TECHNOLOGY

Samsung targets 10% market share for split ACs

Samsung Electronics launched its 'Max' and 'Crystal' series of Split air-conditioners in Sri Lanka recently. AS122USB The Samsung Split AC range, in capacities of 12000 BTU, 18000 BTU and 24000 BTU, comes with the S-UTRTM compressor designed to provide stable operation even during voltage fluctuation and the highest temperature.

The motor of the compressor has been strengthened to provide stable operation even in extremely low voltage. With this powerful motor, the compressor can operate even at 54 degrees Celsius without an external stabiliser.

The Crystal Series of Samsung Air-conditioners is stabiliser free. Samsung's S-UTR compressor has enhanced the capability of the protector to endure electrical unstable conditions.

Its overall efficiency has been advanced to keep full stability of the air-conditioner, so that the user can have fresh cool air always.

Harmful substances in the air including microscopic viruses and unpleasant odours are eliminated with Samsung's anti-virus Catechin and deodorizing twin filters.

"Based on the superior technology and features of Samsung Split ACs, I am confident that we can notch up a 10 percent market share this year," said Country Manager Sri Lanka for Samsung Electronics, K Shankar Narayan.

Samsung Split ACs are distributed in Sri Lanka through Soft Logic, Singer Sri Lanka and Singhagiri.

They are available to consumers in Sri Lanka through an expanded channel of around 350 dealers.

US launches drive to clean oiled Gulf beaches

Beaches stained with oil and tar balls from the Gulf of Mexico spill will be clean by the end of the year, a top US official vowed Tuesday, hoping to tempt tourists back to the suffering region.

"We're still in it for the long haul," Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul Zukunft told reporters at a press conference marking six months since the rig explosion that caused the biggest maritime spill ever.

The response has been dramatically scaled back since the height of the disaster, from almost 50,000 personnel to 13,000, but Zukunft said a massive effort was ongoing to finish the job.

He announced the launch of operation "Deep Clean" to return the tourist beaches from Louisiana to Florida that are so vital for the region's regeneration to their former glory.

Zukunft said he aimed to "have that work done by the end of this calendar year because those beaches are very critical to the economies of those coastal communities.

"Many people make their travel plans after the first of the year and we want to ensure that those travel plans do include those beaches and that we return them to pristine conditions."

Some 560 miles (900 kilometres) of coastline in Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama - which alone has a one-billion-dollar tourism industry - remain affected.

"We've developed a couple of mechanical devices, one's called "The Sand Shark," that can reach up to a meter (3.3 feet) deep into a recreational beach," Zukunft said. "It leaves sand in place but it removes that tar from the sand column." The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers. Two days later it sank to the bottom of the Gulf, setting off one of the largest and costliest environmental disasters of all time.

The leaking Macondo well was eventually capped in July and permanently sealed last month, but the full extent of the damage is still unclear.

Scientists are testing Gulf waters to try and reopen closed fishing grounds, while delicate marsh grasses are painstakingly cleaned to try and save the fragile wetland ecology.

The long-term effect of the disaster on fish in the Gulf is unknown, but Louisiana's key oyster and shrimp industries were practically wiped out as the toxic crude invaded oyster beds and spawning grounds.

Zukunft said the government's fleet of charter vessels was trying to ascertain any longer-term damage to certain species as they take samples that also help determine which fishing grounds can safely be re-opened.

"We've got a number of grids throughout the Gulf of Mexico where we're looking at upwards of 50 to 60 different fish species within each grid," he said.

AFP

US Graco recalls two million strollers after four babies die

Graco Children's Products Inc. announced Wednesday a voluntarily recall of two million strollers after four fatal cases of infant strangulation, said the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

"Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed," the CPSC said in a statement, adding that it was "illegal" to sell or resell a recalled product.

CPSC and Graco received four reports of infant deaths involving "older versions of the Graco Quattro Tour and MetroLite strollers and travel systems" between 2003 and 2005, said the commission.

An unharnessed child "can pass through the opening between the stroller tray and seat bottom, but his/her head and neck can become entrapped by the tray. Infants who become entrapped at the neck area are at risk of strangulation, it added. AFP

Infotel 2010 draws large crowds

Sri Lanka's flagship ICT Expo, Infotel 2010, had ICT enthusiasts in large numbers turning up to see and experience the latest developments in ICT.

Organised by the Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS)Infotel 2010 was of international standard and included a forum that featured speakers of global repute. It was a platform for regional ICT professionals to share knowledge on the latest ICT developments and trends.

More than 150 exhibitors showcased cutting edge technology during the fourday exhibition sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom, Intel, EST and ICTA. Parallel to the exhibition, workshops and seminars on various topics related to ICT were conducted on an hourly basis on all four days.

Minister of Technology and Research Prof. Tissa Vitharana was the Chief Guest at the inaugural forum and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on English and IT delivered the keynote address on the theme 'IT's about Growth'.

Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom, Greg Young highlighted the role of telecommunications in expanding ICT usage in Sri Lanka.

Managing Director, South Asia Intel Corporation USA, S. Ramamurthy spoke on the role of ICT in empowerment and the link between broadband internet penetration and national GDP growth.

He said that 10 percent broadband penetration could add up to 1.5 percent GDP growth. Randy Abram with his presentation on 'e-Securing a Nation' highlighted possibilities in electronic crimes and planning for such attacks from a national security perspective.

Mobitel's SMART Recharge World Cafe

The SMART Recharge World Cafe offers an option through which individuals resident abroad can recharge any SMART pre paid mobile connection of family and friends in Sri Lanka through a list of international recharge partners based around the world.

International retail partners currently available under SMART Recharge World Cafe include Brastel in Japan, MoreMagic in the US, Transfer TO in Singapore and Ezetop in Ireland. Those living abroad can recharge a local SMART pre paid connection through the web site of an international recharge partner or via SMS especially catered to those based in the Middle East.

Airtel expands to the North

Bharti Airtel Lanka, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, has expanded its services to Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

Managing Director/CEO of Bharti Airtel Lanka Amali Nanayakkara said, "We are delighted to widen our network. We would like to thank the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, The Ministry of Defence, The Central Environmental, Urban Development and Civil Aviation Authorities as well as our partner Huawei and all vendor partners for the support given to enable us to connect all of Sri Lanka in less than two years."

To provide greater accessibility of its services across the Northern province, Airtel has enhanced its retail and service touch points and opened dedicated Airtel stores to supplement its current retail network.

This increases Airtel's overall retail strength across the island to over 25,000.

Airtel has also introduced a suite of innovative products and services especially for customers of the Northern Province.

These range from attractive call rates and IDD rates to North America, Australia, India, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany. Bharti Airtel's agenda is to cover the entire addressable population of Sri Lanka. Having surpassed its five year investment pledge of US$ 200 million in two years, the company has commissioned the fastest network rollout todate.