GSA Technology Council

The 3G BlackBerry Tour  from Research In Motion (RIM) will be available Verizon Wireless Communications Stores on July 12. Verizon Wireless has announced that customers can pre-order the BlackBerry Tour for $199.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement online at www.verizonwireless.com/tour.

The BlackBerry Tour joins the BlackBerry Storm, BlackBerry Curve 8330 (available in either silver or pink), BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 and BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphones in the Verizon Wireless portfolio. The BlackBerry Tour is a 3G world phone, giving customers the option to make phone calls in 220 countries and to access e-mail and Internet in any of the 175 countries where Verizon Wireless provides data roaming services. It is also packed with features customers expect from industry leaders, including RIM’s popular push-based mobile solution for e-mail; messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and social networking; a 3.2 megapixel camera with geo-tagging and video recording; advanced multimedia capabilities; built-in GPS; full HTML Web browsing; and support for Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband Connect tethering service. It supports Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music with Rhapsody and VZ NavigatorSM services. BlackBerry Enterprise customers will find the stylish BlackBerry Tour has all the BlackBerry security profiles that make this an efficient business tool. A model of the BlackBerry Tour without a camera will also be available.

Customers can purchase either the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition Smartphone or the BlackBerry Curve 8330 for $49.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement for a voice plan with e-mail feature or an e-mail plan. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 and BlackBerry Storm 9530 are available for $79.99 and $149.99 respectively after $70 mail-in rebates with new two-year customer agreements for a voice plan with e-mail feature or an e-mail plan. Customers receive rebates in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.

via Verizon Wireless

Northstar Creative, based in downtown Greenville, announces the launch of a website for Carolina Safety Consultants at www.csc-llc.net. Carolina Safety Consultants helps its clients provide a safer workplace and an even more competitive position in their industry. Northstar Creative developed an informative site that will help CSC in their presentations to potential clients.

“We enjoyed working with Carolina Safety Consultants,” says Laura MacPherson, president of Northstar Creative. “They are dedicated to safety and make it an enjoyable exercise for their clients—they have fun with it.”

via: Northstar Creative

Customer Effective Inc., a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and value-added reseller of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, has been named 2009 Microsoft Dynamics Financial Services Partner of the Year, chosen from a field of nearly 2,000 entrants worldwide. The award recognizes partners who have exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics to customers in the financial services industry. Customer Effective has demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers.

“We are very pleased with Microsoft’s recognition of our success in delivering CRM solutions to the unique and demanding requirements of financial services companies,” said Scott Millwood, President of Customer Effective. “I’m really proud of everyone in our company for the hard work they have put into building our customer base and for building superb solutions in complex financial services vertical markets over the past six years. It’s great for the team to see their hard work result in this prestigious award. I’m equally pleased with Microsoft’s continued guidance and support in helping us grow to become the recognized leader in financial services.”

Customer Effective has completed over 300 projects with 170 customers and partners since the company was founded in 2003 to focus exclusively on Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The company’s customers include Bank of America, FBR Capital Markets, First Reserve, Markel Corporation, MAG Mutual Insurance Company, Taylor, Bean and Whitaker, Valmark Securities and CapTrust Financial Advisors. Customer Effective’s success in financial services is based upon deep business process knowledge and delivery of Microsoft Dynamics CRM with “XRM” Accelerators specifically configured to address the sophisticated relational models and processes of financial services micro-verticals.

“Microsoft is proud to recognize Customer Effective as the Microsoft Dynamics Financial Services Partner of the Year,” said David Smith, General Manager, U.S. Microsoft Dynamics Partners, Microsoft Corp. “Customer Effective’s innovative solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM have helped their financial services customers achieve their business goals and succeed. Their Capital Effective CRM solution delivers business-class solutions to financial professionals across insurance, banking, and capital markets.”

via: Customer Effective

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a web site from scratch?

Patterned after a community building effort for a home or a playground, PumpUpTheSite is a day-long community effort to build a better web site for a non-profit organization that can’t afford a much-needed refresh. This time, on July 11, the Greenville Jaycees will get a web site that helps the Jaycees better communicate its goal of building business leaders and supports fundraising efforts.

Aspiring web site builders, established web site professionals, media professionals and the generally curious are invited. Greenville-area web designers, programmers and consultants will gather on Saturday, July 11, to sit down at the OrangeCoat office in Greenville. Their goal is to complete all graphic design, copy and programming necessary to launch the web site at the end of the day.

PumpUpTheSite is looking for people with any level of skill who are willing to help build the site. The participants don’t like to work alone, however, so the general public is invited to give feedback and support as the site is being built.

There will be plenty of seats for participants and spectators alike, and food will be provided by our sponsors. Simply register (for free) at www.pumpupthesite.com.This event is limited to the first 50 registrants.

The Jaycees helps young adults build the skills needed to be successful at work through service projects. The Greenville chapter of this international charitable organization raises thousands of dollars annually for Camp Hope, a summer camp for disabled adults, and special events like the Christmas Shopping tour supporting the Boys and Girls Club.

PumpUpTheSite has been organized by OrangeCoat, View Digital Media and Nullvariable Web Consulting.

via: www.PumpUpTheSite.com

AFL Network Services, a leader of integrated network solutions for the hospitality and telecommunications industry, announces it was selected to install state-of-the-art network infrastructure as part of Peabody Hotel Group’s $450 million expansion of the Peabody Orlando. AFL will provide engineering support, materials, and installation for the voice, data and video networks.

Given the high rate of leisure traffic and ranking as the nation’s No. 2 convention destination, Orlando has a reputation for some of the best hotels in the country. At the top of the list is the Peabody Hotel, one of the most luxurious sites in the city and neighbor to the Orange County Convention Center on International Drive. Priding itself on catering to the meetings and conventions industry nationwide, the Peabody Hotel has established itself as the Orlando convention hotel of choice for the nation’s professional meeting planners. In order to accommodate the many vacationers and business executives that travel to the area week in and week out, the Peabody sought to expand its operations, adding a new tower to its existing properties.

“We selected AFL as our service provider out of a group of highly-qualified contenders,” said Michael Craft, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Peabody Hotel Group. “This project is critical to our company and is very complex due to its size, as well as the quality that we are demanding of the completed product. We believe AFL is well- qualified to handle the cabling component of the project, and are counting on it to meet our technical requirements on schedule and on budget. We are very pleased with how AFL’s work is progressing thus far”.

With a target completion date of Fall 2010, the Peabody expansion includes a new 32-story guest room tower. With 1,641 luxurious rooms the Peabody Orlando will become the largest four star hotel in North America, excluding casino properties. Other project highlights include a 55,000 square foot ballroom, three new pools and a 2,100 vehicle parking garage. From conference room to poolside cabana, all guest areas of the hotel will have access to a wide range of technology amenities.

AFL Network Services scope of work includes the installation of nearly one million feet of Cat5e cabling, intended for voice applications, and RG-6 coaxial cable will be installed for transmitting cable television and other video applications. Approximately one million feet of Cat6 cable with connectivity will be installed to allow for a high-speed data infrastructure, helping facilitate records, billing, and information that the hotel will store in its computers. The data infrastructure will also transmit digital signage information throughout the hotel and convention center. The entire fiber backbone will consist of AFL fiber and connectors.

“AFL Network Services is extremely pleased to be selected for such an exciting project. The scope of this project is a showcase for AFL’s expertise with end-to-end network solutions and value engineering. We look forward to celebrating the grand opening of the new expansion,” stated Kent Brown – Vice President, Enterprise of AFL Network Services.

AFL Network Services’ mission is to provide advanced hospitality technology and network management services. AFL not only provides expertise in end-to-end network solutions, but partners with clients to ensure guest satisfaction and loyalty. Whether building, upgrading or expanding network communication systems, AFL has extensive knowledge of the latest technologies in the industry.

via AFL Network Services

The first-ever ConvergeSC conference will take place on Saturday, June 27, at Amoco Hall on the University of South Carolina campus in Columbia, S.C. At this one-day event, web designers, web developers, and marketing and sales professionals whose careers involve the Web, will converge to gain insight into the Web industry from some of the brightest and best speakers in South Carolina and the Southeast.

Gene Crawford, President of PeriodThree, a web development firm, and co-founder of the conference, says that ConvergeSC grew from the need among web-focused groups to help build a more connected web community that does not exist formally in South Carolina.

“We’re spread out, working hard with our heads down,” explains Crawford. “ConvergeSC is an opportunity to educate and inspire each other to do better work. When you leave, we hope that you’re on a mission to build or design something amazing for yourselves and your clients. Whether you’re a hard core designer or a web or marketing intern, ConvergeSC is for you.”

ConvergeSC is for: web designers, web developers, business professionals, marketing professionals, content creators, and students.

Where: Amoco Hall, Swearingen Building, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of South Carolina, 301 Main Street, Columbia, S.C.

When: Saturday, June 27.

To register online, go to www.convergesc.org.

Derco Aerospace, a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company, and Michelin Aircraft Tire Company signed a new agreement today that will support Derco in distributing Michelin’s military aircraft tire products in multiple countries around the globe. Aircraft platforms supported under the agreement include, but are not limited to, the C-130, L-100, F-16, KC-135, P-3, UH-60 and Mirage. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is the worldwide aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, SC, Michelin North America employs more than 22,300 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.

via: Michelin

Silverpop has named Adam Needles director of field marketing for Engage B2B (formerly Vtrenz). He will serve both as an advocate for B2B marketers — listening to their needs, participating in dialogue at key marketing conferences and events on behalf of Silverpop, sharing insights on Silverpop’s Demand Generation blog — and also as an evangelist for Silverpop’s Engage B2B marketing platform.

“We’re pleased to have Adam join our team and to play a key role as Silverpop evolves and grows to better serve the rapidly-changing needs of B2B marketers,” said Scott Voigt, vice president of marketing for Silverpop. “He brings new perspectives and fresh thinking to the B2B marketplace. He will be a tremendous resource for B2B marketers who want to learn more about the strategies and tactics of successful lead management programs.”

Needles’ experience uniquely balances traditional B2B marketing programs, including lead-generation, direct-marketing, conferences/events and sales-force support, with more strategic brand development approaches such as thought leadership, public relations and organizational/cultural brand alignment. He previously was vice president of marketing and development for technology-industry analysis firm The 451 Group, where he helped build the firm’s B2B service brand through leading marketplace repositioning, defining the product/service mix and building out a marketing and events team to support significant revenue growth. Prior to that, he co-founded DVG Research, a market-strategy firm, and worked at Citigate Cunningham, a technology public relations firm, where his accounts included Motorola and Platinum Technology (acquired by CA, Inc.).

via: Silverpop

The US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Telecommunications Program has accepted CommScope’s Flat Drop fiber cable designs, enabling service providers seeking funding from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to propose the use of the Flat Drop products in business plans and applications they submit for RUS grants and loans.

CommScope’s Flat Drop designs include an all-dielectric cable suitable for aerial self-supporting or burial applications and a toneable design which contains a wire used to locate the underground portion of the fiber run. Both cable types are small, lightweight constructions designed for ease of handling and installation, and are compatible with industry-standard hardware. Their dual ripcords also simplify access and installation. CommScope’s Flat Drop cable designs are suitable for all FTTH applications, including CommScope’s BrightPath® RF over Glass (RFoG) solution.

“Acceptance of our Flat Drop cable designs by the Rural Development Telecommunications Program greatly benefits our customers as they look to expand their networks into unserved areas,” said Carl Meyerhoefer, vice president of Marketing and Business Development for CommScope’s Broadband division. “CommScope is excited about adding these designs to our family of products currently accepted by the Rural Development Telecommunications Program. We continue to focus on expanding our product portfolio to serve this important market.”

via: CommScope

The Greenville Area Development Corporation and Berliner Seilfabrik have announced the location in Greenville, South Carolina of the organization’s new U.S. sales and distribution operations, executives of the German-owned company has announced.

The company manufactures “living playgrounds”, intricately designed modular playscapes in a variety of unique designs and shapes, and all made from sturdy, galvanized steel wires covered with external rope strands of Polyamid yarns (carpet yarn).  Internationally patented, the Berliner Seilfabrik ropes ensure maximum abrasion-resistance and color fastness for years of hard play. The interior steel wires are compliant to DIN 2078, are galvanized and have a sturdiness of 1770 N/mm.

Located in 48 Brookfield Oaks Suite D, Berliner Seilfabrik will initially staff the sales office with a three-person sales team to cater to the needs of dealers across the United States, and also serve as a distribution point for product arriving through the Port of Charleston, noted David Koehler, president of Berliner Seilfabrik.  The company had previously used a U.S.-based distributor for its products, but decided to part company in 2008 and set up its own sales operations domestically.

“We examined numerous markets around the country, including New York, Chicago and Atlanta, before deciding to establish this sales headquarters here in Greenville,” said Koehler.  “We see a tremendous market opportunity here in the United States for our product line and felt that Greenville’s excellent value and quality of life for our team, its East Coast location, Port of Charleston accessibility and interstate access made it an ideal location for our operations.”

The company’s roots date back to 1865 when Berliner Seilfabrik’s parent company began producing ropes for the elevator industry.  Even today, the quality of Berliner ropes has earned world-wide acclaim as among the strongest in the world, and Berliner ropes are found in elevator equipment around the globe.  Ropes from the parent company support the Liberty Bridge that spans the Reedy River in downtown Greenville.

The company first entered into the development of net structures as climbing equipment in the early 1970s, and have cemented their global reputation as leaders and innovators in rope-play equipment over three decades.   Carefully guarded expertise in the field of rope production and intensive development work adhering to the highest safety standards has resulted in a wide array of play products, offering intriguing and globally-recognized designs for playground landscapes.  Today, Berliner Seilfabrik play products are found across Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, with all products precision-manufactured at the company’s headquarters in Germany.  Among the company’s customers is Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, whose Jungala climbing tunnels and towers feature a Berliner Seilfabrik custom design.  The company became a stand-alone organization when his father led a management buyout from its parent in 1995, Koehler noted.

“Movement and activity is fascinating for children because it is always exciting and fun to jump, turn,  swing or see-saw, so we make movement the core of all our play equipment,” said Lukas Steinke, chief operating officer for Berliner Seilfabrik.  “Our special rope is the main component of all of our equipment and takes on many forms – it can be the rigging of a ship, a predator´s trap, mountains, even a knight´s castle.  The flexibility of our rope engages the child, stimulating valuable play activities like climbing, sliding and swinging, and encouraging development of the child’s balance, reactions, strength and coordination.  It’s fun, it teaches, and it supports cardiovascular activity.”

“Establishing this sales and distribution center in Greenville represents the next step in our vision to fully explore North America as a market for our products,” Koehler noted.  “The strategic expansion into this new space and the opportunity we have to grow our company here is very exciting for us.”

“Berliner Seilfabrik would like to thank the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC) and the county of Greenville for their support in helping us make this launch a reality,” added Steinke.  “The GADC was particularly helpful in backgrounding us on the community, reviewing facilities, assisting us with visas and introductions to the business community – all of the complexities of the start-up process were made easier, including advising us on resources available to us as we ultimately look to expand our team here.”

“Berliner Seilfabrik’s decision to establish operations here in Greenville County is great news,” added H.G. “Butch” Kirven, chairman of Greenville County Council.  “Our economic development team provided essential help that the company needed to make this possible, and further affirms the many advantages that Greenville County offers growth-minded organizations.”

“We’re pleased that the management of Berliner Seilfabrik has chosen to join the many other organizations with German and European ties here in Greenville County,” said Mike Buiter, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “As an international leader in their field with innovative processes, a global customer base and a successful track record, this announcement is another positive note for Greenville County’s growing business community.”

Via GADC