Tech News

  • Johnson Smith Company(TM) Expands Relationship with Yes Lifecycle Marketing

    Published: Tuesday, November 3, 2015 | By: GlobalNewswire

    CHICAGO, Nov. 3, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yes Lifecycle Marketing, an Infogroup company and multichannel marketing solutions provider, today announced the Johnson Smith Company™ has expanded their relationship with Yes Lifecycle Marketing to include full-service marketing capabilities - analytics, strategy, data and database marketing technology - across their brands.

    As one of America's oldest catalog and internet retailers, headquartered in Bradenton, FL, the Johnson Smith Company, relies on Yes Lifecycle Marketing to provide data-driven, actionable insights, and state-of-the-art technology solutions to ensure they are meeting the demands of their customers. By implementing a Marketing Opportunity Diagnosis, Yes Lifecycle Marketing's Agency Services was able to equip the Johnson Smith Company with a comprehensive customer data analysis in order to quantify and fuel revenue growth opportunities.

    "Yes Lifecycle Marketing has provided us with the insights and guidance to help lead our business into becoming a better multichannel cataloger," said Johnson Smith Company's, Ellen Pullman, Director of Marketing. "They understand our customers, our business and our vision."

    Key reasons the Johnson Smith Company selected Yes Lifecycle Marketing include:

    • Innovative data and analytics solutions
    • Thought Leadership
    • Database marketing expertise
    • Responsiveness and collaboration of the client service team

    "The Johnson Smith Company has long been a household name in cataloging for novelties, gifts and collectibles," said Michael Fisher, president of Yes Lifecycle Marketing. "We are thrilled to be an integral partner as the Johnson Smith Company further evolves into a multichannel marketer."

    "Yes Lifecycle Marketing is well positioned to help traditional cataloguers adapt to the multichannel age of marketing," said Mike Iaccarino, CEO and Chairman, of Infogroup. "Our expertise as a services and technology partner gives clients the opportunity to facilitate progress and develop strategies that impact the bottom line."

    About Johnson Smith Company

    Founded in 1904 by Alfred Johnson Smith in Australia and launched in the United States in 1914, is celebrating its 97th anniversary in 2011. Based in Bradenton, Florida, The Johnson Smith Company serves millions of people through its four catalogs and complementary web sites - The Lighter Side (www.LighterSide.com), Things You Never Knew Existed (www.ThingsYouNeverKnew.com), Betty's Attic (www.BettysAttic.com), and Full of Life (www.FullOfLife.com). The Johnson Smith Company is a member of The Direct Marketing Association, American Catalog Association, The New England Mail Order Association, the Manatee (Fla.) Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau. Find out more information at: www.johnsonsmith.com.

    About Yes Lifecycle Marketing

    Yes Lifecycle Marketing provides solutions that orchestrate cross-channel marketing communications to drive results and revenue. This is accomplished by leveraging technology, data, analytics, creative, and strategy to activate and optimize insights-driven, real-time, relevant communications. This holistic approach gives marketers the ability to source a full-service offering of best-of-breed technology and solutions from a single vendor in order to achieve their desired outcomes across all on and offline channels. To learn more, call 1-877-937-6245, email sales@yeslifecyclemarketing.com or visit www.yeslifecyclemarketing.com.

    About Infogroup

    Infogroup is a marketing services and analytics provider that delivers best in class data-driven customer-centric technology solutions. Our data and software-as-a-service (DaaS & SaaS) offerings help clients of all sizes, from small companies to FORTUNE 100TM enterprises, increase their sales and customer loyalty. Infogroup provides both digital and traditional marketing channel expertise that is enhanced by access to our proprietary data on 235MM individuals and 24MM businesses, which is distributed real-time to our clients. For more information, visit: www.infogroup.com.

    CONTACT: Sarah Dietze Phone: 312-241-1471 E-mail: sarah.dietze@walkersands.com

  • Prime Numbers Technology Releases Contract Monitoring

    Published: Monday, November 2, 2015 | By: GlobalNewswire

    MILFORD, Mass., Nov. 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prime Numbers Technology (PNT), long-standing provider of data analysis solutions, and the independent development force behind industry-leading travel reporting and benchmarking platform, Prime Analytics, has today announced the release of its latest data analysis tool: Contract Monitoring. This release marks the second phase of PNT's contract and vendor analysis software, Prime Sourcing, which was unveiled late 2014.

    Contract Monitoring is a contract definition tool which builds upon the analytic framework established in Prime Sourcing's first module, Dynamic Analysis. Within the tool, users are guided through an intuitive configuration and contract data loading interface, which provides real-time feedback and validates entries against historical data and PNT's proprietary rules engine. Once contract data and discounts are loaded into Contract Monitoring, they become fully functional components within Dynamic Analysis, offering further dissection and benchmarking of contract performance.

    "At its core, Contract Monitoring is an agreement optimization tool," explained Doug Vasquez, Vice President, Software Development at Prime Numbers Technology. "On a corporate direct level, businesses can explore the performance of their current and historical contracts, which can assist in discount negotiation and preferred vendor analysis. Through the interface, corporations can further visualize the 'Where?' and 'Why?' of their current contract performance, and learn exactly which factors can help their company improve, or stay on track."

    Travel management companies (TMCs) can also leverage Contract Monitoring to gain new perspective into agency-wide contracts and supplier agreements. By defining targets for their contract and discount goals, TMCs can track the effectiveness of their negotiated agreements to reveal hidden potential for greater ROI, as well as supplier discounts.

    "This new module of Prime Sourcing is a powerful tool for corporations and TMCs alike, and we're looking forward to seeing how users interact with the tool," added Vasquez. "We'll be utilizing user feedback to fine-tune the last module of Prime Sourcing – Contract Modeling – which is planned for release in 2016."

    Prime Sourcing's first modules, Contract Monitoring and Dynamic Analysis, are available for TMC and corporate commercial licensing now. For more information, including demonstration and licensing inquiries, please visit www.primenumberstechnology.com.

    About Prime Numbers Technology

    Prime Numbers Technology (PNT) is dedicated to helping clients drive significant savings in business spend through industry-recognized data analytics and benchmarking solutions. PNT is in continuous development for a comprehensive suite of solutions including data analytics and benchmarking, dashboards, policy management, best practices and ROI maximization. PNT technology is licensed by some of the most recognized names in business travel, with global representation by many Fortune 250 corporations and top 10 travel management companies. PNT is a division of Atlas Travel & Technology Group Inc., based in Milford, MA. For more information on Prime Numbers Technology, please visit www.primenumberstechnology.com.

    CONTACT: Andrew Carriere Marketing & Communications Coordinator Atlas Travel & Technology Group Inc. +1 (508) 488-1260 Andrew.Carriere@atlastravel.com

  • TDK Corporation to Acquire Hutchinson Technology Inc.

    Published: Monday, November 2, 2015 | By: GlobalNewswire

    TOKYO and HUTCHINSON, Minn., Nov. 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TDK Corporation ("TDK") and Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (NASDAQ:HTCH) ("HTI") today jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which TDK will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of HTI for base consideration of US$3.62 per share, plus additional consideration of up to US$0.38 per share, depending on the level of cash (subject to certain adjustments) less any outstanding borrowings on HTI's revolving line of credit ("net cash") held by HTI as of the last day of the fiscal month immediately preceding the closing date. The amount of additional consideration, if any, will equal approximately US$0.01 per share for each US$500,000 of HTI's net cash over US$17.5 million as of the measurement date. As of September 27, 2015, HTI's net cash position was approximately US$40 million. In addition to the satisfaction of HTI's outstanding debt, the merger values HTI's equity at approximately $126 million to $140 million on a fully diluted basis. 

    Takehiro Kamigama, President and Chief Executive Officer of TDK said, "TDK and Hutchinson Technology have shared a long history in the disk drive industry, and I am very pleased that we can announce this agreement.  HTI's expertise and capabilities in design, development, and manufacturing of high precision components and assemblies will be a great addition to the TDK organization."

    Rick Penn, President and Chief Executive Officer of HTI, said, "This transaction represents a compelling opportunity for Hutchinson Technology shareholders, employees, customers and suppliers.  By combining the market position, resources and scale of TDK with our precision component manufacturing capabilities, we can ensure that our customers have access to the advanced technology they need.  We are pleased to become part of TDK, a premier company in the electronics industry."

    The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by each company's board of directors, is currently expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2016, subject to HTI shareholders' approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. HTI's board of directors recommends that shareholders vote to approve the transaction.

    For this transaction, Janes Capital Partners is acting as financial advisor to TDK and Nixon Peabody LLP is acting as TDK's legal counsel. BofA Merrill Lynch is acting as financial advisor to HTI and Faegre Baker Daniels LLP is acting as HTI's legal counsel.

    About TDK Corporation

    TDK Corporation is a leading electronics company based in Tokyo, Japan.  It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products.  TDK's portfolio includes electronic components, modules and systems marketed under the product brands TDK and EPCOS, power supplies, magnetic application products as well as energy devices, flash memory application devices, and others.  TDK focuses on demanding markets in the areas of information and communication technology and consumer, automotive and industrial electronics.  The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America.  In fiscal 2015, TDK posted total sales of US$9.0 billion and employed about 88,000 people worldwide.

    About Hutchinson Technology Incorporated

    Hutchinson Technology is a global supplier of critical precision component technologies. As a key supplier of suspension assemblies for disk drives, HTI helps customers improve overall disk drive performance and meet the demands of an ever-expanding digital universe. Through its new business development initiatives, HTI focuses on leveraging its unique precision manufacturing capabilities in new markets to improve product performance, reduce size, lower cost, and reduce time to market.

    Notice to Investors

    In connection with the proposed merger, HTI intends to file relevant materials with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A. Following the filing of the definitive proxy statement with the SEC, HTI will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each shareholder entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the proposed merger. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THESE MATERIALS IN THEIR ENTIRETY (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT HTI WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The proxy statement and other relevant materials (when available), and any and all documents filed by HTI with the SEC, may also be obtained for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

    This document does not constitute a solicitation of proxy, an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sellany securities. HTI, its directors, executive officers, and certain employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of HTI in connection with the proposed merger. Information about the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of HTI's shareholders in connection with the proposed merger, and any interest they have in the proposed merger, will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement when it is filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding these individuals is set forth in HTI's proxy statement for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on December 17, 2014, and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on December 10, 2014. These documents may be obtained for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements.  Actual results could differ materially from those projected or forecast in the forward-looking statements.  The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation, risks or uncertainties associated with: the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including, without limitation, the receipt of shareholder and regulatory approvals; the amount of HTI's net cash as of the measurement date for the determination of the additional merger consideration, if any; unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the proposed transaction; legal proceedings that may be instituted against HTI and others following announcement of the proposed transaction; disruptions of current plans and operations caused by the announcement and pendency of the proposed transaction; potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the announcement and pendency of the proposed transaction; the response of customers, distributors, suppliers and competitors to the announcement of the proposed transaction; and other factors described in HTI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2014 filed with the SEC.  TDK and HTI assume no obligation to update the information in this press release, except as required by law.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

    CONTACT: TDK CORPORATION CONTACTS: Corporate Communications Group: Sumio Marukawa +81-3-6852-7102 HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY CONTACTS: Media Contact: Connie Pautz +1-320-587-1823 Investor Contact: Chuck Ives +1-320-587-1605

  • Edgewater Retains Financial Advisor to Evaluate AMERI and Lone Star Proposals

    Published: Monday, November 2, 2015 | By: GlobalNewswire

    WAKEFIELD, Mass., Nov. 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edgewater Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:EDGW), a leading consulting firm that helps business leaders drive transformational change through its unique selection of business and technology services and specialized product-based solutions, today announced that its Board of Directors has retained Signal Hill Capital Group LLC to serve as financial advisor to the Company.  

    Signal Hill, along with legal advisors, Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP and Jones Day, will assist Edgewater's Board of Directors in evaluating the unsolicited all-stock proposal received from AMERI Holdings, Inc. The Board of Directors is reviewing the AMERI Holdings proposal to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interests of the Company and all of its stockholders.

    The Board of Directors is also aware of the effort by a Company stockholder, Lone Star Value Investors, LP, and others to solicit stockholder consents to remove certain directors from the Board and to implement certain other proposals regarding the Company. The Board and Company management value input from all of the Company's stockholders. The Board, with advice from its financial and legal advisors, will evaluate the Lone Star proposals and provide recommendations to stockholders regarding the associated consent solicitation based on the best interests of the Company and all of its stockholders.

    The Board of Directors will complete its evaluation of these matters in due course and will advise stockholders of the outcome of its review at that time.

    Additional Information

    In connection with the consent solicitation initiated by Lone Star Value Investors, LP, the Company may file a consent revocation statement and other documents regarding the Lone Star proposals with the SEC and may mail a consent revocation statement and a consent revocation card to each stockholder of record entitled to deliver a written consent with respect to the Lone Star proposals. STOCKHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ ANY CONSENT REVOCATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The final consent revocation statement, if any, may be mailed to stockholders. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, from Edgewater at its website, www.edgewater.com, or 200 Harvard Mill Square, Suite 210, Wakefield, Massachusetts 01880, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

    Participants in Solicitation

    The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of consent revocations in connection with the Lone Star proposals. Information concerning the Company's participants is set forth in the proxy statement, dated April 22, 2015, for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A. Additional information regarding the interests of participants of the Company in any solicitation of consent revocations in connection with the Lone Star proposals and other relevant materials, if any, will be filed with the SEC when they become available.

    About Edgewater

    Edgewater (NASDAQ:EDGW) helps business leaders drive transformational change through its unique selection of business and technology services and specialized product-based solutions.

    Classic consulting disciplines (such as business advisory, process improvement, organizational change management, M&A due diligence, and domain expertise) are blended with technical services (such as digital transformation, technical roadmaps, data and analytics services, custom development, and system integration) to help organizations get the most out of their existing IT assets while creating new digital business models.

    Delivering both on premise and in the cloud, Edgewater partners with Oracle and Microsoft to offer Business Analytics, BI, ERP, and CRM solutions. Edgewater Ranzal, an Oracle Platinum Consulting Partner, provides Business Analytics solutions leveraging Oracle EPM, BI, and Big Data technologies. As an award-winning Microsoft partner, Edgewater Fullscope delivers Dynamics AX ERP, Business Intelligence, and CRM solutions, with a specialty in manufacturing.

    CONTACT: INVESTOR CONTACT: Edgewater Technology, Inc. Timothy R. Oakes Phone: 781-246-6984 E-mail: toakes@edgewater.com MEDIA CONTACT: Sard Verbinnen & Co Bryan Locke / Debbie Miller Phone: (312) 895-4700 E-mail: blocke@sardverb.com / dmiller@sardverb.com

  • 3D Systems Launches 3D Printing Lab With U.S. Army

    Published: Friday, October 30, 2015 | By: GlobalNewswire

    - Army lab acquires wide range of 3DS technology for joint materials and applications research

    - Army and 3DS scientists to work together on-site at Aberdeen Proving Ground to develop, evaluate, and qualify new materials

    - Army 'Open Campus' effort catalyzes innovations for American soldiers and industry through public/private partnership

    ROCK HILL, S.C., Oct. 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced today a partnership with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the nation's premier research center for land forces, to jointly develop 3D printing technology and materials for automotive, medical, wearable, aerospace, and other commercial and defense applications at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

    As part of this agreement, 3DS personnel will serve as guest researchers on-site at Aberdeen Proving Ground to collaborate with the Army's material scientists. Together, Army and 3DS researchers will tap ARL's expansive high-tech materials characterization toolset, as well as bring together scores of leading polymer and metals scientists from the government and industry. 3DS will also work with the Army on hybridized manufacturing applications using 3D printing to allow for logistics innovations such as in-field manufacturing and efficient depot-level repair.

    "Additive manufacturing is redefining what is possible. Novel materials research will enable areas like 3D printed electronics and multi-functional structures. The development of hybridized manufacturing technologies will allow in-field manufacturing, efficient depot-level repair and a reduction of the Army's overall logistics burden," said Larry (LJ) Holmes, the Army Research Laboratory's Principal Investigator in this effort. "Equipping our soldiers with the most cutting edge technology requires innovations throughout our supply chain. We are pleased to embark on this cooperative R&D agreement, which will undoubtedly unlock new scientific discoveries and industrial innovation."

    Additionally, under the lab's new Open Campus initiative, various companies, universities, and government agencies can apply to access the ARL's newly acquired inventory of 3D printer technologies from 3DS, including a host of the latest state-of-the-art Stereolithography, Direct Metal Printing, and MultiJet Printing machines.

    "The United States Army is both a leader and innovator in adopting 3D printing technology," said Neal Orringer, 3DS' Vice President of Alliances and Partnerships. "Through its Open Campus initiative, the ARL is not only advancing high-tech collaboration, but also—more importantly— breaking new ground in fielding new materials and systems that support American soldiers, and we are proud to be the Army's partner."

    Development and qualification of new materials and printer technologies under this agreement will enable adoption of this technology within the Army, its industrial base and that of other industries.

    ARL will showcase its 3D printing research facilities at its Open Campus Open House on November 3 – 4, 2015 at its Aberdeen Proving Ground campus in Maryland. The event will introduce members of the international science and technology community to the ARL's research scientists and engineers and its specialized laboratory facilities that are available to support joint research. More information can be found here.

    Learn more about 3DS' commitment to manufacturing the future today at www.3dsystems.com.

    About 3D Systems

    3D Systems provides the most advanced and comprehensive 3D digital design and fabrication solutions available today, including 3D printers, print materials and cloud-sourced custom parts. Its powerful ecosystem transforms entire industries by empowering professionals and consumers everywhere to bring their ideas to life using its vast material selection, including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. 3DS' leading personalized medicine capabilities include end-to-end simulation, training and planning, and printing of surgical instruments and devices for personalized surgery and patient specific medical and dental devices. Its democratized 3D digital design, fabrication and inspection products provide seamless interoperability and incorporate the latest immersive computing technologies. 3DS' products and services disrupt traditional methods, deliver improved results and empower its customers to manufacture the future now.

    Leadership through Innovation and Technology

    • 3DS invented 3D printing with its Stereolithography (SLA) printer and was the first to commercialize it in 1989.
    • 3DS invented Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing and was the first to commercialize it in 1992.
    • 3DS invented and commercialized its patented, ground-breaking force-feedback haptic devices in 1993.
    • 3DS invented the ColorJet Printing (CJP) class of 3D printers and was the first to commercialize 3D powder-based systems in 1994.
    • 3DS invented MultiJet Printing (MJP) printers and was the first to commercialize it in 1996.
    • 3DS pioneered virtual surgical simulation (VSSTM) and virtual surgical planning (VSP®) as part of its portfolio of leading 3D healthcare products and services.
    • 3DS pioneered scan-based design with the release of the patented Geomagic Design X (XOR) software in 2006.

    Today its comprehensive range of 3D printers is the industry's benchmark for production-grade manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, patient specific medical device and a variety of consumer, electronic and fashion accessories.

    More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

    CONTACT: Investor Contact: Stacey Witten Email: investor.relations@3dsystems.com Media Contact: Timothy Miller Email: Press@3dsystems.com

  • Rapid7 Honored with STAR Award for Services Excellence at TSW 2015 Service Transformations Conference

    Published: Thursday, October 29, 2015 | By: GlobalNewswire

    BOSTON, Oct. 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rapid7, Inc. (NASDAQ:RPD), a leading provider of security data and analytics solutions, has been named the winner of the Fall 2015 Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA) STAR Award for Innovation in Enabling Customer Outcomes/Customer Success & Support, SMB Level. The award was announced on October 21 at the Technology Services World (TSW) 2015 Service Transformations conference in Las Vegas.

    The TSIA STAR Award for Innovation in Enabling Customer Outcomes/Customer Success & Support recognizes the company that demonstrates the most innovative approach, through customer success and support services, to assisting customers in realizing the maximum business value from the use of its products.

    Rapid7 provides security data and analytics solutions and services to help organizations reduce the risk of breach, detect and investigate cyber attacks, and build effective security programs. The Company was recognized for its unified Customer Success organization, which includes Sales Engineering, Global Services, Customer Success Management, and Learning & Support functions. Working together across these functions, the collective team helps align priorities to drive adoption, promote learning, and value realization, which enables customers to improve their overall security posture.

    "Helping our customers mitigate risk is the driving principle behind everything we do. We know that constantly innovating, adapting to the threat landscape, and giving customers the support and knowledge they need is critical to their success," said Mike McKee, senior vice president of Services and Customer Support. "Building meaningful customer partnerships is at the center of our core values and has always been key to Rapid7's business growth."

    "Now in its 25th year, the STAR Awards program has become a long-standing honor in the technology services industry, recognizing organizations that set the standard for leadership and dedication to this important market space," said J.B. Wood, president and CEO of TSIA. "Rapid7 has clearly demonstrated its high-level commitment to delivering world-class results, and it is truly an honor to recognize them for their dedication to excellence."

    Companies seeking the STAR Award undergo a rigorous evaluation process, with the winners selected by TSIA's service discipline advisory board members. Since its inception in 1990, the STAR Awards have become one of the highest honors in the technology services industry, acknowledging the contribution of companies of all sizes to the continual improvement of technology services delivery industry-wide. For information on the STAR Awards, go to www.tsia.com/awards_and_certifications/star_awards.html

    About Rapid7

    Rapid7 is a leading provider of security data and analytics solutions that enable organizations to implement an active, analytics-driven approach to cyber security. We combine our extensive experience in security data and analytics and deep insight into attacker behaviors and techniques to make sense of the wealth of data available to organizations about their IT environments and users. Our solutions empower organizations to prevent attacks by providing visibility into vulnerabilities and to rapidly detect compromises, respond to breaches, and correct the underlying causes of attacks. Rapid7 is trusted by more than 4,150 organizations across 90 countries, including 34% of the Fortune 1000. To learn more about Rapid7 or get involved in our threat research, visit www.rapid7.com.

    About TSIA

    The Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA) is the world's leading organization dedicated to advancing the business of technology services. Technology services organizations large and small look to TSIA for world-class business frameworks, best practices based on real-world results, detailed performance benchmarking, exceptional peer networking opportunities, and high-profile certification and awards programs. TSIA corporate members represent the world's top technology companies as well as scores of innovative small and mid-size businesses in four major markets: enterprise IT and telecom, consumer technology, healthcare and healthcare IT, and industrial equipment and technology. TSIA's editorial blog, Inside Technology Services, is widely recognized by technology service professionals for providing thought leadership and insights into industry trends and best practices. Visit us at www.tsia.com, follow us on Twitter @TSIACommunity, or connect with us on LinkedIn and Google+.

    CONTACT: Media Contact for Rapid7: Rachel Adam Rapid7, Senior PR Manager +1 (857) 415-4443 press@rapid7.com Media Contact for TSIA: Trisha Bright 858-674-5491 trisha.bright@tsia.com

  • Facebook Welcomes Bit9 + Carbon Black into ThreatExchange Community

    Published: Thursday, October 29, 2015 | By: GlobalNewswire

    WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bit9® + Carbon Black® the leader in Next-Generation Endpoint Security (NGES), today announced it has joined Facebook's ThreatExchange, a community of leading organizations dedicated to sharing threat data using a structured, easy-to-use API. Bit9 + Carbon Black is the first organization to integrate ThreatExchange data into a product and user interface.

    In joining Facebook's ThreatExchange, Bit9 + Carbon Black is part of a community comprising more than 100 top companies, including Facebook, Dropbox, Pinterest, PayPal and Microsoft.Starting today, Carbon Black customers may choose to enable receipt of threat intelligence from the Facebook ThreatExchange and, optionally, integrate that intelligence into their alerting infrastructures. When combined with Carbon Black's continuous endpoint recording and real-time threat intelligence, Facebook's ThreatExchange data further empowers security teams to correlate data to improve detection capabilities and dramatically reduce incident response times.

    Mark Hammell, manager of the Threat Infrastructure team at Facebook, summarized the benefits of the integration with Carbon Black in a Facebook post today. The full post is below.

    "We are stronger together," said Ben Johnson, Bit9 + Carbon Black's chief security strategist. "The Facebook ThreatExchange continues the industry movement toward unified defense. Through sharing intelligence and other cyber-defense knowledge, especially through automated means, our community as a whole is much stronger and better able to protect vital information."

    Industry-first Access
    All customers using Carbon Black, the industry's leading endpoint detection and response solution, now have access to the "Traffic Light Protocol White" (TLP White) data in the ThreatExchange. This information is provided to Carbon Black customers via the Bit9 + Carbon Black Threat Intelligence Cloud. TLP White threat indicators include domain names, IPs and hashes.

    Additional Access via Connector
    Carbon Black customers already active in the Facebook ThreatExchange may install a "connector" to access additional ThreatExchange data using their own member credentials. This connector enables members of the Facebook Threat Exchange to import threat indicators from the ThreatExchange, including domain names, IPs, hashes, and behavioral indicators, into Carbon Black. The Facebook ThreatExchange and its members provide and maintain this data. This connector requires an access token to the Facebook ThreatExchange API. Facebook ThreatExchange members may click here to download the Carbon Black connector for Facebook ThreatExchange.

    Carbon Black customers interested in gaining access to this additional threat intelligence are encouraged to apply for the Facebook ThreatExchange beta program. For more information on how to apply, click here.

    Full Text of Facebook Post by Mark Hammell:

    Scaling ThreatExchange with Product Integration

    ThreatExchange has grown quickly since we opened up the application process in August. We now have over 130 companies on the platform and more than 2.5 million daily API calls.

    From the start, scale has been an ongoing objective for ThreatExchange to maximize the value of the information shared by the community. As an API-based platform, ThreatExchange was intentionally built to support a wide distribution of available threat intelligence and easily fit within existing workflows. Product integration will continue to play an important role in making it easier for more people to share and use threat intelligence.

    Integration with Carbon Black

    Today, we're excited to share that not only is Bit9 + Carbon Black already contributing valuable threat intelligence to ThreatExchange, but Carbon Black customers can now choose to receive data from ThreatExchange through the Carbon Black interface. They also have the option to integrate ThreatExchange data into their existing alerting infrastructures.

    This means you can leverage the indicators of compromise (IOC) from ThreatExchange against the rich endpoint data available from Carbon Black. It's a powerful combination of IOCs from ThreatExchange with free and easy malware hunting!

    About Bit9 + Carbon Black

    Bit9 + Carbon Black is the market leader in Next-Generation Endpoint Security. We have sold more licenses, have more experience, and more customers than any other NGES company because our solution is the most effective way to prevent, detect and respond to advanced threats that target users, servers, and fixed-function devices. That's why more than 60 MSSP and IR leaders, including Dell SecureWorks, EY, Optiv and Solutionary, have chosen our technology as a key component of their security offerings, and 25 of the Fortune 100 rely on us as a critical element of their advanced threat defense and compliance strategies. By the end of 2015, we expect to achieve 70 percent growth, 7 million+ software licenses sold, and almost 2,000 customers worldwide. We were voted Best Endpoint Protection by security professionals in the SANS Institute's Best of 2014 Awards, and a 2015 SANS survey found that 68 percent of IR professionals are using or evaluating Carbon Black.

    Bit9 and Carbon Black are registered trademarks of Bit9, Inc. All other company or product names may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

    CONTACT: Kevin Flanagan Bit9 + Carbon Black +1 781-856-2589 kflanagan@bit9.com Kristina LeBlanc MediaLink Group +1 508-930-5636 kristinawleblanc@gmail.com

  • Noctua celebrates 10-year anniversary

    Published: Thursday, October 29, 2015 | By: Dennis

    Vienna, October 29th 2015 – Noctua today celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Since the introduction of the first generation NH-U12 heatsink in October 2005, Noctua's products have received more than 6000 awards and recommendations from leading international hardware websites and magazines, making them a default choice for quiet cooling enthusiasts all over the world.

    "Our products have come a long way since we launched our first cooler in 2005 and our first fan in 2006," says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO), "but we're still driven by the same passion to create the best quiet cooling solutions money can buy."

    Noctua's first-generation NH-U12 and NH-U9 tower coolers were launched in October 2005 and took the international quiet cooling market by storm. Today, ten years and four generations of NH-U coolers later, the current NH-U12S, NH-U9S and NH-U14S are built to the same strict quality standards and, like their predecessors, are widely recognized to be among the best quiet single-tower coolers on the market. At the same time, Noctua's dual-tower coolers (following the legendary NH-D14), as well various other models such as the popular L-type low-profile coolers, have established themselves as leaders in other market segments. Over the years, the initial two-cooler line-up has grown into a family of 17 models that range from the tiny NH-L9i to the huge NH-D15 flagship and to the DX and DO lines of server and workstation coolers.

    While the continuous optimisation and progress in heatsink technology gives the latest models a healthy performance lead over their older siblings, Noctua's unique service of providing mounting upgrades free of charge makes it possible to keep using older models on the latest platforms.

    "It makes us proud that there are still a lot of people out there who use Noctua coolers that are eight, nine or ten years old and who have updated the mounting kit several times in order to make them compatible with the latest hardware," says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "I think this is a great example of what we are trying to achieve when we strive to combine premium quality products with premium quality service!"

    Noctua first provided free mounting kit upgrades when AMD introduced the AM2 socket in 2006 and continued to do so with the advent of Intel's various LGA115x variants, LGA1366 and LGA2011. As a result, even 10-year-old NH-U12 and NH-U9 coolers can still be used on Intel's latest LGA1151 platform.

    In mid-2006, Noctua introduced its first fan, the NF-S12, which was the first 120mm PC fan developed for low-speed quiet cooling applications from the ground up and the first fan to feature Noctua's signature SSO bearing technology. In the meantime, Noctua has introduced the third iteration of the successful S-series design, complemented its 120mm range with pressure-optimised models and expanded its overall line-up with fans ranging from 40mm to 140mm diameter. Last year, Noctua launched its new industrialPPC line of ruggedised high-speed fans, catering for its growing base of industrial clients, as well as the more affordable redux line that reissues some of Noctua's classic, most popular models with a fresh new look.

    "Fan technology has seen significant progress since the very first NF-S12, but it's a great testimony to its design and the reliability of our SSO bearings that there are still thousands of them being used today. It's our methods that have evolved since the development of the first S12, not our goals," explains Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "While our current fan developments are infinitely more complex and elaborate than 10 years ago, even our most ambitious project of introducing fans with integrated Active Noise Cancellation is still following the same idea of continuously pushing the envelope in performance-to-noise efficiency."

    In addition to its long-term Active Noise Cancellation project, Noctua is researching various other innovative technologies such as flock-coating and novel bearing systems in order to stay true to its legacy of being one of the driving forces in quiet cooling technology. Impending product launches include 24V versions of Noctua's industrialPPC fans as well as the new "chromax" project that will allow users to colour-customise their industrialPPC fans in order to create PC builds with specific, focused aesthetics.

    "Last but not least, we would like to use this anniversary as an opportunity to say thank you to our loyal customers," says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "We're proud that we have managed to win the hearts of so many enthusiast users around the world over the last 10 years and we'll be honoured to keep supplying you with state-of-the-art quiet cooling equipment for the decade to come!"

    About Noctua
    Designed in Austria, Noctua's premium cooling components are internationally renowned for their superb quietness, exceptional performance and thoroughgoing quality. Having received more than 6000 awards and recommendations from leading hardware websites and magazines, Noctua's fans and heatsinks are serving hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers around the globe.

  • Mad Catz Ships the R.A.T. PRO S Tournament Grade Gaming Mouse for PC

    Published: Thursday, October 29, 2015 | By: GlobalNewswire

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. ("Mad Catz") (NYSE MKT:MCZ) (TSX:MCZ) announced today the shipping of the R.A.T. PROs, a high performance PC gaming mouse designed to give gamers a competitive edge during tournament play through a winning formula of speed and agility.

    Following the critically acclaimed R.A.T. PROX™ as the latest entry in Mad Catz' R.A.T. PRO series, the R.A.T. PROs combines aggressive looks with eSports focused performance features and user customization options.

    A high-performance 5000 DPI Pixart PMW3310 infrared optical sensor powers this lightweight mouse (77 grams; 2.71 oz.) that glides effortlessly atop PTFE feet. As with all R.A.T. PRO series gaming mice, the R.A.T. PROs features Mad Catz' signature 'Precision Aim' button that temporarily slows the DPI speed of the mouse. A perfect aid for MOBA and FPS gamers alike, the R.A.T. PROs Precision Aim button features two standard DPI settings and enables players to further personalize the settings to match their style of play.

    Based on input from eSports competitors, the R.A.T. PROwas designed for tournament play with three configurable on-board memory profiles and auto-profile recognition software that automatically switches the R.A.T. PROs settings to each gamers' preferred profile upon detection of their chosen game.

    "Together with the R.A.T. PROX, the R.A.T. PROs illustrates Mad Catz' next-generation of PC gaming and our commitment to designing high-performance products that enhance the experience of competitive gamers," said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. "The R.A.T. PROs combines blistering speed, lightweight design and user customization options, making it an ideal gaming mouse for tournament gamers and beyond, and we look forward to it contributing positively to our Holiday 2015 lineup of products." 

    For additional information on the R.A.T. PROs, please visit:

    http://store.madcatz.com/Mad-Catz-R-A-T-PRO-S-Gaming-Mouse-for-PC

    About Mad Catz

    Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. ("Mad Catz") (NYSE MKT:MCZ) (TSX:MCZ) is a global provider of innovative interactive entertainment products marketed under its Mad Catz® (gaming), Tritton® (audio), and Saitek® (simulation) brands.  Mad Catz products cater to passionate gamers across multiple platforms including in-home gaming consoles, handheld gaming consoles, Windows® PC and Mac® computers, smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices.  Mad Catz distributes its products through its online store as well as distribution via many leading retailers around the globe.  Headquartered in San Diego, California, Mad Catz maintains offices in Europe and Asia. For additional information about Mad Catz and its products, please visit the Company's website at www.madcatz.com

    Social Media

    https://www.facebook.com/MadCatz.Global http://twitter.com/MadCatz http://www.youtube.com/MadCatzCompany

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    Information in this press release that involves the Company's expectations business prospects, plans, intentions or strategies regarding its future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the use of words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "should," "plan," "goal," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Among the factors that could cause the Company's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include  the following: the ability to maintain or renew the Company's licenses; competitive developments affecting the Company's current products; first-party price reductions; availability of capital under our credit facility; commercial acceptance of new in-home gaming consoles; the ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; unanticipated product delays; or a downturn in the market or industry. A further list and description of these and other factors, risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in the Company's most recent annual report, and any subsequent quarterly reports, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators.  The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of the Company and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

    Mad Catz, the Mad Catz logo, R.A.T., R.A.T.PROXand R.A.T. PROs are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., its affiliates and/or subsidiary companies.  All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    CONTACT: Mad Catz Communications: Alex Verrey Global PR and Communications Director averrey@madcatz.com or +44 (0) 1633 883 133 Karen McGinnis Chief Financial Officer kmcginnis@madcatz.com or (858) 790-5008 Investor Relations: Joseph Jaffoni, Norberto Aja, Jim Leahy JCIR mcz@jcir.com or (212) 835 8500

  • ChinaNet Online Holdings Receives Award at the 'Top-ranked Service Provider for SMEs' Conference

    Published: Thursday, October 29, 2015 | By: GlobalNewswire

    BEIJING, Oct. 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) ("ChinaNet" or the "Company"), a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company providing online-to-offline (O2O) sales channel expansion services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial management and networking services for entrepreneurs in the People's Republic of China, today announced that it received an award at the 'Top-ranked Service Provider For SMEs' conference organized by the China Center for Promotion of SME Development of Ministry, Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China in Suzhou, China.

    The 'Top-rank Service Provider for SMEs' conference was organized to integrate leading business service providers and to facilitate SMEs' development with business intelligence, innovation, cooperation and communication. Government officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, local government and business representatives from top-ranked service providers attended the conference.

    ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. and other 55 leading companies including Postal Savings Bank of China, SAP, China Telecom and Ping'an Bank, were ranked 'Top-rank Service Provider' for SMEs for their dedication and efforts in promoting SMEs with sales expansion and data analysis to help gain competitive advantages. ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. took credit for its business service span for SMEs covering upstream business planning, business analysis, and positioning, branding and downstream sales expansion and after-sales reassessment, all based on the data that ChinaNet collected and analyzed.

    "ChinaNet is honored to receive this prize for our continuous effort in serving SMEs," said George Chu, Chief Operating Officer of ChinaNet Online Holdings. "We are focused on helping SMEs achieve their goals by providing our sales channel expansion and data analysis services. We are thrilled to see our brand management and Business Direct 3.0 solutions successfully help our customers to be more profitable. We are keen on levering our know-how and data pool in promoting SMEs' in the future.

    About ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.

    The Company, a parent company of ChinaNet Online Media Group Ltd., incorporated in the BVI ("ChinaNet"), is a leading digital B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing O2O sales channel expansion service for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial management and networking service for entrepreneurs in China. The Company, through certain contractual arrangements with operating companies in the PRC, provides Internet advertising and other services for Chinese SMEs via its portal websites, 28.com, Liansuo.com and Chuangye.com, TV commercials and program production via China-Net TV, and in-house LCD advertising on banking kiosks targeting Chinese banking patrons. Website: http://www.chinanet-online.com.

    Safe Harbor

    This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc., which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including business uncertainties relating to government regulation of our industry, market demand, reliance on key personnel, future capital requirements, competition in general and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on ChinaNet's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting ChinaNet will be those anticipated by ChinaNet. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the Company) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. ChinaNet undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

    CONTACT: MZ North America Ted Haberfield, President Direct: +1-760-755-2716 Email: thaberfield@mzgroup.us Web: www.mzgroup.us