Phishing threat highlights need for IT security support

A fresh reminder has emerged of the importance that firms must place on obtaining IT security support.
Security outfit RSA's Anti-Fraud Command Center has warned that a new phishing device could be set to target businesses in the UK.
The Universal Man-in-the-Middle Phishing Kit allows criminals to entice users in to communicating with a real website via a fraudulent URL.
The kit has been designed to allow non-IT experts the ability to engage in phishing attacks.
Marc Gaffan, director of marketing for consumer solutions at RSA, commented: "As institutions put additional online security measures in place, the fraudsters are looking at new ways of duping innocent victims and stealing information and assets.
"While these types of attacks are still considered 'next generation', we expect them to become more widespread over the course of the next 12 to 18 months."
It is thought the package is readily available for purchase on the internet and firms are being advised to be on the guard and enlist specialist IT support.

Poorly managed IT 'can damage business credibility'

Poorly managed IT services can damage a business's credibility and lose it customers, an expert has claimed.
President of Strasburg Technology, Byron Miller, claimed that in today's technologically-driven business world, successful companies knew how important it was to get IT systems and solutions right.
As well as driving profits and creating business growth, well-managed IT services made the day-to-day running of a firm more efficient and cost-effective, he explained, something which smaller businesses were increasingly recognising.
Mr Miller said that managed IT support services were a valuable asset as providers could take a 360-degree view of a firm's technology requirements and create solutions tailored to individual needs.
He said: "Tailoring IT solutions to the specific needs of a business is like giving away the keys to its future success.
"But you must work with a managed IT services provider who believes in building trust and forming a close working relationship - and who is willing to go that extra mile for a client."
Good business IT network support can be essential for a well-functioning company, something which Mr Miller agrees with, claiming that IT solutions can form a "rock solid foundation" for the success of a firm.

VanguardMS and igxglobal, inc. Team to Launch PCI-COMPLY Services to Help Retail Industry Comply with PCI Data Security Standards

MANSFIELD, Mass., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Although deadlines set by the major credit card issuers have passed, many retail merchants and service providers are still struggling with how to safeguard credit card information and ensure their own compliance with data security standards established by the industry's PCI Security Standards Council. Vanguard Managed Solutions (VanguardMS(TM)), the nation's largest independent provider of managed network and security services, announces it has teamed with igxglobal, a leader in information security services and a certified QSA (Qualified Security Assessor) and ASV (Approved Scanning Vendor), to provide PCI-COMPLY, a comprehensive portfolio of services to assist businesses in achieving and maintaining PCI standards compliance. "The pressure on retailers and service providers to demonstrate full compliance with credit card security standards is mounting," notes Karen Ayotte, Director of Marketing. "Not only are card issuers requiring stronger safeguards for cardholder data and the networks that carry this information, but today's more educated consumers are also demanding their information be better protected."
According to Barry Johnson, Director of Risk Mitigation at igxglobal, PCI compliance is a multi-step process. "The industry's security standards are quite complex, involving issues like updating security patches, ensuring non- default settings and passwords, and protection of resources that transmit, store or process credit card data. Compliance is applicable to a host of network components that includes firewalls, switchers, routers, wireless access points, and other network and security appliances. Few retailers are adequately prepared to address all this on their own."
The PCI-COMPLY portfolio from VanguardMS and igxglobal includes the following eight services:
- PCI Gap Analysis: An initial review of systems, security methodologies, processes, to identify compliance gaps and provide preliminary recommendations. - PCI Audit and Assessment Services: A comprehensive, annual compliance audit and assessment tailored to a merchants' category/transaction level, from a certified QSA (Qualified Security Assessor). - PCI External Vulnerability/Exploitation Assessment: A quarterly network scan to enable merchants and service providers to identify security vulnerabilities in their Internet access points, from a certified ASV (Approved Scanning Vendor). - Forensics and Litigation Support Services: A complete solution for investigating and documenting cyber crimes, providing evidence and critical data analysis that can be used in legal proceedings. - Change Management and Compliance Reporting Services: A comprehensive network security package that helps ensure a secure network; stringent access control measures; routine monitoring and testing of network-wide components; ongoing maintenance of an established information security policy; and the ability to accurately track and report on numerous required compliance standards. - SecureGuard Monitor & Alert/Incident Response: An important service that allows merchants to monitor, report, audit and alert on access to all system components that process, store or transmit cardholder information. - Remote Access: The distribution, setup and on-going maintenance of keys used for remote worker access including revocation of old or invalid keys, such as RSA keys. - Radius Authentication Service: A service that tracks access to management systems with critical client information, and ensures that data available on a networking device, including routers and firewalls, is accessible in an authorized manner only.
The PCI-COMPLY portfolio of services is available now from VanguardMS and igxglobal. The PCI Gap Analysis, Audit/Assessment, Vulnerability/Exploitation Assessment and Forensics/Litigation Services are priced on a per project basis, depending upon the scope of work. The Change Management, SecureGuard Monitor & Alert/Incident Response and Remote Access services are priced as a recurring monthly fee.

NTRsupport Adds Simultaneous Remote-Control and Support Sessions Between Computers Running Mac OS, Windows, and Linux

NTRglobal, a provider of highly secure remote support and access software, today announced that its NTRsupport product now offers simultaneous remote control and support sessions for computers running the Mac OS, Windows or Linux operating systems.
Dallas (PRWeb) January 10, 2007 -- NTRglobal, a provider of highly secure remote support and access software, today announced that its NTRsupport product now offers simultaneous remote control and support sessions for computers running the Mac OS, Windows or Linux operating systems.
NTRsupport is one of the fastest, easiest and most secure on-demand remote support solutions on the market. The software allows support professionals to create an immediate and secure connection between the support agent's computer and a user's PC or Mac, so the support staff can actually see what's on the user's screen in real time. This approach to providing IT support saves time and travel, and improves the customer service experience by delivering instant, personalized help. More than 7,500 companies around the world are already benefiting from NTRsupport. NTRsupport is immediately available for a free, 15-day evaluation at www.ntrsupport.com.
With NTRsupport, companies are able to solve the vast majority of their internal or external customers' technical support issues remotely, regardless of their operating system. The software-as-a-service (SaaS) model allows all support operations to be 100 percent Web-based, removing the need for pre-installation and requiring only a Web browser and Internet connection. The platform is available to more than 10,000 NTRsupport operators who already use the product.
"The expanded cross-platform capability complements NTRsupport's high level of flexibility, providing customers with a powerful solution that can be adapted to any user platform," said Andre Angel, president and CEO of NTRglobal North America.
NTRglobal is able to deliver this level of cross-platform support because of NTRsupport's compatibility with Firefox, the second most widely-used Web browser and the only browser guaranteed to be fully compatible with Mac OS, Windows and Linux. NTRsupport is also fully compatible with both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs.
NTR Labs, the research arm of NTRglobal, is working to extend the cross-platform capabilities of NTRsupport with the addition of supplementary support functionality, such as VoIP telephony, videoconferencing and an installable remote control (IRC) function. These additions will permit an unattended computer to be controlled remotely without user intervention.

Password Vault: a password management system for IT support

Wipro Technologies’ Password Vault beats the traditional model of accessing customer premise equipment—it gives one time access to a sick system for which an incident ticket has been generated by creating an on-demand connection. Once the device is functioning normally, the ticket is closed and with it the on-demand session. By Akhtar Pasha.
Large companies traditionally outsourced only non-critical areas such as network security, hardware and software maintenance to third-party service providers. They hesitated to outsource their production systems fearing that information belonging to their customers would be tampered with resulting in serious consequences such as loss of face, customers and critical business information falling into their competitors’ hands. Wipro Technologies, in its quest to gain a business advantage while providing remote infrastructure services, came up with the concept of a Password Vault to tackle problems such as the unauthorised distribution of passwords, unauthorised access to and tampering of critical business applications belonging to its customers.
“In the traditional remote IT services model, servers or network devices are accessed by providing the username and password of a target system once the engineer has the logon prompt—it compromises security without any positive outcome vis-a-vis availability and performance,” says Suresh Kumar R, head, Engineering & Process Automation, Wipro Technologies. Wipro eliminated this potentially risky password management process by introducing Password Vault, which eliminates the need for the engineer to key-in a password while accessing a device, be it a switch or router, a server, an application—any of which happens to be malfunctioning or whose performance has deteriorated. Passwords are mapped to skill levels and stored in the Password Vault ensuring that passwords are safe and that only sick devices are accessed.
Supposing an engineer working for a remote IT infrastructure company on his last day in the organisation decides to take out a grudge against the company and logs into a customer’s IT infrastructure using a user id and password to steal information and sells it to the customer’s competitors. The repercussions of his action can be more damaging than one can imagine. To address this problem Wipro’s Global Command Centre (GCC) embarked on a project to create the Password Vault in late 2005. Kumar says, “The aim was to make remote IT service delivery more robust thereby providing us with a clear differentiator. The aim was to make remote IT infrastructure more secure and delivery robust and scalable so that SLAs could be managed without compromising the customer’s trade secrets.”
Simply put, a Password Vault gives one-time access to a restricted password so that a malfunctioning or sick device can be accessed. A sick device is one for which an incident ticket or an approved change request has been raised in the service management system. Systems that do not have a problem cannot be touched. A multi-location service delivery mechanism for robust risk mitigation and business impact reporting enables clients to see the live business impact of IT services on a 24X7 basis making the Global Command Centre (GCC) one of the most robust and secure remote management services platforms in the world.
Key components of Password VaultThere are three essential part of the Password Vault system—the incident token or ticket, the sick device or application and the Password Vault itself.
An incident token is generated by the incident ticketing system for sick systems using public-key cryptography algorithms. User IDs and passwords are encrypted using an RSA algorithm. For the incident token, Wipro uses off-the-shelf products.
Operations dashboard
The sick device application is the GCC standard operator dashboard used by all of its engineers provides a virtualisation console for level-one engineers wherein frequently accessed tasks are available at the click of a button. It is a Web-based interface that provides access only to sick devices. Based on the profile of the ‘operator’, ITO gives different levels of access to each engineer. ITO provides a single integrated view of information from multiple tools into a single dashboard eliminating the need for the engineer to open multiple application consoles. When there is a incident token or ticket is assigned to an engineer, the ITO application creates an on-demand network session with the sick device and when the sick device is restored to normal, the incident ticket is closed as is the network session.
Password Vault
The key role played by the Password Vault is that it stores all the necessary user IDs and passwords mapped against IT objects and tasks and then responds to ITO with the same information. This whole process happens in the background and the engineer does not get to see the actual transaction. Password Vault has a secure administrative user interface. This interface is used to create, update and delete user IDs and passwords. Only administrative users are permitted manage user IDs and passwords. Passwords in the Password Vault are changed using the change management process in Remedy. The user ID and password are stored in an encrypted format. Password Vault records all access in an audit trail file.

Working of Password Vault in real-time
The remote centre (GCC) has a perpetual connection (WAN) that connects to the Customer Premise Equipment (CPE). Tasks are executed in an asynchronous mode without giving the engineer a direct connection to the target device. The engineer with an incident token, keys in the parameter for a particular task in a Web form (ITO) and gets back only the result of the command under execution. Moreover, access to a sick device is granted only to the engineer who has been assigned a ticket and only to the specific device mentioned in said ticket and not to the entire network. Once the task is executed and the ticket is closed, ITO revokes the connection to the device (on-demand network connection). Thus the access is ‘one-time’. ITO provides a seamless access to the target device without prompting for a user ID and password. It picks this information from the Password Vault. Hence, a system administrator cannot connect to the device without a valid ticket.
The ITO provides a list of tasks that are specific to an engineer’s profile e.g. L1 does not have direct access to telnet or system shutdown. Based on the system privileges that are required to perform a task, the ITO uses a login id with the least privilege to execute the task e.g. (Show) ‘Dir’ task will use ‘domain user’ login and not ‘domain administrator’ login. The list of tasks displayed changes automatically based upon the OS running upon the malfunctioning device. E.g. While both UNIX and Windows task lists will have common tasks like create user, delete user, reset password, tasks such as clear Recycle Bin, launch Remote Desktop will appear only for Windows devices while tasks such as change owner will appear only if the device runs UNIX.
The ITO uses both the SOAP and SSL client libraries to access the Password Vault. Access to this module is only through the HTTPS protocol. To secure the connection up to the CPE from any outside hackers, the Password Vault is encrypted and a secure SSL session is created which makes it difficult to crack.

Should You Pay for Premium Tech Support?

.: Acorn Networks :. What are the benefits and risks of having a contract for third-party tech support and what small businesses should expect to pay.
When your computer conks out, there's no bigger priority for a small business owner than getting it fixed. It's not such a problem if there is an IT professional on staff. However, for many small and mid-sized businesses it's not realistic to be able to hire a full-time IT person -- at a cost of at least $4,500 or more per month.
Is the solution to pay for premium tech support? Is having a contract for third-party tech support worth it?
The trick is to answer such questions before the next IT crisis in your business. "For businesses that lack the internal skills to be able to support their IT infrastructure, having a support services contract ensures that they will be able to recover from IT problems that occur," says Matt Healey, a senior research analyst for IDC Corp., a Framingham, Mass. research group.
Different levels of premium tech support
Generally, for very small businesses, with fewer than 99 employees, the higher-priced premium tech support offerings may be more overkill for their IT needs. However, a lower-priced package that provides extended basic coverage will often ensure the required level of service, says Healey. He adds that organizations with between 100 and 999 employees may want to evaluate the business processes that are most important to their company and invest in the premium services for the IT systems that supports those processes.
Without having an IT service, the small business owner can find himself, or his employees (who should be focused on other tasks) hanging on the phone with the hardware or software manufacturers' tech support provided for in a warranty. Or they may have to spend valued work hours hauling their machine into the small neighborhood computer shop and waiting while it's serviced.
Not all third party premium tech services are alike, though. Some firms guarantee a 30-minute response rate and you have to determine whether time is so valuable to your business that you are willing to pay extra for swift service. But some small businesses may be interested in ways to troubleshoot their problems for a lower monthly expense. In that case, some IT support firms provide access to recorded tutorials, downloads and quick FAQs before you are connected with a live person.
Lower costs for remote tech support
Another way to save money and yet to have the benefits of IT help is to go for one that works remotely. British Columbia-based Transparen Corp., which provides tech support remotely to clients all around Canada and the U.S., offers plans for as little as unlimited help for $30 and proactive support – including checking your computer at night for spyware – for $45 per computer.
Here are some of the things that tech support can do remotely: take care of software issues, excise viruses, and put in patches and new software.
Transparen president Case Jones says that his group has three people assigned to every client and that allows the firm to really get to know each client's needs and make sure that all the systems are uniform. They can detect, for example, if one person at a company has downloaded Skype and another one's anti-virus software isn't up to snuff. Of course, Jones acknowledges that there are some situations that can't be fixed remotely and requires that someone be called in on site to correct a problem.
But in general, Jones describes the remote premium tech service this way: "It's like having Medicare. You have to have a doctor look once in while to make sure that you're not doing something wrong."

Spelsberg TK Enclosures ‘Tough it Out’ in the Classroom

.: Acorn Networks :. Spelsberg TK enclosures are being used to house an innovative laptop charging systems and connectivity hubs used for classrooms around the world. Designed and built by Hillbrow (UK) Ltd in the UK the Desktop Power Management Chargers and Hubs are distributed by market leader Bretford Mfg Ltd as part of a wide range of classroom IT support products that are proven to survive the rigours of working in schools for up to ten years.
Spelsberg tough polycarbonate TK enclosures provide robust protection for the wiring, plug sockets and overload protection circuits, while remaining pleasing to the eye and having no sharp edges. Spelsberg pre-drill and machine the enclosures to close tolerances ready for Hillbrow to assemble the units, cutting assembly time and production costs significantly. Several machining operations are carried out to accommodate sockets, switches and warning lights etc.
Stephen Rolph, MD of Hillbrow (UK) Ltd comments, 'Working with Spelsberg UK has been very easy, the staff are positive and knowledgeable and our being able to subcontract the machining is a real bonus for us, reducing the pressure on our own manufacturing resources. Full safety certification is readily available from them and Spelsberg UK is sufficiently forward looking that we had no difficulties in complying with the new RoHS Directive. This is especially important when manufacturing product which will be used by children and teachers alike’.
Graham Fox, Spelsberg UK MD adds, ‘The use of polycarbonate in this environment is ideal, as the units have to last up to ten years of ‘normal’ use; the material is impact resistant, will not corrode and won’t become brittle due to UV exposure, it is also inert. The unit features 16 top-mounted IEC sockets with Y-leads for connection to the laptops power pack. During development the aperture positions were tested in order to populate the lid fully but make sure that there was enough material to support the socket blocks when a number of attempts were made to force plugs in the wrong way.’
Computers are now an essential feature of most children’s education at school and laptops are a popular choice as they can be cleared away easily when they are not being used. In order to ensure a smooth running lesson they also have to work reliably, and since battery life can be variable equipment that can accommodate and power for up to 16 laptops and charge them at the same time is very useful.
The Desktop Power Management Charger ensures the laptops also remain charged ready for the next class. From a safety point of view they reduce the amount of cables running across the floor and incorporate a power management system that regulates the amount of current being drawn from the building circuits providing secondary overload protection. Each unit is fully tested and certified to BS6396: 2002 & EN60950: 2002.
A typical laptop unit when connected to the mains supply can have an inrush current of around 14 Amperes for 2 milliseconds. Therefore an accessory unit for charging 16 units has a potential inrush current of 224.0 amperes. This is sufficient to trip a circuit breaker in the mains wiring of the building and can cause much disruption if an entire floor or wing is without electricity.
To help schools minimise these difficulties an electronic module has been developed to restrict the inrush current until it settles. Diagnostic lights are also fitted to show correct operation or fault conditions plus the fuses that protect the IEC sockets have a 'fuse fail' indicator which shows red should a fuse fail thus helping a school get the best from the equipment.

El Pollo Loco Selects MegaPath’s Managed IP Services to Securely Connect Locations Throughout North America

.: Acorn Networks :. MegaPath, the leading provider of Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions and other managed IP services to businesses nationwide, today announced that El Pollo Loco, the nation’s leading quick-service restaurant chain specializing in flame-grilled chicken, is deploying MegaPath’s Store Connect VPN service to cost effectively support data communications between its restaurants and centralized corporate resources.
“As El Pollo Loco continues to expand across the nation, we look for technology providers that can help us increase restaurant productivity and deliver exceptional guest service,” said Tom Giannetti, Vice President of Information Technology at El Pollo Loco. “MegaPath’s fully managed secure connectivity services provide our restaurants access to the corporate resources they require, while allowing our headquarters staff to focus on providing tools that our crewmembers can use to build revenues and exceed our guests’ expectations.”
MegaPath is providing El Pollo Loco with the VPN support and data network connectivity required for several critical processes within its restaurants. In addition to delivering the performance and security for sub-second credit and gift card authorization processing, MegaPath provides near real time uploading of store-level transaction data to the central corporate data warehouse. By providing each location with the highest performance network access in its geographic region, MegaPath is allowing headquarters to better support in-store marketing efforts with point-of-sale system downloads for new marketing promotions and price changes.
As a fully managed network solution, MegaPath handles all router hardware installation and configurations. Outsourcing this activity reduces the internal staffing required to support a 200+ location network that is continuing to expand nationally. It also enables internal El Pollo Loco Information Technology staff to increase levels of IT support and security for its restaurants by making it possible for headquarters to remotely access and control store computer and video surveillance systems. The MegaPath network also allows El Pollo Loco to perform real-time network monitoring of servers, terminals and other critical “in store” network components.
“MegaPath’s managed IP and security services enable many leading retail and restaurant chains to gain competitive advantages by efficiently increasing productivity and customer satisfaction,” said Jim Cragg, President and Chief Operating Officer of MegaPath. “By connecting its headquarters and restaurants using MegaPath’s secure high-performance network services, El Pollo Loco is ensuring that its locations receive the best support available for mission critical applications, including point-of-sale and credit card processing. This is key to supporting the company’s long term growth and success.”

Rural Outsourcing Firm Onshore Technology Services Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program

.: Acorn Networks :. Onshore Technology Services today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program in three competencies - Custom Development Solutions, Business Process & Integration and Mobility Solutions--recognizing Onshore's expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Onshore Technology Services has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven its ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.
Founded in March, 2005, Onshore Technology Services is a rural outsourcing company providing web development, application integration, IT support services and IT education services as a cost-effective, yet risk-adverse alternative to offshore outsourcing. In 2006, the Company nearly doubled the size of its technology workforce (Onshore now employs almost 20 Microsoft-Certified Application Developers).
"We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program. This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers, " said Shane Mayes, President/CEO of Onshore Technology Services. "The benefits provided through our Gold Certified Partner status will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings we provide our customers."
"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes Onshore Technology Services as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology."

LG Electronics Showcases Latest Wireless Industry Innovations at CES 2007

.: Acorn Networks :. In addition to its 2007 product lineup that integrates the latest wireless technologies with style and function for the U.S. market, LG Mobile Phones is also emphasizing its global reach, showcasing several handsets available outside the U.S.
The strong presence for LG Mobile Phones at CES reflects the company's growing U.S. market share, which climbed to 16.1 percent in the third quarter of 2006. Third-quarter shipments catapulted LG Mobile Phones to the number two spot across all mobile phone manufacturers, while maintaining the largest share of the U.S. CDMA mobile handset market. Building on its well-known leadership in the CDMA market, LG Mobile Phones has continued its impressive growth in the GSM category as a result of innovative handsets such as the CU500, which features ultra-fast HSDPA technology, the first of its kind on Cingular's network.
In addition to participating in the Digital Experience and CES Unveiled pre-show events, as well as demonstrating the latest handset technologies at the LG Electronics booth, LG Mobile Phones was been honored with five 2007 CES "Innovations" Awards. LG Mobile Phones award winners include the smooth and stylish Chocolate by LG, the FUSIC mobile music handset, and two awards for the cutting edge HBS-110 Bluetooth Stereo headset. LG earned an additional award in collaboration with Digit Wireless for the LG AX490 Fastap phone. All of the award-winning handsets will be on display at the LG booth.
Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics MobileComm USA Inc., said, "Over the past year, LG Mobile Phones has focused on creating handsets that incorporate the latest entertainment features. Our current lineup includes products that continue to combine the latest mobile in style and functionality."
LG Mobile Phones is showcasing a robust lineup of handsets and wireless accessories at CES 2007. Devices available internationally show video telephony and 5 mega-pixel camera capability among other cutting-edge functionality. Style is exhibited with several innovative designs and accessories that accentuate the mobile phone users' experience. Fun will take the spotlight with handsets capable of mobile music and the ultimate in 3-D mobile gaming. Other handsets will give consumers a glimpse into the future of U.S. mobile phone technology by including handsets that double as televisions and accessories that make listening to music on-the-go easier than ever.
Featured LG Handsets at CES 2007 Include:
enV by LG
The enV was built to represent the ultimate convergence of advanced wireless capabilities and the latest developments in mobile entertainment. This handset is a complete multimedia experience, offering music, video, data and all the latest mobile handset innovations, including a beautiful large internal color screen, integrated QWERTY keypad and duel stereo sound.
Equipped with LG's first ever 2.0 mega-pixel camera with auto focus as well as Bluetooth Stereo support, the enV boasts features that stack-up with any other handset available in the US. With a full set of mobile entertainment features the enV makes it easier than ever to stay connected while enjoying music, videos and email in one slim package. Users can now watch streaming video on the crystal clear internal LCD, rock out to MP3s on their Bluetooth Stereo headset, or catch up on IMs or email with the full sized QWERTY keyboard.
Chocolate by LG
Featuring a super-slim style for sophisticated palettes, consumers can indulge in the luxury and innovation of Chocolate by LG. A work of art, both in looks and features, the Chocolate demonstrates looks aren't everything by including a full compliment of advanced features that make it one of the most innovative mobile devices in the world, inside and out. With the availability of new colors in white, wine red and mint green, the Chocolate is sure to appeal to the tastes of a wide variety of mobile users.
The Chocolate's sleek, ultra thin minimalist style and silky-smooth slide design is perfectly complemented by its glowing red touch keypad. The keypad is the first-of-its-kind in the U.S. and can be used to navigate phone menus as well as the integrated MP3 player.
LG VX8600
The LG VX8600 was designed to be a statement of beauty inside and out. At first glance, the phone garners attention with its glossy piano black finish and innovative glowing red touch front display keys for easy MP3 control. In addition to being the slimmest and lightest handset ever produced by LG, the VX8600 offers a 1.3 mega-pixel camera to capture every moment and amazing video capabilities allowing users to shoot up to one hour of video right from their handset.
The VX8600 also offers advanced music playback capability allowing users the ability to browse, preview, download and play high-quality digital music directly from their phone. Other music-centric features include a microSD memory slot that supports 2GB cards that hold up to 1,000 songs, Stereo Bluetooth capability, customizable effect/equalizer and player themes, a powerful speaker and dedicated music keys for easy access.
LG CU400
The CU400 is the latest handset from LG to showcase a wide array of features that is sure to offer something for everyone. With convenient Push- to-Talk (PTT) technology, users can connect to family and friends instantly with the push of a button. The CU400 offers the latest in PTT advancements, including PTT call conversion and PTT over Bluetooth.
With multitasking capability, high speed 3G network support, Music ID service and MobiTV, the CU400 is packed with the latest in multimedia goodies to keep users entertained while on the go. Additionally, the CU400 has a quad-band frequency, meaning users can take it across the globe and never have to worry about missing a call.
The CU400 includes additional progressive features like Bluetooth, integrated VGA Camera, one touch speakerphone and a full set of messaging functions.
LG CU500v
The LG CU500v was built and designed for speed. To meet the needs of more and more users downloading online content, the CU500 was outfitted with HSDPA technology. Now equipped with broadband like speeds at their fingertips, users will be able to use the CU500v to download the latest online content in a fraction of the time compared to conventional mobile web devices.
Another breakthrough feature on the CU500v is that consumers will be able to enjoy one-way video on their phones. Users can call a friend and send live (or pre-recorded) video to other users so they can see and hear you
simultaneously. LG is thrilled to be the first mobile handset manufacturer to offer this service in the U.S.
LG HBS-110
Talk or listen to music hands free with the Bluetooth Stereo headset from LG. This headset really rocks featuring Bluetooth connectivity, stereo sound and music control. The Bluetooth Stereo Headset is comfortable, easy-to-use and provides high quality stereo sound for up to six hours of music play. When connected to your Bluetooth enabled device, it offers three-way calling, nine hours of talk time, caller ID display and last number redial. This Bluetooth headset was designed specifically to appeal to mobile tech addicts as well as trend-setters that will embrace its sleek and stylish look.
FUSIC by LG
The FUSIC by LG is a mobile phone designed with the music lover in mind. A cool, thin phone, the FUSIC looks, feels and plays like a portable music player and proves to be the ideal device for on-the-go users seeking a fully featured phone with unprecedented music playing capability. LG Mobile ventured beyond the ordinary by making the FUSIC the first mobile phone in the U.S. to feature an FM Transmitter for listening to music through a radio or car stereo. Now users can listen to their saved MP3s wherever there is radio access. Another unique feature to the FUSIC is the internal Music Composer. With this application, users can record custom ring tones by humming a tune into the phone's microphone or composing a tune in Keyboard or Score mode. Users can further customize their ring tone experience by adding various instrument accompaniment, rhythm, tempos and styles.

BEA Systems' Guardian offers pre-emptive support

.: Acorn Networks :. BEA Systems Inc. plans to release its BEA Guardian evaluation version in January followed by a February general availability release. Guardian represents a departure from the traditional support model employed by the enterprise software industry and is designed to reduce the cost of reactive and proactive support services for organizations, officials said.
Guardian takes support services from a traditional break-fix model to a pre-emptive model, designed to help customers running business critical applications, given high availability is no longer a strategic goal but a tactical necessity in the modern world.
Stuart Charlton, head enterprise architect for BEA Systems Canada, said his company is offering pre-emptive support as a means of analyzing the customer's computing environment and comparing it to BEA's knowledge base. The end result is Guardian is designed to detect problems before they occur and in turn help lower daily IT operational costs.
"Guardian is kind of like an anti-virus for servers only it looks for potential problems of all varieties across the computing environment," he said. "It plugs directly into WebLogic server and it sits as a standalone application on the desktop.
"This is yet another opportunity to demonstrate the value of BEA infrastructure."
As a value-added support offering for the BEA WebLogic, AquaLogic and SIP servers, and BEA RFID product family, Guardian is designed to automate the process of diagnosing domains for potential problems and can recommend solutions, including updates or maintenance packs. By finding problems before they occur, customers can reduce unplanned downtime and improve IT support staff productivity.
Guardian is also designed to enhance productivity by identifying troublesome bottlenecks in the network, detecting security risks addressed by updates or maintenance packs, supplying key information needed to expedite the troubleshooting of cases and providing direct links to detailed information in BEA's knowledge base. Guardian is designed to help IT operations professionals roll-out complex deployments smoothly and on time, as well as to protect investments in BEA WebLogic Server, Charlton explained.
BEA Guardian uses a repository of signature patterns assembled from a comprehensive body of engineering and industry-wide support knowledge. Signature patterns can describe a set of parameters, thresholds, settings, coding practices and/or symptoms and their interdependencies. They also include a series of steps for problem resolution and they are designed to be updated regularly so that Guardian can identify new potential conflicts or trouble areas.
"We're seeing a drive to reduce the diagnosis and time to resolution costs in the enterprise data centre," he said. "This is another way of capturing knowledge in a machine-readable form and help resolve issues before they become problems."
Pricing for Guardian is to be announced in the coming weeks, officials said.

Rhema now adds IT training to its broad range of consultancy and training via strategic link with Enliten

.: Acorn Networks :. Rhema Group has linked with Enliten Training Solutions in a strategic partnership which brings together two well-established and respected providers in the field of HR development.
Each organisation has over 20 years of experience and knowledge in its particular area. Rhema has an enviable reputation as a UK-based, globally operating, human resource development company and a provider of customised and blended solutions involving business consultancy, training, coaching, software and E-learning.
Enliten IT is a vendor independent IT training services business and is a Microsoft Registered Partner delivering courses covering not only Microsoft but also Adobe (Macromedia), Lotus, Quark, AutoDesk, Corel, Business Objects, CheckPoint and Oracle among others. The aim of the company is to provide a wide range of quality, value-for-money, training solutions to enable businesses to become more efficient and competitive. This involves the creation of clearly designed, relevant and focused tailored training solutions that meet the specific needs of both customers and partners.
"This strategic partnership has the significant effect of enabling us to include full IT training in our packages for our clients," said Rhema MD Jeremy Francis. "Rhema never relaxes in its efforts to keep its tailored solutions in line with the needs and expectations of organisations which want to offer fully tailored training packages to their management and staff. We are already bringing Enliten into our client offering and look forward to that continuing in future, and vice versa."
Recognising that staff training and skills development are fundamental to the growth and development of businesses, Enliten takes a flexible training approach using customised solutions. The four core areas pursued by the company are IT Training for end-users; technical network support staff and developers; design of Access databases, Web sites and Microsoft Office templates; Consultancy & Support for Network and Infrastructure services; and Soft Skills, within HR development programmes.
Enliten MD Marko Jergic said: "We have been providing ad-hoc soft skills services to our clients for some time, both at corporate level and for SMEs. This strategic partnership now allows us access to a far greater portfolio of services that can only be of benefit to our clients. Rhema is a like-minded organisation and we look forward to working closely with them."
Enliten IT http://www.enliten-it.com/ prides itself on providing quality value for money solutions, via very high quality trainers and consultants who are technically adept within their areas of expertise as well as being versed in educational methodologies - thereby ensuring that clients' staff get the most out of their training experience. The trainers are members of the Institute of IT Training (IITT) - the main standards body for IT Trainers in the UK covering all aspects of training, development and delivery. All are fully vendor authorised, having passed their trainer assessments e.g. MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer); MOS Master Instructor (Microsoft Office Specialist); CLI (Certified Lotus Instructor) as well as their product exams. Each trainer has a combination of certifications depending upon their skill sets, and additionally has practical knowledge of real life scenarios which adds value to the classroom experience. Enliten IT has trained customers throughout the UK, in Switzerland and Hong Kong. It provides a wide range of on-site technical training courses which can dramatically cut down on time spent away from the office and on money spent in travelling and overnight expenses. On-site services include migrations and rollout training, based around Microsoft, Adobe, Macromedia, Lotus and bespoke in-house systems.

Legal Alert: DOL Opinion Letter Finds IT Support Specialist Not Exempt from FLSA's Requirements

.: Acorn Networks :. The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued an opinion letter addressing an issue that many employers have faced - whether an employee who provides computer help desk support is exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In this opinion letter (FLSA 2006-42, dated October 26, 2006), the DOL stated that, based upon the information submitted by the employer requesting the opinion, the position does not qualify for the administrative or computer employee exemption. The FLSA requires employers to pay nonexempt employees a minimum wage for all hours worked and an overtime premium equal to at least one and one half times the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of forty in one week. The "white collar" exemptions provide complete minimum wage and overtime pay exemptions for any individual employed in a bona fide executive, administrative or professional capacity as those terms are defined in 29 C.F.R. Part 541. To qualify for the exemptions, the employee must meet all of the tests relating to duties and salary for a particular exemption. In this case, the employer requested guidance regarding whether the position of IT Support Specialist would be exempt under either the administrative employee exemption or the computer employee exemption. According to the employer, the IT Support Specialist (a newly created position, formerly called Help Desk Support Specialist) is responsible for diagnosis of computer related problems as requested by employees, physicians and contractors of the employer. The IT Support Specialist conducts problem analysis and research, troubleshoots, and resolves complex problems. According to information provided by the employer, the majority of the employee's time (55%) involves analyzing, troubleshooting, and resolving complex problems with business applications, networking, and hardware. The job requires a high school diploma or GED, although an associate degree is preferred. Administrative Employee Exemption An employee meets the administrative exemption if he or she is compensated on a salary or fee basis of at least $455 per week and has, as his or her primary duty, the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer's customers. Additionally, the employee's primary duty must include the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with regard to matters of significance. The DOL stated that the IT Support Specialist position does not qualify for the administrative employee exemption because it does not involve the exercise of discretion and independent judgment. The DOL noted that the exercise of discretion and independent judgment must involve more than the use of skill in applying well-established techniques, procedures or specific standards described in manuals or other sources. The DOL also noted that the fact that work is complex or highly specialized along technical lines or that the employer will suffer significant consequences or losses if the employee does not perform the job properly does not automatically mean the work is significant to the management or general business operation of an employer. Thus, even though the upkeep of the computer system is essential to the employer's business, the focus of the analysis must be on the nature of the employee's work, not the consequences of the employee's performance. Here, the DOL found that the IT Support Specialist's duties of maintaining a computer system and testing to see that a particular piece of equipment or an application is working properly according to specifications designed by others lacks the required exercise of independent judgment and discretion to qualify for the administrative employee exemption. Computer Employee Exemption Under Sections 13(a)(1) and13(a)(17) of the FLSA, computer systems analysts, computer programmers, software engineers, and other similarly skilled workers in the computer field who meet certain tests regarding their job duties are eligible for exemption from both minimum wage and overtime pay as professionals. To qualify for this exemption, the employee must be paid on either a salary or fee basis of not less than $455 per week or, if paid on an hourly basis, not less than $27.63 per hour. Additionally, this exemption only applies to employees whose primary duties consist of the application of systems analysis techniques and procedures, including consulting with users to determine hardware, software or system functional specifications; the design, development, documentation, analysis, creation, testing, or modification of computer systems or programs, including prototypes, based on and related to user or system design specifications; the design, documentation, testing, creation or modification of computer programs related to machine operating systems; or a combination of these duties. Examples of employees who qualify for these duties include computer systems analysts, computer programmers, software engineers, and other similarly skilled workers. The DOL noted, however, that job title alone does not determine the employee's exempt status. In this case, the DOL found that the IT Support Specialist position did not qualify for the computer employee exemption because the job's primary duties of installing, configuring, testing, and troubleshooting computer applications, networks, and hardware did not involve the application of systems analysis techniques and procedures to determine hardware, software or system functional specifications. Nor does the IT Support Specialist position involve the design, development, documentation, analysis, creation, testing or modification of computer systems or programs related to user or system design specifications or machine operating systems. Accordingly, the position did not qualify for the computer employee exemption.Employers' Bottom Line:Although DOL opinion letters are not binding and are based upon the specific facts submitted to the agency, the guidance provided in this opinion is useful because it demonstrates the factors the DOL considers in determining whether jobs involving computer-related duties will be considered exempt. Generally, to qualify for the computer employee exemption, the job must involve more than the application of programs or specifications developed by someone else. This is becoming an increasingly important issue for employers as workplace reliance on computers and computer networks increases and the number of employees responsible for supporting and maintaining computer systems and networks increases. Improperly classifying such employees as exempt has resulted in administrative fines and litigation, including an increasing number of class action claims.