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Press release:

Consumers Defer Back to School Shopping in Favor of Purchases for the Home, IBM Reports

Social Channel Sales Up Nearly 70 Percent for Students Seeking Early Back to School Deals; Mobile Commerce Rises Again

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Armonk, N.Y. - 18 Sep 2012: While U.S. consumers shopped this July and August, they were not buying clothes and notebooks for their children but rather items for the home. According to findings from IBM (NYSE: IBM), the biggest retail gains this back to school shopping season came from home goods purchases which increased 30 percent in July and more than 25 percent in August over their respective months in 2012.

While experts speculate that consumers were holding off on back to school purchases to eye the choices of their peers, social networks appeared to drive purchases with social sales increasing 69.7 percent. The social influence was especially apparent when it came to apparel, where shoppers referred to online stores through social networks generated a 2.2 percent of all sales in August, an increase of more than 113 percent over 2011. 

Mobile commerce also continued to grow with sales increasing 15.7 percent in July and 15.4 percent in August. For home goods mobile sales reached a high of 20.1 percent. 

The growing influence of both mobile and social media further validates the need for a Smarter Commerce approach that helps retailers attain, understand, and act – in real-time – on deep insights about their customers in order to meet the unique needs of each. 

“Back-to-school season is proving to be a trigger event that spans across categories beyond just notebooks and backpacks. Retailers that are cashing in are those who understand how this trigger drives sales for home furnishings, as well as for apparel, and can target their inventory levels and promotions accordingly,” said Jill Puleri, Global Retail Leader, IBM. “This year's winners were the companies that successfully connected consumers with the right products, at the right price, and through the right medium–whether in a store, a mobile device or through popular social media channels." 

"When I speak to executives at the leading companies, one of the discussions that continues to come up most frequently is around harnessing big data and their efforts to try and understand how to take all the noise and word of mouth that is being generated and make sense of it," added W. "RP" Raghupathi, Professor of Information Systems, School of Business, at Fordham University. "Today, with so many consumers shopping and sharing their opinions online, we are seeing more and more retailers tap into the power of sophisticated analytics technology to help them react faster to evolving trends and customer needs." 

Part of IBM's Smarter Commerce initiative, the IBM Benchmark is the only analytics-based, peer-level benchmarking solution that measures online marketing results from the web sites of more than 500 leading U.S. retailers. 

The IBM benchmark reveals the following back to school trends that are critical to chief marketing officers (CMO), e-commerce leaders and customer service professionals: 

·   July and August Online Sales: Overall sales for July increased more than 11 percent over July 2011 while August slowed with sales up 3.9 percent compared to last year.

·   Social commerce: In July, shopper referrals to retailer sites from social networks generated 1.6 percent of all sales, an increase of 25.1 percent over last year. This trend continued in August reaching 1.8 percent, an increase of 69.7 percent over the previous year.

·   Mobile commerce: Mobile commerce remains strong with sales from mobile devices reaching 15.7 percent in July and 15.4 percent over the month of August. 

As for vertical industries the following categories experienced success over this timeframe: 

·   Home goods: In July online sales grew by just over 30 percent and 25.5 percent in August with consumers shifting some back to school purchases toward the home. Over this period mobile sales also thrived, reaching 19.1 percent in July and topping out at 20.1 percent in August.

·   Department stores: Online sales grew 22.1 percent in July and 28.7 percent in August. Over this period mobile sales were strong, hitting 19.2 percent in July and 18.9 percent in August.

·   Apparel stores: Online sales were up 9.2 percent in July and 9.8 percent in August. Over this period mobile sales reached 15.1 percent and 16.4 percent in August. Apparel stores also experienced strong social commerce with shoppers referred to their sites from social networks generating 1.4 percent of all sales in July and 2.2 percent in August, up more than 113 percent over 2011, more than any other industry.

·   Office Supplies/Electronics: Online sales grew by 6.3 percent in July while dropping by .92 percent in August. Mobile sales reached 5.7 percent in July remained steady in August a 5.9 percent. 

Part of IBM's Smarter Commerce initiative, the IBM Benchmark provides intelligence on how consumers are responding to the products and services being offered to them. With these insights CMOs and teams gain deeper insight into each customer which they can use to present personalized recommendations, promotions and other sales incentives across the wide variety of channels—including social networks and mobile devices. 

More information on Smarter Commerce can be found atwww.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/smarter_commerce/overview/. 

PRESS RELEASE

Interoperable Public Safety Broadband Network Deployed at the Republican National Convention

Network aided law enforcement with video, voice, and data

Herndon, VA, Sept 17, 2012 - A consortium comprised of Cisco, Raytheon, Nokia Siemens Networks, Reality Mobile and Amdocs successfully deployed the nation's first demonstrated multi-vendor interoperable Public Safety Long Term Evolution (LTE) network during the Republican National Convention (Convention).  This broadband network provided first responders with a secure way to share real-time video, voice, and data communications via smartphones and tablets.

The multi-vendor LTE network was implemented in coordination with the law enforcement agencies supporting the Convention, a National Special Security Event (NSSE). The system marks the first time federal, state and local first responders have simultaneously used a 700 MHz D-block broadband network for an NSSE. The network was deployed under special temporary authority (STA) from the Federal Communications Commission for the Convention, and provided a field trial of a multi-vendor integrated LTE system in advance of the $7 billion deployment of the National Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN).

"The LTE system provided a private network, eliminating the chances of commercial network congestion. The specialized applications gave law enforcement an advantage, allowing police officers to use everyday devices in a strategic and tactical way," said Sgt. Dale Moushon, St. Petersburg Police Department Intelligence Unit. "While our traditional radio network provided primary communication among deployed officers, this technology enabled us to gather critical information for use in real-time decision making."

Law enforcement officers from Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties used the LTE broadband system to secure the safety of Convention participants and the Tampa Bay area community. The system provided first responders with highly secure, encrypted voice, video and data communications, as well as an evidence-quality, permanent recording of all data collected at the event.  

The Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties operations centers and field personnel were provided secure access to the LTE system applications to support command awareness and enable sharing of real-time activity with executive staff and public information officials as needed.  The Cisco IP Interoperability and Collaboration System (IPICS), Cisco Jabber, and the RealityVision applications allowed law enforcement officers and intelligence teams to receive and share live video, and position information about crowd movements well in advance of media and public social networking. The applications integrated fixed camera feeds, live video transmitted from smartphones, GPS-enabled blue force tracking, and Land Mobile Radio P25 push-to-talk voice resources from existing federal, state, and local radio systems.  

The interoperability was achieved through an open-systems collaboration among first responders, wireless broadband equipment suppliers and a system integrator to deploy much needed capabilities during the NSSE.  The system uses Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products from each of the partners to enable a manufacturer-agnostic platform for smartphones, tablets, and computers sharing video, voice, and data in real-time.   In keeping with the STA requirements, the LTE network offered an alternative method of communication to field personnel that allowed roaming between commercial and private dedicated high-speed 4G services. 

The LTE packet core, Unified Communications applications, IP routing/switching, and cybersecurity were provided by Cisco. Nokia Siemens Networks provided the LTE radio access network, and Reality Mobile provided the RealityVision mobile video and visual collaboration platform. Amdocs provided subscriber and device data management, and policy control with the Amdocs Home Subscriber Server and Amdocs Policy Controller (PCRF) solutions. Raytheon provided project management and systems engineering support.

While the future of the NPSBN and operation of the LTE trial network post-Convention are still being determined, the applications and COTS devices in this system are now local assets that will be used to support daily operations by law enforcement and first responders.

Supporting quotes:

• Bob Fennelly, head of Public Safety, Nokia Siemens Networks: "The successful implementation of this open standards-based, multi-vendor, interoperable network certainly supports the viability of the long-term goal to deploy a similar nationwide system."

• Brian Geoghegan, executive vice president and chief product officer, Reality Mobile: "In highly fluid environments, visual context is critical. Today, public safety personnel can turn their mobile devices into roving command centers, allowing them to see and share live visual information with each other on the fly, to visualize where the source is emanating from and what other assets and personnel are in proximity,  to it and to talk to each other without having to leave the visual experience."

• TJ Kennedy, director of Public Safety and Security, Raytheon: "The combined efforts of these companies and the customer community have created an interoperable broadband network that may be used as the blueprint for the larger FirstNet National Public Safety Broadband Network architecture. This will drive economies of scale and provide public safety organizations with cost-effective options to deploy the network using multi-vendor equipment and solutions."

• Chris Josephs, director of National Security, Cisco: "Our project was a first step in an emerging era for enhanced communications and information sharing among public safety, law enforcement and other national security officials. It is a proof point for using dedicated broadband wireless network services for situational awareness and other applications, demonstrating the same flexibility and cost-effective choices that commercial LTE systems provide, but to support the more demanding missions of our nation's safety and security agencies."

• William Harris, chief executive officer, 2012 Republican National Convention: "Communications is critical during such a large scale event as the Republican National Convention. Thanks to our partners and official providers, we had complete interoperability between the convention leadership team and our security planning partners on the federal, state and local levels which allowed us to have a safe and successful event."

PRESS RELEASE

Cisco's ‘Videoscape Distribution Suite' Revolutionizes Video Content Delivery to Multiple Screens

Cisco to Showcase Industry's Most Comprehensive Next-Generation Content Delivery Network Portfolio at IBC 2012

AMSTERDAM, IBC, September 7, 2012 – Cisco revealed today its expanded and enhanced content delivery network portfolio , branded as the Cisco Videoscape^™ Distribution Suite (VDS). Cisco^® VDS is an open platform that delivers video content across multiple screens, multiple protocols, multiple applications and multiple networks. VDS serves as the network distribution engine behind the Videoscape^™ architecture. It is a complete, interoperable and holistic solution that bridges cloud and network functionality.

Several major global service provider customers, including Deutsche Telekom, Telecom Italia, SBB-Telemach, BT and others, are relying on Cisco's Videoscape Distribution Suite to empower video experiences delivered across PCs, TVs and mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. The Cisco Videoscape Distribution Suite builds on the current Cisco content delivery network (CDN) service footprint serving more than 50 global customers, with over 3 million cloud-based time-shifted and live video streams delivered.

Highlights:

• With the introduction of VDS, Cisco is the only company in the industry providing a complete product suite with all the capabilities needed for third-generation content delivery.
• Cisco's Videoscape Distribution Suite will be showcased at IBC 2012 at the Cisco stand in the Connected World Hall 14, 14.115.
• Cisco VDS complements the Cisco Videoscape Conductor platform for cost-efficient experience management across unmanaged networks.
• Cisco VDS facilitates creation of new revenue streams through consistent, highest quality live and time-shifted video experiences across any device as well as through advanced advertising across devices. 
• Cisco VDS simplifies CDN management while reducing operating costs through consolidated live origin services and recording, edge caching particularly for OTT content, Radio Access Network (RAN) optimization, real-time CDN analytics and remote provisioning capabilities.
• Cisco VDS components, powered by third-generation VDS hardware, scale independently with no need to upgrade the entire CDN for additional capacity or streaming support. 

New Benefits for Consumers & Service Providers Include:

• Centralized live and time-shifted content delivered across any device (managed or unmanaged)
• Cloud-based recording, consolidated video origin capabilities
• Transparent caching for economical over-the-top (OTT) content delivery
• Expanded options for CDN wholesale or CDN Federation
• Sophisticated analytics/provisioning and more  

New Videoscape Distribution Suite Products:

• Cisco VDS Video Recording (VDS-VR) for cloud-driven recording of live and time-shifted content. 
• Cisco VDS Origin Server (VDS-OS), which consolidates origin server functions and converts all incoming content into a common file that simplifies HTTP Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) and MPEG formatted distribution.
• Cisco VDS Optimization Engine (VDS-OE), which offloads RAN/packet core traffic while reducing transport costs.
• Cisco VDS Service Broker (VDS-SB) consisting of service selector per caching node and CDN interconnect capabilities required for CDN Federation.
• Cisco VDS Transparent Caching (VDS-TC), which offloads OTT and other unmanaged content from the network core to the edge.

In addition, Cisco has integrated significant enhancements to the current Videoscape Distribution Suite Portfolio:

• Cisco VDS hardware with the latest third-generation features such as tighter integration with Cisco UCS data center solution, Cisco routers and switches.
• Cisco VDS Service Manager (VDS-SM), a software platform for real-time analytics, service provisioning and diagnostics.
• Cisco VDS Television (VDS-TV), which delivers live and time-shifted content to managed devices such as set-top boxes or multiscreen gateways.
• Cisco VDS Internet Streamer (VDS-IS) for managing and streaming Internet-originated content to the end device for retail CDN and wholesale CDN markets. 

Supporting Quotes:

• Klaus J. Haber, head of Platform Integration Media, Deutsche Telekom AG Products & Innovation

"Deutsche Telekom has been working to ensure our CDN infrastructure can support the increasing demands for video on multiple screens while driving efficiencies for our operations. Cisco's Videoscape Distribution Suite provides us with a complete content delivery network that can manage the complex workflow and ecosystem challenges associated with video, including new applications to help solve those challenges."

• Dragica Pilipovic Chaffey, CEO, Serbia Broadband SBB-Telemach

"It is essential that we have a future-proof, world-class content delivery network in place to provide our customers with a platform to access video content on demand, from multiple devices. Cisco has been an innovative business and technology partner, and has helped us to bridge together legacy and future CDN technologies to simplify our network infrastructure, allowing us to drive new revenue opportunities."

• Edwin Paalvast, senior vice president, Service Provider Group, Cisco EMEAR

​"Previously the only options for our customers looking to enhance their Content Delivery Networks were isolated, disparate products that each addressed a specific problem. I believe Cisco is the only company who can offer a complete, comprehensive CDN solution today. With Cisco's Videoscape Distribution Suite, our customers can optimize their current network infrastructure to deliver a wide range of video services. By integrating cloud and network components, we can offer our customers a solution that helps them improve both their top line and bottom line, by creating new revenue streams and minimizing operational expenditure."

Supporting Resources:

• About Cisco Videoscape: http://www.cisco.com/go/videoscape
• Cisco Service Provider blog: SP360: http://blogs.cisco.com/sp
• Follow Cisco IBC news and activities on Twitter: #CiscoIBC and #Videoscape

Tags/Keywords

Cisco, cloud, cloud-DVR, Content Delivery Network, CDN, Dragica Pilipovic Chaffey, Edwin Paalvast, IPTV, Klaus J. Haber, service provider, Internet video, IP, IP video, network, network DVR, online video, OTT, Serbia Broadband SBB-Telemach, streaming video, video, Videoscape, Videoscape Distribution Suite, VDS, Deutsche Telekom

RSS Feed for Cisco: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/rss.html

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go tohttp://newsroom.cisco.com.

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Tech Firms in Manhattan Trade Trendy Lofts for Midtown Bargains

The following is an excerpt from an article in 

The New York Times
Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Tech Firms in Manhattan Trade Trendy Lofts for Midtown Bargains

By C. J. HUGHES

A decade ago, in the dot-com boom, technology companies flocked to the neighborhoods along Broadway in Manhattan, with most ending up south of an unofficial cutoff of 23rd Street.

Today, though, that Rubicon is being regularly crossed by a new generation of digital businesses that seem willing to trade Lower Manhattan and its perceived hipness for the more button-down precincts of Midtown.

More than 100 Internet-based marketing firms, retailers and social networking companies are based in the area between the Flatiron Building and Central Park, out of about 1,400 similar businesses across the city, according to data compiled by NYC Digital, an initiative started last year by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to promote the city’s technology industry.

“The boundaries of Silicon Alley are definitely pressing outward,” said Jonathan Serko, a broker with Cushman and Wakefield who has worked to bring tech companies to Midtown. He added, “some of the companies are moving out of necessity.”

In pockets of downtown Manhattan, commercial rents have spiked in recent years as increasingly fashionable neighborhoods like Chelsea, Greenwich Village and the financial district have welcomed a surge of new businesses. Residential conversions have also gobbled up the types of industrial buildings that tech companies once favored.

At the same time, fledgling tech companies have become more cost-conscious than their predecessors, many of whom burned through their seed money in a short time, brokers say. Significant savings are possible in Midtown, where rents can be $40 a square foot compared with up to $70 a square foot in trendier areas, according to Cushman data.

GSI Commerce, which provides online services for retailers like Toys “R” Us, was subletting a 10,000-square-foot loft on Broadway in SoHo in 2011 when the company was acquired by eBay, prompting the need to expand.

“There are many spaces out there that are beautiful, don’t misunderstand me,” said Jan Dobris, a senior vice president of GSI Commerce. “They just weren’t good ways to expend dollars.”

For more, visit www.nytimes.com.

Broadcom Introduces New Server Network Virtualization Acceleration Technology for VXLAN Cloud-Scale Networks

Press release from Broadcom:

Broadcom Introduces New Server Network Virtualization Acceleration Technology for VXLAN Cloud-Scale Networks

Industry's Most Complete End-to-End Platform Solution Improves Server Performance by More than 55 Percent(1)

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

News Highlights:

• Most complete portfolio of controller and switch solutions for VXLAN cloud-scale networks
• Delivers advanced functionality needed for large scale VXLAN multi-tenant network deployment
• Enables enhanced scaling for large scale network deployment                            

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced its NetXtreme^® II server network virtualization (NV) acceleration technology for VXLAN implementations, improving server performance by more than 55 percent. Together with Broadcom's new StrataXGS^®Trident II Switch Series with Smart NV technology, Broadcom offers the industry's most complete end-to-end platform solution for VXLAN cloud-scale networks. Visit www.broadcom.com to learn more.

Virtualized cloud-scale networks with multiple tenants are growing at unprecedented rates while exceeding the limits of existing network architectures. VXLAN innovation addresses this need by decoupling the physical and logical address space through the creation of overlay networks. Broadcom has revolutionized the ability to scale multi-tenant networks with VXLAN, enabling logical, software-based networks that can be created on demand and increase the scale of virtual machines on the physical server while maintaining Quality of Service (QoS).

Through VMware's collaboration with Broadcom and other leading ecosystem vendors, VXLANs are expected to become the default standard for multi-tenant cloud-scale networks. With the industry's most complete portfolio of solutions optimized for VXLAN, Broadcom has broken through traditional silicon and software barriers to enable the fast, fat and flat virtualized network required for true scalability in next generation cloud-scale networks.

About the Broadcom NetXtreme Portfolio

Broadcom's NetXtreme Ethernet solutions improve virtualization by converging data and storage networks on a common 10GbE fabric. Broadcom NetXtreme Ethernet adapters deliver line rate throughput that is 37 percent faster than the nearest converged network adapter (CNA) competitor, together with full support of iSCSI and FCoE offload storage protocols, capable of delivering up to 1.5 million iSCSI input/output operations per second (IOPS), or 2.5 million FCoE IOPS with superior CPU efficiency².

Availability

Broadcom's server network virtualization acceleration technology is now sampling. Broadcom NetXtreme II Ethernet solutions are currently shipping with multiple top tier OEM servers — including Dell PowerEdge 12^th Generation, HP ProLiant Gen8, IBM, Cisco, NEC and Hitachi.

Broadcom will demonstrate its full line of solutions for VXLAN at VMworld^® 2012, August 26 - 30 in San Francisco's Moscone Center, booth #2107.

For ongoing Broadcom news visit our Newsroom, read our B-Connected Blog, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter. And to stay connected, subscribe to our RSS Feed.

Quotes:

Allwyn Sequeira, Vice President and CTO, Networking and Security, VMware

"With broad support by companies such as Broadcom, we are pleased to see organizations use VXLAN-based solutions to take advantage of new levels of data center automation, agility, and efficiency. The end-to-end solutions that Broadcom is offering with both controller and switch support for VXLAN creates great value for cloud operators deploying virtualized multi-tenant networks."

Brian Payne, Executive Director, PowerEdge Servers, Dell

"As a long-standing technology partner, Dell is collaborating with Broadcom on support for VXLAN environments to enable breakthrough scalability for customers who need it. Dell is meeting the challenges customers face in architecting and deploying next generation and virtualized data centers with the support of technologies like Broadcom's new server network virtualization acceleration technology."

McLeod Glass, Director of Mainstream Systems Marketing, Industry Standards Servers, HP

"Data center managers leveraging VXLAN technology are seeking to lower CAPEX costs while increasing network performance for cloud computing. Combining Broadcom NetXtreme II controllers with HP ProLiant Gen8 servers enable customers to lower costs by leveraging their existing resources more efficiently through increased scalability and network performance."

Rohit Mehra, Director of Enterprise Communications Infrastructure, IDC

"The deployment of flexible networking solutions and architectures such as VXLAN is expected to accelerate the adoption of multi-tenant cloud solutions. Broadcom's collaboration with other ecosystem partners to draft and standardize the VXLAN specification, as well as their investment in new technologies to accelerate the performance of VXLAN implementations demonstrates their strong commitment to the cloud market."

Vinod Lakhani, General Manager, High Speed Controllers, Broadcom Corporation

"Through our collaboration with VMware and other partners, we were provided with the unique opportunity to co-author and standardize VXLAN implementation and leverage this knowledge to enhance innovation throughout our portfolio. Cloud and enterprise IT architects can now leverage the combination of VXLAN and Broadcom's complete portfolio of NetXtreme controllers and StrataXGS switch technologies to increase performance and reduce total cost of ownership."

Resources: 
¹ Based on Broadcom independent testing of Server NV Acceleration technology on VXLAN
² Demartek Performance Report
NetXtreme Enterprise Adapters Feature Page 
NetXtreme Ethernet Solutions for Dell
NetXtreme Ethernet Solutions for HP
ESG: Broadcom Delivers NetXtreme Performance

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500® company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments.  With the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and embedded software solutions, Broadcom is changing the world by connecting everything®.  For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.

Brocade ADX Series to Unveil VXLAN Gateway and Application Delivery Services

Press release:

Brocade ADX Series to Unveil VXLAN Gateway and Application Delivery Services

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Brocade Advances Software-Defined Networking and Enables Scalable Virtual Networking Services

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - Aug 27, 2012) - VMworld -- Brocade (NASDAQ: BRCD) today announced significant progress in its software-defined networking (SDN) vision, strategy and innovation roadmap by unveiling the Brocade^® ADX^®Series application delivery switches, capable of delivering highly scalable VXLAN (Virtual eXtensible Local Area Network) gateway services for virtualized cloud networks developed in partnership with VMware.

Using the Brocade ADX VXLAN gateway solution, Brocade and VMware customers can virtualize their networks at enterprise and service provider scale, and with hardware-based performance, using VXLAN. Customers can use the Brocade ADX switches to connect VXLAN environments to the traditional Internet as well as run applications that span VXLAN and existing non-VXLAN networks. This enables organizations to use their current infrastructure while leveraging the benefits of VXLAN to support multitenancy and large-scale deployment of applications and virtual machines (VMs).

Network virtualization is a core element of Brocade's SDN vision, and VXLAN enables cloud service providers to build virtual networks on top of their existing infrastructure. VXLAN is a network virtualization technology that addresses the emerging challenges in the cloud data center. VXLAN enables multitenancy, scale for large numbers of applications and flexible provisioning with minimal interruption of infrastructure services. By leveraging Ethernet technology, VXLAN enables large numbers of virtual domains to be created above existing networks.

The Brocade ADX switch VXLAN gateway offers benefits such as:

• Efficient network and compute utilization while retaining access to traditionally connected resources;
• Scalable and secure multitenant network virtualization across large Layer 3 networking domains;
• More flexible VM placement and mobility, reducing operational and management complexities and cost;
• Delivery of load balancing services across both physical and virtual resources, combining physical servers and VXLAN-connected virtual machines at any location in the data center.

Brocade will demonstrate this VXLAN gateway capability in the Brocade booth (#901) at VMWorld® 2012 this week.

"As a leader in data center networking innovation, Brocade recognizes the need to bridge emerging technologies such as VXLAN with existing data center investments. By working closely with VMware, and leveraging the Brocade ADX application delivery switch, we are excited to be demonstrating VXLAN gateway functionality. This innovation will be essential to enabling real-world deployments of VXLAN and other overlay networking technologies," said Jason Nolet, vice president of data center networking, Brocade.

"Networking is a key resource of today's software-defined data center and its integration and alignment with other virtualized services is important. We are pleased Brocade is demonstrating the Brocade VXLAN gateway, which will enable customers to use VXLAN's scalability with applications and databases running in non-VXLAN networks," said Allwyn Sequeira, CTO & vice president, Networking and Security, VMware.

Brocade networking capabilities are integrated with VMware vCenter™ Server today via Brocade Network Advisor, giving vCenter users clear management visibility to Brocade storage network products. In addition, the Brocade ADX switch and Brocade Application Resource Broker integrate with VMware vCenter Server to elastically scale up and down workload resources in response to real-time end-user application experience.

Brocade at VMworld 2012Brocade is a leading network provider whose solutions are utilized by the world's leading enterprises and service providers. Brocade is a trusted data center partner in 90 percent of the Fortune 1000 data centers due to the company's focus on helping customers optimize their use of their existing data center infrastructure while providing a smooth transition to the cloud.

Brocade sessions at VMworld 2012 will focus on the latest requirements and options for building an optimized data center for cloud computing.

• Demonstrations at the booth (#901)
  • Cloud-optimized networking with Brocade and VXLAN
  • Large-scale virtual end-user computing across data centers
  • Disaster avoidance for critical applications

Spotlight Session:

• Building the Next-Generation Data Center for the Cloud
  • Date: Wednesday, August 29
  • Time: 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
  • Location: Moscone South, Lower Level: Gateway 104

This session will focus on how to combine best practices with new options for building next-generation data centers, including Ethernet fabrics, network virtualization with VXLAN and other innovations in software-defined networking. #BRCDVMworld

Breakout Sessions:

• Deploying Large-Scale Virtual End-User Computing Across Data Centers
  • Date: Monday, August 27
  • Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
  • Location: Moscone South, Level 3, Room 307

This session examines a proven reference architecture consisting of EUC/VDI deployment across multiple data centers with end-to-end network flow monitoring and VMware SRM to provide business continuity. #BRCDVMworld

• Disaster Avoidance for SAP-Critical Applications
  • Date: Wednesday, August 29
  • Time: 9:30-10:10 a.m.
  • Moscone West, Level 2, Room 2002

This session will describe a solution that increases the availability of SAP applications by eliminating single points of failure at all layers in the environment. #BRCDVMworld

Sessions will be led by Brocade speakers Chip Copper, Ph.D. Global Solutions Architect, and Jonathan Hudson, Global Solutions Architect.

San Francisco Moscone Convention Center, Booth #901 and selected room locations as indicated for speaker sessions.

• Register here: www.vmworld.com/community/conference/us
  
• Follow the conversation at #BRCDVMworld and #VMworld.

Cutting the Digital Lifeline and Finding Serenity

The following is an excerpt from an article in 

The New York Times
Sunday, August 26, 2012

Cutting the Digital Lifeline and Finding Serenity

By JENNA WORTHAM

ONE recent sweltering afternoon, a friend and I trekked to a new public pool, armed with books, sunglasses and icy drinks, planning to beat the heat with a swim. But upon our arrival, we had an unwelcome surprise: no cellphones were allowed in the pool area.

The ban threw me into a tailspin. I lingered by the locker where I had stashed my phone, wondering what messages, photos and updates I might already be missing.

After walking to the side of the pool and reluctantly stretching out on a towel by the water, my hands ached for my phone. I longed to upload details and pictures of my leisurely afternoon, and to skim through my various social networks to see how other friends were spending the weekend. Mostly, however, I wanted to make sure that there wasn’t some barbecue or summer music festival that we should be heading to instead.

Eventually, the anxiety passed. I started to see my lack of a digital connection as a reprieve. Lounging in the sun and chatting with a friend without the intrusion of texts and alerts into our lives felt positively luxurious. That night, I even switched off my phone while mingling at a house party, content to be in one place for the evening and not distracted by any indecision about whether another party posted online looked better.

My revelation — relearning the beauty of living in the moment, devoid of any digital link — may seem silly to people who are less attached to their devices. But for many people, smartphones and social networks have become lifelines — appendages that they are rarely without. As such, they can sway our moods, decisions and feelings.

One side effect of living an always-on digital life is the tension, along with the thrill, that can arise from being able to peep into people’s worlds at any moment and comparing their lives with yours. This tension may be inevitable at times, but it’s not inescapable. It’s possible to move beyond the angst that social media can provoke — and to be glad that we’ve done so.

For more, visit www.nytimes.com.

Cisco Customers Reap Operational Benefits with a Data Center Unified Fabric

PRESS RELEASE FROM CISCO:

Cisco Customers Reap Operational Benefits with a Data Center Unified Fabric
Single unified network fabric across physical, virtual and cloud-based deployments simplifies management and supports more dynamic provisioning; More than 36,000 NX-OS customers deployed

Cisco Unified Fabric solutions provide dynamic IT management across physical, virtual and cloud-based networks through a flexible, scalable network architecture.


Cisco MDS Storage Switches and a Unified Fabric help to reduce data center complexity and breaks down the silos created by separate storage and data center networks

SAN JOSE, Calif.— August 23, 2012 — Cisco customers such as Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Capital Region Orthopaedics, and Human Kinetics are rapidly turning to Unified Fabric™ data center architectures that unite storage, compute, and networking resources, network services, and management to simplify IT operations and reduce costs. Cisco Unified Fabric solutions provide dynamic IT management across physical, virtual and cloud-based networks through a flexible, scalable network architecture.

Customer momentum for the Unified Fabric approach is reflected in Cisco's deployment metrics.  More than 36,000 customers have deployed NX-OS, Cisco's unified fabric and computing operating system to take advantage of Cisco Unified Fabric capabilities, and to support business growth and gain competitive advantage.  Through April, 2012 Cisco customers have deployed more than 17 million Cisco Nexus data center switch ports and 8 million Cisco MDS storage switch ports, typically used in a unified fabric environment.  More than 6,000 customers have deployed the Cisco Nexus 1000V switch, a softswitch that delivers highly secure, multitenant services by adding virtualization intelligence to the data center network.

Customers are adopting a Cisco Unified Fabric because it helps to reduce data center complexity and breaks down the silos created by separate storage and local area networks. With a Unified Fabric, customers can more rapidly adopt new technology trends such as Big Data, cloud computing, workload mobility and pervasive video.

Cisco Unified Fabric Customers Gain Benefits

Ed Ricks, CIO, Beaufort Memorial Hospital

Located in Beaufort, South Carolina, Beaufort Memorial Hospital has been recognized for ten consecutive years as one of the nation's most technologically advanced, being named a "Most Wired" hospital by Hospitals and Health Networks.

"We're in the business of delivering optimum patient care. Integrating Cisco's Unified Fabric technologies, like Nexus 1000v and Cisco MDS, gave us the virtual intelligence we needed to deliver highly secure, multi-tenant services and the multiple-protocol storage support required to house large quantities of sensitive patient data. With Cisco's help in virtualizing our data center and end-user workstations, we‘re able to provide our caregivers with a seamless clinical workflow, allowing them to save time, be more agile and better serve our patients' needs."

Ray DeCrescente, chief technology officer, Capital Region Orthopaedics

Capital Region Orthopaedics is a multidisciplinary healthcare practice that specializes in musculoskeletal problems and injuries, offering patients a convenient, one-stop medical facility for bone and joint recovery.

"The push towards electronic medical records and digital x-rays is a huge undertaking.  With Cisco's Unified Fabric in our data center, we have the flexibility and bandwidth to support heavier data and storage traffic. In the world of physicians, time is money. So, when our IT staff was able to save us time by using the management features provided by Cisco, we were able to reduce our operating costs which allowed us to invest in new healthcare technologies for enhanced patient care."

Brad Trankina, director of networks and information systems, Human Kinetics

Human Kinetics, an educational publisher, is known globally as the information leader in physical activity and health.  Human Kinetics publishes quality educational products that help scholars, sports and health professionals, and the general public to lead healthier, more active lives.

"The demand for digital content has put unprecedented strain on our data center. Upgrading our data center with Cisco's Nexus, UCS, Catalyst, and Netflow Generation Appliance solutions gave us the storage scalability, manageability and performance needed to deliver digital content more quickly. As a result, we have saved more than 40 percent in reduced hardware and management costs."

Supporting Facts

The Cisco Unified Fabric Portfolio Includes:

Cisco Nexus Family of Data Center Switches
Cisco MDS 9000 Family of Storage Network Switches
Cisco DCNM
Cisco NX-OS
Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE)
Cisco ASA1000V
Cisco Virtual Security Gateway (VSG)
Cisco Network Analysis Module (NAM)
Cisco NetFlow Generation 3000 Series Appliances
Supporting Resources:

View: Cisco Unified Fabric Overview video
View: Cisco Unified Fabric Vision video
Read: Cisco Unified Fabric architecture page
Read: Cisco Data Center and Cloud blog
Learn more: Data Center Services website
About Cisco:

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

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PRESS RELEASE

Cisco Hosts Plugfest Event at ASIS 2012

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 21, 2012 – Cisco invites camera vendors attending ASIS 2012 in Philadelphia to join its Plugfest event to discover how the Cisco® medianet network architecture can simplify the management and operation of IP-based surveillance cameras. Medianet brings together advanced, intelligent technologies and devices in a platform optimized for the delivery of rich-media experiences. At Plugfest, Cisco will provide an overview of the benefits that the media service proxy (MSP) offers and perform Interoperability Verification Testing (IVT) with other industry manufacturers of IP surveillance camera endpoints on the MSP-enabled Cisco network.

What:              Cisco Plugfest at ASIS International 2012

When:             Sept. 10-13, 2012, during exhibit hours

Where:           Cisco booth 213 at ASIS 2012 at the Philadelphia Convention Center

Why:               99 percent of the Fortune Global 500 use Cisco network technologies today

                        Test equipment compatibility with the Cisco medianet network architecture to demonstrate that your video surveillance IP cameras are:

• Standards compliant (RTSP, SDP, mDNS)
• Easy to deploy and automatically configure on Cisco networks
• Cisco compatible by passing Interoperability Verification Testing

How:             The MSP Plugfest will be held during exhibit hours of ASIS International 2012 at Cisco booth 213.  Please RSVP with Karthik Dakshinamoorthy (karthikd@cisco.com), as priority will be given to partners who have registered.  Information sessions about the MSP Plugfest will be conducted on Monday, Sept. 10, from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm and Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 9:30 am to 10:00 am in the Cisco booth as well as on Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 1:30 pm to 2:20 pm in the ASIS Solutions Theater.

To learn more about how MSP works and how you can use this technology with various camera solutions, visit the MSP Cisco Developer Network program site: http://developer.cisco.com/web/msp/

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go tohttp://newsroom.cisco.com.

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Press release:

IBM and Singapore Economic Development Board Collaborate to Launch Analytics-Based Supply Chain Center

Collaboration will launch a new analytics-based supply chain center, the newest in IBM’s growing network of global supply chain analytics hubs

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SINGAPORE - 16 Aug 2012: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) have collaborated to launch a new center dedicated to developing analytics-based technologies in order to help organisations improve their supply chains. 

Representatives from IBM and Singapore Economic Development celebrate the opening of the IBM Supply Chain Analytics Center of Competency 

The IBM Supply Chain Analytics Center of Competency (CoC) in Singapore will work to help enhance the region's supply chain expertise and develop global software and hardware supply chain solutions based on business analytics technologies. The goal is to help clients in retail and industrial sectors gain greater insight from Big Data, further drive operational effectiveness and efficiency and connect to digitally savvy consumers.  

IBM Supply Chain Analytics CoC Singapore is IBM's first supply chain, analytics-focused center in Singapore and will work closely with IBM architects at IBM's existing network of supply chain analytic centers in India and its operations in the United States (Raleigh, NC). Supply chain analytics help companies synchronise customer demand with their sales and marketing operations, which in turn can transform how they buy supplies and market, sell and service customer requests. 

Located in one of the world's fastest growing regions, the center will focus on developing analytics and cloud computing technologies for the Asia Pacific region and around the world. IBM scientists from the company's three centers will collaborate with Singapore research and educational institutes on technical exchanges, joint research and commercialisation projects.  

"With the explosion of big data, enterprises across all industries are looking for ways to gain greater, more accurate insight into their businesses," said Fran O'Sullivan, general manager, IBM Integrated Supply Chain. "We look forward to collaborating with the Singapore EDB to develop innovative technologies to advance the supply chain industry, worldwide."  

The agreement represents IBM's continued global investment in extending its global leadership in business analytics.  

With instant access to product pricing, promotional information and communities of like-minded friends to advise them, today’s consumers are reshaping the way businesses market and deliver goods and services. Analytics is the tool that helps clients in the industrial sector connect to consumers in new ways, to deliver value to consumers, synchronize supply to demand to gain better control over disruptions, gain greater cost savings and connect to the front offices of sales and marketing programs to deliver the right products to customers with speed and relevancy.  

“Data is fast becoming a new “natural resource” for Singapore. We are pleased that IBM has chosen Singapore to set up its Supply Chain Analytics CoC, as this will help build up our bench strength in data analytics, an important capability critical for unlocking the value of data”, said Jayson Goh, Executive Director, Infocomms & Media, Singapore EDB.

IBM Smarter Analytics 

In addition to IBM's three supply chain centers, IBM has eight global analytics solution centers in Berlin, Beijing, Dallas, London, New York, Tokyo, Washington and Zurich. Many of the supply chain methods and technologies at work today for IBM clients, were pioneered by IBM's very own Integrated Supply Chain. Today, IBM's supply chain analytic technologies generate significant savings annually for the company. 

IBM projects USD16 billion in business analytics revenue by 2015. To meet that target, IBM has established the world’s deepest portfolio of analytics solutions; grown its business and industry expertise to almost 9,000 dedicated business analytics and optimization consultants and 400 researchers. 

For more information about IBM’s Smarter Analytics, visit:http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/business_analytics/ideas.  

For more information about the Singapore Economic Development Board, visit: http://www.edb.gov.sg  

For more information about IBM's supply chain, visit www.ibm.com/software/commerce/ibm-transformation.