GSA Technology Council

North Gate Labs recently announced the addition of David Pearson to its Technical Development Group as a Programmer charged with the development and configuration of the Web Sales Tool suite of online communication tools. Pearson brings with him many years of technical experience after retiring from the US Air Force where he served in both international and national assignments as a Communications Systems Planner and Chief of Online Maintenance.
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Acumen IT, a Greenville-based technology company, has recently announced new contracts with Greenville Hospital System, Bacardi, Dairy Queen, and Computer Plus.

Acumen has created the following:

* Custom applications for the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems of both Greenville Hospital System and Dairy Queen. These multi-module applications support critical business elements, including finance, human resources, purchasing, and more.

* Custom reports for Bacardi, Inc. to track and manage their Research and Development efforts.

* Web site for Computer Plus that integrates Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Microsoft Great Plains) with their accounting system, enabling efficient tracking of inventory and product billing.

via Acumen
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AssetPoint (www.assetpoint.com), a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a leading provider of Enterprise Asset Management (EAM/CMMS) software and services today announced it has integrated its flagship product TabWare EFx with Microsoft Dynamics GP, bringing additional value to the Microsoft Dynamics community as well as extending the TabWare EFx offering. AssetPoint is also launching a Microsoft Dynamics practice to support the integration and implementation of both products.

In today’s highly competitive manufacturing environment, clients are looking for ways to streamline their operations, reduce their cost and grow their company. AssetPoint’s TabWare EFx™ Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software coupled with Microsoft Dynamics GP gives clients the competitive edge they need to compete more effectively.

“We are extremely pleased to offer this integration with Microsoft Dynamics GP. This allows us to provide additional value to our clients and clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers,” said Vince Carrozzi, Executive Vice President of AssetPoint. “The benefits provided through this integration will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for customers.”

“Customers are looking for partner companies that can provide integrated enterprise solutions,” said Jon Pratt, Senior Director, Product Marketing for Microsoft Dynamics GP. “AssetPoint provides this type of solution that integrates enterprise asset management with the financial management capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics GP.”

via AssetPoint

Mediasation, a Greenville-based Web development firm, has added two Web developers, a dedicated project manager, and an office manager to its firm in response to continued strong business growth.

Chris Coker and Barry Jones have been hired as senior Web developers, designing, developing, and managing custom applications and databases. Lynda Raley has been hired as project manager. Raley will oversee and manage the company’s Web development projects, serving as the liaison between clients and the development team. Stephanie Saelzler is Mediasation’s office manager, supporting the firm’s administrative needs and assisting with client training.

Prior to joining Mediasation, Coker was a Web developer at NuVox Communications. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a master’s degree in e-commerce from Clemson. Jones comes to Mediasation from NuVox Communications where he was a Web architect and developer. He holds both a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and a master’s degree in e-commerce from Clemson.

Prior to Mediasation, Raley served as a brand operations manager at Infor and senior marketing writer and Web project manager with Datastream, as well as project manager of Web marketing and corporate communications at NuVox Communications. Raley has a bachelor’s degree in both Business Administration and French from Centenary College. Saelzler comes to Mediasation from EarthFare. She has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from California State University, Long Beach.

AFL Telecommunications, a leading supplier of fiber optic products and services, and Leviton Manufacturing Company, North America’s largest producer of electrical and electronic wiring devices and manufacturer of voice and data solutions, has announced a marketing and system integration alliance to support Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH). AFL will promote the alliance as part of the FTTH Made Easy™ program, a comprehensive solutions-based program designed to meet the needs of residential developers and builders seeking to integrate Fiber-to-the-Home within MDU and master planned communities.

The alliance is focused on supporting end-to-end solutions through a combination of Leviton’s FTTH and industry-leading Integrated Network home technology portfolio, and AFL’s FTTH passive infrastructure, network electronics, and system integration expertise. “AFL is very pleased to welcome Leviton to the FTTH Made Easy™ program”, said Kent Brown – Director, Access Solutions. “FTTH is a powerful community amenity that drives value for the developer, builder and resident. AFL’s relationship with Leviton connects the optical network to the in-home network and makes it easy for residential developers to implement FTTH within their communities.”

“Leviton and AFL are perfect complements, bringing a wealth of in-home experience and product solutions together with industry leading access network solutions and integration services,” said Michael Mattei, Leviton’s Director of Fiber Business Development.

Mattei states how the market tends to talk about homes passed and homes with fiber service at the side of the house, but that is where it ends. Often forgotten is the distribution within the home, to the jack on the wall, where we desire the speed and bandwidth that fiber delivers, in a media that our computers, TV’s and other electronics can accept. In 2006, Leviton wired several hundred thousand homes for broadband signal delivery to the den, kitchen or bedroom. “This alliance provides start to finish service and support for the implementation of a FTTH network encompassing both the active and passive elements of the design,” stated Mattei.

In addition to an end-to-end product portfolio, the program will also feature a portfolio of services, including; AFL’s FTTH Business Model and Leviton’s “Whole House” Integrated Network solutions. These services will provide residential developers with a single source for defining and implementing the value created by FTTH.

AFL’s program integrates a variety of critical success variables, including: FTTH Business Modeling and network design services, outside plant infrastructure, network electronics and in-home technology solutions. Visit www.FTTHMadeEasy.com for more information.

via AFL 

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Pay for 129 surveyed IT certifications continued its downward slide, plunging an average 1.2% for the year ending October 1st and 2% in the past 3 months, the largest quarterly decline since 2004.  In stark contrast, pay for 124 noncertified IT skills increased 7% in value over the last twelve months and 1.4% for the quarter.

 

These and other key indicators of IT workforce trends are reported in the latest quarterly edition of the industry leading “Hot Technical Skills and Certifications Pay Index” from research and advisory firm Foote Partners, released recently.  55,000 IT executives and professionals were surveyed for this edition, with 51 percent receiving some form of tech skills pay as part of their overall compensation, according to the survey. 

 

“Pay for certifications has been on the decline for some time,” notes David Foote, CEO and Chief Research Officer for Foote Partners. “It’s not that employers aren’t willing to pay a premium for them, but instead that the prices they are willing to pay versus noncertified skills is nowhere near the levels of one to two years ago, or even six months ago for that matter.  Systems Administration, Networking, Security, and Database certifications have experienced 2 percent to 5 percent declines since last March.  The one exception is Web Development related certifications, which have grown 3.6 percent in value in the same period.  Web skills are generally in great demand, certified or not.”

 

Continues Foote, “Across all 253 skills we survey, the value of noncertified IT skills is growing at a rate 5 times greater than certification pay and there’s no sign that this going to change any time soon.  Why? Because employers are desperate for IT professionals who can get things done, who can deliver results again and again. For IT professional, technical skills are certainly a part of the mix, but there’s much more that employees need in their IT workers. Being a desirable ‘impact’ worker means getting along with people, keeping an eye on IT’s role in business execution and quickly delivering what customers want, which is a moving target.  Says Foote, “It is about understanding the industry you’re working in and focusing on solutions. And you’ve got to be able to operate under deadlines and pressure and withstand a certain amount of organizational discomfort because, fair or unfair, IT/business disconnects are part of the profession.  If you’re that kind of person, not being certified in your technical skills is not going to matter a lot of times as long as you demonstrate that you present a full complement of business, interpersonal and technical skills in the right proportions for the job.”

 

The Foote study pinpoints increasing demand for various niche skills and the reality that there isn’t enough specialized talent to meet this demand.  “Our research indicates an overall decline in IT ‘bench strength’ at many employers and the steep price they are starting to pay for not growing their skills in house. Expect to see a worsening of this condition over the next year, and more employer panic as products and services are not delivered on time to impatient customers,” predicts Foote.

via Foote Partners

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John Ward has joined Key Venture Partners (KVP) as Managing Director. In this position, Ward will help manage the firm, originate new deals and manage new investments. He will focus on investments within the IT and communications industries, as well as areas of their convergence.

Ward brings 17 years of investment and operating experience to Key Venture Partners with a focus on communications, data services and information technology businesses.

Previously, he was a General Partner at M/C Venture Partners where he was responsible for leading investments in the communications and IT industries. His investments and board level responsibilities included Fusepoint Managed Services, Vertical Communications, Intellireach, Nuvox Communications, Attenda Ltd., Hyperformix, and Securemedia. Prior to joining M/C Venture Partners, he was a Vice President at BancBoston Ventures where he had been focused on early stage venture capital investing in information technology, communications, and healthcare companies. Previously, Mr. Ward held operating roles at Fidelity Investments in sales and marketing, and spent five years as an officer with United States Naval Intelligence. Ward earned a B.A. from Middlebury College, an M.B.A from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College, and an M.P.A from Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

via keyvp.com

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The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has marked an important milestone in its history — the one-millionth Web-based trademark application using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

Donald Junck, an entrepreneur from Sioux Falls, SD, filed the one-millionth electronic trademark application in November 2006 to protect his trademark, Bait Craft, which is used for fishing tackle boxes. As many small business owners have done, he filed the application himself, demonstrating how easy and convenient TEAS is to use–regardless of the applicant’s location or resources.

“As Donald Junck’s story so perfectly illustrates, TEAS is designed to make the trademark application system easy and accessible, no matter how large or small the business or where it is located,” said Jon Dudas, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “We are gratified that TEAS has reached this important milestone, and are proud that today 94% of all new trademark applications are filed electronically.”

“TEAS proved to be an important and effective tool in protecting my brand,” said Mr. Junck. “I would encourage other entrepreneurs to use this system as well, as it saved me both time and money.”

TEAS launched as a pilot program in November 1997. It allows anyone in the world with Internet access to file applications electronically 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Developed with the goal of increasing participation in the trademark registration process, TEAS also has enhanced the quality of initial trademark applications and improved the speed and accuracy of their processing.

The USPTO has received numerous awards and recognitions for TEAS. These include: the Excellence.gov competition (2005 winner), the eGovernment Fellows Program (2004), the Government Technology Leadership Award (2000), the Innovations in American Government Award (2000 semi-finalist), and the Rochester Institute of Technology/USA Today Quality Cup Competition (2000 finalist).

For more information on TEAS, visit www.uspto.gov/teas/ .

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Yahoo! Inc. has announced the winners of the Yahoo! Tech “Last Gadget Standing” competition, hosted by gadget expert Robin Raskin at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The winners are the Data Drive Thru Tornado, which was selected by the audience during the live SuperSession event and the HP TouchSmart PC, which was selected as the online winner on tech.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Tech brings consumers the best information on gadgets and “Last Gadget Standing” gave those consumers the opportunity to pick their favorite gadget from CES.

“‘Last Gadget Standing’ isn’t just about the techies telling us what’s going to be hot. It’s about the real ‘deciders’ — the consumers — voting on what’s going to emerge as our next gadget idol,” said Patrick Houston, general manager, Yahoo! Tech.

The Data Drive Thru Tornado allows users to plug in a custom USB cable to two computers and transfer data between the two PCs without installing extra software.

The HP TouchSmart PC is an all-in-one, touch-screen PC that allows the user to check weather or e-mail, use a special HP-family calendar, watch TV, view photos, play music and more, each with a single touch.

Of the hundreds of products shown at CES, ten products that represent some of the best ideas and trends at the show were singled out and demonstrated at the annual “Last Gadget Standing” event. This year, the products were selected by Robin Raskin and her fellow Yahoo! Tech advisors Dory Devlin, Gina Hughes, Christopher Null, and Tom Samiljan.

“The two winners represent products that people believe will stand the test of time, and not just disappear once the show is over,” Raskin said.

The remaining eight finalists included:

• The Jitterbug Dial Phone is a simplified cell phone featuring a well-lit, color-coded keypad, cushioned ear area, large display, voice dialing, and other functions that help an older generation keep in touch.
• The Melitta Smart Mill & Brew not only grinds and brews coffee, but also serves up-to-the-minute weather forecasts on an LCD screen that flashes MSN Direct regional weather information via an FM signal.
• The Archos 604-WiFi features a 30GB hard drive and 802.11g wireless connectivity so users can surf, stream, browse, and email as well as access photos, music, and video stored on the player’s hard drive.
• Nokia’s highest-end N95 multi-media computer has 3G/HSDPA-capability, a 5-megapixel camera, built-in GPS, and a 2.6-inch color screen. Its dual slide mechanism allows users to slide vertical for traditional phoning or horizontal for media controls.
• WowWee RS Media, a video-and-music playing version of the popular Robosapien, allows users to program and store body movements and assign the RS Media different personality modes, including the users’ custom-made personality modes based on their own voice and other sounds.
• Pure Digital Point and Shoot Camcorder is a simple-to-use, pocket-sized camcorder that has an LCD preview, microphone, just a few buttons, and simple controls. A retractable USB plugs into the PC to transfer video. It runs on AA batteries and no cords or chargers are required.
• The D-Link V-Click phone switches from cellular to Wi-Fi with the push of a button. In addition to phone calls, the trim handset features email and an integrated web browser.
• Samsung’s Ultra Music Phone takes the concept of an entertainment phone to new levels with its slim form and two LCD screens, one on each side of the phone.

via Yahoo
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IBM has announced today that it will develop and host the “Inventors’ Forum,” an online initiative to share and debate ideas on how smaller enterprises view patent systems and can contribute to reform efforts such as improved patent quality.

IBM made the announcement as IFI Claims released the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) annual list of the top patentees. With 3,621, IBM surpassed its own record and earned more U.S. patents than any other company for the fourteenth consecutive year, exceeding the next closest patentee by 1,170.*

A number of individuals and small and mid-sized companies have already agreed to participate in the forum, including inventor Lonnie Johnson, patent holder of many inventions in thermodynamics and best known as the inventor of the Super Soaker® water gun. The company also has reached out to venture capitalists and others who play a role in the evolution of smaller businesses, to join the forum in the second quarter of the year and share their views on the issues affecting their participation in the intellectual property marketplace. IBM believes this dialog with a group whose needs often are underserved can help accelerate successful patent reform efforts.

“Meaningful patent reform must address the needs of all constituents. This Inventors’ Forum can help accelerate patent reform efforts by bringing a diverse spectrum of opinions together to collaboratively develop solutions for a robust intellectual property marketplace,” said Herbert Wamsley, executive director of the Washington, DC-based Intellectual Property Owners Association.

With companies and governments focused on innovation to create economic growth, the number of patent applications from individuals and companies of all sizes is skyrocketing. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small companies earn nearly 15 times the number of patents per employee as large enterprises. Patents have become a principal means of establishing value for the creators and users of knowledge-based assets. As vital as patents are to large companies such as IBM, they are just as vital to smaller entities whose businesses or aspirations are built around a smaller number of patents.
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