The stylish, ultra-slim BlackBerry® Curve™ 9360 smartphone is now available in black, white, ruby red, royal purple* and ballet pink** so you can choose the colour you love best.

Powered by the new BlackBerry® 7 Operating System (OS), the BlackBerry Curve 9360 delivers a highly refined and integrated suite of phone, email, messaging, web browsing and social apps to keep you connected and productive throughout the day.

The BlackBerry Curve 9360 smartphone is slim, stylish and simply beautiful. It is ergonomically designed with a comfortable and iconic QWERTY keyboard for fast, accurate typing and an optical trackpad for easy, one-handed navigation.

GPS and Wi-Fi® support are also included, as well as a 5MP camera with flash and video recording so that memories can be captured and instantly shared on social networks. The microSD/SDHC slot supports up to 32 GB memory cards for additional media storage.

In addition to supporting the new BlackBerry 7 OS, the new BlackBerry Curve smartphone features a range of powerful hardware enhancements including an upgraded processor, display and memory, and built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), a new technology that is enabling many exciting capabilities, including the ability to make mobile payments, pair accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone.

The BlackBerry Curve 9360 features the best messaging and social media capabilities on the market:
• The latest release of BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) is pre-loaded and now extends the real time BBM experience to a range of other apps, allowing users to easily interact with each other from within the ‘BBM connected’ app.
• The updated Social Feeds (2.0) app has been extended to allow users to post updates to multiple social applications simultaneously and capture updates from news sources (RSS), social apps and instant messaging apps all in one consolidated view.
• The new Facebook® for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that makes it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time utilizing push notifications.
• Twitter™ for BlackBerry smartphones is also included and delivers a deeply integrated experience including use of real time push notifications, access to multiple accounts and Social Feeds integration.

The BlackBerry 7 operating system (OS) introduces a next generation BlackBerry browser which combines the dramatically improved performance of the advanced WebKit browser engine with the hardware enhancements in the new BlackBerry Curve smartphone to deliver a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience. Additional enhancements to this next generation BlackBerry browser have also enabled smoother navigation and optimised HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences.

For more information about the new BlackBerry Curve 9360 smartphone, please visit: http://za.blackberry.com/devices/blackberrycurve9360.

* BlackBerry Curve 9360 smartphone in black, white, ruby red, royal purple now available from Vodacom stores countrywide. Check with Vodacom for specific information on availability and pricing.
** BlackBerry Curve 9360 ballet pink available from Vodacom stores countrywide and Edcon Group.

‘Considering market dynamics it is no longer viable for the telecommunications sector to push Least Cost Routing (LCR) into the market going forward. In fact, the LCR business model can be considered ‘deceased’.’ This is the sentiment of MTN Business – one that has allowed them to showcase a strong proactive approach to delivering REAL value to the marketplace – a value that is underpinned by services and solutions and reducing overall communication expenditure.

To this end, MTN Business is replacing legacy LCR deployments with solutions that offer a more cost effective option for customers – such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking. “This allows for the ability to reduce our fixed line calling costs for customers, which we did again by almost 20% in March 2012,” says Angela Gahagan-Thomson, Managing Executive of MTN Business. “Today, we are significantly cheaper in the VoIP space than the rates being offered by our competitors, despite recent announcements.”

Telecommunication providers must look at the next wave of technologies for their customers, which follows on from LCR – technology such as SIP trunking – which MTN Business believe is changing the way in which inbound and outbound communication is experienced for all call types.

Continues Gahagan-Thomson; “Delivered to a customer using a combination of IP technologies that improves the quality of voice, SIP trunking is notably more cost effective than traditional LCR. In fact, SIP trunking is well proven internationally where most carriers now offer it due to its ability to provide costs savings. Locally, this is evident with MTN Business. A fixed voice call on the MTN Business network during office hours to Vodacom and MTN networks costs only 72c per minute, while a local or regional call to a Telkom network costs 26c per minute.”

Such cost effective pricing structures, coupled with MTN Business’s full set of fixed converged service offerings, has created an ideal position for enterprises – big or small – to take advantage of fully converged products. “This technology at its current affordability signifies a fundamental shift in the way South African businesses conduct operations, manage cost centres and deliver services. SIP trunking is playing a vital role in the telecoms space where those who identify the opportunity it presents are leading the way,” concludes Gahagan-Thomson.

By Chris Schaaf, Regional Sales Manager, HP Enterprise Security Products, Sub-Saharan and South Africa

It’s unlikely that any Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) would deny that any of the 4C’s listed in the title are credible security trends individually but they may not have made the connection between them and how the relationship between each can actually lead to advanced business security thinking.

Consumerisation, in the rush to mobile and advanced consumer devices, is dramatically changing the relationship of IT within the business. However, many IT managers are still finding themselves trapped within the three year desktop replacement cycle. So, is everything changing?

Consumerisation
Part of the answer is that consumerisation and cloud are evolving very quickly and that too many CIOs and CISOs are floundering by sticking to an enterprise IT culture that stubbornly refuses to acknowledge these trends – to the enterprise’s ultimate commercial disadvantage.

At the same time the picture is further complicated by IT leaders who want to change but are frustrated at their inability to embrace cloud and consumerisation, and shift to full 4C thinking. These leaders know that consumerisation is potentially low cost which allows for IT experimentation.

Figures released by Gartner show that worldwide sales of mobile devices to end users totalled 428.7 million units in the second quarter of 2011, a 16.5% increase from the second quarter of 2010. These devices will be entering the enterprise regardless – there is no doubt about that. Adopting and enhancing consumerisation is therefore a key part of moving towards 4C.

Cloud
Cloud is the technology that many security professionals love to hate as, it must be admitted, so do a lot of regular IT professionals. Yet they cannot ignore the business benefits are all there: cost reduction, flexibility, new ways of working, enhanced storage and mobile access to data.

Yet the reluctance of many IT leaders is based on two fears: loss of control and lack of data visibility. Both of which lead to significant risk exposure.

But to embrace the 4C they need to overcome this fear because, as with consumerisation, they can. The secure cloud is possible now and possible in configurations and options that leave legacy architectures miles behind.

Jean Bozman, IDC, analyst stated that: “next-gen cloud computing decisions will be designed to scale up, and scale down, on-demand—and to allocate resources across a ‘grid’ or ‘array’ of pre-constructed building blocks developed by the service provider.

It will also demand a careful 4C evaluation of the customer’s inventory of enterprise applications, to determine which ones could be moved to cloud computing”.

Needless to say this will need to be done securely but the key is flexibility and instant scalability – something that is simply not possible with legacy systems. The world’s leading cloud providers do, however, have the expertise to make this happen.

Cyber
The security concern is why cyber is central to 4C strategies. Nothing can happen in IT today without consideration of cyber threats, which can be simply defined as any attack launched against a business via its total IT architecture. This includes financial attacks, IP theft, denial of service and politically motivated attacks. Cyber is a constant threat to business continuity.

The financial implications on their own are disturbing. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has estimated cyber crime theft amounts $100 billion annually. Cloud and consumerisation simply cannot function unless security is integrated within the enterprise stack.

Collaboration
Collaboration is potentially the most revolutionary and innovative part of 4C pulling IT permanently out of its remaining silo. Treating IT and information security as a business enabler was just a start. It must now be a fully collaborative part of the business, not just in IT terms but right across the enterprise.

Collaboration will also cross outside the enterprise to customers, partners and outsourced suppliers through the use of advanced tools such as security analytics and business intelligence systems. Through these, IT leaders can develop reporting that improves functionality, processes and efficiencies in departments previously considered alien to IT engagement such as Marketing (including social media), Finance and HR. IT cannot be an end itself. It must serve the business to encourage employees to be innovative in their jobs. If the CIO and CISO cannot embrace innovation, how can others?

Too many IT leaders have got bogged down in rules, fixed thinking and keeping to their own self imposed restrictions. This is even truer of the IT security departments. Many IT people have forgotten that they are in charge of the one department that has the means to innovate and use technology to benefit the business like no other. They can be enablers and deliverers.

The connectivity of 4C is a unique opportunity to do just that.

Ruckus Wireless is proud to announce that the company has recently added Comztek to its partner distribution network. Through this agreement, effective March 2012, Comztek will distribute the full range of Ruckus Wireless’s products across South Africa, SADC, and East African regions including the Indian Ocean Islands.

Says Michael Fletcher, sales director for Ruckus Wireless sub-Saharan Africa: “Comztek has a focused African footprint, a solid business and reseller network and a strong technical competence that aligns perfectly to the Ruckus Wireless brand and of course, to our African strategy.”

“Since its inception in 1995, Comztek has grown tenfold by delivering innovative services to meet the requirements of the changing market. In line with this, our operations are focussed on five business silos, including: Collaboration, Communications, Consumer, Services and Software. It is with this in mind that it makes perfect sense for us to partner with Ruckus Wireless – as Wi-Fi is becoming a key tool for carriers, enterprises and governments alike,” says Tiens Lange, Comztek, business unit manager for rest of Africa.

Today Wi-Fi is about data consumption on wireless-only smart devices. The problem is finding Wi-Fi technology specifically designed for stringent carrier requirements. As one of the only pure-play providers, Ruckus has developed a range of indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi products based on high reliability and pervasive performance.

“Quality, reliability and accessibility are key requirements for our business operations to maintain the highest level of customer service and support. We need a partner that will be able to meet the highest levels of service, provide us with consistent support and allow us to deliver on our client’s specific requirements. Comztek met every requirement and, together with the company’s technical capabilities, network expertise and solution proficiency, it was easy to select them as a partner of choice. We look forward to developing the partner relationship into the future,” concludes Fletcher.

Follow Ruckus Wireless South Africa on Twitter – www.twitter.com/RuckusWirelessSA

Stellenbosch-based Cape Office Machines, known locally as Cape Office Xerox, will be the first Bytes Document Solutions Partner to receive Xerox’s recently launched Xerox Partner Print Services Partner (XPPS) Accreditation, and is one of the first MPS service providers in SA to use the XPPS solution in conjunction with its own service helpdesk.

Marco Ortelee, director at Cape Office Machines, says the company’s business is completely aligned to Xerox and has been since 1982, when it was the first Xerox dealer in the country.

“Our office equipment business is about solutions and extends from digital office equipment to business solutions like identifying business processes to hosted services.“Our largest customer in Stellenbosch is British American Tobacco, along with a number of other large nationwide organisations and many SMEs,” Ortelee says. “The XPPS sales coaching programme ensures success in our sales people and provides the Xerox XPPS methodology in the most effective and efficient way.”

Ortelee was keen to have MPS as part of his service offering. “I’d been watching how managed print globally has become one of the biggest revenue factors in our type of business today and ensured that I was on the first training session that was conducted in South Africa. We signed up our first MPS client 23 months ago and the business has been growing steadily since then,” Ortelee says.

Cape Office Machines had to ramp up its IT staff complement and implement a helpdesk to gain the accreditation because, says Ortelee, “managed print works best when you use it in its entirety, with proactive and reactive monitoring”.
He says the MPS process “ups the mindset” of dealing with the break/call/repair cycle. “The conventional break/fix was that a customer with a Xerox machine would call and someone would come and fix the machine. Now, with MPS, about 90% of our tickets are proactive rather than reactive.”

Ortelee says since implementing the MPS solution in the business, Cape Office Machines has increased its revenue by about 30%, despite incurring additional expenses.

“The most important thing is to gain customer trust, because to implement an MPS solution effectively you have to gain insight into their business, which allows you to offer customised service. Yes, the sales cycle is longer, but when it comes to signing the contracts, people don’t even look at the figures – by that point there is such a high level of trust that they know the figures are correct.”
Ortelee credits his IT manager, Jacques Burger, with much of the success of Cape Office Machine’s MPS rollout. “IT is the backbone of MPS,” he says.

By Gerrit-Jan Albers, Service Delivery Manager at RDB Consulting

Database security is possibly the most important and complex implementation project any organisation will undertake. Not only is it critical to ensure that information contained within the database is secure from a host of external threats, including viruses, phishing scams and the like, the need for internal security is also increasing. With the rise in incidences of identity theft, corporate espionage and fraud, internal security tools such as identity and access management, amongst others, have become increasingly important on the corporate agenda.

The database is mission critical in the majority of modern organisations. It touches every system, every process and every person within an organisation, making security a crucial aspect. However without input from business, IT may secure systems to such an extent that the IT infrastructure does not provide the functionality needed by business. As a result, security implementations cannot simply be viewed as an IT project or as a business imperative, but as a combination of both.

Adequate preparation is critical in ensuring a successful database security implementation. This preparation can be broken down into five major areas that need to be tackled, namely: security policies and guidelines; business process analysis; people; planning and forecasting; and security infrastructure.

Security policies and guidelines
Simply buying technology without a solid understanding of the risks posed and organisation’s needs is pointless. Risk assessments should be conducted in every area of operations. These assessments and identified risk areas need to be documented and turned into security policies, which must be approved by the Board of Directors.

Rules and parameters such as security policies need to be set otherwise it remains unclear exactly what security solutions need to accomplish, making it impossible to gauge whether or not security is meeting business requirements. Policies and guidelines also help to ensure that staff members know what is expected of them regarding security and in turn, this helps to ensure compliance. Without rules, compliance is impossible.

Business process analysis
Security must take into account the requirements of the business and accommodate the normal business functions without major disruption. Security solutions should also be secure enough to prevent breaches, while remaining flexible enough to enable people to still do their jobs. This is a delicate balancing act that cannot be achieved without analysis and understanding of business processes. Business process analysis should be the starting point to any IT rollout and implementation, and database security is no exception.

People
Security must take into account not only technology, but people and processes as well, and the reality is that few organisations manage to get this right. Much focus has been given to securing the database from external threats that internal threats are ignored, and yet the majority of fraud cases and data theft occur on the inside. Access and Identity Management are critical to ensure that employees (and partners) have access only to the data they need to enable them to do their jobs, without compromising sensitive information.

Employees can prove to be the undoing of even the most stringent and comprehensive security system. They must be educated not only on how to use the technology, but also to gain an understanding of the reasons for security and policies. This requires buy-in and guidance from senior management levels, since any educational and change management programme should be driven from the top down. Without top level buy-in and education, employees will fail to see the relevance of policies and procedures and will likely ignore them, leaving the organisation vulnerable.

Planning and forecasting
Security implementations can be a time-consuming affair and it is vital to understand what the desired future state of the database security should be. A roadmap needs to be in place to forecast the next stages of the project to ensure that implementations will run on time, on budget and will meet the expectations of the organisation.

As with any IT solution, a proper plan makes the implementation itself far easier, shortening the rollout time and cutting down on costs. If planning is not done upfront, the likelihood is that systems will have to be reworked because they are not delivering as expected. Any hiccup in the implementation process can cause negative perceptions of the project, hindering adoption. Planning helps to avoid such scenarios. It also ensures the right balance between business functionality and security is achieved.

Security infrastructure
Infrastructure is the heart of the database. Systems need to support standards and policies and enable security solutions to function optimally. It is one thing to have multiple standards and policies in place, but these need to be enforced if they are to be successful. However, infrastructure also needs to be ‘fit for purpose’ and implemented correctly otherwise it will be unable to deliver as expected.

Just how valuable is your data?
These five steps work in harmony with each other to help organisations plan and deliver successful database security implementations. While they do not necessarily need to be completed in order, they all need to be tackled as each phase is necessary to ensure a secure environment and to prevent any breaches.

When faced with the complexity of a database security implementation, many organisations argue that the cost outweighs the benefit, and that their data simply is not valuable enough to justify the time and spend on security. A good rule of thumb is to switch off the database for a day. If the organisation can still function and is not losing money, then security is not crucial. However if business cannot operate as usual and continue to be profitable, then the database is a critical part of the organisation and needs to be adequately secured.

The IT Infrastructure Africa Summit will take place from 12 to 13 July 2012 at the Westin Hotel, Cape Town. The summit is hosted by Kinetic Events, an international business-to-business conferencing company.

The development of IT infrastructure in Africa is largely influenced by the economic benefits of IT, IT policy, and its impact on government, society, business, and the security of the state. The prospect of a technology with such potential impact evolving has produced many successful instances of IT introduction within Africa. The strategic transfer and application of this technology requires some guidelines be set for service providers, distributors of equipment, and end-users alike. It is critical in this time that these policies have positive and active government participation in order to be effective.

Strategic policies should clearly define the industry expectations and acquisition of information technology within the continent and global sectors. Clear and precise evaluation of appropriate use and application of the technology will influence the development of the African IT industry. Human resource development will determine the skill and service delivery methods and management, when outlined in a government issued policy, could potentially assist in improving efficiency challenges and hindrances.

The importance of government policies and legislation to support IT development in Africa will lead to notable improvements in the industry. Informatics policies and management infrastructure is key in developing a world-class infrastructure, placing Africa at the forefront of the globe.

It is vital to understand the establishment of financing mechanisms, with adequate financial analysis, controls and accounting. Active government participation enables Africa to take control of the sector and show improvement in all aspects of policies. Africa will hold a clear position on the level of control, exercised locally with a desired level of dependency on foreign sources.

With improvements already evident, it is clear that the coordination and integration of the needs of the public and private sectors is continuing to influence the economic state of IT.

The event will enable senior decision makers to discover efficient methods to deliver IT projects and services, resulting in business growth and innovation and successfully leveraging existing resources and investments. The summit provides a platform to share experiences with top-level speakers and industry experts, an agenda to address important IT Infrastructure and business related issues, and will exhibit the best practice case studies from industry experts.

For more information, comment or photographs, visit www.itinfrastructure.co.za or contact Shaunei Meintjes on +27 21 555 0866 or shaunei@kineticevents.net. Follow @ITLeadersAfrica and @KineticEventsSA on Twitter for daily updates and news feeds.

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today unveiled five game-changing innovations that will bring revolutionary changes to EA SPORTS™ FIFA 13 along with the largest and deepest feature set in the history of the franchise.

“We are perfecting the best sports game in the world with innovations that capture all the drama and unpredictability of real-world football,” said David Rutter, Executive Producer for FIFA 13. “These are game-changing innovations that will revolutionize our artificial intelligence, dribbling, ball control and collisions to create a true battle for possession across the entire pitch, and deliver freedom and creativity in attack.”

The most sophisticated artificial intelligence ever achieved for the FIFA franchise will drive FIFA 13 on HD consoles and PC. All-new Attacking Intelligence enables players to analyse space, work harder and smarter to break down defenses, and think two plays ahead. Players now possess the intelligence to create, curve, or alter runs to capitalize on openings as they occur, make runs that pull defenders out of position to open passing channels for teammates, and better position themselves for new attacking opportunities.

In FIFA 13 every touch matters with the most comprehensive and intuitive dribbling system ever developed. Inspired by the world’s best footballer, Lionel Messi, Complete Dribbling enables players to face their opponent and use precise dribble touches combined with true 360° mobility with the ball, so it’s easier to be more creative and dangerous in 1v1 opportunities. Players change direction quicker, are more explosive accelerating with the ball, and are more effective shielding defenders for longer stretches. FIFA 13 1st Touch Control transforms the way players control the ball, eliminating near-perfect touch for every player on the pitch, and creating variety and uncertainty around ball control. Factors such as defensive pressure, trajectory of the ball, and velocity of the pass now impact a player’s first touch, creating more opportunities for defenders to win back possession.

The second generation of the Player Impact Engine expands physical play from just collisions to off-the-ball battles between players. Defenders push and pull for position, and use their size and strength to win possession or force opponents into poor touches and decisions before the ball arrives. FIFA 13 Tactical Free Kicks provides the tools to create dangerous and unpredictable free kicks utilising the most skillful players on the pitch. Position up to three attacking players over the ball and utilisedummy runs and more passing options to create elaborate free kicks. Opponents can counter by adding or subtracting players to the wall, creeping the wallforward, or sending a bullet man to intercept the pass or block the shot.

FIFA 13 will also feature:
- Improved Career Mode with major changes developed in response to requests from the most passionate fans of the franchise.
- New features to enhance the massive EA SPORTS FIFA online offering, including improvements to the wildly popular Head-To-Head Seasons mode
- Multiple new features and benefits to EA SPORTS Football Club, the live service that is the heartbeat of FIFA
- Complete authenticitywith more than 500 officially licensed clubs.
Additional new modes and features will be announced in the months ahead.

FIFA 13 will be available in stores throughout South Africa this spring for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system withPlayStation Move support, Xbox 360® videogame andentertainment system with Kinect™, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, Wii™, PC, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo 3DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, iPhone®, iPad®, iPod® touch andother mobile platforms. The game has not yet been rated. Screenshots are available at http://info.ea.com.

Join more than nine million fans in the EA SPORTS football community at http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/easportsfifa.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiencesthat ignite the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, SSX™, and Fight Night boxing. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com.

Cutting-Edge LG Mobile Devices Deliver the Ultimate Speed and Technology

LG Mobile demonstrated its leadership in LTE technology at CTIA 2012 by showcasing a wide range of cutting-edge mobile devices. Consumers had the opportunity to experience first-hand LG’s extensive line-up of devices featuring 4G LTE speed, advanced 3D technology, and an enhanced user experience unlike any other.

As an industry leader in LTE smartphones, LG Mobile has pushed the boundaries of innovation to create an unparalleled mobile experience. Whether it is the affordable LG Viper 4G LTE and its eco-friendly features , the breathtaking, super-sharp true HD Spectrum by LG, the high-speed, multitasking LG Lucid, the ultra-fast LG Nitro HD, or the compact yet easy-to-view LG Connect 4G, LG Mobile has an LTE smartphone to fit any lifestyle.

“LG Mobile has solidified its presence as a true innovator in LTE technology,” said Tim O’Brien, vice president of marketing for LG Mobile Phones. “Our next-generation mobile devices allow users to take full advantage of available 4G LTE networks by delivering the ultimate speed, power, and task efficiency to provide a totally streamlined user experience. We will continue to push the boundaries of LTE and future technologies for years to come.”

Featured LG 4G LTE Handsets at CTIA Wireless 2012 Include:

LG Viper 4G LTE
LG Viper 4G LTE smartphone features dual cameras that allow usage of video chat applications as well as a 1.2GHz dual core processor, allowing users to quickly switch between apps and enjoy HD gaming on a super-fast web browser. It also supports NFC and Google Wallet, allowing for swift and easy transactions while on-the-go. The affordable LG Viper 4G LTE boasts eco-friendly attributes such as a protective casing made from 50% recycled plastics, packaging made up of 87% post-consumer papers which is 100% recyclable, and has received the coveted UL Environment (ULE) Platinum Certification, the highest level of environmental performance for a device that is recognised by Sprint and ULE.

Spectrum by LG
Spectrum by LG sharpens the vision of what is truly superior in mobile technology. Beneath its exceptionally large, extra-sharp 4.5” True HD IPS display is a mighty combination of power and speed. A Qualcomm 1.5 GHz dual-core processor complements Verizon 4G LTE connectivity, allowing you to surf the Web, watch videos, and play games. The Android 2.3 platform (Gingerbread, upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich ICS) is Google integrated and comes with a full range of preloaded apps for a totally seamless user experience.

LG Lucid
Lucid by LG is an avid multitasker packed with high-end features and designed to easily integrate with busy lives. With a super-fast 4G LTE network and a dual-core processor, Lucid manages multiple tasks at once. With a 4” Corning Gorilla Glass touch screen, high-quality outdoor visibility, and an auto-adjust feature, Lucid looks good in any light. And, with complete customisation through game and app downloads in the Google Play store, it is the perfect device to keep you entertained on the go.

LG Nitro HD
LG Nitro HD is a state-of-the-art 4G LTE Android-powered smartphone delivering a revolutionary visual experience with crystal-clear, high-definition viewing of on-board, user-generated, and web content. Powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, Nitro HD delivers a seamless, ultra-fast user experience on any 4G network. The 4.5” True HD IPS display with 329 pixels per inch gives you higher image resolution and text readability, and you’ll enjoy undistorted, full-screen viewing with the 16:9 HD aspect ratio. Plus, Nitro HD’s 1280p x 720p display lets you see lots of content on a single screen.

LG Connect 4G
LG Connect 4G is powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and feature a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, giving consumers a powerful multi-tasking tool for their daily needs and entertainment. Its brilliant 4” NOVA display with patented technology from LG, together with a Corning Gorilla Glass Screen Protector, provide consumers with unparalleled viewing pleasure and durability. And with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 720p HD video recording, the LG Connect 4G delivers a tremendously responsive user experience when browsing the web and capturing or viewing video. LG Connect 4G is also equipped with a 5MP rear camera with flash and a front-facing camera.

Global LG Devices on Display at CTIA Wireless 2012 Include:

LG Optimus 4X HD
LG’s first quad-core smartphone, LG Optimus 4X HD combines NVIDIA’s latest 1.5GHz Tegra 3 with 4.7” True HD IPS display to deliver a PC-like performance in the palm of your hand. LG Optimus 4X HD is designed to guarantee the finest viewing experience with high resolution, clarity, and no color or shape distortion. LG Optimus 4X HD includes 16 GB internal memory and runs on the latest version of Android OS, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. In addition, LG Optimus 4X HD boasts an 8-megapixel BSI (Backside Illumination) Sensor camera with LED flash and advanced multimedia features to enrich the overall multimedia experience.

LG Optimus Vu:
Equipped with LG’s advanced LTE and IPS display technology, LG Optimus Vu offers a unique combination of tablet-like viewing with smartphone portability. Running on a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 32GM internal memory, and a large 2,080 mAh battery, the Optimus Vu is a multimedia lover’s dream device. The large 5” display with bright 4:3 aspect ratio makes viewing documents, books, internet, and multimedia contents easier and more comfortable. The 4:3 aspect ratio is optimised for viewing to grasp more at a glance and note taking to increase productivity in everyday life. Moreover, IPS display realises every color in its natural state for the best viewing experience, even under bright sunlight.

LG Optimus 3D Max
With powerful 3D technology and sleeker design, LG Optimus 3D Max provides a complete 3D entertainment platform and marks a big leap forward in the ever-expanding 3D ecosystem. LG Optimus 3D Max features a bright display for easy viewing even in direct sunlight and is NFC capable for on-the-go users. The device’s premium design comes from LG’s commitment to fine details. Measuring only 9.6 mm thin and weighing 148 grams, the lean body with metallic and rounded edges offers a stylish yet functional design for all users.

SMBs can now connect, protect and collaborate with centralised storage and backup-and-restore protection for up to 25 network devices

Western Digital (WD) has announced the availability of the WD Sentinel DX4000, a complete network storage solution designed specifically to meet the demands of today’s small to medium sized business (SMB). Powered by Intel D525 Dual Core Atom CPU, with Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials operating system and 25 Licenses, this all-in-one storage solution offers a combination of enterprise-grade functionality and pre-configured ease of setup, ideal for the South African SMB market.

“Businesses of all sizes are faced with an explosion of digital content, compounded data retention laws and regulations. However, the technology harnessed by enterprise to meet these challenges has been out of reach for the majority of SMBs, until now. The WD Sentinel DX4000 is an affordable, easy to set up, scalable storage solution that meets the needs of the SMB market,” says Anamika Budree, Western Digital Country Manager – South Africa. “This integrated hardware and software solution provides a simple way to centralise documents in one secure place, with enterprise grade backup and recovery that does not require additional license fees. It also offers remote access and administration from a web browser or mobile device, cloud enabled architecture, and local cloud disaster protection.”

The WD Sentinel DX4000 is available in 4TB, 6TB, 8TB and 12TB capacities, delivering centralised shared storage and automatic server-based backup and restore for up to 25 devices (PC and Mac) on the network. Built-in hardware and software redundancy for all connected devices delivers complete data protection.

Several key features have been designed with the SMB in mind:
• All-in-one storage solution – the Sentinel DX4000 is pre-configured for plug and play installation. This makes it easy to set up without the need for IT support.
• Pre-installed, ready to use – the Sentinel DX4000 comes pre-installed with the operating system and backup and recovery software. WD’s award-winning enterprise-class drives are configured in RAID levels 1 and 5 for ultimate data protection and speed.
• Remote web access – built-in secure remote access enables users to access business information anytime, anywhere without the expense of a VPN solution. Files can be access via a web browser on a PC or mobile device
• Server-based backup – enterprise class, server-based backup with de-duplication and the ability to conduct bare metal restore.
• All software included – the Sentinel DX4000 comes with 25 client licenses for Windows Storage Server 2008 R2, with no additional costs involved.
• Built-in DLNA media server – pre-configured with universal plug and play for media management, discovery and control.
• Feature rich – the Sentinel DX4000 includes a host of enhanced features, such as scheduled backups, de-duplication, data retention settings and more.

The Sentinel DX4000 also features Dual Gigabit Ethernet for redundant network connectivity, an optional dual power supply, USB 3.0, three year limited warranty and free tech support for 30 days. Support Services, with affordable plans including support for rapid parts replacement, dedicated telephone support, Tier 2 support and remote assistance, and extended warranties.

“The WD Sentinel small office storage server is the ideal storage, backup, and secure remote access solution for any SMB. The ability to have centralised storage that is both on-premise and offers secure remote access provides a small business owner and employees the flexibility needed for today’s mobile lifestyle. WD is providing small business owners with a hands-free solution that offers complete data protection and unparalleled peace-of-mind,” says Thomas Gallivan, vice president of marketing for WD’s SMB Solutions Group.

Compatibility
WD Sentinel is certified to be compatible with a variety of Operating Systems (OS) including Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. In addition, WD Sentinel is compatible with Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard for file sharing among Windows, Mac and Unix/Linux operating systems and allows businesses to share files with clients, consultants, and inter-office personnel regardless of the OS used.

Pricing and Availability
WD Sentinel DX4000 small office storage server is available from resellers for an estimated recommended retail price of R9 999.00 for the 4TB version and R16 999.00 for the 12TB version. All pricing is inclusive of V.A.T.