• On June 30, California lawmakers are getting armed with mobile phone accessories as they prepare to set an example for the new hands-free driving law taking effect July 1. Motorola and Nectar Accessories will provide the Bluetooth headsets and Nectar headset holders.
• Accenture had a good Q3 in its fiscal 2008, ending May 31. Net revenues were $6.10 billion, a year-over-year increase of 20% in U.S. dollars and the highest quarterly net revenues in the company’s history. Consulting and outsourcing revenues were both quarterly records, growing by double digits. New bookings were $6.77 billion, with record quarterly consulting bookings of $3.98 billion. The company grew operating income by 27% and expanded its operating margin by 70 basis points over Q3 2007.
• Otterbox partnered with the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade to help increase awareness of breast cancer and promote the message that early detection saves lives. The company is now offering a limited edition of pink “Strength” cases for the iPhone and nano. With an online order, 10% of the purchase price will be donated to the crusade to support access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.
• Tektronix Communications deployed its protocol analysis solution for development testing of femtocell access point elements. The G35 protocol analyzer provides simulation and emulation of key elements of the femtocell designs including UMTS core network interfaces over IP such as Iu-CS and Iu-PS.
• Doubling the reach of high-bandwidth backhaul and Ethernet services capacity, Aktino’s new repeater enables bandwidth of more than 50 Mbps over eight copper pairs to as far as 24,000 feet from the central office. By placing the repeater at the midpoint of the span, ILECs can offer higher bandwidths to remote copper-fed cell sites, DSLAMs and business customers. The repeater, which will be available later this summer, lets operators serve a larger footprint than the typical 12,000-foot-radius Carrier Serving Area (CSA), the standard reference for copper-based services. According to the company, it provides a 4-fold increase.
• Mark/Space released a Microsoft Windows version of its data transfer software, The Missing Sync for Apple’s iPhone. The Missing Sync for iPhone will transfer contacts and calendars from Outlook 2003 and 2007 in a step-by-step process. Using the software, users also can archive data from an iPhone or iPhone 3G. The Missing Sync will archive all iPhone SMS messages and the outgoing and missed calls log. The application will transfer notes from the iPhone to a computer where they can be edited or saved. The Missing Sync for iPhone is available as a $39.95 download.
• Ericsson signed a 5-year IT outsourcing contract with HP including infrastructure services, application hosting platform, helpdesk, desktop support and output services for Ericsson. The new contract, which is an extension of a contract signed in 2003, will update Ericsson’s IT services to cater better for the future needs of the company’s employees and ensure flexible support for the global business. The responsibility for Ericsson’s internal, global, corporate voice and data network is not included in the outsourcing contract. This will continue to be managed by Ericsson’s business unit Global Services, which will also handle delivery of some business-critical applications and infrastructure services from its own Global Service Delivery Center.
• Accor North America completed installation of wireless, high-speed Internet access in it Motel 6 and Studio 6 properties nationwide. AT&T was selected to provide managed network services and teamed with California hospitality telecommunications provider Teledex for Wi-Fi equipment. In addition to the more than 600 corporate properties, almost 200 franchise properties have made Wi-Fi available to guests. Guests can access wireless, high speed Internet services for $2.99 per 24-hour period.
