Friday, August 12, 2011
Brightbridge Wealth Management Headlines: Siemens Enterprise Communications introduces AudioPresence(TM) HD
http://world.brightbridgewealthmanagement-mag.com/?p=54
15th July 2011 – In a continuing effort to innovate and help customers maximize productivity, Siemens Enterprise Communications has introduced AudioPresenceTM HD, which ensures that all OpenStage IP phone users can experience the highest quality audio for voice calls and audio conferences, at no additional cost for the functionality. Unlike other major brands, the OpenStage range provides high-definition voice capabilities across the entire line of OpenStage IP phones, including the newly announced OpenStage 5 entry-level phone. With the introduction of AudioPresence HD, the OpenStage portfolio extends its legacy of reliability and quality acoustic engineering.
“Siemens Enterprise Communications’ efforts to extend HD voice across its entire IP portfolio with AudioPresence increases the overall value of its already high quality proven IP desktop phones, allowing customers to enjoy a natural voice experience with higher voice quality, superior clarity, better intelligibility and a richer sound experience,” said Mohamed Alaa Saayed, Senior Industry Analyst with Frost & Sullivan. “The overall result is higher degrees of customer satisfaction and increased productivity.”
This innovation is particularly applicable to a truly global audience. Research has shown that interactions among people with diverse native language backgrounds have increased dramatically and will continue to rise. For example, research from the Federal Institute of Research in Zurich, showed that official Globalization Indexes for information flows has increased more than 60% over the past two decades, and a global survey conducted by Associates for International Research, Inc. (AIRINC) showed that 42% of companies reported an increase in their expatriate populations in 2010, while 49% expect an increase in this number in 2011. Additionally, global research firm MZA Ltd. predicts the worldwide conferencing solutions market will grow to near $8 billion at a compound growth rate of over 13% due to the restrictions on business travel – demonstrating an ever increasing and high level of reliance on voice technologies to drive business communications, customer dialog and decision making.
Meanwhile, recent United Nations research indicates the global population of those over age 60 has grown by over 50% in the past two decades, while the number of U.S. workers over age 55 has increased by 53% over the past decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Further, The European Commission expects the employment rate of workers age 55 and older to reach 59% by 2025. With this aging workforce demographic comes age-related hearing loss, progressively impacting up to 50% of people by age 75. The AudioPresence HD enhanced user experience reduces frustration and helps ensure customer interactions and employee communications are well understood, avoiding errors and misunderstandings.
AudioPresence HD leverages the standards-based G.722 high-definition audio codec, best-in-class speaker, microphone and acoustic components, and advanced noise rejection and echo cancellation in all OpenStage IP phones. Also, with the upcoming release of OpenScape UC Version 6, multi-party audio conferences will support AudioPresence HD as well as an industry unique Automatic Gain Control feature which normalizes the distraction and frustration of loud and soft volume levels from various conference participants.
“While knowledge workers are becoming increasingly reliant on advanced communications tools, voice communication remains the engine of the knowledge economy in many respects,” says Jonathan Spira, president of NYC-based communications analyst firm Basex. “Missed information can lead to costly errors, muddled responses to questions require time-consuming repetition and clarification, and an unclear articulation results in frustration and stress for call participants as they strain to follow the conversation.”
According to new independent lab testing conducted by HEAD Acoustics, OpenStage IP handsets with AudioPresence consistently delivered strong balanced performance index scores across the entire range of OpenStage IP phones. For example, the entire range of OpenStage handsets tested all scored the maximum possible TMOS score of 4.2 for high definition audio sending, including the new OpenStage 5. This demonstrates that exceptional audio quality can be provided to customers seeking a cost-effective entry-level phone. Overall, the results support OpenStage portfolio’s legacy of superior acoustic engineering and component selection.
“Having deployed an Asterisk IP-PBX, we could have chosen any desk phone on the market. We chose 8,000 OpenStage 60 SIP phones, in a distributed branch office solution. Being in a customer-focused and service-oriented insurance business it is important for us to have reliable, high quality phones to interact with our customers,” says Alfred Isenbeck of LVM Versicherung. “We rely on the excellent audio quality of the OpenStage phones to ensure we provide excellent service to our customers.”
“We continue to believe in the importance of providing all of our customers with an excellent quality user experience, and superior audio quality does not have to be an expensive solution that is only available in high-end or ‘executive’ phones,” said Mark Straton, Senior Vice President Global Solutions Marketing at Siemens Enterprise Communications. “With AudioPresence HD available in every OpenStage IP model, it is our way of ensuring that regardless of how much a customer wants to invest in a phone, they are getting the best audio quality available.”
AudioPresence HD is available now on all OpenStage IP phones and can be enabled immediately by contacting your local Siemens Enterprise Communications representative or authorized partner.
15th July 2011 – In a continuing effort to innovate and help customers maximize productivity, Siemens Enterprise Communications has introduced AudioPresenceTM HD, which ensures that all OpenStage IP phone users can experience the highest quality audio for voice calls and audio conferences, at no additional cost for the functionality. Unlike other major brands, the OpenStage range provides high-definition voice capabilities across the entire line of OpenStage IP phones, including the newly announced OpenStage 5 entry-level phone. With the introduction of AudioPresence HD, the OpenStage portfolio extends its legacy of reliability and quality acoustic engineering.
“Siemens Enterprise Communications’ efforts to extend HD voice across its entire IP portfolio with AudioPresence increases the overall value of its already high quality proven IP desktop phones, allowing customers to enjoy a natural voice experience with higher voice quality, superior clarity, better intelligibility and a richer sound experience,” said Mohamed Alaa Saayed, Senior Industry Analyst with Frost & Sullivan. “The overall result is higher degrees of customer satisfaction and increased productivity.”
This innovation is particularly applicable to a truly global audience. Research has shown that interactions among people with diverse native language backgrounds have increased dramatically and will continue to rise. For example, research from the Federal Institute of Research in Zurich, showed that official Globalization Indexes for information flows has increased more than 60% over the past two decades, and a global survey conducted by Associates for International Research, Inc. (AIRINC) showed that 42% of companies reported an increase in their expatriate populations in 2010, while 49% expect an increase in this number in 2011. Additionally, global research firm MZA Ltd. predicts the worldwide conferencing solutions market will grow to near $8 billion at a compound growth rate of over 13% due to the restrictions on business travel – demonstrating an ever increasing and high level of reliance on voice technologies to drive business communications, customer dialog and decision making.
Meanwhile, recent United Nations research indicates the global population of those over age 60 has grown by over 50% in the past two decades, while the number of U.S. workers over age 55 has increased by 53% over the past decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Further, The European Commission expects the employment rate of workers age 55 and older to reach 59% by 2025. With this aging workforce demographic comes age-related hearing loss, progressively impacting up to 50% of people by age 75. The AudioPresence HD enhanced user experience reduces frustration and helps ensure customer interactions and employee communications are well understood, avoiding errors and misunderstandings.
AudioPresence HD leverages the standards-based G.722 high-definition audio codec, best-in-class speaker, microphone and acoustic components, and advanced noise rejection and echo cancellation in all OpenStage IP phones. Also, with the upcoming release of OpenScape UC Version 6, multi-party audio conferences will support AudioPresence HD as well as an industry unique Automatic Gain Control feature which normalizes the distraction and frustration of loud and soft volume levels from various conference participants.
“While knowledge workers are becoming increasingly reliant on advanced communications tools, voice communication remains the engine of the knowledge economy in many respects,” says Jonathan Spira, president of NYC-based communications analyst firm Basex. “Missed information can lead to costly errors, muddled responses to questions require time-consuming repetition and clarification, and an unclear articulation results in frustration and stress for call participants as they strain to follow the conversation.”
According to new independent lab testing conducted by HEAD Acoustics, OpenStage IP handsets with AudioPresence consistently delivered strong balanced performance index scores across the entire range of OpenStage IP phones. For example, the entire range of OpenStage handsets tested all scored the maximum possible TMOS score of 4.2 for high definition audio sending, including the new OpenStage 5. This demonstrates that exceptional audio quality can be provided to customers seeking a cost-effective entry-level phone. Overall, the results support OpenStage portfolio’s legacy of superior acoustic engineering and component selection.
“Having deployed an Asterisk IP-PBX, we could have chosen any desk phone on the market. We chose 8,000 OpenStage 60 SIP phones, in a distributed branch office solution. Being in a customer-focused and service-oriented insurance business it is important for us to have reliable, high quality phones to interact with our customers,” says Alfred Isenbeck of LVM Versicherung. “We rely on the excellent audio quality of the OpenStage phones to ensure we provide excellent service to our customers.”
“We continue to believe in the importance of providing all of our customers with an excellent quality user experience, and superior audio quality does not have to be an expensive solution that is only available in high-end or ‘executive’ phones,” said Mark Straton, Senior Vice President Global Solutions Marketing at Siemens Enterprise Communications. “With AudioPresence HD available in every OpenStage IP model, it is our way of ensuring that regardless of how much a customer wants to invest in a phone, they are getting the best audio quality available.”
AudioPresence HD is available now on all OpenStage IP phones and can be enabled immediately by contacting your local Siemens Enterprise Communications representative or authorized partner.
Brightbridge Wealth Management Headlines: S. Korean scientists develop new MRI contrast agent
http://world.brightbridgewealthmanagement-mag.com/?p=57
SEOUL, July 25 (Yonhap) — South Korean scientists said Monday that they have developed a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent that can help better diagnose arteriosclerosis and various vascular diseases.
The Seoul National University team led by Hyeon Taeg-hwan, a chemical and biological engineering professor, said the agent made from ferrimagnetic iron oxide that is 3 nanometers in size, significantly smaller than the 4 nanometer size mass produced in the past. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.
Making smaller size particles is critical since using larger ferrimagnetic iron oxide as MRI agents reduces clarity, which effectively limits the agent’s usefulness as a tool for doctors.
The team also said that compared to the most commonly used gadolinium-based agents, the new material has been tested to be much less harmful to people and can show internal structures of arteries much longer. MRI agents have been cited for causing complications for people with bad kidneys.
“The manufacturing process permitted very fine, evenly shaped nanoparticles to be made easily,” Hyeon said. “Using this material as an agent, researchers were able to see arteries with a diameter of less than 0.2 millimeters.”
The scientist claimed that the new agent has the capability to make it easier for doctors to check for arteriosclerosis, vascular disease and signs of heart attacks in people.
The discovery that received support from the government has been published in the latest on-line issue of the Journal of American Chemical Society.
SEOUL, July 25 (Yonhap) — South Korean scientists said Monday that they have developed a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent that can help better diagnose arteriosclerosis and various vascular diseases.
The Seoul National University team led by Hyeon Taeg-hwan, a chemical and biological engineering professor, said the agent made from ferrimagnetic iron oxide that is 3 nanometers in size, significantly smaller than the 4 nanometer size mass produced in the past. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.
Making smaller size particles is critical since using larger ferrimagnetic iron oxide as MRI agents reduces clarity, which effectively limits the agent’s usefulness as a tool for doctors.
The team also said that compared to the most commonly used gadolinium-based agents, the new material has been tested to be much less harmful to people and can show internal structures of arteries much longer. MRI agents have been cited for causing complications for people with bad kidneys.
“The manufacturing process permitted very fine, evenly shaped nanoparticles to be made easily,” Hyeon said. “Using this material as an agent, researchers were able to see arteries with a diameter of less than 0.2 millimeters.”
The scientist claimed that the new agent has the capability to make it easier for doctors to check for arteriosclerosis, vascular disease and signs of heart attacks in people.
The discovery that received support from the government has been published in the latest on-line issue of the Journal of American Chemical Society.
August 6th, 2011 | 
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Brightbridge Wealth Management
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Brightbridge Wealth Management, Inc. team is primarily concerned with growing and preserving our clients' capital. We manage assets on a fully discretionary basis for private and institutional clients.
Our highly qualified asset managers and research analysts use advanced analytical tools to conduct capital market and fund management research. We then turn global investment insights into an efficient portfolio, specially tailored to your long or short-term goals and risk sensitivity.
Financial Planning Process
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As financial advisors and investment consultants, we believe in the following fundamental principals with regard to designing an investment portfolio and making specific recommendations. The purpose of a client's investment portfolio is to fund current and/or future financial objectives. The design of the portfolio must take into account the client's financial objectives, tolerance for risk, needs for current income or liquidity, and special considerations such as income and estate taxes. The appropriate allocation of investment assets for your goals and risk tolerance is the most important component in developing an investment portfolio. We believe that having a diversified, well-balanced portfolio, following long-term buy-and-hold strategies, and having patience, increases the likelihood that one will achieve their long-term financial objectives.
Diversification, dollar cost averaging, comprehensive portfolio reviews and analysis are beneficial methods of managing assets. Dollar-cost averaging has some advantages in a declining market--or, more precisely, in a market whose general direction may be downward but still has ups and downs. An investor who bought the Dow in 1929 and held it until 1939 would have seen a -46% return; but an investor dollar-cost averaging would have been able to take advantage, for example, of all the months in 1932-1934 in which the Dow closed at less than 100. In these months, that investor would have gotten a lot more for his money. This effect adds up to a nominal return of 5% during the period for the dollar-cost average method, which compared favorably to bond interest rates over the same period.
We believe that low cost mutual funds that consistently perform above average against their peers are wise choices. We also recognize the importance of culling a portfolio from time to time. How do you create this personal financial plan? What makes Brightbridge different is our commitment to working jointly with clients to produce a comprehensive, custom financial plan, enabling them to make wiser financial choices. First we focus on your goals, objectives, priorities and values.
For instance, the reduction of current and future income taxes may be an immediate goal, funding a quality education for your children and/or grandchildren may be an intermediate goal, and enjoying a secure financial future in your retirement years is likely to be one of your most important long-term goals. Another goal in life for some people is creating wealth and/or leaving a legacy for your chosen beneficiaries or charities. You may already be on the road to meeting these objectives and simply need a new strategy, professional insight, or to fine-tune your plan. You may just be starting out, or you may be somewhere in between.
Next, we collect detailed personal financial information and make a thorough analysis of this information: current financial situation, employee benefits, children's educational funding, retirement situation, pension and retirement plans, living estate, insurance and investment portfolios to produce a written financial plan with specific recommendations to achieve your goals. Then, we share the results with the client, who determines if the recommendations are sensible and reasonable. Once comfortable and satisfied with the final recommendations, clients take action or direct us to take the steps necessary to attain their objectives. Finally, to achieve the intended results, you must implement and monitor your plan. Your financial plan is a living document, reviewed periodically for progress and adjusted appropriately. Whatever your unique situation may be, everyone needs a periodic assessment of where they are on the road to meeting their financial goals. As a Fee-Based certified financial planner, we work with people based on their preferences and needs. Some may want a second opinion or help on a specific situation. Others would like more comprehensive, coordinated financial advice.
Brightbridge Wealth Management Headlines: Microsoft rolls out Office 365 in cloud computing race
http://advice.brightbridgewealthmanagement-facts.com/2011/07/brightbridge-wealth-management-headlines-microsoft-rolls-out-office-365-in-cloud-computing-race/
In rolling out Office 365, the online version of its ubiquitous Microsoft Office suite, the Redmond, Wash., technology giant is looking to catch up to rival Google Inc. in the race to move business software residing on local computers to remote data centers accessible from anywhere. For a monthly fee starting at $6 per user, Office 365 will allow company employees to edit and store Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations online and communicate with one another via email, instant message or video chat as they work on projects together, an element Microsoft said would allow workers to get more done. Larger companies and those looking for more features will pay more per month.
Cloud proponents say companies can cut costs by getting rid of their own servers — which are expensive and require frequent maintenance and security updates — and allowing technology firms like Microsoft and Google to handle the hard work of supplying businesses’ computing needs.
“What happens when Microsoft Office meets the cloud?” Chief Executive Steve Ballmersaid at a presentation Tuesday. “Collaboration happens in addition to productivity, anywhere for any business of any size.”
Though Microsoft has for years had a cloud element to its Office suite, the company has struggled to catch up to Google in the online software race. The search giant says its Google Apps software, which also includes word processing, email and other business applications, is used by 3 million businesses and 30 million people around the world.
Still, that number is a small fraction of the 1 billion global users Microsoft says it has for its traditional Office suite, which for years has been its bestselling product. In 2010, Microsoft’s Business Division, which makes Office, was responsible for 30% of the company’s $64 billion in annual revenue.
As businesses increasingly buy into the advantages of the cloud, high-profile companies including Google, Amazon.com Inc. and IBM are competing to be the provider of choice. But with a huge existing customer base, Microsoft is looking to convince its users that moving to the cloud will be easier and less risky if they stick with the familiar Microsoft Office.
“The reality is that Microsoft already has these customers and should easily be able to retain them,” said Brad Reback, an analyst at Oppenheimer and Co. “Businesses in general, especially with something as critical as email, are loath to switch companies like that.”
Microsoft has already encountered a number of difficulties with the precursor to Office 365, called BPOS (for Business Productivity Online Suite). The BPOS system has seen a number of outages in recent months, including a three-day period in May when many customers had to wait up to six hours to receive emails. Microsoft later told customers it had “not been timely enough with information” about the system’s status.
A flurry of hacker attacks in recent months has also renewed questions about the vulnerability of data stored online. In cloud computing, information from many companies can reside on servers at a single data center, potentially allowing hackers to attack multiple targets at once.
As soon as Microsoft announced Office 365 on Tuesday, Google went on the offensive with a blog post entitled “365 reasons to consider Google Apps.”
“Upgrading platforms and adding features results in systems that are increasingly difficult to manage and complex to use,” the post started. “At times like these, it’s worth considering a clean slate: an approach based on entirely modern technologies, designed for today’s world.”
Cloud proponents say companies can cut costs by getting rid of their own servers — which are expensive and require frequent maintenance and security updates — and allowing technology firms like Microsoft and Google to handle the hard work of supplying businesses’ computing needs.
“What happens when Microsoft Office meets the cloud?” Chief Executive Steve Ballmersaid at a presentation Tuesday. “Collaboration happens in addition to productivity, anywhere for any business of any size.”
Though Microsoft has for years had a cloud element to its Office suite, the company has struggled to catch up to Google in the online software race. The search giant says its Google Apps software, which also includes word processing, email and other business applications, is used by 3 million businesses and 30 million people around the world.
Still, that number is a small fraction of the 1 billion global users Microsoft says it has for its traditional Office suite, which for years has been its bestselling product. In 2010, Microsoft’s Business Division, which makes Office, was responsible for 30% of the company’s $64 billion in annual revenue.
As businesses increasingly buy into the advantages of the cloud, high-profile companies including Google, Amazon.com Inc. and IBM are competing to be the provider of choice. But with a huge existing customer base, Microsoft is looking to convince its users that moving to the cloud will be easier and less risky if they stick with the familiar Microsoft Office.
“The reality is that Microsoft already has these customers and should easily be able to retain them,” said Brad Reback, an analyst at Oppenheimer and Co. “Businesses in general, especially with something as critical as email, are loath to switch companies like that.”
Microsoft has already encountered a number of difficulties with the precursor to Office 365, called BPOS (for Business Productivity Online Suite). The BPOS system has seen a number of outages in recent months, including a three-day period in May when many customers had to wait up to six hours to receive emails. Microsoft later told customers it had “not been timely enough with information” about the system’s status.
A flurry of hacker attacks in recent months has also renewed questions about the vulnerability of data stored online. In cloud computing, information from many companies can reside on servers at a single data center, potentially allowing hackers to attack multiple targets at once.
As soon as Microsoft announced Office 365 on Tuesday, Google went on the offensive with a blog post entitled “365 reasons to consider Google Apps.”
“Upgrading platforms and adding features results in systems that are increasingly difficult to manage and complex to use,” the post started. “At times like these, it’s worth considering a clean slate: an approach based on entirely modern technologies, designed for today’s world.”
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