Archive for January, 2010

COLUMBIA – Renewable fuels provider New Generation Biofuels Holdings has done a test burn of its biofuel at Washington College in Chestertown to provide data to help the school meet its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

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ANNAPOLIS – South River Technologies has released the Cornerstone Managed File Transfer platform, which closes gaps in security that can be left by traditional file transfer servers and offers more visibility into system activity and data movement.

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ARNOLD – At its monthly TechFocus seminar, the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council today dove deep into privacy, business models and other issues associated with mobile applications.  Elliott Hamilton of Telecommunication Systems said privacy controls are available in many applications, but handset makers can bypass carriers and allow user tracking via the GPS chip, for example.  Anticipating a “bubble” over privacy, Todd Marks of Mindgrub expected loose controls would lead to some unfortunate event, resulting in a backlash where greater privacy would be asserted followed by some sort of equilibrium.  Especially important is what comes next with location-based technology.  For example, if other information is available to provide context for what you’re doing (e.g. you’re at church or a porn film), how much privacy would you want as an individual?  As an employer?  Or of course, as a lawyer?

Other discussion covered Apple’s iPhone vs. Google’s Nexus One using the Android operating system.  With more than 100,000 applications for the iPhone, Apple has a big head start; Google’s platform requires migration each time a new version of the phone comes out, so much testing is needed.  Panel Michael Ryan of South River Technologies noted that an app his firm developed for the iPhone cost in the tens of thousands of dollars and took up to nine months, an investment that was worth it because it extended the company’s brand.  Moderator David Troy of Roundhouse Technologies affirmed the importance of knowing the business reason for development a mobile app.  For example, if it’s revenue, then a retailer could know when a particular customer enters and provide a coupon, favorite seat or other pattern-based offering.  Some Starbucks are doing this now.

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The first is the BWI Business Partnership.  The Partnership is a superb cross-industry organization in the region with its classy events and A-list speakers.  I can say that because I attend many of them.  The other is Blue Sky Multimedia, a Web development shop that should always be high on your list of consultants for design, SEO and other Web-related needs.

Why these two?  They are the first advertisers (see right-hand column) and as such they are behind ABN in meeting the need for local news and in supporting the vision of using the Web to enhance local business.  Why should Amazon get all our money when we can keep it in the neighborhood?

BALTIMORE – ANALYSYS is offering free email support to the general public for issues using, migrating or upgrading to, or implementing the new Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System.  The free support period where inquiries will be accepted continues through January 31, 2010.

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ANNAPOLIS – Conference & Logistics Consultants is now providing conference management services for the Interaction Design Association, the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys, the U.S. Psychological Rehabilitation Association, the Electronic Retailing Association, and the University of Maryland School of Nursing.

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ANNAPOLIS – International consulting firm High Street Partners added two executives to its team: Andrew Jones, VP of corporate strategy; and Todd Horst, VP of marketing. Jones has a background in venture capital with Grotech Ventures and Boulder Ventures, while Horst was the managing director at the Corporate Executive Board.

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HANOVER – Conmed Healthcare Management will provide health care services to inmates at the Garrett County Adult Detention Center as part of a potential 4.5 year term.  The deal will bring in $1 million to the company for services provided to the 50 adult inmates.

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LANHAM – Research from Pitney Bowes Business Insight shows that companies are not ready to take full advantage of changes in the way the U.S. Postal Service hopes to reduce the volume of undeliverable-as-addressed mail.  Managing address updates, for example, is still a manual process for many, according to respondents from high-volume mail houses.  Starting last week, companies whose mailings are not compliant with the Postal Service standards are subject to additional postage of seven cents a piece.

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ODENTON – M-Edge Accessories has come out with another accessory for the Amazon Kindle e-reader called the Guardian Case.  The company touts it as the first and only waterproof case for the Kindle that users can even read hands-free in the water because it floats upright.

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