Sage to Deliver Solutions to Drive Growth in the UAE’s Construction Sector during its Dubai Solutions Day

Executives from Sage Software, a global leader in the enterprise and small to medium size software market, is set to touch down in the UAE on the 18th March at Dubai’s Grand Hyatt hotel to unveil the company’s vision for the country’s thriving businesses. With industries such as the construction sector enjoying double digit growth year on year, Marc Van der Ven, Managing Director, Sage Software, Middle East, believes that now is the time for the UAE’s businesses to start reaping returns on their investments.

“According to the UAE’s Ministry of Economy, the manufacturing sector boomed at 15 percent growth last year in 2007 and the construction industry fared even better at 17 percent. With oil and gas growth slowing down to only one percent, the UAE’s economy is becoming increasingly diversified. However, as the business arena becomes ever more competitive, it is essential that decision makers keep abreast of the latest developments in technology to develop a competitive edge,” said Van der Ven.

With over 100 business leaders and IT executives already registered for Sage’s Dubai Solution Day, Van der Ven claims that these decision makers and channel partners are set to benefit from Sage’s extensive experience as one of the leading suppliers of management software both globally and in the Middle East today.

“The sustained economic growth of the UAE and its investor friendly environment has resulted in margins being squeezed as more companies enter from outside. With profits under pressure and customers being approached by the competition, we’ve found that mature industries such as manufacturing and retail have turned to us for technology solutions which make them leaner, more competitive, and efficient. As a pioneer in developing solutions which deliver real value, Sage has now turned its attention to the real estate sector, a market which has until today been ignored by other IT providers,” added Van der Ven.

In addition to a strong focus on the construction and real estate sector, Sage executives will be addressing decision makers from the manufacturing and services sector as to how to strengthen their business processes through software customization and proper IT utilization.

Technology professionals from Sage will also skill up UAE-based executives on how to best leverage off their technology investments as well as providing them with a vision as to how Sage’s IT roadmap will provide constant value over the coming years. “Organizations in the UAE are well aware of what technology can do for them today, and business leaders in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi understand that IT is central to their business. However, we want them to realize where technology is headed, so that they can maximize the return on their future investments,” added Van der Ven.

Photo Caption: Marc Van der Ven, Managing Director, Sage Software, Middle East

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HITB JOINS WITH THE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION OF THE EMIRATES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

In a battle that surpasses the fight against cyber criminals, the team at HITB will join hands this month with the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Emirates to raise funds and awareness of a disease that affects thousands of women each year. In a noble effort to raise both money and awareness for the Breast Cancer Fund of the Emirates, HITB will host an online charity auction – a first for charity efforts in the Gulf region.

HITB aims to increase awareness of breast cancer by organizing this online charity auction. The auction will be conducted via an online auction system that will be hosted within the HITB conference venue. All the conference registrants will be pre-registered as bidders and they can login via their laptops wirelessly or come to the HITB booth and make their bids via this system.

“Breast cancer is a devastating disease. Here at the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Emirates, our mission is to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer, to fund screening programs, and to offer support for breast cancer patients and their families by removing such barriers as limited or no health insurance, lack of transportation and childcare or language and cultural differences,” said Dr Houriya Kazim, the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Emirates.

HITB is auctioning several exciting items, including anXBox360 signed by all of the conference speakers, a PlayStation 3 signed by all of the conference speakers, and copies of Bruce Schneier's 'Beyond Fear' signed by the author himself!

“Battling against breast cancer puts everything else into perspective, including our own work against cybercrime. We personally know women who have been affected by this condition and HITB is honoured to be contributing to the Breast Cancer Fund of the Emirates. The foundation is playing a great role in adding to the research on breast cancer in general, as well as to epidemiology in the region in particular. We hope that we can aid them by raising awareness and knowledge of this disease,” said Dhillon Andrew Kannabhiran, Founder/Chief Executive Officer of HITB.

To find out more about HITBSecConf – Dubai and details on how to register for the event and the charity auction with the Breast Cancer Fund of the Emirates, please visit http://conference.hackinthebox.org/hitbsecconf2008dubai/.
Photo Caption: Dr Houriya Kazim, the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Emirates

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ARAB COUNTRIES AT THREAT FROM POTENTIAL DISRUPTION TO THEIR LOGISTICS, UTILITY AND OIL AND GAS NETWORKS

Imagine a scenario where the Gulf’s oil and gas pipes are offline for a day, week, month, or even an hour. Imagine the losses across the region if power grids went down. Imagine if airports all over the Middle East were taken offline. What if this were to happen, and would be the effect on you? Could this happen in today’s world?

Two global figures from the security industry will address the region’s security managers and the people who are tasked with protecting us, on how to protect the region’s SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) measurement and control systems.

Used to perform and control systems found at airports, in the electricity grid, and throughout the pipeline distribution network, SCADA networks have come under increased scrutiny as they are increasingly seen as being extremely vulnerable to cyber warfare and cyber terrorism attacks.

A pioneer in Europe, Raoul Chiesa was recognized as one of the key members of the European and North American hacker scene in the mid-90s. The founder of Blackhats.it, Chiesa will be presenting at the region’s only dedicated network security conference, HITBSecConf, alongside fellow Italian security evangelist Alessio Pennasilico, member of a number of security focused organizations including AIPSI, AIP, OpenBeer, and Hacker’s Profiling Project.

“Only a couple of years back the power went down in Dubai, and a similar event happened in Bahrain before that. Thank God there were no injuries, but businesses lost tens of millions of dollars due to the power outages. The losses, both economically and in terms of human casualties, of any cyber attack would be enormous, and governments and public institutions need to be aware, they need to be ready, and they need to be prepared for the worst case scenario for the welfare of their citizens,” said Chiesa.

Under the auspices of His Excellency Mohammed Nasser Al-Ghanim, Director General of the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, the only security event in the Middle East promises to uncover even more weaknesses in today’s technology infrastructure and explain to regional security experts how to tackle these threats head on.

“We’re here in Dubai to address the major issues of today, including cyber terrorism and to raise awareness in a region of the world that is particularly vulnerable to security lapses. By bringing the best of the best, we hope to do our part to ensure that the Middle East is ready to repel even the worst cyber attacks,” said Hack In The Box (M) Sdn Bhd Founder and CEO Dhillon Andrew Kannabhiran, organiser of the HITBSecConf series.

"The conference, to be held on the 16–17th of April in Dubai’s Sheraton Hotel will host speakers and representatives from leading security and telecommunications companies such as IBM, Oger Systems, Scanit Middle East, Google, Microsoft, Motorola, BlueInfy, ArgenISS, and Telspace Systems."
To find out more about HITBSecConf – Dubai and details on how to register for the event, please visit http://conference.hackinthebox.org/hitbsecconf2008dubai/.
Photo Caption (from left to right): Raoul Chiesa and Alessio Pennasilico at HITB Kuala Lumpur

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WHO’S LISTENING IN TO YOUR CALLS?

Do you believe your phone line is secure? Do you believe that no one is listening in on your calls? Do you think that your phone’s data, all of your contacts, messages, and photos are safe and that your internet browsing is secure? If you do, maybe you should think again.

In a Middle East first, a globally acknowledged security expert will be speaking at the region’s only dedicated network security conference, HITBSecConf, about how GSM encryption can be cracked in as little as 30 seconds using technology widely available today, or in 30 minutes through the use of equipment worth only USD$1,000.
Presented by renowned network security specialist and privacy advocate Skyper, the audience will be treated to a unique look at how the security, technology, and protocols of a GSM network operate. Skyper will also detail how to build a GSM scanner for less that USD$1000, as well as future threats to tomorrow’s GSM networks.
“Cell phone usage is evolving at an astonishing rate. We are no longer relying on our cell phones for the sole purpose of making calls, but also to send emails, to access the internet, and to store a variety of data, making our cell phones a repository of personal and business information. Unfortunately, the more dependent we become on personal electronics, the more complex they become, and the more susceptible they become to security defects. Technology for capturing and deciphering cell phone calls has become widespread and poses a real threat to each and every one of us,” explained Skyper
“Every one of us has a mobile, if not more. We’re delighted to have Skyper here to show us how susceptible we are to our privacy being violated, and our personal information being stolen. As one of the few people to pioneer practical methods for capturing and deciphering GSM calls, we’re eager to learn how to stop intruders from gaining access to our networks and shut them out,” said Hack In The Box (M) Sdn Bhd Founder and CEO Dhillon Andrew Kannabhiran, organiser of the HITBSecConf series.

The conference, to be held on the 16–17th of April in Dubai’s Sheraton Hotel will host speakers and representatives from leading security and telecommunications companies such as Motorola, Oger Systems, Scanit Middle East, BlueInfy, ArgenISS, and Telspace Systems.
To find out more about HITBSecConf – Dubai and details on how to register for the event, please visit http://conference.hackinthebox.org/hitbsecconf2008dubai/.
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SAGE SOFTWARE WRAPS UP KUWAIT SOLUTIONS DAY

Together with its Kuwaiti in-country partners, Sage Software, the leading business software provider, concluded the Kuwaiti leg of its regional Solutions Day road show.

Focusing on empowering businesses through the adoption of the right technology for their industries, Sage technology experts met with 90 decision makers from different Kuwaiti industries to educate and discuss how solutions such as CRM and ERP can drive growth.

“Kuwait is a rapidly developing market, and businesses in the country need that competitive edge to compete not only on a local stage but also internationally,” said Sage Software Middle East Managing Director Marc Van der Ven. “Technology is one answer to the relentless pace of change in the economy today. That’s why we’re here in Kuwait, to empower decision makers through technology.”

Joined by in-country partner Arabesque, Sage and its channel community demonstrated their continuing commitment to Kuwait’s business community through investment and training.

“Kuwaiti business owners understand that it’s imperative to use technology. But which technology is the right investment, and what solutions will provide the highest return on investment. Both Arabesque and Sage have proved over and over again that we can deliver value for money as well as drive growth for our end users and their customers too,” explained Khalil du Plessis, business solutions consultant, Arabesque.

A number of Sage customers were also present to explain how they’ve benefited from the right IT choice. “Real estate isn’t the first industry that comes to mind when it comes to the technology industry, but Sage’s tailored solutions have helped us realize value from our own capital, investments and employees,” added Hani Ezzeldine, Chief Accountant, Injazzat Real Estate Development Co.

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Kuwaiti Business Leaders to Benefit from Sage’s Focus on the Country’s New Industries

Following on efforts from the Kuwaiti Government to diversify the country’s economy, Sage Software is touching down in the capital to address business leaders on the benefits of leveraging off technology to develop emerging sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and services. To be held at the Sheraton Hotel, Sage’s Kuwait Solutions Day will see over 80 decision makers and channel partners gather for a vision of how technology developments will affect their industries.

European and regional technology experts from Sage will brief Kuwaiti Decision Makers how the company’s range of solutions can provide value beyond what is available in the business software market today.

“Kuwait’s leaders have advocated a policy of diversifying the economy. In 2007 hydrocarbon industries accounted for well over 95 percent of the Kuwaiti economy, and this is a fact that business leaders are looking to change as they invest more into areas such as the manufacturing sector. Sage can help decision makers realize more value from their businesses by allowing them to focus on their core processes rather than spending time and money on back office areas,” explained Marc Van der Ven, Managing Director, Sage Software, Middle East.

“Despite its size, Kuwait has been able to punch above its weight for some time in terms of developing businesses that have gone on to become multinationals. We want to appeal to this strong entrepreneurial spirit to further empower Kuwaiti firms as they look to spread beyond the country and into the rest of the Middle East,” he added.

Joined by its in-country partners Bader Al Mulla & Bros, SECOITS, and Arabesque (the main Sponsor for Sage Solutions Day) Sage will be hosting a number of its present Kuwaiti customers as well as other companies looking to benefit from the latest in technology.

“Sage was one of the first software vendors to see the potential of the Kuwaiti market and we’ve built up a strong user and channel base there. However, we need to continue investing in Kuwait to ensure that we keep delivering the best service levels, and implement global best practice methodologies. With our new solutions, our focus on select verticals, and regional resources Sage is one of the most committed vendors to Kuwait in the IT industry,” concluded Van der Ven.

Sage is a leading global vendor of Human Resource Management (HRMS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software for medium and large organizations. With more than 5 million customers worldwide, and over 1500 customers, 10,000 users and 45 skilled partners in the Middle East, Sage is one of the leaders in the software sector for both enterprises and the small to medium business space.

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SAGE PARTNERS WITH EXPERTS TEAM TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR SAUDI USERS

In light of the ever-growing demand for its solutions, Sage has partnered with Experts Teams, appointing ET as an integration partner for its Saudi ventures. ET will aid Sage in offering top-notch service to its customers, in terms of customization and implementation of its leading solutions such as the Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS) solutions.

Experts Team is a leading software solutions integrator, with a deep-seated understanding of the market. Their extensive work experience has allowed them to successfully implement solutions for enterprise and corporate customers, for both small and medium businesses. ET boasts of more than 300 customers in Middle East and South Africa, and has more than ten IT partners worldwide.

“At Sage, we strive to provide the best service to our users. Consequently, we require professional and effective solution focused partners who can enhance our operations in the Kingdom. ET is one such company, and we believe it will be a key factor in helping us realize our aims of increasing value to our operations,” said Mark Van der Van, Managing Director, Sage Software Middle East.

Experts Team’s CEO Saed Ali has strong confidence in Sage and its team, and hence has stepped up their partnership with Sage from business to development partner.

“Experts Teams is a well-established and specialized company, with hundreds of successful projects and implementations under our belt. By partnering with Sage, we believe that we can expand our services even further into the immense IT market, as well as facilitate work for our clients in sectors such as real estate and tourism”, added Saed Ali.

Working with Sage, Experts Team will look to develop the massive untapped potential in the small to medium business through the offering of tailored, bespoke solutions for industries. “We’re excited to be working with Sage, and we look forward to providing a leg up for many firms in the small to medium business sector,” added Ali.

Photo Caption: Executives from Sage and Experts Team during Sage’s Riyadh Solutions Day

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SAGE SOFTWARE SHOWS COMMITMENT TO THE BAHRAINI BUSINESS COMMUNITY DURING SAGE SOLUTIONS DAY

Joined by Bahraini channel partners, Sage Software has demonstrated its ongoing support to Bahrain and the Kingdom’s businesses during its seasonal Solutions Day.

Meeting 70 company owners and executives, Sage’s Middle East management team outlined how companies can transform themselves through leveraging off the latest developments in technology, including solutions such as Customer Relationship Management(CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP) Solutions.

“Bahrain is a diverse economy with a vibrant small to medium business community. We’ve proven both our commitment to the island’s development through events such as our Bahrain Solutions Day, as well as growth through deployment of Sage’s cutting edge software,” explained Sage’s Bahrain-based Middle East sales manager Jawad Squalli.

Bahrain-based Sage partners Fakhroo, and Al-Moayed Group along with Jordanian Partner UBA explained how by partnering with Sage they’ve been able to add value to Bahraini firms looking to augment their growth through the right investments.

Speaking on how Sage is Fakhroo’s partner of choice for ERP solutions, Fakhroo consultant Prashanth Valavil explained how Sage is taking the country seriously: “As one of the leading IT providers in Bahrain, we only partner with companies that show a real commitment to the Kingdom. Sage has done that and more, and they’ve become one of the most trusted names in the local software market.”

“As a leading global vendor of business software for medium and large organizations, Sage will continue to educate, train, and develop business leaders to understand how they can make the best use of technology for their own growth. More than 5 million customers worldwide and 1,500 customers in the Middle East can’t be wrong. We’re looking forward to working with more customers in Bahrain and beyond to unlock their true potential,” concluded Squalli.

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Sage Outlines Technology Vision to Bahrain Business Leaders at Manama Solution Day

Following the opening of its Manama-based Gulf office last year, Sage Software is again leading the technology market with a Bahrain road show aimed at providing business leaders with the tools that they need to discover why and how technology will drive their business over the coming months and years. With over 100 confirmed attendees, these decision makers and channel partners are set to benefit from Sage’s extensive experience as one of the leading suppliers of management software both globally and in the Middle East today.

During the course of the road show, to be held on the 30 at the Sheraton, technology experts from Sage will educate Bahrain’s CEOs and managing directors on optimum business practices for their vertical industries as well as guiding them on how best to leverage off their technology investments.

“Bahrain is one of the most advanced economies in the Gulf region," said Marc Van der Ven, Managing Director, Sage Software, Middle East. “Research shows Bahrain's economy is 80 percent free, and it’s the world's 19th freest economy.* However, we want to empower Bahraini companies to achieve much more through effective use of technology.”

“Organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the significance of business management solutions, and Sage fully intends to aid these organizations in identifying and leveraging areas where they can benefit from IT spending,” he added.


Buoyed by its rapid growth in the Bahraini market, Sage Software opened up an office in the Kingdom last May. With an expanding list of enterprise clients Sage has invested significantly to provide Bahraini companies and channel partners such as Fakhroo Information Technology Services and Almoayed Group with unparalleled levels of support.

“We have been operational in Bahrain working closely with local partners, and Sage is proud to count some of Bahrain’s most prominent companies as our customers. In order to help our customers achieve their growth goals we need to focus on delivering the best service levels, and implement global best practice methodologies. With our new solutions and our focus on Arabization we understand what companies in Bahrain need and want to continue expanding their business,” concluded Jawad Squalli, Sales Regional Manager, Bahrain Based

Sage is a leading global vendor of Human Resource Management (HRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software for medium and large organizations. With more than 5 million customers worldwide, and over 1500 customers, 10,000 users and 45 skilled partners in the Middle East, Sage is one of the leaders in the software sector for both enterprises and the small to medium business space.


* from the US-based Heritage Foundation’s 2007 Index of Economic Freedom

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OneCard partners with eWaseet.com for the region’s first commercial online advertising solution

OneCard, the Arab world’s largest multi-function secured e-payment services, has signed a unique strategic agreement with eWaseet, the region’s first and largest classified advertising newspaper supplement.

Aimed at providing the public with a simple online solution for advertising their wares, OneCard’s users will now be able to set up, to design, and to place online as well as in print classified ads in a matter of minutes on eWaseet's website. Available in over nine countries across the Middle East with a distribution run of 5.1 million free copies and read by over 20 million people every week, Waseet has established itself as the advertising medium of choice for people looking to buy and sell their products and services across the region.

Available in over 4,500 retail outlets in Saudi Arabia alone, OneCard offers its users hundreds of services, including payment for DSL connectivity, mobile phone services and stock updates via Mubasher. Through this pioneering initiative from OneCard and eWaseet, consumers will be able to put their wares up for sale at the touch of a button across the region both online and in print.
"The media industry is booming in the Middle East, and online publications such as eWaseet are leading this growth. By providing OneCard customers with this method of advertising we are placing them at the front of the internet’s evolution. Rather than spending their time going into an office and waiting to place, write and design an advert, everything can now be done online. This is what OneCard is all about, simplicity, convenience, and providing the customer with a solution that fits their lifestyle,” said Muhannad Ebwini, General Manager of OneCard.
OneCard users who want to advertise with Waseela or eWaseet can set up an account online at ewaseet.com in only a few minutes. Once done, they can choose from a range of styles for their advert, place text, and then set when the advert will be published all without leaving their seat to reach millions of readers weekly throughout the Middle East.
“eWaseet, the official classified portal for Waseet and Waseela, has been a pioneer in the advertising space, and OneCard founded the online payment solution in the Middle East. Naturally, it made sense that we worked together to provide our customers with a way and a means to give them what they want in the simplest way possible. At eWaseet we’re proud to be leading the way in terms of the Middle East’s Web 2.0 development, and we’re also delighted that we could partner with OneCard to give our customers even more choice in terms of payment methods,” said Hani Najjar, Online Business Manager, Waseet International.
Photo Caption: Muhannad Ebwini, General Manager of OneCard seals the deal with Hani Najjar, Online Business Manager, Waseet International

OneCard partners with Orbit for simple, straightforward, and safe e-payment scheme for television and internet services

OneCard, the Arab world’s largest multi-function secured e-payment services, has signed a strategic agreement with Orbit, the world’s first fully digital multi-channel, multi-lingual pay television platform, to provide the Kingdom’s public with a new, revolutionary method for paying for their entertainment services.

Agreed between Orbit’s regional manager Abdel Mohsen Abdullah Al Joweian and OneCard’s general manager Muhannad Ebwini, the partnership will provide millions of Orbit subscribers, Saudi nationals, and expatriates with the ability to pay conveniently and safely online through OneCard, the first and most popular e-payment scheme in the Middle East today.

Available in over 4,500 retail outlets in Saudi Arabia alone, OneCard offers its users hundreds of services, including payment for DSL connectivity, mobile phone services and stock updates via Mubasher. “Orbit is a pioneer in the entertainment space, and their name is associated with quality programming. Orbit has dozens of channels appealing to every segment of the population in Saudi Arabia, be they local or foreign. We’ve long wanted to work with a leader in the entertainment space, and that leader is Orbit,” explained Ebwini.

A leader in the entertainment industry, Orbit’s Al Joweian explained why the firm jumped at the partnership possibility with OneCard: “Our strategy has always been to reach out to consumers and empower them through providing easy, convenient payment options and schemes. Through working with OneCard, a company that has redefined e-commerce in the Middle East, we can now provide our customers with the ability to purchase our services wherever they may be in the Kingdom.”

Consumers will now be able to pay and watch over 54 television channels and 20 radio stations on Orbit’s leading subscription package, including family favourites Super Comedy, Hollywood Star, Super Movies and Cinema City, through the use of a OneCard account and cards which can be purchased from over 4,500 retail outlets in Saudi Arabia alone.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Magnus Simons, Orbit’s worldwide sales and distribution manager, Nael Attiyat, national sales and marketing manager, and Rami Al Araj, regional business development manager, at Orbit’s Riyadh offices.
Photo Caption:Nael Attiyat, Rami Al Araj, Abdel Mohsen Al Joweian, Muhannad Ebwini and Magnus Simons celebrating the signing ceremony.

TRAPEZE OFFERS FREE WIRELESS SITE SURVEY & WIFI PLANNING SERVICES

Trapeze Networks, the award-winning global provider of wireless networks, has launched a new service to simplify wireless technology for building developers and owners. Potential customers can now have their buildings assessed to ensure maximum wireless coverage, before implementation of any solution. The best part is, it’s free of charge!

Trapeze Networks is offering a free survey for hospitals, hotels, airports, universities – in fact, just about anyone – through its comprehensive RingMaster software. Designed to take the pain out of planning and managing wireless LANs by automating and simplifying deployment and optimization, the use of RingMaster software is charged at thousands of dollars. However, in a show of faith in the steadily growing economy of the GCC as well as to provide a boost to the region’s wireless industry, Trapeze is cutting this cost to zero.

“The GCC is experiencing a huge economic boom, with many sectors looking to install wireless solutions, both for their businesses and their customers. WLAN is not as simple as it could be, and we are trying to make it as uncomplicated and trouble-free as possible for everyone” said Feras Zeidan, Regional Manager Middle East and Africa for Trapeze Networks.
RingMaster is a full-featured tool suite that enables IT managers to perform pre- and post-deployment planning, configuration, verification, management, and optimization of the WLAN infrastructure. It first imports standard building plan files in AutoCAD DXF, AutoCAD DWG, JPEG, or GIF formats to design the WLAN offline.


The Wizard-based Virtual Site Survey and capacity planning tools simplify device configurations. RingMaster's 3D awareness lets IT plan an entire building vs. just a floor, and the built-in library of measured attenuation factors ensures that RingMaster understands how RF will flow through the particular environment.
RingMaster automatically determines the number of Mobility Points that need to be installed in any part of a building and can take into consideration the number of users and the level of traffic they're likely to generate. It also allows the IT manager to easily adjust WLAN capacity with minimal disruption.

Once the plan is done, IT can print a work order that shows where to install Trapeze Mobility Exchanges and Mobility Points. When that's done, IT can deploy hundreds of MP configurations in a single step.

“There isn’t an easier way to design your wireless network in the world today, and the best thing is we’ve made it free. Technology should not be about costly, expensive solutions. Technology should be made available to all, and that’s what we’re doing at Trapeze,” added Zeidan.

For more information on this unique, once-only offer from Trapeze then get in touch with Feras Zeidan at mailto:fzeidan@trpz.com . But don’t hang around for long, as wireless means mobility as well!

Trapeze Networks Showcases Best-In-Class Hospitality Solutions at the Hotel Show

Building on the region’s reputation as the premier worldwide destination for travelers, the vast opportunities present in the Gulf’s hospitality sector are set to be highlighted this week at the Hotel Show. Hosted in Dubai, the world’s leading wireless solutions provider Trapeze Networks will highlight its role in the region’s fastest growing industry as the company’s executives explain how Trapeze Networks can add value and differentiation to an industry that is becoming increasingly competitive.

With over US$3.63 trillion to be invested in the hospitality sector in 13 countries over the next 12 years according to The Middle East Industry Outlook 2020 report, technology adoption amongst hoteliers, airport operators, and other hospitality locations is set to increase. Focusing heavily on the tourism industry, Trapeze Networks has already become a leader in the UAE’s competitive IT landscape with a host of prestigious implementations such as the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Kempinski, The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and Radisson SAS.

As hotels and other hospitality companies look to lure customers, Trapeze Networks’ Middle East and Africa manager Feras Zeidan claims that best of breed solutions should be the first choice. “A technology such as ours, wireless, is best done by vendors who


focus on one area. Wireless is a rapidly evolving area, and you need a company that understands both your business models and which solutions are best suited to you. That’s why Trapeze Networks has become the solution of choice for hotels in Dubai, and the same is happening across the GCC.”

According to regional statistics, there are 295 hotels with 83,000 rooms being developed currently in the Gulf. As the world’s attention becomes focuses on the Middle East both as a tourist hot spot and as a business hub, hospitality players will be looking to develop that edge to distinguish themselves from rivals.

“What we’ve often seen is hotels come to us and discuss how much value they can derive from wireless solutions. What they’ve found with Trapeze Networks is that our advice and consultancy have been of tremendous benefit. We’ve worked long and hard to educate them on how wireless technology is used in the US, in Europe, and in Asia, so that they know how much of an asset wireless solutions, and Trapeze Networks in particular, can be,” added Zeidan.

Running from the 8th to the 10th of June, The Hotel Show 2008 will occupy the Zabeel Hall through to Hall 6 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre, including the Al Multaqua Hall and the Pavilion and will host the region’s largest hotel chains and developers. Termed as the leading show in the GCC for the hotel industry, Trapeze Networks will be showcasing its latest, customized wireless products at The Hotel Show where executives will be meeting and discussing business opportunities with both new and existing clients in the most exciting industry in the Middle East and North Africa today.

Trapeze to Provide the Kingdom’s Visitors with Easy, On-Line Access through Smart Mobile 802.11n Wi-Fi Solutions

Saudi Arabia’s connected generation are set to be given a major boost with the news that Trapeze Networks, the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of wireless network solutions, is in negotiations with a number of leading hospitality providers and real estate firms to provide secure, 11n & centrally managed wireless internet coverage for guests and residents. With construction projects across the Gulf projected to approach US$1.8 trillion, Trapeze Networks believes that hospitality providers will be able to deliver even more value to their customers through easier, more powerful wireless connectivity for data and voice applications.
Based on the firm’s award-winning Smart Mobile 802.11n architecture, released at the end of April 2008, hospitality-focused companies will now be able to roll out Trapeze’s world-class internet architecture for superior performance to today’s wireless network solutions but at lower costs.
Designed to work with existing wireless local area network solutions, Trapeze Networks Smart Mobile can be deployed without having to release a hotel’s or housing development’s existing wireless or wired networks. To make it even easier for hospitality companies unfamiliar with how best to roll out wireless solutions, Trapeze’s unique RingMaster RF planning tools to plan and design wireless networks without blind spots and with maximum coverage for internet users.

Trapeze Networks Middle East and Africa manager Feras Zeidan believes that the company is reaching out to developers at the right time with the right solution. “There’s so much construction in the Gulf, and particularly in Saudi Arabia, that developers, hotels, and compound owners need to provide services that distinguish themselves from the mass. One of the most cost effective ways to do this, to provide a service that is desperately needed, is to focus on connectivity. What’s the easiest way to do this? Wireless, naturally.”
Trapeze Networks is already in negotiations to roll out their Smart Mobile 802.11n architecture in a number of locations across the Kingdom, with real estate companies, in malls, compounds, hotels and resorts. “We’ve been inundated with requests by the hospitality industry for our new solution. At the end of the day people want simplicity rather than complexity, they want value rather than cost, and they want a unique selling point. We’re looking forward to implementing our first Smart Mobile 802.11n solution this summer in the Kingdom,” concluded Zeidan.

TRAPEZE NETWORKS INTRODUCES NONSTOP WIRELESS FOR THE ALWAYS ON ENTERPRISE

Trapeze Networks® announced new hardware and software capabilities that enable NonStop Wireless™, the most significant breakthrough in enterprise wireless LAN technology.

NonStop Wireless is the culmination of an intensive multi-year development effort that brings painless, fully automated dynamic redundancy and scaling to wireless LANs for the first time.

Nonstop Wireless technology allows for non-stop operation, in-service upgrades, and hitless failover while dramatically simplifying redundancy configuration. Trapeze’s NonStop Wireless dramatically reduces capital equipment and ongoing IT operational costs associated with building, maintaining, and growing high-availability resilient wireless LANs.

NonStop Wireless is an innovation that is delivered in the new version of Trapeze Mobility System Software (MSS). MSS is the distributed wireless operating system that runs on Trapeze’s wireless LAN equipment and delivers the benefits of Trapeze’s Smart Mobile architecture.

MSS runs on all Trapeze equipment, from access points to controllers and is backwards compatible across the company’s entire product line. For customers with current support agreements, it is available as a free upgrade.
The new NonStop Wireless™ technologies include the following five elements Mobility System Software MSS Version 7.0 with advanced Virtual Controller Cluster capabilities, Wi-Fi Certification for the MP-432 802.11n high-feature access point, MX-2800 wireless controller with industry-leading 12,000 active client capacity, RingMaster Version 7.0 Wireless Management Tool Suite with 802.11n planning and deployment and Updates to the RM-200 – industry’s most cost-effective and scalable wireless management appliance capable of managing 5,000 access points and 1,000 wireless controllers in a single turnkey appliance.

“Mark your calendars because today is the beginning of a new era in wireless networking,” said Feras Zeidan, Regional Manager MEA, Trapeze Networks.

“Trapeze Networks invented NonStop Wireless™ to meet the needs of the always on enterprise. As of today, an enterprise can confidently enjoy the freedom of wireless voice and data connectivity because Trapeze has made the wireless network more reliable than it’s ever been before.”
“Our Trapeze network runs fast and never quits,” said Kevin Petersen, network engineer at Livermore Unified School District. “It’s one of the most dependable parts of our network. It handles all the traffic we can throw at it and the performance still feels like it’s a wired connection.”
The new products containing NonStop Wireless™ capabilities including MSS Version 7.0, MP-432, MX-2800, RM Version 7.0, and the RM-200 are all currently being deployed at the University of Minnesota, the world’s largest announced 802.11n deployment to date.

Photo caption: Trapeze Network’s Regional Manager Feras Zeidan with their NonStop Wireless product.

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3i SOLUTION & QUANTUM AUTOMATION SIGN PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER INTEGRATED BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS “IBMS” IN THE KSA

One of Saudi Arabia’s leading IT providers 3i Solution Co Ltd recently announced a partnership with Singapore-based Quantum Automation Pte Ltd (Quantum Automation) to deliver the very latest developments in security, maintenance, and climate control systems to building owners in the Kingdom.

Integrated Building Management Systems, or iBMS, has been described as a network of electronic devices designed to monitor and control all aspects of premises –integrated building management systems create intelligent buildings, ensuring that security, climate, and energy levels are all closely monitored.

As a leader in the field Quantum Automation has established its name across the globe with key projects in India, Indonesia, and Dubai. However, 3i Solution general manager Abdulrahman Qanzal believes that the partnership will be able to tap into the huge potential for building projects in the Kingdom.

“We have spent a long time researching the size of the opportunities, and we believe that the Saudi market is worth over US$1.5 billion over the coming five years. With the massive investment being put into the new economic cities and the push from the government to adopt technology and smart building systems, we are convinced that now is the right time to launch Integrated Building Management Systems in Saudi Arabia,” said Abdulrahman.

The leader in building automation in South East Asia, Quantum Automation has presence in Malaysia, China, the USA, United Arab Emirates and 3i Solution will add to network with its operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Quantum provides a complete assortment of solutions for integrated building management systems, including CCTV, public address, public display systems, fire alarm and other building control elements such as voice and communication systems, security and access control, as well as service support and maintenance for customers.

Engineers from 3i Solution and Quantum Automation will also work with developers and architects to provide advice in engineering and product design from the project inception stage up until completion, including testing and commissioning.

“Integrated Building Management Solutions is the latest, the most complete system for managing all the services in a building. The benefits that it can provide to building owners and users are immense, and we believe that a country such as Saudi Arabia should be and will be a wholesale adopter of this forward thinking technology,” said Quantum Automation managing director Jimmy Chua.

One of the highly acclaimed projects undertaken by Quantum Automation is the implementation of a state-of-the-art intelligent building management and controls systems within a university in Singapore. The solutions suite allows the Singapore Management University to monitor and provide access control to the buildings’ premises/facilities within its campus through the integration of the Facility Booking System.

This allows for energy optimization as the air-conditioning and lighting of the facility will only be switched on during the usage period via the iBMS integration. In addition, the systems also allow the university to manage the energy usage and all crucial security of its premises such as fire hazards. Quantum Automation has implemented many other major projects worldwide (more information at www.qa.com.sg).

Working together, 3i Solution and Quantum Automation will roll out a series of roadshows targeting developers and construction companies aiming to develop unique solutions for the Saudi market. As pioneers in this space, 3i Solution and Quantum Automation aim to educate the market about this breakthrough in construction and building technology.