Monday, December 19, 2016

Seclore & TechnoBind Partner to Increase Distribution Network and Drive Growth

Seclore, the leading provider of Enterprise Digital Rights Management (EDRM) solutions, today announced its partnership with TechnoBind, India’s first specialised distributor for data and the associated domains. This association will offer support to Seclore’s strategic and business expansion plans in India and meet the growing needs of firms in the region for data- centric security solutions.

Seclore provides one of the most advanced, secure, and automated EDRM solutions to help companies in controlling and managing user access to critical documents and files. This comprehensive software suite comes bundled with industry-specific features, convenience, advanced technology, and connectivity that delivers automated file protection.

TechnoBind’s alliance with Seclore will benefit businesses who have been looking for a packaged solution that strikes the right balance between data-centric security and collaboration. It enables companies to secure sensitive data as it is exchanged and shared across a variety of different sources.

“In this era of consumerization of IT and enterprise mobility, end-users are demanding ‘anywhere, anytime’ access to information data. While it improves productivity, constant file sharing introduces new challenges to businesses.Seclore’s offerings will address some of the key pain points around Information usage control, information rights management and securing information as it travels.,” said Prashanth G J, CEO at TechnoBind.

Seclore has a growing client roster of Global 5000 companies in the banking, financial services, insurance, pharmaceutical, telecom, government, and manufacturing industries that rely on Seclore’s technology to persistent protect information wherever it travels and is stored.

“Seclore is growing and we wanted a key strategic partner that would enable us to cater to growing demand and to scale rapidly in critical markets. The Central Government’s sustained focus on “Digital India’ ensures huge potential for Seclore’s business. TechnoBind brings in both the reputation of being a value added distributor and a widespread operational footprint. This partnership with TechnoBind makes us well positioned to accelerate the expansion of our business in the India market,” said Amit Malhotra, VP, Sales - India, Middle East & Africa, Seclore.

According to Seclore, interest in EDRM is growing rapidly. The benefits of EDRM are clearly being seen now across a range of sectors. The new partnership will bring new opportunities for both Seclore and TechnoBind’s, who will be able to tap into these verticals where data-centric security is the primary focus. This partnership announcement comes at a time when Seclore has won a recent ‘Channel Leadership survey’ award from a leading publication house for the best EDRM solutions. Seclore expects EDRM to take a greater share of the increasing IT investment in the region over the coming years.

Brocade Ruckus ICX 7150 Switch to Bring Enhanced Functionality & Performance

Ruckus Wireless, a part of Brocade, has announced the Brocade Ruckus ICX 7150 switch, an entry-level stackable campus switch for budget-conscious customers in the education, hospitality and small-to-medium business (SMB) sectors. For the first time, budget-sensitive organizations will be able to experience the same features and high performance that major enterprises enjoy while also being able to scale and grow accordingly without having to replace equipment.

“Access Networks utilizes enterprise-grade network appliances to provide the finest network solutions for its customers’ connected lifestyles,” said Hagai Feiner, founder and CEO, Access Networks. “As a long-term, satisfied Ruckus partner, we are very pleased to add the ICX switches to our portfolio. The new ICX 7150 switch is an ideal complement to the Ruckus Wi-Fi networks. It delivers the enterprise-class features, flexibility and scalability at an affordable price that we need. From the ability to upgrade uplinks from 1GbE to 10GbE with a license, long-distance stacking, and the ability to expand our network with other ICX 7000 switch families with Campus Fabric, the ICX 7150 switch does what no other competitor can match for the price.”

What:
The Ruckus ICX 7150 offers unprecedented, enterprise-class features and performance at an entry-level price. At the same time, it enables organizations to buy what they need now and easily scale to support growth and new technologies in the future.

The Ruckus ICX 7150 is available in 12, 24 and 48 port 10/100/1000 Mbps models with 1/10 GbE dual-purpose uplink/stacking ports. The switch’s Power over Ethernet (PoE) and Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) capabilities make powering of high-capacity access points (APs) and other devices along with data connection easy. Additional features include:
·         Software upgradeable uplink/stacking ports from 1 GbE to 10 GbE
·         SDN-enabled with OpenFlow support
·         Easy transition to Brocade Campus Fabric for network automation and management simplicity
·         Plug-and-play operations for powered devices via LLDP and LLDP-MED protocols
·         Auto-configuration ensures error free configuration and accelerates deployment
·         Hot-insertion and removal of stack members simplifies operations
·         sFlow-based network monitoring
·         Flexible stacking adds capacity throughout the network without increasing the management load

Who:
The Ruckus ICX 7150 switches are ideal for organizations in the education, SMB or hospitality sectors as well as organizations that are more budget conscious.

When:
The Ruckus ICX 7150 can be ordered now with volume shipments starting in February 2017.

Massive Drive in Every Indian District to Go Cashless By Paytm

Paytm announced it has launched a massive drive across India to inform merchants and customers in every district about the benefits of using its payments platform. This is a part of the company’s long-term vision to bring half a billion Indians to the mainstream economy by 2020.

The company has instituted its team of to sensitize the public about the convenience of using Paytm. The team is conducting sessions and workshops across schools, colleges, village panchayats and trade bodies. This is to serve the dual purpose of informing customers about the benefits of digital payments and tap into the widest set of merchants across India.

Kiran Vasireddy, Snr. Vice President - Paytm said, “We have received an overwhelming response to our efforts in helping every Indian merchant accept Paytm. Hundreds of thousands of people have reached out to us over the last couple of weeks with their queries and feedback. To further fuel this growth, we have set up awareness camps across all major cities, towns and villages. Our aim is to reach every single market across all district and assist millions of Indians in their efforts to adopt a digital lifestyle.”

Paytm has also made its user interface in Android available in 10 regional languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Oriya and Punjabi. With this move, the company has expanded its reach to over 80% smartphone users in India who prefer internet-based services in regional languages, thus making mobile payments and commerce now accessible to all.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Anti-Tefton Activity Picks Up in India; Karnataka Government Likely to Join In Research Funding & Awareness

If you use your Teflon or non-stick pots and pans on a daily basis, you may unknowingly be exposing your family to hidden dangers. That's because non-stick cookware is made using a carcinogenic chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which starts emitting toxic fumes that you inhale every time you cook with a non-stick pot or pan! However, the Bengaluru-based Hairline International after initiating research has started to build awareness among Indians on the use of Teflon products and its harmful effects. The centre is now getting the Government of Karnataka involved to fund the project and also likely ban on Teflon products in the state.
Research indicated that at high temperatures, the coating of non-stick cookware will also break down into a chemical warfare agent known as PFIB, and a chemical analog of the WWII nerve gas phosgene.
Teflon has been in commercial use since the 1940s. It has a wide variety of products used in clothes, food and even water because it is extremely stable (it doesn’t react with other chemicals) and can provide an almost frictionless surface. Most people are familiar with it as a non-stick coating surface for pans and other cookware. It is also used in many other products, such as fabric protectors.

Hairline International Research Report
Hairline International Research and Treatment Centre released a report on the effects of Teflon that contains Perflurooctanoic Acid (PFOA), on hair fall. The report was released by Dr. S. Sacchidanand, Director of Medical Education, Government of Karnataka. In this recently concluded study, it was proven that 80% of the cases visiting the clinic with hair fall are PFOA positive. What is alarming is that of these cases, 65%, irrespective of gender developed high cholesterol. 70% of the women developed Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) and 65% developed hypothyroidism.
Speaking on the release of this research, Dr. Sacchidanand said, “There are a number of products we use on a daily basis thinking that they are good for our health and lifestyle. However, research such as the one released by Hairline International today shows that there is a need to examine such products and substances in depth to truly understand their impact on us in the long run”.
Dr. Dinesh G Gowda, Dermatosurgeon Hairline International Research and Treatment Center says, “Once PFOA is in the system, it is metabolized by the kidneys and liver, affecting the larger organs significantly in the long run. There are a range of diseases that the average human is now exposed as a result of lifestyle changes and the hectic pace of life in general. What was once perceived as a move towards a healthy lifestyle can now be the cause of illness.”
Dr. Premalatha V, Dermatosurgeon, Hairline International Research and Treatment Center says, “We have routinely carried out numerous researches on the various elements patients are exposed to and their possible connection to hair loss. Teflon (PFOA) is a commonly occurring element in households and even in water, and we found it important to look into its connection with hair loss. This research provides a new approach to dealing with hair loss and looks beyond known causes usually found in textbooks. This approach takes into account the new lifestyle diseases that are now afflicting people”.
Bani Anand, Founder and Managing Director, Hairline International says, “Hairline’s research wing has, over the years undertaken numerous researches which have helped us enhance the medical management of hair and skin that we are dedicated to doing. Internationally, a number of researches have been conducted on the possible harmful effects of PFOA and it has been found to have negative effects. This research helps us understand how an everyday element can wreak havoc on hair and how it may be countered”.
What is Teflon?
Teflon coated pans are a common occurrence in most home, especially considering that these products are marketed for the health conscious. One of the substances it comprises is PFOA. Most of the fast food packaging as well as candy wrappers and pizza box liners contact food contact papers that have traces of PFOA in them. PFOA has also been found in industrial waste, stain resistant carpets, carpet cleaning liquids as well as in house dust, microwaveable popcorn bags, food and water.
Once ingested in humans, PFOA has an average elimination half-life of about 3 years. There are also reports that have shown in animal based testing that there is a connection between PFOA and the occurrence of bladder, colon and prostate cancer.
Understanding the Research; Research Methodology, Observation and Inference
Hairline International has conducted an observational study across 6 centres of the organization for a period of one year from October 1, 2015 to October 30, 2016 to understand the effects of PFOA in the blood and its correlation to hair loss. 500 cases and 500 controls were taken for the study.
A detailed history was taken of each the cases to understand their lifestyles and the number of times they use non-stick cookware in a week.
It was seen that 401 out of the 500 cases (chosen from the urban areas) examined tested positive for PFOA in the blood. These results were primarily from the age group of 18 years to 44 years and those working professionals who were regular in consuming food made in non-stick cookware at least 4-6 times a week.
The 500 controls, on the other hand, were Bengalureans from lower strata of society- mostly physical and manual labourers, who used earthen pots and steel or aluminium cook ware to cook or warm their food. Only 15 subjects were found to be PFOA positive.
The study thus concluded that 80% of the cases visiting the clinic with hair fall are PFOA-positive. High PFOA levels leads to a higher incidence of PCOD, hypothyroidism, and high cholesterol, all of which indirectly cause hair fall. Further studies are needed to clearly identify clinically meaningful aspects of PFOA-associated hair loss. Larger studies may be required to draw definitive conclusions.

CoWrks Workspace at RMZ Infinity Attracts MNC’s Like Boeing & GE


CoWrks, a Bengaluru headquartered co-working community venture has opened its doors to their second co-working facility on Old Madras Road (OMR) at RMZ Infinity. Some of the major companies taken workspace includes: Boeing India R&D, GE Wind Power India, Style Lumia among others have taken space in the private studios.

An ode to the technological and entrepreneurship spirit of Bengaluru, the facility boasts of a large format offering of 400 desks across 30000 square feet of space. An estimated 1100 people making up a homogenous mix of professionals from small scale enterprises, startups to a pool of freelancers, independent professionals & entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies are expected to move in within the next month.

The concept of “Coworking” is a style of work that involves a shared working environment, often an office, and independent activity. Unlike in a typical office environment, those coworking are usually not employed by the same organization. Typically it is attractive to work-at-home professionals, independent contractors, or people who travel frequently who end up working in relative isolation. 

Sidharth Menda, Founder and CEO, CoWrks said, “The concept of shared, collaborative spaces has gained a tremendous thrust in India in the recent years. The innovation possibilities that this category brings with it, remains a key driver for us. As a brand, community building and bringing like-minded people within the same ecosystem remains core to our business. Old Madras Road is an emerging destination where IT/ITeS influence from the neighboring areas and rapid infrastructure development have resulted in considerable growth in a short time. Keeping the uniqueness and diversity of this megacity in mind, we have upped the ante on the design front for the OMR space specifically to suit the needs of the likes of an independent artist to a large MNC team.”

The creation of this vibrant and diverse community at the two spaces has set the stage perfectly for the launch of their community-building mobile app ‘CoWrks Connect’. An important milestone in their goal of merging technology and physical spaces, the app will allow users to bring further efficiency to their everyday work. In phase 1, tasks like membership management, booking of meeting rooms, printing files, filing support tickets and keeping track of events will be streamlined. Commenting on the long-term vision for the app, Nikhil Sud, CTO, CoWrks said, “As our community grows, we aim to create a layer of technology to supplement and enhance our physical presence. This will empower one of India’s most dynamic and fastest growing network of millennial professionals as they collaborate, share industry expertise and grow in their careers. In the long term, we will bring in more high-tech features like an artificially intelligent chat-bot and an online knowledge-sharing forum to bring in even more social collaboration and convenience to our members. We are confident that insights gained from usage patterns will help us understand their needs better and enhance our offerings right from location selection to space design.”

This latest phase of its market expansion comes hot on the heels of the tremendous success witnessed at its first facility at RMZ Ecoworld in August earlier this year which is already at full capacity. CoWrks is now focused on opening 10 facilities, across 4 metros in the next 6 months as part of a growth strategy encompassing both, entering key markets, and member growth. The two facilities combined, now offer 1.9 lakh square feet of space including 3200 desks designed to stimulate a work culture that dwells on collaboration between communities of like-minded individuals.