ADVERTORIAL

ShipXpress to provide consultancy services

ShipXpress hopes to provide consultancy service to assist the Government in utilizing the rail infrastructure for freight logistics more efficiently in Sri Lanka in the future.

ShipXpress was founded in 2000 to create web based software services that simplify rail logistics, facilitate collaboration, and reduce cost for rail carriers, railcar owners and rail shippers in North America.

ShipXpress’s customers today include several of the worlds Fortune 50 companies such as Dow Chemical and the Home Depot.

ShipXpress today offers web based software solutions for managing the entire supply chain including rail, truck and barge logistics for leading industrial and commodities companies as well as web based software solutions for managing railroads.

“Our company runs one instance of software that is used by multiple clients who pay us a subscription fee for the use of our software via the Web.

Our software makes it easier for companies, their suppliers, customers, and freight carriers to communicate. ShipXpress empowers more efficient and effective logistics systems in North America.

The company’s software is developed at its Colombo office and we foresee the opportunity to serve Sri Lankan industry in the future,” ShipXpress, Chief Financial Officer, Seth Maerowitz told the Daily News Business.

The company hires top talent to develop software products the company hosts on its servers.

“We have been operating in Sri Lanka since 2005 and while we serve overseas markets today we hope to provide consultancy service to assist the Government in utilizing the rail infrastructure for freight logistics more efficiently in Sri Lanka in the future,” he said.

“We a have scheduled some preliminary discussions with the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) to discuss technologies for improving the coordination of railroad operations in Sri Lanka.

We look forward to sharing our experience in North America with the ICTA to support rail and technology industries in Sri Lanka,” ShipXpress, Senior Project Manager, G Chandana Perera said.

ShipXpress expects to expand into markets outside North America to South Asia, Australia and Europe but plans to retain Sri Lanka as its technology hub, the management said.

HP

Seylan Cards extends support

As a part of the Social Responsibility initiative for year 2010, Seylan Cards recently contributed a percentage of the Credit Card income to SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka that shelter almost 1,000 homeless children.

Seylan Card Centre has been contributing a percentage of the Credit Card income annually towards such organizations enabling worthy causes for the past many years.

SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka is a social development organization which focuses on family based, long term care for children who can no longer grow up with their biological families.





 

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Abans launch LG Optimus One

Abans recently launched the LG Optimus One Smartphone which has hit sales of over one million units within 40 days after its launch in Europe and Asia-Pacific countries, to become the fastest selling mobile handset in the company’s history.

One of the first smartphones to launch with Google’s latest operating system, the Optimus One allows for up to five times faster internet browsing, web-page loading, and multi-tasking. The Optimus One also incorporates a unique LG-designed user interface (UI) along with a camera that features face tracking and smile shot, a 3.2 inch wide HVGA screen and a long-lasting 1500mAh capacity battery.

Powered by the Android 2.2 “Froyo” OS and optimized for Google Mobile Services, the LG Optimus One has been a big hit with first-time smartphone buyers looking for high performance and useful applications in a handset priced very competitively for feature phones.

The LG Optimus One combines a high performance hardware package with the latest version of Google’s Android Platform. With a two to five times better performance than previous versions of Android, a large screen and lots of memory, the LG Optimus One delivers an experience that is great for apps and multimedia. In addition, LG’s enhanced UI makes the Optimus One even more efficient and user friendly.

“The versatile, powerful LG Optimus One was designed to provide an easy transition into the world of smartphones and as these numbers demonstrate, there is obviously a strong demand for this type of device. Optimus One seems to be what many customers were waiting for, proving that smartphones aren’t just for early adopters anymore,” LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company President and CEO Dr Jon-seok Park said.

The device also enables professionals to easily sync with Outlook Calendar for improved productivity, while offering portable Wi-Fi hotspots to easily share a single 3G connection.

The device is optimized for popular Google Mobile Services including Google Voice Search, Google Voice Actions, Google Googles, Google Shopper and Google Maps with Navigation, and also offer access to Android Market with more than 80,000 applications.

With a nod to style-conscious users, LG’s new smartphone’s curved lines provide a solid grip and the two-colour variants make the smartphone as stylish as the person carrying it.

The LG Optimus One Smartphone is available at Abans Office Automation Showrooms islandwide.

Mullaitivu Children join LIOC ‘Go Green’ project

Lanka IOC has rewarded nearly 300 children from low income families in Mullaitivu who recently enrolled in the company’s ‘Go Green’ program, an innovative eco-friendly initiative under which tree saplings are planted and cared for by school children.

Lanka IOC enlisted the services of 290 children from 29 schools in the Mullaitivu and Thunukkai areas for the latest phase of the project, increasing the number of direct beneficiaries from the ‘Go Green’ initiative to 1301. Pass books from the People’s Bank were handed out to these students at an event attended by LIOC officials.

In return for taking care of their saplings, which have been recommended by the Forest Department based on the soil and climate of the area, each student will receive Rs 100 per month for a period of three years. Lanka IOC has also provided a tree guard made from plastic wire mesh for the protection of each sapling. “The success of a tree planting program lies in securing a buy-in from communities to ensure sustainability,” Lanka IOC Managing Director K R Suresh Kumar said. “The enthusiasm and commitment of school children from all over the country who are participating in the program is evidence that the ‘Go Green’ program has been successful in conveying the message of caring for nature to the younger generation,” he said.

“Building in a reward for those who care for nature has also set a precedent for other corporate entities,” Suresh Kumar said.

Lanka IOC’s Go Green program was initiated in February 2010 at Hemamali Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 10, under the patronage of the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry. Prior to its extension to Mullaitivu the program had encompassed 12 schools in the Jaffna District, six schools in the Colombo and Trincomalee Districts, five schools in the Gampaha District, two schools in Moneragala and Kurunegala and a school in Moratuwa.

NDB Bank at Narahenpita Economic Centre

NDB Bank extended its presence at Narahenpita Economic Centre, to provide convenience to its customers. The bank has taken measures to provide a seven day service throughout the year, ensuring that its customers will have unhindered access to the bank’s products and services.

NDB Bank has strategically located at No 42, Narahenpita Economic Centre, Kirimandala Mawatha, Narahenpita. The Bank is open throughout the week (including Saturday and Sunday) from 3pm - 10pm except on Poya days to provide greater convenience to its customers. With a wide range of products and services which cater to the financial needs of all individuals, NDB Bank similarly aspires to provide comprehensive financial solutions to the customers in and around Narahenpita.

NDB Bank provides financial support for the entrepreneurs through its expertise in SME financing and commercial banking services. NDB Bank has over the years partnered many success stories of Sri Lanka and firmly believes that an entrepreneurial culture is essential for the sustainable development of a nation.

The bank is also offering full range of commercial banking services, which includes current and savings accounts, NRFC/RFC accounts as well as fixed deposits. Further, housing loans, personal loans, leasing facilities, pawning services, credit cards, debit cards and Western Union money transfer services, coupled with excellent customer service and seven days banking.

Oman Air scoops top industry award

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, was recently announced as the winner of the ‘Technology Implementation of the Year’ category at the prestigious fourth Annual Aviation Business Awards 2010.

The award recognized Oman Air’s pioneering introduction of in-flight mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity, which utilizes the Airbus ALNA V2 system and Honeywell’s SwiftBroadband (SBB) solution, via OnAir and Inmarsat.

The award was accepted by Oman Air’s Management Affairs Chief Officer Abdulaziz Al Raisi, at a ceremony held at the Abu Dhabi Emirates Palace, attracting many international leaders of the aerospace industry alongside a host of other VIPS.

Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Hill, said, “Oman Air is extremely proud to have won this important award and to be recognized as the first airline in the world to offer both full mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity onboard our widebody fleet. The introduction of this cutting-edge technology offers passengers the convenience of connecting to the Internet and any one of a range of hand-held devices from the comfort of their seat.

With the ability to make phone calls, send text messages, use instant messaging, check emails, surf the web or update social media, passengers onboard Oman Air’s A330 flights need never be out of touch with the world, even as they fly.”

Organized by publisher of ITP Business, the award has established itself as the ultimate celebration of achievements within the Middle East aerospace industry over the past 12 months.

The fourth Annual Aviation Business Awards included 15 categories in total, covering the airline, airport and cargo sectors, and entries were assessed by a prestigious panel of experts, selected from within the Middle East aerospace industry.

World class Software Engineering degree from AIT

Thailand’s Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), which is one of the most renowned universities in the world specializing in Engineering research has teamed up with the South Asian Institute of Technology and Management (SAITM), Malabe to offer a universally recognized four-year BSc degree program in Software Engineering and Computer Science.

The course is designed to cater to vast career opportunities available, not only in Sri Lanka but throughout the world, particularly in Australia, Canada, the UK and the South-East Asian Region.

In this context it is important to note that any modern Software Engineering course should encompass the latest developments and should be coupled with research and training connected to the industry where future career prospects exist for the graduates. This is one area AIT is strongest with a vast network of links with the industry spanning the globe in addition to affiliations and collaborations with top research organizations and universities. The importance of four years of study instead of three years in a standard BSc degree program should be emphasized as only the former is fully recognized by the professional bodies and the industry.

Students who have obtained three passes in local or London A/Ls in the mathematics stream are eligible for enrolment and those who have followed the bio stream can do so on condition to obtain a pass in mathematics in A/Ls.

This high end degree, very competitively priced in keeping with AITs policy of empowering youth of Asia at an affordable cost, will open the doors to some of the world’s top industries in aerospace, automobile, robotics and manufacturing and in the corporate sector into Banking and Finance.

AIT also offers top quality degrees in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Telecommunication Engineering, all four-year BSc Engineering degrees, which are highly sought after in the entire Asian region with ready acceptance throughout the world.

The reputation and recognition of AIT is such that within one year of commencing of courses at SAITM in Sri Lanka, more than 150 students have enrolled and are successfully following undergraduate studies under the guidance of some of the best professors and senior lecturers from state universities. The students are provided with laboratory facilities which are certainly the best available among the private tertiary educational institutes and are in par with any state university. The library and other student facilities at SAITM are far superior and it is a fact that young engineers obtaining a world class degree from AIT are to dominate the respective professions in the near future.