September 6th 2010
Below is this week's Watch.
Best wishes
Rachel Slattery
The Communications Alliance has stated that the incoming Federal
Government "should take immediate steps to maximise Australia's ability to
benefit from the Digital Economy". Communications Alliance has also
proposed the creation of a Cabinet Committee to ensure policy settings
"harness the full potential of the digital revolution".
The finalists have been announced for the 2010 AMBER Awards, which
recognise excellence in online service providers across the banking,
commerce and retail sectors. The annual awards have been expanded this
year, with new retail categories created in response to the growth of online
retail in Australia in the past 12 months. A list of finalists is available here.
With the help of Reactive, Mirvac Hotel & Resorts have relaunched their
"Best Year Ever" promotional campaign website, incorporating real-time
social media interaction and user generated content.
Waste transfer station operator All Earth Group has deployed the
TransLogix integrated Sapphire Transport Management Software suite.
Translogix also developed a weighbridge interface for the All Earth Group.
Vocus Communications has selected Arbor's Peakflow SP platform to
protect against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The platform
will enable Vocus to secure its infrastructure and offer "Clean Internet"
services to service providers in Australia and New Zealand. Vocus has also
joined Arbor's Fingerprint Sharing Alliance (FSA), a community of global
service providers collaborating to stop cyber attacks. The FSA aims to help
service providers share internet attack information automatically. On 31st
August 2010, Arbor Networks was acquired by Tektronix Communications, a
Danaher operating company.
Voyager Travel Corporation's travel itineraries are now compatible with
TripIt, travel itinerary and trip planning software for the web and
smartphones.
Albury City LibraryMuseum has converted to the web-based version of
LIBERO, Version 6. The upgrade provides users with a web-based interface,
Web 2.0 services and LIBERO eMessaging. The system is integrated with
digital media services, eBooks, online bookstores and social networking
tools. Albury City LibraryMuseum has used LIBERO since 2005. LIBERO is
developed and supported by Insight Informatics.
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield has upgraded its TechnologyOne
Property & Rating solution. The upgrade gives its ratepayers 24 hour access
to 35 additional online services. The upgrade included a new development
Agile Australia 2010 is only one week
away! Don't miss out on this event for
the exchange of ideas and practical
examples of Agile in the enterprise.
Hear case studies from Allianz, ANZ,
Aconex, Bankwest, Lonely Planet, and
Sensis; plus Open Space, Lightning
Talks, Agile Games, and more! This is
the
last
week
to
register www.agileaustralia.com.au
application (DA) tracking tool on the Council's websites, with reports showing
that more than one quarter of all DA enquiries have been diverted to the
website every month since the solution went live in 2009.
Global Television is to provide 3D technical broadcast services and
facilitation to the NRL and AFL Grand Finals. Global has also established a
3D Business Unit to accelerate training and development of Australian talent
and intellectual property essential to delivering affordable 3D solutions.
TransACT has connected 1000 customers to its fibre-to-the-premises
(FTTP) network. TransACT are contracted to provide FTTP services to over
11,000 customers in greenfields across the ACT. To further expand its
network, TransACT is also building a second FTTP gateway in Lyons, which
is expected to be operational by late 2010.
The Department of Defence's Chief Information Office Group (CIOG) is
reviewing its strategy for sourcing ICT applications and systems integration
services. This includes the potential to establish a panel for these services.
The CIOG is inviting industry to respond to a Discussion Brief by 25th
September 2010. Discussions are currently being held by CIOG with several
Defence contractors. For a copy of the market research Discussion Brief
email: CIOG.MarketResearch@defence.gov.au.
Fingerprint detection technology, originating from the University of
Technology Sydney (UTS), will be demonstrated at the 20th International
Symposium on the Forensic Sciences of the Australian and New Zealand
Forensic Science Society this week. The technology was discovered by UTS
Honours students, Adam Brown and Daniel Sommerville, and further
developed by Dr Brian Reedy and his team at UTS's Centre for Forensic
Science. A prototype of the Thermal Fingerprint Developer has been
developed by UK-based Foster & Freeman Ltd, and UTS research
commercialisation partner, UniQuest, facilitated a patent application and
licence agreement.
Sydney-headquartered Pactel International has partnered with TSKL, a
local telecommunications carrier in the Republic of Kiribati. Under the
agreement, Pactel will supply residents with internet links via Rural Internet
Connectivity System (RICS), enabling internet services to be supplied to
remote areas of the country. Pactel has already supplied a number of links
via RICS to local schools, hospitals and small businesses.
TZ Infrastructure Protection Inc, a TZ Limited business, and Anixter
Australia Pty Limited, have announced the Australian launch of the TZ
Praetorian and TZ Centurion Systems. TZ Infrastructure Protection is an
operating business unit of Telezygology Inc (ASX: TZL).
Komatsu Forklift Australia has chosen Polycom to deliver high-definition
video and telepresence solutions. Polycom partner, ServicePoint Australia
Pty Limited deployed Polycom's solutions in Komatsu's offices in Sydney,
Brisbane, Melbourne and Newcastle.
The ThinkQuest International Competition 2011 is now open to teams of
students, and this year features two new events. Teams can enrol in three
events: ThinkQuest Projects - a hosted environment where students produce
web-based learning projects; Digital Media - where participants use digital
media tools to produce websites, animations, video etc; and Application
Development - in which participants develop a web-based application or
game. Entries close in April, 2011. ThinkQuest is sponsored by the Oracle
Education Foundation.
The Victorian Government has funded the creation of a new interactive
website, providing information for victims of crime about the criminal justice
process and how to access sources of help. The website,
www.justice.vic.gov.au/victimsofcrime, aims to utilise the interactive nature of
online resources, through features such as video resources, fact sheets, and
a simulated online tour of a Victorian Courtroom.
Learn about the latest technologies,
tools, trends, practices and processes;
hear and meet the world's leading
software experts; and network with
Australia's best and brightest software
developers.
The 2010 Amber Awards 6pm on
Thursday 16th September 2010,
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
Harbour. Recognising excellence in
eServices and highlighting the leaders
in Australian eCommerce. MC - James
O'Loghlin. Partners - AIMIA, Access
Testing, Banking Review Media, TNS
and Lightspeed. Sponsors - Infosys
and Genesys.
News Digital Media has completed
the
acquisition
of
Australian
comparison
shopping
site
Getprice.com.au. News Digital Media
initially acquired a significant minority
share in the company in October 2007
before increasing its investment to
52.5 per cent in July 2009. The chief
executive officer of Getprice, Chris
Hitchen, and his senior management
team, including chief operating officer
and company co-founder, Jared Oken,
will remain with the business. Hitchen
will report to News Digital Media's
executive
director
of
emerging
business, Michael Solomon. The
financial details of the acquisition are
not being disclosed.
The New Zealand Government has
provided
a
new
$40
million
underwriting commitment to the New
Zealand Venture Investment Fund
(NZVIF) enabling the NZVIF to make
new investment commitments to
another 2-3 VC funds. The NZ
Government had already committed
$160 million to the NZVIF which has
led to the establishment of six VC
funds. The NZVIF is now calling for
proposals from experienced VC fund
managers to apply for $10-$25 million
to form new funds.
M.Tech Australia has been appointed as a Tufin Technologies distributor
in Australia. Under the agreement, M.Tech will recruit and develop resellers,
provide high-level support and develop new business in Australia for Tufin's
solutions.
Genesis Energy has deployed Gentrack's Time of Use billing system,
providing a single integrated billing system for all residential, SME and large
commercial customers.
The NSW Government has tabled the Electoral Commissioner's Report
into i-Voting, in order to recommend the implementation of internet and
telephone voting systems for blind and visually impaired people in NSW. The
Report on the Feasibility of providing "iVote" Remote Electronic Voting
Systems is part of a move towards the examination of voting methods, which
aims to utilise new electronic voting technologies in order to ensure that all
people are able to exercise their democratic right to vote.
GoConnect Ltd.,'s (ASX:GCN) subsidiary GoConnect Australia has
entered into a partnership with UrFilez S.P.C. to develop an Undercover
(online music news site) catering for the Middle East North Africa (MENA)
region.
Entity Solutions has expanded its
operations in Western Australia
following the announcement of two key
staff appointments: Joanne Dimond,
WA Customer Executive, and Adam
Berry, Customer Administrator.
CargoWise has appointed Adam
Kossak as Commercial Director, based
in Sydney. Kossak's role includes legal
and
commercial
management,
company
secretarial
and board
advisory, and the provision of general
counsel to CargoWise.
IBFX Australia Pty, has announced
the appointment of Alex Douglas as
General Manager, spearheading the
launch of the company's Australian
office. Douglas was most recently an
Associate Director with FX and CFD
provider, City Index.
Interactive
Intelligence
has
appointed Rameses Florentino as ANZ
Inside Sales Representative, based in
Sydney. Florentino was previously
Inside Sales and Marketing Consultant
at FrontRange Solutions.
Ooyala is expanding its operations
to Australia, appointing former Adobe
executive John Treloar as Managing
Director for Australia and New
Zealand. Ooyala's current Australian
clients include Austereo Group Ltd.
3 Dimension Interactive Pty Ltd
(3di), a member of the Q Group (ASX:
QXQ) has appointed James Spinks as
Head of Sales (VIC).