Anixter International Inc. Announces the Acquisition of Clark Security Products, Inc. and the Assets and Operations of General Lock, LLC

Anixter will pay consideration of approximately $36.6 million in cash for all the assets and operations of Clark. The final purchase price will be determined when the net asset balance of Clark is confirmed. Annual sales for Clark are expected to be approximately $115 million for 2010. Anixter expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings in the first full year of ownership.

Commenting on the acquisition, Bob Eck, President and CEO of Anixter, said, "We are pleased to have Clark become part of Anixter and look forward to gaining their insight and partnering with the excellent team that has successfully led these two businesses. As a market leader, Clark immediately positions Anixter as a significant player in the access control market. Combined with Anixter's existing security business, we will continue to lead the security market as it increasingly migrates towards IP (Internet Protocol) based systems. By leveraging Anixter's geographical presence and logistics capabilities, we will first expand the reach of Clark's product set across North America and then into international markets, which is consistent with our stated strategic growth initiatives."

About Anixter
Anixter International is a global distributor of communication and security products, electrical and electronic wire & cable, fasteners and other small parts.   The company was founded in 1957 and is headquartered near Chicago.

Source: Anixter International Inc.

Nissan LEAF cars connected at all times through Telenor Connexion

"Telenor Connexion’s dedicated telematics solution connects Nissan LEAF’s onboard unit to the Nissan CARWINGS Data Center in a private network environment allowing Nissan to deliver a secure and stable product to our customers", says Pierre Loing, Vice president of product strategy and planning at Nissan International SA and head of the company’s European zero emission business unit. Nissan International, located in Rolle, Switzerland, is the headquarters of Nissan in Europe.

"We are very excited to work with Nissan, who plays a major role in setting a standard for the whole EV industry. This agreementis the start of what we expect to be a long-term partnership. It is of significant value for Telenor Connexion, but above all it reinforces our position as the leading connectivity supplier in the automotive industry. We already have agreements with major global automotive players such as Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks, Scania and Daimler", says Per Simonsen, CEO of Telenor Connexion. 

Nissan LEAF was awarded ”European Car of the Year 2011” and is the world's first mass-production, 100% electric, zero-emission car. The new EV will be on sale in Europe early 2011 with the first deliveries to Portugal, Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands.

About Nissan in Europe
Nissan employs 12,500 people in its European design, research and development, manufacturing, logistics, and sales and marketing operations. In calendar year 2009, the company sold 498,027 vehicles across 40 markets in Western and Eastern Europe including Russia. Furthermore, the company produced a total of 390,727 vehicles in its Spanish and British plants.

About Telenor Connexion
Telenor Connexion is a leading global provider of embedded connectivity for business and life critical applications.

Source: Telenor Connexion

Bluegiga Releases eHealth Products for Medical, Health and Fitness Applications

Continua certified Bluegiga eHealth Gateway connects Bluetooth wireless sensors to back end networks through different interfaces. The product is ideal for an OEM or integrator planning to add gateway functionality from local wireless to wired WAN or mobile networks. Bluegiga OEM modules easily integrate Bluetooth wireless technology to any sensor or device with range requirements up to 1000 meters. The OEM modules are available with Bluetooth Health Device Profile and optional IEEE agent and manager implementations.

"Using standard wireless technologies in the health and medical applications is a fast growing market. Continua Health Alliance is promoting Bluetooth-based wireless products to enable global manufacturer independent compliance between different devices," comments Mikko Savolainen, Bluegiga's Vice President of Product Management. "Bluegiga is the first in the world to offer a complete end-to-end solution that meets the compliance of Bluetooth Health Device Profile and Continua IEEE standards. Bluegiga's Continua certified eHealth Gateway for building networks and Bluetooth eHealth modules for sensor end are available now."

Bluegiga Technologies Inc. provides Bluetooth-based wireless module and access device solutions to OEMs, integrators and teleoperators. The secure, cost effective and easy to integrate devices are used by industry leaders in the areas of health and medical, automotive, audio, industrial, and consumer applications.

Continua Health Alliance Continua Health Alliance is a non-profit, open industry coalition of healthcare and technology companies joining together in collaboration to improve the quality of personal healthcare. Continua is dedicated to establishing a system of interoperable personal health solutions with the knowledge that extending those solutions into the home fosters independence, empowers individuals and provides the opportunity for truly personalized health and wellness management.

Source: Bluegiga Technologies

OnStar Gears Up to Help Children Find Santa Claus

"It's great to provide our customers with a fun, highly informative benefit during the holidays," said Scott Kubicki, executive director, OnStar Sales, Services and Marketing. "Our advisors also enjoy hearing children's surprise and joy when they learn that St. Nick is only hours away from their home."

For more than 54 years NORAD has used its North Warning Radar System, geo-synchronous satellites with infrared sensors and other technologies to monitor Santa's Christmas Eve travels and share the information with children and families around the world.

"We are excited that OnStar is a NORAD Tracks Santa program sponsor once again this year," said James Graybeal, deputy chief of staff for communication, Headquarters NORAD and USNORTHCOM.  "OnStar adds another layer to the program.  In addition to tracking Santa on the web or by calling in to the operations center, it's neat that you can locate Santa by pushing a button in your car, wherever you are."

About OnStar
OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services. OnStar is available on more than 40 MY 2011 GM models. OnStar provides services to nearly six million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. Shanghai OnStar Telematics Co. Ltd., a joint venture between OnStar, LLC, Shanghai Automotive Industry Sales Co., Ltd. and Shanghai General Motors, provides services in China.

About NORAD
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a bi-national United States and Canadian organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America.

Source: General Motors

TomTom Automotive Selects Sierra Wireless Embedded Modules for New Connected Navigation Solutions

TomTom's connected in-car navigation technology, including TomTom LIVE Services, will also be offered by Mazda as an option on its new Mazda5 in Europe. The embedded wireless module inside the navigation system enables drivers to receive up-to-date information, including the location of speed cameras and accurate reports on traffic jams. In addition to the navigation service, the system offers a full infotainment solution.

"The skill sets of our two companies are very complementary, and we are delighted to work alongside TomTom in this exciting space," said Didier Dutronc, Senior Vice President and General Manager, M2M Embedded Solutions for Sierra Wireless. "We are confident that drivers across Europe will appreciate and enjoy the new features of their connected navigation systems."

About TomTom
TomTom is the world's leading provider of location and navigation solutions. Headquartered in The Netherlands, TomTom has over 3,000 employees worldwide.

About Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless offers industry-leading mobile computing and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications products and solutions that connect people, devices, and applications over cellular networks.

Source: Sierra Wireless, Inc.

Verizon Business Is Quality Security Assessor for Hypercom’s ‘SmartPayments Wynid’ Hosted Electronic Payment Platform

Global payment technology leader Hypercom has worked with Verizon Business to help ensure that Hypercom's SmartPayments Wynid hosted electronic payment platform complies with PCI DSS international payment card industry data-security standards.

Hypercom provides card payment solutions and services to financial institutions, large retailers and independent merchants in more than 130 countries.  Its card and PIN payment terminals and systems enable millions of electronic transactions to be conducted quickly and securely every day.

Verizon Business' professional security services team has provided a range of audit, management and implementation services that have helped Hypercom achieve and maintain Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) certification.

T.K. Cheung, vice president, global quality and security, Hypercom Corporation, said: "We deliver the most effective security solutions through continuous innovation and a singular focus on our customers.  Achieving certification of our SmartPayments Wynid hosted payment platform further protects retailers and cardholders and fortifies our position in the marketplace.  SmartPayments Wynid is our premier integrated payment solution, a hosted platform that can be widely used by retailers to help safeguard the integrity of their transactions.  We were pleased to team with Verizon Business on this effort."

The inaugural "Verizon Payment Card Industry Compliance Report," issued in October, examined the state of compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which was created in 2006 to protect cardholder data and reduce credit card fraud.  Company investigators found that organizations that have suffered a breach are 50 percent less likely to be PCI compliant and that only 22 percent of organizations were PCI compliant at the time of their initial examination.  However, the report also showed that compliance can dramatically reduce credit card data breaches.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications a global leader in communications and IT solutions.

Hypercom and Wynid are registered trademarks of Hypercom Corporation.  SmartPayments is a trademark of Hypercom Corporation.

SOURCE Verizon Business

Elecsys Corporation Reports Second Quarter Financial Results

Sales for the quarter were $5,479,000, an increase of 37%, or $1,478,000, from $4,001,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2010.  Total sales year-to-date increased 40%, or $3,041,000, to $10,661,000.  The increases were the result of both growth in bookings and backlog in custom electronic assemblies and an overall increase in sales of its proprietary products and services as compared to the prior year.

Total backlog as of October 31, 2010 grew by 63% to $8,080,000, an increase of $3,128,000 from a total backlog of $4,952,000 from one year earlier, and an increase of 30%, or $1,885,000, from July 31, 2010.  This increase in backlog was largely due to increased orders from existing customers combined with the addition of several new customers during the current and preceding quarters.

Gross margin was approximately 32% of sales, or $1,729,000, for the three-month period ended October 31, 2010, compared to 31% of sales, or $1,239,000, for the prior year period. 

Income before taxes for the quarter was $179,000, compared to a loss before taxes of $523,000 for the same quarter in the prior year.  For the first six months of fiscal 2011, income before taxes grew to $341,000 from a loss before taxes of $1,160,000 in the first six months of fiscal 2010.

Karl B. Gemperli, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased to announce second quarter results that reflect substantial growth in sales, an expanding order backlog, enhanced gross margins, and significantly improved bottom-line performance compared to the previous year.  Demand for our proprietary products continued to grow while business with both new and established OEM partners strengthened during the quarter.  We continued our investments in new product development during the quarter and are encouraged by the enthusiastic market acceptance of our recently introduced products, such as the Watchdog P2S-AC remote monitor, the Radix FW950 handheld computer, and the Director Series of communication products. 

Gemperli continued, "With both next generation system solutions currently in development and additional products, such as the Watchdog VIP and secure industrial communication products, being introduced, we anticipate the expansion of our M2M solutions business to accelerate.  In order to maximize our opportunities for growth in the rapidly expanding market sectors we are targeting, we will maintain our commitment to both new product development and investment in international sales and marketing initiatives.  Although global economic conditions still present challenges, based on orders in backlog, new business opportunities, and our focus on continuously improving operations, we expect the positive trends in both revenues and earnings to continue during the coming quarters."

About Elecsys Corporation
Elecsys Corporation provides innovative machine to machine (M2M) communication technology solutions and custom electronic equipment for critical industrial applications worldwide.   Elecsys develops, markets, and supports proprietary technology and products under the Pipeline Watchdog, Radix, eXtremeTAG, SensorCast, Director, and DCI brand names.

Source: Elecsys Corporation

RS TechMedic Uses Sierra Wireless Modules for Clinical Data

The latest feature of Dyna-Vision™ is to accurately predict critical medical conditions of patients, such as cardiac arrest, up to six hours before they occur. By early intervention by medical staff, it is now possible to prevent the patient's condition from deteriorating. This feature helps healthcare providers reduce complications, patient injuries and length of hospital stays. Using the highly integrated Sierra Wireless AirPrime Q2687 wireless module, the Dyna-Vision™ device transmits data in real time to a doctor's office via a cellular network, enabling extensive remote diagnostics in cardiology, pulmonology and neurology.

"The AirPrime Q2687 provides the perfect connectivity solution for the Dyna-Vision™," said Rutger Brest van Kempen, CEO of RS TechMedic. "An advanced integrated TCP/IP stack, small module size and low current consumption were essential criteria for us, since our product is carried around by the patient and is running on an internal battery. The fact that the module is fully certified for European and US markets made the certification of the Dyna-Vision™ itself fast and easy for us. Last but not least, the professional integration support we received from our Sierra Wireless distributor, Alcom Netherlands, was of great help in creating a robust and efficient telemedicine solution which responds to patients' and practitioners' needs."  

The Dyna-Vision™ transmits measurements automatically with no intervention from the patient, and patients can be monitored for long periods of time without having to come back to the practice. Patients experiencing symptoms or other events can use the unit to alert the physician, who can simply log in to the server to monitor the actual streaming parameters and take action as required. The Dyna-Vision™ unit is part of a turn-key offer, which includes a server solution and PC software in addition to the monitoring device.

Didier Dutronc, Senior Vice President and General Manager, M2M Embedded Solutions for Sierra Wireless, added: "Wireless healthcare or telemedicine is one of the most exciting applications of machine-to-machine communication technology today, and we are very pleased to be working with some of the pioneers in this space. The Dyna-Vision™ device is a wonderful example of how wireless technology can help improve people's lives."

About RS TechMedic
RS TechMedic B.V. is a Dutch based developer of innovative and high-quality medical technology. The products, software and services are mainly focused on telemedicine, remote patient monitoring and remote medical diagnostics.

Dyna-Vision™ is built with state-of-the-art electronics. The unique and patented features provide the health care industry with an effective, affordable and comfortable product. It is proven that Telemedicine is only successful when the products are actually supporting the health care provider. Many products in the market today however create additional workload for the health care provider. Also, the patient is an active part in the process. Many patients are not able to cope with the telemedicine equipment and requirements. For that reason we developed a fully automatic solution that needs no intervention from the patient.

About Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR - TSX: SW) offers industry-leading mobile computing and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications products and solutions that connect people, devices, and applications over cellular networks. Wireless service providers, equipment manufacturers, enterprises and government organizations around the world depend on us for reliable wireless technology. We offer 2G, 3G and 4G wireless modems, routers and gateways as well as a comprehensive suite of software, tools, and services that ensure our customers can successfully bring wireless applications to market.

AT&T and Elster Announce Agreement to Deliver Wireless Smart Grid Solutions to Utilities

Agreement Strengthens Portfolio of Standards-Based Smart Grid Offerings for Customers

AT&T* and Elster, a global leader in advanced metering technology and Smart Grid solutions, today announced that they have signed a new agreement that will enable comprehensive end-to-end wireless solutions for utilities.

The combined offering enables utilities to integrate distribution area networking from AT&T's high speed, cellular data network with Elster's EnergyAxis® advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solution. Utilities will now have access to an open and multi-technology smart grid platform that optimizes efficiency and reliability, while reducing the operational costs of having to manage proprietary networks. Based on open-standards and high security protocols, critical information on energy consumption and usage from the end-user is collected and managed in real time by Elster's EnergyAxis-enabled smart meters and two-way, standards-based communications network. This information is then aggregated and transported securely over AT&T's high speed networks.

"Momentum within smart grid has been picking up at a rapid pace for us," said Chris Hill, Vice President, Advanced Enterprise Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions. "With this agreement with Elster, we are excited about the potential to expand our Smart Grid offerings beyond North America."

"Elster has strong history of working with utilities to create operational efficiencies and one of the main reasons for this success is our ability to seamlessly integrate our EnergyAxis solution into an existing IT infrastructure or geography," said Mark Munday, CEO of Elster Solutions. "With this new agreement with AT&T, Elster is expanding the industry's most comprehensive suite of Smart Grid solutions to meet the specific needs of our customers."

Using Elster's EnergyAxis Smart Grid technology, utilities across the globe are realizing operational improvements that translate into reduced energy costs, improved customer service and the conservation of environmental and economic resources. A field-proven, interoperable solution with more than 4.5 million endpoints and 80 complete systems deployed worldwide, Elster's EnergyAxis provides the full spectrum of critical components for Smart Grid success, including communications networking, meter data management and utility-specific applications.

AT&T's suite of M2M pricing plans designed specifically for the Smart Grid makes this solution an economical choice for utilities. In addition, AT&T offers a range of strategic mobility products and services to the utility industry, including wireless solutions for field service workers, outage detection and remote monitoring for automated metering infrastructure. AT&T's dedicated team of industry specialists understands the business process from end-to-end and translates technical solutions into meaningful business value for customers.

In a recent Current Analysis report, "Machine to Machine Services Market: Competition Heats Up," AT&T's strength in M2M implementation strategy and mobility services organization was highlighted. Analyst Kathryn Weldon wrote that AT&T "stands out as having one of the most comprehensive M2M services portfolio, with a strategy likely to succeed in the market." 

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine. 

About Elster
Elster is one of the world's largest electricity, gas and water measurement and control providers.  Elster's products and solutions are widely used by utilities in the traditional and emerging Smart Grid markets. 

SOURCE AT&T Inc.

IEEE: On a Mission to Make Healthcare Personal, Again

"Healthcare is undergoing major changes enabled by the rapid technology developments at all informatics levels.  For example, we've seen the revolutionary impact of imaging technologies on radiology and medicine, and we are seeing that computer and mobile technologies are modernizing the way healthcare is delivered and managed," said Dr. Zhi-Pei Liang, IEEE fellow and 2011 President of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.  "It is through better acquisition of image data, the ubiquitous deployment of microchips, computers and sensors, critical achievements in systems biology research and intelligent mining of electronic patient records that we can deliver more effective, personalized medical diagnostics and therapeutics – profound enough to change our lives and our society."

IEEE members are transforming the future of medicine and healthcare.  From formalized mathematical theory through experimental science, and from technological development to practical clinical applications, IEEE members have applied concepts and methods of the physical and engineering sciences to progress modern healthcare.  Examples of technological innovation to improve the quality of patient care include: designing the electrical circuits that make a pacemaker work; developing the transport technologies that allow patients and doctors to communicate over long distances; delivering new electronic and mobile health (eHealth/mHealth) applications that digitize and automate healthcare knowledge to better understand the relationship between symptoms/conditions, diseases, medications/treatments and outcomes.

Dr. Liang continued, "IEEE members provide a critical link between engineering and life and health sciences; their work and accomplishments have made healthcare more effective, more efficient and more assessable."

IEEE fosters integrative efforts that accelerate knowledge discovery, and contributions towards advances in research and the practice of healthcare.  Today, IEEE members globally are putting those advances to work in:

• mHealth
• Medical Access Cards
• Telehealth
• Robotics in Healthcare

The integration of scientific, technological, and educational activities can be seen through a number of IEEE healthcare standards initiatives, society actions, and global conferences from the 2011 IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging: From Nano to Micro to the 2011 Healthcare Informatics, Imaging, and Systems Biology (HISB) event.  Additionally, IEEE.tv  and IEEE Spectrum offers numerous videos on the cross-section of technology and modern medicine to aid in personal healthcare, such as: Surgeons Got Game, The Rocket-Powered Prosthetic Arm, Biomedical Engineering at the Mayo Clinic, Feeding the Machine: The World's Most Sophisticated Artificial Stomach, and Tapping the Computing Power of the Unconscious Brain, among others.

About IEEE
IEEE, the world's largest technical professional association, is dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.  Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. 

Source: IEEE