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National Hispanic Business Information Clearinghouse Remains Focus of Dallas Latino Community

July 27th, 2008 by admin

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DALLAS, April 24 /PRNewswire/ — The National Hispanic business Information Clearinghouse, a new online resource to help Hispanic entrepreneurs overcome historic barriers to business success, will be unveiled to a prominent international audience today at a meeting of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME) in Dallas.
The IME is a 152-member advisory council formed by the Mexican government in 2003 in recognition of the need to incorporate Mexican communities abroad in the design of policies that affect them and to create an important bond with countrymen who live in other countries. The group meets twice a year, and the Dallas meeting — being held at the Renaissance Hotel — will mark only the second time that it has gathered in the United States.
On the agenda is an intimate “screening” of the National Hispanic business Information Clearinghouse, or NHBIC. Located at , the Web-based resource helps aspiring and current business owners navigate the legal, licensing, permitting, accounting, contracting, human resource, marketing and sales challenges associated with running a successful business.
Officially rolled out in Dallas two weeks ago at an event hosted by founding sponsor Western Union and the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the NHBIC will be presented today to the IME’s Economic Affairs Commission. Among the attendees will be immigrant leaders from across the United States who can help multiply the reach of the NHBIC among immigrant communities at the grassroots level.
“Whether they are born in the U.S. or migrate here seeking a better life, Latinos share an ethic of hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit. No matter how inspired and driven they may be, however, they still need a sound fundamental grounding in the Three M’s of business — Money, Markets and Management — in order to be truly successful,” said Salvador Gomez, founder of the website and president and CEO of Denver, Colo.-based Source One Management, Inc. “The NHBIC was designed to provide clarity and access to that information for communities that have not historically enjoyed such access.”
More than a static website, the NHBIC features professionally pre-screened and categorized business content, available for free in both Spanish and English and customized with resources specific to the greater Dallas area. The Dallas site is the second (following Denver) of what will ultimately be 15 locally customized versions of the NHBIC nationwide. It is also the first in what will become a series of online portals designed specifically for ethnic audiences; additional clearinghouses will be launched in coming years to serve African-American, Asian and possibly other communities.
“The NHBIC and subsequent clearinghouses go to the core of helping diverse individuals and communities around the world realize their potential and improve their futures through business innovation, education and training,” said Michael L. Barrera, president of the NHBIC and former president and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “We are very pleased to be included within the context of an IME meeting, as we share that organization’s goal of empowering Mexican immigrants and other populations with the tools and knowledge to succeed.”
About NHBIC
The National Hispanic business Information Clearinghouse (NHBIC) provides critical business information on access to capital, equal access to markets, and management training to support the startup and growth of Hispanic businesses throughout the United States. For more information, visit .
National Hispanic business Information Clearinghouse

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Heroux-Devtek and CGI sign 10-year contract renewal agreement

July 24th, 2008 by admin

MONTREAL, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB), a leader in information technology and business process services and Heroux-Devtek, a leading Canadian manufacturer of aerospace and industrial products, announced today that they have signed an agreement worth approximately $12 million that will see their partnership extended for an additional 10 year period.
Under the terms of the contract, CGI will continue to provide Heroux-Devtek with infrastructure management, application maintenance and desktop services.
“We have established a long-term partnership of trust with CGI, and we particularly appreciate its in-depth knowledge of both our industry and information technology. CGI has the know-how to provide us with the technological support we need to achieve our mission,” stated Gilles Labbe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Heroux-Devtek.
Michael Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer, CGI, added, “We are delighted to continue our long-term partnership with Heroux-Devtek. The awarding of this contract demonstrates the confidence that Heroux-Devtek has in us as well as the excellent communication that exists between our two organizations, which ultimately allows us to adapt our services to their needs.”
CGI combines robust technology management capabilities with quality processes and flexible global delivery options to create and manage technology infrastructures that address its clients’ top concerns. Organizations using CGI’s services are able to more easily comply with constantly evolving regulatory frameworks while controlling their costs and making judicious investments for the future.
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is one of the largest independent information technology and business process services firms in the world. CGI and its affiliated companies employ approximately 26,500 professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in North America, Europe and India. CGI’s annual revenue run rate stands at $3.7 billion and at December 31st, 2007, CGI’s order backlog was $12.04 billion. CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB) and are included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index as well as the S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology and MidCap Indices. Website: .
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are “forward-looking information” within the meaning of sections 138.3 and following of the Ontario Securities Act. These statements and this information represent CGI’s intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, of which many are beyond the control of the Company. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. These factors include and are not restricted to the timing and size of new contracts, acquisitions and other corporate developments; the ability to attract and retain qualified members; market competition in the rapidly-evolving IT industry; general economic and business conditions, foreign exchange and other risks identified in the MD&A, in CGI’s Annual Report or Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (filed on EDGAR at ), the Company’s Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities authorities (filed on SEDAR at ), as well as assumptions regarding the foregoing. The words “believe,”"estimate,”"expect,”"intend,”"anticipate,”"foresee,”"plan,” and similar expressions and variations thereof, identify certain of such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. In particular, statements relating to future performance are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. CGI disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or on this forward-looking information.
CGI GROUP INC.

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New York Based Small Business Talk Show Announces the Launch of FearlessBusiness.TV

July 12th, 2008 by admin

NEW YORK, April 23 /PRNewswire/ — Inspire Solutions announced today that they have launched their new video web site, FearlessBusiness.TV (), which showcases interviews of CEOs and business owners in a talk-show style setting. The web site is unveiled with five episodes, representing five interactive interviews videotaped in front of a live studio audience in New York City. It will continue to release one episode per week going forward.
Guests featured on the web site include David Carlos from DavidCarlos.net, a managed information technology service, Sam Jankovich from EnterConnect.com (BULLETIN BOARD: ECNI) a publicly traded online portal solution company, Jacques Blinbaum from CelPog.com, a mobile payment solution service, Stacie Urbach from SmartHeel.com, distributor of a fashion accessory for high heeled shoes and Shoshanna Rikon from ShoshannasMatches.com, a New York based matchmaking service.
Valerie Gurka, Founder of Inspire Solutions, produces the talk show and conducts the interviews. “This talk show was conceived out of the idea that business owners can be both insightful and entertaining, and through this forum entrepreneurs can connect either in person or virtually,” explained Gurka. “The talk show is taped approximately once per month and the event includes about 45 minutes of social networking and wine tasting among a participatory audience of entrepreneurs. After the group of 20-30 professionals has had a chance to exchange business cards, everyone sits down to watch the interviews of three charismatic business owners.” The next event will take place on Wednesday, April 30 in a studio in the Times Square district. It will be sponsored by 1-800-Got-Mold? and TheSpeakingChannel.TV. Members of the public who wish to attend the next taping must register in advance by visiting FearlessBusiness.TV ().
“We invite anyone who is interested in small business to visit FearlessBusiness.TV weekly for new episodes of the talk show,” explained Gurka. “It’s a great way to stay connected with innovative ideas and new technologies, in an entertaining online forum.”
Inspire Solutions

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VKernel Partners with Business Development Services for IT Solutions LLC

July 5th, 2008 by admin

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., June 3 /PRNewswire/ — VKernel Corporation, a provider of easy-to-use and quick-to-deploy virtual appliances for managing virtual server environments, today announced a partnership with business Development Services for IT Solutions LLC (BDS), a virtualization systems integrator promoting solutions in the tri-state area (N.Y., N.J., Conn.). Under the agreement, BDS is a VKernel Gold Partner that will resell VKernel’s Suite of Virtual Appliances for analyzing and monitoring capacity, implementing chargeback, and gaining cost visibility in VMware ESX environments to its growing customer base.
“By rapidly solving specific server virtualization issues such as cost visibility, chargeback, and capacity management, VKernel virtual appliances provide instantaneous value and benefits to any organization involved in a virtualization project,” said Alex Bakman, founder and CEO of VKernel. “Our relationship with BDS should immediately increase market opportunities for VKernel’s products and drive revenues for both companies throughout the tri-state area.”
The VKernel Virtual Appliance Suite for Systems Management is a set of “plug-and-play” virtual appliances designed to quickly address real world systems management challenges as organizations migrate to VMware virtual environments. VKernel products enable IT groups to immediately solve today’s critical pain points by providing visibility into the capacity and resource consumption of each virtual machine. VKernel is currently offering a Chargeback Virtual Appliance for gaining cost visibility and implementing chargeback, and a Capacity Bottleneck Analyzer Virtual Appliance for identifying and eliminating capacity bottlenecks.
“BDS promotes best practices for virtualization within enterprises starting with the design and architecture of the data center,” said Jerry Reid, vice president of business development at BDS. “To enable our customers to experience the benefits of virtualization, we look for best-of-breed, complementary toolsets like those from VKernel so that we can provide distinguishing products and services that allow our customers to be successful throughout the virtualization lifecycle.”
BDS helps customers better understand how virtualization can solve real business problems, while cutting costs and improving service level agreements. The BDS team has been marrying “top level subject matter experts” with its customers’ IT initiatives for over 20 years, so that its solutions are being designed and implemented by the most experienced resources. By initially architecting a smart solution, new tools can be integrated without re-designing. This saves resources and provides a platform flexible for future expansions.
About VKernel Corporation
Based in Portsmouth, NH, VKernel is dedicated to developing best-of-breed virtual appliances that enhance performance, lower costs, and simplify management of virtual environments of all sizes. As a member of VMware’s Technology Alliance Program, VKernel offers the industry’s only VMware certified virtual appliances for analyzing capacity, chargeback, and cost visibility. For more information, visit .
About business Development Services for IT Solutions LLC
Business Development Services for IT Solutions LLC (BDS) promotes best-of-breed products and specialized professional services in the emerging technology space. BDS specializes in virtual technologies and associated solutions in the N.Y., N.J., Conn., tri-state area for companies of all sizes in every industry including pharmaceutical, financial, manufacturing, retail, and more. For more information, visit .
VKernel and the VKernel logo are trademarks of VKernel Corporation. All other company and product names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective holders.
Contact:
Christian Simko Ed Marshall
VKernel Corporation Beaupre Public Relations
Ph: 603.590.1030 Ph: 603.559.5816
Email: Email:
Web:
VKernel Corporation

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Reed Business Information Acquires New Lead Generation Business

June 13th, 2008 by admin

LONDON, June 12 /PRNewswire/ — An online lead generation service designed to match business buyers with
suppliers is the latest acquisition for business to business publisher Reed
Business Information UK (RBI).

Approved Index is an online B2B marketplace matching thousands of
business buyers and suppliers across the UK. They provide a successful Pay
Per Lead service in more than 100 different sectors, such as website
designers, management training, marketing companies and photocopiers.

“The demand for this sort of service in the B2B market is soaring,” said
Jeroen Kuerble, RBI portfolio director. “Approved Index have a very flexible
product providing excellent customer service to both users and suppliers
which is undoubtedly a massive asset to RBI and will help accelerate our
online growth even faster.”
The addition of Approved Index to RBI’s portfolio brings the total of
recent acquisitions by the company to four. CELRE, Heren Energy and JP
Airline Fleets Directory have all joined RBI recently.

Titus Sharpe, Approved Index’s commercial director commented: “We are
very excited by the opportunity RBI offers. Their large portfolio of B2B
sites and publications will allow Approved Index’s customers to benefit from
a greater volume of high quality leads. Our community of business buyers will
benefit from a greater pool of suppliers.”
The London based service will compliment RBI’s existing online directory
Kellysearch and will continue to grow as part of RBI-UK’s online portfolio.

About Reed business Information UK

http://www.reedbusiness.co.uk

Reed business Information UK brings over 100 market leading brands to an
audience of 30 million decision makers worldwide through its multi-platform
media of branded community websites, online subscription services, web based
directories and vertical search products. Part of the Reed Elsevier Group,
RBI has globally recognised brands in 18 vertical markets in the UK, Europe,
USA and Asia.

About Approved Index

http://www.approvedindex.co.uk

Approved Index is an online business to business marketplace matching
thousands of business buyers and suppliers across the UK. Approved Index
provides a Pay Per Lead service in more than 100 different sectors.

For more information please contact:

Titus Sharpe
Approved Index
44(0)20-3031-6035
titus@approvedindex.co.uk

Jeroen Kuerble
RBI
44(0)1342-335830
jeroen.kuerble@rbi.co.uk

Reed business Information

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Diverse Business Needs Driving Wireless Applications Wide Array of Technologies

May 15th, 2008 by admin

NEW YORK, May 12 /PRNewswire/ — The next-generation of wireless technology has a new focus: enabling mobile business operations. This transcends the old wireless goals of voice roaming and a local data dynamic in favor of a new focus on enabling business operations remotely. Data-capable devices are in wide deployment, with nearly 90% of IT executives indicating their organizations either support or use such instruments, according to Nemertes’ latest benchmark study, “Next-Generation Wireless”.
WiFi integration is now becoming an important business tool that has largely been deployed to reduce the cost of cellular access. “Enterprises are demanding mobility solutions,” said Mike Jude, research analyst with Nemertes Research. “Vendors and carriers must understand and develop wireless solutions that are aimed at improving business operations.”
Another key finding is that next-generation wireless requires a shared service responsibility between the enterprise IT organization and the carrier. Nemertes found that support for mobile devices continues to increase, with 23% of IT executives indicating support for Blackberry devices, up from 13.8% in 2007. Yet these devices are actually on carrier networks. Improved service expectations of users can only be met by closer collaboration between IT organizations and carriers.
The study also found that smaller companies are spending about the same proportionally on wireless as large companies, approximately 4% of their IT budgets, indicating that wireless is an essential part of business, regardless of size.
The benchmark indicates that IT executives must include wireless in their IT planning process since wireless is increasingly augmenting or even replacing fixed infrastructure. “Excluding wireless in IT planning will deny the maximum benefit of wireless investment and will likely generate additional costs downstream as poorly designed or implemented networks require replacement or reengineering,” Jude says.
About the Benchmark
The five-volume benchmark, Advanced Communications Services, examines several key areas, including building a better WAN, wireless trends, branch- office recommendations, organizational best practices, and contract- negotiation analysis.
About Nemertes Research
Nemertes Research is an analyst firm that specializes in analyzing and quantifying the business value of emerging technologies. We select technical and business issues to research based on input from our clients and benchmarks participants. You can learn more about Nemertes Research at our website .
Nemertes Research Inc.

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Media announcement - CGI signs US$115 million, ten year contract with Magnolia Insurance Company to provide business process outsourcing services

May 15th, 2008 by admin

ANDOVER, MA, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB), a global leader in information technology and business process services, announced today that is has signed a ten-year, US$115 million contract with Magnolia Insurance Company to provide back-office services including complete policy administration, billing and accounting, claims administration, statistical reporting, and statutory accounting services. Magnolia will begin with an assumption of a book of homeowner’s policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in the State of Florida and will begin writing new insurance by September.
“We’re excited about this opportunity,” James Irl, President and CEO of Magnolia explained, “Magnolia will partner with CGI to use cutting edge technology to lower costs and improve our communications with our agents and policyholders. Using CGI’s technology and experienced staff, we expect to be very competitive in the Florida Homeowners market “. Magnolia made this decision based on CGI’s full-range of capabilities and their track record of success in ventures of this type. He added, “CGI’s partnership approach makes it easy to do business with them and provides us the flexibility to support the changing needs of our clients and to expand into new markets quickly.”
Paul Raymond, Senior Vice-President of CGI’s New England and Insurance Services business unit, added: “Magnolia is filling a need in Florida’s insurance market. CGI is committed to providing quality services to their agents and policyholders. Magnolia benefits from CGI’s ability to provide small- to medium-size insurance companies, with the technology and service capabilities they traditionally wouldn’t be able to create on their own.”
About Magnolia Insurance
Beginning operations in 2008, Magnolia’s experienced team of insurance professionals began with an initial investment of $20 million in surplus funds. This capital commitment allows Magnolia to initially assume 60,000 policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation as well as to write new Florida homeowners policies in a market in need of new capacity. Website: .
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is one of the largest independent information technology and business process services firms in the world. CGI and its affiliated companies employ approximately 27,000 professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in North America, Europe and India. CGI’s annual revenue run rate stands at $3.8 billion and at March 31st, 2008, CGI’s order backlog was $12.04 billion. CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB) and are included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index as well as the S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology and MidCap Indices. Website: .
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are “forward-looking information” within the meaning of sections 138.3 and following of the Ontario Securities Act. These statements and this information represent CGI’s intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, of which many are beyond the control of the Company. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. These factors include and are not restricted to the timing and size of new contracts, acquisitions and other corporate developments; the ability to attract and retain qualified members; market competition in the rapidly-evolving IT industry; general economic and business conditions, foreign exchange and other risks identified in the MD&A, in CGI’s Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (filed on EDGAR at ), the Company’s Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities authorities (filed on SEDAR at ), as well as assumptions regarding the foregoing. The words “believe,”"estimate,”"expect,”"intend,”"anticipate,”"foresee,”"plan,” and similar expressions and variations thereof, identify certain of such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. In particular, statements relating to future performance are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. CGI disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or on this forward-looking information. You will find more information about the risks that could cause our actual results to significantly differ from our current expectations in the Risks and Uncertainties section.
CGI GROUP INC.

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