Quantum Leap in Web Application Acceleration with New Release of F5 BIG-IP® WebAccelerator™

F5 latest release accelerates web applications by up to 1000% for best customer experience.



Press Release:

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 31, 2007 – F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in Application Delivery Networking, today announced the latest release of its BIG-IP® WebAccelerator™ product. Providing application acceleration of up to four times greater than any other product on the market, BIG-IP WebAccelerator offers an integrated, multi-purpose solution for dramatically boosting the performance of web services and applications. It solves enterprise problems such as painfully slow remote downloads and application access over Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. Customers can use the new BIG-IP WebAccelerator running as a module on the BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM), or as a standalone system on F5’s 4500 platform now running on TMOS.

Same speed for the LAN:

“Many organizations deliver web applications—such as Portal, CRM, eLearning, and e-commerce—to remote and mobile users who demand the same speed and reliability available on the LAN,” said Lucinda Borovick, Director, Datacenter Networks at IDC. “The BIG-IP WebAccelerator brings together F5’s TMOS architecture and BIG-IP features foran integrated solution that provides secure web application acceleration for all users, local and remote.”

Knowing where the bottleneck is:

The BIG-IP WebAccelerator built on TMOS delivers an all-in-one solution to address two of the biggest technical challenges enterprises face in dealing with slow performance of critical applications 1) First time visit response time of web applications 2) Acceleration of SSL content. Web applications can be accelerated 200 – 1000% by using a symmetric deployment of BIG-IP WebAccelerator. The symmetric deployment of BIG-IP WebAccelerator along with other F5 solutions such as BIG-IP Global Traffic Manager and Enterprise Manager enables organizations to enhance their Enterprise Content Delivery Networks (ECDN) and reduce cost and increase control of Internet CDNs.

Highlights of the New BIG-IP WebAccelerator:

• Unmatched flexibility. Now enterprises can choose any combination of symmetric and asymmetric acceleration that suits their needs. Whether accessing web applications and content via the BIG-IP WebAccelerator deployed in a remote office or utilizing the BIG-IP WebAccelerator nearest to the data center and web applications, users are guaranteed to have the fastest possible access and the best user experience.
  
• Complete acceleration for web content via SSL. When deploying symmetric SSL acceleration, organizations can rely on the BIG-IP WebAccelerator solution to ensure that SSL transactions are offloaded to SSL hardware and that there is support for advanced SSL functions such as FIPS and client certificates.
  
• Enterprise Content Delivery Networks (eCDN). BIG-IP WebAccelerator technologies can also be deployed for enterprise sites that require the fastest user experience for their remote and mobile users. Many of these organizations utilize Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) with unpredictable results and variable costs. BIG-IP WebAccelerator allows enterprise and e-commerce sites to control and reduce the costs of traditional CDN networks.

“Building on the strength of TMOS, F5 now offers the most comprehensive, transparent and cost effective web acceleration solution,” said Jason Needham, Director of Product Management at F5. This new version of F5 BIG-IP WebAccelerator and BIG-IP WebAccelerator 4500 will be available in Q3, 2007.

About BIG-IP WebAccelerator:

F5’s BIG-IP WebAccelerator is an advanced web application delivery solution that provides a series of intelligent technologies designed to overcome problems with browsers, web application platforms, and WAN latency issues that impact user performance.

About F5 Networks:

F5 Networks is the global leader in Application Delivery Networking. F5 provides solutions that make applications secure, fast and available for everyone, helping organizations get the most out of their investment. By adding intelligence and manageability into the network to offload applications, F5 optimizes applications and allows them to work faster and consume fewer resources. Over 10,000 organizations and service providers worldwide trust F5 to keep their applications running.

For more information:

Jade Lo
Sirius PR Sdn Bhd
(603) 7805 2700
jade.lo@siriuspr.com.my

From Blogger to Politician

It is indeed official now that blogging can change your life.

Bill Gates is famous for Microsoft.
Steve Jobs is famous for Apple.
Michael Jordan is famous for Basketball.
Tun Dr. Mahathir is famous for Prime Minister.
Jeff Ooi is famous for blogging.

Now this one time famous blogger is going to be a politician and he is joining the DAP (opposition party).

Mr. Jeff Ooi has been in the limelight lately, not due to the surge of popularity of his blogs but also due to the surge of anti-popularity sentiment. Some people accuse him of having biased opinions.

I don't know this guy actually, I know he writes good blogs and it is very informative. I have never met him either.

But, I have the opinion that it takes more than will to step out from a low-profile lifestyle of a blogger to become a member of an opposition party.

Keep your comments about what you think about Mr. Jeff Ooi in this blog. For my purpose is to take note that blogging can change your life! Period.

Keep on blogging for the good reasons!

HAPS achieves milestone with further industry support

HAPs was invented by ITU (International Telecommunication Union), is a technology of terrestrial wireless platform.

HAPS (High Altitude Platform Stations), has been in existence for many years in many forms, mostly in the Military environments.

Currently, Malaysian based company QucomHaps Malaysia Sdn. Bhd is working towards pushing HAPS technology into commercialization where it is timely to serve the National Broadband Plan (NBP). The national broadband plan has it that 50% of the households (5.5 millions) to have broadband by year 2010. This target is considered to be more realistic.

To do that, QucomHaps Malaysia (who is part of QucomHaps group) is working on providing convergence connectivity services to telcos. These services are fully managed services.

The idea is viable and strategy is clear cut. QucomHaps is not planning to play the big brother role in realizing the NBP, it is just seeking to complement existing telcos who are working hard on it. In short, QucomHaps will not deal direct with end-users, for it will service telcos directly.

And in order to get the ball rolling, they need to play a bigger role in terms of facilitation, whereby it is a challenge for them to be compliant with as much telcos as possible, and this brings them to form the HAPS working group known as Malaysian Technical Standards Forum Bhd. (MTSFB), which is a forum and a non-profit organization with primary objective of promoting competitiveness in the Malaysian communication industry. It is established under the auspices of MCMC and its members which include all major telcos, broadcasters, universities in Malaysia and also SIRIM Berhad.

Core activities of MTSFB is to develop technical codes, standards, technical and Service Parameters and guideline on HAPS Technology and Services. This is supported by the 10 active working groups focusing on Digital Terrestrial Television, Digital Sound Broadcasting, Quality of Services for Public Cellular, Powerline Communication, Next Generation Network (NGN), Broadband, IPv6 and others.

MTSFB is self-funded by its members.

A press conference was held at the Nikko Hotel on 31st July 2007 to address the public about such milestone which is seen as an important catalyst.



During the press conference, Abdul Majid Abdullah, managing director of QucomHaps Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. and chairman of MTSFB Working Group gave a speech to address the media where he emphasized the passion and commitment of QucomHAPS Malaysia in helping the country (Malaysia) to achieve the NBP. The speech was followed by a technical presentation of HAPS technology and its application from the VP of Marketing of QucomHAPS Malaysia, Jamal Johar.

HAPS refers to the use of aircraft hovering at stratospheric levels (20 km from the ground) to provide telecommunication connectivity service using the spectrum of 20 - 30 GHz as the backhaul. Please take note that commercial air flights are operating at 17km from the ground the area known as Troposhere while satellite operates at the Exosphere which is 36,000 km above the ground.



The idea of having aircraft hovering on the sky to provide Internet connection may seem dangerous. However, it is definitely very effective because just having two aircrafts, the whole peninsular Malaysia will be covered. Thus, logically it only requires five aircrafts to cover the whole Malaysia.

Previous attempts of HAPS commercialization in Japan saw the unavailability of effective platforms leading towards impractical roll-outs and that was 10 years ago. QucomHAPS has now taken into the consideration the availability of newer platforms particularly inventions of new aircrafts.

In terms of costing, this initiative offers lower cost for nationwide coverage while at the same time it is able to service millions of customers nationwide. It is currently running under the following predicted cost model:

• USD 10 per subscribers per month for a 512 kbps bandwidth.
  
• Maximum capacity of 2 Mb allowed, but this would trade off the numbers of subscribers. And thus with 512 kbps, going at 100% broadband rollout, it is able to serve 10 millions customers.

However, QucomHAPS is not able to guaranteed that their customers (telcos) will provider a cheaper and better quality broadband service to Malaysian even though the cost to the telcos by leveraging on QucomHAPS would definitely have been lowered. This is also the function of the MTSFB which is to provide guidelines.

It is also good to note that the services offered by QucomsHAPS to its customers (telcos) would be in the form of OPEX (operation expenditure); that is no investment on infrastructure and only on subscription to services. This would be a safety net for telcos to leverage in order to gain a bigger market share. And the safety net for QucomsHAPS is that there will be limited capacity and thus the bandwidths are offered as first come first served basis.

QucomHAPS has no direct competitors because they provides convergence technologies in terms of infrastructure. Green Packet who provides convergence technologies in terms of software is also a potential client.

And the critical success factors for QucomHAPS are the timing and the financial game. It is all about the timing between acquiring assets (aircrafts) and the roll-outs. It is also essential for them to be cost-efficient in order to make sure that services don't incur unnecessary surcharges. (a penalty to loyal end users)

Press Release:

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 July 2007 – Today, Malaysia comes a step closer to realising the world’s first commercial deployment of High Altitude Platforms (HAPS) as a supporting infrastructure for the successful provisioning of broadband communications services.

This is marked by the formation of the HAPS Working Group by the Malaysian Technical Standards Forum Bhd (MTSFB) to develop technical codes, standards, service parameters, and guidelines on HAPS Technology and Services.

To date, the HAPS Working Group comprises of some 20 members who represent parties within the communication, broadcast and academic sectors, as well as relevant government bodies. The number of members is expected to increase as developments by the HAPS Working Group gets underway.

Rizal Datuk Haji Abdul Malek, senior manager at MTSFB, said that the formation of the HAPS Working Group represents a continual effort by the regulators to review optimal technologies that national carriers can adopt; to best roll out services that meets the country’s vision for broadband connectivity.

“In a way, the HAPS Working Group embody the efforts of regulators such as MCMC and MTSFB to realise the Government’s targets under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and the Malaysian Information, Communications and Multimedia Services (MyICMS 886) blueprint,” he says.

Abdul Majid Abdullah, chairman of the HAPS Working Group, explains that HAPS refers to the use of aircraft hovering at stratospheric levels (ie. 20 kilometers from the ground) to provide immediate, nationwide access to broadband connectivity at cost levels that are significantly lower than anything commercially available today.

National Broadband Plan (NBP) is achievable with HAPS’ support

Recently, the Malaysian government upped its nationwide target for broadband penetration to 50 per cent among households by 2010, from the current 12 per cent or 5.5 million.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that broadband penetration would be limited to 50 per cent because the Government currently could not afford the cost for 100 per cent deployment - estimated at some RM56 Billion via existing methods and technologies.

To this end, HAPS technology is proposed as one of the most viable means to date to help achieve the country’s NBP at full nationwide coverage, at a cost that is significantly lower than stated.

Abdul Majid says, “Research has provided strong indication that HAPS could be the fastest (to deploy), most reliable and cost-effective way to meet the government’s goal for immediate and pervasive broadband connectivity of 512 kilobit per second (kbps) to every corner of the country.”

“HAPS has been extensively researched and developed for numerous projects around the world for the past 15 years. I am confident that with the commitment and sincerity of this HAPS Working Group, Malaysia will pioneer the first commercial HAPS deployment in the world with immense succcess.”

He adds that the set up of the HAPS Working Group means more than the industry’s advocation for a specific technology, but as a conscientious effort to achieve a greater social economic impact via the NBP’s vision.

MTSFB, which plays a crucial role to the development and eventual adoption of new technologies in the local communications industry, is a technical standards set up of Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It is responsible for the managing and handling of issues relating to technical standards and codes in Malaysia. Up to 10 Working Groups have been formed by MTSFB so far, amongst others being the 3rd Generation (3G) Working Group, Wireless Broadband (WiMax) Working Group and Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Working Group.

About Malaysian Technical Standards Forums Bhd (MTFS Bhd)

MTFS Bhd was officially designated by MCMC in October 2004. It is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the standards, technical codes, network interoperability and operation issues; as well as to develop, recommend, modify, update and seek the registration of technical codes from the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

At present MTSFB has formed 10 active Working Groups focusing on Digital Terrestrial Television, Digital Sound Broadcasting, Quality of Services for Public Cellular, Powerline Communication, Next Generation Network (NGN), Broadband, IPv6 and others. Recently MTSFB has submitted 10 codes to MCMC for adoption and be registered.

MTSFB is widening its function when the National Standards body, SIRIM Berhad and Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM) appointed MTSFB as the Standards Writing Organization (SWO) in 2005 in developing Malaysian Standards on telecommunications technology. For more information, visit www.mtsfb.org.my


About QucomHaps

QucomHaps Holdings Limited:

QucomHaps Holdings Limited is a telecommunication infrastructure company based in Dublin, Ireland. QucomHaps delivers stratospheric communication infrastructure service – High Altitude Platforms (HAPS) using piloted M55 high altitude aircrafts carrying communication equipment that is connected to existing and standardized local and international ground gateway equipment. QucomHaps offers the ONLY commercial HAPS service available in the world today.

QucomHaps Malaysia Sdn Bhd:

QucomHaps Malaysia Sdn Bhd (QHM) is a subsidiary of QucomHaps. QHM will deliver the HAPS service nationwide in Malaysia to the key network players within the following mediums: mobile telecommunications companies, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and broadcasting companies.

For more information:

Jamal Johar
QucomHAPS Malaysia
(603) 2782 7070
jamaljohar.my@qucomhaps.com

Rizal Datuk Haji Abd Malek
Malaysian Technical Standards Forum Bhd
(603) 8996 5505
rizal@mtsfb.org.my

Jade Lo
Sirius PR Sdn Bhd
(603) 7805 2700
jade.lo@siriuspr.com.my

Streamyx Account Report (9)

As a user of Streamyx home and corporate package, these are my feedbacks again.

I did go ahead with down grade of my home package (2048/512 kbps@RM 88) to (512/256 kbps@ RM 66) and it is not yet affective yet, even though they promised me within three days.

However surprisingly, the speed for my home package did show improvement lately. Yesterday I managed to get around 300 kbps download. That is not bad after all.

Now, it seems that problems have been shifted to the corporate side whereby in a moody Monday morning, the Internet connection doesn't live up to expectation.

Area: 47301, P.J
Package: Corporate 2048 kbps (download)/ 512 kbps (upload)

Here are the observations:

Via InternetFrog



Just a 41.1 kbps download. Much better than dial-up speed but definitely not broadband.

Let's check out using ping..



Major congestions at routing level.

The CEO of Streamyx should find this blog entry very useful.

Check out the latest broadband provider iZZi and some updates from RedesignMalaysia.

This is the most appropriate time for new broadband providers to capitalize the market now. MCMC and the government of Malaysia is counting on the Wimax initiative to work cordially.

More about telecommunication in Malaysia.

SMI SME Survival Guides

On 22nd July 2007, they had a press conference to launch the SME Recognization Award 2007, nominations are now opened.

A brainstorming session has been undergone and here are the findings.

1. SMI SME players should strive to have less dependent on loan-shark.
2. Try to secure financial assistant from Microfinancing; initiative from Bank Negara.
3. Make use of e-banking services from Bank Pembangunan for better financial management.
4. Focus on servicing industry which includes the ICT industry.
5. Leverage on SMIDEC grants.
6. Make use of financing facilities from other banks particularly from OCBC bank for A/R financing, contract financing, supplying financing and etc.
7. Obtaining CGC facilities.

Most important, players are urged to form a strong base in Malaysia while look beyond the Malaysian market.

Previously, SMI SMEs are reported to have faced difficulties in obtaining financing facilities from the banks.

More on SMI SME.

Blogathon 2007 in Malaysia

Refer to LiewCF, there will be a blogathon to be held on 28th July 2007 (Saturday).

Check out the official site.

For participation, you can either be:

1. A participant. According to LiewCf, one has to blog non-stop for 24 hours, ideally, the benchmark is to create 48 blogs in 24 hours; every 30 minutes one new blog.
2. A sponsor.

This event is good for two reasons:

1. Bloggers networking.
2. Allow charity organizations to find sponsors.

TWiKi : Web-based collaboration tool

If you have problems communicating with your team or sub-ordinates.

If you are a CEO who is facing constrains in communicating your corporate missions and messages to your team.

If you are having problems with collaboration within your organizations (business), you may want to try TWiKi.

Describe in one sentence:

TWiki is a flexible, powerful, secure, yet simple web-based collaboration platform. Use TWiki to run a project development space, a document management system, a knowledge base or any other groupware tool on either an intranet or on the Internet.

Check out the brief summary.

System Requirements:

TWiki is file based and doesn’t use a database. Backup of data involves backing up of file folders such as the “data” folder. (Other folders are not critical)

It also uses some Linux functions such as “grep” for searching.

More about system requirements.

Documentations and Users guide:

http://twiki.org/cgi-bin/view/TWiki/WebHome


Used by Yahoo Software Development:

Check out this link about Yahoo-tWiKi.

other companies using it include Walt Disney, BT, SAP, Motorola, EPIC Games


Key features:

• Multi-users
  
• Grouping and security
  
• Topics changes notification
  
• RSS service for topics and changes notification.
  
• Statistic monitoring
  
• Topic management:
  
  
  • History viewing (changes monitoring)
    
  • Mother and child relationships (Using the “more topic actions”)
  
  
• Custom forms
  
• Plugins
  
  • Spreadsheet
    
  • Comment
    
  • Blacklist
    
  • Chart
    
  • EditTable
    
  • Gauge
    
  • GoogleAjaxSearch
    
  • Tagging
    
  • Table
    
  • Wysiwyg
    
  • Slideshow
    
  • Smiles
  
  
• Many more.

Web differences:

TWiki is organized into units called webs. Each web is a collaboration area for specific purposes. Unlimited web can be created such as "Sales and Marketing", "management", "R & D" and etc.

• Main – Home page, managing users, groups and access control.
  
• Sandbox – Experimenting web in unrestricted manner. (creating new topics)
  
• TWiki - The place to learn about TWiki features, documentations listing, perform TWiki system maintenance as well as creating a new web and preference settings.
  

TWiki for Windows:

TWiki even though is based on Linux, Perl and Apache, it offers two major versions for Windows users.

First of all, check out this link.

And it may be possible to configure TWiki on IIS but it is not proven, check out the following on permutations or options.

Ideally, the TWiKi team recommends either:

1. TWiKiWindowsPersonal (standard edition)

• Single user
  
• Easy to install
  
• No frills
  
• Light weight

2. or TWiKiVMDebianStable (Enterprise edition)

• Multi-users
  
• More things (site-permission, access control) to configure and install
  
• Heavy weight

It is fun!!

CelebMania : MTOUCHE Launches Latest Interactive TV Offering

Just in line with recent announcement of NCDG (Network content development grant) by MCMC, mTouche doesn't come in slow to call the shot in order to set the standard for the content industry.

mTouche was last seen on the media scene with the launching of M-Bit Network; world first peer-2-peer file search and super distribution network.

Now, it is launching CelebMania which is an 3D interactive TV show.



CelebMania will run live at a later date (with further notification) on TV3 and NOT on 19 July 2007 as initially scheduled.

Press Release:

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 July 2007 – Following the successful run of Insomnia, an interactive TV programme aired on TV3 late last year and earlier this year, MESDAQ-listed mTouche Technology Berhad (“mTouche”) together with UK-based Cellcast Plc (“Cellcast”) today announces the launch of its latest interactive TV show CelebMania, through their joint venture company Cellcast Interactive Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Interactive 3D TV Show:

CelebMania is the first interactive TV show to be aired on TV3 that uses a three dimensional (3D) virtual set, featuring high tech graphics and puzzles elements on the show. Celeb Mania blends popular entertainment with interactive quizzes that are highly captivating and competitive in nature.

Eugene Goh, CEO of mTouche says that the local TV broadcast landscape is changing with the impact of interactive TV shows.

Value-add to Game Shows:

“Game shows that feature a limited studio audience are conservative and clichés in this age. People are no longer contented with shouting their answers at the TV screen during quiz shows. Technology has enabled this current era where every TV programme audiences everywhere can take part, just as the trend in tech-advanced nations such as in Japan, Korea, and India today.”

“As such, we see quality interactive TV shows that offer insightful content and attractive prizes becoming very popular here in Malaysia”, he adds.

A mashup of Joint-ventures and Levaraging:

CelebMania is a late-night television show created for terrestrial television. Viewers are able to participate in brain-teasers and quizzes, while being entertained with high-energy comedy sketches, musical acts and celebrity gossips.

CelebMania, which will hosted by local celebrity, Sharifah Shahirah, and popular comedian, Din Beramboi, is the second interactive TV show to broadcast over TV3 using Cellcast’s Interactive Television (“iTV”) format and solutions, leveraging the mTouche™ Intelligent Short Messaging Platform, mTouche™ Interactive TV Platform for Premium Short Messaging Services (“SMS”) and Premium Interactive Voice Recognition (“IVR”) services.

Goh is confident that CelebMania will do equally well, if not better than the hugely successful Insomnia, rated the No. 1 interactive TV show at TV3 which was aired from late 2006 till early this year.

World Class Production Team:

He says “Our ability to produce highly rated TV shows are credited to our having a world class production team with more than 10 years of experience in this field. mTouche is proud to be spearheading the local broadcast industry by having a major part in developing quality, interactive content.”

“mTouche’s excellent working relationship with Media Prima group which owns all four Free-to-Air Channels, namely TV3, NTV7, TV8 and Channel 9 has also made this production of CelebMania possible.”

Of Becoming and Unstoppable Trend:

Interactive TV has reached nationwide audiences in Indonesia and Thailand, and mTouche firmly believes that this is an unstoppable trend in Malaysia. With its high mobile phone penetration, advanced telecommunications infrastructure, vibrant media environment, audience participation - especially from youths of the ‘thumb generation’, interactive TV will certainly revolutionize how TV programmes are being played out in Malaysia.

About mTouche Technology Berhad

mTouche Technology Berhad is involved in the provision of mobile short messaging technologies such as mTouche Intelligent Short Messaging Platform and mTouche Content Provisioning Platform. It is a forerunner and leader with expertise in mobile messaging technologies and interactive media applications (which includes television, radio and press) in South-East Asia with operations in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India and China.

About Cellcast plc:

Cellcast is an interactive digital broadcaster listed on the Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”) and is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing and sales of interactive television applications, formats and services and other telecommunication solutions/equipment in the United Kingdom and worldwide.

Headquartered in London, with associated operations in Paris, Beirut, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires, Cellcast’s applications and programming are distributed on the Sky Digital platform in the UK and broadcast partners include Canal+ in France; Future TV, LBC, MBC, Dubai Television and Rotana in the Middle East; Telefe in Argentina, and Zee TV in India.

For further queries:

Jade Lo
Sirius PR Sdn Bhd
Tel: 03-7805 2700
jade.lo@siriuspr.com.my

SONICWALL ALIGNS WITH PROCURVE NETWORKING BY HP TO SECURE ENTERPRISE NETWORKS

SonicWall is into business continuity and targeting the enterprise market. It is being carried by ACA Pacific. Recent activities include launching of a site to site data backup and recovery solution.

It is good to note that SonicWall is a brand and it certain serves them well in terms of creating alliances with others. Recently they have a strategic tied-up with Procurve from HP. In fact, Procure is actively seeking products to complement it large business segment, which is also into business continuity. However, this is not without the pre-requisite for a good brand like SonicWall.

Such game play is the norm for the enterprise market, it is one step away from acquisition of a company, its revenues and clients. With such move, SonicWall directly gain access to all clients of Procurve who may need a United Threat Management technology critically or who may think it is nice to have. Either way, it is win win for all parties.

Brand is powerful to break the barrier of racism, prejudice and political incorrectness. Customers also more willingly to pay for branded products because there is a noble deed in obliging to that, while non-branded products sales usually suffer abuses in terms of payment. This is a big issue in the IT industry.

This event is worth to take note as a best practice for product marketing strategy in the enterprise security market.

Press Release:

KUALA LUMPUR – July 18, 2007– SonicWALL, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNWL), a leading provider of network security, email security, secure remote access, and backup and recovery solutions, today announced an agreement to align with ProCurve Networking by HP to provide new levels of security price performance to enterprises world wide. SonicWALL has joined the ProCurve Alliance, a recently-announced program designed to offer customers security, mobility and convergence solutions that have been tested and qualified for interoperability with ProCurve offerings.

Unified Threat Management:

Through this alliance, SonicWALL will extend its award-winning Unified Threat Management (UTM) technology into the ProCurve network environment, taking part in ProCurve's ProActive Defense strategy to proactively secure networks against internal and external threats.

Certified Product:

In order to join the ProCurve alliance, SonicWALL completed a rigorous application process that includes technology certification to ensure solution interoperability, simplified deployment and optimized performance. ProCurve and SonicWALL are currently engaged on product certification, undertaking extensive testing to help ensure solution interoperability.

Strategic Tied-Up:

“Dynamic, layered security is a primary requirement for all networks,” said John DiLullo, vice president, Worldwide Sales at SonicWALL. “Many security threats now originate within the LAN, so deep packet inspection across every interface within the network is essential. Additionally, as networks become more dispersed, security needs to be armed at the edge as well as from the inside out. Through this collaboration, SonicWALL and its channel partners will be able to support ProCurve’s strategy of enabling customers easily to maintain the highest levels of security on every network segment without imposing a price penalty for premium performance.”

Unit Market Share Leader:

SonicWALL has been named unit market share leader in Unified Threat Management for seven consecutive quarters according to IDC’s Worldwide Security Appliance Quarterly Tracker Report Q4 2007. To date, SonicWALL has shipped over one million appliances running its award-winning Unified Threat Management and gateway threat protection services, protecting tens of millions of users worldwide.

It Is All About Firewall Solutions:

SonicWALL’s UTM firewalls include the acclaimed PRO Series for mid-range deployments and the recently unveiled NSA E7500™ multi-core UTM security platform, designed to provide network and data technology to larger networks, distributed enterprises and data centers. The NSA E7500 is the flagship of SonicWALL’s new E Class line of premium performance solutions, which also includes Email Security offerings and, through its acquisition of Aventail, a range of high end SSL VPN solutions.

About SonicWALL, Inc.

Founded in 1991, SonicWALL, Inc. designs, develops and manufactures comprehensive network security, email security, secure remote access, and backup and recovery solutions. Over one million SonicWALL security appliances have been shipped to protect tens of millions of computer users in businesses worldwide. SonicWALL is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and trades on the Nasdaq under the symbol SNWL.

Press Contact:

Ng Swee Yoke
ACA Pacific Technology (M) Sdn Bhd
Tel: 03-7803 4600
Sweeyoke.ng@acapacific.com.my

Jade Lo
Sirius PR Sdn Bhd
Tel: 03-7805 2700
jade.lo@siriuspr.com.my

Streamyx Account Report (8)

Even though I have went ahead with submission for downgrade,it is still not effective yet.

However, today Streamyx shows the best effort after all.

Package = Home, 2048 kbps (download) / 512 kbps (upload).
Area = 47301 Petaling Jaya.
Time: 12:30 AM.

Via InternetFrog:


a 615 kbps (download)!!!! Thank you.

Such a great improvement compared to previous reports.

And the routing bottleneck has been cleared.



From Internal gateway (192.168.1.1) into the next network (219.93.218.77), it takes less than a 100 ms and this contributes significantly to the Internet speed.

And there is a new broadband provider in town; iZZi. Now everyone can surf.

Free MCSE and CCNA Training for Unemployed Graduates

Industrial skills enhancement programme (INSEP) Information Communication Technology: MCSE and CCNA certification.

• Free training sponsored by Federal Goverment.
  
• RM 500 monthly allowances.

Provided by Trainpro.

Check it out.

MCMC Networked Content Grant

MCMC gave a seminar on network content grant on 10th July 2007.

The total amount is RM 20 millions.

Keynotes:

• Malaysian market size = 4 billion (RM)
  
• Malaysia can't compete with other countries such as Vietnam and China for manufacturing power. Same applies for software outsourcing which India has taken the big pie.
  
• The only area Malaysia can be competent is the area of knowledge market.
  
• This grant is to spur the content creation economy.

Grants Details:

It is a fund established by SKMM to render assistance in the form of grants to develop Malaysian content for a networked environment.

Types of content ?

The term 'networked content' is for all text, audio, audio-text, still pictures, moving pictures and software that is accessible over publicly accessible electronic networks which includes:

• Broadcasting (TV)
  
• Moving pictures (excluding cinema, distribution & VCD/DVD sales)
  
• Online content
  
• Mobile/wireless data services (3G, mobile TV etc)
  
• Interactive digital TV
  
• and other content that can be created, manipulated, stored, retrieved, and communicated through the use of a network facilities and services

Focus ?

3 Es.
Entertainment - such as multiplayer gaming, folklore music and stories, funny video clips
E-Commerce - transactional based content such as e-shopping, interactive advertising and etc
Education - such as quick notes & formulae, interactive education.

Eligible:

Applicants must be a Malaysian individual or registered business or small & medium sized company as defined by SMIDEC
Applicants have yet to be given grants or subsidies from other content development funds
Applicants are not blacklisted or have records of failure in their past project implementation upon receiving similar types of grants from other goverment agencies
Applicant's proposal is in line with the focus areas of NCDG

Fund Size:

The amount of funding will be up to a maximum of 70% of the total project size
The procurement of infrastructure (consisting of hardware and software) is allowed up to 20% of the approved grants
Only one grant per applicant (the applicant can apply for subsequent grants but not more than three times based on the successful commercialization of the first project funded by the grant)

How will the application be assessed ?

1. Concept
- Creative & appealing
- Unique value proposition
- Demonstrate export potential/universally.

2. Business potential (ability to be exploited through:
- Different platforms/channels
- Market size
- Marketing strategies, potential revenues
- subscribers

3. Operational capacity of the applicants
- Key manpower experiences
- Technical & technology knowledge
- Strategic collaborations with any third party.
- Financial commitments and investment

What MCMC need from you...

Eligible applicants will be invited to submit project proposals to MCMC for consideration. Companies are to submit duly completed application form together with the following:

1. Concept
- Full description of the content's concept and its unique value proposition.
- Focus area of that content (i.e education, information-based, entertainment or e-commerce)

2. Business Potential
- Business model, target market
- Potential revenue & number of subscribers
- Anticipated market size
- Cost breakdown i.e manpower, hardware, software, IP licensing fee, training etc.
- International collaborations (if any)

3. Operational capacity
- Track record (if any), experience & profiles of key manpower.
- Project timelines i.e trial, launch etc
- Technology & technical arrangements/agreements (if any)
- Strategic collaborations with third party (if any)
- Financial commitments and investments

How will the fund be disbursed ?

• 30% upon approval
  
• 70% drawn down in phases based on delivery and milestones as agreed by both parties; and
  
• funding will not exceed 12 months. An extension will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  
• Effective funding period will commence from first drawndown to last drawndown within a calendar period based on proposed milestones.

How will the project be monitored ?

• Monthly progress reports to be submitted to MCMC.
  
• Monthly meetings with MCMC to evaluate progress in terms of timeliness and quality
  
• Site visit for auditing purposes

What about Intellectual Property ?

• If more than one party is involved in the project, a binding letter of understanding between project partners setting out existing and proposed ownership, disposition of intellectual property rights associated with the project, and exploitation of the project result must be submitted to the MCMC before funds are disbursed.
  
• The IP shall be owned by the content developers with MCMC being recognized as a partner in the development of the content and would be allowed to use the content for other purposes except for commercial use.

Other terms and conditions

• Successful applicants shall enter into a contract with MCMC upon approval.
  
• MCMC shall be acknowledged in the credits upon successful distribution/commercialization of the product.
  
• MCMC shall seek full reimbursement of funds disbursed in the event of the incompletion of the project or termination due to failure to meet the milestones agreed or contravention of terms and conditions.
  - The full amount is to be repaid based on 0% interest rate
  - Repayment period is determined by both parties
  

The Vital Ingredients for Content Development in Malaysia:

The ingredients are important for the seed to grow.

1. Financial investment
2. Nurturing talent.
3. Demand for content.
4. Industry-bridges.
Sharing of talent and resources
Ease of communicatoin between firms
5. Concerted regulation.

Roslan Mohamed(Director of content development for MCMC) talked about "Current Initiatives to Build the Landscape"

I. 1 billion Internet users in the world.
II. 2 billions mobile phone users in the world.
III. 3.8 billions people in the world watch T.V
IV. Currently, contents can be classified as:

• Filmed content
  
• TV content
  
• Business content
  
• Education & training content
  
• Games.

V. Content must be seen as an industry.

Kamil Ahmad Othman(VP of Creative Development for MDeC) talked about "Bringing Malaysian Content to the Global Threshold"...

1. Malaysia don't have a culture of story telling.
2. malaysia don't respect creative people.
3. Malaysia has an "import" mentality.
4. The world is your market.
5. We must establish strategic alliances.
6. He suggested to bring back the poetry of old school days.

Conclusion:

1. Software can be a content, but not business software, it has be something like games or multimedia.
2. Data can become content but it cannot be confidential data, it has to be publishable data.
3. Portals to publish content is not eligible, it has to be the content to be published by portals such as Yahoo, Alibaba, Sohu and etc.

Download the application form from here.

Good luck. This is opportunity of the lifetime.

Frenszone : next generation online friends community

Frenszone is a new online friends community.

It offers ...

1. Fastest way to make new friends
2. Built-in instant messaging service.
3. Create blogs, parties and more.

All for free.

What I like best about Frenszone is the ability of search features via zodiac signs. It also helps you to do compatibility matching with the profiles that one is viewing and has added as friends. Such features are not yet available in friendster.

The bottom line of online friends community is all about looking for new social horizon to break the monotony of life as some may call it.

It has many features which friendster has to offer.

The interface looks better than friendster.

The battle between online friends communities is not merely about how big the community is (how many members it has) but also the flexibility of the platform which would offer users with ubiquitous e-lifestyle.

Frenszone will have to innovate faster than other existing competitors to close the gap and stay ahead of competitions. So far, friendster is still not doing too well with Groups. Perhaps, it is a challenge with Frenszone will live up to ?

I have an account too!

ACA Pacific Expands IT Solution Offerings

ACA Pacific is the Leading IT distributor introduces global IT automation and security brands to local market.



ACA Pacific Technology signing ceremony with KACE, ConSentry, and FaceTime together with photo.
The event was held at Renaissance Hotel at 10.30am , 11th July 2007.

Photo: ACA Pacific Technology signing ceremony on 11 July 2007: (L-R)

1. Azmil Merican, Sales Manager of ACA Pacific Technology Sdn Bhd
2. Gregory J. Lipper, Managing Director of KACE Networks
3. Matthew Loh, Sales Director of ConSentry Networks
4. ILAN Stern, Vice President of Sales FaceTime Communications SouthEast
Asia (SEA)

Press Release:

KUALA LUMPUR, 11 July 2007 – ACA Pacific Technology Sdn Bhd (“ACA Pacific”), leading IT distributor within the Asia-Pacific region, is expanding its foothold in the local enterprise business solutions market by its appointment as the sole distributor for three leading international brand names, Kace Networks (“KACE™”), ConSentry Networks and FaceTime.

KACE™ is the provider of systems management appliances that deliver easy-to-use, comprehensive systems management capabilities. ConSentry Networks and FaceTime are leading security brands that enable businesses to protect critical resources and systems from threats both within and outside the organization.

ACA Pacific’s appointment by these three international brands is in line with the company’s objective of forging more strategic partnership with dynamic global companies. This move also paves a way for these IT brands to penetrate the Malaysian market, with ACA Pacific helping them to drive their brand awareness and revenue in the local industries.

Azmil Merican, Sales Manager, ACA Pacific said, “We pride ourselves as being one of the region's leading distributor for the IT industry that only partner with globally reputed brands. Our aggressive go-to-market programs and pre and post-sales technical services will give us the competitive edge to provide channel partners with genuine value added services and satisfy the growing needs of our diverse customer base.”

“These newly formed alliances mark the beginning of a long-term relationship that will help us consolidate ACA Pacific’s position in the region."

ACA Pacific currently carries six product lines in Malaysia: Design Automation, Media Entertainment and Broadcasting, Security and Networking, Data Storage and Backup, Document Imaging and Business Applications.

"The partnership not only complements our existing solutions, but also creates new business opportunities for our channel partners. With organizations finding ways to improve their business critical resources, I believe there is a positive demand for the solutions that these brands have to offer,” said Merican.

KACE™, ConSentry and FaceTime join ACA Pacific’s extensive portfolio of leading technology associates, to provide more innovative system management and security solutions options to local enterprises.

The other IT brands under the ACA Pacific’s Security and Networking category of products and solutions include Trend Micro, Websense, Top Layer, SonicWall, RSA Security, Clearswift and Talariax.

Merican adds that ACA Pacific will continue to add more technology brands under its portfolio to ensure that its customers always have an attractive range of technological solutions for better returns on their IT investments.

Earlier in April, ACA Pacific also signed with DataCraft and EqualLogic to boost its Data Storage and Backup portfolio of solutions.


About KACE™
KACE™ is the leading systems management appliance company. The award winning KBOX™ family of appliances delivers easy-to-use, comprehensive systems management capabilities. KACE is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

About ConSentry Networks
ConSentry Networks delivers secure switching, enabling enterprises to control every user and secure every port on the LAN through its LANShield product family—the LANShield™ Switch, LANShield Controller, and InSight™ Command Center. More than 100 enterprises today rely on ConSentry’s award-winning secure-switching platforms to protect their corporate assets, ensure continuity of operations, and dramatically reduce the risk of security breaches.

About FaceTime Communications
FaceTime enables the safe and productive use of greynets like instant messaging, Skype, web conferencing and P2P file sharing.

About ACA Pacific

ACA Pacific Technology is an established IT marketing and value-added distribution company since 1988, serving the Asia-Pacific region. Solutions offerings include selecting and integrating only the “Best-of-Breed” software and hardware to meet customers’ requirements. Being associated with the world’s top IT product manufacturers and developers, ACA Pacific is constantly upgrading its distribution portfolios to bring the latest technology to the market, with offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Australia, and an extensive network of over 800 trained and certified channel partners. Supported with comprehensive tangible facilities and unparalleled levels of pre-sales support and customer service, ACA Pacific is deemed one of the leading IT suppliers in Asia. For more information please visit

For more information:

Ng Swee Yoke
ACA Pacific Technology (M) Sdn Bhd
Tel: 03-7803 4600
sweeyoke.ng@acapacific.com.my

Jade Lo
Sirius PR Sdn Bhd
Tel: 03-7805 2700
jade.lo@siriuspr.com.my

SONICWALL TAKES BUSINESS CONTINUITY OFFERING TO A NEW LEVEL WITH SITE TO SITE DATA BACKUP AND RECOVERY

Sonicwall is targeting the enterprise market.

It is carried by official distributor ACA Pacific from Singapore.

Press Release:

KUALA LUMPUR – July 10, Tuesday -- SonicWALL, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNWL), today introduced to its Continuous Data Protection (CDP) series the capability of using a CDP appliance as an offsite data backup solution. CDP Box-to-Box Backup provides a comprehensive solution for backing up and restoring data remotely without using third-party offsite facilities, giving users and managed service providers control over their data backup and recovery solutions.

Offsite Data Backup Solution:

SonicWALL CDP Box-to-Box Backup is an offsite backup and recovery solution operating in conjunction with local SonicWALL CDP devices. The SonicWALL Box-to-Box Backup solution automatically receives data from CDP appliances on a continual basis. All data is securely transmitted and encrypted with an AES 256-bit encryption key. In the event that a local disaster occurs or the local site CDP unit fails, IT administrators can recover data from the remote CDP device through a simple-to-use interface.

Box-to-box Configuration:

In a typical configuration, a local CDP appliance backs up servers, workstations, and laptops. Using Box-to-Box Backup, customers can set up a second CDP appliance at a remote location to back up the data stored on the local CDP appliance. The offsite CDP appliance can also be configured to backup multiple local CDP appliances.

Better Control and More Convenience:

“Box-to-Box Backup allows our customers to take control over their data backup and recovery solutions. And we believe that there is positive demand for what SonicWALL has to offer to help improve organizations’ business critical resources”, said Mark Gill, Managing Director of ACA Pacific Technology Sdn. Bhd., SonicWALL’s distributor in Malaysia. “Box-to-Box Backup creates new business opportunities for us, and we have no doubts that it is one of the best value-added solutions we have to offer to satisfy the growing needs of our diverse customer base.”

Business Contingency Plan (BCP):

Using Box-to-Box Backup, the most current copy of data can rapidly be recovered after a disaster strikes, reducing business downtime from hours and days to minutes and seconds. This capability allows employees have the most recent data at their fingertips within minutes and business to be up and running as usual.

“With Box-to-Box Backup, our partners are able to offer their customers a more rounded out backup and recovery solution for disaster readiness,” said Matthew Bolton, Product Manager for SonicWALL’s Continuous Data Protection business unit. “We wanted to make our Continuous Data Protection solutions more appealing to prospective customers. Box-to-Box Backup allows our partners to host and manage their customers’ offsite data backup and also to reach the set of customers that want to manage their own data backup and recovery solution completely.”

SonicWALL Box-to-Box Backup is available immediately. A separate license and current support contract are required in order to utilize Box-to-Box Backup. This service runs on SonicWALL CDP Version 3.0 firmware. Current users of CDP appliances will automatically have their appliances updated to Version 3.0.

About SonicWALL, Inc. :

Founded in 1991, SonicWALL, Inc. designs, develops and manufactures comprehensive network security, email security, secure remote access, and backup and recovery solutions. SonicWALL is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and trades on the NASDAQ under the symbol SNWL.

For more information:

Ng Swee Yoke
ACA Pacific Technology (M) Sdn Bhd
Tel: 03-7803 4600
Sweeyoke.ng@acapacific.com.my

Jade Lo
Sirius PR Sdn Bhd
Tel: 03-7805 2700
jade.lo@siriuspr.com.my

Alcatel-Lucent keeps #1 position in broadband access market

Alcatel-Lucent has hit another home run following previous exciting news and events.

DSLAM is a hardware, it can be big or small. And of course, it has built-in software.

It is a broadband technology. It is meant for connecting multiple DSL into the Internet backbone.

Press Release:

Kuala Lumpur, July 9, 2007 — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that industry analyst firm Dell’Oro has reported Alcatel-Lucent’s continued market leadership in DSL as well as IP DSLAM shipments at the end of the first quarter of 2007.

With a 26% cumulative market share the company leads the IP DSLAM market for the second consecutive quarter. For general DSL shipments, Alcatel-Lucent also confirms its leadership position with a cumulative market share of 41%, significantly more than double that of the second ranked competitor. In the first quarter of 2007, Alcatel-Lucent had shipped over 7.3 million DSL lines, resulting in a total of more than 133 million DSL lines shipped.

With more than 150 customers deploying its ISAM product portfolio, including 80% of the top 20 DSL operators in the world, Alcatel-Lucent continues to be the undisputed leader in the DSL market. Alcatel-Lucent brings its customers the strongest product portfolio in all access segments, substantial and ongoing investment in innovation and technology, business consultancy programs, and an unparalleled experience in supporting very large, complex end-to-end deployments in all regions worldwide.

About Alcatel-Lucent:

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities transferred to Thales].

For further informations:

Rodhiah Ismail
Tel : 2053 0200
Rodhiah.Ismail@alcatel-lucent.com.my

Jolene Cheoh
Sirius PR Sdn Bhd
Tel: 03- 7805 2700
Fax: 03 - 7805 2725
Mobile: 012 - 693 4816
Email: jolene.cheoh@siriuspr.com.my

But the broadband situation is not really something fantastic in the local scene.

Streamyx (in the local scene) is not living up to expectation especially for home package. It seems to have bottlenecks at the routing side.

The survey by MMU students shows that broadband services in Malaysia is quite bad.

Perhaps Streamyx hasn't been investing too much on the DSLAM. But as outsiders, we could never speculate accurately.

Opportunities in Networked Content

With so much talk since last year v1 to v15 and of recent ...

Malaysia is indeed living up to the 9th Malaysian Plan momentum, a good warm-up towards the celebration of 50th independence year.

PRESS RELEASE

MCMC ORGANISES SEMINAR ON OPPORTUNITIES IN NETWORKED CONTENT

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is organizing a half-day seminar on “Opportunities in Networked Content” in Cyberjaya on 10 July 2007. The event will be officiated by the Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, YB Dato’ Shaziman Abu Mansor at 9.00 a.m.

The seminar is part of capacity building initiatives to establish a constructive synergy between content creators, aggregators and government agencies to lift up the industry. The focus of the seminar is to attain the following objectives:

• to create awareness, especially among aspiring content producers, of the promising prospect for the networked content industry.
• to highlight the roles and initiatives of MCMC and other agencies in developing a vibrant local networked content industry.
• to learn from the content experts (academicians, produc