Hotspot services to reach $3.46 billion in
2009
Worldwide wireless data hotspot revenue will rise from
$969 million in 2005 to $3.46 billion in 2009, according to
Arizona-based In-Stat. The growth will occur as the number of hotspot
locations nearly doubles in size from 100,000 in 2005 to almost 200,000
by the end of 2009.
The largest sector of the hotspot market will
continue to be the cafˇ market (including coffee shops, fast food, and
full service restaurants), which will grow from just over 40,000 venues
worldwide in 2004 to just under 100,000 venues by
2009.
Autodesk buys 3D graphics company
San
Rafael-based Autodesk signed a definitive agreement to acquire Alias, a
Toronto-based developer of 3D graphics technology, for $182 million in
cash.
Founded in 1983, Alias has a client list that includes
Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks SKG, Nintendo, General Motors and
BMW. Alias's revenues were $83 million in the fiscal year ended June 30,
2005.
IT worker confidence rebounds
According to the
Hudson Employment Index survey, IT workers regained confidence in
September, as the sector's index increased over seven points from 97.5
to 104.8. Increased job satisfaction, reduced layoff worries and
optimism about personal finances spurred the increase. The percent happy
with their current job jumped 12 points to 82 percent, the highest yet
recorded.
Additionally, only 21 percent of sector employees were
worried about losing their jobs, down from 29 percent in August and the
lowest level all year.
Azio releases phone
charger
El Monte-based Azio Corp., a designer and manufacturer
of computer peripherals, released the Azio USB Phone Charger.
The
charger allows anyone to power their phone using a computer or laptop by
simply plugging the phone into a USB port. Azio designed the charger for
the road-warrior, traveler or student who lacks easy access to public
outlets and who doesn't want to worry about the varying voltage
requirements of different countries.
The company said the device
is the first phone charger to market that powers a cell by USB power.
SYS buys Web Tech
San Diego-based SYS Technologies
acquired the assets of Web Technologies LLC, a full-service software
development and custom training provider.
WebTech, established in
1991, focuses on e-learning and Web application development for
customers in the automotive, environmental, financial, technology, and
hospitality industries, as well as the U.S. government. Customers
include Pratt & Whitney, Unisys, Homecomings Financial, a GMAC company,
Volkswagen of America, Inc., and Mitsubishi Motors of North America
among others.
SYS makes real-time IT products for industrial and
U.S. government customers.
Nvidia releases new graphics
board
Santa Clara-based Nvidia Corp. released its latest
core-logic motherboard solutions-targeted at the integrated
markets-combining new Nvidia nForce 400 media and communications
processors with a new line of the company's GeForce6 series graphics
processing units.
Developed for AMD64-based computing platforms,
the family of Nvidia nForce 400 MCPs and GeForce 6100 GPUs provide
products to such motherboard makers as ASUSTeK, Biostar, Chaintech, DFI,
ECS, Epox, Foxconn, Gigabyte, Jetway, MSI, and
Shuttle.
TimeSpring releases free version of
TimeData
Newport Beach-based TimeSpring Software Corp.
released a free version of its TimeData continuous data protection
software that will allow SQL Server 2005 Customer Technology Preview
users to test and migrate real-time production data from SQL Server 2000
without shutting down, slowing down or exporting data.
The
company said the software reduces the risk associated with migrating
Microsoft SQL databases. It simplifies and shortens the migration
process while allowing data migration to take place in a
live-transaction environment.
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