Total chat site for users of phone services

SingleHop, a leading Chicago-based dedicated server and managed web hosting provider, today announced the first product launch under their Cascade cloud hosting (http://www.singlehop.com/cloud) services program: the CloudLinux operating system.

Launched in February 2010, the CloudLinux operating system is designed to increase server density by improving stability and reliability using isolation technology to create Lightweight Virtual Environments (LVEs). The use of LVEs improves server density and performance. CloudLinux is easily interchangeable with Centos or Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Cloud Linux founder Igor Seletskiy says that the switch can be made “within five minutes.”

“CloudLinux is a new market offering, but one that will offer exceptional performance and extended control abilities in a cloud-like system,” says SingleHop VP of Sales and Marketing Dan Ushman. “For our clients, it ensures greater stability and efficiency, optimized performance, and better security of their servers. We’re excited to offer CloudLinux as the first of our Cascade cloud system offerings.”

CloudLinux will be available for free with any server above $179.00 per month. For more information about Cloud Linux and SingleHop’s Cloud Computing Cascade program, please visit http://www.SingleHop.com.

About CloudLinux, Inc.

Founded in Princeton, NJ, CloudLinux is a privately funded company that combines unique expertise in the service
provider business with in-depth technical knowledge of hosting, kernel development and open source. CloudLinux
provides hosting companies and datacenters with the only commercially supported Linux operating system (OS) optimized for their needs. The new technology behind CloudLinux has been proven to increase density, stability and performance, helping customers realize reduced operating costs and increased profitability.

About SingleHop, Inc.

SingleHop, Inc. is a full-service managed dedicated hosting provider that was founded on the principle of providing
reliable, cost-effective, dedicated servers. The company was founded by Zak Boca and Dan Ushman in 2006 and currently hosts thousands of websites from around the world. SingleHop competitors include: SoftLayer, ThePlanet, FastServers, and RackSpace. The cornerstone of SingleHop’s managed hosting is the a la Carte Server Management Program, which is a full array of transparent management services designed and tested to allow business customers to tailor their level of support to their needs or expertise. http://www.singlehop.com

As companies across virtually all industries watch their data libraries grow larger every year, many are looking for better ways to protect, manage and access that data.

One solution that has seemed implausible is storing and accessing mission-critical data in the cloud directly from a local file system. But now, thanks to a partnership between Gladinet (http://www.gladinet.com) and Bycast (http://www.bycast.com), the Holy Grail of cloud computing is at last a reality.

Bycast’s StorageGRID solution has been protecting, preserving and securing large volumes of data across multi-tier and multi-vendor storage media in mission-critical environments for many years. Automation and intelligent data management give StorageGRID users consistent, reliable access to data. The benefits to organizations of all sizes are considerable: by migrating data to Bycast mission-critical cloud storage, companies can ensure thorough automation and intelligent data management. StorageGRID ensures superior data protection and compliance while offering multi-site access and allows for business continuity and automated disaster recovery in any situation.

Users can now migrate data from any cloud platform into StorageGRID through Gladinet’s Cloud Desktop. The world’s first ubiquitous cloud storage client transforms Windows Explorer into a cloud storage portal, giving users the flexibility to transfer directly from cloud services like Google Docs, Google Picasa, Google Docs for Google Apps, Windows Azure Blob Storage, EMC Atmos Storage, Amazon S3, Nirvanix, Box.net and AT&T Synaptic Storage into the enterprise-class clouds provided by the Bycast StorageGRID cloud gateway.

“Other existing cloud storage solutions can only access the cloud through a Web browser or through proprietary systems, requiring costly custom development and ruling out the use of unmodified legacy applications,” explained Franklyn Peart, SVP Business Development, Gladinet. “As a result, files stored in clouds through such systems are not easily accessed or managed unless they are painstakingly transferred to the desktop — which begs the question: Where is the value in typical cloud storage solutions?”

The value in Gladinet Cloud Desktop and Bycast StorageGRID, at least, is obvious. The highly scalable service makes it simple and safe to store large amounts of valuable data and seamlessly access it in the StorageGRID cloud directly from PC desktops throughout an organization. Users are no longer locked in to using certain cloud service vendors and can even transfer data to StorageGRID from multiple consumer cloud services if needed. The seamless integration between Gladinet Cloud Desktop and Bycast StorageGRID is flexible enough to allow users to create folder- or file-based backups in its drag-and-drop interface.

“Gladinet’s partnership with Bycast makes seamless migration to mission-critical clouds a reality,” said Peart. “We are pleased to continue improving on the concept of cloud service and look forward to further innovation that will benefit organizations as they move into the cloud.”

About Gladinet

Founded in 2008, Gladinet launched its cloud services in spring 2009 with the release of its flagship product,
Gladinet Cloud Desktop, which leverages the power of the Internet as a virtual PC, providing users the convenience of a virtual disk drive. An enabler of Web 3.0 technology, Gladinet is changing the way small and medium-sized businesses access and use cloud storage through its widely accepted, open-platform cloud storage services. Learn more at http://www.gladinet.com.

About Bycast

Bycast is the leading provider of advanced storage virtualization software for large-scale, mission-critical
digital archives. Bycast StorageGRID software is allowing organizations in over twenty countries to optimize their storage infrastructure and to ensure the integrity and availability of their valuable data assets. To learn more about the company and its solutions, visit http://www.bycast.com.

Unlimited music download service redefines China’s mobile digital music landscape.

Nokia’s global mobile music leadership underlined with launch of DRM-free Comes With Music -service for millions of consumers in China.

Nokia today further increases its global footprint in the mobile music space with the launch of its ground breaking service, ‘Comes With Music’, in China. This announcement sees China’s number one mobile brand drive further innovation in the music space by introducing the first device and PC-based free, legal, DRM-free music download service in the world’s biggest mobile market.

The launch of Nokia’s unlimited music download offering in China adds further momentum to Nokia’s leadership in the world’s highest growth markets including Brazil, Russia and Indonesia. The forthcoming launch of the service in India will add significant scale and differentiation in another critical market.

In a local partnership with Huadong Feitian, the China launch further showcases Nokia’s expertise in delivering music services, tailored to local consumer needs. The service delivers a rich catalogue of local artists, unique features developed for the Chinese market, and a seamless, high quality music download experience.

Comes With Music will be available to consumers across China via a broad range of devices and through an extensive nationwide retail network. At launch, consumers can get unlimited music downloads with the purchase of any one of eight devices, to include the Nokia X6 32GB and Nokia X6 16GB, Nokia 5230, Nokia 5330, Nokia 5800w, Nokia 6700s, Nokia E52 and Nokia E72i. Entry level prices will start from EUR 140, excluding local taxes and subsidies.

“This launch delivers a truly mass market music offering from China’s most loved mobile brand. Our broad range of Comes With Music enabled devices and the high quality, DRM-free catalogue form the perfect legal download recipe for the world’s biggest market for mobile phones,” says Liz Schimel, Global Head of Music, Nokia. “Globally, we have expanded the reach of our music service to 30 markets in just 18 months. We are excited to see consumers building collections of the music they love through our service, and we are firmly on the path to delivering legal digital music to all parts of the world. It’s fantastic to have so many local and global labels partner with us to deliver this service in China. The industry came together to support us in innovating the mobile music business model in this unique market.”

The service will include catalogues from the major global labels Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Music, and a host of local independent labels, including Huayi Brothers Media Group and Taihe Rye.

“China is a massive opportunity and a challenging market to address. Nokia is the undisputed dominant mobile player within China – there is no better partner with whom to develop the market in new, imaginative ways and make the most of its potential,” says Rob Wells, Senior Vice President, Digital, Universal Music Group International.

“We are delighted to be expanding our partnership with Nokia to bring Comes With Music to the Chinese market,” says Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business, U.S. Sales and Corporate Strategy, Sony Music Entertainment. “We think there is great potential to convert China’s massive audience of music fans into consumers of legitimate digital music with compelling services that are easy-to-use and broadly available across a wide array of mobile devices.”

Song Ke, CEO, Taihe Rye, says; “We are very excited by the opportunity to have our music catalogue not only available in China, but to the rest of the world. Lovers of Chinese music can now download content from Comes With Music, broadening the market for our artists globally.”

“Establishing legitimate online music services in emerging markets is imperative for the music industry’s ongoing effort to remake itself,” says Mike McGuire, Research Vice President, Media IAS Team, Gartner. “By getting the Comes with Music service up and running in China, and with India coming on shortly, Nokia is taking important steps in continuing to expand its Comes With Music ecosystem. It’s also playing an important role in developing compelling alternatives for both artists and labels, and consumers.”

Nokia announces that it has acquired MetaCarta Inc.

MetaCarta, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a privately owned company which employs over 30 people and has expertise in geographic intelligence solutions. MetaCarta’s technology will be used in the area of local search in Location and other services.

Technology giant Apple has cranked up the pressure on rival Google by unveiling a new advertising platform for the iPhone and iPad.

Apple boss Steve Jobs unveils the new operating system at a special event

The push into advertising forms part of the 4.0 operating system, which will be available on Apple’s hugely popular smartphone from the summer.

Users of the iPad will have to wait until the autumn for the new software, whose upgrades include a multi-tasking capability that allows the use of several applications at once.

Apple’s new advertising platform – dubbed iAd – marks its first foray into a small but growing market.

It is expected to please the thousands of application developers who make their living from the iPhone and iPad, providing them with a new revenue stream.

Bill Goodwin, news editor at Computer Weekly, told Sky News that iAd could pose a long-term threat to Google.

Full article Business Sky News Ed Merrison, Sky News Online

Good news for users of mobile phones with call charges to fall as early as 2011!

When the mobile network ’3′ came along it was touted that they would never lasts! They cut phone costs and other networks had to follow. Now they are a huge force to be reccond with. Now us mobile phone users have yet more good news on the horizon for mobile charges, as reported by the BBC:

Callers to UK mobile phones could see cheaper bills from 2011 under plans announced by telecoms regulator Ofcom.

It has proposed cutting the cost mobile phone firms can charge for connecting a call from another network from 4.3 pence per minute to 0.5p by 2015.

Ofcom has also issued new rules to make it quicker and easier to switch mobile phone providers.

Customers should, by 2011, be able to change mobile providers in one working day rather than two.

In addition, mobile phone companies will have to issue users with the Pac code they need in order to keep their existing mobile number by text message within a maximum of two hours, Ofcom said.

Full article BBC Business News

Robert Preston of the BBC made comment:

“Some 16% of their UK revenue comes from these charges. So they’ll try and recoup it – perhaps by putting up the cost of so-called data traffic, or what they receive when you send texts or access the internet on your mob, or possibly by reducing the subsidy they pay on handsets.”

Robert Peston, BBC business editor