Acer Intros New LED and Laser Projectors

Acer has introduced new LED and laser projectors for business and commercial use. These new models include a best-in-class wireless LED 1080p projector with 3,000 lumens of brightness and also high energy-efficiency laser projectors that reach 3,100 lumens. Additionally, three new Acer monitors have been announced for business and home users: the eye-friendly Acer B248Y, the HDR-capable Acer CBL272U and the Acer BL270, with virtually no side-bezels.

Acer PD and VD Series

The VD6510i is a wireless 3,000 lumens LED 1080p projector that delivers ultra-smooth 1080p 120Hz projections for action movie excitement. 125% coverage of the Rec. 709 color gamut provides excellent color saturation and vivid images, enhanced by 16x sequential display speed that minimizes rainbow effect, while 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness enables the projector to produce a crystal clear image even for large screens or in a room with the lights on. LED projectors are very resilient to brightness decay, so users can enjoy their favorite movies for years to come, and are also eco-friendly due to their mercury-free nature.

Also with 3,000 ANSI lumens brightness, the PD1530i is a business-oriented projector that was designed around making meetings as convenient as possible. The cable free, wireless 1080p LED projector is capable of throwing a 100-inch screen from a distance of less than 3 m (9.8 ft). LED projectors reach full-brightness almost immediately upon being turned on, eliminating delays at the beginning of meetings, and this brightness is long lasting: with a 30,000 hour lifespan, business users can expect to get many years of use out of the PD1530i projector.

Acer XL Series

Using only 143 watts of power, the Acer XL series (XL1220/XL1320W/XL1520) contain some of the most energy-efficient 3,100 lumens laser projectors in the world. The XL series of projectors are reliable devices that deliver stunning image quality of up to 1080p and are priced for the mainstream market, making them perfect for use in medium-sized meeting rooms. An IP6X certification indicates that XL-series projectors are “dust-tight,” the highest grade of protection against solid foreign objects available, preventing the ingress of dust or other solid particles that may damage the device.

This durability makes the 3,100 lumens projectors capable of being used under any ambient lighting, and combined with a 30,000-hour lifespan, they require remarkably little maintenance. Portrait and 360-degree projection modes are also available, enabling the XL series projectors to accommodate any sort of space or scenario.

Acer UL and PL Series

The Acer UL5630 is an innovative projector designed to overcome the limitations of space, capable of throwing a 120-inch projection from a distance of just 31 cm (12.3 in). This ultra-short throw projector is equipped with a new high-quality image laser diode that enables it to project in WUXGA (1920×1200) with 4,500 lumens of brightness, creating crisp displays in which even the fine print stands out. Features like the ability to project freely in 360 degrees or in portrait mode and remote management capabilities make the UL series particularly well suited for education and business.

Leica BLK247 Smart 3D Surveillance System Launched

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has announced the expansion of its Leica BLK247 smart 3D surveillance system to accommodate the varying needs of its global customers. The Leica BLK247 is the world’s first 3D sensor combining LiDAR, video camera and thermal imaging technology for security and surveillance. Building owners, operators, security teams, and facilities managers can benefit from continuous monitoring of buildings and spaces including hospitals, factories, manufacturing plants, and offices. Additionally, the Leica BLK247 provides reliable surveillance for private properties.

“The Leica BLK247 is an award-winning security product that addresses the need for 3D sensors in today’s surveillance industry. It provides an entry to true 3D surveillance technology, and it makes accurate decisions on when to trigger an alarm,” said Carl-Thomas Schneider, vice president of business development, Hexagon’s Geosystems division. “It also creates new opportunities for security systems integrators to offer one of the industry’s most innovative surveillance products.”

“Leica Geosystems is a recognized leader in the areas of geospatial capture, measurement, and analysis. They have brought their expertise in these areas together to solve problems faced with traditional 2D image analysis in the security industry,” noted the Security Industry Association (SIA) judges for Best New Product Award 2020. “The product combines multiple sensors and multiple sensor technologies to provide a previously unavailable set of operands to a powerful edge computing platform.”

The Leica BLK247 is now available in two versions, the Leica BLK247 i5 and the Leica BLK247 x5, which are suited to monitor and protect different environments. The x5 offers thermal imaging, dust and water protection for both indoor and outdoor environments, and an expanded operating temperature range, while the i5 designed for mostly indoor environments where thermal imaging is not needed.

NEWS BPC’s SmartVista Named UAE Leads Innovation in $546 Leader in 2020 Quad- Billion Global Smart Cities Market rant’s SPARK Matrix for Card Management

BPC has announced that it has emerged as a leader in the 2020 SPARK Matrix for card management. For over 25 years, BPC has been serving over 280 financial institutions in over 90 countries worldwide with state-of-the-art banking and payment solutions. Its SmartVista Platform offers a selection of modules which can be used as micro services to deliver full end-to-end banking and payment experience or as a standalone.

According to Quadrant Knowledge Solutions report, the Card Management System (CMS) market has dramatically changed over the last five years and that trend is set to continue. With growth of 5.6% in 2019, it is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.1% from 2020–2025. Valued at US$1.15 billion in 2019, the global CMS market is expected to reach US$1.46 billion by 2025.

Today’s card lifecycle management solutions need to cater to all type of cards, markets and customer needs, physical and virtual cards including debit, credit, prepaid, specialised cards such as salary cards or even smart cards, which couple payment capabilities with additional benefits such loyalty schemes or social welfare information to deliver new experiences. SmartIssuer, BPC’s flagship solution has always been a core component of BPC’s SmartVista platform, which has organically evolved and anticipated market changes.

According to Maria Gonsalves, Senior Analyst at Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, “BPC SmartIssuer offers robust functional capabilities to extend its flagship SmartVista platform’s card processing capabilities to a fully integrated solution for transaction processing and card management. BPC, with its industry leading functional capabilities and robust customer value proposition has received strong ratings against various parameters of technology excellence and customer impact. It has then emerged as the technology leader in the 2020 SPARK Matrix analysis of the card management system market.”

Jane Loginova – Group Chief Commercial Officer at BPC said, “We are thrilled to see BPC’s SmartVista awarded the title of leader in Card Management worldwide in Quadrant’s SPARK Matrix. This recognition testifies of our commitment to pave the way in card management innovation, anticipating market changes. For our financial institutions, we offer choice with cloud options, speed to market and efficiency while the ultimate result is about delivering a superior experience to the end customer. Our motto at BPC has always been ‘bridging real life to digital’ and it means a lot in today’s card world where physical and virtual need to co-exist.” The UAE is leading innovation in the world’s Smart Cities market, which is set to reach USD 546 billion by 2027, industry experts announced today ahead of GITEX Technology Week 2020.

Meticulous Research firm expects the global Smart Cities market to grow at 23 percent CAGR to USD 546 billion by 2027. Abu Dhabi and Dubai rank in the world’s top 50 Smart Cities, thanks to digital transformation of the government, Smart Dubai initiatives, and Expo 2020 Dubai as one of the world’s best connected events.

“The UAE’s ascension in global Smart City rankings is testament to the country’s government-led digital transformation,” said Savitha Bhaskar, COO, Condo Protego. Condo Protego, works closely with public and private sector organizations on their digital transformation to support Smart Cities.

“As the economy and society continue to evolve, GITEX sets the stage for five Smart Cities mega-trends of 2021: AI, cloud, 5G, digital economy, and cybersecurity,” added Savitha Bhaskar. “Knowledgeable and experienced channel partners can help Smart Cities to meet business goals with the right solutions and KPIs.”

Artificial Intelligence and Analytics

AI is being used for facial recognition in airports, predicting utilities spikes, and preventing disease outbreaks. Organizations can use AI with machine learning algorithms and real-time analytics to optimize their insights.

Cloud and Edge Computing

In digital transformation, data storage, data analytics, and hybrid cloud environments can combine to deliver the biggest business benefit. As data storage drops in cost and increases in performance, organizations can adopt affordable, flexible, and scalable high-performance storage infrastructure. Data storage plus virtualization can enable remote and hybrid working and learning.

5G and Future Mobility

Ultra-fast 5G mobile broadband networks are the foundation for the Internet of Things, Internet 4.0, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 5G can enable autonomous vehicles that safely reduce traffic, smart factories, and mega-events.

Cybersecurity and Resilience

While the UAE has rapidly moved towards a smart and connected society, the increased connectivity also comes at a steep price of increasing cyber-threats. Advanced threat intelligence can help secure cloud, endpoints, and networks from cyber-threats: ranging from traditional business email compromise (BEC) attacks and URL threats, to malware and ransomware, all of which can risk business continuity and customer trust.

HyperloopTT and Altran Sign Cooperation Agreement

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) announced today an agreement with world-leading engineering and R&D services provider Altran, part of the Capgemini Group. The agreement includes one hundred Altran engineers to accelerate the development of commercialized passenger hyperloop systems at the HyperloopTT facility in Toulouse, France, the Aerospace Valley of Europe. HyperloopTT’s European R&D Center is the home of the world’s only full-scale hyperloop system, which has been undergoing testing and optimization since 2019.

The agreement advances HyperloopTT’s capabilities in a lean way, negotiated within HyperloopTT’s hybrid collaborative framework. The announcement comes after recent commitments from both the European Union and the United States, emphasizing the development of commercial hyperloop systems as part of a broader post-pandemic economic solution focused on sustainable high-speed transportation and infrastructure.

“We’re seeing more and more major players in technology and transportation embrace hyperloop as the future of sustainable high-speed travel, and we welcome Altran to the HyperloopTT global movement,” said HyperloopTT CEO Andres De Leon. “Our business model has enabled us to add their top-tier engineering expertise in aerospace, aeronautics, and systems engineering.”

“HyperloopTT is leading the way in profitable and sustainable highspeed infrastructure,” said Altran Executive Vice-President William Rozé. “Our work together will make the HyperloopTT European R&D Center at Aerospace Valley, the epicenter for hyperloop engineering worldwide, while building upon the long tradition of transportation innovation and leadership in Toulouse.”

HyperloopTT’s continued European-based development has accelerated the adoption of commercial hyperloop systems across the continent. Since reaching an agreement with the City of Toulouse in 2017, HyperloopTT has led international hyperloop regulation efforts from its full-scale test site. After developing the world's first hyperloop insurance framework with Munich Re, HyperloopTT completed the first set of safety and certification guidelines for hyperloop systems with TÜV SÜD and delivered them to the European Commission. HyperloopTT is committed to demonstrating that hyperloop is a sustainable nearterm infrastructure project that can solve the congestion, sustainability, air quality, infrastructure, and competition concerns that face the European Union.

DWTC Signs Video Collaboration Partnership with Avaya

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) today announced a strategic video collaboration partnership with Avaya, under which DWTC will use the Avaya Spaces workstream collaboration platform to create blended conference experiences at GITEX Technology Week 2020. GITEX is the only major technology event in the world to go live in 2020, with its conference schedule set to gather government experts, tech innovators and game-changing start-ups, hosting over 350 technology experts from 30 countries speaking live on stage.

Visitors will be able to access more than 280 hours of content across industries and sectors including Artificial Intelligence, Smart Cities & 5G, Government, Future Mobility, Fintech, Digital Marketing, Energy, Healthcare and Education. International speakers who are unable to travel into Dubai will dial into conference sessions virtually via Avaya Spaces.

Avaya Spaces is an all-in-one workstream collaboration platform for the digital workplace that changes the way work gets done in nearly 100 countries. It helps businesses, schools, governments and other organisations to bring together distributed groups of people instantly with immersive work spaces where they can message, meet, share content, manage tasks and collaborate in the cloud.

“Dubai World Trade Centre is one of the region’s technology pioneers, and is blazing new trails with its blended approach to conferences and exhibitions. Being at the forefront of the industry requires game-changing solutions that are changing the way work gets done. Avaya Spaces meets that requirement, delivering innovation for workstream collaboration that not only remote-enables teams and workers, but helps them collaborate in ways that were previously unimaginable. With this partnership, we will deliver a conference experience like no other,” said Fadi Hani, Vice President – Middle East, Africa & Turkey, Avaya.

“After a year of missed opportunities, GITEX, in its 40th edition, is finally giving the technology industry a platform to reconnect and do business again through in-person networking and conferences. We are pleased to welcome Avaya to this landmark edition of GITEX and are thankful for their strategic support and commitment to digital transformation in the region,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre.

The year 2020 has been a sort of mix for many. While some strategies worked positively, some refused to take off. For Vertiv, a company that focuses on digital transformation, by providing equipment and services for the datacenter, 2020 has been a fantastic year. Pierre Havenga, the Managing Director for MEA at Vertiv, asserts, “We will have another record year growth is double digits. I am really excited about what we have been able to achieve and I am looking forward to what’s in store for 2021.”

GROWTH IN 2020

The company went public in early 2020 and in October 2020, Vertiv announced that its Board of Directors had declared the company’s first-ever annual cash dividend of $0.01 per share of the company’s Class A common stock. The cash dividend will be payable on December 17, 2020, to shareholders of record of Class A common stock, including holders of record of the company’s units, at the close of business on December 2, 2020. Then in November 2020, the company announced that it had added at least 100 jobs through the coronavirus pandemic because of the soaring demand for datacenter equipment and related services. The company had then announced that the hybrid work environment will be around a little while and hence, the company’s objective to grow faster than the market. Vertiv was also recently ranked as the global leader in the rapidly evolving data center cooling market. In a market research report published by Omdia, titled “Datacenter Thermal Management Report 2020”, it was stated that Vertiv had a 23.5% share of the global data center cooling market – more than 10% higher than its nearest rival. The research report also suggested that the market for datacenter thermal technology was set to increase from $3.3 billion in 2020 to more than $4.3 billion in 2024. Furthermore, the report said that Vertiv also led the global market for perimeter thermal technologies with a 37.5% market share, which is more than 20% higher than the next largest supplier.

THE NEW NORMAL

“If we look at 2020, we look at the opportunities such as people working from home, or even the enterprise sector such as the government or the medical fraternity, we see that all of a sudden people realised they need to put in lots of importance to information, data, and the availability of it,” Havenga explains. “2020 was a good year and we foresee that the trend will continue into the new year with the new way of working.” According to Havenga, the new normal is allowing people more time to work rather than travel, especially in the Middle East and Africa region. “There are challenges as well especially in terms of spending quality face to face time with colleagues and customers. However, though people are getting used to the new way of working, we are hoping to start traveling very soon to meet our customers and partners in the region,” he adds.

AFRICA FOCUS

And the company is doubling down on its commitment to the African market. The company recently announced two major distribution partnerships - one to cover East Africa and the other to cover South Africa. The distribution partnership with the Fajoba Group will meet the growing demand for its popular IT infrastructure support, such as the Vertiv Liebert itON Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). According to the company, this is a cost-effective, single-phase UPS with line-interactive technology that is ideal for protecting desktop computers and standalone IT equipment. The products are already available to Fajoba resellers in Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda. The second partnership was with Cyber Security South Africa (CSSA), which will address the current data center challenges being faced in the country. This will be done by enabling availability through Vertiv’s premium infrastructure technologies and speed of delivery through CSSA’s developed distribution capabilities. The partnership also covers the company’s latest products including the Vertiv Liebert GXT5 UPS and the Vertiv Edge 500 to 3000VA. “The Middle East and Levant region has had major data growth, which means new projects are upcoming, which is exciting for us,” explains Havenga. ”Africa is waking up, we will see lots of fiber coming into Africa over the next couple of months. The two Africa projects amount to about 78,000 km of sea cable that’s going to touch Africa in multiple places, which will help people from transitioning from 2G to 3G in lots of countries in Africa.” According to Havenga, about 45% of mobile subscribers in Africa are still on 2G, and getting all these subscribers onto 3G will create a huge amount of opportunities. “We are thus spending a lot of time and funds to expand our footprint to bring products closer to our customers, speed up the delivery, and I foresee a huge increase in Vertiv’s market penetration in 2021.” Havenga further adds that digitalisaiton will continue to grow and the amount of data will keep on increasing. “Laws relating to how data is handled is also changing due to various data privacy acts. So we will see a lot of cloud service providers will be forced to manage that data traffic within the boundaries of a country and that will create more opportunities.” Apart from datacenter products and solutions, Vertiv also offers lots of products for the telecom sector, small and medium businesses, and so on. The company also offers edge solutions that use modular integration techniques to tailor solutions for your application while offering the benefits of a streamlined process. Vertiv customises products such as SmartMod and SmartMod Infrastructure, which can work through laws and regulations, and interact with the state, local, and federal officials as required. The company’s global solutions can allow companies to implement uniquely customised modular edge data centers of any scale that are built to maximise flexibility, improve scale, and boost efficiency. “While there are opportunities for such solutions, the size of the opportunities differ when we compare the Middle East, Levant, and Africa regions. For the Middle East and the Levant, we see lots of uptake of 1MW to 4MW building blocks, while in Africa, the demand is for building blocks that fall into the 500KW category,” explains Havenga. Havenga says for 2021, he would like to increase his company’s focus in the region. “The Middle East and Africa market consist of more than 60 countries, with 54 of those falling into Africa. We would like to expand our footprint in the region by focusing on efficiency and productivity. The pandemic was an adjustment for everyone. What we have learned from 2020 is that we can do better in 2021,” he concludes.