EMC, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard Ranked 1, 2, and 3 in Brand Awareness and Preference in Storage Solutions Market, Says New ITSMA Study

EMC, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard Ranked 1, 2, and 3 in Brand Awareness and Preference in Storage Solutions Market, Says New ITSMA Study.

Other Firms With Brand Strength Include Brocade, Dell, Hitachi Data Systems, Network Appliance, Sun, and Veritas

(PRWEB) December 19, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Rob Leavitt

ITSMA

+1-781-862-8500, ext. 45

Rleavitt@itsma. com

EMC, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard Ranked 1, 2, and 3 in Brand Awareness and Preference in Storage Solutions Market, Says New ITSMA Study

Other Firms With Brand Strength Include Brocade, Dell, Hitachi Data Systems, Network Appliance, Sun, and Veritas

LEXINGTON, Massachusetts—December 17, 2002—Buyers of large-scale IT storage solutions think first of EMC, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard, according to ITSMA, a global advisor to companies that market and sell technology services.

ITSMAÂ’s study of market positioning and brand knowledge in the fiercely competitive storage market showed that EMC is clearly top-of-mind for buyers interested in purchasing storage solutions. More than one-third of storage decision makers mentioned EMC without prompting, and more than one-quarter said EMC is the firm they would most likely call for storage services and solutions. IBM and Hewlett-Packard were the only other firms mentioned by more than 10% of decision makers in ITSMAÂ’s survey of 300 IT executives from large enterprises and government agencies.

“Brand recognition is a critical advantage in today’s storage solutions market,” according to Lori Weiner, Senior Director of Research at ITSMA and author of Storage Solutions: 2002 Market Positioning and Brand Awareness Study. “Buyers are skeptical of new technologies and extremely conservative in investing in new solutions, yet performance requirements for storage systems continue to increase. The answer is often to consider offers only from the most prominent and credible players.”

In addition to the overall brand leaders, buyers gave high marks to a number of other firms for strength in specific categories. Buyers relying exclusively on network-attached storage rate Network Appliance and Dell highest. Brocade Communications received the highest overall favorability rating of any company rated in the study. Hitachi Data Systems showed strength in categories such as storage consulting and storage area network (SAN) solutions. CNT and Veritas received high marks for expertise in business continuity and disaster recovery.

Other findings from the ITSMA study include:

§ More than 50% of large enterprise buyers are planning significant changes to their data storage and networks in the next 12 months

§ Growing volumes of data, data security, and higher availability requirements are the top three drivers for new investments in storage solutions

§ BuyersÂ’ top priority in evaluating providers of storage solutions is protection of storage investments

§ Buyers show a modest but clear preference for bringing together best-of-breed specialists over relying on single firms that can provide one-stop-shopping for all their storage products and services

About the Study

ITSMAÂ’s Storage Solutions: 2002 Market Positioning and Brand Awareness Study provides a detailed assessment of buyer perceptions of todayÂ’s top providers of storage solutions. Based on telephone interviews with 300 IT executives, the study analyzes storage investment priorities, brand awareness and favorability, relative market positioning, preferred company attributes, and vendor selection influences.

Study participants represent seven major market segments: financial services, government and public sector, health care delivery, industrial manufacturing, consumer products manufacturing, communications/energy/utilities, and retail.

Study participants provide ratings and comment on the following companies: Brocade, CNT, Cisco Systems, Dell, EMC, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM Global Services, Inrange, McData, Microsoft, Network Appliance, StorageTek, Sun Microsystems, and Veritas.

For more information, visit http://www. itsma. com/research/abstracts/bst001.htm (http://www. itsma. com/research/abstracts/bst001.htm) or contact Rob Leavitt at rleavitt@itsma. com or +1-781-862-8500, ext. 45.

About ITSMA

ITSMA is a global advisor to companies that market and sell technology services. Its members account for a significant portion of the worldÂ’s technology services revenue and include industry leaders such as Accenture, Cisco Systems, EDS, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, SAP, and Siemens. Through research, events, education, and advisory services, ITSMA helps companies achieve measurable results in terms of growth, profitability, and customer loyalty. Founded in 1994, ITSMA is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, and has offices in California, the United Kingdom, and Japan. More information about ITSMA can be found at www. itsma. com.

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Copyright © 2002 ITSMA. All Rights Reserved.

Best Selling Author and Quill Award Winner Dr. Christiane Northrup Gives Keynote Address at CIMS Annual Mother-Friendly Childbirth Forum in Boston

Best Selling Author and Quill Award Winner Dr. Christiane Northrup Gives Keynote Address at CIMS Annual Mother-Friendly Childbirth Forum in Boston

Daughters, mothers, grandmothers and maternity care professionals will want to attend an inspiring and empowering presentation entitled “Birth: The Foundation of Mother-Daughter Wisdom” by Dr. Christiane Northrup on February 23, 2006 at the Radisson Hotel Boston, 200 Stuart Street.

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (PRWEB) February 7, 2006

Daughters, mothers, grandmothers and maternity care professionals will want to attend an inspiring and empowering presentation entitled “Birth: The Foundation of Mother-Daughter Wisdom” by Dr. Christiane Northrup on February 23, 2006 at the Radisson Hotel Boston, 200 Stuart Street.

Dr. Northrup will be the guest speaker at the Fourth Annual Childbirth Forum and Meeting of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS). The CIMS Forum will be attended by many maternity care professionals from the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Americas and will include lunch. The mother-daughter relationship is at the core of every woman’s physical and emotional health, writes Dr. Northrup in her latest award-wining book, Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Creating a Legacy of Physical and Emotional Health. Dr. Northrup explains that mothers are our most powerful female role models. Whether daughters grow up to be parents or not, they embody their mothers’ blueprint and those of all women in their heritage.

Aware that the experiences of childbirth last a lifetime, Dr. Northrup a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, supports natural birth with “labor that proceeds without unnecessary medical interventions.” For example, artificial induction of labor, epidural anesthesia, and cesarean section would be used only for specific medical indications, and would not be used routinely. Today’s crisis intervention approach to childbirth, expecting women to begin and complete their labor by an artificial timeline, puts unnecessary stress on women. They are very likely to fear childbirth, loose faith in their ability to birth normally, and loose trust in the wisdom of the process.

“The process of birth is one of Nature’s highest achievements,” states Dr. Northrup in her latest book. “Nature in all her wisdom has designed the experience of birth so that it teaches a woman about her inner resources and how to access them.”

Dr. Northrup believes strongly that although many mothers and their daughters have been talked out of their innate birthing wisdom, it remains available to them, if they simply recognize that it is there and allow it to guide them.

Dr. Christiane Northrup will be available after her presentation to sign copies of Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Creating a Legacy of Physical and Emotional Health, the book that won her the prestigious Quill award.

For additional information or to register online for Dr. Northrup’s presentation visit the CIMS website, www. motherfriendly. org/events (http://www. motherfriendly. org/events), or call 1-888-282-CIMS.

The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS), a United Nations recognized NGO, is a collaborative effort of numerous individuals, leading researchers, and more than 50 organizations representing over 90,000 members. Promoting a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs; CIMS developed the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative in 1996. A consensus document that has been recognized as an important model for improving the healthcare and well being of children beginning at birth, the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative has been translated into several languages and is gaining support around the world.

Contact: Rae Davies, Executive Director

Phone: 1-888-282-CIMS

FAX: 1-904-285-2120

Coalition for Improving Maternity Services

P. O. Box 2346

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32004

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Cheer for “Chippy” the Wayward Sea Lion and Help Him Back to His Ocean Home

Cheer for “Chippy” the Wayward Sea Lion and Help Him Back to His Ocean Home

The Marine Mammal Center and the California Highway Patrol are raising funds to help offset the medical costs related in caring for a wayward sea lion found some 65 miles away from the ocean. Donations can be made either online via The CenterÂ’s website at www. marinemammalcenter. org or by mail to the CAHP Sea Lion Fund c/o The CAHP, P. O. Box 161209, Sacramento, CA 95816.

SAUSALITO, CA (PRWEB) February 13, 2004

The Marine Mammal Center (www. marinemammalcenter. org) and the California Highway Patrol are raising funds to help offset the medical costs related in caring for a wayward sea lion found some 65 miles away from the ocean. “Chippy”, named by the CHP officer who found him, was found near The Central Valley city of Los Banos on Feb. 9th. The 315 pound adult California sea lion made his amazing journey down the San Joaquin River channel, eventually resting on top of a CHP squad car. Rescuers from The Center’s Monterey Bay operations herded Chippy into a cage and transported him by truck to the main Sausalito hospital for medical attention. Upon examination and x-rays, veterinarians at The Center’s hospital discovered a bullet lodged in soft tissue just behind Chippy’s skull. It is not known exactly how long this bullet has been inside the animal’s head, or if it will adversely affect the animal’s health.

“Nearly 8 percent of California sea lions admitted to The Center suffer from gun shot wounds, most to their heads,” said Cynthia Schramm, communications and marketing director for The Marine Mammal Center. “Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, it is illegal to injure or harass marine animals and there are heavy fines for this type of crime. Now our main goal is to take care of Chippy and help him get back to his ocean home,” said Schramm.

Help Chippy recover:

The Center, along with the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, is fundraising to help pay for the food, medical attention and care Chippy and other patients like him need. Donations can be made either online via The CenterÂ’s website at www. marinemammalcenter. org or by mail to the CAHP Sea Lion Fund c/o The CAHP, P. O. Box 161209, Sacramento, CA 95816.

The Marine Mammal Center is a non-profit hospital dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wild marine mammals that are ill, injured or orphaned, along 600 miles of northern and central California coastline. Since 1975, The Center has worked with over 10,000 California sea lions, elephant seals, sea otters and other marine life. It uniquely combines its rehabilitation program with scientific discovery and education programs throughout the Bay Area and the world, to advance the understanding of marine mammal health, ocean health and to promote conservation.

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Halo Technologies, Inc. to Debut Superior Cleaning Technology at Michigan International Women's Show

Halo Technologies, Inc. to Debut Superior Cleaning Technology at Michigan International Women's Show

Real Savvy Moms receive sneak peek and live demo of the Halo™ UVX Ultraviolet Vacuum.

Novi, MI (PRWEB) April 24, 2007

Halo Technologies, Inc. will debut its new Halo™ UVX Ultraviolet Vacuum at the Real Savvy Moms™ health and wellness exhibit at the upcoming Michigan International Women's Show. The show will be held at the Rock Financial Center in Novi, Mich. on May 3-6. This will be the first time consumers will be able to test drive the only vacuum that uses ultraviolet light to safely and instantly kill dust mites, molds, bacteria, viruses, lice, fleas and other allergens that lurk in your home's carpets and mattresses.

The Halo ultraviolet vacuum "Cleans what you see, Kills what you can'tTM" and will be featured exclusively in the Real Savvy Moms exhibit. There will be hands-on product demonstrations, video presentations and online pre-sale of the revolutionary new UVX vacuum throughout the event. In addition, up to two Halo UVX Ultraviolet Vacuums will be provided as prizes to attendees each day of the event.

"Real Savvy Moms is proud to be amongst some of the first to try the Halo UVX Ultraviolet Vacuum and is honored to be hosting the Halo consumer debut at the Michigan International Women's Show," said Kate Rolston, founder and CEO of Real Savvy Moms. "One of our primary objectives is to educate moms about health and wellness for the whole family. Once you have a baby, things like keeping your home, and especially your carpet, clean and allergen free is very important since young children spend so much time on the floor and lifelong allergies are developed within the first 24 months of life. To do this without using harmful chemicals is no small task."

Jordan S. Josephson, MD, a sinus and nasal specialist and author of a new book entitled, "Sinus Relief Now" (www. sinusreliefnow. com), agrees. "Allergies can really make life miserable, especially for young children. Parents need to be pro-active to control their living environment and try to eliminate as many allergens as possible," said Dr. Josephson. He is also a regular contributor to the 'Ask An Expert' segment on realsavvymoms. com.

Real Savvy Moms and Halo Technologies encourage expectant moms, new moms, and women alike to visit the booth and be one of the first to experience this revolutionary Halo technology. Attendees will have the chance to walk away with a brand new Halo vacuum or a family Caribbean vacation provided by Real Savvy Moms.

The Halo UVX vacuum launched nationwide on May 1, 2007. It is available on the Halo Web site, www. halocompany. com, at a MSRP of $399. Founders Ken and Carrie Garcia will also be at the show and will be available for interviews at the Real Savvy Moms exhibit.

ABOUT HALO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
In 2007, Halo Technologies, Inc. introduced the Halo UVX Ultraviolet Vacuum - the first and only vacuum cleaner that instantly and effectively kills allergens, bacteria and germs in carpets, all without the use of chemicals. The Halo UVX Ultraviolet Vacuum is the first in a line of Halo patent-pending cleaning products containing UV-C technology, the same technology that has been used for decades to create the world's cleanest environments. Based in Charlotte, N. C., Halo Technologies, Inc. creates innovative products that make families healthier. Learn more at www. halocompany. com.

ABOUT REAL SAVVY MOMS™
Real Savvy Moms is "the voice" of mothers today. Created by mothers for mothers, Real Savvy Moms is a real-time support system for mothers to get reliable information, share their stories and ideas, and know that they are not alone in their struggles. With a nationally syndicated television series -- Real Moms, Real Stories, Real Savvy, interactive websites, live events, and educational materials, Real Savvy Moms is the multimedia answer for today's moms. For more information, visit www. realsavvy. tv. Check your local PBS listing for channel and show times.

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Planned Giving a Long-term Solution for Many Nonprofits' Ailing Financial Health

Planned Giving a Long-term Solution for Many Nonprofits' Ailing Financial Health

Nonprofits understand the benefits of planned giving and how it can stabilize income when it's explained using plain English. Based on the success of the Ventureneer's first webinar on planned giving we're offering it again on Thursday, August 6, 1:30pm - 2:30pm ET, Ventureneer. com presents "Planned Giving in Plain English: Get Your Questions Answered."

New York, NY (Vocus) July 28, 2009

Response to Ventureneer. com's first webinar on planned giving was so favorable, Ventureneer. com will be repeating it on Thursday, August 6, 1:30pm - 2:30pm ET. "It's gratifying to know that those who attended the seminar were able to see how powerful planned giving is to securing a nonprofit's finances and donor relationships, said Lorri M. Greif, CFRE, President, Breakthrough Philanthropy. She continued, "for the nonprofits that weren't able to attend, I wanted to provide not just an overview, but the ability to get their questions answered."

With charitable giving down, more and more nonprofits are dipping into their endowments further reducing their resources - making a bad situation worse. However, there is one type of giving that hasn't been tapped to its full potential and that's planned giving, which is just another way to raise money in addition to annual donations and grants. Yet, board members and fundraising staff shy away from planned giving programs perhaps because it sounds more complicated than other programs.

To help nonprofits better understand the benefits of planned giving and determine if it is right for their organization, Ventureneer. com is presenting "Planned Giving in Plain English: Get Your Questions Answered" (http://ventureneer. com/planned-giving-plain-english-get-your-questions-answered) a free webinar, on Thursday, August 6, 1:30pm - 2:30pm ET.

How do you know if planned giving is right for your nonprofit? It's a question that should be asked by a lot more board members and organization executives, but many don't know where to go for the answer. This one hour free webinar (http://ventureneer. com/planned-giving-plain-english-get-your-questions-answered) will address which nonprofits should pursue this form of fundraising, the bare bones basics needed for success and the not so bare bones in weighing the pro's and con's of this program so the decision can be made based on your own situation. One size does not fit all but this webinar will give you the tools to judge for yourself.

You will learn the answers to such questions as:
Exactly what is planned giving? Why a nonprofit would need (or not need) planned giving? What is needed to get a planned giving program up and running? What are some possible pitfalls? When is the best time to start a planned giving program? How long does it take to see results and what are reasonable expectations? How can success be judged?

This webinar (http://ventureneer. com/planned-giving-plain-english-get-your-questions-answered) is ideal for nonprofit board members, executive directors and fundraising professionals. The webinar instructor is Lorri M. Greif, CFRE, President, Breakthrough Philanthropy (http://breakthroughphilanthropy. com/). She has more than two decades of experience in creating and implementing successful major gift and planned giving campaigns for local and national mid-sized nonprofits, and is responsible for raising hundreds of millions of dollars. Lorri has the perspective of on staff fundraiser, consultant and board member.

Ventureneer (http://ventureneer. com) provides a new approach to learning that blends traditional formal instruction with informal learning derived from peers using Web 2.0 technology to capture and share this knowledge. Ventureneer's customized Web 2.0 learning environment: blogs, virtual classes, peer-to-peer learning, coaching, web events and articles, provide the necessary support to make faster, better organizational decisions.

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Psychiatrist Addresses Subject of Video Games, Addiction

Psychiatrist Addresses Subject of Video Games, Addiction

How much is too much? Are video games addictive? And at what point should a parent be con-cerned? Psychiatrist and gamer Kourosh Dini, MD, helps parents find out the answers to these questions and more in his new book, "Video Game Play and Addiction: A Guide for Parents."

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 6, 2008

Kourosh Dini, MD, published by iUniverse, Inc., announces the arrival of "Video Game Play and Addiction: A Guide for Parents (http://videogameplayandaddiction. com/)." As parents continue to watch their kids play more and more and as law makers attempt to regulate games, finally a book comes with answers to questions of play and addiction. In it, he assesses the role and value of video games in a child's life and whether or not they are harmful or educational.

"Games have a lot of benefit, and some of the good is lost in the fight against games," says Dr. Dini. "To be sure, there are those who play problematically. Learning how to tell the difference can be critical toward promoting healthy development."

As a child psychiatrist and gamer, Dr. Dini offers a unique point of view that has been missing from the debate on video gaming. He has attended medical school and adult psychiatric residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago, pursued Child and Adolescent Fellowship training at the University of Chicago and continues therapeutic training at the Institute for Psychoanalysis in Chicago.

The book functions as a comprehensive guide for the concerned parent, discusses the beneficial and the detrimental interactions with games and how to tell the difference for the individual player, offers an excellent unbiased resource to understand the fit between game and player, comments on what gaming can mean for society, and is written by an authority on the issue as both psychiatrist and gamer.

"Many gamers will freely admit that they spend too much time playing games," notes Adam Thierer, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Digital Media Freedom. "The question is, have they crossed the line into addiction, and what can be done about it? Dr. Dini's book provides some good answers and approaches to the problem."

Now with the release of Dr. Dini's book, "Video Game Play and Addiction," parents have the ability to tell the difference between healthy play and problematic play.

Video Game Play and Addiction: A Guide for Parents: ISBN: 0-595-45470-4, Published April 2008, $15.95, iUniverse, available online at www. videogameplayandaddiction. com/ (http://www. videogameplayandaddiction. com/) or call 1-800-AUTHORS. Preview a sample (http://videogameplayandaddiction. com/38577a/Intro_part1_videogameplayandaddiction. com_Kourosh_Dini_MD. pdf) here.

About the author:
Kourosh Dini, MD (http://videogameplayandaddiction. com/Kourosh_Dini. html), attended medical school and adult psychiatric residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago, pursued Child and Adolescent Fellowship training at the University of Chicago and continues therapeutic training at the Institute for Psychoanalysis in Chicago. Having explored games such as World of Warcraft, Half-Life, Grand Theft Auto 3, among many others, Dini intimately examines computer and video game play from the perspective of a practicing psychiatrist, from the unique first-person player perspective, and from the third-person observer of the gaming interaction.

About iUniverse:
IUniverse offers a variety of publishing services to help individuals publish, market, and sell fic-tion, poetry and nonfiction books. The company utilizes print-on-demand technology, and is one of the largest self-publishing companies in the United States, publishing more than 5,000 new titles each year. The iUniverse management team has extensive editorial and managerial experience with traditional publishers such as HarperCollins, Putnam, Simon & Schuster and Holtzbrinck. iUniverse partners with industry leading author organizations, including the Authors Guild, the Harlem Writers Guild, and the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) to bring innovative programs to their members. iUniverse has strategic alliances with Barnes & Noble, Inc. in the U. S. and Chapters Indigo in Canada and has offices in New York City, Shanghai and Lincoln, Neb. For more information, please visit www. iuniverse. com or call 1-800-AUTHORS.

Media Contact:
Kourosh Dini, MD
The Dini Group, Ltd.
Fax: 312-276-8977
Email: dinigroup @ kouroshdini. com

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UK Businesses Need to get Savings Savvy in Current Economic Climate

UK Businesses Need to get Savings Savvy in Current Economic Climate

With the difficult economic conditions persisting, Standard Life Bank is urging UK businesses to be savvier with their hard earned savings, following research that businesses are potentially missing out on significant interest payments by not using a business savings account.

Edinburgh, Scotland (PRWEB) October 26, 2008

The research found that, on average, businesses are holding £12,630 in low paying business current accounts. More than one in five businesses (21%) had over £20,000 pounds in a business current account and nearly a third of businesses didn't know how much was in their current account.

Among the 500 managing directors, financial directors and senior executives questioned, one in two are unhappy with the interest rate on their business current account, some accounts paying less than 2% compared to business savings accounts often paying over 5% interest. Over one third (34%) do not have a separate business savings account and of those that do, 24% rarely or never use it. Just under one third (32%) actively use their business savings account.

Garry Mullen, marketing manager - Cash Savings said, "It's clear that some businesses, charities and clubs in the UK are missing a trick by not taking advantage of the higher interest rates on offer with a business savings account. With the difficult economic conditions persisting, businesses should be making the most of any funds they have available. Actively managing your savings can result in significant financial gains and peace of mind for businesses."

"For businesses that can plan ahead and are prepared to tie up their money for a short time, fixed rate business bonds provide an opportunity for businesses to make their money work harder and reap even greater interest rewards."

Standard Life Bank currently has two short term bonds available both currently paying above 6% gross AER and has announced today its new Business Bonus Savings Account, with a highly competitive bonus rate of 5.25% gross variable AER, for the first six months, there after reverting to 3.65% variable gross AER.

This is a limited offer for customers that have not previously held a Business Bonus Account. The Business Bonus Savings Account requires a minimum opening deposit of £1,000 with a maximum investment of £10 million. It also provides the opportunity to add more funds to the account at any time and customers incur no charges. Customers can benefit from full flexibility of a direct access savings account (DASA), and can manage their money through e-based transactions.

Standard Life provide a wide range of financial services including Health Insurance (http://www. standardlifehealthcare. co. uk/content/index. html), Pension Plans (http://www. standardlife. co. uk/content/pensions/pensions_home. html), Mortgages (http://www. freestylemortgages. com/), ISA Investments (http://www. standardlife. co. uk/content/savings/isas/investISA_equities. html) & Capital Bonds (http://www. standardlife. co. uk/content/saving/bonds/capitalinvestment/cib. html)

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