среда, 29 февраля 2012 г.

Vic: Victorian bushfire toll rises to 65: police


AAP General News (Australia)
02-08-2009
Vic: Victorian bushfire toll rises to 65: police

MELBOURNE, Feb 8 AAP - The death toll from Victoria's bushfires …

GPCP INVESTED CNY 20 MN IN SHANGHAI LEWA


AsiaInfo Services
06-29-2011
GPCP Invested CNY 20 Mn in Shanghai Lewa

SHENZHEN, Jun 29, 2011 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) -- Green Pine Capital Partners Co., Ltd (GPCP) said on June 28 that it had finished its CNY 20 million investment in Shanghai Lewa Technology Co., Ltd.

This is a key step for GPCP to plan its mobile internet industry, particularly localization of Android operating system under CNY 1000.

GPCP said that mobile internet is always one of its key investment fields. Earlier, it invested in BSHARE share tools and A8 mobile phone music, etc. GPCP predicts that competition for Android platform will focus on localization of mobile phone systems, while low and medium-end intelligent mobiles will become the top market in the country. That is why it invested in Lewa.

So far, several domestic teams are fighting for Android OS localization, including MIUI system by Xiaomi Co., Ltd. But they mainly target at medium and high-end mobile phone market.

Shanghai Lewa, a local development team of Android operating system, provides LeWa OS software based on Android 2.3 and provides software solutions for CNY 1000 intelligent mobiles made by domestic manufacturers.

Source: www.sina.com.cn (June 29, 2011)

KEYWORD: SHENZHEN INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Computers & Electronics SUBJECT CODE: Electronics
Electronic Consumer Goods
SinoCast China Business Daily news
Investment
mobile internet
Android OS
mobile phone
localization

Copyright 2011 AsiaInfo Services (via Comtex). All rights reserved

FED:RBA boss thanks his right-hand man


AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2011
FED:RBA boss thanks his right-hand man

CANBERRA, Dec 6 AAP - Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens has offered warm thanks to
Ric Battellino, his right hand man for the past five years.

Mr Battellino will leave the bank in February after 39 years at the central bank, five
as deputy governor.

"Ric has made an outstanding contribution to the work of the bank over his many years
of service," Mr Stevens said in a statement on Tuesday, noting especially his time as
deputy.

"He has given me unfailing personal support, providing valued counsel and perspective
over a period when the bank has seen great change and faced difficult economic and financial
conditions."

Mr Battellino will be replaced by the bank's assistant governor for economics, Philip
Lowe, whom Mr Stevens described as an exceptional economist.

"His considerable skills and knowledge will stand him and the bank in good stead as
it faces the challenges ahead," he said.

Mr Stevens also welcomed new board member Heather Ridout who replaces Graham Kraehe.

The governor said he had known the Australian Industry Group chief for many years and
was confident she would make a strong contribution to the board.

He thanked Mr Kraehe for showing balance and good judgment during his time on the board.

AAP cb/rl/afr

KEYWORD: BATTELLINO

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA:32-y-o P-plater jailed over SA death


AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2011
SA:32-y-o P-plater jailed over SA death

ADELAIDE, April 1 AAP - A 32-year P-plate driver has been jailed for at least two years
for killing his brother-in-law in a road crash, south of Adelaide.

In the South Australian District Court on Friday, Damien Marson was told he would have
to live forever with the knowledge that his actions took the life of his wife's brother
and his friend.

Killed in the crash in June last year was Daniel McKiernan, while Marson's father-in-law
Stephen McKiernan suffered serious injuries, including six fractures to his left leg,
broken ribs and a fractured skull.

Marson had been drinking before getting behind the wheel and couldn't remember how
he lost control of the car, which smashed into some trees.

He later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious harm
by dangerous driving.

Both his wife and her father asked that he not go to jail and Judge Rosemary Davey
said she accepted that he was deeply remorseful.

The judge said a suspended sentence was not possible, considering the seriousness of
the offending and Marson's criminal history.

But she said whatever penalty she imposed, it would not be as hard on Marson as him
living with the reality that he took someone's life.

"I have no doubt that your guilt and shame will be a great punishment for you," she said.

The judge imposed a jail sentence of four years and three months with a non-parole
period of two years.

She also banned Marson from driving for at least 10 years, ordering that he apply to
the court to have his licence returned after that time.

AAP tjd/psm/de

KEYWORD: MARSON

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:CFMEU loses appeal, ABCC vindicated


AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2010
FED:CFMEU loses appeal, ABCC vindicated

CANBERRA, Dec 10 AAP - The High Court's refusal to hear a construction union's appeal
against Federal Court decisions backed the Australian Building and Construction Commission's
position on punishing wrongdoing, the building industry watchdog says.

The longest-running case involving the ABCC, which has been criticised for union bashing
since it was set up by the Howard government, came to an end on Friday.

The CFMEU had sought leave in the High Court to appeal Federal Court decisions centred
on a February 2006 incident in which union official Bob Mates threatened a new contractor
at a Melbourne building site.

Mr Mates said the project would never be resumed unless two former union shop stewards
and a health and safety officer were re-employed.

Later that month a crane crew shut down and left the Heidelberg site at Mr Mates' direction.

It was Mr Mates' intention to coerce the new contractor to hire the three former employees
by shutting down the crane operations, the Federal Court found.

Last year the CFMEU was ordered by the Federal Court to pay penalties of $75,500 and
Mr Mates was ordered to pay $10,000 for contravening the 2005 building and construction
improvement laws.

The CFMEU lost an appeal to the Full Court of the Federal Court in May, and on Friday
its last avenue of appeal was dismissed by the High Court.

ABCC Commissioner Leigh Johns said the case vindicated the commission's approach to
pursuing legal action to ensure misconduct was penalised.

"On three separate occasions, over seven days, Mr Mates acted unlawfully, and it is
appropriate that the penalty determined by the court should reflect that," the commissioner
said.

"To suggest that it was one course of conduct trivialised behaviour that has no place
in today's workplaces.

"Union officials don't get to dictate who gets employed."

The High Court's dismissal of the appeal had given a big tick of approval to how the
ABCC runs its litigation, Mr Johns said.

The Australian Greens have introduced legislation to parliament that would abolish the ABCC.

Labor has said it will replace the ABCC's function as a stand-alone building industry
watchdog with an inspectorate within the Fair Work Ombudsman, but it has yet to do so.

AAP ah/sb/jl

KEYWORD: ABCC

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Leaders movements in first half of campaign


AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2010
FED:Leaders movements in first half of campaign

Snapshot of states where leaders campaigned in the first half of the election campaign:



Prime Minister Julia Gillard

July 17 - In Canberra to call election for August 21.



QUEENSLAND:

July

18 - In Wayne Swan's northern Brisbane seat of LILLEY.

19 - Marginal Townsville-based seat of HERBERT, which Labor hopes to pick up from LNP.

23 - Unveiled climate change policy at the University of Queensland in the Brisbane
seat of RYAN, held by dumped LNP MP Michael Johnson.

24 - In the marginal Labor seat of FORDE in southern Brisbane.

27 - In Brisbane, announcing train line that would run through the marginal seats of
Labor-held PETRIE and the LNP's DICKSON.



NSW

July

20 - In marginal western Sydney seat of MACQUARIE.

21 - In marginal Labor seat of GREENWAY.

August

1 - Announcement in safe beachside Sydney seat of KINGSFORD SMITH.

2 - In western Sydney seats, PARRAMATTA and marginal LINDSAY.

3 - In central NSW seats of ROBERTSON, DOBELL, then later Newcastle, flanked by local
MPs for NEWCASTLE and PATERSON.



VICTORIA:

July

29 - In marginal Labor seat of DEAKIN

(Also made non-campaigning visits to home town for Sharan Burrow's farewell and a Western
Bulldogs game)



SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

July

28 - In marginal Liberal seat of Boothby.



TASMANIA:

July

26 - In key Labor marginals of Bass and Braddon.



WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

July

30 - In marginal Labor held seat of Hasluck.

31 - In the Liberal held but notionally Labor electorate of Swan and then in marginal
Liberal seat of Stirling .





Opposition Leader Tony Abbott

QUEENSLAND:

July

17 - Held first press conference of the election in Brisbane.

21 - In marginal LNP Brisbane seat of BOWMAN.

26 - In marginal Labor-held Brisbane seat of PETRIE.

27 - In Mackay, in the marginal Labor seat of DAWSON.

August

2 - In marginal Labor seat of LEICHHARDT in Cairns, then LNP seat of HERBERT in Townsville.

3 - In seat of BOWMAN again.



NSW:

July

18 - Marginal Labor seat of LINDSAY in western Sydney.

28 - In his own seat of WARRINGAH.

August

1 - In notionally Labor seat of GILMORE, on NSW south coast.



VICTORIA:

July

19 - In marginal Liberal seat of ASTON in outer Melbourne

20 - In marginal Labor seat of DEAKIN in Melbourne.

29 - Safe Labor seat of MARIBYRNONG in Melbourne, for photo op with Essendon Football Club.



South Australia:

July

30 - In opposition frontbencher Christopher Pyne's marginal seat of STURT and Sport
Minister Kate Ellis' seat of ADELAIDE.



Western Australia:

July

23 - In the safe Labor seat of FREMANTLE (for border security announcement); then marginal
Labor seat of HASLUCK.

24 - In Kalgoorlie, in Liberal Wilson Tuckey's safe seat of O'CONNOR.



Northern Territory:

July 31 - In marginal Labor seat of SOLOMON.





+ Both leaders suspended their campaigns on Thursday, July 22, to attend funeral of
fallen digger Private Nathan Bewes, in the northern NSW town of Murwillumbah.

+ Both leaders in Canberra on Sunday, July 25 for leaders debate.



AAP ev/jlw

KEYWORD: POLL10 HALFWAY (FACTBOX) REISSUING

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Off duty cop charged with trying to steal fridge


AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2009
NSW: Off duty cop charged with trying to steal fridge

SYDNEY, Dec 21 AAP - An off-duty police officer has been charged with trying to steal
a fridge from a Sydney garage.

The 30-year-old man was allegedly caught trying to take the fridge from a secure underground
garage at a unit complex in Warburton Street, Gymea, on December 10.

When police tried to speak to the Kirrawee man he allegedly ran from them and resisted arrest.

He was taken to Sutherland Police Station.

Following investigations, on December 19 the officer was issued with a court attendance
notice for break, enter and steal offences and resisting arrest.

He is due to appear at Sutherland Local Court on February 4 next year.

AAP hn/cdh

KEYWORD: FRIDGE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Police make arrest over Pheasants Nest remains=2


AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2009
NSW: Police make arrest over Pheasants Nest remains=2

Police on Tuesday could not say whether all the remains came from the same body, as
forensic testing had to be carried out.

However, speaking before the third discovery, Camden Local Area Commander Superintendent
Ian Foscholo told reporters the first two finds were definitely human.

A team of about 50 police officers, some from the homicide squad and other forensic
specialists, are currently scouring the area.

The search is likely to continue until Wednesday, police have said.

AAP ab/evt/de

KEYWORD: BONES 2 SYDNEY

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Gillard says she won't speculate on further stimulus


AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2009
Fed: Gillard says she won't speculate on further stimulus

Deputy Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD says she won't be drawn in on speculation the federal
government's planning another economic stimulus package.

The Australian reports Treasury could be preparing a massive new round of fiscal stimulus
in next month's federal budget.

Ms GILLARD has told the ABC .. the government is still rolling out its 42 billion dollar
nation building and jobs plan.

She says she won't speculate on the budget .. but adds the government stands ready
to act if further stimulus packages are needed after the roll out is complete.

AAP RTV srj/ka/

KEYWORD: STIMULUS GILLARD (CANBERRA)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: ADF sets up review panel for cadet program


AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2008
Fed: ADF sets up review panel for cadet program

The Australian Defence Force has set up an independent panel to review its cadet program
.. following the death of a teenager last year.

Cadet NATHAN FRANCIS was 13 when he died after suffering an allergic reaction to peanuts
in a ration pack meal.

The Melbourne boy .. from Scotch College .. was taking part in an army cadet unit camp
in the Wombat State Forest in western Victoria.

Defence is seeking public submissions to the review until September 30.

AAP RTV srj/mfh/tm/ibw

KEYWORD: CADET (CANBERRA)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Olympic flame starts relay = 20


AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2008
Fed: Olympic flame starts relay = 20

Final relay runner retired Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, flanked by dozens of police,
took the torch to the finish line in Commonwealth Park and lit the community cauldron,
which quickly went out.

The Chinese torch attendants moved in to relight the cauldron with the Olympic flame.

MORE ag/sb/jlw

KEYWORD: OLY08 FLAME LIT 20 CANBERRA

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Elderly man drowns trying to save relative


AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2007
NSW: Elderly man drowns trying to save relative

SYDNEY, Dec 20 AAP - A 75-year-old man has drowned while going to the aid of a young
family member at a beach on the NSW mid-north coast, emergency services say.

The Ambulance Service of NSW said the man's lifeless body was pulled from the water
at Little Beach at Scotts Head at 9.10am (AEDT) today.

He was pronounced dead at the scene before being taken to Macksville Hospital.

It is understood the man may have had a heart attack in the water as he tried to help
a family member, thought to be a grandchild, who was in trouble.

AAP sk/was/ht/sp

KEYWORD: DROWNED

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Non-Catholic parents losing faith in public schools: oppn


AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2007
NSW: Non-Catholic parents losing faith in public schools: oppn

SYDNEY, Aug 8 AAP - Students of other faiths attend Catholic schools because their
parents have lost confidence in the public education system, the NSW opposition says.

News Ltd reported today the Catholic church is looking at ways of maximising the enrolment
of Catholic students at Catholic schools and increasing the proportion of school staff
who are "practising and knowledgeable Catholics".

NSW opposition education spokesman Andrew Stoner said there were 739,307 full time
students in NSW public schools in 2006, down from 760,078 in 1996.

"This step has been forced upon the Catholic church by the increased demand for non-government
schools," Mr Stoner said in a statement today.

"It is fair enough that Catholic church leaders should encourage Catholic students
into Catholic schools."

Mr Stoner said parents were concerned over inadequate infrastructure and a lack of
maintenance at state schools.

"Parents are voting with their feet and walking away from NSW government schools for
a number of reasons, with questions over values at the top of parents' lists," he said.

"Parents are concerned about bullying and a lack of discipline and believe public schools
are not focusing enough on respect and responsibility."

But a spokesman for Education Minister John Della Bosca said latest figures showed
enrolments in kindergarten and several other years were up for the first time in a decade.

"The opposition takes any opportunity to attack public schools," he said.

Fairfax reported today the church was considering setting up its own preschools as
a way of increasing student numbers in primary and secondary schools and spreading the
Catholic faith.

A report on early childhood education, commissioned by the Catholic Education Office,
recommended a trial of preschools to be run on parish or school land.

AAP kd/wjf/apm/sp

KEYWORD: CATHOLIC OPPOSITION

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Debnam pledges 280 new school counsellors


AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2007
NSW: Debnam pledges 280 new school counsellors

The New South Wales opposition leader has pledged to put hundreds of new counsellors
into government schools if elected .. to help students with problems.

Announcing the policy at Randwick in Sydney's eastern suburbs today .. PETER DEBNAM
said a coalition government will provide 280 additional counsellors in its first term
.. and a total of 700 over 10 years.

Mr DEBNAM says after 12 years of Labor there's only one counsellor to every one thousand
high school students .. and one counsellor to every 15-hundred primary school students.

He says the counsellors will be placed in the schools which most need them .. to help
students experiencing problems.

Opposition education spokesman BRAD HAZZARD says the policy will cost 60 million dollars
over four years.

AAP RTV acb/bd/klw/tm/rt

KEYWORD: POLLNSW EDUCATION (SYDNEY)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

WA: Construction workers jeer and chant in court


AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2006
WA: Construction workers jeer and chant in court

West Australian construction workers facing unprecedented fines for striking .. have
received warnings from a federal court judge after jeering and chanting .. disrupting
proceedings.

The 107 Perth to Mandurah railway project workers are facing fines of up to 28 thousand
dollars each for striking in protest against the sacking of a shop steward.

About 100 workers and their families crammed into the Perth Federal Court after a union
rally through the city streets.

The workers raised union banners and chanted before the proceedings began .. drawing
warnings from court officials.

Proceedings were disrupted when the workers began chanting and hurling abuse at representatives
for the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

The matter has been adjourned until October 18 to give the workers' lawyers enough
time to take instructions from each of them.

AAP RTV ag/lk/es/bart

KEYWORD: RAILWAY COURT (PERTH)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Highlights of Seven News 1800


AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2006
Highlights of Seven News 1800

SYDNEY, April 22 AAP - Highlights of tonight's Seven News at 1800:

- An Australian soldier from Sydney has been killed in what the army calls "a tragic accident".

- The Foreign Minister has arrived in the Solomon Islands to visit the riot-torn country.

- The NSW Premier says he is not lying about the $1b price tag to fit air filtration
in Sydney's traffic tunnels.

- A man's been stabbed in front of his family in Sydney's southwest.

- A young man has been left for dead in a hit-run accident at Castle Hill.

- A study says overeating, not lack of exercise, is responsible for childhood obesity.

- Fireworks and a 21-gun salute has ushered in the Queen's 80th birthday.

AAP /

KEYWORD: MONITOR SEVEN 1800 SYDNEY

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

понедельник, 27 февраля 2012 г.

title deeds

title deeds Documents that prove a person's ownership of land and the terms on which he owns it. In the case of unregistered land they consist of all conveyances, mortgages, and other documents tracing ownership of the land back to a good root of title at least 15 years old. Title deeds to registered land are the land certificate or charge certificate (see land registration).

BURNSIDE HOMES | ONLY 11 HOMESITES REMAIN AT THE PRESERVES OF WATERFALL GLEN

The Preserves of Waterfall Glen in Darien, a Burnside Homes community of 115 townhomes, is nearly sold out with only 11 townhomes remaining for sale.Several of the townhomes feature premium locations that back up to the on-site pond or adjacent Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve with its nine-mile limestone hiking and biking trail.

"These sites offer buyers a distinctively lovely view and an extra sense of privacy and space," said Kelly Smith, director of marketing for Burnside Homes.

All of the 11 remaining models at The Preserves of Waterfall Glen will be move-in ready in 35 to 40 days and feature two bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, fireplace, air conditioning, full basement and two-car garage.

Kitchens are equipped with name-brand appliances and some have upgraded 42-inch maple cabinetry.

A limited number of the townhomes have upgraded cabinetry, marble countertops and sit-down showers.

The three remaining Ashbrook models feature 1,625 square feet of living space and depending on model selected range in price from $217,878 and $224,169. The master bedrooms in the Ashbrooks feature dramatic vaulted ceilings.

In addition, two of the Ashbrooks are ground-level units with concrete patios.

The seven remaining Brighton models offer 1,844 square feet of living space and a variety of upgraded features.

Depending on the model selected, prices range from $206,618 to $227,976. Six of the Brighton models include loft areas and four have patios.

The largest remaining townhome for sale is the 1915-square-foot, amenity-filled Cascade model priced at $295,000. This townhome features a master bedroom with sitting room, plus a study/den and intercom system.

The eat-in kitchen has patio doors leading out to a patio.

The Cascade also features vaulted ceilings in the living room and master bedroom, gas fireplace, skylights and upgraded ceramic flooring, carpeting and cabinetry.

"Buyers of these last remaining townhomes at The Preserves of Waterfall Glen will not only enjoy the many upgrades featured in these models, but will also find the special final close-out incentives attractive," said Smith.

The Preserves of Waterfall Glen is in Lemont Elementary School District 113/Lemont High School District 210, and is near Interstates 55 and 355. The townhome development is also near Carriage Greens Country Club, Old Sawmill Creek and commuter train service from Lemont to Chicago's Union Station.

Call (630) 910-7533 or visit the on-site sales center and furnished models. To reach The Preserves of Waterfall Glen, take I-55 to Lemont Road. Turn south to the first stoplight and then left on 97th Street.

Take an immediate left again on Frontage Rd. and drive one mile to the community. Additional information is also available on the Internet at www.BurnsideHomes.com.

The sales center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

FYI; How to tell if you're ancient.(VARIETY)

How to tell if you're ancient ... or maybe just terminally middle-aged. If you recognize even one of the following items you are about as old as the pyramids. We found these on a list floating around on the Internet and added a few - not that we remember them ourselves.

- Candy cigarettes. (Made you look cool.)

- Phone numbers with a word prefix. (You never forgot CApitol 9-9126).

- Coke machines that dispensed bottles. (Bottles were chipped, heavy and kept the soda cold.)

- Table-side jukeboxes. (The tunes hadn't been changed in decades.)

- Flash bulbs. (You ejected them after use. They landed on the carpet and you burned your fingers picking them up.)

- Full-sized spare tires. (Bald, yes, but full-sized.)

- Roller skates that clamped to your shoes. (Never worked. What were they thinking?)

- Three TV stations, no more. (Plus the local public-TV outlet and the low-wattage station with the midday movies.)

- Cars with analog clocks. (They quit working by the time the car was a year old.)

- Dave Matheny

Pointers for parents

Making Halloween cards with children is fun for them, and the cards are special for recipients. Use orange or black paper. For the cover, make a ghost by tracing your child's hand: The fingers are the hem of the ghost's costume. At the wrist position, make a circle for the ghost's head. The message inside is "boo." Have your child make three circles. Go back to the first circle and add a straight line. Even a baby can make this card with help from mom or dad.

- Christine Maestri is a Twin Cities-area teacher and parent. Her parenting tips appear here every Sunday.

Heads up

Good grief

A workshop Thursday will focus on matters of loss and grief that parents of disabled children may face, and will offer help in working through stages of grief. "Good Grief: Why Do I Feel So Sad? Angry? Scared?" is offered by Arc Hennepin County, formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens. The organization will hold five other workshops in November that address the needs of people with mental retardation and their families.

- When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

- Where: St. David's Child Development and Family Services, 3395 Plymouth Rd., Minnetonka.

- Admission: Free.

- Call: 952-920-0855.

- Peg Meier

Coming up in Variety

Thursday

We compare Target, Wal-Mart and Kmart. Which has the the cheapest prices, and by how much?

Comments

If you have comments about this section, call Assistant Managing Editor/Features Susie Eaton Hopper at 612-673-4530, or e-mail variety@gw.startribune.com. For inquiries or complaints, call the Star Tribune's reader representative at 612-673-4450 or e-mail readerrep@gw.startribune.com.

воскресенье, 26 февраля 2012 г.

Google gets a break in the clouds.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

Google and software provider Salesforce.com have formed an expanded alliance to deliver online programs competing with packaged software at the heart of Microsoft's global empire. Google 'Apps' including email, calendar, and document writing will be included in software services offered by Salesforce, which essentially serves as a for-hire technology department businesses use via the internet.

"Salesforce.com and Google have changed the game again," said Yankee Group analyst Sheryl Kingstone. "This is revolutionising the way people work."

Salesforce is a leader in 'software as a service' (SaaS), which is referred to as 'cloud computing' because programs are hosted online instead of installed and maintained on users' machines.

Google vice president Dave Girouard said the alliance is unquestionably a shot across the bow of US software giant Microsoft, which has built its fortune selling packaged software such as Office and Outlook. "We don't wake up in the morning at Google and say: 'How are we going to get Microsoft?', but they are going to feel an impact," Girouard said. "We expect this to be part of a new era of computing. Eventually, the whole market is going to move into the cloud."

Salesforce will offer Google Apps free and market a premium service in which it provides technical support for ten dollars monthly per employee using the applications. "Google and Salesforce.com have always had similar models and philosophies about delivering innovations made possible by the internet," said Google chief executive Eric Schmidt.

"Together, we are making more applications and services available online so customers can focus on building their core business rather than the applications that support it." The Google-Salesforce alliance is a boon to both companies, according to Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle. Salesforce gets a tie-up with an internet powerhouse and Google gains credibility in the business software sector, according to Enderle. Software and computing platforms as services will underpin the next generation of the internet, Schmidt said at a San Francisco press conference.

"Last year the debate was 'if', now the debate is 'when'," Schmidt said of a shift to software in the cloud. "This is a 20, 30, 40-year vision." The alliance is proof that Google is concentrating on expanding its domain past online search and advertising while rival Microsoft focuses on an unwanted bid to take over internet search veteran Yahoo.

Microsoft is pressuring Yahoo to accept a $44.6 billion cash and stock offer or face a hostile takeover effort. "This is why Google likes the Microsoft-Yahoo wrestling match, because it can move forward while its rivals are occupied," Enderle said. Google and Salesforce made their first SaaS alliance last year, triggering speculation that the internet search king might buy the fast-growing firm founded by former Oracle executive Marc Benioff in 1999.

The expanded alliance allows third-party developers to customise the applications and creates the world's largest cloud computing platform for building and running applications, according to both firms.

[c] 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company