Transaction Creates Leader In Advanced Composite Solutions - ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE:ATK) announced today that it has acquired Composite Optics, Inc. (COI), a leading supplier of advanced composite products for the space and aerospace markets. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Headquartered in San Diego, California, COI has annual sales of approximately $70 million and approximately 450 employees. The business will remain in San Diego, and will be integrated with ATK's existing composite structures operations.
COI composite products of carbon (or graphite) fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) include telescope structures, optical benches, mirrors, instrument housings, satellite structures, and antenna reflectors. These products serve as integral parts on a number of spacecraft, including:
-- Earth observation and weather satellites such as Landsat, Quickbird,
and SeaWinds.
-- Scientific space platforms such as NASA's Hubble Space Telescope,
Chandra X-ray Observatory, and James Webb Space Telescope, the European
Space Agency's FIRST telescope, the U.S. Air Force's Airborne Based
Laser and Space Based Laser, and the Mars Global Surveyor.
Paul David Miller, chairman and chief executive officer of ATK, said the acquisition of COI continues a series of strategic transactions aimed at bolstering ATK's core propulsion, composite structures, precision systems, and munitions businesses.
The largest producer of filament-wound and fiber-placed CFRP composite structures in the U.S., ATK has a 40-year heritage in the design and production of composite structures for aerospace and defense applications. The company produces structures for military and commercial aircraft, space launch vehicles, satellites, spacecraft, and weapons systems at manufacturing facilities in Magna, Utah, Clearfield, Utah, Iuka, Mississippi, Rocket Center, West Virginia, and Huntsville, Alabama.
ATK is a $2.1 billion aerospace and defense company with leading positions in propulsion, CFRP composite structures (but also using glass and aramid fibers), munitions, and precision capabilities. The company, headquartered in Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, employs approximately 12,000 people and has three business groups: Aerospace, Precision Systems, and Ammunition.
ATK news and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com. Investors may contact Steve Wold, Tel: +1.952.351.3056, email: steve_wold@atk.com.
Next month will see a 150-exhibitor expo, 66 sessions, 16 technology briefings and 13 pre conference seminars at ARMA 2001.
ARMA International's 46th annual conference and expo comes to the Montreal Convention Center, Montreal, Canada, Sept. 30-Oct. 3. Pre-conference seminars will be held the preceding two days.
Educational sessions will cover the gamut of topics related to records management: electronic and hybrid technologies, legal and privacy issues, data mining, storage systems, management techniques, web technologies, professional issues and disaster planning. Several of the sessions will be in French, reflecting the conference's location.
In addition, 16 technology applications sessions are scheduled, to be presented by vendors and accenting electronic imaging and record keeping.
On Tuesday Oct. 2, the National Archives of Canada and the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration will jointly sponsor a Fed Day Program. It relates specifically to problems and practices of government agencies.
Sessions to Consider
There are a handful of sessions that look of interest to the film-based and hybrid imaging community. Most promising may be "Micrographics: FAQs for Best Practices" by William Saffady, sponsored by ARMA's Microfilm Services Industry Specific Group; "The Digital Enemy Within: Preserving Mission-Critical Information in the Hi-Tech Age" by Michael Maxwell; and "Imaging Systems (Microfilm and Digital) and Applications in Records Management" by Mark Langemo.
Others are "Long Term Storage and Migration Requirements for Digital Records", "Issues Inherent With Implementing Multiple Technologies", and "Imaging Solutions".
Individual ISG meetings, such as the one at which William Saffady will speak, will be held 8:30 am-l0 am on Sunday, Sept. 30. John Glover, leader of the Microfilm Services ISG can be contacted for information on the meeting at fyiglover@earthlink.com
The Microfilm Services ISG has added a recommended reading page (under "books") to its web site. Glover and the ISG welcome reader input and suggestions for the page. It can be viewed at www.home.earthlink.net/[sim]fyiglover
The Expo
Among film-based and hybrid imaging systems exhibitors listed by ARMA in the advance program are Agfa, Alos Micrographics, Canon, Connecticut Micrographics, Crowley Micrographics, Eastman Kodak, EyeCom, Fuji Photo Film, Houston Fearless, ImageMax, InfoGraphix, Minolta, and SunRise. The Expo opens Sunday, Oct. 30 and runs through Tuesday, Oct. 2. There will be no competing educational sessions from noon-2 pm on the three days of the expo, which might stimulate attendance.
Expo passes are available on the internet from www.arma.org or from Sarah Patt-Pronek at 888-277-5838.
In addition to the sessions and expo, ARMA 2001 will have three keynote speakers, its usual awards night celebration, individual ARMA regional group parties (this is a partying organization) and numerous receptions.
But the big star and attraction at ARMA 2001 will be Montreal, considered the Paris of North America. The combination of the culturally rich city's attractions, Fall weather and extremely favorable currency rate (at press time approximately $1 U.S. = $1.50 Canadian) could help boost attendance at the event that in recent years has attracted 3,000-4,000.
For information, go to ARMA's web site, www.arma.org or call 800/422-2762.
M2 PRESSWIRE-8 July 1998-PSINet: PSINet acquires Internet companies in Hong Kong, Germany, France and United States (C)1994-98 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
RDATE:080798
PSINet Inc. announced today that it completed the purchase of four Internet companies, in Hong Kong, Germany, France and the United States, for approximately $46.0 million in cash. These four companies generate annual revenue of over $23.0 million and represent another major step in executing PSINet's strategy to expand its presence in the top 20 telecommunications markets worldwide.
These acquisitions further strengthen PSINet's leadership position as the largest independent global facilities-based Internet communications provider. "Having completed a $600 million financing earlier this year, our primary objective has been effective use of these funds for key acquisitions and bandwidth purchases, which will help move our business toward profitability," said William L. Schrader, PSINet chairman, chief executive officer, and president. "Our acquisition team stepped up activity following the financing and continues to search actively for the best Internet partners worldwide using a disciplined approach."
"We are pleased to team with Internet pioneers at LinkAge in Hong Kong, INX in Germany, SCII-CalvaPro in France and ioNET in Oklahoma, USA," Schrader continued. "Combined with our acquisitions earlier this year of iSTAR Internet Inc. in Canada, Internet Iprolink SA in Switzerland, STI-CalvaCom in France and Interactive Telephony Limited (ITL) in the UK, PSINet has acquired over $50 million in annual revenues."
"These acquisitions accelerate our entry into key world markets, build revenue and customer traffic on our network, and contribute to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)," said Edward D. Postal, PSINet senior vice president and chief financial officer. "With these acquisitions, PSINet is on track to meet our target of 100 percent revenue growth for 1998 through a mix of organic growth and acquisitions."
Acquisition highlights from these four Internet companies:
* Over $23 million in acquired annualised revenue.
* Over 3,500 new business customers.
* Over 20,000 new 'small office home office' and dial up customers.
* Revenue mix: 70 percent Internet access and 30 percent value added services.
* EBITDA neutral for the last reported quarter.
* Strong Hong Kong presence - world's 19th largest telecom market.
* Expanded German presence - world's 3rd largest telecom market.
* Added traffic on PSINet's 10,000 mile US fibre network.
PSINet and its mature subsidiaries have earned market share leadership, based on the number of commercial Internet customers: US (No. 2 position of approximately 4,000 US ISPs), Canada (No. 1 of 400), UK (No. 3 of 300), Japan (No. 7 of 300), Hong Kong (No. 1 of 120 licensed), Switzerland (No. 3 of 130), and Germany (No. 5 of 300).
One of the key factors contributing to this global success is PSINet's ability to integrate quickly newly acquired companies. "Our focus is to meld acquired teams with existing staff to combine networks, products, accounting systems, customer care and other operations with those of PSINet," said Pete Wills, PSINet executive vice president and chief operating officer. "In fact, due to the successful implementation of this integration strategy, PSINet Canada/iSTAR is on track to become EBITDA positive in just four quarters. These recent acquisitions are currently being integrated into PSINet to take mutual advantage of economies-of-scale, global coverage, and the tremendous global marketing power that PSINet enjoys."
PSINet Acquires Internet Companies in Hong Kong, Germany, France and United States/ page 3
LinkAge Online Limited - Hong Kong LinkAge, founded in 1994 by chief executive officer Chin Man, is recognised as one of Hong Kong's first commercial Internet service providers and a leading supplier of total Internet solutions to businesses, professionals, government agencies and other ISPs. LinkAge is the only Hong Kong ISP to operate a trans Pacific DS-3 ATM Internet backbone between Hong Kong and the United States. Hong Kong is the fifth largest telecommunications market in Asia, and Linkage is the largest provider of corporate dedicated Internet connections with approximately 35 percent market share. It also provides integrated business Internet solutions, including Web hosting, managed co-location, intranet and extranet, to companies throughout South East Asia. LinkAge has earned ISO 9002 certification, an international quality management system standard. Chin Man will continue to lead LinkAge Online as a PSINet subsidiary.
Interactive Networx GmbH - Germany Interactive Networx (INX), headquartered in Germany's capital Berlin, is the largest ISP in the city and nationally recognised as a quality ISP. INX has five points of presence: Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne and Hannover. It provides complete business Internet solutions, integrating corporate networks with Internet access, web hosting, integration services and access for individuals. Now combined with PSINet Germany GmbH, PSINet is one of the largest Internet providers in Germany, which is the fastest growing Internet market in Europe. Germany is also the largest telecommunications market in Europe, and the third largest in the world. This acquisition fits PSINet s German strategy of offering turnkey solutions for the corporate market over PSINet's local calling network with 100 percent coverage in Germany. Interactive Networx serves major clients including the Bank of Berlin, the Berlin Fair, major publishers like Gruner & Jahr and FAZ, major TV stations like ARD and SAT1, as well as Daimler-Chrysler and Siemens. The company will be integrated with PSINet Germany, with managing director Helmut Blank, and co-managing directors Robert Rothe and Joern Lubkoll continuing to develop the INX brand name for dial up services throughout Germany.
PSINet Acquires Internet Companies in Hong Kong, Germany, France and United States/ page 4
SCII-CalvaPro - France SCII-CalvaPro, headquartered in Paris, is a full-service business-to-business telecommunications company that provides Internet applications and other communications services primarily to banks, shipping and forwarding agencies principally in the sub-Saharan African market. SCII-CalvaPro services its customers by providing low cost data communications as an alternative to the traditional high cost intercontinental data transmissions to and from Africa, using a network of agents, distributors and full time staff. SCII-CalvaPro's was profitable for the year ended June 30, 1998. Although African Internet development lags behind other global markets, PSINet's commercial customers elsewhere have been asking for a secure means of reaching many of their counterparts in Africa, and SCII-CalvaPro is an excellent solution. The company will be led by Francois Benveniste, managing director of PSINet France, and will be integrated with PSINet, but operated as an independent subsidiary serving Africa.
ioNET Internetworking Services - Oklahoma ioNET is a full service, value added provider of Internet and network systems integration services to businesses, universities and residential customers in the south central region of the US. ioNET's service offerings include Internet connectivity, web hosting and programming, and Internet consulting. In addition, ioNET has developed vertical market Internet services including comprehensive banking, medical and telecommunications Internet solutions. By combining the Internet with systems integration, ioNET has leveraged a variety of technologies in order to service the internetworking needs of its customers. The company will continue to be led by founder Phyllis Johnson and CEO Leonard Conn and operated as an independent subsidiary.
Near Term Financial Impact PSINet will announce second quarter earnings on July 21, 1998. These four acquisitions will have no appreciable revenue effect until the third quarter; however, there will be acquired research and development expenses to be written off in the second quarter. The company expects to complete the required valuation process prior to the July earnings release and anticipates the acquired R&D write-off will be up to $20 million.
PSINet Acquires Internet Companies in Hong Kong, Germany, France and United States/ page 5
NOTES TO EDITORS
About PSINet
PSINet is leading provider of turn-key corporate Internet and intranet access, managed security services, electronic commerce solutions and Web hosting services throughout the United States and abroad. PSINet manages one of the world's largest and most advanced fast-packet networks, which provides state-of-the-art, high speed Internet access ranging from dedicated high-speed modem dial-up. PSINet backs up its state-of-the-art network with the industry's original service guarantee, employing automatic back-up systems and crediting service for outages of as little as one percent of a business day.
Headquartered in Herndon, VA, PSINet has offices throughout the US and subsidiaries in Canada, Japan and Europe, including Belgium, Germany and the UK. The PSINet UK Web site is available at http://www.uk.psi.net.
*M2 COMMUNICATIONS DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION PROVIDED WITHIN M2 PRESSWIRE. DATA SUPPLIED BY NAMED PARTY/PARTIES.*
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
On December 21, 2012, the great Maya odometer of time known as the Long Count will turn over, ending a cycle of 1,872,000 days, or 5125.36 years. As the long-awaited date nears, prophecies about what the end of the biggest of all Maya time cycles might hold for us flood the internet, print, and film media.
Some prophets predict the end of the world by supergiant flares emanating from the sun, the overturning of the earth's magnetic field, or a freak planetary alignment that will tear the earth apart. But there is good news, too. A few visionaries say we are due for a cosmically-timed, sudden awakening--a new worldwide consciousness that will lead to the resolution of all the world's pressing problems. To make sense of these head-turning scenarios, we really ought to look into what the ancient Maya actually had to say for themselves.
A Need To Tell Time
The archaeological record proves that by the beginning of the Classic Period (A.D. 200), the Maya had mastered cultivation of the land. They then began to build great cities and erect exquisite monumental architecture. Maya rulers also made a fundamental revision in their calendar. Their astronomers invented the skyscraper of all time cycles. This brilliant innovation consisted of a huge buildup of smaller time units that would allow them to imagine the roots of their dynasties extending all the way back to the gods' creation of the world the so-called Long Count (see sidebar page 20).
Texts carved in stone still stand in the ruins of many Maya sites. These stelae usually open with a Long Count date. Maya hieroglyphs then tell about a ruler's accession to the throne, a marriage alliance, a victory in battle, or the overturn of a katun cycle. These public monuments were a kind of propaganda that gave the ruler the opportunity to justify the exalted position of his bloodline all the way back to creation and even earlier. So, the Maya inscriptions look to the past. They say nothing about the future.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Zero Dates
What does the Maya record say about when the last creation cycle took place? Day zero of the present Long Count fell on August 11, 3114 B.c., in our calendar. When we march forward 13 baktuns (see page 20), we arrive at the starting date of the next cycle, December 21, 2012. But why the year 3114 B.C.?
If we follow the example of how zero dates were arrived f at in other calendars around the world, the choice was probably related to a culturally and historically significant date. For example, the birth of Christ marks day zero in the Christian calendar. As far as we astronomers know, nothing significant was happening in the sky on Maya zero day, August 11. We have found nothing special with regard to the position of the Milky Way, the zodiac, or the planets.
Maya stelae are fairly silent on what took place in the mythic time at the end of the previous cycle. One inscription tells about the gods (ancestors of the ruler, of course) creating the first hearth by setting up three support stones. Another monument tells us that at the end of the next cycle, the gods will do something similar. But just when this story gets interesting, the text has worn away.
The Real Maya Message
Turning to the evidence from the few surviving written documents, or codices, we find a frightening scene (see page 19) on the last page of one of them. It shows water being vomited from the mouth of a sky serpent. Water also gushes from sun and moon hieroglyphs attached to the segmented body of the beast. Still more water pours out of a vessel held by an old woman deity who appears suspended in the middle of the frame. At the bottom, a male deity wields arrows and a spear. While verses from texts dated shortly after when the Spanish conquerors first came to the area back up the dramatic story of destruction by flood (a common occurrence in many cultures), there is no way of tying it to the end of the world, then or now.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
So, did the Maya predict the real end of the world for all of humanity? I think their message has more to do with traditional rites of renewal that take place at the turn of all time cycles. Think of New Year's Eve. We all celebrate the end of our seasonal cycle as the stroke of midnight approaches. Next morning, we make our New Year's resolutions, purifying ourselves as we contemplate a brighter future. Scholars who study the ancient Maya see cycle-ending prophecies as lessons on how to restore balance to the world by focusing on relationships with the gods. An example would be offering them sacrifices, such as deer, turkey, and maize, as payment in exchange for fertile crops. No wonder we admire the Maya--they actually participated in the evolution of their universe!
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Why 'The End' Appeals!
Why are difficult-to-understand explanations of an exact endpoint of Maya time so appealing to American pop culture? Two reasons: First, ours is a world immersed in technology. Our society focuses more on material possessions. Further, many of us, particularly those who do not understand science, are bewildered by where our world is headed. Second, in times of fear and anxiety, we reach out for higher wisdom that we hope might have been known to our ancestors. We wonder whether the only way we can regain control of the disordered world in which we live is to uncover their lost knowledge and make use of it. And so we romanticize the Maya.
Based on the evidence, the Maya message, whatever it may have been, was likely not intended for us. Still, the glorious achievements and historical lessons offered by the ancient Maya are appealing enough on their own. We do not need to dress up these fascinating people in Western clothing to appreciate them.
RELATED ARTICLE: The long count lowdown.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
All Long Count inscriptions operate on a base-20 system. Unlike our base-10 system, which comes from counting on our fingers, the Maya base-20 system comes from counting the number of fingers and toes. For the Maya, each place in the series of numbers that makes up a date contains 20 times the quantity of the previous. It begins with the k'in or day, then the 20-day month or uinal. The third place upward, the tun, is an exception; it holds 18 times 20, or 360, instead of the logical 20 times 20, or 400 days. That is probably because 360 days is a closer approximation than 400 to a seasonal year of 365 days. The Maya did use the 400-unit in their trade count--when they counted objects, such as cacao beans. If you think about it, we do something similar with our own seconds, minutes, and hours. Some clever Maya daykeeper extended the cycle by multiplying each successive order by 20. Thus, 20 tuns made up a katun; and 20 katuns, a baktun.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Maya time cycles are a bit like the odometer in a car, except that instead of tallying miles, the Maya machine clicks off one day at a time in endless succession. This analogy can be a bit misleading, however. There is actually no evidence that the Maya ever used gears or machinery to keep track of their time cycles. Regrettably, there is another essential difference between your automobile and the Maya universe of time. When their odometer turns over, thus signaling 13 baktuns, the resting point of the longest Maya time cycle of all, a new cycle begins. By contrast, a car just gets older and moves one step closer to the junkyard.
--Anthony F. Aveni
Anthony F. Aveni is the Russell Colgate Distinguished University Professor of Astronomy, Anthropology, and Native American Studies at Colgate University. Among the books he has authored are The First Americans: Where They Came From and Who They Became and The End of Time: The Maya Mystery of 2012 For more information, go to anthonyfaveni.com/index.html
DALLAS, May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* is meeting business demand for new generation services, like cloud-based and mobility services, with highly-secure, industrial- grade solutions made possible by a global broadband network - and helping companies of all sizes significantly reduce complexity and costs and innovate at a speed "never before seen in the industry," said Kevin Peters, Chief Marketing Officer, AT&T Business Solutions.
Addressing more than 60 global industry analysts during a two-day annual conference hosted at AT&T's world-renowned Network Operations Center in Bedminster, NJ, Peters said that AT&T is taking advantage of its "unique network assets and expertise to deliver integrated content, applications and services to any enabled device, virtually anytime, anywhere."
Driven by the explosion of smart devices, wireline/wireless networks and software applications, Peters said businesses are quickly adopting new technologies to mobilize and revolutionize their business:
* More than 50% of AT&T's business subscribers are using smartphones. The BlackBerry Torch(TM) is one of AT&T's most popular business devices since it was launched in August 2010.
* In just three months - from the end of 2010 to the end of the first quarter of 2011 -- the number of AT&T business tablet subscribers increased approximately 150%.
* Android(TM) is one of the fastest growing mobile platforms used by AT&T enterprise customers.
* Adoption of AT&T mobile applications in enterprises has doubled from 2,500 in the first quarter of 2010 to more than 5,000 in the first quarter of this year.
* The most popular AT&T mobile applications being used by businesses include those developed by AT&T, such as AT&T Enterprise Paging, Mobile Remote Access Services from AT&T and several of AT&T's fleet management applications.
* AT&T provides MPLS-based IP services to 182 countries on over 3,700 service nodes to meet enterprise customer's global reach and offer them the foundation for managed security and cloud services.
AT&T will build off these trends to help companies make the next move to cloud-based environments so they can achieve tremendous efficiencies and flexibility in delivering and supporting applications to any device, Peters added.
To meet demand for solutions that help companies improve their productivity, AT&T today announced it has created a new Advanced Solutions Group, focused on helping more customers adopt mobility, cloud, network sourcing and healthcare solutions.
This is the latest initiative in the company's multi-year, multi-billion program of investment to roll out bundled platforms and services to companies of all sizes across sectors that include manufacturing, retail, hospitality, healthcare and automotive. Earlier this week, AT&T said it is on track to invest $1 billion in 2011 (part of its previously announced $19 billion capital plan) to continue delivering new-generation network solutions, services and support for business customers.
Executives from customer companies are on hand at the conference to highlight solutions developed with AT&T:
* Halliburton, one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, continually explores ways to improve employee productivity, increase efficiency of operations and deliver a consistent customer experience worldwide. AT&T's Mobile Enterprise Applications Platform (MEAP) includes applications that allow Halliburton's customers to manage wells from any connected mobile device, providing access to relevant data they need to make effective decisions quickly. The same applications enable Halliburton's employees to access the most up-to-date information on projects they are involved in. AT&T's voice, data and Internet solutions also connect Halliburton's headquarters and data centers to global locations.
* Hilton Worldwide, one of the world's largest hospitality companies, is striving to accelerate technology innovation and provide a consistent, next-generation guest experience in its hotels across the globe through network and mobility solutions. AT&T's mobility, voice and data, Wi-Fi and Internet connectivity solutions are helping Hilton Worldwide provide an integrated media experience for users across its hotel network.
* AT&T is providing Streetblimps with a real-time GPS application that reports location data, provides enhanced updates for routes, speed, mileage and stops. In addition, it features an enhanced dispatch system with picture capture and SMS texting to help with customer validation of their advertising investment with Streetblimps.
At today's conference AT&T also announced:
* Plans to offer the Cisco Cius(TM) to its business customers. The Cisco Cius is an ultra-portable mobile tablet that runs on Android(TM) and enables access to essential business applications for virtually anywhere, anytime collaboration. Cisco expects the Cius to be available for AT&T's HSPA+ network in the fall of 2011.
* It is extending the AT&T Office@Hand mobile app for Android users. AT&T Office@Hand is a mobile PBX application which allows small businesses and enterprise workgroups with an existing wireless account from AT&T to configure and manage their office phone system on-the-go.
* A new service - AT&T Tech Support 360 Server Support - for small and mid-size businesses who can receive wide-ranging care for Windows servers from U.S.-based AT&T certified technicians. Among others, feature and options available with the service may include 24/7 server performance monitoring; security patch management; and management of critical business applications, and network and Internet connectivity.
* AT&T is participating in World IPv6 Day on June 8 as part of its commitment to transitioning to IPv6. On June 8, AT&T will conduct a 24-hour test drive of IPv6 technology, supporting its enterprise customers who are testing the protocol and enabling IPv6 on the YP.COM and AT&T Research sites. AT&T has been actively involved in standards development and testing for IPv6 since its inception and currently offers IPv6-ready networking capabilities and a full suite of consulting services to assist business customers with IPv6 readiness and transition.
For more information on AT&T Industry Analyst Day visit www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=19807.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.
(c) 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
Android and Android Market are registered trademarks of Google Inc.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.
SOURCE AT&T Inc.
According to DOD: Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va., was awarded on April 15 a $14,492,051 firm-fixed-price, level-of-effort contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract, to sustainment services for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, to add 204,581 hours to the order in the amount of approximately $13,800,000. Work will be completed in McLean, Va., with an estimated completion date of July 29, 2011. The bid was solicited through the Internet with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-A-0003).
TROY, Mich. -- Syntel, Inc., a global Applications Outsourcing and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) company, will announce results for the Third Quarter 2008, before the market opens on Thursday, October 23, 2008.
Syntel management will conduct a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (EST) to discuss operating performance for the quarter. To participate in the conference call, participants in the U.S./Canada should dial (877) 219-1781. International callers should dial (706) 643-5716.
The conference call will also be available live via the Internet by accessing the Syntel web site at: www.syntelinc.com. Please access the site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary software. For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available by dialing (800) 642-1687 and entering "69524818" from 2:00 p.m. on October 23, 2008 until midnight on October 31, 2008. International callers may dial (706) 645-9291 and enter the same passcode.
About Syntel
Syntel (NASDAQ: SYNT) is a leading global provider of integrated information technology and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) solutions. The Company's mission is to create new opportunities for its clients by harnessing the passion, talent and innovation of Syntel employees worldwide. It leverages dedicated vertical and service Centers of Excellence along with its flexible Global Delivery Model to deliver solutions that drive innovation, improve quality and reduce costs for Global 2000 customers in the Financial Services, Insurance, Healthcare/Life Sciences, Telecom, Retail, Aerospace, Manufacturing, and Automotive industries. In addition to vertical-focused units, the company has established Centers of Excellence for Testing, Migration, and Demand Management. Recognized by customers to be "Small enough to listen, Big enough to deliver.[TM]" for its responsiveness and ability to build collaborative partnerships, the Company is known for solutions that deliver sustainable business advantage. Recently named to The Black Book of Outsourcing's "50 Best Managed Global Outsourcing Vendors" list, Syntel has over 12,000 employees worldwide, is assessed at Level 5 of the SEI's CMMI, ISO 27001 as well as ISO 9001:2000 certified. To learn more, visit us at www.syntelinc.com.
Safe Harbor Provision
This news release includes forward-looking statements, including with respect to the future level of business for Syntel, Inc. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors set forth in the Company's Annual Form 10-K document dated March 11, 2008 and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2008.
There is still time for the local news shows to shape up and keepper-haps even add-viewers. Local newsratings, along with network news ratings and newspaper circulationhave been declining in recent years.
Terry Jones' column in last month's SJR noted that there is still interest in local news, especially on television. He cited results from a report, "Young People and the News" from the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public policy. The report indicated that the number one source for news among young people is not the Internet, as one might expect, but local television news.
The story selection on our local newscasts may turn those viewers away. Our stations are overly top heavy on crime news and light on stories that are more relevant to viewers.
Take, for example, the 6 p.m. news on KMOV (Channel 4) on Oct. 1. On that day, the St. Louis fire chief was demoted. This is a significant story that has many angles, from a discussion of authority to racial issues. Instead, the station led with a shooting and followed with another crime story. Wrong. The fire chief's demotion should have been the top story. The shooting story, even though it involved a policeman (who was not hurt), was simply more recent, not more important.
KTVI (Channel 2) seems to lack relevant stories, but that may be because they have so much more time to fill, they are forced to look beyond the police blotter. That's not to say some crime news isn't worth reporting. But there are so many more things happening that touch our lives. Television stations should spend more time seeking out those stories.
One reason crime news is covered so heavily is that it is cheap and easy. It doesn't cost much to cover and takes less of a reporter's time during any given day. Covering other kinds of stories can cost more in terms of a reporter's time. The solution? Hire more reporters. But that costs money, and the media corporations of today don't like that one bit.
However, if viewership continues to fall, local stations may command less in terms of advertising dollars. So perhaps by investing money inreportingadding to a staff, more people may return to watching local news, ultimately making a station more profitable. There is still time to prevent the Internet from completely taking over in terms of where people turn for news. But not much.
The regional Emmy Awards are scheduled to be announced on Oct. 20.
This year's nominations have an odd twist. In some categories, there is only one nominee. Anne-Marie Berger, in charge of the awards for the mid-America chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Science, says that's because the judges deemed only one nominee to be Emmy worthy. Some categories had no nominees. The entries are sent to other regions for judging.
"The current awards procedure, which is now followed by all regional chapters, is based on excellence. This allows for multiple Emmys in a category even if they are not tied. It also means that some categories will receive no nominations because judges did not determine the entries to be "Emmy-worthy," said Berger.
So is Frank Cusumano of Channel 5 the only decent sports anchor in St. Louis? That's what the Emmy judges said. Cusumano is an outstanding sports anchor, but so is Steve Savard of Channel 4, and he is not nominated in the
"On-Camera Talent-Anchor-Sports" category. Rene Knott of Channel 5 is nomination worthy too, as is Martin Kilcoyne of Channel 2, as is Rich Gould of KPLR (Channel 11). Yet none are listed.
That's because what plays in St. Louis may not play in Washington, for example. Anchors who are very popular here might never win favor in other cities. Winning an Emmy in no way means you are the best. It simply means that a group of TV types in another area of the country liked you best.
Chris Balish was named co-host of "CW Now," the weekly entertainment news program which debuted on the CW Network in September. Balish was cohost of Channel 5's "Show Me St. Louis."
Tripp Frohlichstein owns Media Masters and consults with business, government and non-profit organizations. He will not comment on any television coverage if it involves his clients
