WolfVision introduces its 4th generation VZ-8 Series Visualizers. These new units come with a redesigned housing, 14x optical zoom capability and feature a native 1080p HD camera.

Besides the native 1080p HD resolution at 30 fps (frames per second), new features include a basic LAN port and HDMI input and output. With the optional Feature Pack the VZ-8light4 can be upgraded to include infrared remote control, USB host port functionality, nine image internal memory and external image memory capability.

The new VZ-8plus4 is the world's Read more...

Another big data company joins the ranks of recent IBM acquisitions-- business analytics vendor Star Analytics, whose offerings will be folded into IBM Financial Performance Management solutions. 

The financial terms of the deal are not disclosed. 

The acquisition gives IBM the entire Star Analytics business intelligence automation solution portfolio, which automates integration of data, BI applications and other reporting tools across both in-house and cloud-based environments. 

IBM also says Star Analytics solutions eliminate custom coding and other Read more...

EMC announces changes to its Velocity partner program in order to boost midrange business-- with increased backend rebates and the removal of a number of certification requirements. 

The result of a partner survey and two channel advisory board meetings, the revamped program does not require partners to have an implementation specialist in order to join the top Premier and Signature tiers. This allows partners to focus on sales, not implementation services.

Top partners can also deliver own EMC-backed support contracts, just like how Cisco gold partners deliver SmartNet. EMC EMEA channels VP Philippe Fossé says this as “a channel play… they need to earn the margin, so they need to deliver the service themselves.”

EMEA accounts for 59% of EMC channel business, and is a "growth engine" according to Fossé.   Read more...

Michael Dell has plan on how to bring Dell back on its feet-- and acquires the company sharing his name for $24 billion, reportedly the biggest leveraged buyout since 2007.

The huge deal combines cash from investors Silver Lake, debts with four banks, a $2bn loan from Microsoft and Dell's own 16% share of the company. It also ends the company's 24-year run on Wall Street.

No specific details are available on how going private will change things Dell-- the company will continue its transformation towards IBM-style software and services, while no mention is given whether it will spin off the low-margin PC business.

Michael Dell returned to his company in 2007 after a brief hiatus, but since then Dell missed the consumer shift to tablets and smartphones and its fortunes slid further and further. According to Gartner, Dell is #3 in the global Q4 2012 PC vendor rankings, with just 10.2% share of the market. PC sales still make the majority of Dell revenues.

The company that just bought IBM's x86 server business and Motorola Mobility in the same month...Lenovo continues to have strong business momentum, delivering record revenue and profitability. To accommodate that growth, Lenovo announces several organizational and senior leadership changes.

Lenovo will establish four new business groups, effective April 1, 2014. This new structure replaces the company’s structure of two business groups (Lenovo Business Group including consumer PC and mobile, and Think Business Group consisting of commercial PCs and enterprise).

PC Business Group(including Lenovo and Think brands), led by Gianfranco Lanci, who currently leads Lenovo EMEA.  This group will ensure we continue to innovate, drive profits and expand our lead in our core PC business worldwide.

Mobile Business Group(smartphone, tablet, smart TV), led by Liu Jun, who currently leads the Lenovo Business Group (consumer and mobile products).  This group is focused on making Lenovo a profitable global player in the fast-growing smartphone and tablet and developing our smart TV business.

Enterprise(including servers and storage), will be led by Gerry Smith, who currently leads Lenovo’s Americas Group.  The goal of this group is to aggressively build a new, fast-growing profit engine in enterprise, where we already have a solid foundation.  Pending regulatory approvals, the business represented by the recently announced acquisition of IBM’s x86 server business would be integrated into Smith’s organization.

Ecosystem and Cloud Services(including both Android and Windows opportunities), led by George He, senior vice president, Lenovo, who currently serves as Chief Technology Officer.  The goal of this group is to continue building our China ecosystem and drive a strategy for monetization and ecosystem expansion.

Cisco announces yet another acquisition-- Israel-based mobile network software developer Intucell, worth $475 million. 

Intucell makes self-optimised network (SON) software platforms for mobile carrier networks, and has expertise in software, radio management and optimisation technologies. According to Cisco Intucell SON software examines networks, identifies issues and manages network traffic in real time. 

"Through the addition of Intucell's industry-leading SON technology, Cisco's service provider mobility portfolio provides operators with unparalleled Read more...