New Series of Video Collaboration Solutions for Skype Business

Polycom, Inc. and Microsoft Corp. announced today an expanded relationship through which Polycom plans to deliver a new series of video collaboration solutions purpose-built for Skype for Business called Polycom RoundTable. The first device in this new offering is the Polycom RoundTable 100, an affordable and easy-to-use video solution for huddle rooms that will allow small to midsized businesses (SMB) and teams with Skype for Business and Microsoft Lync 2013 to enjoy rich collaboration experiences, including voice, video and content collaboration, simply by logging into their Skype for Business account. 

The RoundTable 100 will take just minutes to set up and start using, and it will not require corporate domains or on-premises infrastructure, making it easy to use without assistance from IT.  The companies also announced that the Polycom CX series of video collaboration solutions, including the Po lycom CX8000 room system, and the Polycom CX5100 and Polycom CX5500 unified conferencing systems, also will become part of the Polycom RoundTable series of products. Together, this series of products is part of Polycom’s and Microsoft’s efforts to bring the world’s more than 50 million meeting rooms of all shapes and sizes into the digital age, enhancing collaboration for businesses of all sizes. In addition,Polycom VVX business media phones will be the first phones to support the forthcoming cloud voice service offering as part of Microsoft Office 365.

“Together, Microsoft and Polycom have a joint vision to deliver collaboration experiences that help our customers defy distance. We are now expanding our solutions to allow SMBs, as well as large enterprises, to reap the benefits of video collaboration,” said Peter Leav, Polycom President and CEO. “Our partnership with Microsoft has never been stronger, and over the years, it has fortified a market demand for collaboration experiences that help make our customers successful.”

Polycom and Microsoft have worked in tandem for more than a decade to make collaboration easier and more intuitive. Since Microsoft’s entry into unified communications, Polycom has developed the broadest portfolio of voice, video and content collaboration solutions that integrate with and are qualified by Microsoft. RoundTable solutions will add to Polycom’s portfolio of more than 40 existing solutions that integrate with Lync and Skype for Business.

“Collaboration is the cornerstone of productivity, and people need tools that work the way they do—across locations and devices,” said Zig Serafin, corporate vice president, Skype Business Services Group, Microsoft. “Throughout our long-standing partnership with Polycom, we’ve shared a goal of delivering collaboration experiences that transform the way people work. The RoundTable 100 serves as another important step in helping businesses of all sizes to realise that goal.”

SAP Brings Cricket Fans Closer to ICC World Cup 2015

SAP SE has teamed up with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to enhance the fan experience around the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, one of the largest sporting events in the world. SAP HANA Cloud Platform and SAP Lumira software help analyze and simplify ball-by-ball match data in real time, providing fans with statistics and historical insights for matches on the ICC Match Centre.

“Leading into the quarterfinals of the ICC Cricket World Cup, this year’s tournament has been the most digitally advanced in ICC Cricket World Cup history, including 3 million downloads of the official mobile app,” said David Richardson, chief executive officer, ICC. “The event web site is fully responsive, adapting to all devices, with cutting-edge design making all the tournament’s details accessible, informative and engaging for cricket fans all around the world. The Match Centre presented by SAP, available across both platforms, houses the fastest live scores available anywhere online. Thanks to the work we are doing with partners like SAP, we are allowing fans around the world unprecedented access to more closely follow the action of the World Cup and their favorite players.”

For the first time in ICC Cricket World Cup history, SAP is providing 40 years of ICC Cricket World Cup historical statistics to fans. This data is featured on the ICC Match Centre and offers fans new ways to compare past and present team and player performance. By fully utilizing the predictive capabilities of the SAP HANA platform, it is now possible to help identify some of the best bowlers and batsmen at the ICC Cricket World Cup based on the analysis of multiple statistical criteria.

“As cricket is one of the world’s most popular sports, we saw a great opportunity to work with the ICC to help them simplify the way they analyze and share data with their passionate fan base,” said Scott Russell, COO, SAP Asia Pacific Japan. “We’re delighted to work with the ICC to allow fans around the world to feel closer to this year’s World Cup and the sport they love.”

Over the last few years, SAP has increased the company’s focus to help transform the media, sports and entertainment industries with innovative technology to help drive team and player performance, increase fan engagement and simplify league and venue operations. Today, SAP is successfully collaborating with a number of well-known sports organizations and associations.

Ambition Express Bus Showcases SAP's Cloud, Mobility, Big Data Portfolio

Reaffirming its commitment towards empowering Indian small and mid-size businesses, SAP.se has drove the SAP Ambition Express Bus to Bangalore in association with Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) and The Peenya Industries Association. In the second phase of this pan-India bus roadshow, SAP Ambition Express will assist Indian enterprises gain more insights into the power of SAP solutions and services to achieve business excellence.

SAP Ambition Express will enter Bangalore on 11^th March and tour through the city till 20^th March. During this period, SAP Ambition Express will be stationed at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre for SAP TechEd 2015 till 13^th March. Additionally, the bus will also be stationed at  the BCIC premises on 17^th March and at the Peenya Industries Association premises on 20^th March, where Sri D.T. Venkatesh, President, Peenya Industries Associationwill host their members and industry peers. SAP Ambition Express will showcase various SAP solutions that enable organizations to strengthen their competitive advantage, level the playing field and generate solid business outcomes. The bus will also travel to different industrial areas of Bangalore city like MG Road, Residency Road, Ulsoor, Kempapura Main Road and Nagavara.

SAP Ambition Express will engage SMEs in the city through specific break-out sessions containing live demonstrations of simple, industry-relevant and affordable SAP solutions, customer implementations and testimonials including partner discussions. Those who board the SAP Ambition Express can witness real time demos and consult SAP and its partner’s teams to learn more about it on the spot. Bangalore based customers such as Ace Designers, NASH Industries, Himalaya Industries, TTK Prestige Ltd. and Salarpuria Sattva Group have leveraged SAP offerings to meet their business requirements. SAP Ambition Express tour in the city will be supported by partners like Zeita Technologies, Vcentric Technologies, KPIT Technologies and Fujitsu Technology Solutions.

“The rising ambitions of SMEs in Bangalore are forcing them to rethink traditional business models and embrace cutting edge technology to support business growth and achieve operational excellence”, said Subhomoy Sengupta, Vice President- General Business, SAP India. “SAP Ambition Express is our effort to bring such innovative technology to the doorsteps of SMEs to help them become Faster, Smarter and Sustainable businesses”, he added.

Aimed to support Indian enterprises across 6 states and 15 cities in south India, the multi-city tour of SAP Ambition Express will provide hands on experience of SAP Solutions designed specifically to meet the needs of SMEs. Kick starting its journey in Belgaum, Karnataka, SAP Ambition Express will cover a distance of 5500 kms through Belguam, Hubli, Mysore, Bangalore, Cochin, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolhapur and Satara in a span of two months.

Over 1500 Students Attend 4th Edition of SAP Techniversity

SAP has announced that SAP Techniversity Bangalore, the annual premier SAP technology, education, and training conference created expressly for students is being hosted at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre on the 12^th of March. This year, 1500 student attendees will experience how SAP drives innovation to the digital enterprise and how they can make a difference.

The event kicks off with the launch of the SAP Student MeetUp program, a new initiative in which SAP is opening its offices and innovation centers as hubs for university students to explore and engage with SAP leaders and SAP’s latest technologies.

“SAP Student MeetUp is an initiative run by students for students, bringing together students and experts to explore solutions including SAP HANA in a fun and engaging environment at SAP offices and innovation centers,” said Ann Rosenberg, Vice President and Global Head of University Alliances. “We are passionate about early talent and their potential to contribute to and extend the SAP innovation story. Students will get to know us better and see SAP as a leader driving the future of the digital enterprise.”

SAP is an enabler for organizations to deliver unprecedented speed, insight, and innovation in business. Students and professors will learn how they can help shape the Future of Work empowered by SAP.  This is the fourth series of SAP Techniversity which started in 2012, in which over 12,000 students from across India have experienced and been inspired by the latest SAP technologies.

Optimization Summit 2015 Focus on Turning Big Data Analytics into Action ​​

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Since the mid-20th century, companies have been applying analytics to help them make better strategic decisions - for example, creating an optimal global supply chain network design, calculating inventory levels and determining profitable pricing policies. However, most companies struggle to turn this plethora of data into successful action in the marketplace.

While organizations have deep insights into every part of their global supply chains today, seldom are these insights used as the basis for everyday decision making. To help executives understand and address the obstacles to effectively leverage their company's data and analytics capabilities, JDA Software has scheduled a unique thought leadership summit ‘Optsum’ on March 10 and 11 in Bangalore, India.

This is the 2^nd edition of the Optimisation Summit (Optsum) that will be held in Bangalore from March 10-11, 2015. The first day will focus on keynote sessions from industry and academia and will see over 50 companies attend the event. Optsum 2015 will bring together key decision makers, influencers and thought leaders in big data analytics and optimization to focus on the theme, "Bridging Planning and Execution." 

“Optsum is a by-invitation only event where the best minds from industry and academia discuss the tools and techniques to help organisations advance their supply chain maturity and gain significant value through best-in class-optimisation and analytic modelling practices,” said Narasimha Kamath, Director of Product Management at JDA Software.  “It is also a think tank to discuss challenges, learn industry best practices and understand the direction of investment to leverage maximum ROI and quantify the benefits of cutting edge technologies.”

"Innovations in big data analytics, machine learning and optimization science are opening up new possibilities to transform the supply chain discipline," said Razat Gaurav, Executive Vice President of Industries and Solution Strategy at JDA Software.  "The Optimisation Summit is an opportunity for leading minds from around the world to gather, exchange ideas and advance the state-of-the-art of these pursuits.  We look forward to facilitating these discussions and seeing the ideas and innovations take shape." 

New Cloud Adoption Program for SMBs in India

Microsoft has rolled out a new cloud adoption program for small and medium businesses (SMBs) in India.  SMBs can now adopt value-added solutions and offerings supporting their specific requirements on the cloud through Microsoft ‘Cloud Solution Providers (CSP)’.  Cloud Solution Providers are partners who build solutions leveraging Microsoft cloud for SMBs across the country on a pay-as-you-go model.

This program enables SMBs to work with a CSP of their choice for various IT requirements. The CSP will own the complete customer life cycle, provide direct billing, offer combined and customized solutions, directly provision, as well as manage and support Microsoft cloud offerings for their customers.

The program will enhance value to SMBs and expand business opportunities for them and the CSPs.  It will allow CSPs to own the complete customer relationship – starting with understanding customer requirements, designing customized solutions and offers with Office 365, easy billing and support. SMBs will benefit from the subscription-based payment model that will ease their OpEx pressures. 

Karan Bajwa, Managing Director, Microsoft India, said, “Cloud adoption in India is growing in triple digit percentage year-on-year.  The new Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers will make SMBs more competitive with enterprise-grade technology and value-added services from Microsoft cloud.”

“Our partners in India work closely with SMBs and understand their specific requirements and challenges. Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers will make it easier for SMBs to adopt the cloud in a manner relevant, financially viable and most beneficial for their business”, said Meetul Patel, General Manager, SMS&P, Microsoft India.

Microsoft has launched the program with seven CSPs in India - GlobalOutlook, ZNetLive, Trimax IT Infrastructure and Services Limited, Sify Technologies, Emkor, Opto Telelinks Limited and XcellHost Cloud Services. Details of the service offerings currently available from these CSPs is appended.  This number is expected to grow over time with more partners becoming Cloud Solution Providers.

Satish Prasad Rath Named Chief for Xerox Healthcare Research Centre

 

Xerox has announced the appointment of Satish Prasad Rath, M.D., as Chief Innovation Manager for Healthcare Research, Xerox Innovation Group. He is based at the Xerox Research Centre India (XRCI), in Bangalore.   

Rath joins Xerox from Wipro Technologies where he was distinguished member of technical staff at the CTO office, overseeing healthcare research activities for the company’s point of care solutions and mobile health.

“Healthcare has been an important area of research for Xerox,” said Monica Beltrametti, chief services research officer at Xerox. “Dr. Rath’s background in healthcare consumer-facing technology will help strengthen our research and develop innovative solutions that improve people’s lives through better, more accessible and more affordable healthcare.”

At Wipro Technologies, Rath was responsible for research and development on solutions-based platforms mobile health, wearables, and other innovations in healthcare with a consumer centric approach. Prior to that, Rath was heading Intel’s Health Systems Research Group and a Sr. Research Scientist for Philips Research.

“This indeed is a great opportunity,” said Rath. “As we move towards better patient engagement and experience, my primary responsibility will be to help the Xerox Innovation Group expand research in consumer-centric healthcare and develop solutions that will simplify healthcare processes worldwide.”

Recently, Xerox invested in HealthSpot, Inc., a pioneer in patient- and provider-driven healthcare technology. The investment enables groundbreaking telehealth to be delivered to patients in convenient locations such as pharmacies or offices – offering patients convenient, timely access to doctors, specialists and prescriptions, nationwide.

Additionally, Xerox Research Centre India hired 10 aspiring scientists from the Indian Institutes of Technology for their “Budding Scientist” program – a two-year term position aimed at exposing a new generation of scientists to some of today’s challenging research problems and encouraging them to pursue a career in research.