Archive for January, 2011
Monday, January 31st, 2011
 - Ed Johnson, SVP with G Data Software USA
DURHAM, NC – G Data Software Inc., a German security software company that says it created the first commercial antivirus product, is opening US headquarters in a building on the former Nortel Meridian campus. Initially employing four people, the operation intends to staff up to nine by the end of the year and be north of 50 in three years if growth goes as planned.
Ed Johnson, senior vice president of the company’s North American operations tells us that “North Carolina is a good fit for us. We wanted to be on the East Coast and near a technology hub. It also did not hurt any that NC Gov. Bev Perdue made a trip to Germany last spring to invite German firms to locate in the state,” Johnson says.
Johnson was previously chief information officer at LGS Innovations, COO at Blue Wolf Technologies Inc., and CIO at the NC Department of Justice. He says G Data is essentially opening its US operations in start-up mode.
The company is also opening a call center in Greensboro operated by Dynamic Quest, which does outsourced technology services. “Their team has been to Germany for training and knows our software as well as we do,” says Johnson.
While G Data Software’s product is sold in more than 80 countries and in 24 languages, it realized, says Johnson, that it could never be considered a global company without establishing a foothold in the United States.
The company’s antivirus and security software is ranked number three in the world and has an enviable 99.999 percent effectiveness rating. “It’s consistently as high or higher than the best in the world,” Johnson notes.
It achieves that high degree of effectiveness via a double-scan engine.
Trying to stay ahead of cyber criminals and their malware is a roller coaster ride for antivirus programs, explains Johnson. “When an AV company issues updates, its effectiveness goes high. Then the bad guys get their number and it goes down. That’s when you use one scanning engine. We use two. When one is down, the other has its back. It’s like having a double defensive line against the Cowboys – if the first guy doesn’t get a guy coming up the middle, the second one is going to.”
The G Data products also update every hour rather than once or twice a day. Even so, Johnson says, “The system resources it requires are so low that you won’t even notice it’s there.”
Johnson admits that grabbing market share from the other established players in the field, including Norton, Mcafee, and others, is no easy task.
However, it can boast that AV-Comparatives, a non-profit organization that publishes independent Anti-Virus software tests, has awarded G Data InternetSecurity 2011 the Gold seal of approval in two categories for its outstanding protection technologies. AV-C said, Over the past 12 months, AV Comparatives tested 20 security solutions for their effectiveness in protecting against known and unknown threats. G Data Internet Security 2011 consistently impressed with its results, outpacing all other solutions in its breadth and scope of coverage against malware.”
It’s products sell for $29.99 to $39.00, the same price range or lower than competitors.
The company, founded in Germany in 1985 officially opens its new offices February 14. — Allan Maurer
Email TJS Editor Allan Maurer: Allan at TechJournal South dot com.
Tags: anti-virus software, double-scan engine, Ed Johnson, G Data Software, Gov. Bev Perdue, Greensboro call center, opening US office in Durham
Posted in Carolinas, Economic Development, IT, North Carolina, Security | Comments Off
Monday, January 31st, 2011
 ORLANDO, FL – Our vigilant friends at Panda Security have discovered two new security exploits taking advantage of popular social media sites Facebook and Twitter. In the last several days, two new malware strains have been wreaking havoc on Facebook users.
The first, Asprox.N, is a Trojan delivered via email informing users their Facebook account is being used to distribute spam and that, for security reasons, the login credentials have been changed. The email includes a fake Word document attachment, supposedly containing the new password, with an unusual icon and the filename Facebook_details.exe.
Deceiving victims by opening a .doc file upon opening the attachment, this file is really a Trojan that downloads another file designed to open all available ports, connecting to mail service providers in an attempt to spam as many users as possible.
The second new malware strain, Lolbot.Q, is distributed across instant messaging applications such as AIM or Yahoo!, with a message displaying a malicious link. Clicking the link downloads a worm designed to hijack Facebook accounts, blocking users’ access while informing that the account has been suspended.
To “reactivate” their account, users are asked to complete a questionnaire, promising prizes such as laptops and iPads. After several questions, users are asked to subscribe and enter their cell phone number, which is in turn charged a fee of $11.60 per week. Victims can restore access to their Facebook account only once they subscribe to the service and receive a new password.
“Once again cybercriminals are using social engineering to trick victims and infect them with malware,” said Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs. “Given the increasing popularity of social media, it is no surprise that it is being exploited to lure victims.”
To avoid security threats such as these, PandaLabs recommends users be wary of any unexpected messages with unusually eye-catching subjects and avoid clicking on external links, running executable files or entering personal data into unknown applications or web forms.
Tags: Asprox.N, facebook, FL, Lolbot.Q, Orlando, Panda Labs, Panda Security, security exploits, twitter
Posted in Internet/New Media, IT, Studies, surveys, reports | Comments Off
Monday, January 31st, 2011
 ATLANTA – The Start-Up Council, a group of industry experts committed to supporting the next generation of emerging companies, has issued a call for entries for the Q1 2011 Start-Up Council Roundtable to be held on Wednesday, March 23.
Created in 2006, the Start-Up Council is a forum providing gratis counsel to entrepreneurs launching new businesses by providing guidance on public relations, social marketing, funding, legal, business development, outsourced manufacturing, marketing and branding.
Entries will be accepted until Friday, March 4. Applications can be found at bit.ly/hnl0uO and submitted via email to ccrabill@trevelinokeller.com or faxed to (404) 214-0729.
“Enthusiasm throughout the Atlanta start-up community is at a high point, being fueled by efforts such as the Southeast Venture Conference and Start Atlanta. With The Start-Up Council and our Q1 timing, we hope to continue to further momentum and move local efforts forward,” says Genna Keller, principal at Trevelino/Keller Communications Group, the founding member of the Start-Up Council.
Each quarter, the Start-Up Council offers consulting with each individual company, in a roundtable format, to discuss issues critical to a start-up’s business strategy and launch including brand identity, market strategy, venture capital, business development and public relations.
Should companies wish for in-depth counsel, each entity in the Start-Up Council can be engaged individually – each providing a well-defined offering with a set of associated fees. Over the past five years Start-Up Council has advised more than 40 local companies.
For our TechView Atlanta article on Startup Council see: Startup Council provides entrepreneurs early expert advice. and Five Questions for Atlanta’s Startup Council.
techviewatlanta.com/2009/10/startup-council-provides-entrepreneurs-early-expert-advice/
Start-Up Council members include Trevelino/Keller, AcuityCFO, Ask Remco, BChord, Gray Consulting, Flourishing Business, Frazier & Deeter, LaunchFN, Madison Marketing, Marsden & Associates, Moreland Group, Morris, Manning and Martin, New Clarity, Nvestor Relations, Object 9, Realistic Solutions, Start Atlanta, Startup Chicks and Vitale CFO. Affiliate supporters include ATDC, Content Factor, General Catalyst Partners, HIG Ventures, Imlay Investments Inc., Intersouth Partners, Kennesaw State University and Noro-Moseley Partners.
Tags: AcuityCFO, Ask Remco, Atlanta, BChord, Content Factor, Flourishing Business, Frazier & Deeter, General Catalyst Partners, Gray Consulting, HIG Ventures, Imlay Investments Inc., Intersouth Partners, LaunchFN, Madison Marketing, Manning and Martin, Marsden & Associates, Moreland Group, Morris, New Clarity, Nvestor Relations, Object 9, Realistic Solutions, Southeast Venture Conference, Start Atlanta, Startup Chicks and Vitale CFO. Affiliate supporters include ATDC, Startup Council seeks Roundtable entries, Trevelino/Keller
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Monday, January 31st, 2011
 IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it will invest $150 million in 2011 to fund programs that promote entrepreneurs and new business opportunities in the United States. The announcement was made as part of the White House-led Startup America campaign launched today.
“The investment will help us greatly expand the work we’re doing to build business skills and provide market opportunities for the most innovative new companies in the country,” said James Corgel, General Manager, IBM Developer and Academic Relations. “These start-ups are tackling some of the country’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.”
Since launching its Global Entrepreneur initiative last year, IBM has helped launch more than 500 new businesses in key areas such as green energy, health care and transportation.
The new investment will be used to:
- Coach and mentor start-up businesses throughout the United States;
- Expand education, build skills and mentorship programs in collaboration with the academic and venture capital communities;
- Provide skills and business opportunities to the growing community of software developers who collaborate on emerging technologies.
“IBM has a unique business model when it comes to working with VCs and entrepreneurs,” said Promod Haque, Managing Partner, Norwest Venture Partners (NVP). “We have worked closely with IBM for more than a decade to identify trends, partnerships and potential new businesses. This new investment will greatly accelerate our ongoing collaboration with IBM as we are both deeply committed to fostering innovation in the U.S.”
Among the new American start-ups working with IBM are:
- Streetline: A San Francisco-based company that uses the latest sensor technology to help citizens find inexpensive parking quickly, while helping cities to manage their parking resources more efficiently.
- Sproxil: A Boston-based company that identifies counterfeit medicine in emerging countries using cell phone technology at point of purchase to validate genuine drugs.
- CareCloud: A Florida-based cloud computing software and services company that streamlines the financial, administrative and clinical functions of a medical practice.
IBM is also leading a series of forums that bring together civic, academic, business and entrepreneurial leaders to discuss the key challenges facing our cities and communities. For example, this Tuesday, February 1, in Austin, Texas, IBM and the Austin Chamber of Commerce will reconvene a group at the IBM Innovation Center there, which now meets quarterly. Additional events are planned in 2011.
As part of the Startup America program, IBM will collaborate with other participants as the company works to expand its 100,000-member partner community. More information about the Startup America Partnership is available at www.startupamericapartnership.org.
Tags: funding entrepreneurial programs, IBM, Startup America
Posted in Economic Development, Government/Defense, IT, Money | Comments Off
Monday, January 31st, 2011
 WASHINGTON, DC - Intel Capital says it has joined President Obama’s Startup America campaign to strengthen entrepreneurship in the United States. As part of this partnership, and in conjunction with its ongoing Invest in America initiative, Intel Capital, Intel Corporation’s global investment organization has pledged to invest another $200 million in American technology companies and joined the campaign’s board of advisors.
“Intel is dedicated to creating a culture of investment in the United States that supports American startups and the country’s future competitiveness,” said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital and Intel executive vice president. “We are pleased to join the Administration in the effort to help new businesses succeed in the United States and consider this partnership an important opportunity to promote education, innovation and entrepreneurship to maintain a globally competitive economy.”
Dan Primack,whos does a daily venture deal “Term Sheet,” newsletter, formerly with PEHub and now with Fortune, scoffs at this being considered an “important” announcement, responding, “Yawn.” Primack says, “Isn’t that what Intel and VC firms do already?”
“Startup America” is a White House campaign to celebrate, inspire and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. This coordinated public/private effort brings together an alliance of the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, foundations, and other leaders, working in concert with a wide range of federal agencies to dramatically increase the prevalence and success of American entrepreneurs.
Intel Capital’s new $200 million commitment comes almost a year after the launch of the Invest in America Alliance, an Intel led initiative supported by many leading venture capital firms and corporations aimed at further anchoring the nation’s competitiveness on the global stage. As part of the Invest in America Alliance, which was announced in Feb. 2010, Intel committed to invest $200 million over two years in U.S.-based growth-oriented industries through its Invest in America Fund. Intel Capital met this original commitment in less than a year.
The Intel Capital Invest in America portfolio companies are addressing areas on the forefront of technology innovation from distributed energy resource management and cloud platform technologies to educational gaming and dynamic mobile video optimization. As these companies grow and create the next breakthroughs in technology innovation, they serve as a strong example of how private sector efforts can complement state and federal programs to foster fast growing, emerging industries with high job creation potential.
Intel believes a culture of investment is essential to keeping the U.S. on the leading edge of technology innovation and stimulating economic activity. Last week, Intel announced plans to invest $100 million directly into U.S. university research over the next 5 years.
Intel Corporation is engaged with a number of university research centers to focus on projects in select technology areas that align with the company’s research agenda including visual computing, mobility, security and embedded solutions.
Tags: Arvind Sodhani, Dan Primack, entrepreneurship, Fortune, Intel, Intel Capital, President Obama's Startup America Campaign, Term Sheet
Posted in Economic Development, Government/Defense, IT, Money | Comments Off
Monday, January 31st, 2011
 SAVAGE, MD – LiveTimeNet, which provides a video transport and delivery IP network, has raised $1.3 million of a targeted $5 million equity raise, according to a regulatory filing. The raised about $3.5 million in March 2010.
The company says LiveTimeNet’s fully meshed network architecture is built around intelligent nodes that can receive or transmit large number of concurrent video flows ubiquitously across the continental United States. These nodes are interconnected with multi-gigabit fiber connections, with ease of further scalability.
The nodes manage video traffic with multiple layers of protection and redundancy, from low-latency error recovery to near-instantaneous rerouting around impaired nodes or circuits, resulting in a high 99.99 percent availability secure network.
LiveTimeNet clients include media companies, sports, news and information channel distributors, broadcasters, event management firms, and channel aggregators.
CEO and President Yousef Javadi was previously president of NexTone Communications and before that, president of Sprint International. He was also led Primus Telecom and was president of a G.E. Capital wireless messaging unit.
The company disclosed the raise in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Email TJS Editor Allan Maurer: Allan at TechJournal South dot com.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Monday, January 31st, 2011
 WASHINGTON, DC – LivingSocial sold an amazing 3.5 million Amazon discount cards in a deal that vaulted its traffic to new highs but also caused some difficulties for the second largest social deals company. We reported on the deal and its trials and tribulations in previous posts.
We asked LIvingSocial how it has responded to the problems the deal created and the company responded with the following unattributed comments:
“LivingSocial combs through all purchases after the sale closes to prevent scammers. As this was one of the biggest days in online sales in history, the LivingSocial team was working as quick as possible to manage the high volume of sales and customer care requests.. Overall, on a percentage basis, the number of customer care requests were on par with a normal deal.
To handle the influx of inquiries, LivingSocial updated its help page with a designated link to answer questions specifically about the Amazon.com gift card voucher and alerted customers that confirmation emails might be slightly delayed due to the overwhelming success of the Amazon.com gift card deal.
Using Twitter, LivingSocial tried to address customer complaints by directing them to the help page and confirming that customer service reps were working hard to get back to everyone in a timely matter.”
In the LivingSocial help section, they addressed the issue of delayed email confirmation and receipt of a redemption code. Here, they also provided information on how the service works on any other day, such as instructions on how to receive a gift card for free when three of your friends also buy the voucher.
Now, on LivingSocial’s homepage, there’s a clear link to Amazon deal purchasers to assist them with redeeming and applying their LivingSocial voucher to their Amazon account.”
LivingSocial is the second largest player in the hot social deals space, which is led by Chicago-based Groupon.
We suspect the influx of new customers – assuming most had no more trouble redeeming the deal than we did – will outweigh the difficulties the company had with some people on the deal. But we continue to watch how it handles the response to criticism, since that can itself be a “big deal” online.
–Allan Maurer
Email TJS Editor Allan Maurer: Allan at TechJournal South dot com.
Tags: Amazon discount card, DC, Groupon, LivingSocial describes how it's handling negative response to its Amazon deal, online reputation, Washington
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Friday, January 28th, 2011
 Despite lingering concerns about the U.S. economic recovery, Americans worry more about having their online privacy violated (25%) than declaring bankruptcy (23%) or losing their job (22%). Coinciding with Data Privacy Day today, new survey research by Opera Software in the United States, Japan and Russia examines what people worry about online.
Internet fraud as a result of online privacy violations was among the top four concerns in all three countries, recorded between 22 and 29 percent of respondents. Distress over being hurt in a traffic accident topped the lists in Japan (35%) and United States (27%), while relationship problems kept 40% of Russian respondents awake at night. Relationship drama and pandemics like swine flu tied for second place in Japan’s worries (34%). Here’s a graphic comparing the results.
The online survey, administered by market research company YouGov, aimed to uncover what concerns people have for their online safety and privacy. A thousand or more people in each of the United States, Japan and Russia completed the survey between January 19 and January 24. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults aged 18 or more in the three countries.
A large majority (79%) of Americans use anti-virus solutions to protect their privacy. Despite concerns over privacy violations, less than two-thirds of respondents in the United States report that they use safe passwords (61%). Regularly deleting browsing history fared even worse (47%), though men (52%) delete browsing history more often than women (42%). Just 15% of respondents only use software and websites that do not collect personal information.
Gap between worries and action
Here’s something we’ve harped on for sometime: you have to take action to protect yourself online. I recently changed all my passwords to tougher versions and plan to change them again regularly, for instance and I’m more careful about how I set privacy settings everywhere. Even being proactive, I’ve had a bank reissue a debit/credit card because one of its customers had a data leak, something likely to be more and more damaging to businesses that allow it to happen.
“It is interesting to note the gap between what people say concerns them online and what they do in practice to protect themselves,” said Christen Krogh, Chief Development Officer, Opera Software. “We often see that it is human nature to fear traffic accidents but not wear a seatbelt or helmet, or dread bankruptcy but continue spending, and it very much seems like it is the same for online behavior.”
Worried about who’s watching you online? U.S. participants were most concerned about the government (35%). Only 15% of U.S. respondents were wary about the data social networks collect. 16% of U.S. respondents said they did not worry about anyone having too much insight into their online behavior.
When asked which device they feel is safer for accessing the Internet, 54% of U.S. respondents believed the desktop computer was safer, while 3% said a mobile phone was safer. 31% did not believe one was safer than the other.
So who should be mostly responsible for ensuring people’s online safety and privacy? 54% in the United States and 46% in Russia believe the onus lies with users themselves, while this response took second place in Japan (42%). Japan instead pinned responsibility on web companies (47%), which took the no. 2 spots in Russia (41%) and the United States (25%).
In sunnier news, all countries agreed that the most effective way to make the world a fairer place would be to give everyone equal rights and opportunities (between 51 and 65%). Vying for second and third place were ending all wars and ensuring everyone has the same access to information and participation in society. U.S. respondents were the most pessimistic; 21% felt nothing could be done to make the world a fairer place, double the 11% in Japan and 9% in Russia.
“It is insightful to speak to people about what worries them online. There are important lessons for all of us about expectations people have for their web experience, and what we can do to improve their feelings of safety and security,” said Christen Krogh. “Opera believes strongly in the Web as a universal right, and it is heartwarming to see that people so highly value access to information as a means to make the world a better place.”
Tags: Americans worried about online privacy, Internet fraud, Internet privacy concerns, Operat Software survey
Posted in Business Briefs, Internet/New Media, Security | Comments Off
Friday, January 28th, 2011
 If advertisers are paying for clicks on their mobile ads, many may be wasting a significant amount of money, according to a new survey. Harris Interactive, on behalf of Pontiflex, a company selling an email, mobile and social aciquisition platform, found in December that 47 percent of mobile app users said they click on mobile ads by mistake more often than they do on purpose.
In a related December 2010 survey, 71 percent of mobile app users stated that they prefer ads that keep them within the app they are using, instead of ads that take them out of the app to a mobile web browser, further reinforcing the need for mobile advertising to move away from a model based on clicks.
With more than 10 billion apps downloaded, both free and paid apps for the Apple and Android platforms have registered explosive growth. According to the Pontiflex survey, 95 percent of mobile app users use free apps and 41 percent use paid apps.
This trend is prevalent even among more affluent demographics — 96 percent of mobile apps users with household income of $75K plus said they use free apps. The strong consumer usage of free apps highlights the importance of mobile app advertising, which has emerged as an important revenue stream for publishers and app developers to help keep apps free.
The findings of this survey have important implications for mobile marketers.
With the high incidence of accidental clicks, advertisers cannot continue to use traditional online ad units and measurement models — namely banners and click-through rates — as a way to deploy and measure the success of mobile campaigns. Furthermore, the survey suggests that advertisers should deploy in-app advertising models to engage consumers in a way that is consistent with their preferences.
Additional findings of the survey include:
- 61 percent of mobile apps users ages 18-34 click/tap on mobile ads by accident more often than on purpose
- Almost two-thirds of mobile app users selected ads that contain coupons, deals or newsletters as their preferred in-app mobile ad type
- Mobile apps are popular across all age groups
- Usage is highest among users 18-34 years old
“People are turned off by advertising that causes them to stop what they are doing and disrupts their experience,” said Deb Swider, director, eMarketing at the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). “The mobile advertising solutions that are going to work are those that are respectful of user experience.”
Tags: half of mobile users clicik on ads by mistake, Marketing, mobile, mobile advertising, Pontiflex, telecom
Posted in Internet/New Media, Marketing, Telecommunications | Comments Off
Friday, January 28th, 2011
 FAYETTEVILLE, NC – The Partnership for Defense Innovation (PDI), which promotes economic development, has increased the amount of economic development grant money being awarded through the PDI Call for Technologies Competition, from $32,000 to $65,000 in cash and client services. The PDI Fusion Grant is funded by the State of North Carolina and is designed to assist in improving the success rate of early-stage defense and security technology companies.
The winners will be announced in conjunction with the North Carolina Defense Business Association’s (NCDBA) 1st Annual Symposium and Exposition being held April 19-20, 2011 at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, NC.
Those companies interested in competing should have a working prototype or are currently developing a product or services for use in the areas of defense, security and intelligence. The technologies and the companies will be screened for business potential, scientific merit and commercial viability, as well as the quality of the management team.
Scott Perry, PDI President, stated, “We’re excited to make this a part of the NCDBA’s Annual Symposium and Exposition. During a time of economic distress, it is important to continue to seek out technologies for our war fighter by infusing our small businesses to promote revenue and jobs for the state.”
Initial executive summaries are due by Friday, February 25, 2011 by 5:00pm EST. Semi-finalists will be announced on March 7, 2011. All semi-finalists will be required to submit a full business plan by Friday, April 8, 2011 by 5:00 pm EST.
A total of five finalists will be chosen to give a presentation on their technology to a panel of judges on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at the NCDBA’s 1st Annual Symposium and Expo.
First place award will be a $37,000.00 Fusion Grant awarded to promote economic development as well as a $13,000 client services package from the PDI DSTA program. The second place award will be a $10,000.00 Fusion Grant awarded to promote economic development, as well as a $5,000.00 PDI DSTA client services package. Both awards will be announced live on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011 at the NCDBA Symposium.
To complete an application and for a complete list of eligibility rules and requirements, see: www.ncpdi.org
Tags: defense, Economic Development, Fayetteville, intelligence, NC, Partnership for Defense Innovation, PDI Technologies Competition, Security
Posted in Carolinas, Economic Development, Events, Government/Defense, Money, North Carolina, Security | Comments Off
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