Exchange Connect platform for Hudson Fiber Network

Hudson Fiber Network (HFN) will launch Exchange Connect platform in Switch and Data’s North Bergen, NJ data center. Exchange Connect features 200 to 400-microsecond actual performance to the leading financial markets, including NYSE/SFTI, NASDAQ, BATS, and Direct Edge. With a guaranteed SLA of 750 microseconds, HFN announces that Exchange Connect sets a new industry performance milestone. “In an industry where microseconds matter, enabling clients to increase trade order fill ratios is at the forefront of our concerns,” said Brett Diamond, President of Hudson Fiber Network. Trade volume in April 2008 was seven billion trades per day, and a year later it has increased to 12 billion. In addition to sub-millisecond exchange access, Switch and Data’s site offers the financial community space and power to scale their operations to keep pace with this drastic increase in transaction volume. The 163,000sf North Bergen data center is built to Switch and Data’s latest high-performance standard and can support up to 200 watts/sf of power and cooling capacity.

Hudson Fiber Network was established in 2002 and has quickly become one of the premier Ethernet data providers in the U.S. offering Ethernet data and IP solutions for medium to large-sized global customers. HFN utilizes multiple carriers and a variety of networks, while providing consolidated invoices and a single point-of-contact for all Ethernet applications. The company’s vendor network targets data and Internet services on a worldwide level. Its 24/7 support team services customers’ telecom needs from basic Internet services to high-end Gigabit Ethernet and Wave networks. For more information on Hudson Fiber Network, please go to www.hudsonfiber.com.

$19.3 million subcontract for sonobuoys

Sparton Corporation is announcing award of a $19.3 million subcontract to manufacture sonobuoys for the United States Navy as part of the ERAPSCO joint venture. Under an ERAPSCO subcontract, Sparton will produce subassemblies for more than 7,320 AN/SSQ-101A (Q-101A) sonobuoys to support United States Naval Antisubmarine Forces. The AN/SSQ-101A Air Deployable Active Receiver (ADAR) sonobuoy is an A-size, expendable, acoustic signal receive array. With on-board digital signal processing and a Sparton Digital Compass for bearing determination, target localization and tracking by Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft is achieved.

High-speed connectivity for Commercial Lumber and Pallet Company

Commercial Lumber and Pallet Company (CLC), a manufacturer of new quality wooden pallets, has deployed MegaPath's Premium T1 service to deliver high-speed Internet connectivity for its locations in City of Industry and Beaumont, California. MegaPath's fully-managed service helps ensure that CLC's onsite staff can better serve customer requirements with consistent Internet access, while remote employees have reliable access to corporate applications and information. (Jeff Sano, Controller of CLC.)

$1.46 million on ultra long reach drivers

GigOptix Inc., a provider of electronic engines for the optically connected digital world, has booked a $1.46 million purchase order for its ultra long reach Mach-Zehnder Modulator (MZM) drivers. “Despite the difficult market conditions, we see a continued healthy demand for our long reach and ultra long reach drivers for terrestrial and undersea optical cable links greater than 500 km. Our drivers, with integrated encoders for 10Gb/s RZ and RZ-DPSK modulation formats, are valued for their superior performance and offer the best jitter specifications in the market,” states Padraig O’Mathuna, Director of Product Marketing at GigOptix. “This new order brings our expected 2009 sales to this customer to more than $3.5 million.”

$29.7 million for Machine Reading program

BBN Technologies, an advanced technology solutions firm, has been awarded $29.7 million in funding by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the Machine Reading program in a contract awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The goal of the Machine Reading program is to develop a revolutionary, automated reading system that bridges the gap between naturally occurring text and the artificial intelligence reasoning systems that need such knowledge. Although this intelligent learning system would initially be used to automate military intelligence analysis, it could also enable a variety of civilian applications. For example, as more and more of the world’s libraries are converted to digital text, this system could provide unprecedented access and automated analysis, allowing for vastly expanded cultural awareness and historical and cultural research.

Network infrastructure for Peabody Hotel Group

AFL Network Services, provider of integrated network solutions for the hospitality and telecommunications industry, has been selected to install network infrastructure as part of Peabody Hotel Group’s $450 million expansion of the Peabody Orlando. AFL will provide engineering support, materials, and installation for the voice, data and video networks. Given the high rate of leisure traffic and ranking as the nation’s No. 2 convention destination, Orlando has a reputation for some of the best hotels in the country. At the top of the list is the Peabody Hotel, one of the most luxurious sites in the city and neighbor to the Orange County Convention Center on International Drive. (Michael Craft, executive vice president and chief financial officer for the Peabody Hotel Group.)

Fuel Management System

FuelQuest, Inc., the on-demand software and services company for the global downstream energy industry, has reached a five-year agreement with John E. Jones Oil Company (Jones Oil) for the use of its Fuel Management System (FMS). Jones Oil will deploy FMS to improve fleet utilization, reduce retains and run-outs, and increase visibility into tank inventory and usage trends. FMS powers the largest fuel management network in North America with more than 15 billion gallons managed annually. (Patrick Lingg, controller of Jones Oil.)

Banks and merchants to avoid global network costs

The State Bank has gone live with the Bling Nation Community Payments Service, a contactless payments network that enables banks and merchants to avoid global network costs and keep money within the community through a secure local debit network. The bank markets the local payments network as an alternative to traditional payments networks and accompanying rewards program as Redi Pay Bling. Brad Rose, vice president of Information Technology and Security for The State Bank: “In a community of 8,000, there are five banks, including one national branch, and two credit unions. As a result, it is important for us to distinguish ourselves by offering our customers lower costs and increased security and convenience in making and accepting payments, while also driving local commerce.“

U.S. Chemical Safety Board Web site

Americaneagle.com, a Web site design, development and hosting company has developed the U.S. Chemical Safety Board Web site, located at www.csb.gov. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Web site delivers an online portal for the public to access the agency’s investigations, recommendations, and outreach programs. Along with Web 2.0 graphic designs, the site is equipped with a Content Management System powered by Americaneagle.com’s idev solution platform. The site is also equipped with Americaneagle.com’s idev Broadcast Email Tool that enables the agency to extend its outreach by sending news, announcements, events and other important items to registered users. (U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chairman John S. Bresland.) www.csb.gov

48 million households pay bills online

The number of US households paying bills online will grow from 48 million this year to 63 million by 2014, according to a forecast by Forrester Research.

$14 million on real-time rail data

Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. has won a renewed three-year contract for outsourced information technology services valued at $14 million with Railinc, the rail industry’s largest and most accurate source for real-time interline rail data. Under the contract, ACS will continue to provide network operational services and midrange and mainframe system operations services from its data centers. In addition, ACS will continue to provide disaster recovery/business continuity and testing services for Railinc’s midrange and mainframe systems. This includes a designated hot site, ensuring that Railinc’s critical operations remain up and running pending a disaster. (Todd Bolon, vice president and chief information officer for Railinc.)

Personal robots market will grow from $1.16 billion in 2009

According to the study “Personal Robotics 2009: Task, Security & Surveillance/Telepresence, Entertainment and Education Robot, and Robotic Components Markets Through 2015” (http://www.nextgenresearch.com/research/1004160-Personal_Robotics_2009), the global personal robots market will grow from $1.16 billion in 2009 to more than $5 billion in 2015. The majority of such robots in 2009 are entertainment robots -- toys -- and single-task robots, such as vacuum cleaners or floor washers.

1.23 million messages at school

Glen Ridge Public Schools, a K-12 public school system, has selected MXsense’sWeb-based email archiving solution to manage and archive school-wide emails, meet regulatory requirements and provide the ability to easily search through email messages. As a measure of success, the school system is already storing 80GB spanning 1.23 million messages. Regulations such as the Department of Education’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (34 CFR Part 99) are driving the need for school districts such as Glen Ridge to effectively archive their email communications. (Winnie Boswell, Director of Technology at Glen Ridge Public Schools.)

At home Spysure helps protect children from paedophiles and blocks adult content. In the office it monitors and views employees' activities and tells you what is happening online. http://www.spysure.com

First operators intending to deploy LTE named

The tally of wireless operators committed to deploying LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks and offering LTE-based services to their subscribers in 2010 has climbed to at least 12, according to a study from ABI Research. By the following year nearly 34 million users worldwide are forecast to subscribe to the new ultra-fast data services, which promise speeds rivaling those available via cable or DSL. “Spectrum availability is the primary factor impacting deployment plans,” comments senior analyst Nadine Manjaro. “In countries where telecommunications regulators are making appropriate spectrum available, many operators have announced plans to launch LTE. These include the US, Sweden, China, and others. Where no such spectrum allocations exist, operators are postponing LTE plans.” The first operators intending to deploy LTE include Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS Wireless, and U.S. Cellular in the United States.

$2 trillion this year on health care

According to Bloomberg: The largest expansion of U.S. health care since the creation of Medicare in 1965 may emerge from legislation designed to reshape the medical industry and change how Americans receive and pay for care. Congress today begins crafting legislation that may require all Americans to get medical insurance, force insurers to accept all patients and end the tax break for employer-paid health benefits. These changes may be hammered out with unprecedented speed at the urging of President Barack Obama, who four days ago said “this is the moment.”

Obama has made a health-care overhaul his top domestic priority, using his February budget proposal to call it a “moral” imperative to extend coverage to the country’s 46 million uninsured. Obama also tied the long-term fiscal soundness of the U.S. to controlling medical costs. Health care consumes 18 percent of the U.S. economy and may rise to 34 percent by 2040, the White House Council of Economic Advisers reported June 2.

The U.S. will spend more than $2 trillion this year on health care, the Health and Human Services department reported in February.

Exclusive deals - review?

Four U.S. have senators asked the Federal Communications Commission to review exclusive deals between wireless-phone companies and handset makers to see whether the arrangements unfairly restrict consumer choice. The FCC should “act expeditiously” if it finds exclusive deals adversely affect competition, said the lawmakers, who included Senator John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat who heads the Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet. AT&T Inc. has an exclusive arrangement to offer Apple Inc.’s iPhone on its network, and Sprint Nextel Corp. has sole rights for Palm Inc.’s Pre. The iPhone made up 41 percent of AT&T’s 11.8 million smart-phone subscriptions, ComScore said. Sprint, the third-largest U.S. wireless operator, has exclusive rights to the Pre through at least the end of the year.

Smart grid software platform

GridPoint has been selected by Hometown Connections as its exclusive smart grid software platform provider. A marketing agreement enables APPA utility members to purchase GridPoint’s software platform with favorable commercial terms and deliver innovative energy savings programs to public power customers. GridPoint Platform 3.0 allows utilities to progressively integrate and customize smart grid solutions, including energy efficiency, load management, renewable integration, storage management and electric vehicle management. (Tim Blodgett, President and CEO, Hometown Connections.)

Crash Prevention Program

The North Dakota Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Traffic Safety have certified North Dakota’s approved Crash Prevention Program, NorthDakotaCrashPrevention.com, providing a new alternative to North Dakota motorists who want to remove points from their driving records or obtain an insurance discount. The program provides Internet-based instruction in defensive driving techniques and other safe-driving skills. North Dakota drivers who successfully complete the course may be able to use it to reduce fines or dismiss the ticket after receiving a traffic citation. Or, drivers may opt to use it to obtain a two-year reduction of 5% to their auto insurance premium rates.

$750,000 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research

UQM Technologies, a developer of alternative energy technologies, has received orders from military customers totaling $2.77 million for propulsion systems, generators and funded engineering activities. The most recent order is a $750,000 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract from the U.S. Navy to develop a high torque electro-magnetic actuator system. The focus of this two-year effort will be to improve the torque capability of electric motors through the use of advanced materials research and the company’s proprietary magnet architecture. The Company will also collaborate with the University of Texas to develop an advanced gearbox as part of the development effort.

Operational awareness of critical infrastructures

Battelle has been named one of two companies awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract with a ceiling of $94 million. As part of the contract award by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Battelle was awarded the largest task order with a five-year value of $29 million. Battelle, and its key subcontractor Capstone, will support all DHS National Infrastructure Coordination Center (NICC) Watch locations and the Office of Infrastructure Protection Incident Management Cell (IMC) to maintain operational awareness of the nation’s critical infrastructures and key resources. The NICC is the round-the-clock watch mechanism through which the National Operations Center (NOC) maintains contact and exchanges information with the agencies and people responsible for protecting key resources and critical infrastructure.