPad with Retina™ display will be available in China on Friday, December 7, and iPhone® 5 will be available on Friday, December 14. iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad with Retina display are currently available in 42 countries, and iPhone 5 is available in 47 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK.

iPad mini is a completely new iPad design that is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the third generation iPad, and features a stunning 7.9-inch Multi-Touch™ display, FaceTime® HD and 5 megapixel iSight® cameras, ultrafast wireless performance* and an incredible 10 hours of battery life.** The fourth generation iPad features a gorgeous 9.7-inch Retina display, new Apple-designed A6X chip, FaceTime HD camera and ultrafast wireless performance*. Both iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad come with iOS 6.

iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless*—all while delivering even better battery life.** iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: Shared Photo Streams, all-new Maps app, Passbook® organization and even more Siri® features and languages.

iPad mini with Wi-Fi models come in black & slate or white & silver for a suggested retail price of $329 (US) for the 16GB model, $429 (US) for the 32GB model and $529 (US) for the 64GB model. The fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi models come in black or white for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model. In China, iPad mini and the fourth generation iPad will be available through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), select Apple Authorized Resellers and by reservation from Apple retail stores. Reservation requests will be accepted daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Thursday, December 6 for pick up the following day. Additionally, iPad 2 will be available at just $399 (US).

iPhone 5 comes in either black & slate or white & silver for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model, $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model. In China, iPhone 5 will be available through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), select Apple Authorized Resellers and by reservation from Apple retail stores. Reservation requests will be accepted daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for pick up the following day. iPhone 4S is available for just $99 (US) and iPhone 4 is available for free with a two-year contract from participating carriers. 

*Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks. Check with your carrier for details.
**Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

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

IBM Press Release:

Cellum Group Selects IBM Flex System To Bring New Mobile Payment Services To The Market

IBM technology helps spread m-payment in Hungary

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Budapest - 30 Nov 2012: Shoppers in Hungary will soon have a better convenience in bill paying thanks to the new and enhanced mobile payment service from Cellum Group and based on the IBM (NYSE:IBM) Flex System. Cellum is the largest provider of m-payment solutions in Hungary, with more than a million mobile payment transactions per month and significant growth in the total numbers of customers using their services.

Cellum Group offers m-payment solutions for any type of mobile phone and has one of the largest portfolios of user applications available. Services range from the re-charging of pre-paid mobile accounts, bill payment, e-commerce checkout, m-commerce for retail, and transfer of funds from one account to another.  According to Jeff McAllister, SVP Sales for Cellum, twelve percent of Hungarian mobile subscribers currently use their cell phones at least twice a week to pay for services including; parking fees, highway tolls, and lottery tickets. 

The number of consumers using mobile devices to visit retail sites and make purchases is a growing global trend, with recent statistics from IBM indicating just how digital shoppers are becoming.  For example, during the recent “Black Friday” shopping period, mobile purchases soared with 24 percent of consumers using a mobile device to visit a retailer's site, up from 14.3 percent in 2011. Mobile sales exceeded 16 percent, up from 9.8 percent in 2011. [1] 

"Service providers and retailers are starting to realize that new m-payment solutions can make shopping much more convenient given there are enough accepting points of sale and the payments are secure," said Balázs Inotay, Chief Strategy Officer of Cellum Global. "Mobile payments actually represent a new sales channel that combines payment, shopping and loyalty in the same package. Retailers can target customers and promote goods and services as the codes in the catalogues lead directly to the online shop." 

To take advantage of this opportunity and be able to handle the increasing number of Hungarian mobile users demanding one-click payment applications from their cell phones, Cellum needed to upgrade its IT infrastructure. Working with Business Partner USER Rendszerház, IBM designed and implemented a system built on IBM Flex System. 

"The IBM Flex System provides the security, flexibility and integration capabilities that will help Cellum Group introduce more efficient m-payment solutions while lowering payment processing costs,” said Zsolt Veres, Country General Manager, IBM Hungary. “This system provides the infrastructure for Cellum to rapidly deliver additional m-payment applications and bring new mobile innovations to Hungarian consumers.”

Cellum Group plans to launch its enhanced m-payment services for its subscribers in Hungary in January 2013, with similar services soon to be launched in Bulgaria, Albania and Austria.

The IBM Flex System goes beyond competitor’s blade configurations and provides the building-block elements for IBM PureSystems.  IBM Flex Systems are built-to-order offerings for clients who want to custom build and tune configurations to their specific requirements. This allows them to select the specific compute, systems networking and optional storage and management required to support their specific workloads.

The IBM PureSystems family offers clients an alternative to current enterprise computing models, where multiple and disparate systems require significant resources to set up and maintain. PureFlex System enables organizations to more efficiently create and manage an infrastructure. PureApplication System helps organizations reduce the cost and complexity of rapidly deploying and managing applications. PureData System is tuned for cloud computing and can consolidate more than 100 databases on a single system. In addition to the common web application patterns supported by PureApplication System, the combination of both PureData and PureApplication Systems can be used for end to end transaction workloads.

For IBM Business Partners, PureSystems creates a new services opportunity to help clients solve the complexity of enterprise IT, reduce costs and encourage innovation. From resellers to distributors and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), more than 2500 Business Partners have received PureSystems certifications. PureSystems currently run tens of thousands of existing ISV applications across four operating environments including Windows, Linux, AIX, and IBM i operating system. Additionally, Business Partners have created more than 250 new solutions and applications that are optimized to run on PureSystems. These patterns of expertise, which span 20 industries, can be accessed through the IBM PureSystems Centre. They include leading solutions from some of the world’s largest ISVs, including ERP systems and applications for the banking, marketing, healthcare and energy industries. Additionally, partners are able to perform many of the configuration and deployment services that previously came only from IBM and are optional and optionally available to be performed by qualified business partners. 

To help address the new opportunity that PureSystems presents, IBM is also providing training, marketing, certifications and technical validation support to its Business Partners.  For instance, dozens of IBM Innovation Centers in cities such as Bangalore, Dublin, Johannesburg and Shanghai are helping Business Partners develop and test their applications using IBM PureSystems. Business Partners can also bring their clients to IBM Innovation Centers to see PureSystems technology at work.  

For more information on IBM PureSystems visit: www.ibm.com/press/pure 

[1] Source: IBM “Black Friday Report 2012: IBM Digital Analytics Benchmark,” November 23, 2012

IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, PureSystems, PureFlex, PureApplication, PureData, Smarter Planet and the planet icon are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. For a current list of IBM trademarks, please seewww.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtm

 All other company, product or service names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of others. Statements concerning IBM's future development plans and schedules are made for planning purposes only, and are subject to change or withdrawal without notice. Reseller prices may vary.

Microsoft Renews Commitment to Education With US$250 Million Investment in Partners in Learning

Microsoft Press Release:

Microsoft Renews Commitment to Education With US$250 Million Investment in Partners in Learning

Nov. 29, 2012

Renewal commitment brings total program investment to US$750 million for improving teacher skills, resources to improve student readiness for the global workforce.

inShare21

PRAGUE — Nov. 29, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today kicked off its annual Partners in Learning Global Forum and reaffirmed its commitment to education with a US$250 million, five-year renewal of Microsoft Partners in Learning, bringing Microsoft’s total investment in the program to US$750 million over 15 years. Microsoft aims to grow the Partners in Learning community to 20 million of the 75 million teachers worldwide by 2018 with the renewal and to continue preparing students for the changing global workforce.

Microsoft plans to expand Partners in Learning beyond the 119 countries that currently participate with a continued emphasis on driving community, developing networks, and allowing educators to share innovations and learn from each other.

So many of us have a great teacher to thank for our achievements. That’s why I am so proud that Microsoft Partners in Learning continues to support innovative teachers.

Bill Gates , Chairman of Microsoft

“So many of us have a great teacher to thank for our achievements,” said Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. “That’s why I am so proud that Microsoft Partners in Learning continues to support innovative teachers. We started this program nearly 10 years ago based on the belief that education is a fundamental human right and the single most important investment in our collective future. This has never been more true, and I’m really pleased to see the continuing commitment to innovations that can help all students and teachers reach their full potential.”

“We see a significant opportunity to invest in the economy of tomorrow by working with educators today to teach 21st century skills,” said Laura Ipsen, corporate vice president, Microsoft Worldwide Public Sector. “Studies have shown the measurable impact that a great teacher has on a student’s potential, future earnings and contribution to a global economy. Our focus on PiL is the cornerstone of Microsoft’s commitment to empower youth, spark innovation in the classroom and improve learning outcomes globally.”

Microsoft’s commitment to education centers on providing training resources and building community to support the teaching of 21st century skills that prepare today’s youth for the competitive global workforce. Research shows a strong connection between education and economic growth, and Partners in Learning is Microsoft’s global initiative to partner with educators and governments to advance student success through digital inclusion and innovative teaching practices. Partners in Learning is a key program within Microsoft YouthSpark, a companywide initiative to create opportunities for 300 million youth around the world by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship. Through the Partners in Learning program, Microsoft has trained more than 11 million teachers and reached more than 200 million students since 2003.

“Transformation in educational practice is one of the most difficult things for schools and educators to achieve,” said Jeff Davis, executive principal, Varsity College, Queensland, Australia. “Everyone talks of 21st century learning, but few have bridged the gap from theory into true innovative practice where students are actually using the technologies available on a daily basis and pedagogy shifts to a new domain. Microsoft’s Partners in Learning program stands apart. Not only does this program support schools and educators in making great leaps in bridging both the technical and pedagogical gaps, but the Partners in Learning program brings together those who have made this transformation leap and builds in them further capacity to become world leaders. Without the support of Partners in Learning, the innovation, collaboration and achievement levels at this school would not have been realized as they are now. We thank Microsoft for its support and belief in our school.”

“A strong education rooted in the skills and technology tools needed to enter the rapidly changing global workforce can lay a foundation for improving global economic outcomes,” said Godelieve van den Brande, European Commission, DG of Education and Culture.

More News From Partners in Learning Global Forum 2012

Microsoft’s annual Partners in Learning Global Forum, hosted in Prague in 2012, is the culmination of national and regional forums that recognize innovative educators and school leaders. The 2012 Global Forum brings together more than 500 of the most innovative teachers, education leaders and government officials from 80 countries. Teachers who attend the forum are global finalists who have made it through a progressively selective competition that started with more than 250,000 participants at national events. They will compete for one of 18 Partners in Learning Global Forum Educator Awards.

Acer is the platinum sponsor of this year’s event and will showcase many of its newest computers running Windows 8 during the Technology Showcase. Participants are encouraged to try the devices, and the judges will use them throughout the week as they record information on the teacher projects. Acer’s full line of complementary education products supports a one-on-one learning approach in all subjects, enabling the pedagogy process in an easy and efficient way. More information is available at http://www.acer.com.

About Microsoft Partners in Learning 

Microsoft Partners in Learning is a 15-year, $750 million commitment by Microsoft to help education systems around the world. Since its inception in 2003, the Partners in Learning program has reached more than 210 million teachers and students in 119 countries. Partners in Learning helps educators and school leaders connect, collaborate, create and share so students can realize their greatest potential. The online Partners in Learning Network is one of the world’s largest global professional networks for educators, connecting millions of teachers and school leaders around the world in a community of professional development.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

GE Press Release:

GE Capital Releases Annual Review of Canadian RV, Motorsports and Marine Industries

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November 29, 2012

Canada - English

Commercial Distribution Finance

MISSISSAUGA, ON – GE Capital’s Commercial Distribution Finance (CDF) business recently released its assessment of volume and aging trends in the Canadian recreational vehicle (RV), motorsports and marine industries through the end of the Canadian selling season. Among the key findings are that the age of inventory held by RV and motorsports dealers decreased year-over-year through September, while the age of inventory held by marine dealers held steady.

As a result of its longstanding position as the leading financing provider to Canadian manufacturers and distributors and their dealers, CDF periodically provides market intelligence that may help companies throughout the supply chain manage their businesses.

Recreational vehicles"The level of inventory aged more than one year held by RV dealers decreased from 20% in 2011 to a healthy 14% today," said Howard Shiebler, president and CEO of CDF in Canada. "As we enter into the seasonal down period, the levels of aged inventory look healthy and position dealers well for ordering new product in the new year thanks to our dealers’ thoughtful ordering patterns last year and early this year."

Regionally, inventory aged more than one year remains slightly more concentrated in Alberta and British Columbia as well as in the Atlantic provinces.

Shipments of RV products financed by CDF increased to 12 percent year-over-year through September. Growth is being driven by Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

MotorsportsIn the motorsports industry, dealers continued to stock products conservatively through September. Aging dropped to a healthy 11 percent.

"On a regional basis, aging levels dropped across all provinces. They range from a high of 15 percent in the Atlantic provinces to lows of 7 percent in Saskatchewan and Manitoba for the second consecutive year," said Shiebler.

When it comes to volume, there was a slight decrease in orders by Canadian motorsports dealers. This could be related to the fact that those in British Columbia, Alberta and the Maritimes went into the summer selling season holding extra snow-related inventory that didn’t sell in 2011, Shiebler noted.

MarineThe aging of marine products held by dealers remained steady through September; it has dropped only one percentage point since 2010. "The three-year aging trend is basically flat," Shiebler said. "Naturally, we work collaboratively with our customers to monitor situations where levels may become problematic."

The regional trends provide more insight. The sell-through of aged inventory caused aging levels to drop in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The only province with aging levels above the national average is Quebec.

The country did experience a positive increase in marine orders financed by CDF — 19 percent in 2012, up from 9 percent in 2011. The regional view shows that growth in the west far outpaced that in central and eastern Canada.

About this analysisAging is the number of days it takes for a dealer to sell a product that it’s holding as inventory. Limiting older inventory ensures that dealers have capacity to take advantage of new product launches and promotions. It’s important for dealers to have an adequate mix of products on hand for retail buyers so some level of aging is expected; however, excessive aging will tend to increase the cost of carrying inventory which, in turn, may mean lower profit margins for dealers.

CDF provides inventory financing, also known as floorplan financing, which allows dealers to stock, market and sell a wide variety of products from manufacturers, including those in the RV, marine and motorsports industries. It’s an important element of a successful manufacturer-dealer business model; manufacturers benefit from enhanced product flow and increased sales opportunities, and dealers obtain improved credit availability and terms.

About GE Capital, Commercial Distribution FinanceGE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance provided nearly $32 billion in financing for more than 30,000 manufacturers, dealers and distributors across the U.S. and Canada in 2011. Programs include inventory and accounts receivable financing, asset-based lending, private label financing, collateral management and related financial products. Customers have access to exclusive online tools and analytics to manage their accounts and inventory. For more information, visit http://www.gecdf.com/or follow company news via Twitter (@GEInventoryFin).

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapital).

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE Press Release:

GE Healthcare and PDC expand offering of GE Caring MR Suite for Extremity Optima 430s MR scanner

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November 29, 2012

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Innovative MR patient environment now accepts iPad and iPod content

CHICAGO – November 29, 2012 – Today at RSNA 2012, GE Healthcare (NYSE: GE) introduced an expansion of the line of Caring Magnetic Resonance (MR) Suites, built by PDC, that now includes designs specific to GE’s Extremity Optima 430s MR scanner.

The Caring MR Suites reflect GE MR's award-winning themes of its wide bore MR family, and include the 'caring hands' design philosophy featuring lighting, interior décor, scenery and music. Patients can choose a theme from 16 artfully selected combinations of mood-lighting, visual scenery, and musical backgrounds before they undergo an MR exam. This gives them control over their environment, and allows them to calm down. The Caring MR Suite was successfully introduced at last year’s RSNA with GE MR’s wide bore Discovery^† MR750w and Optima^† MR450w systems.

For all 2013 editions of the Caring MR suite, patients can bring their own iPad and iPod content and select videos, photos, or music from their personal collection to be played during the MR exam. The content can be displayed on the high resolution LED screens placed in the ceiling or as window in the MR suite. Furthermore, a novel version of the Caring MR suite has been developed specially for the Optima 430s extremity scanner, rendering the MR exam into a more relaxing and stress-free experience.

“GE is very serious about Humanizing MR,” says Jacques Coumans, Chief Marketing Officer of GE MR. “We believe that patients who feel at ease during the MR exam because they can influence their experience will be more cooperative and require less rescans. And now with the introduction of the revolutionary technology, 510(k) pending Silent Scan*, the noise levels during types of scans will be near ambient levels, allowing the patient to relax even more.”

From the drastic reduction of acoustic noise of the scan to increasing the size of the bore and decreasing the weight of the coils, in combination with the innovative elements of the Caring MR Suite, GE Healthcare is focusing on the patient to Humanize MR.

^†Trademark of the General Electric Company.

*Silent Scan is 510(k) pending at U.S. FDA and not available for sale.

GE Healthcare at RSNA 2012

Each year in Chicago, the conference of the Radiological Association of North America (RSNA) provides a forum for showcasing the latest innovations in medical imaging. If you are attending the conference, please visit GE Healthcare at booth number 5433 in McCormick Place south hall. Throughout the week of the event, GE Healthcare will distribute news and information using these digital platforms:

· Digital press kit: newsroom.gehealthcare.com/press-kits/ge-healthcare-at-rsna-2012

· Twitter: @GEHealthcare and hashtag #GEWorks

· YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/gehealthcare

· Flickr: www.flickr.com/people/gehealthcare

· Instagram: instagram.com/generalelectric

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About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.

Our “healthymagination” vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on increasing access and improving quality and affordability around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com. For our latest news, please visithttp://newsroom.gehealthcare.com.