VMware, HP Partner to Simplify Device Lifecycle Management Using Cloud-Based Technology

At VMworld 2017, VMware, Inc. and HP Inc. announced a partnership that will add VMware Workspace ONE™ to HP’s Device as a Service (DaaS) technology platform. Workspace ONE, an integrated platform powered by VMware AirWatch Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) technology, provides a holistic and user-centric approach to managing all endpoints in an organization – from mobile and desktop to Internet of Things (IoT). HP DaaS offers a modern consumption model for computing in which hardware and lifecycle services are combined to improve the user experience and free up IT resources to drive growth.

“VMware Workspace ONE powered by AirWatch provides next-generation unified endpoint management that enables our customers to manage the complete lifecycle of the end points and applications over-the-air and in real-time,” said Sumit Dhawan, senior vice president and general manager, End-User Computing, VMware. “This partnership brings two industry-leading players together to deliver a complete solution for mutual customers looking to transform their end points from procurement to management into a predictable consumption-based service.”

“HP DaaS creates a breaking point from how devices have been sold and serviced for decades. It fundamentally changes how we see enterprise customers select, deploy, secure, manage and refresh multi OS and multi device environments,” said Ron Coughlin, president, Personal Systems, HP Inc. “We are excited to partner with VMware and incorporate their unified endpoint management solution into HP DaaS, and believe the strength of our combined platforms creates the next generation of device consumption for customers.”

Workspace ONE powered by AirWatch UEM extends the industry-leading VMware AirWatch Enterprise Mobility Management capabilities into advanced cloud-based macOS and Windows 10 PC lifecycle management. This includes configuration management, operating system (OS) patch management, client health and security management. Unified endpoint management in Workspace ONE enables IT to deploy security patches and OS updates faster, install software more reliably and consolidate operational processes across all devices – on or off the domain in real-time.

HP DaaS addresses the complexity of managing today’s multi-OS environments with a single contact, and a single contract across both commercial devices and services. It allows customers to pay on a monthly per device basis and takes the day-to-day burden of managing devices away so IT can focus its time where it matters the most. By incorporating Workspace ONE into HP DaaS’ rich management toolset, HP DaaS Service Agents will benefit from additional capabilities to provide comprehensive fleet management to help customers increase efficiency, improve the employee experience, and free up IT resources to drive growth in a transformed workplace

Nandan Nilekani to Bring Back 'Acche Din' Back in Infosys: N R Narayana Murthy

Expressing satisfaction over the return of Nandan Nilekani as the non-executive chairman of Infosys, the company’s co-founder N R Narayana Murthy on Tuesday said that Nilekani will bring back ‘Acche Din’ to the company.

The corporate governance standard practicsed by Infosys will be on par with the global best standard with Nilekani back at the helm of the company.

Nandan has been a firm believer of good governance, Murthy said during his first investors’ call since company’s former Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Vishal Sikka resigned.

“Having worked with Nandan for long, I know that he is a stickler for good corporate governance,” Murthy said.

He also expressed hope that Nilekani will help bringing transparency in the Panaya probe.

“He is also a value-based person. He is the first among the hundreds of thousands of professionals who symbolised the byline of Infosys – Powered by Intellect; Driven by Values,” he said.

“In fact, based on Nandan’s media interviews and the recent changes in the board, I believe that corrective actions have already begun,” he claimed.

Decisive action

Not explaining what the corrective action was, Murthy added, “As explained earlier, it is this kind of corrective and decisive action that I was looking for in the detailed report. These actions are now being taken. Therefore, we can all move forward from here and look to the future.”

In a jibe at the previous management and board, Murthy wished Nilekani “best of everything in his effort to bring back Acche Din to Infosys.”

“I am confident Nandan will determine whether the members of the current Board who were involved in the events alleged by the whistle blower exercised their proper and expected role in governance; and that he will take appropriate corrective actions. These actions will bring back the rigor of governance standards at Infosys,” he said.

Reiterating his confidence in the current senior management of the company, he claimed that many of them were “excellent people” with whom he has worked.

Noting a positive turnaround in the current state of affairs, Murthy said that he is assured now that the company is in safe hands.

Recollecting his first interaction with Nilekani, Murthy said, “I have known Nandan for over 38 years ever since he walked into my office for a job. I gave him a very difficult IQ test and he passed it with flying colors. He is also a value-based person.”

Skin and Hair DNA Tests Gives Patients with Boldness and Ailments a New Life

Our hair can tell us a lot about our bodies and our predisposition to ailments. With a focus on offering assessment as well as customized treatment options for hair fall, hair loss and predictive capabilities as well, Hairline International Hair and Skin Clinic launches Hair DNA testing which takes an in-depth look at genetic markers for hair loss, assesses a predisposition to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular conditions, and aids in the creation of tailor-made treatment and diet plans. In this simple cheek swab test, genetic markers for hair follicular stress, inflammation and growth factors are analysed.

Speaking on the launch of Hair DNA testing, Bani Anand, Founder and Managing Director, Hairline International Hair and Skin Clinic says, “At Hairline International, we have always worked towards holistic approaches to hair and skin ailments. Hair DNA testing, besides being complementary to the Skin DNA testing we offer, helps determine one’s propensity for lifestyle based ailments and this can go a long way in helping a patient make the right changes”.

Explaining in detail on the working of Hair DNA testing at Hairline, Dr. Premalatha V, Dermatosurgeon, Hairline International Hair and Skin Clinic said, “At Hairline, we offer 5 different Hair DNA Testing panels. Each of these panels has a specific outcome that works towards assessing:

1.       Genetic tendencies towards balding

2.       As Predictor of baldness

3.       Customization of treatment for hair fall

4.       Drug responsiveness to commonly used medication like Finasteride and Minoxidil

Health markers to determine tendency towards cardiovascular ailments, hypertension, obesity and diabetes. This panel is a part of Nutrigenomics – a science that can help customize and alter lifestyle and nutrition patterns based on an individual’s genetic make-up”.

Explaining Nutrigenomics, Mansi Belani, Fitness Nutritionist, Hairline International Hair and Skin Clinic says, “Nutrigenetic test is a genetic analysis that aims to understand an individual’s genetic makeup can influence the way his body responds to food and the nutrients he gets from it. It looks into how these genetic differences can affect health. Nutrigenomics goes down to the DNA level of individual to better understand what nutrition the body specifically needs and what may be lacking. It also predicts what metabolic diseases and allergies one may prone to. The in-depth research that is being conducted in the field will now make way for gene-specific diets, ensuring that your diet too can be DNA-based”.

Elaborating on the benefits of Hair DNA testing, Dr Premalatha further explains that the test helps an individual in two primary ways

1.       Customization of treatment for hairfall

2.       Nutrition based treatment that is specific to an individual

“Hair DNA panels are ideal for those looking to take preventive care, especially if they find they are predisposed to hair loss, hair fall and even cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. Besides that, two of the most important drugs used in the treatment of hair loss are Minoxidil and Finasteride, both of which are FDA approved. There are however possibilities of patients being resistant to the drugs and this test helps determine that, allowing for the medical professional to utilize adjuvant therapies rather than have unnecessary exposure to these medicines” adds Dr Premalatha.

Karnataka Govt Elevate 100 Initiative Takes Startups to Greater Heights

Karnataka IT, BT and Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday said the state government doesn’t stop at elevating the chosen 100. We see ELEVATE 100 as a continuing process where the best ideas from the state gets the support and guidance it deserves i.e. greater heights.

Hundred of the Karnataka innovative start-ups have got a bright opportunity as the Karnataka government opened its two-day grand finale of Elevate 100 platform at the Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru from August 29, 2017.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Kharge said “ELEVATE 100, after its extensive roadshow along the length and breadth of the state helped us to mature into a startup platform. We want to continue with it and not only assisting the 100 startups but also other eligible startups in the state.”

“This is just one of the many initiatives aimed at creating the largest pool of talented entrepreneurs in Karnataka. Areas like AI & Robotics are already being nurtured through various Centres of Excellence. Our target is to create 20,000 successful start-ups by supporting them through continuous engagement, says Gaurav Gupta, Principal Secretary, Department IT, BT & ST, Government of Karnataka.

A brainchild of the Government of Karnataka, ELEVATE 100 is a combined initiative of the Start-up Cell and the Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS). 

The two day grand finale nurturing the most innovative hundred startups, got off with an overwhelming participation of startups in deep tech, ecommerce and other services sectors.

Over the last few months, ELEVATE 100 roadshow traversed the length and breadth of the state in a rigorous hunt to pick the 100 most innovative start-ups and help them turn their ideas into successful businesses. This initiative will give them access to the government’s Rs 400 crore start-up fund as well as offer mentoring from industry experts, idea validation, advisory and legal support.

The initiative will give startups access to the Government’s Rs 400 crore start-up fund as well as offer mentoring from industry experts, idea validation, advisory and legal support.

Apple & Accenture Partner to Create iOS Business Solutions in India

Apple and Accenture are partnering to help businesses transform how their people engage with customers through innovative business solutions for iOS. The partnership will take full advantage of the power, simplicity and security of iOS, the leading enterprise mobility platform, and Accenture’s capabilities as a leader in industry and digital transformation to help companies unlock new revenue streams, increase productivity, improve customer experience and reduce costs.
 
Accenture will create a dedicated iOS practice within Accenture Digital Studios in select locations around the world. Experts from Apple will be co-located with this team. Working together, the two companies will launch a new set of tools and services that help enterprise clients transform how they engage with customers using iPhone® and iPad. The experts will include visual and experience designers, programmers, data architects and scientists, and hardware and software designers.

“Starting 10 years ago with iPhone, and then with iPad, Apple has been transforming how work gets done, yet we believe that businesses have only just begun to scratch the surface of what they can do with our products,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Both Apple and Accenture are leaders in building incredible user experiences and together we can continue to truly modernize how businesses work through amazing solutions that take advantage of the incredible capabilities of Apple’s technologies.”
 
Pierre Nanterme, Accenture’s chairman and CEO, said, “Based on our experience in developing mobile apps, we believe that iOS is the superior mobile platform for businesses and are excited to be partnering with Apple. By combining Accenture’s vast digital capabilities and industry expertise with Apple’s market leadership in creating products that delight customers, we are in a perfect position to help our clients transform the way they work.”
 
The new iOS tools and services will take full advantage of the latest Apple technologies and tap into Accenture’s leading digital and analytics capabilities.

·  New ecosystem services to help clients address the full range of iOS integration requirements to connect to back-end systems, leveraging Accenture’s systems integration expertise and the unique iOS advantages built by Apple with key partners like SAP and Cisco.

·  Internet-of-Things (IoT) services featuring new tools templates and predesigned code to help clients take greater advantage of the data from IoT platforms in their iOS apps, putting more power into the hands of workers.

·  Migration services to help clients to quickly and easily transfer their existing legacy applications and data to modern iOS apps.

K7 Computing Celebrates Completion of 25 Years; Launches K7 Cloud Endpoint Security

K7 Computing Private Limited, a cybersecurity company that protects over 20 million customers globally against threats to their IT environments, has completed 25 years since its inception. The company celebrated this milestone by awarding the ‘K7 Medal of Honour’ to 30 individuals who have contributed to the digital India paradigm. Furthermore, the company has added a new product to its portfolio – K7 Cloud Endpoint Security, for its enterprise customers and has unveiled a new venture, K7 Academy that aims at bridging skill gaps in the Indian cybersecurity space. 

The ‘K7 Medal of Honour’ was given by T. K. Ramachandran (IAS) - IT Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Rajendra Kumar (IAS) – Principal Secretary, Depart. of Youth Welfare & Sports Development, Lakshmi Narayanan - Former VC, Cognizant Technology Solutions, N. Kamakoti - MD and CEO, City Union Bank and, G. Viswanathan - Pro-Chancellor, VIT.

K7 Cloud Endpoint Security is a cloud-based enterprise solution that ensures business continuity and compliance by protecting sensitive data from malware and threats, securing network traffic and meeting regulatory and compliance requirements. Moreover, with low-cost internet, one can get a real-time view of security status for all connected devices through an intuitive dashboard.

With the aim to bridge skill gaps in the field of cybersecurity, the company has established K7 Academy. The Academy seeks to enlighten freshers who are interested in digital development, with a combination of technical, hands-on, domain-focused and behavioural learning modules. The first batch of recruits is scheduled to start the course in September 2017. The coursework will be a combination of classroom and on-the-job training and is designed by security researchers and experts at K7 Computing.   

Commenting on the occasion,  Kesavardhanan Jayaraman, Founder and CEO, K7 Computing Pvt Ltd., said, “This is a landmark moment for all of us at K7 Computing. Having evolved from an anti-virus company to a total security company, I have always believed in evolution through innovation, and we have constantly proved this by creating some cutting-edge solutions at every step along the way; K7 Cloud Endpoint Security is another feather in our cap. Furthermore, given that we have a detailed overview of the talent pool available in India today, we found the need to develop industry-ready cybersecurity professionals. Thus was born the idea of K7 Academy. We hope to make a difference and cater to the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals, machine learning experts and cloud development specialists”.

“It is indeed a pleasure to have eminent leaders join us today to celebrate ‘An Entrepreneur’s Odyssey’. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to those who were awarded with the K7 Medal of Honour. Digitalization is here to stay and we are moving in the right direction with such individuals working towards making this a seamless journey for the rest of us”, he added.

As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, K7 Computing organized an international trip for some of its employees. Over 40 employees were taken on a 7-day trip to Singapore, thanking them for their association and contribution towards the growth of K7 Computing.

Uber Reiterates its Commitment to Driver Partners in India; Rollsout Driver Insurance Program with ICICI Lombard

Uber, the world’s largest ridesharing company, has announced the roll out of a series of product innovations, programs and partnerships  aimed at making driving for Uber an attractive choice for driver partners across India. Among them was the country’s first ridesharing insurance program. In partnership with ICICI Lombard General Insurance, the policy provides driver partners with free coverage for accidental death and disablement, hospitalization, and outpatient medical treatment in case of an accident while online on the Uber App and are available for trip requests, en route or on a trip with Uber.

"These announcements are a reflection of our efforts  to meaningfully impact and improve the driving experience. Today, we want to celebrate the more than 450,000 drivers across India, and the lengths they go to to make all of our cities move better,” said Pradeep Parameswaran, Head of Central Operations, India, Uber. “We are aware of the special responsibility we have to do our best for the drivers who use the app to earn a livelihood. These innovations and partnerships are a reflection of our commitment to listen, act and enable our drivers to experience the ‘Apnapan’ while driving for Uber.Today, we’re thrilled to announce something that driver partners have asked for the most: insurance. We are partnering with ICICI Lombard, the largest private sector non-life insurer in India, to offer our driver partners accident insurance. This partnership will provide a safety net for our driver partners who keep our cities moving. This is just the beginning, we’ll continue to engage with our driver partners and work towards making driving for Uber, not just the most attractive opportunity but also the most preferred choice.”

What’s New for Driver partners:

• First of its kind Insurance program:

This first-of-its-kind insurance program will provide driver partners (aged 18 to 65) of four-wheeled vehicles intended to carry passengers with coverage for accidental death and disablement, hospitalization and outpatient medical treatment in case of an accident while using the Uber App and are available for trip requests, en route or on a trip with Uber. The unique insurance cover will be offered for free to the driver partners, giving them peace of mind while enjoying the flexibility of independent work.

Cover under this program is will go live as of September 1, 2017. The coverage offered includes Rs. 5 lakh in the event of death, up to Rs. 5 lakh for permanent disability, up to Rs. 2 lakh in the event of hospitalization, with a sub-limit of up to Rs. 50,000 for outpatient treatment.

Commenting on the occasion, Bhargav Dasgupta, MD & CEO ICICI Lombard General Insurance said, “At ICICI Lombard General Insurance, we are excited to partner with Uber India and introduce this unique insurance proposition for their driver partners. ICICI Lombard has always been at the forefront in terms of introducing non-life insurance solutions that address the emerging trends and changing market dynamics. This insurance program is a step forward in that direction.”

• In-app Products to enhance the driving experience

As Uber’s driver community has grown over the years, the technology and services provided to drivers has evolved.Whether that’s creating more flexible ways to earn money, fixing navigation issues or helping partners reduce their operating costs, thousands of people work around the clock to build features and technological innovations that best meet the needs of driver partners. Here’s some of Uber’s newest and most recent product innovations for the driver app:

Driver Destinations: Twice a day, drivers can input their destination and Uber will only send trip requests that are on their way helping reduce driver cancellations and unavailability.For e.g. if the driver keys in Connaught Place and he is in Gurgaon, then he will get ride requests that match the route from Gurgaon to CP, he will not be sent in the opposite direction. 

Back-to-Back Trips: Drivers receive their next trip request, while they are a couple of minutes away from completing their current trip. This helps reduce idle time for drivers and ensures riders get a car at the earliest

Pause Requests: After receiving feedback from a driver event earlier this year, Uber introduced a “pause button,” so driver partners could grab lunch, get fuel or a take a quick break.

Heat Maps: The heat map provides drivers with recommended areas where they’re most likely to get their next ride depending on demand and supply at that location. That means less time waiting for a trip and less fuel wasted.

Telematics for Road Safety: A unique technological innovation that monitors and assesses driving patterns and helps provide feedback to driver partners. Through this technology Uber is able to share daily reports with partners on driving patterns, speed of the vehicle and reminds them to take breaks and keep the phone mounted while driving.

Paid waiting time: With this feature, a driver who reaches the rider’s pickup location and waits longer than a fixed duration will be eligible for paid wait time. This ensures drivers earn on the Uber platform, when they reach the rider’s pickup location and wait longer than a fixed duration for the trip to begin.

Cancellation window: The drivers can see a countdown timer in their app when they reach the rider’s pickup location. After waiting for a fixed duration, they may choose to cancel and will be eligible for Cancellation Fee.

In App Chat: This feature allows driver partners to message their rider once they reach the pickup destination. This is means drivers no longer need to call a rider if they’re using  In App Chat.

Driver Profiles & Compliments: This feature lets riders see the driver’s profile with metrics like total trips, compliments and comments received from other riders. This promotes a healthy conversation between rider and driver. Riders also have the option to give compliment badges to the drivers based on the experience they had on the trip. This helps drivers see their performance in the form of badges received from riders.

Partnerships and Initiatives to help driver’s experience ‘Apnapan’

To make the driver experience easier, hassle free and safer Uber has introduced several initiatives and partnerships nationally and regionally. Uber recognises that listening to their driver partners is one the most important methods to constantly enhance the driver experience on the App.

• UberSAMAAJ, is Uber’s flagship driver community engagement program to encourage driver partners to share their concerns and work closely with them in finding a mutually agreeable solutions.
• Uber announced that “Night Support” for driver partners would be extended from 12 hours (8 AM - 8 PM) to 18 hours (6 AM - 12 midnight) while continuing to offer emergency assistance from 12 midnight - 6 AM
• Programs like UberSHAAN and UberFAUJI help make the platform more inclusive. Uber has also launched a Driver skills training program in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation.
• Uber also partnered with AISECT to pilot a program to create whatsapp enabled modules to teach drivers basic English conversational skills