Posted on July 22, 2009, at 12:39 PM .
by Ahmed Datoo, VP of Marketing for Zenprise
The widespread consumerization and general adoption of smartphones in the workplace is adding another layer of IT complexity. It’s important to remember that carrying a smartphone is similar to having a computer in your pocket. Therefore, these devices face the same security threats as a PC. Along with network vulnerabilities that stem from malware embedded Websites and email attachments, applications are also at risk.
The increased popularity and availability of smartphone applications creates security implications for employees who increasingly download these apps onto their corporate phones. Today’s enterprise is ill equipped to handle the expected wave of device issues resulting from rogue applications. A rogue application could cause a security threat by pulling sensitive data from the network.
Continue reading about security and compliance issues facing today’s corporations
Posted on July 22, 2009, at 12:12 PM .
At the moment, there are three major bidders for Nortel’s technology: RIM, Nokia and MatlinPatterson. RIM’s bid exceeds the leading bid by $375 million and Nortel is still dragging its feet. While Nortel is clearly holding off in the hopes of getting a better bid, it may hurt the company’s prospects in the end. If the company does not accept RIM’s bid, it stands to lose the $375 million and accept the next lowest bid. Lets take a look at all three bids:
RIM
RIM has offered to pay $1.1 billion US for Nortel’s CDMA and LTE technology. RIM is not only the largest bidder by far, but it is also a Canadian company, just like Nortel. Canadians can still remember when Nortel’s stock plunged and investors lost millions of dollars. It would be great to see this failed company pass along a Canadian made technology to a company that will employ Canadians and keep the investment local.
Nokia
Nokia Siemens Networks, a joint European venture, has offered to bid $650 million. While they have said they would raise this bid, it is still $450 million short of what RIM is bidding.
MatlinPatterson
MatlinPatterson is a US private equity firm who have offered to pay $725 million US. MatlinPatterson currently owns about 10 per cent of Nortel’s $4.2 billion US of debt. What’s nice about the MatlinPatterson offer, is that the company ultimately wants keep Nortel, a 127-year-old Canadian technology icon, intact as a single company.
Posted on July 22, 2009, at 11:39 AM .
Canada has recently passed a new Investment Canada Act which gives the Cabinet the power to block a foreign corporate takeover in the interests of national security. While it may not be clear what constitutes “national security,” the Nortel auction is a clear example of where this act can be applied.
In RIM’s most recent press release, they outlined that they are on board with the Investment Canada Act and wish it to be applied. “RIM believes that the loss of Canadian ownership of Nortel’s CDMA and Long Term Evolution Access businesses may significantly, adversely affect national interests, with potential national security implications, and that the Government of Canada should review the situation closely.”
The Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement doesn’t seem to be showing any interest in the matter and has publicly said he “cannot interfere” in Nortel’s legal court-managed U. S. Chapter 11 corporate reorganization.
Major bids for the CDMA and LTE techonlogy are coming from Finland’s Nokia. While Finland doesn’t pose a national security threat in the traditional sense, the lose of this technology will almost certainly have an adverse economic impact.
Implementing LTE technology on Canadian BlackBerry devices is going to give our economy a much needed boost of wireless infrastructure and pushing this technology forward is going to create jobs. The Canadian government is in a position to help a company that is creating jobs at home, rather than shipping our home grown technology abroad.
[Via]
Posted on July 22, 2009, at 11:22 AM .
RIM stock fell 1.43% to $81.99, after Nortel rejected their offer for CDMA and LTE technology being auctioned due to Nortel’s failing business.
The auction is part of bankruptcy protection proceedings and Nortel is claiming that RIM had refused to comply with the court approved procedures.
Overall, Canadian stocks are doing well, and the US economy is showing signs of stabilizing. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke is optimistic, as all three major indexes in the US closed in positive territory.
The S&P 500 was up 3.45 points, or 0.36%, to 954.58 and the NASDAQ composite index closed at 1,916.20, up 6.91 points, or 0.36%.
[Via]
Posted on July 22, 2009, at 11:10 AM .
Posted on July 22, 2009, at 10:13 AM .
Nobex Radio Companion has added an incredible 1000 playable stations from across the globe bringing the count of playable stations to well over 2000. You can now listen to music from 17 new countries, including Italy, France and Spain as well as Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.
To check out what stations you can listen to, see their new Station Wiki, which lets you request your favorite stations and even see if their streams work.
All local content is free depending on where you live, however, international content is premium. This is our new premium version. The premium version actually includes some other cool things – like you can embed your own pictures instead of ads, and you get a page to do this. It also gives you a page which shows the songs you’ve requested.
Purchase Nobex for a monthly subscription of $3.99.
