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MapInfo and USADATA partner to deliver online marketing list service- miLists

MapInfo Corporation has announced a partnership with USADATA to jointly develop and deliver MapInfo miLists(TM), an online marketing list service. miLists will enable organizations to first identify and analyze new markets and then obtain a targeted list of prospects in those markets. The new map-enabled list service will offer marketers fast, flexible Internet access to comprehensive consumer and business prospect lists provided by Acxiom® Corporation. In addition to miLists, USADATA, an Axciom strategic alliance partner, will map-enable its Direct Mail Portal(TM) technology.

Visit : www.milists.com and www.mapinfo.com

GDT provides Canadian street and address foundation to power FUGAWI GPS software products

Geographic Data Technology, Inc., a developer of premier map databases, has announced that Northport Systems has incorporated GDT's Canadian street and address database into the Northport suite of FUGAWI handheld GPS software products to provide real-time personal navigation services. The FUGAWI suite of products allows users to find addresses, zoom in and out of specified Canadian geographies, and import routes and waypoints into any handheld GPS unit and into Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Street and address data developed by GDT Canada, GDT's Toronto-based subsidiary, provides the foundation that allows the FUGAWI products to track a user's position and provide detailed routes and map display with GPS-enabled integration.

Visit : www.fugawi.com and www.geographic.com

SiRFstar GPS architecture at the heart of new groundbreaking cell phones

SiRF Technology, Inc., a leading developer of GPS-enabled location technology, and Benefon, a leader in innovative wireless communication instruments, has announced that SiRF's GPS technology is behind the world's first GPS-enabled dual-band GSM 900/1800 cellular phones from Benefon. With support for the open Mobile Phone Telematics Protocol (MPTP), these phones will enable carriers and service providers to offer a range of location-enhanced services like geo-messaging, location-aware communities, sports, healthcare, safety, security, fleet and staff management and location-enhanced yellow pages and advertising. The SiRFstar architecture, integrated in a very compact package by u-blox ag (Thalwil, Switzerland), enables a complete GPS-based location intelligence solution delivering high performance to both Benefon Esc!, a cellular phone with mapping and personal navigation capabilities, and Benefon Track, a telematics phone for professional use.

Visit : www.sirf.com

Keynotes set for URISA's Caribbean GIS Conference

The educational program at URISA's First-Ever Caribbean GIS Conference has been set and it includes a very impressive line-up of GIS experts from around the world. The conference will take place September 9-12, 2001 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, at the Wyndham Rose Hall. Jacqueline daCosta, Director General, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Land and Environment in Jamaica, will deliver the Opening Keynote Address. She will speak on regional/small islands approach to GIS development, bringing into perspective the roles and responsibilities of the international lending and donor community, the private sector, governments and bureaucrats and the GIS professional. Jack Dangermond, President of ESRI, will deliver the Closing Keynote Address on Wednesday, September 12. Mr. Dangermond will share his thoughts on collaboration and the future of GIS technology. The conference has been organized into several program tracks including: Coastal Resources Management, GIS in Public Health, Disaster Planning & Mitigation, and Land Management.

Visit : www.urisa.org

MapInfo appoints Kim Mena vice president of marketing

MapInfo Corporation has announced the appointment of Kim Mena as vice president of marketing. In this capacity, Ms. Mena will be responsible for MapInfo's corporate messaging and positioning. Ms. Mena will direct the company's branding effort, oversee the MapInfo Web site, and lead the company's Corporate and Americas marketing teams. Mena will work directly with MapInfo's executive team to grow and strengthen the company's overall marketing strategy.

Visit : www.mapinfo.com

SolidWorks and SAQQARA team to provide 3D online catalogs

SolidWorks Corporation is partnering with SAQQARA Systems, Inc., to enable manufacturers to integrate configurable three-dimensional (3D) product images into their online catalogs. Combining SAQQARA's Commerce Suite with SolidWorks' 3D PartStream.NET allows manufacturers to display products in a more visually compelling manner. By allowing customers to download CAD models from an online catalog and incorporate the models into a design, buyers can easily evaluate products and ensure an exact fit. The result is manufacturers' products are specified into designs, and buyers can be confident of their design and component selections.

Visit : www.solidworks.com/html/Company/article.cfm?Id=326

NetObjects announces NetObjects Matrix and NetObjects Fusion MX

NetObjects today announced that its Web site building products, NetObjects Matrix and NetObjects Fusion MX, will be bundled with two Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HWP) digital imaging products, to be distributed worldwide. NetObjects Fusion MX allows Windows users to build an online presence and subscribe to Web Services that can help them grow and manage their business. Any customer with an Internet connection regardless of their operating system can select NetObjects Matrix, where they can build a professional quality Web site online in minutes, complete with e-commerce capabilities.

Visit : www.netobjects.com/company/html/pr30july01.html

Asia News

Eicher launches state-of-the-art city map for Chennai

Encouraged by the success of Eicher City Map, Delhi, which has already sold over a lakh copies, Eicher Goodearth Limited today launched the Ccity Mmap for Chennai. Conceived as a world class A-Z guide to Chennai, the Eicher City Map is amongst the best city maps in the world .The Eicher city map will covers detailed information on the newly developed areas and suburbs around the city and adjoining areas of Tambaram, Ambattur and Ennore. Conceived as a world class A-Z guide to Chennai, the Eicher City Map will be amongst the best city maps in the world. It has been produced and designed with the help of latest satellite imagery, IRS-IC.

The map contains accurate and easily accessible information in an extremely user friendly formaat.The map is loaded with information about the city on 39 categories some of which include Hotels , restaurants , ATM's,hospitals, educational institutions, banks, roads, residential and institutional districts, worship places, banquet halls, parks and markets.

Priced at Rs 200/-, the City Map will be available at all leading bookstores, general stores, petrol pumps, railway stations and airports in Chennai. It has an extensive coverage of 600 sq. kms. The 208-page map contains 128 map pages and ….. key-to-map pages together with a folded 'route planner'. The map contains accurate and easily accessible information on 39 categories some of which include hospitals, educational institutions, banks, roads, residential and institutional districts, worship places, banquet halls, parks and markets. Priced at Rs 200/-, the City Map will be available at all leading bookstores, general stores, petrol pumps, railway stations and airports in Chennai.

Visit: www.eicherworld.com

India to have spy satellite soon

News Delhi(PTI)- Packed with advanced technologies and a high-resolution camera, India's next satellite mission later this year could be a run-up to placing a spy satellite in an orbit, a leading American space weekly has said.

Spacenews, published from washington says the Indian Space Research Organisation is also prepairing to "build more satellite at a faster rate, incorporating new technologies," like microwave imaging.

ISRO will double its capacity to 4 satellites annually from 2 to meet the rising demands for services, the weekly said,quoting the P. S. Goel, Director of the centre.

Goel told the weekly that ISRO expected tp meet India's requirements in twwo years and then shallstart looking for opportunitiues for making satellites for foreign countries particularly in small communication satellite category." ISRO is designed a 2000 Kg INSAT space craft for launches by GSLV, it said.

Source: The Economic times, 31 July 2001

Mobile-to-Internet Link Offered

BEIJING,July 31- China Unicom, the country's second biggest mobile operator, has announced that it would link its telecom network with the Internet starting from tomorrow,according to today's China Daily.

This is a major move forward, as China has 26.5 million netizens and China Unicom recorded 30 million subscribers by the end of June. The link-up may encourage an increase in both mobile phone users and netizens.

China Unicom is the country's second operator to provide such services, the other being China Mobile. Wireless data services, or mobile Internet, has reported rapid growth in China this year.

However, that benefit is enjoyed by China Mobile alone, as it used to be the only wireless data service provider. One of the most popular wireless data services, the short message, has recently become very popular among young mobile phone users.

China Mobile estimated that it would collect 1 billion yuan £¨US$120 million£© this year from charges for short messages. Presently it charges 0.1 yuan £¨1.2 US cents£© for sending one message, while receiving is free.

Named UNI-INFO, China Unicom's wireless data service will offer mainly short message subscription services and content-on-demand services, such as weather forecasts, market information and the latest news.

Soyrce: Xinhua News Agency

Magsaysay goes to Alwar’s water saviour

THE individual who has scripted many a successful water harvesting story in the heart of dry, drought-prone Rajasthan is among the recipients of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award. Rajendra Singh, founder of the Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), has been chosen for the community leadership award for his water harvesting marvel in Alwar in Rajasthan.

Singh is among seven recipients of the award, considered the Asian avatar of the Nobel prize. His efforts to revive the traditional check-dams (johads) in Alwar successfully recharged groundwater aquifers in the region. Dead rivers came alive, youth who had migrated to greener pastures found reason to return and the entire ecology changed for the better.

The TBS, which Singh set up in 1975, has built 4,500 johads in 850 villages over more than 6,500 kilometres over the last 15 years. Four rivers — Arvari, Ruparel, Bhagwani, Sarsa and Jahajwali — which had been reduced to nallahs were flowing round the year.

The agricultural yield increased fivefold, milk production tenfold and diesel consumption was reduced by half because of the availability of water. The green cover in the adjoining Sariska reserved forest increased by over 40 per cent over the last 15 years.

Source: Indian Express, 31 July 2001