Technology: WD and milestone partner to provide video surveillance solutions for business and consumers

Milestone Arcus Video Surveillance Software Available with My Cloud Business Series Systems

Western Digital (WD) ,  a worldwide leader in storage solutions, and Milestone Systems, the security industry leader in video management software, announced today a partnership to deliver video surveillance solutions to businesses and consumers. 

Milestone Arcus™ Surveillance software will be available on WD’s My Cloud® Business Series1network-attached storage (NAS) systems beginning this month; and is expected to be available on other My Cloud systems, such as the My Cloud Expert Series, in the future.

Milestone Arcus is a video surveillance platform designed to be embedded in hardware devices, such as compatible WD My Cloud NAS systems, to deliver customized, market-ready solutions. Integration of Milestone Arcus Surveillance software into My Cloud OS enables users to transform their versatile My Cloud Business Series NAS systems into networked video recording systems for their offices or homes. By simply downloading the Milestone Arcus Surveillance software through the My Cloud App Store, users can install up to 16 cameras, with the first two camera licenses free on My Cloud Business Series products. Additional camera licenses will be available at selected WD authorized distributors.

"Technology advances are enabling video surveillance to be broadly accessible to businesses and individuals across the globe,” said Sven Rathjen, vice president of marketing for WD’s Content Solutions business. “Together, WD and Milestone are focused on making video surveillance easy with a solution they can quickly set up and rely on for years. This is one of many applications available on My Cloud NAS systems, including home automation, media streaming and backup solutions.” 

“Milestone is proud to partner with WD to offer a video surveillance solution for My Cloud NAS systems,” said Lars Nordenlund, vice president of Incubation and Ventures at Milestone Systems. “WD customers can now take advantage of the simple setup with automatic camera discovery, intuitive interface, remote viewing, mobile access and other monitoring features in Milestone Arcus software.”

WD’s My Cloud Business Series NAS systems are available through select distribution partners and resellers in Philippines. 

Acer Launches Two Windows 10-Powered Desktops for the Holiday Season

Acer today announced two new desktops powered by Windows 10 available for the holiday season: the sleek 23.8-inch all-in-one PC Aspire U5 Series, and the tiny 1-liter desktop PC Revo Build Series with modular design for easy customization.

Beautiful, Inside and Out

The new Aspire U5 Series (U5-710) all-in-one PC features a sleek chassis of just 37mm, with a small and elegant metal stand. It has a clean profile with the essential I/O ports (HDMI I/O, DC Jack, Ethernet, USB 2.0 and 2 x USB 3.0, TV tuner neatly organized in the back, and the less-used ports and OSD button tucked away under a flap on the side. The back cover of the Aspire U5 has a true-to-life textile finish, made possible by new manufacturing processes with molds created with 3D printing and laser engraving.

The Aspire U5-710 ships with the latest 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 and i5 processors, NVIDIA® GeForce® graphics, and up to 16 GB memory providing a smooth experience for all kinds of computing and entertainment purposes. In addition, the Aspire U5-710 features a built-in Intel® RealSense™ Camera with depth-sensing technology, allowing users to scan 3D objects, control the PC with gestures, or create a more lifelike video chat environment. Users can also login to Windows 10 more securely with their own face through Windows Hello support.

“Acer’s innovative All-in-Ones powered by the new 6th Gen Intel Core processor will provide great performance for consumers,” said Kirk Skaugen, Intel senior vice president and general manager, Client Computing Group. “The 6th Gen Intel Core processor is Intel’s best processor ever. Along with the Intel RealSense Camera, Acer is delivering new experiences for gaming, home entertainment and collaboration. Now is a great time to buy a new Acer PC.”

Crystal Clear Audio and Visuals

The Aspire U5-710 features a 10-point multi-touch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display, which provides crisp and clear graphics with wide-viewing angles and Flicker-less technology. Dolby Audio and Acer TrueHarmony allow it to fill the room with rich and powerful sound, while Acer Purified.Voice along with dual digital microphones ensures users are heard loud and clear.

Build Your Own Computer

The new Revo Build Series (M1-601) Mini PC takes a modular approach to allow consumers to customize their computer without opening up the chassis. “Blocks” with different features can be easily stacked on top of the base unit, which makes adding functionality as easy as playing with toy blocks. The “Blocks” are connected through pogo pins with magnetic alignment so that there’s no hassle with wires when swapping out modules. The Blocks can also work independently or with other PCs. The Revo Build M1-601 desktop is packaged in a tiny 1 liter chassis with a 125 x 125 mm footprint that takes up minimal space and can be placed almost anywhere.

“Blocks” such as the 500GB/1TB hot-swappable Portable Hard Drive will be available at launch, while a Wireless Power Bank for wireless charging, an Audio Block with speakers and microphones, and other expansion “Blocks” will be rolled out gradually. The base unit comes with a Intel® Pentium® or Intel® Celeron® processor with integrated Intel® HD graphics, while the system memory of up to 8GB DDR4 RAM can be easily upgraded by just loosening one screw.

Pricing and Availability

The Acer Aspire U5-710 will be available in EMEA in October with prices starting at €999. 

The Acer Revo Build M1-601 will be available in EMEA in October with prices starting at €199, and in China in December with prices starting at ¥1,999. 

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer viawww.acer.com.

The new products were unveiled today at the next@acer press event at IFA Berlin in Germany, where the company announced its latest devices and solutions for gamers and consumers for the holiday season.

Visit Acer’s booth at IFA 2015 in Messe Berlin (Hall 12/101) or learn about the new product range onacer.com/ifaberlin2015.

DROIDZ AXIS. Your Turning Point.

Today, Rotating Cameras are making rounds on Smart phones. Torque innovate the new DROIDZ Axis. Its rotating camera can swing up to 180° for Selfie/Groufie/Photo Op options. The camera features 8-megapixel of high resolution.

A 7-inch Display is good for watching movies, browsing the internet and for playing games. It also sports 1.2GHZ Quad-core processor for better performance. 8GB ROM + 1GB RAM of storage is a turn on for those who like to store files. It has 3G, Wi-Fi connectivity; GPS and It has a Micro-SD slot up to 32GB. The DROIDZ Axis is priced reasonably at Php 5799 only! With FREE Smart+Tunes Bluetooth Speaker. Available nationwide!

DROIDZ Axis Specs:

- Dual SIM 

- Android 4.4 KK 

- 1.2GHZ Quad-core processor 

- 8GB ROM 

- 1GB RAM 

- Bluetooth 

- GPS 

- Micro-SD upto 32GB 

- Price: P5799 

- 7.0” WXGA Touch Display 

- 3G 850/2100MHZ 

- Quadband GSM 

- 8MP 180° Rotating Camera 

- WiFi

Beyond the Box’s MacBook Air Lifestyle Bundles Limited Offer - Zero24 Installments Lifestyle Bundles

Living digital life to the fullest! One amazing MacBok is now in Zero24 Installments at Beyond the Box’s MacBook Air Lifestyle Bundles.

Now is the perfect time to turn your dream into reality. Starting September 1st, the MacBook Air 11” & 13” 128GB variants will be available in super easy Zero24 installments and will be offered with three unique lifestyle bundles at no extra cost.

The Most Beautiful Laptop You Can Own. It’s not an overstatement. The MacBook Air is the most beautiful laptop you can own. 

From the outside, the aluminum unibody design looks modern and minimalist. The tapering edges also make the laptop genuinely attractive and impressive. Although it’s the same chassis design we’ve been seeing since 2010, there’s really nothing tocomplain about since it resonates with ’premiumness’ that you can only get from Apple. 

Measuring 17mm in diameter and weighing at 1.4kg, the MacBook Air is gorgeously thin and surprisingly light. It’s light enough that it’s barely noticeable in your bag and robust enough that you don’t feel like it’s going to break when you use it. 

Overall, this laptop sends an unequivocal message: the MacBook Air is an engineering feat – one that cannot be copied.

Form September 1 to 30, 2015, the MacBook Air 11" and 13" 128GB variants will be available in super easy #Zero24 installments at Beyond the Box in three unique lifestyle bundles at no extra cost.

Which of the following Lifestyle Bundles fits you best? 

To help you get the most out of your new MacBook Air lifestyle, Beyond the Box is including three unique lifestyle bundles that you could choose from without any extra cost.

Lifestyle Bundles – TRVLR - EXCTV - SCHLR

Check them all out so you can get most out of your new MacBook Air lifestyle by taking full advantage of the complimentary add-ons.

Free-spirited, always out and about. #iAMTRVLR

Bundle inclusions: MacBook Air + Coloud Pop, ACME Made Skinny Sleeve, and Nude Audio Speakers. 

There is no greater feeling than packing your bags and knowing you’re heading to another adventure. That is what the TRVLR Bundle is all about. This bundle is targeted at individuals who travel constantly whether it’s for leisure or work. If you’re a correspondent covering the latest stories, a carefree tourist, or just someone who is in a perpetual working holiday, this is the bundle to get. 

Driven to succeed, a paragon of excellence #iAMEXCTV 

Bundle inclusions: MacBook Air + Soundfreaq Pocket Kick, ACME Made Sleeve 

Nothing compares to the overwhelming sense of accomplishment executives get at the end of each day. The EXCTV Bundle is for high achievers who lead by example and don’t settle for second best – ideal for office professionals and entrepreneurs. 

Inquisitive, thirsty for knowledge #iAMSCHLR

Bundle inclusions: MacBook Air + Urbanears Plattan, Speck MacBook Air Case, JRC Keyboard Protector

The pursuit of knowledge never ends. The SCHLR Bundle seeks to cultivate inquiring minds, nurture curiosity, and aid academics in their quest to learn and educate. If you’re a student or an academic by profession, this bundle is the perfect option.

Promo Mechanics: 

This promo is open to existing credit cardholders with good credit standing. Participating banks are: BDO, BPI, Citibank, Maybank, Metrobank, PNB, and Security Bank, Union Bank

Promo period is from September 1 to September 30, 2015 only.

This promo is not valid in conjunction with any ongoing Beyond the Box promotions.

The approved installment transaction is automatically deducted from the cardholder's available credit limit.

To take advantage of the said promo, cardholder must personally present his or her Credit Card to the Beyond the Box branch with one valid Identification Card and sign the bank charge slip when the transaction is approved.

Applicable to MacBook Air 11" and 13" 128GB only.

Visit Beyond the Box for more information to be in this promo today.

This is the most opportunity to enjoy living digital lifestyle.

Participating Beyond the Box Branches

-Century City Mall

-One Rockwell

-Market! Market!

-Forbestown

-Resorts World Manila

-Lucky Chinatown

-Robinsons Ermita

-Robinson Galleria

-VMall

-Wil Tower

-Veranza

-Ayala Fairview Terraces

Eminent Filipino Fashion designer Avel Bacudio wows the world with Epson fabric prints

Multi-awarded Filipino fashion designer Avel Bacudio will wow the world again with his ‘F Mode Fashion Show/Expo’ that will be held on September 12, 2015 at the Sta. Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, California.

Avel has won several fashion awards, including the People’s Choice Award – Concours International Des Jeunes Createurs De Mode, Top 10 Timeless Terno – Metropolitan Museum of Manila, 2012 Breakthrough Designer of the Year, and the 2014 Asia’s Most Influential Designer. His designs have been worn by celebrities and praised in the international scene.

Recently, Avel has been utilizing digital prints to bring his creative ideas to life. 

“Iba ang nagagawa ng digital prints – di na’ko limited. Napu-push yung creativity ko to the next level. Andami kong pwedeng gawing bago para ma-express ko ang sarili ko,” (“Digital prints really make a difference; I am no longer constrained by traditional limitations. I can do a lot to express myself in new ways.”) said Avel. 

To make sure his vision is translated faithfully to fabric, Avel uses the Epson F7170 textile printer. 

“Tuwang-tuwa ako dito kasi napapalabas nya sakto yung vision ko. Kung ano yung nasa isip ko, yun ang nakikita ko,” (I’m delighted with this printer because it faithfully translates my vision to reality. Whatever I picture in my mind is what comes out in the final product,”) he emphasized.

Pamela Albar, Epson’s Head for Commercial and Industrial printers, is all praises for Avel. “It’s an honor to be part of Avel’s work – we’re very happy to be a part of how he’s contributing to the international fashion conversation. And we’re pleased that he has chosen Epson textile printers to break boundaries and push Philippine fashion to new heights.”

Epson and Avel first collaborated in 2014 for a fashion show titled ‘Fashion Forward’. Epson launched their new textile printers in that fashion show and partnered with several Filipino fashion designers to try out the new products. After seeing how easy, effective, and helpful the Epson F7170 was in his work, Avel has been using the printer to do all his digital print designs.

Avel Bacudio will also showcase his designs at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on September 18, 2015 in Paris, France.

Globe boosts your favorite promos with the Free Facebook and Viber

(L-R) Globe Vice President for Prepaid Brand and Portfolio Management Raymond Policarpio, Globe Director for TM Brand and Portfolio Management Trina Sebastian, Globe Vice President for Content Jil Go, and Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Daniel Horan.

The country’s number 1 mobile brand Globe Telecom continues its drive to position the Philippines as the Digital Lifestyle Capital of the World by giving customers free access to Facebook and Viber with their favorite Globe call, text, and surf promos. 

Starting September 1, 2015, all Globe Postpaid, Prepaid, TM and Tattoo customers can enjoy free access to Facebook and Viber when subscribed to promos including GoSURF variants and other existing call and text promos such as GOUNLI, ALLNETCOMBO and TMSULITXT, among others without the need for a Wi-Fi connection.

​FULL FREE FACEBOOK EXPERIENCE​
As the only telco in the country to offer a free full Facebook experience, customers will be able to view photos, stream videos uploaded on Facebook, as well as post, like, share and make comments on the social networking site. Globe Prepaid and TM customers subscribed to their promos will automatically get free access Facebook. Postpaid customers on the other hand can opt-in by texting FREE FB ON to 8888.

​​
​VAST VIBER FUN
Alongside Facebook, the browsing experience is made even better with free access to Viber. Customers can enjoy sending stickers, chatting with friends and groups, and staying connected with other Viber users around the world. Those registered to a Globe text promo can get Free Viber chat, which includes sending and receiving messages, as well as stickers, doodles, and photos. Exploring public chat is also free. When registered to a call or surf promo, customers can enjoy Free Viber chat, complete with voice and video calls. Postpaid customers can instantly enjoy Free Viber call and chat for the entire promo duration.

​MOBILE DATA LEADERSHIP 
Globe continued to dominate the country’s mobile data segment after posting mobile browsing and other data revenues of P9.5 billion in the first six months of the year, a 53% growth from previous year’s level at P6.2 billion. On a quarterly basis, second quarter 2015 revenues reached P5.1 billion, up 16% from previous quarter at P4.4 billion.

This achievement brought the contribution of mobile data revenues to total mobile revenues by 23% as of 1st half of 2015, coming from 16% the previous year.

With mobile data business growing at a rapid pace, data users from overall Globe mobile customer base have grown to 37% during the same period, a substantial increase from previous year’s 17%. Wireless data traffic on the Globe network has also increased by 82% year-on-year with the growing number of smartphone users and applications that leverage the internet.

To support the growing demand for bandwidth-heavy services such as broadband and data, Globe spent around P11.4 billion in capital expenditures in the first half of 2015.

For more information on Free Facebook, text FREE FB HELP or FREE FB STATUS to 8888 or visitwww.globe.com.ph. 

To know more about accessing Viber for free, visit www.globe.com.ph/freeviber.

Smart unveils unbeatable plans for Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus

Leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has unveiled its unbeatable postpaid offers for the much anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, aimed at giving you a much bigger Smart Life experience.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is available under the fully consumable and customizable All-In Plan 1200, with a one-time cash-out of P15,576 or P649 per month via credit card under a contract of 24 months.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Edge Plus is available under the feature-packed Surf Plus Plan 1999 under a contract of 24 months, with a one-time cash-out of P7,500.

Beyond Cutting-edge technology

“Both the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus are the embodiment of style-meets-function-meets-cutting-edge technology, and you can make the most of their amazing features only with the country’s biggest and most advanced network,” said Kathy Carag, Smart Postpaid marketing head.

“For sure, with these latest flagship devices, you can experience the Smart Life and enjoy the widest breadth of mobile content and offers that only our robust network can deliver – from your choice of apps, games, music, movies and more all at your fingertips.”

Galaxy Note 5 at All-In Plan 1200

With All-In Plan 1200, you can maximize the features of the Galaxy Note 5 by choosing from over 30 Flexibundles reflecting your passion, lifestyle and communication needs.

For example, you can consume your All-In Plan 1200 by subscribing to Big Bytes 799 to enjoy 4.5GB data for all your surfing needs, as well as Trinet Plus 399, which gives you 500 minutes of calls to Smart, Sun, TNT and PLDT landline, and 2000 texts to all networks.

Galaxy S6 Edge Plus at Surf Plus Plan 1999

On the other hand, you can optimize your Galaxy S6 Edge Plus with Surf Plus Plan 1999, which packs a supersized 9GB of data allowance, 150 minutes of calls and 200 texts to all networks, plus your choice of free app every month – be it Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Spinnr, among many others.

As an added perk, all new and recontracting subscribers for Plans 799 and above get a month’s subscription to the Smart Life Entertainment Bundle 299 for free. This gives them an additional of data for streaming their favorite movies and TV shows on Fox via Viewstream or iFlix, plus access to a host of apps like YouTube, Snapchat, Google, FBMessenger. The bundle also comes with 50 minutes of calls to Smart and TNT; and 500 texts to all networks – on top of the inclusions of their existing plan.

Tens of thousands of new Smart Postpaid subscribers

Smart expects these latest Samsung devices to sustain its remarkable growth in the first half of the year as tens of thousands of new subscribers signed up to enjoy Smart Postpaid’s attractive device and content bundles, backed by the country’s widest LTE network.

Unveiled during Samsung’s Unpacked Event at the New York Lincoln Center last Aug.13, both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus feature a gorgeous 5.7-inch Quad High Definition screen, a 16-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera, Dual-SIM feature and a 64-bit Octa-Core processor running the latest Android operating system Lollipop.

Be the first to get hold of the Samsung Note 5 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus by signing up atsmart.com.ph/postpaid/phones/SamsungNote5.

To stay updated on the latest Smart Postpaid offers: 

Log on to smart.com.ph

Follow Smart’s official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications) and Twitter (@SMARTCares) for updates.

WD expands ITS PERFORMANCE LEVEL desktop HARD drives to 6 tb capacity

WD Black Hard Drives Offer Inspiring Performance for Gamers, Enthusiasts and Creative Professionals 

WD, a Western Digital  company and a world leader in hard drives, today announced the expansion of its award-winning WD Black™ line of performance hard drives up to 6 TB capacity. Shipping now, the 3.5-inch, 7200 RPM drive is the perfect solution for gamers and professionals in need of high-performance desktop systems and workstations. 

WD Black hard drives combine 7200 RPM spin speed, 128 MB cache, dual stage actuator technology, SATA 6 gigabits per second (Gb/s) interface, and an integrated dual processor to deliver ultimate performance in a maximum-capacity drive. The WD Black 6 TB is up to 29% faster than the previous WD Black 4 TB version in maximum data rate throughput and 10% faster in PCMark Vantage.

“Combining maximum system performance with generous capacity, the expansion of WD Black to 6 TB allows gamers, enthusiasts and creatives to push the boundaries of personalization without compromise,” said Cindi Grace, senior vice president of WD storage technology group. “In choosing WD Black hard drives, WD desktop customers get the best possible mix of capacity, performance and reliability to handle intense desktop computing with ease.” 

WD Black 6 TB hard drives feature the following:

Increased Reliability –StableTrac™ Technology (2 TB and larger models) secures the motor shaft inside of the hard drive to increase reliability and help reduce impact due to system-induced vibrations from other components. By stabilizing the platters inside, the WD Black drive results in more accurate tracking in a particular sector during read and write operations, optimizing performance and reliability.

Increased DRAM cache – The Dynamic Cache Technology improves caching algorithms in real time to allocate and optimize cache between reads and writes. This movement of cache for read data helps to reduce congestion and increase overall performance.

Efficient dual processing – A dual-core processor offers twice the processing capability as a single-core processor to maximize drive performance for faster read and write speeds.

Industry-leading 5-year limited warranty – Compared to standard hard drives, the WD Black drive endures more strenuous and aggressive internal testing over a longer period of time, resulting in it being backed by an industry leading 5-year limited warranty.

Price and Availability

Available now through selected retailers and resellers and are distributed by Iontech, Inc. and Ubertech Technologies, Inc. in Philippines, WD Black drive is covered by a five-year limited warranty. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the WD Black 5 TB drive (model # WD5001FZWX) is Php 13, 900 and the WD Black 6 TB drive (model # WD6001FZWX) is Php 16, 000. More information about WD Black desktop hard drives, including terms of the limited warranty, may be found on the company website at http://www.wd.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=760. 

About WD

WD, a Western Digital company, is a long-time innovator and storage industry leader. As a storage technology pacesetter, the company produces reliable, high-performance hard disk drives and solid state drives. These drives are deployed by OEMs and integrators in desktop and mobile computers, enterprise computing systems, embedded systems and consumer electronics applications, as well as by the company in providing its own storage products. WD’s leading storage devices and systems, networking products, media players and software solutions empower people around the world to easily save, store, protect, share and experience their content on multiple devices. WD was established in 1970 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.wd.com.

Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC), Irvine, Calif., is a global provider of products and services that empower people to create, manage, experience and preserve digital content. Its companies design and manufacture storage devices, networking equipment and home entertainment products under the WD, HGST and G-Technology brands. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

Brother signs up University of Southern Philippines Foundation for Toner Management Program

One of the leading providers of home and business IT peripherals, Brother International Philippines Corporation (Brother Philippines), has recently signed up the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), a private university in Cebu City, for its Toner Management Program.

Brother Philippines’ Toner Management Program is the company’s innovative solution for its institutional or corporate customers. Through the program, customers who sign a two-year toner supply agreement with Brother can avail of its multi-function centres without upfront payment. The program also gives customers the convenience of having the experts take care of the maintenance of the machines, and the replenishment of their printer consumables.

In photo after the signing of the Brother Color Toner Management Program agreement between Brother Philippines and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation are (left to right): Tekzone Computer Sales and Services Sales Coordinator, Brenna Vito; Brother Philippines President, Glen Hocson; USPF Director of Finance, Rosalina Jereza Sepulveda; USPF President, Dr. Alicia P. Cabatingan; Brother Philippines Deputy General Manager for Sales and Marketing, Masao Kasagi; USPF Chief Information Officer, Lester Gastala; and Tekzone Computer Sales and Services Accounting Supervisor, Zesprela Bingil.

This will provide offices a more cost effective way to acquire and operate multi-function centres (printers with other functions like faxing, scanning and copying) in the office. 

USPF Finance Director Rosalina J. Sepulveda has initially conducted the research on the total printing costs of the university and found out that over the years, USPF’s printing costs soared high without the benefit of statistical data to support the investment. 

USPF Chief Information Officer Lester Gastala said, “To address our printing cost concerns, we need to partner with a firm that not only delivers reliable technology and supports infrastructure duly tested by the country’s top international schools and local universities, but also one that provides value for investment.”

“Moreso, a balance deployment strategy should be in place,” he added.

USPF President Dr. Alicia P. Cabatingan said, “Private universities like us have to find ways to cut down on operating costs to be able to offer reasonable tuition fees while not compromising the quality of our education. This is why we thank Brother Philippines for introducing its Toner Management Program because it allows us to maintain our printing costs at manageable levels.” 

Brother Philippines President Glenn P. Hocson said, “Our toner management program will definitely make our products more attractive as they are now more affordable to broader segments of businesses. It aims to help offices like that of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation concentrate on their core operations by allowing Brother to handle their printing needs.” 

Hocson adds, “The program signals our readiness to take on more responsibilities for our corporate customers. It is also our way of challenging ourselves to keep on growing as we come up with more and more innovative solutions, especially for our corporate customers.”

This expansion of Brother Philippines through its corporate business portfolio is aligned with the Brother Group’s strategy to reinforce solutions offering as a pillar of growth. Starting as a sewing machine repair shop in Japan over a hundred years ago, the Brother Group has evolved and grown, and now has manufacturing and sales facilities in over 44 countries and regions worldwide.

New Ekogadgets for Ekotek

Meet the newest additions to our growing line up...

First up is the Ekopack Slim 6000mAh. It comes in the same slim and sleek design you’ve come to know and love. Only this time, it has more juice to power up your gadgets whenever, wherever. Best part is… it's compatible with most phones, tablets and other USB devices and comes in 4 eye catching colors: Lime, Orange, Black and White. 

And of course, the Ekotab you’ve all been waiting for. You wanted 3G, we’re giving you 3G!

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the Encore is back and this time it’s equipped with 3G functionality! Not only does this 7” Quad-Core beauty come with the Kitkat OS, the Encore 3G is now armed with an enhanced camera as well as an upgraded memory and storage system. You can now take more pictures, update your Facebook, Instagram and so much more without having to look for WiFi! 

Get your Ekotab Encore 3G for an introductory price of only P4,799 until August 31, 2015.

The Ekopack Slim 6000mAh and Ekotab Encore 3G are available in all 10 of our kiosks and online: http://j.mp/ekoteklazada. The Ekopack Slim 600mAh is also available in selected Office Warehouse Branches.

Encore 3G Specs:

Android 4.4 Kitkat

MT8382 Quad core Cortex A7 1.3GHz Processor 

7" 5-point IPS capacitive touch screen (1024*600 pixels, 16:9) Display

1GB RAM

8GB ROM

WCDMA 2100MHz (850MHz,1900MHz Option); GSM 850/900/1900/2100MHz 2G/3G Band

2.0MP front /5.0MP Rear camera

2500mAH Li-Polymer rechargeable battery

3G/2G; wifi; GPS; BT;

Dual SIM Card Capabilities

*Online Prices may vary

*Office Warehouse Branches: Power Plant, Paseo de Roxas, Ever Commonwealth, Alabang Town Center, Eton Centris, South Gate, Tomas Morato, SM Manila, SM MOA, Festival Mall, Starmall EDSA, Landmark Makati, Shangrila, Eastwood Libis, Greenhills, Starmall Alabang and SM Fairview

Globe opens first two-storey GEN3 store in the country

Brings the complete digital retail experience to Manila’s central business district with 4th GEN3 store in Makati

The number 1 mobile brand in the country and leader in the digital space Globe Telecom is set to bring the world-class retail experience to more customers nationwide as it opens its first two-storey GEN3 store in Greenbelt 3 in Makati, its 4th GEN3 store in the country since it launched in December last year.

Located at the central business district home to the country’s biggest offices, retail establishments and corporate headquarters, the previous average-sized store is converted into a two-storey version that showcases the major features of the new Globe GEN3 stores. From the reconfigurable major lifestyle zones such as Music, Entertainment, Life and Productivity to the self-service customer kiosks, more customers in Manila will now be able to experience next-generation retail in a dynamic and interactive space. 

Each lifestyle zone is curated to feature the telco’s topnotch roster of content from the best music on Spotify, in-demand movie and TV titles on HOOQ and the latest in mobile gaming such as Clash of Clans and Candy Crush, among others. Veering away from the usual display of smartphones and postpaid plans, Globe GEN3 stores illustrate mobile and broadband technologies as connected and experiential solutions.

“Our journey to transforming the customer experience continues with the opening of another GEN3 store in the country, this time in Makati, the country’s central business district. This is the first two-storey store which means that more customers will be able to enjoy the innovative and interactive experience that the GEN3 store offers. In the same way that Globe has transformed the Philippine mobile landscape by recognizing the digital shift and responding to the needs of our customers, we also see GEN3 creating a new standard for telco retailing not just in the Philippines but in the world,” says Ernest Cu, President and CEO at Globe.

Globe Head of Retail Transformation and Stores Management Joe Caliro shares, “Each one of our GEN3 stores is a product of our team’s mission of giving our customers the best differentiated service that only Globe can provide. We ensure that we have maximized every corner of this new store to give everyone who walks in a chance to discover and learn something new every time.”

GEN3 also carries an up-to-date selection of digital connectors turning the store into a one-stop digital lifestyle hub. GEN3 serves as a platform to showcase the latest technologies, making them more readily available to everyone.

This season, GEN3 is the first store in Asia to carry the ZAGG machine, a revolutionary device that customizes industry standard screen protection for almost all available smartphones, tablets and smart watches in the market. 

Apart from new technologies, GEN3 is also a space that gives up and coming personalities a place to tell their stories. Each lifestyle zone will feature stories of various individuals that are blazing a trail in their respective industries. As the GEN3 store in Greenbelt opens, customers will get to know the latest musical discoveries in Spotify’s recent online artist search, Emerge – finalist Marion Aunor and grand winner Shehyee. With changing content every quarter, customers can expect new activities to experience and new stories to get inspiration from.

The Globe GEN3 stores are designed by Tim Kobe, founder and CEO of Eight, Inc. His most famous work is the Apple Store in New York, alongside his other dynamic designs for international retail stores such as Nike, GAP and Coach, among others. 

Globe is set to open one more GEN3 store at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong by October. Globe also earlier announced the construction of the Globe Iconic Store that is set to be the biggest and grandest Globe store. Its pioneering design will feature a bridge that will link two Globe stores from opposite sides. The Globe Iconic Store will soon rise right above the Bonifacio Global City amphitheatre at the Bonifacio High Street Central in Taguig City.

PLDT, Voyager launch concierge service of social commerce platform TackThis!

Most businesses in the Philippines - large and small - recognize the potential of eCommerce, but only few are ready for the unique challenges that come with selling to customers online.

To address this gap, Voyager Innovations (Voyager), the digital unit of PLDT and Smart, together with PLDT Alpha and PLDT SME Nation, has launched today its premium concierge service for online store creator TackThis! to over a thousand partner businesses so they can quickly and efficiently build their own branded digital commerce footprint that incorporates a seamless social shopping experience for customers.

As a platform, TackThis! enables businesses to set up their online shops in just a matter of minutes. They can then “tack” their store to Facebook and other websites and the platform facilitates the customer’s entire digital commerce journey - beginning from the point of order, through the management of inventory, and ending with fulfillment and payment.

The premium concierge service aims to enable larger retailers who need a more comprehensive suite of features on top of the basic offerings of TackThis! Together with the wide array of solutions from PLDT Alpha and PLDT SME Nation, TackThis! is seen to further boost digital commerce in the country. 

“At Voyager, we believe that eCommerce is one of the building blocks of the digital economy. TackThis! is already changing eCommerce as it integrates the social shopping experience. Meanwhile, our partners can benefit from the one-stop solution that TackThis! provides, including our enhanced concierge service,” said Mitch Padua, vice president and head of digital commerce at Voyager Innovations.

“The premium concierge service gives retailers an end-to-end service that streamlines their online store requirements. This way, businesses don’t have to allocate huge resources in maintaining their online stores. TackThis! allows them to focus on what they know best: selling their products,” said Kat Luna-Abelarde, First Vice President and Head of PLDT SME Business.

The advanced features that come as a part of the concierge service include professional services for an effortless online store creation as well as hassle-free store management of logistics, payments and customer service via a team of TackThis! Ambassadors.

The concierge service also includes store marketing via placement on Takatack, the sister site of TackThis! Takatack is now the largest online shopping discovery platform that aggregates and promotes not only offerings from the thousands of merchants who have established their online shops through TackThis!, but also products from other online stores and retailers in the country including Rocket Internet-backed Zalora and Lazada.

Tackthis! has over 30,000 merchants in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines with more than 400 merchants already part of the premium Tackthis! Concierge Program - an end to end solution tailored to get retailers selling online quickly.

An industry trend analysis released by BMI Research last July estimated that 82% of all Internet users in the country or around 22 million Filipinos shop online. Retail sales account for USD207 billion but only 0.6% accounts for online retail.

The growth rate for eCommerce is high. A 2014 study by Ken Research estimates that Philippine eCommerce can expect a 101.4% annual growth rate from 2013 through 2018 due to increasingly heavier Internet usage and mobile penetration.

Out of the over one million registered businesses in the country, it is estimated that only 1% have a website. In the past, a company would have had to hire a large development and operations team to establish their digital footprint. TackThis! provides the simplicity and ease of having an online store. TackThis! aims to help businesses tap into this huge opportunity to reach more Filipinos going and shopping online. 

To know more about TackThis!, please visit: www.tackthis.com.ph/

To know more about Takatack, please visit: www.takatack.com/