Technology

Valista wins Global Telecoms Business Award 2008

Valista, a leading provider of digital commerce software and managed services has won the prestigious Global Telecoms Business (GTB) Award 2008 for 'Mobile Commerce Innovation' 2008 for its Operator Payments Service.

"Valista's payments, settlement and merchandising solutions have helped drive innovation for the telecommunications industry and as a result, position Valista as a leading provider within the industry.

Our team of experienced engineers in Sri Lanka and Ireland continue to build a world-class solutions suite which is second to none and we are honoured to have won the Mobile Innovation Award at the GTB Awards which showcases companies with entrepreneurial spirit and continued growth potential," Director of Marketing, Valista, Evanna Kearins told the Sunday Observer.

The Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards were first presented in 2007. About 250 leaders of the industry from around the world attended the 2008 ceremony at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London last month.

This is a major endorsement by the telecoms industry of the company's Operator Payments Service, which is being used by mobile operators worldwide to enable their off-portal business. Key customers include US Cellular and Cricket Communications in the USA.

In presenting the Awards, Alan Burkitt-Gray, Editor of Global Telecoms Business said "Congratulations to all the award winners.

The industry is seeing a wave of innovation which is making a huge difference to the companies working in the industry and to all of us in business and as consumers. They are making such a difference to the world. We want to celebrate what they are doing."

Daniel Bradford, Regional Director at Valista who received the award on behalf of the Company said, "I am delighted that Valista has won such a prestigious accolade for our Operator Payments Service and specifically for the service we host for US Cellular. This award is testament to the strength of our underlying payments and settlement technology.

We look forward to furthering our presence in global markets as we continue to grow, offering innovative merchandising, payments and settlement solutions to customers worldwide."

Chief Executive Officers, Chief Technology Officers and other leaders from operators and vendors around the world, including Europe, China, Africa, India, Russia, North and South America and the Pacific were present. Hundreds of nominations for the industry's innovative projects were received from the readers of Global Telecoms Business since early in 2008 in a number of key categories.

Valista, the Irish software company accelerates the growth of digital commerce with multi-channel merchandising, payments and settlement solutions.

The company enables mobile, broadband and cable operators and media and entertainment companies to support the entire commerce ecosystem including end-to-end transaction management; advanced settlement; discounting, promotions and loyalty programs with a choice of software or managed services.

Valista specialises in managed services which enable operators to expand their markets and customise their offerings in a timely and cost efficient manner utilising Valista's best of breed application ValistaPlus software platform. One of the main R&D centres of the company is in Colombo and hundreds of Sri Lankan software engineers are working with Valista.

CMOs to correct effects of radiation devices

Scientists have found evidence of a link between the regular use of digital mobile phones and brain tumours.

A company based in France has introduced Compensatory Magnetic Oscilators (CMOs) or Electro Magnetic Radiation Protectors to correct the biological effects of radiation devices.

The Agent of CMOs for Japan and Sri Lanka Narendra Keppetipola said that a customer has to purchase the device and stick it on to the device and you are protected.

Keppetipola, a Semi Conductor Engineer who has worked for world famous companies such as IBM is now based in Japan and promotes Sri Lanka.

CMOs can be used in computers, TV sets, laptops, LCD flat screens, cellular phones and cellular telephony base stations.

Xerox launches Digital Press

Lumen Technologies launched the long awaited Digital Press Solutions from Xerox to the Sri Lankan market to meet the short run requirements of the local graphics industry (commercial printers, publishers and pre-presses).

It is an addition to Xerox's industry-leading production digital portfolio, following the revolutionary Xerox IGen 3, which led the industry into a new age of digital colour printing.

Chief Operating Officer of Lumen Technologies, authorised distributor for Xerox in Sri Lanka, Rukshan Sheriff said, "Our aim is to offer our customers the best solutions to their business needs.

Every high-quality colour print that comes off the Digital Press will help set our customers apart from their competition with full colour and monochrome high speed digital presses offering benchmark productivity, print quality and economy".

Since colour consistency and predictability are critical to customers, repeat jobs will always look the same with the Xerox Digital Press.

It also creates offset and photo-quality images with consistent colour from the first print to the last.

Sinetcom launches AD Netbooks

Sinetcom (Pvt) Ltd, distributors of AD Netbooks in Sri Lanka unveiled the new Netbook range of portable computers.

The AD Netbook satisfies every on-the-go computing need and more; offering all the advantages with a highly versatile platform based on the functionality of a conventional laptop. With its 8 (eight) and 10.2-inch LCD screen, the AD Netbook packs all these features in the size of a standard business diary.

General Manager Kisan Kirtisinghe said that "this innovative Netbook achieves a fine balance between being feature rich and compact at the same time being affordable.

We believe that an innovation such as the AD Netbook will provide mobile computer users in Sri Lanka with a unique solution to their ever increasing on-the-go computing needs."

It is ideal for the busy executive on the move who wants to stay in touch with colleagues and friends and also caters to students as it is designed for rough use and has features such as being light weight, wireless connectivity, web camera, in built card readers and many more.

Virtusa among 11 finalists for US top award

Virtusa Corporation has been selected as one of the eleven finalists for the United States Secretary of State's prestigious 2008 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE).

The Award recognises the important role US businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens. The other finalists include Microsoft in India, Google in Brazil, Starbucks in Guatemala and Esso in Angola. Since 1999 the US Secretary of State has awarded the ACE to deserving American businesses operating overseas for advancing good corporate citizenship, innovation and democratic principles.

The Department of State is committed to working with businesses to further these best practices worldwide and to recognise efforts to improve the quality of lives at home and abroad.

Virtusa and its employees were recognised for their significant time and resource contribution to the Sahana disaster recovery system, "Virtusa Campus Reach", "Virtusa Digital Reach" and IT advocacy programs are aimed at improving IT skills and curriculum in Sri Lanka.

It's Smart Card, not Master Card

In our article last week under the heading "E-WIS introduces Master Card technology to EPF" we had inadvertently referred to Smart Card technology as Master Card technology.

It should read as "E-WIS introduces Smart Card Technology to EPF."

The error is regretted.