Verizon Launches RIM BlackBerry Storm November 21, $199.99 on Contract

The BlackBerry Storm (model 9530) from Research In Motion – the first touch screen BlackBerry smartphone with the world’s first “clickable” touch screen – will be available November 21 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

The BlackBerry Storm is not only a stylish smartphone, it's also a workhorse for enterprise decision makers, helping them stay connected to the people and business information that matter most to them. With the BlackBerry Storm smartphone, business customers can connect globally in more than 200 countries for voice and more than 150 countries for data worldwide. In the U.S., Verizon Wireless customers will benefit from the nation's most reliable wireless voice network and the pervasiveness of Verizon Wireless' reliable high-speed 3G Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network. Incorporating the world's first "clickable" touch screen, the BlackBerry Storm lets business customers conduct research on the Internet, access their intranet and edit Microsoft(R) Word, Excel(R) or PowerPoint(R) documents directly on their BlackBerry Storm while on-the-go.

Click to see its features and specifications:

BlackBerry Storm Features



BlackBerry Storm Specifications

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Engineering As A Career In Nigeria

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, is a body set-up by the Decrees 55/70 and 27/92 (now Acts 110). The Decrees empowered the Council to regulate and control the training and practice of engineering in Nigeria and to ensure and enforce the registration of all engineering personnel (i.e. Engineers, Engineering Technologists, Engineering Technicians, and Engineering Craftsmen) and consulting firms wishing to practice or engage in the practice of practice of engineering. [7]

COREN has been able to regulate that a person desiring to become a registered Engineering Personnel must, after obtaining the approved/accredited required academic qualification, must have four (4) years post-graduate experience which must be under the supervision of a senior registered Engineer. Council believes that the continuing effectiveness of an engineering personnel depends on his contact with a recognized professional society and therefore advises engineering personnel to belong to a recognized professional society. It must be emphasized that membership of a society does not by itself grant automatic right to registration. Council still needs to satisfy itself that the academic qualification is registrable for the category applied for.

APPROVED SCHEDULE OF ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS INTO ENGINEERING CADRES

S/N	ENGINEERS	TECHNOLOGISTS	TECHNICIANS	CRAFTSMEN
1.	B.Sc, B. Eng, B. Tech in Engineering	HND in Engineering from COREN accredited Polytechnics or Monotechnics.	ND in Engineering from accredited Polytechnics or Monotechnics.	WAEC Technical/NABTEB
2.	HND in an Engineering field + COREN accredited PGD in the same field, e.g. HND Civil Engineering + PGD Civil Engineering.	Degrees in Engineering from East Bloc translated as B.Sc in Engineering.	Full Technological Certificate (FTC) – Technician.	Trade Test I
3.	HND in an Engineering field + NSE Graduateship Exam in the same field, e.g. HND Electrical + NSE Grad in Electrical Engineering.	Diploma – Grad from Continental Europe.	Technicians Professional Examination for registered Craftsmen.	Craft Certificate from City & Guilds.
4.	B.Sc Physics with Electronics or B. Sc Computer Science + COREN accredited PGD in Electrical/Electronics Engineering or NSE Grad in Electrical/Electronics Engineering = B.Sc or B.Eng. or B.Tech. in Electrical/Electronics Engineering.	B. Tech in Engineering from some accredited American Universities as contained in ABET List.
5.	B. Sc Physics + COREN accredited PGD or NSE Grad in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering = B.Sc. or B.Eng. or B.Tech. in Met. &Mat.	Technologists Professional Examination for registered Technicians
6.	B. Sc Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry + COREN accredited PGD or NSE Grad in Chemical Engineering = B.Sc. or B.Eng. or B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering.
7.	HND in an Engineering field + COREN accredited Post HND in the same field.
8.	Diploma – Engineer from Continental Europe.
9.	Degrees in Engineering from the East Bloc translated as M. Sc.
10.	B.Sc (Building) + PGD (Civil) or NSE Grad in Civil.
11.	New B.Sc in some countries in Eastern Bloc as degree.
12.	H.N.D in a field + M.Sc in the same field.
Note: For further clarification on foreign qualifications, Consult ABET or FEANI

The decree specifies the abbreviation to be used by each cadre as follows: A Registered Engineer shall use the abbreviation “Engr” before his name. A Registered Engineering Technologists shall use the abbreviation “Engn. Tech” after his name. A Registered Engineering Technician shall use the abbreviation “Tech” after his name. A Registered Engineering Craftsman shall use his full title “Craftsman” with his trade in bracket under his name.

It is illegal:

1. For any firms or persons to engage in engineering practice unless they are:
Fully registered by COREN to practice in their appropriate cadre (except engineering personnel still undergoing practical training e.g. pupil engineers, etc, for the purpose of acquiring the requisite experience for registration). Financially up to date in the payment of their practicing fees.

2. For any person, government or company to: Engage a non-registered engineering person or consulting firm to execute or participate in doing engineering work in an engineering project (except engineering personnel still undergoing practical training e.g. pupil engineers, etc, for the purpose of acquiring the requisite experience for registration). Use non-engineering personnel to perform engineering functions. Assign non-engineering functions to engineers below managerial levels, particularly where the engineering functions are available. Engage expatriate engineering personnel to do engineering work when qualified Nigerian engineering personnel are unemployed and available to be engaged to do such work.

COREN has established a network of Inspectors headed in each of the many zones around the country by a Chief Inspector. The Inspectors are very senior, experienced registered engineers selected from branches of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in the various zones. These Inspectors, constituted into teams of four or more members, are empowered to visit industrial and construction sites as well as company offices and work locations to ensure that COREN regulations are being observed. Their indictment of any person or firm will lead to possible prosecution. Inspectors will ensure that:

· All those assigned engineering functions are engineering personnel and are duly registered by COREN.

· All registered engineering personnel have paid their practicing fees.

· Engineering personnel are not used for non-engineering jobs when they can appropriately be engaged in engineering function, and

· Consulting firms engaged by Industry or Government for engineering jobs are fully registered by COREN.

The Inspectors will also ascertain that engineering personnel not yet registered by COREN are not employed on or promoted to positions beyond the following levels:

· Unregistered engineers NOT TO BE APPOINTED OR PROMOTED BEYOND the level of Senior Manager or equivalent (Grade Level 10).

· Unregistered technologists in engineering NOT TO BE APPOINTED OR PROMOTED BEYOND the level of Principal Technologists (GL.10).

· Unregistered technician NOT TO BE PROMOTED OR APPOINTED BEYOND the level of FOREMAN or Equivalent (GL.06)

It is illegal for any tertiary institution to run engineering programmes at the University degree and Higher National Diploma Levels without full accreditation of COREN. Defaulting institutions shall be compelled to close down such programmes instantly. It is illegal and an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment as prescribed by Decree 55/70 to engage non- engineering personnel to do engineering work.

By law, engineering practice is defined to include any professional service or creative work requiring the application of special knowledge of mathematics, physics and engineering in form of consultation, invention, discovery, valuation, research and teaching in recognized engineering institution, planning, operation, maintenance, supervision of construction and installation involving investigating, advising, operating, evaluating, measuring, planning, designing, specifying, laying and directing, constructing, commissioning, inspecting or testing in connection with any public or private utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes works or projects. The Federal civil Service commission, the States Civil Service commission, the local Government Service commissions, the Federal and State government parastatals and companies and industries within the organized private sectors shall in particular ensure compliance.

COREN over the years have been advocating for graduating engineering students of the nation's tertiary institutions to be exposed to a mandatory one year internship programme called Supervised Industrial Training Scheme in Engineering (SITSIE) before proceeding on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. This novel programme is still far from taking off.

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Verizon Wireless Enables Green Growth

There’s no reason why business and environmental objectives can’t go hand-in-hand. With Verizon Bbusiness, you get a communications team with the resources to deliver a secure global IiP network, the expertise to create advanced collaboration solutions, and the dedication to help going green make good business sense.

It’s gratifying when both a company and its customers can “do well by doing good.” For Verizon, that opportunity comes every day by virtue of our leadership in global communications, which enables our customers to do business both more effectively and in a more environmentally friendly way. Far from being a mere bumper sticker slogan, “going green” underscores Verizon’s enormous opportunity—and responsibility—to positively impact our planet’s environment while helping its customers realize the transformative power of broadband networks.

Verizon has 240,000 employees worldwide and operates one of the Earth’s most interconnected and expansive communications networks. In the U.S., we lead the industry by deploying a large- scale, all-fiber network to the home, and we operate the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network. These state-of-the-art networks enable us to offer the most advanced communications services available today—services that drive productivity while mitigating adverse environmental impacts.

Enabling Global ‘E-commerce’
As a global IP leader, our expansive global network provides the foundation for e-commerce. Some of the world’s largest Internet-based “e-tailers” rely on Verizon Business to host and remotely manage the application infrastructure at the heart of their businesses. By replacing bricks and mortar for business-to-business or business-to-consumer e-commerce, companies can control their procurement and distribution costs while reducing their carbon footprints.
Through Supply Chain Managed Services, Verizon Business facilitates the business-to-business exchange of standard transactions electronically between business partners. Automating the purchase-to-pay cycle of a company’s processes not only enables direct benefits like eliminating paper and inefficient manual processes, but also permits “just in time” processing which can streamline inventory, storage and 3PL (3rd Party Logistics) expenses.
Audio, video and web conferencing can foster collaboration among workers and students in various locations. Mobility solutions can enable teleworking (anywhere/anytime connections to corporate resources). Along with secure e-mail and instant messaging, these solutions can dramatically reduce the
need for travel by allowing people to come together via our innovative offerings.

Numerous multinational corporations worldwide are using Verizon Business’ communications services to go green and also work smarter. They’re employing advanced collaboration solutions such as high definition (HD) conferencing and telepresence to improve productivity across their operations, reduce employee air travel and support their overall corporate social responsibility initiatives.

In addition to helping manage costs and energy associated with real estate and travel, Verizon’s broadband networks can enable remote monitoring and adjusting of energy use at “smart buildings,” remote reporting of traffic congestion to “smart cars,” and remote monitoring of patient health to “smart doctor’s offices.”

Practicing What We Preach
Verizon practices what we preach. In addition to using our own communications services, the company has implemented a wide range of initiatives to conserve energy and protect environmental resources. With more than 32,000 buildings around the world and more than 59,000 vehicles in our service fleet, we are sensitive to our own potential environmental impact. For example, the company has introduced 100 Toyota Prius hybrid sedans and is piloting the use of hybrid-powered vans. Additionally, we’re implementing alternative technologies such as fuel cells and small natural-gas turbines to power our network equipment and reducing energy usage in many of our buildings with new, highly reflective roofing materials.

Last year, in celebration of Earth Day, Verizon Business teamed with Computershare to implement its successful eTree program and have American Forests plant a tree for each large business or government customer that chooses electronic billing over paper. This program is modeled on the successful eTree program Verizon implemented for shareholders opting for electronic versions of annual reports, proxies and other shareholder communications materials. Please visit our Web site at verizon.com/responsibility to learn more about our corporate responsibility strategy and what we are doing to reduce our environmental impact.

Environmental conservation is everybody’s business. It also happens to make good business sense. Each individual and organization contributes to the production of carbon emissions, whether we’re heating and cooling our homes or offices, driving our cars or flying to business meetings. At Verizon, we’re harnessing the power of our networks and the expertise of our people to enable a win-win—making our customers more effective and productive while enabling them to do their part for the environment.

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Major League Baseball and Verizon Announce FiOS TV Service Agreement

Major League Baseball and Verizon announced today that MLB Network and the MLB Extra Innings Package will be offered on Verizon's FiOS TV service as a result of new multiyear agreements.

MLB Network will be available to all Verizon FiOS TV customers as part of the Essentials and Extreme HD packages on Channel 86, when it debuts Jan. 1, 2009. Verizon also will offer a high-definition (HD) simulcast of the MLB Network on Channel 586. MLB Network -- which will air live games, original programming, highlights, classic games and coverage of baseball events -- is expected to be available to approximately 50 million homes on TV systems across the country, the largest launch in cable history.

In addition, Verizon and Major League Baseball have entered into a new multiyear agreement to provide the MLB Extra Innings package on FiOS TV, offering baseball fans up to 80 out-of-market Major League Baseball games per week. The two agreements mark the first television arrangements between Major League Baseball and Verizon.

"We are looking forward to launching MLB Network on Verizon FiOS TV, which is the fastest-growing television provider in the country," said Tony Petitti, MLB Network president and CEO. "MLB Network will offer baseball fans an insider's perspective that has never been seen before. This partnership further expands on our ability to bring the ultimate coverage of the national pastime to fans on a 24 x 7 basis."

Terry Denson, vice president - FiOS TV content and programming, added, "Verizon FiOS TV is the best place to watch sports. Baseball fans will be able to keep up with their favorite teams and rivalries, with access to 80 games from around the country each week. And FiOS TV's stunning rock-solid picture will make fans feel like they're sitting right behind home plate."

Chris Tully, Major League Baseball senior vice president, broadcasting, said, "The MLB Extra Innings package plays a key role in our continuing effort to provide fans around the country with access to as many MLB game telecasts as possible. Adding Verizon FiOS TV to our roster of MLB Extra Innings distributors provides our fans with more choice in accessing the package."

MLB Network and the MLB Extra Innings Package join Verizon FiOS TV's extensive channel lineup, which offers customers more than 400 total channels, including a growing number of HD channels, with 100 HD channels already available in most markets. FiOS TV also offers more than 11,000 video-on-demand titles each month - 8,500 of which are free of charge.

Verizon, the nation's fastest-growing television service provider, delivers FiOS TV over the country's most advanced fiber-optic network straight to customers' homes and businesses. Verizon's FiOS TV service was selected as the top-ranked residential television service provider in the Northeast region by J.D. Power for 2008. FiOS TV is currently available to more than 8.2 million homes in 14 states: California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The MLB Extra Innings agreement is subject to ratification by the Major League Clubs.

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Sprint Wireless Integration with Cisco Unified Communications Manager Launched

Sprint has announced availability of Sprint Wireless Integration with Cisco Unified Communications Manager, an integrated mobility solution that delivers fixed mobile convergence to businesses - only on the Now Network(TM). Sprint Wireless Integration extends customers' Cisco Unified Communications Manager functionality to Sprint mobile phones, providing productivity, cost efficiencies, and greater control of mobile devices.

"Sprint Wireless Integration takes convergence to a whole new level," said Dan Dooley, president of Wireline, Sprint. "It not only converges your desk and mobile phones, but it allows all calls within your enterprise to be "on-net." No other solution in the marketplace offers this kind of convergence. This is a great example of Sprint leveraging our core wireline and wireless assets and working with best-in-class partners to deliver a unique and compelling solution to our customers that no other competitor can match."

Sprint Wireless Integration is delivered using the Sprint IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture, built into Sprint's IP/MPLS network, which not only minimizes equipment required on the customer premises but also allows for intelligent routing and "on-net" calling capabilities nationwide.

The solution uses a customer's existing Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco Unified Internet Protocol (IP) phones, and a Cisco Unified Border Element (provided by Sprint). A Sprint Global MPLS connection provides connectivity directly to Sprint's IMS Core, allowing Sprint CDMA phones (3G) to be fully integrated into the Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Sprint Wireless Integration targets a minimum of 100 users and provides the business enterprise the opportunity to minimize capital costs and allows customers to pay only for the service they use.

"We're constantly in motion as we go through our day from workspace to workspace," said Steve Slattery, vice president and general manager of Cisco's IP Communications Business Unit. "Customers using Cisco Unified Communications Manager with Sprint Wireless Integration leverages Sprint's unique wireline and wireless assets to collaborate, enhance productivity, and reduce operating costs through on-net dialing."

Sprint Wireless Integration allows abbreviated dialing from the mobile device. Calls are transferred seamlessly and transparently between devices in a user's workspace such as a Sprint mobile phone and a Cisco Unified IP phone. It provides businesses numerous ways to save on telecom expenses.

Key benefits:

* Leverage existing assets. Sprint Wireless Integration is a network-based solution that uses your existing Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Sprint mobile phones, so getting started is easy and doesn't require a large capital outlay.
* Reduce trunks. Sprint Wireless Integration leverages the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) in Sprint's core network. The "all-IP" architecture enables calls to be routed more efficiently. Because many calls can be moved onto your IP network or routed around your enterprise altogether, you'll be able to reduce trunk usage.
* Extend class of service. Class of service can be extended to your mobile devices, so you can enforce such restrictions as international dialing or 900-number dialing on your mobile phones - just as you do on your desk phones. You can even set restrictions for your mobile devices, such as "no-outbound calls" or "intra-enterprise calls only" for users who require those limits.
* Track mobile calls. Mobile calls can be tracked and logged with Cisco Unified Communications Manager.
* Increase flexibility. With Sprint Wireless Integration, you can provide new employees intra-company dialing and corporate voicemail the day they start, anywhere on the Nationwide Sprint Network. If an employee leaves the company, their single phone number remains a company asset, which can then be passed to a new employee.

End-user features:

* Simple dialing. Employees can reach co-workers by just dialing their extension. There are no access codes or additional dialing required. Calls outside of the corporate dial plan can be reached by dialing the 10-digit number, so employees don't have to change their address books.
* One phone number. Increase "reachability" with one phone number that rings both the desk phone and the mobile phone simultaneously. Because the existing desk phone number is used, employees won't have to notify customers of the change.
* One voicemail. All messages go to the enterprise voicemail, so callers only need to leave one message, and employees only have one voicemail inbox to clean out.
* Simple interface. Sprint Wireless Integration is available on Sprint CDMA phones (3G). In addition, intuitive end-user clients are available for some phones with graphical menus for easy access to all of your functions. (Ask your Sprint representative about available options.)
* Mid-call transfer. Calls can be transferred seamlessly between the mobile and desk phone without anyone on the call knowing the transfer took place.

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