Monday, May 5, 2008

Colocation, VoIP Firm, Level 3, Debuts Content Delivery for Extended Libraries


Broomfileld, Colorado - (The Hosting News) - April 18, 2008 - Colocation, VoIP, and Internet backbone company, Level 3 Communications' Content Markets Group, has upgraded and expanded its suite of content delivery services to include a new service.

Content Delivery for Extended Libraries (CDXL) was created in response to demand from existing and potential customers with large libraries of digital assets for an economic solution to enable them to monetize their entire libraries of audio and video content - regardless of each asset's popularity.

Gerry Kaufhold, principal analyst with In-Stat noted, ''Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are transforming how people gain access to rich media, and the network has to be about more than moving lots of bits quickly. Level 3's Content Delivery for Extended Libraries brings a new level of network performance, storage capacity and economic efficiency to the CDN market.''

Leveraging its robust Content Delivery Network and its highly scalable origin storage solution, Level 3 has introduced proprietary intelligence into its infrastructure which enables content to be delivered dynamically on the optimal path to end users. Level 3's patent-pending solution will enable customers like content owners/aggregators, sports leagues, broadcasters and user generated content sites to monetize a larger portion of their assets, including their long-tail, or less frequently requested, video and audio content by storing and delivering their entire library economically and efficiently. The dynamic intelligence built into Level 3's CDXL solution automatically positions customer content on the Level 3 infrastructure based on popularity and removes the need for customer guesswork about which assets will be popular in certain regions at any given time.

Dave Mansueto, Co-founder of Liberated Syndication remarked, ''Libsyn provides a do-it-yourself publishing platform for podcasters and new media producers and makes thousands of podcasts available to the public. Using Level 3's CDN services, Libsyn has significantly improved its online delivery of high-quality audio and video podcasts to millions of loyal fans. We are excited about Level 3's CDXL service, because we believe it will enable us to effectively distribute the podcasts using our services and better serve content that may be targeted toward niche audiences.''

Grant van Rooyen, President of Level 3's Content Markets Group commented, ''Our customers with large content libraries have been looking for an economic solution to enable them to monetize their substantial digital assets. We believe that the business of providing a solution for the efficient delivery of entire libraries of content, not just the most popular titles, will be increasingly important as online content distribution matures. Level 3 is excited to deliver a solution that enables customers like Libsyn to build a viable business model for monetizing their long-tail content.''

Level 3 Communications, Inc., an international communications company, operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world. Through its customers, Level 3 is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers. The company provides a comprehensive suite of services over its broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, voice services and voice over IP services. The services are designed to provide building blocks that enable Level 3's customers to meet growing demands for advanced communications solutions.The principal components offered by Level 3's VoIP Enhanced Local service include network trunking, local telephone numbers, local number portability, the safety of E-911, operator assistance, caller ID, directory listings, and directory assistance. The service is designed to allow Level 3 customers to retain the flexibility to manage and control end-user features without the difficulties of implementing complex interconnection arrangements.

For more information about Level 3, please visit: www.level3.com.

Dedicated Colocation Web Hosting, Ubiquity, Includes SSH, Linux .NET Framework


Bloomington, Illinois - (The Hosting News) - April 18, 2008 - Provider of shared, dedicated, and colocation hosting services, Ubiquity Hosting Solutions, has added SSH user-level access and Linux .NET Framework emulation through the Mono Project, to its list of advanced hosting features.

In addition, two new and unique Linux tools to be added to its web hosting services, effective immediately. The first of these tools provides web developers, which, according to the company, is a rare service within the Linux web hosting industry, labeled ''jailed shell access.''

Clint Chapman, Chief Technical Officer for Ubiquity remarked, ''Linux is capable of so much more than what most web hosting companies are doing. We decided that the time had come to start delivering the full potential of what we offer.''

With this tool, webmasters are given the authority to connect to the web hosting provider using Secured Shell Handling (SSH), allowing the capability to compress and decompress files on the web server, execute Linux bash scripts, monitor system health, and a large variety of other features. Security in this environment has been maintained for the reason that Linux shell commands available to the webmaster have been ''jailed,'' which in turn will limit the availability of potentially dangerous commands to the users.

In addition to SSH, Ubiquity has stabilized the Mono Project's open source tool which emulates .NET Framework in a Linux web hosting environment. Through Mono, Ubiquity has successfully assembled a stable and effective platform for running ASPx scripting from a Linux system, in hopes of bridging the gap between Linux and Windows web hosting which otherwise exists.

Intel's modular approach to the Multi-Flex server chassis has allowed Ubiquity to provide a platform with full redundancy at the hardware level. This system uses redundant motherboard and CPU interfaces, isolated from the rest of the system, which interact with redundant, external NIC and PDU connections. Hard disk storage is supplied by a RAID 5 virtual drive pool in the systems storage controller, also isolated from the systems motherboard and processing resources, such that in the event of a motherboard failure; a fail-over node can be started almost instantly.

Corey Northcutt, Chief Communications Officer with Ubiquity Hosting Solutions noted, ''We're all pretty excited about this. It's clear that as technology has been advancing, the market has come to have higher and higher expectations of uptime and reliability. By going both modular and redundant at the hardware level, we now have a uniquely powerful tool in meeting that demand.''

Ubiquity has stated that the issue plans to roll-out the Intel Modular Server throughout Q2 and Q3 of 2008 until services in all five cities which Ubiquity operates in have been converted to the Multi-Flex system, and is currently placing all of its new customers in the system already live in Ubiquity's Chicago data center.

Ubiquity Hosting Solutions is a brand of Nobis Technology Group, LLC, a privately-held Linux web hosting organization which joins a variety of successful hosted service companies together, in a versatile environment. Ubiquity currently provides data center services in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York City.

To learn more about Ubiquity Hosting Solutions, please visit: www.ubiquityhosting.com.

Web Solutions Provider, Sonic Foundry, Names Executive Vice President


Madison, Wisconsin - (The Hosting News) - April 18, 2008 - Automated rich media communications technology firm, Sonic Foundry, Inc., has appointed a new Vice President of Sales, as it moves forward to expand initiatives in education and training markets.

The company known for rich media webcasting and knowledge management, named Robert M. Lipps as its Executive Vice President of Sales, having joined Sonic Foundry in 2006 as Vice President of International Sales and recently assumed expanded responsibility for U.S. central sales. He holds 15 years of sales leadership, business development and emerging market entry expertise in the technology and manufacturing sectors, including sales and channel management at Adaytum (now Cognos, an IBM company), Esker Software and Best Power (now Eaton Corporation). He will lead the company's global sales organization including oversight of domestic, international and channel sales.

Rimas P. Buinevicius, Chairman and CEO of Sonic Foundry noted, ''We are very excited to expand Rob's role at this important stage in the company's evolution. I'm confident his experience and management strength in sales will further accelerate our business growth as we reinforce Sonic Foundry's leadership of the education and training marketplace.''

Coincident with the appointment of Mr. Lipps, Sonic Foundry announced that the company and Darrin T. Coulson, Chief Operating Officer, have mutually agreed to a separation of employment. Sonic Foundry has recently directed additional resources toward the higher education market, a sector that is now demonstrating the fastest adoption rate for its Mediasite platform. These actions continue to show progress that resulted in further customer acquisitions within colleges and universities during fiscal Q2.

Key wins and projects with several top-ranked business schools will be announced during the next fiscal earnings report. The company's activities are also aimed at expanding corporate training and event webcasting applications.

Founded in 1991, Sonic Foundry provides rich media communications and knowledge management, providing enterprise solutions and services that link an information-driven world. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the company has received numerous awards including the 2007 Frost and Sullivan Global Market Leadership Award, Ziff Davis Media's Baseline Magazine's sixth fastest-growing software company with sales under $150 million and Deloitte's Technology Fast 500. Named a Bersin and Associates 2007 Learning Leader, Sonic Foundry's webcasting and knowledge management solutions are trusted by education institutions, Fortune 500 companies and government agencies for a variety of critical communication needs.

To learn more, please visit: www.sonicfoundry.com.

Dedicated, Reseller Web Hosting Firm, AYKsolutions, Expands Peer 1 Data Centers


Schenectady, New York - (The Hosting News) - April 17, 2008 - Shared, reseller and dedicated hosting solutions firm, AYKsolutions, has added three Peer 1 datacenter facilities in the United States, to increase dedicated server offerings and offer wider geographic diversity.

The new facilities, located in Los Angeles, Calif., San Antonio, Texas, and Ashburn, Va., provide access to Peer1's robust international network, with tier-1 carriers including MCI and AT and T. Dedicated server customers with latency-sensitive operations will be able to utilize the new locations to meet their connectivity needs and provide capacity for expansion.

Artyom Khmelnitsky, President of AYKsolutions noted, ''Peer1 provides our clients with the peering locations we need to ensure the fastest possible routes for data. With this, we can also avoid the expense of third-party networks, and subsequently pass the savings along to our clients. Our customers benefit from today's announcement in a variety of ways, including in the additional service choices and in the new technical opportunities these three facilities offer.''

AYKsolutions will continue to offer dedicated servers in three existing facilities, located in Atlanta, Ga., Chicago, Ill., and Jacksonville, Fla. Dedicated servers start at $59/monthly and are powered by either cPanel, DirectAdmin, or Plesk. Customers can select between Windows and Linux platforms at no additional cost. The company also offers live chat for sales and customer support.

A few months ago, AYK debuted the launch of a new version of its corporate web site, which represents the largest major website adjustment change in the company's four year history. The new design also allows the company to more quickly and easily introduce special offers and other promotions for customers. The company will use the added flexibility to implement a series of promotions planned for early 2008.

With the new design, AYKsolutions has made aesthetic changes to its brand, and has improved the usability and flexibility of the site. The company will also be able to more effectively market and sell products and services on the new site, through a series of backend and frontend design improvements.

AYKsolutions has also introduced a series of service enhancements along with the new site launch. Namely, the company has upgraded its business and customer support management software to Ubersmith, increasing efficiency and allowing customers to more easily manage their hosting account through a single portal.

Incorporated in 2004, AYKsolutions, LLC currently serves thousands of personal and business clients, located in the United States and abroad. AYKsolutions provides professional, efficient and quick technical support 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year.

To learn more about AYKsolutions, please visit: www.ayksolutions.com.

Earthlink's New Edge Networks, Unveils MPLS Service Classes Over DSL Networks


Vancouver, Washington - (The Hosting News) - April 17, 2008 - Eartthlink's New Edge Networks business communications unit, has reported that it has become the first telecommunications company to offer a new network service, designed to allow businesses to tag and prioritize data traffic over DSL access using up to five MPLS classes of service.

New Edge previously announced plans in January to offer up to five classes of service over DSL and on Monday launched its service following nearly three months of successful testing. According to the company, until now, data traffic tagging and prioritization with true classes of service were available only on more costly T1 lines with MPLS.

New Edge offers its new service directly and through selling partners nationally in most areas where DSL is available.

Greg Griffiths, Vice President of Marketing for New Edge Networks noted, ''This breakthrough service helps small and midsize businesses avoid network congestion problems due to the convergence of communications applications such as VoIP phone calls and other latency-sensitive services over DSL access. Network bottlenecks and data traffic congestion bog down application performance and business productivity.''

To stay competitive, small and midsize businesses are deploying a myriad of new applications to drive efficiency, improve customer service, and enhance profitability. But as applications and data traffic mount, a business is faced with the need to get more bandwidth or better throughput. Many businesses are deferring desirable applications because they cannot yet make a business case to step up to the next performance level, which is usually a T1 line with MPLS.

Mr. Griffiths continued, ''MPLS with class of service over DSL closes the large pricing gap between traditional business-class DSL and a full T1 line. It also allows businesses to add additional applications over their DSL-based network without the risk of compromising performance.''

New Edge is pricing its new service with a $100 premium over the cost of a fully managed DSL-based private network, which averages about $140 a month, per location. This price step-up includes bandwidth optimization with up to five classes of service over DSL access, improved service level guarantees, and a Cisco router upgrade.

In contrast, the monthly cost for a T1 line can start at about $500, depending on distance and geographic area. With some carriers, MPLS classes of service and T1 network management are added options. With MPLS class of service over DSL, businesses can hold down their monthly communications costs while optimizing use of high-speed, low-cost DSL access commonly used for wide area networks.

Mr. Griffiths added, ''MPLS over DSL also is an attractive cost-saving option for businesses that previously were forced to use T1 at all locations. Now businesses can mix and match access technologies based on the specific needs at each location without compromising the value of key MPLS benefits.''

New Edge instituted improved service level guarantees on its new service. These include an 18-hour mean time to repair (MTTR) for a DSL line with the class-of-service option. The industry benchmark MTTR for a regular DSL line is 24 hours. In contrast, the MTTR for a more costly T1 line is four hours. New Edge also is extending its service level guarantees for class of service on T1 MPLS lines to DSL.

New Edge is targeting businesses in various industries that have diverse location sizes where a blend of DSL and T1 technology is of value. These industries include banking, manufacturing, transportation, and retail, among others. Businesses in these industries typically use multiple applications over their networks and plan to add others.

New Edge Networks, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLink Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK). New Edge Networks builds and manages private networks for businesses and communications providers. Through its nationwide backbone network with almost 900 switches and Internet routers, New Edge Networks uses any blend of network and access technologies (MPLS, frame relay, ATM, xDSL, cable, wireless, and satellite) for providing high-speed connections at any business address in the United States. Network options include any combination of access, network management functions, and on-site installation services. For more information visit www.newedgenetworks.com or call 1-360-693-9009.

To learn more about the service level guaranty, please visit: www.newedgenetworks.com/support/sla.xea.

For more information about New Edge Networks' MPLS networks with class of service over DSL, please visit: www.newedgenetworks.com/products/mpls.

For more information about New Edge Networks, please visit: www.newedgenetworks.com.

Data Center, Colocation Provider, T3, Integrates Intelligent Networks


Fort Myers, Florida - (The Hosting News) - April 17, 2008 - Data center and colocation services firm, T3 Communications, Inc., has integrated Intelligent Networks LLC into its services, as a division of its offerings and solutions infrastructure.

In addition to its voice, data, and colocation services, T3 now has the ability to offer structured cabling and professional deployment of wireless networking, WAN, LAN networking as well as video and professional services. Running the Intelligent Network's operation are the entrepreneurs Msrs. Richard Thomas and Dempsey Anderson. Both are experienced professionals with more than 4 years of successful deployments covering customers such as Fort Myers International airport, Town of Fort Myers Beach, USAF, ATT, Hilton Hotels, Best Buy, CVS, Circuit City, among many more.

Adam Sewall, President and CEO of T3 Communications, Inc. noted, ''This gives T3 a significant opportunity to deliver further value to our existing and prospective customers via a vital and necessary element in the telecommunications landscape; structured cabling and professional services. Richard and Dempsey are truly quality individuals that we can count on to meet and exceed the highest standards of customer service and professional delivery of these quality networks. As an adjunct to our core telecommunication and data services this truly expands our reach and capabilities.''

T3 Communications, Inc. is a full service facilities based telephone company headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida with sales and data center operations in Winter Haven, T3 offers businesses voice, data, collocation and disaster recovery services as well as a full compliment of telephony solutions including VoIP, PBX, telephone systems, managed services, structured cabling and IT support. T3 is the true local phone company serving Florida business.

To learn more, please visit: www.t3com.com.

Web Hosting On-Demand CRM Market Report, Released by Tier1 Research


New York, New York - (The Hosting News) - April 17, 2008 - A new report released by New York-based independent research firm, Tier1 Research (T1R), has analyzed the financial and industry implications of developments affecting public and private companies within the hosting, IT, communications and Internet sectors.

The On-Demand CRM Marketplace report provides analysis and perspective on key technology trends and developments in the SaaS market. The report found that since software as a service(SaaS) can be a cost-effective delivery method for software functionality, it is rapidly gaining acceptance.

Wesley Kennedy, Senior Analyst at T1R and author of the report explained, ''The global growth story for the on-demand CRM market is clearly an exciting one. And while the rising tide will lift all boats, it is evident that some boats will rise higher than others. Those companies that are levered to the fastest-growing sections of the market will clearly be the greatest beneficiaries.''

Nowhere has this adoption been more evident than in customer relationship management (CRM) - a front-end customerfacing platform consisting of sales automation, marketing automation and customer service. While the on-premise enterprise CRM market has reached relative maturity and is expected to experience annualized growth of 6.2% through 2010, the on-demand CRM market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 41.0% through 2010.

T1R analysts find that growth from European enterprises will be driven by the demand for point software applications as opposed to pplications that can be integrated or are already integrated with other applications. Meanwhile, unlike the U.S. and Europe, many larger enterprises in Asia have not yet adopted a CRM platform (onpremise or on-demand). The on-demand value proposition will be much more compelling for larger organizations in Asia. As a result, T1R analysts expect larger enterprises to lead the charge in terms of on-demand adoption, with
smaller companies following suit 12-18 months later.

Mr. Kennedy continued, ''The market has become so competitive and the established vendors have such a head start across all enterprise sizes and geographic locations that a new entrant to the on-demand CRM world would not be able to survive.''

The 37-page report, titled 'On-Demand CRM Marketplace,' analyzes where growth for the on-demand CRM market is coming from and which vendors are best positioned to capitalize on that growth. It also looks at the growth prospects for respective on-demand CRM vendors and examines whether the on-demand CRM opportunity for each vendor is appropriately valued.

T1R, a division of The 451 Group, is headquartered in New York. The company analyzes the financial and industry implications of developments affecting public and private companies within the IT, communications and Internet sectors - with a particular focus on hosting, Internet infrastructure and IT services. Clients include institutional investors and technology vendors, along with end users and venture capitalists. The clients leverage T1R's analytical insight for idea generation, trend identification, due diligence and grounded opinions, as well as metrics and forecasts on companies and industries covered.

To learn more about T1R, please visit: www.t1r.com.

Dedicated Server Provider, FastServers.net, Combined with Layered Technologies


Plano, Texas - (The Hosting News) - April 16, 2008 - The Chicago based managed hosting company, FastServers.net, will be acquired by on demand IT infrastructure provider, Layered Technologies. Financial transaction information of the deal was not released.

Jack Finlayson, Chief Executive Officer of Layered Technologies noted, ''Thousands of clients rely on the exceptional service offerings of FastServers.net, and the combination of the two companies will expand the range of offerings and provide additional scale for client growth. We look forward to bringing these two exceptionally talented teams together to service our customers and meet the demands of the high growth hosting industry.''

The acquisition will combine the expertise of FastServers.net in managed dedicated hosting with Layered Technologies' leading Grid and unmanaged offerings. The combination of Layered Technologies and FastServers will offer a new range of superior services significantly benefiting customers.

Ian Andrusyk, President and CEO of FastServers.Net remarked, ''With Layered Technologies and FastServers.net working together, business owners will view their managed service provider as a valued, long-term partner that helps manage IT infrastructure.''

Layered Technologies will begin immediate integration of the two companies' operations, product development, distribution and customer support organizations to ensure a smooth transition and immediate value for customers, employees and partners. Combined, the company will serve over 6,000 clients.

Layered Technologies enables customers to forego capital expenses and save on operating costs while focusing on core business issues. Clients range from leading-edge Web 2.0 startups, successful mid-sized enterprises and some the world's largest consultancy and integration firms.

FastServers.Net features managed dedicated servers combined with exclusive DEFCON Management Services. FastServers.Net provides full server monitoring and recovery, patches and upgrades, advanced technical support, and enhanced security features. By partnering with leading vendors such as Microsoft, Red Hat, cPanel, Plesk, HELM, InterNAP, Urchin, and others, FastServers.Net's goal is to deliver solutions for all organizations.

Based in Frisco Texas, Layered Technologies, Inc. is one of the five largest global providers of on-demand hosting and utility computing solutions, providing dedicated, partially managed server hosting solutions primarily for the small and medium-sized enterprise SME market. They provide customers with the highest quality technology, infrastructure and support services that enable them to operate servers at secure Tier III/IV data centers, while saving them the capital and operating costs typically associated with purchasing and maintaining their own servers at co-location facilities. Layered Technologies servers and associated network facilities are used by customers to host a variety of Internet-enabled applications, including content and e-commerce Web sites, software as a service (''SaaS'') offerings, online multiplayer games, shared Web site hosting services, and streaming multimedia content distribution and delivery, among other applications.

To learn more about FastServers, please visit: www.fastservers.net.

For more information about Layered Technologies, please visit: www.layeredtech.com.

Web Hosting Products and Services Firm, Sitestar, Acquires N2 The Net Customers


Lynchburg, Virginia - (The Hosting News) - April 16, 2008 - Residential and business Internet access, web hosting products and services firm, Sitestar Corporation, has acquired the Internet access customer base and assets of Tennessee's N2 The Net firm.

The acquisition closely follows the Company's recent purchase of Comcation and is the second transaction in what Sitestar expects to be a year of increased deal flow and growth in new, opportunistic market segments.

Frank R. Erhartic, Jr., CEO for Sitestar noted, ''N2 The Net's narrowband and broadband customer base fits squarely into Sitestar's acquisition sweet-spot where our economies of scale and value-added service offerings enable us to generate stronger margins and retain customers longer than smaller ISPs can. We are encouraged by our progress so far in 2008 and anticipate closing more opportunities by leveraging our increased cash flow to capitalize upon the current economic climate.''

N2 The Net customers can look forward to an easy transition, access to additional services such as Surfboost Web Accelerator as well as other benefits including advanced spam filtering, extremely reliable network uptime and extended support hours, along with Sitestar's friendly, personal support.

Mr. Erhartic added, ''We welcome the former N2 The Net customers to Sitestar and pledge to deliver outstanding service and support.''

Sitestar is an Internet and computer solutions provider that offers narrow-band (dial-up) services and broadband Internet access services (ISDN, DSL, satellite, cable and wireless), web hosting and design, and other value-added services including web acceleration, spam and virus filtering as well as spyware protection. Headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia, Sitestar maintains multiple sites of operation and provides services to customers throughout the U.S. and Canada, with concentrations of customers in the Mid-Atlantic and Rocky Mountain regions in the U.S. and in Ontario, Canada.

To learn more, please visit: www.sitestar.com.

Cobweb Web Hosting Provider, to Upgrade, with Parallels Automation


Renton, Washington - (The Hosting News) - April 16, 2008 - Server virtualization firm, Parallels, has been deployed by provider of hosting services in Europe, Cobweb, as the first service provider to use Parallels Automation with the hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

Serguei Beloussov, CEO of Parallels noted, ''We are pleased that Cobweb is using the full potential of our Parallels Automation solution to centrally manage a wide variety of hosting services. This deployment demonstrates how Parallels Open Platform is helping service providers deliver advanced business applications using the software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery model.''

Developed as a fully integrated customer relationship management (CRM) system, Cobweb has purchased the Parallels Automation solution to automate the delivery of several new hosting offerings and service bundles. Parallels Automation for Dynamics CRM allows service providers to go-to-market quickly by providing a complete back-office infrastructure for online ordering, service plan management, billing and payments, and more. Using a single login, service providers can deliver integrated offerings that include multiple services such as hosted Microsoft Exchange, hosted Windows SharePoint Services and hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Dan Germain, Chief Technical Officer of Cobweb remarked, ''Using Parallels Automation, Cobweb can manage a wide variety of hosted offerings from a single, centralized system and can create unique service bundles using Microsoft Exchange, Windows SharePoint Services, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, ZANTAZ Email Archiving and shared web hosting. Parallels Automation connects the underlying technical services together in a manner that delivers real business benefits and solutions to our customers.''

Parallels Automation for Dynamics CRM includes pre-defined deployments, installation services and marketing support for service providers that want to deploy hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Pricing includes a one-time implementation fee and monthly licensing fees based on active users.

The Parallels Open Platform enables hosting with Parallels virtualization and automation technology through integration with a wide range of third-party applications and systems. The Application Packaging Standard (APS), a key element of the platform, is used by independent software vendors (ISVs) and service providers to seamlessly integrate applications to offer to the more than 10 million businesses and individuals that use Parallels products.

Cobweb is one of Europe's leading providers of hosted Microsoft Exchange services since 1996. Cobweb is ISO27001 and ISO9001 accredited, and is a Microsoft Gold Partner with five core competencies. The company offers managed services including Hosted Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SharePoint with mobile and archival solutions, web and SaaS hosting, and white-label hosting for reseller and referral partners.

Parallels (formerly SWsoft) is a worldwide leader in virtualization and automation software that optimizes computing for consumers, businesses, and service providers across all major hardware, operating systems, and virtualization platforms. Founded in 1999, Parallels is a fast-growing company with 900 employees in North America, Europe, and Asia.

To learn more about Cobweb, please visit: www.cobweb.com.

For more information about Parallels, please visit: www.parallels.com.

Managed Hosting Services Provider, Attenda, to Host New SAP System


London, United Kingdom - (The Hosting News) - April 16, 2008 - Web hosting managed services company, Attenda Limited, has been engaged to host the new SAP system for Smythson, through a five year management infrastructure contract.

Martin Wildsmith, commercial director, Smythson noted, ''We selected to work in partnership with Attenda because of their credentials, their track record and their flexibility. They have the unique capability to assist us through managing this change in our strategic IT systems, and to extend the depth and breadth of our limited internal SAP resource.''

Attenda is providing a fully managed service for the new SAP infrastructure in the initial phase of a major project to review and replace the current IT systems and business processes at Smythson.

Established in 1887 and the holder of three Royal Warrants, Smythson is internationally renowned for its elegant range of leather goods, travel and writing accessories and bespoke stationery. Exquisite quality, timeless design and traditional British craftsmanship have made Smythson the choice of British and European royal families and a number of international celebrities, as well as leaders in the arts, business and politics. Smythson recently opened their second US store in Beverly Hills.

The service includes taking operational responsibility and management of the SAP system up to and including the SAP Basis layer, in a secure and robust environment. The solution includes the full extent of back office applications from Financials, ERP, warehousing and procurement through to sales, telesales and CRM. Recently re-accredited as SAP Hosting Partner, Attenda has proven expertise in the operational management of SAP and a continued investment in delivering highly available and secure SAP managed services.

Attenda has built a team of highly skilled, highly motivated and fully certified engineers providing 24 x 7 operational support to its clients. Attenda?s partnership with SAP provides clients with access to the very latest SAP NetWeaver platform and new evolving enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA) and business process technologies, plus the availability of an extended network of SAP technical specialists and business consultants.

Attenda Managed Services company, manages vital applications that businesses relies upon to function effectively, allowing for selective outsourcing of IT operations. Attenda manages, secures and optimises the performance of applications, irrespective of the physical location of the infrastructure. With over 5 years' investment into Attenda M.O., Attenda's operations platform, the company provides the people, process and technology to deliver high service levels, at a cost that is amortised across Attenda's client base - currently 134 of the UK's leading companies. The company has acquired substantial financial backing, the industry's leading accreditations and a portfolio of clients including bmi, Christian Aid, easyCar, Microsoft, NHS, Princes, St. James's Place and Travelodge.

Attenda is both ISO9001 and ISO27001 accredited, an HP SP Signature Partner, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a SAP Adaptive IT Hosting Provider, a SunTone accredited managed service provider and an Accredited Catalist Supplier. Attenda is one of only seven companies to have been ranked in the UK's Sunday Times ARM Tech Track 100 for three consecutive years and was voted 2007 Best Managed Services Provider by Data Centre Europe Awards 2007.

To learn more, please visit: www.attenda.de.

SoftLayer Dedicated Web Hosting Provider, Supports MMO Guildsites Online Gaming


Dallas, Texas - (The Hosting News) - April 15, 2008 - On-demand hosting services and virtual data center provider for the small to medium enterprise (SME), SoftLayer, was chosen to be the hosting service for MMO Guildsites, a Toronto based web site design and hosting company.

MMO Guildsites assists the massive multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) guilds, to create feature-rich sites for its membership.

George Karidis, Chief Strategy Officer for SoftLayer noted, ''We're excited to be MMO Guildsites' solution of choice. They have an exceptional offering. And we're proud of our role in the online gaming industry. We are an established leader in the segment, with a strong and growing customer base. Clearly, our level of performance and connectivity, as well as our interconnected facilities from coast to coast, have made us an ideal resource for the industry.''

Founded in 2006, MMO Guildsites differentiates itself from competitors with premium site-building features, including: - an easy-to-use site design tool with an advanced AJAX interface - a visual theming tool with a library of 80 professionally designed themes - innovative add-ins that integrate game activity into the guild sites The company has grown to host more than 700 sites for guilds based around the world, representing major game titles including World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, and EverQuest.

As the company grew, MMO Guildsites struggled with finding a provider that offered the winning combination of network reliability, hardware and services to ensure positive experiences for itself - and its expanding customer base. MMO Guildsites turned to SoftLayer for the level of performance and stability necessary to accommodate its growing technology needs. They chose SoftLayer's quad processor multi-core platform and use secure, out-of-band management through VPN for full control of their environment, enabled by SoftLayer's industry-leading network topology. Additionally, SoftLayer's proprietary customer portal lets the company easily track its customers' traffic and usage.

Mr. Kardis added, ''SoftLayer's commitment to innovation and service allows our customers to constantly evolve. We are pleased to be part of MMO Guildsites' continuing success.''

Headquartered in Plano, Texas, SoftLayer provides next-generation web hosting and on-demand datacenter services on a global basis from facilities located in Dallas, TX and Seattle, WA. Utilizing proprietary management tools coupled with the industry's first network-within-a-network topology, the company delivers unprecedented power and control to securely manage IT environments while providing unparalleled scalability.

To learn more about SoftLayer, please visit: www.softlayer.com.

Web Hosting Provider, Sun, Highlights New Networking Resources Platform


San Francisco, California - (The Hosting News) - April 15, 2008 - Technology firm and web hosting provider, Sun Microsystems, Inc., recently revealed a research and development project, intended to provide a hosting platform for delivering Internet-based services.

Project Caroline was on the agenda of a Sun Labs Open House which took place at Sun offices in Menlo Park, California. The platform comprises a programmatically configurable pool of virtualized compute, storage, and networking resources, according to Sun. The Project Caroline Web page states that the project is designed to serve an emerging market of small and medium-sized SaaS providers.

According to information released by the company: ''Anticipating needs driven by new SaaS business models and processes, Project Caroline helps SaaS providers develop services rapidly using high-level programming languages like the Java programming language, Ruby, Python, and Perl to update in-production services frequently and to automatically flex their use of platform resources to match changing runtime demands.''

Services can programmatically allocate, monitor, and control virtualized compute, storage, and networking resources via Project Caroline. Interfaces are featured for managing platform resources. Developers can build services that update and flex platform resources usage. Project Caroline resources are exposed via high-level abstractions, including virtual machines, networks, and network-accessible file systems and databases. A horizontally scaled pool of distributed resources is presented as a single system to provide developers with a unified platform for allocating and controlling resources.

Also on the Open House agenda were e OMS, pertaining to a royalty-free media system; Project Live, approaching software distribution and configuration by combining the firmware model with customization; and the Lively Kernel project for Web programming. Other agenda items included: Project Wonderland, an open-source toolkit for building 3D virtual worlds for business and education collaboration; Project Darkstar, which is a gaming server; and Project MiRTLE (Mixed Reality Teaching and Learning Environment).

Sun began offering web hosting services, based upon the Solaris 10 Operating System, and Sun systems and storage, through a partnership with Joyent and NaviSite. The offer is available for eligible U.S. based members of the Sun Startup Essentials program, designed to help early-stage companies get to market more quickly on Sun's enterprise- class technologies at a cost that fits their needs to conserve cash.

The hosting requirements of Web 2.0 and Internet Services startups typically differ from those of traditionally established companies, due to their increased need to grow and expand services with fluctuating customer demands. Sun is working closely with Joyent and NaviSite to help address these requirements and is now able to offer these emerging companies all the advantages of the extremely flexible and scalable Solaris 10 OS based infrastructure.

In addition to offering deeply discounted servers, storage and services to Web 2.0 and early-stage companies, the Sun Startup Essentials program also offers free technical advice via email and access to free software, such as Apache, MySQL and Perl (AMP), Ruby on Rails optimized to run on the Solaris 10 OS. The program also offers eligible companies the option of reduced price web hosting services through Sun partners including Joyent, Layered Technologies and NaviSite.

Joyent and NaviSite are using Solaris Container virtualization technology, part of the Solaris 10 OS, the most advanced OS on the planet, to deliver the secure and high-performance infrastructure to help deploy next-generation web applications that can scale based on demand. Sun's partners also provide value-add services to manage and monitor their hosted environments. With highly flexible hosting offerings, customers can choose to start with a small capacity and grow flexibly as their business and community grows.

The Sun Startup Essentials program is designed to help eligible U.S. based startup companies get to market faster while conserving cash. The program offers its members a range of discounted Sun products and services, including its award-winning Sun Fire x64 servers and Sun Fire servers with CoolThreads technology, and Sun's select StorageTek line of products, including modular disk arrays, NAS and tape storage products.

In addition to offering products and services to eligible U.S. based members, Sun also is offering free technical advice via email and access to free software such as Apache, MySQL and Perl (AMP) optimized to run on the Solaris 10 OS. Program members can also select the web hosting infrastructure from Sun partners based on Sun technologies along with services they need, in case they choose not to build and operate the infrastructure themselves. Sun develops technologies designed to power comprehensive markets, in more than 100 countries.

To learn more about Sun's web hosting program, please visit: www.sun.com/startupessentials.

For more information about Sun, please visit: http://sun.com.

Essential Tips And Techniques For Better Blog Commenting

This post was guest blog by Fabien, a teen blogger from Australia. Check him at Small Fish Big Money.

As bloggers, we all visit each other's blogs from time to time. We might even leave a comment or two if the blog post is good enough or if it's about something we enjoy reading. The important factor to note about blog commenting is that anyone can do it – but very few are good at it.

There is no right way or wrong way to comment on a blog, but there is always a better or more beneficial way. This post will outline key facts about the habits of blog commenters and explore the way in which a typical blog comment is structured, it will then explain how you can be a better blog commenter by having understood the elements of better commenting styles.

1. Where Do You Link Your Comments To?

I see so many people out there who take what some people consider the 'easy' way out, they link their comments to their homepage. Now, I do not have anything against this, scoring some brownie points for Google Page Rank is always beneficial. I believe that linking the comment to a blog post that is relevant to the one you are reading is both logical and good for spreading a variety of links to your blog. At some blogs you may even have the luxury of linking both to your homepage and a blog post of your own creation via the CommentLuv Plugin or the sheer fact that you included it in your comment.

2. Is Your Comment A Half Baked Job?

I have seen a bountiful amount of meaningless comments in the blogosphere. I highly recommend not leaving a comment like 'good one', 'well done', 'great' or 'really good post'. Despite the fact that you are praising the blogger, these comments will not do anything for your own blog ranking in the SERPS. I highly suggest making useful and insightful comments on a blog post. You can do this by relating to the post, suggesting some extra content, covering something the blogger has not talked about etc…By doing this you are adding value to the post, as opposed to lowering the quality of it.

3. Being Positive, Not Negative…

By being positive in your comments you are more likely to attain a response from the blog owner. If you take a negative stance, the blog owner may be likely to delete your comment or reply to you in a negative way (potentially damaging your rapport with the owner in the process). You don't have to always be overly positive, remember, if you are going to criticise, make it constructive, not destructive. Instead of saying something like "This post sucks" you can say something like "I agree with…But I also recommend etc…" The second one does not seem overly negative and comes across as a suggestion as opposed to an insult.

4. Praise the Blog - Thank the Blogger…If You Like It:

If you enjoyed the post, praise the blog and thank the blogger. It is simple and very easy to do. It is important to remember that when you are thanking the blogger, take the time to tell them what you liked about the post and how it helped you – it is far better than a 'thanks for the post' or a 'what a great article'. You could say something along the lines of "This post showed me a side of blog commenting that I did not really care much for about previously, thank you for sharing this and I will definitely take the advice onboard, I look forward to your future posts."

5. Sharing Your Knowledge In A Comment

Your comment is the opportunity to make a name for yourself. Instead of leaving small one liner think about leaving two or three paragraph value comments. As a blog owner, I really enjoy getting comments that add value to my posts; these comments are usually one or more paragraphs long. Additionally, those comments are the ones that I remember – and this is one of the most important things for you to remember. If you post a comment, a high quality comment, sharing your experiences and suggesting some extra information for the post, you will earn respect, build relationships and heighten your status as an authority about a particular subject or topic.

In conclusion I would like to say that you won't always have the opportunity or time resources to make huge comments. My advice is to make the comment worthwhile, that means, speaking your mind, suggesting ideas and showing your appreciation. On a more personal note, I would like to thank John Chow for giving me the opportunity to post at JohnChow.Com. It is very much appreciated. Kind Regards, Fabien.

This Post Was Brought To You By

Pharmacy affiliate program - Earn up to 70% lifetime commissions with MedStore.biz Or you can add link details as you suppose should be better for your blog.

WordPress Tutorials Blog - Discover how to use WordPress as a marketing weapon. Subscribe to our blog to win free themes every month.

Best Credit Card Offers Get up to $250 or even FREE round-trip plane tickets by signing up for hot credit card offers and bank deals!

Off To Whistler Blackcomb

We are off to Whistler Blackcomb for the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival. The TELUS event is the biggest annual celebration of music, arts, sports & culture on the planet. For 10 days and 10 nights, Whistler turns up the volume with 50 live concerts, major pro ski and snowboard comps, legendary arts events, endless nightlife and the best spring skiing & riding in the world.

Unfortunately, we won’t be here for the full 10 days and nights. We have to head back home on Sunday in order to catch a flight to San Fransisco on Monday. This is my first time at the Ski & Snowboard festival. I’m sure it’ll be fun. If it’s not, I’ll blame Stephen Fung since all this was his idea.

Got To Love The Dot Com Lifestyle

Events like the TELUS World really help to illustrate the dot com lifestyle. None of us are paying to attend this event because we’re invited media. Not only is the event free but cost for hotel and food are tax deductible because we’re here on business.

From what I’ve been hearing about past events, TELUS does a great job taking care of the media. We have a VIP lounge and media room with computers and wireless Internet so we can make updates. Of course there’s the Big Air party as well. I’m sure there are other parties going on that I haven’t found out about yet.

Joining Sarah and I on this Dot Com Whistler trip are Stephen Fung, Michael Kwan, Brice Wong, Leo Chiang and Ed Lau. Since TELUS World is a family event, Sarah recommended I take my parents and Sally along. Nothing like mixing business with pleasure.

Look for videos and photos from the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival real soon. That Flip is going to get a workout!

This Post Was Brought To You By

Serious Entrepreneurs Wanted For A Real Business - We have a HUGE VISION and the most logical system in the world. That’s why the director of the Better Business Bureau joined us!

Have a Blog? Offer $20 BidVertiser Coupon of Free Clicks to your Readers - Simply signup as our referral and you will get a unique link which will give your visitors $20 in free clicks! And you will also get paid for it! Isn't that a WOW?

Still Selling SiteWide Links? That Means You Are Losing LOTS OF MONEY! Replace your sitewide links by TNX.net code and generate 10x times more income by selling different links from every single page of your website or blog!

The World’s Smallest USB Flash Drive

I received a package today from a company call Super Talent. They’re a Taiwanese manufacturer of memory products. You may have not heard of them because they’re mostly an ODM and make products for well known brand names. However, Super Talent has been giving a go at marketing products under their own name. It’s a smart move and a good way to leverage your production capacity.

Super Talent’s products range from RAM to Solid State Drives (SSD) to the world’s smallest USB flash drive, which was what they sent me. The Super Talent Pico is an 8GB USB drive that measures just 31.3mm x 12.4mm x 3.4mm. Besides being extremely small, the drive is also water resistant.

I like the thank Super Talent for the drive. However, I do have a question about the way they shipped it. Watch the video and you’ll understand.

This Post Was Brought To You By

Best Credit Card Offers Get up to $250 or even FREE round-trip plane tickets by signing up for hot credit card offers and bank deals!

WordPress Tutorials Blog - Discover how to use WordPress as a marketing weapon. Subscribe to our blog to win free themes every month.

Pharmacy affiliate program - Earn up to 70% lifetime commissions with MedStore.biz Or you can add link details as you suppose should be better for your blog.

Dot Com Pho with Tyler Cruz

Tyler Cruz is in town for a “poker vacation” at the River Rock Casino and had time to stop by for some Dot Com Pho before heading back home to the Nanaimo. Normally, we hold Dot Com pho on Saturday but since we’ll all be in Whistler for the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival this weekend, I decided to get an early Pho fix. Tyler wouldn’t have been able to make a weekend meet up anyway.

Tyler got hit by Murphy’s Law during his vacation. His server and all his sites, including his blog, went down on the day he left and they are still down as I write this. Hopefully, Tyler will be able to restore everything when he gets home later tonight.

It was nice to finally meet Tyler. Too bad none of the other Pho attendees (except Greg Morgan) made it to the weekday Dot Com Pho. Something call work got in the way.

I always welcome the opportunity to meet readers and fellow bloggers. Give me a shout if you’re in town. And don’t be like Tyler and lose all your money playing poker against rich Asian players.