| Microsoft co-ordinates with locals eDT, GNET
HA NOI � Microsoft, the world�s largest software maker, yesterday announced it will work with two local partners to provide packaged solutions and services to the Viet Nam market. The US-based firm yesterday signed a reselling agreement with Viet Nam systems integrator and training company Enterprise Software Development and Training (eDT) and the telecommunications value-added service provider GNET. Under the agreement, eDT will resell Microsoft packaged solutions that deliver a wide range of software and hosted services, while GNET will provide packaged services. "Viet Nam�s ICT market has huge potential, as the country is witnessing phenomenal growth in telecommunications recently, particularly mobile and broadband internet services," said Microsoft Viet Nam�s chief representative, Christophe Desriac.
Xcel solar power plan catching on
Xcel Energy Inc., Colorado's largest utility, connected its 1,000th small-solar customer to the grid on Monday. Xcel's "Solar*Rewards" program, which gives customers rebates to help cover the cost of buying and installing solar panels on their homes and small businesses to generate electricity, has grown rapidly in the last 18 months. Xcel (NYSE: XEL) is based in Minneapolis. It has 1.3 million electricity customers in Colorado. To date, Xcel has handed out $19.5 million in rebates and payments for "Renewable Energy Credits" for customers offering solar power for use in their homes, businesses and to the utility. The money comes from a special charge on every Xcel customers' bill in Colorado. Currently, customers pay an extra 0.6 percent, or roughly 36 cents on a $60 monthly electricity bill.
Local News
Crystal meth operations have yet to lay siege to this region. A newly created task force wants to keep it that way. The Addiction Network of the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network wants to keep methamphetamine operations from settling in Sarnia-Lambton and the surrounding areas. The eight-member group, representing emergency services, municipal council and health-care workers from Lambton, Chatham-Kent and Essex counties, wants to address the use of meth and other prevalent drugs in a proactive manner. "Through these three counties it is not a big problem," said Willy Van Klooster, executive director of Westover Treatment Centre in Thamesville. "What we would really love to do is set up a system that discourages those people from coming in and starting to make it and sell it." Methamphetamine, known in its most popular form as crystal meth, is a highly addictive drug.
KiwiSaver 'bad news' for small business
Business NZ has rubbished claims made by the finance and expenditure select committee that compulsory employer contributions to KiwiSaver are unlikely to impose significant financial strain on small or newer businesses. The claims were made in a report produced following the first reading of a bill designed to introduce a number of enhancements and clarifications to KiwiSaver, including compulsory employer contributions which were first announced by the Government in the May Budget. The report states that the majority of the committee members do not support arguments that the compulsory employer contributions provisions will cause financial strain because it will be phased in and employers will be reimbursed through tax credits. "We understand that the compulsory contribution will be phased in over time.
AvL Technologies gives $50,000 to business incubator
ENKA - AvL Technologies has donated $50,000 to establish a revolving loan fund at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College�s Small Business Center/Incubator to support young companies. �While the development of the incubator program and recruitment of companies has gone well, the program lacked a revolving loan fund to assist its clients,� said Russ Yelton, Small Business Center/Incubator director. �We appreciate the support AvL Technologies is providing start-ups through this generous donation.� AvL Technologies started in the Maple Building at A-B Tech in 1998 and became the College�s first successful small business incubation. The business employees 75 people, and designs and manufactures mobile satellite antenna systems typically used for live satellite broadcasts from television news trucks.
Loan ban hasn't left hardship
The absence of payday lending in North Carolina has not adversely affected how residents resolve financial shortfalls, according to a study released yesterday by the N.C. Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Payday lending dried up in the state in March 2006, three months after the agency ruled that the payday lenders were breaking state lending laws by charging effective annual rates of more than 400 percent on loans. The state's Consumer Finance Act puts a ceiling of 36 percent on annual percentage rates for small loans. Community Financial Services Association, a trade-group for the payday-lending industry, predicted that the move would harm consumers by taking away an option for quick cash. But a survey of 400 low- to middle-income consumers, conducted last spring by the UNC Center for Community Capital, found that "the vast majority of households surveyed reported being unaffected by the end of payday lending." Among the options those consumers used included paying bills late, using savings, borrowing from family and friends, and getting advances on a credit card.
Facebook responds to criticism of its ad programme
"We encourage feedback from our users on new products," said a statement from Facebook, "but in this case, the MoveOn.org-led group misrepresents how Facebook Beacon works. Beacon gives users an easy way to share relevant information from other sites with their friends on Facebook." As per the information available, users have complained that Facebook via its two-week-old marketing programme is publicising their purchases for friends to see. According to media, those users say they never noticed a small box that appears on a corner of their web browsers following transactions at Fandango, Overstock and other online retailers. The box alerts users that information is about to be shared with Facebook unless they click on "No Thanks". It disappears after about 20 seconds, after which consent is assumed.
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