<a href=nanodot.org>NaNoDot, posted by JimLewis on Thursday June 19, @04:47PM

Anonymous Coward writes "Taking a major step forward, the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN) has established a Board of Advisors, including several well-known names. The first six members of CRN's Board of Advisors are José Cordeiro, Eric Drexler, Jerry Glenn, Lisa Hopper, Doug Mulhall, and Rosa Wang."

From the CRN Press release:

More advisors will be added in the near future, as CRN identifies and engages leaders in government, business, and civil society who share a vision of nanotechnology being widely used for productive and beneficial purposes, with malicious uses limited by effective administration of the technology.

"We are proud to welcome such accomplished and respected figures to our Board," says Mike Treder, Executive Director of CRN. "It's a great beginning. We aim to continue building a well-rounded Board, with additional experts in fields beyond nanotechnology, such as economics, philosophy, sociology, ecology, and politics. We're committed to a globally representative mix, with members from all major world regions."

José Luis Cordeiro is President of the Sociedad Mundial del Futuro Venezuela, and author of The Great Taboo. An engineer and economist with expertise in global affairs, he is Director of the Club of Rome (Venezuela), and an international advisor to several companies and organizations. As Director of the Association of Venezuelan Exporters (AVEX), he has participated in the negotiations of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

K. Eric Drexler, Founder and Chairman of the Foresight Institute, is a researcher concerned with emerging technologies and their consequences for the future. In the mid 1980s, he introduced the term 'nanotechnology' to describe atomically precise molecular manufacturing systems and their products. His research ranges from computational modeling of molecular machines to engineering analysis of molecular manufacturing systems and their potential products. Author of Engines of Creation and Nanosystems, and co-author of Unbounding the Future, he lectures widely on molecular nanotechnology, its development, and its implications for the human future.

Jerome C. Glenn is the Executive Director for the American Council for the United Nations University, where he co-founded and directs the Millennium Project on global futures research. He has 30 years experience in futures research with governments, corporations, and international organizations working for the Committee for the Future, Hudson Institute, Future Options Room, Millennium Project, and as an independent consultant. He has written over 90 articles and authored, edited, or co-authored eight books on the future.

Lisa Hopper is President and Founder of World Care, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising consciousness in the education, health, environmental, and community service arenas. World Care converts surplus into valuable resources for relief efforts throughout the world, creating opportunities for those who are less fortunate by providing the necessary supplies.

Douglas Mulhall, author of Our Molecular Future, is a leading figure in global environmentalism. He has participated in designing, building, and operating water recycling and flood control facilities in China and Brazil, in cooperation with the European Commission and multinational companies. A former Managing Director of the Hamburg Environmental Institute, he is cofounder and director of O Instituto Ambiental, the first South American institute to specialize in wastewater recycling.

Rosa Wang is founder and principal of GeographicEngine.com, which offers financial and strategic advisory to non-profits. In addition, she serves as consultant for Ashoka Innovators for the Public, a non-profit organization dedicated to the profession of social entrepreneurship. Rosa has extensive experience in finance and economic policy based in North America and Asia, and her past employers include Dresdner RCM Global Investors, Lehman Brothers, and the Federal Reserve Bank of NY.

Since its formation in late 2002, CRN has attracted significant notice for taking a strong stance on the risks of unregulated molecular nanotechnology, and the need for a coordinated international program of development. CRN's founders, Executive Director Mike Treder and Director of Research Chris Phoenix, believe that the humanitarian potential of nanotechnology is enormous, but so also is the potential for misuse. Their mission is to raise awareness of the issues presented by nanotechnology: the benefits and dangers, and the possibilities for responsible use.

The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology is headquartered in New York. CRN is an affiliate of World Care, an international, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. For more information on CRN, see www.CRNano.org.

BW5090 JUN 18,2003 5:45 PACIFIC 08:45 EASTERN     Business Editors/High-Tech Writers     LAKELAND, Fla.--(<a href=www.businesswire.com>BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 2003--Computer Renaissance, America's Largest Computer Franchise, today announced the opening of two new full service computer stores in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. Opening today is a new location at 1550 West 84th Street in Hialeah, FL in the Palm Lake Springs Shopping Center. An additional Computer Renaissance location is planned to open next month in nearby Boca Raton, FL. These will complement the existing locations in Kendall, FL and Davie, FL.     "We are delighted to expand our services to customers throughout South Florida" said Jack Hollis, Chief Executive Officer of Computer Renaissance. "We will offer shoppers the same great values and customer service that have earned us customers for life from coast to coast. With our new emphasis with the small business market we will be able to deliver world class services to this growing industry segment. Computer Renaissance prides itself on being a local community retailer, specializing in personal service, with decisions made locally to better serve its customers. The new stores are an extension of that commitment to the communities of Hialeah and Boca Raton."     "Computer Renaissance has a unique niche in the computer market by offering both world class customer service and great prices," said new franchise Jady Abou. "Customers will quickly discover they receive a higher level of service and benefits than they normally receive from a big box electronics store." Mr. Abou was born and raised in Venezuela and is a graduate of The University of Florida. His family has been in the retail business for over 50 years and he grew up working for his family. His goal is to make Computer Renaissance a one stop total solution provider for both consumers and businesses in the Hialeah community.

    About Computer Renaissance

    Originally founded in 1988 on the basis of buying and selling used PC products to business clients, today Computer Renaissance thrives in a technology-driven society. Their model has evolved into a service based company that offers total computer solutions to small business and consumers. Computer Renaissance also offer customer built computers with the highest quality industry components. There are currently 100 Computer Renaissance stores throughout the United States. --30--EG/mi* CONTACT: Computer Renaissance, Lakeland Matt Kelton, 863/669-1155 E-mail: mkelton@compren.com www.computerrenaissance.com KEYWORD: FLORIDA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS RETAIL CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD MERGERS/ACQ PRODUCT SOURCE: Computer Renaissance

<a href=www.mobilecommerceworld.com>mobilecommerceworld.com 16/06/2003 Miami-based wireless data solutions enabler CycleLogic is rolling out m-payment solutions across Latin America this year in a bid to help operators promote greater use of SMS applications.

According to BNAmerica, mobile subscribers can pay their carrier electronically by simply sending a password-encoded SMS request to the operator, which already has the user's debit card information encoded.

The m-payment service - which is geared to debit cardholders since only 4 percent of Latin Americans have credit cards - is already on trial in Colombia and Venezuela, and will be launched in Brazil in about two weeks.

<a href=www.directionsmag.com>Directions, Press Releases Company: Definiens Imaging GmbH Jun 10, 2003

Munich, Germany– Guadalajara, Mexico, --Definiens Imaging GmbH, Munich, Germany and GTT NetCorp have signed an agreement, which allows GTT NetCorp to distribute Definiens’ innovative object-oriented image analysis and feature extraction software eCognition to the Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and the Caribbean markets.

GTT NetCorp's President & CEO, J. Armando Guevara expressed, "Given the innovative nature and leadership of Definiens Imaging's eCognition software technology, this agreement is a very valuable addition to the key alliances that GTT NetCorp has to deliver it's clients leading-edge, practical and cost-effective spatially enabled information solutions. eCognition will be at the core of the Virtual Satellite System® supporting in an innovative way the integration, analysis and delivery of information extracted from imagery".

A first joint marketing campaign was already done in December last year, when Ursula Benz, Definiens Imaging's Director of Professional Services visited key clients together with GTT NetCorp in Mexico. “The very professional organization of these demonstrations and the high level of the clients we visited, confirms that we have an excellent partner who understands the requirements of his customers and the capabilities of our solutions”, she expressed.

About GTT NetCorp Founded in 1994 in Tampa-Florida, GTT NetCorp is a leading provider of high-resolution satellite and airborne imagery and associated solutions. With headquarters in Guadalajara-Mexico and offices in Venezuela, Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean, the GTT NetCorp staff has over 20 years experience in Latin America in the design, development and implementation of leading-edge solutions that integrate geospatial, information and communications technology aimed at optimizing process work flows, improve the decision making process and reduce operating costs in an innovative way. This integration process GTT NetCorp defines as the “spatial enabling of information®”.

Further information about the company and its products is available on the Internet at www.gttnetcorp.com

About eCognition: eCognition products are designed to make image classification more intelligently, more accurately, and more efficiently. Our award winning software offers a completey new, unique approach to image classification: Object oriented image analysis.

eCognition professional: Our advanced system for power users, production departments, and remote sensing experts with demanding remote sensing requirements. eCognition elements: Our entry-level system for general users and remote sensing novices. eCognition was awarded the European Information Society Technology prize in 2001, was evaluated by the NIMA pathfinder process in the same year, and is globally available through international distributors, resellers and system integrators.

About Definiens Imaging GmbH: Definiens Imaging was formed in 2001 as a spin-off from the Geomatics and Earth Observation Division of Definiens AG, Germany. Definiens Imaging is based in Munich, home to Germany’s most significant cluster of geomatics companies and organizations. Definiens AG was founded in 1994 by Professor Dr. Gerd Binnig, Nobel-laureate for physics in 1986 and science journalist Dieter Herold. Today, Definiens Imaging is focussing on intelligent solutions and technology for the geomatics and earth observation market, comprising software and consultancy. For detailed product information, or to learn about how Definiens Imaging Professional Services can add value to your organization, visit our website at www.definiens-imaging.com

Definiens Imaging GmbH Markus Heynen Trappentreustr. 1 80339 München Germany Tel. +49-89-23118045 email: mheynen@definiens.com

Copyright © 2000-2003 Definiens Imaging GmbH all rights reserved.

<a href=www.prnewswire.com>PRNewsWires

Delivers Intelligent Routing and Performance Guarantees Across More Than150 Local Broadband Providers to Enable Seamless DSL-Based Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Key Benefits:

• Single point of contact and integrated bill for DSL services in more than 75 countries
• Fully managed DSL price points starting at $39.95
• An array of broadband access alternatives, such as wireless and cable, where DSL is not yet available

DENVER, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtela Communications Inc., a leader in providing global managed IP virtual private network (VPN) services, today announced that the company is delivering managed global DSL connectivity to its private network through relationships with more than 150 access providers, achieving an unparalleled industry footprint of more than 75 countries. Virtela has already provisioned and provides ongoing management of business-class DSL services for customers in more than 15 countries, from Malaysia to Ireland, Australia and the United Kingdom, and offers service in all 50 U.S. states.

Virtela today also announced that Documentum (Nasdaq: DCTM), the leading provider of Enterprise Content Management (ECM), is using Virtela's managed private networking services for its 39-site worldwide enterprise network and also leveraging Virtela's global DSL services to provide automatic failover.

Virtela's global DSL services enable enterprises to inexpensively provide always-on connections for remote locations and employees to corporate wide area networks while leaving the complexities of procuring and managing the access to Virtela's experts. Virtela offers a single point of contact for global DSL ordering, provisioning, 24x7 Network Operations Center support, billing and customer care. Virtela selects the best provider on a price and performance basis per customer location, and can integrate with existing Internet access where desired. Customers can expect to save up to 80% or more compared to existing Frame Relay networks.

"Many enterprises have smaller sites that don't necessitate the expense of frame relay based connectivity or need an attractively priced back-up solution -- both requirements are perfectly suited to DSL-based VPN solutions at a fraction of the cost," said Virtela Chairman and CEO Vab Goel.

"Virtela's advanced network management systems enable us to monitor the real- time performance of these connections across multiple carriers, which results in our ability to offer strong service level agreements for broadband connections."

Virtela's DSL pre-qualification rates average more than 90% domestically and 80% internationally, with pre-qualification availability turnaround in 24 hours or less.

A key strategic advantage in Virtela's ability to rapidly pre-qualify and deploy DSL based VPN services is the company's Global DSL command center and related systems. A dedicated Virtela team equipped with a proprietary unified data warehouse enables Virtela to easily track DSL availability via a dynamically updated carrier footprint. Post qualification, Virtela's innovative systems integrate and accelerate service delivery and assurance -- from coordination of local loop provisioning and equipment delivery, to user and identity authentication.

Customers benefit from Virtela's unique IP Service Fabric (IPSF(SM)) that optimally routes traffic across best-in-class carrier networks with guaranteed end-to-end performance. In the event of network congestion or failure on the primary carrier network, Virtela's proprietary algorithms dynamically route traffic onto an alternate network with no impact to customers. This greater service reliability enables Virtela to offer options with leading end-to-end performance guarantees including availability options up to 99.9%, less than 15-minute outage notification, and 4-hour Mean Time to Restore (MTTR).

Customers can leverage Virtela's web-based customer portal, VirtelaView(SM), to monitor real-time and historical performance of their connections worldwide, as well as track security performance, order services, view integrated bills, administer users and policies and open and track trouble tickets.

Virtela's global DSL-based VPN services are part of the company's portfolio of broadband access solutions, which also include cable, wireless, always-on ISDN, and broadband T-1 options.

"DSL and VPNs are a natural technology match, but many large organizations have had trouble rolling DSL VPNs out because of the headaches associated with global DSL acquisition and provisioning," said Jeff Wilson, executive director at Infonetics Research Inc. "Until now, service providers have not addressed that pain point. Virtela has solved this problem, and with this announcement adds global DSL access to a long list of innovative Virtela VPN solutions."

Pricing and Availability Virtela's global DSL VPN services -- which include ADSL, SDSL and IDSL -- range from $39.95 per month to $750 per month, depending on bandwidth and location. Broadband speeds range from 128Kbps up to 5Mbps.

Virtela's can provide DSL-based VPN services in more than 75 countries, and is currently serving customers with Virtela managed DSL VPN services in more than 15 countries: the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the U.K., France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore and Venezuela.

Virtela VPN is the foundation on which Virtela delivers its comprehensive suite of network, security and application solutions. Key to its service- oriented and consultative approach, Virtela augments its core offerings with value-added capabilities such as network architecture and security policy consulting, design and implementation, including provisioning and on-site installation. Ongoing, Virtela delivers 24x7 proactive monitoring, management and support, customer control via web portal, 4-hour hardware replacement worldwide and stringent service level agreements.

About Virtela Virtela Communications, Inc. delivers managed private networking solutions designed to meet the specific needs of enterprises with multiple locations.

Currently serving customers with locations in more than 35 countries, Virtela connects businesses with their branch offices, remote workers and corporate partners worldwide, regardless of network access method. The Denver-based company's award-winning services suite includes IP-based virtual private networks (VPNs), TV-quality videoconferencing and business-class enterprise voice services. Virtela is a privately held company funded by investors including Norwest Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Palomar Ventures, RSA Security Inc. (Nasdaq: RSAS), Symantec Corp., and Juniper Networks (Nasdaq: JNPR). For more information, please call (720) 475-4000 or visit www.virtela.net