Cisco Launches Networking Showcase on Wheels to Link Communities in Asia

Cisco launched the Cisco Express Network on Wheels (NoW), a mobile showcase of Cisco’s Internet Protocol (IP) networking technologies. Packed into the specially retrofitted 40-foot container are products, solutions and services from Cisco and its partners including regional sponsors CNA, EMC, Emerson Process Management, Linksys, Panduit and SingTel and country sponsors 3D Networks, Avodaq, Common Town, Comstor, Datacraft, NCS, NEC, NexLabs, Qala and SCS.

Starting from Singapore, the Cisco Express will travel to 30 cities in Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan. The Cisco Express-NoW is designed to extend Cisco’s reach to organisations in vertical industries such as healthcare, public sector, manufacturing, tourism, retail and construction; small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs); resellers; schools; and even consumers.

Adobe enters ‘web office’ market with Buzzword acquisition

Adobe Systems Incorporated announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Virtual Ubiquity and its ground-breaking online word processor, Buzzword. The acquisition furthers Adobe’s commitment to foster a vibrant ecosystem for rich Internet application (RIA) development that delivers breakthrough experiences built on Adobe AIR.

Separately, Adobe added a new file sharing service to its current online document services. Codenamed “Share,” the beta service will make it easier than ever for people to share, publish and organize documents online.

Buzzword, an elegant online word processor, enables individuals to work together to create high quality, page perfect documents. Because it was built with Adobe Flex™ software and runs in the Adobe Flash™ Player, Buzzword enables greater document quality, outstanding typography, page layout controls, and robust support for integrated graphics, regardless of the browser or device.

Microsoft Office heads to the Web

Microsoft has announced it is working on a Web-based extension to its Office software suite.  Microsoft Office Live Workspace gives users the ability to share, collaborate, and comment on various Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and other files online.

Each user will receive a unique “workspace”, where documents can be uploaded and accessed by other users. Each workspace can hold up to 250 MB of documents, for free.

The service is compatible with Office 2003 and Office 2007. Additionally, the current service called “Office Live”, a set of Web tools for online business management, will be renamed “Office Live Small Business”

Skype CEO Niklas Zennstrom Steps Down

eBay Inc. announced that Niklas Zennstrom has stepped down as CEO of Skype. Zennstrom, who co-founded Skype in 2003, will become non-executive chairman of the Skype Board of Directors. Michael van Swaaij, eBay’s Chief Strategy Officer, will become acting CEO until a permanent successor is found. Russell Reynolds Associates is conducting the search for Zennstrom’s replacement.

Henry Gomez, Skype’s President, who remained a Senior Vice President at eBay during his two-year tenure at Skype, will return to eBay as Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs, reporting to President and CEO Meg Whitman.

Sony to Begin Selling OLED TVs

Sony will launch “XEL-1″, the world’s first organic light emitting diode (OLED) TV, on December 1, 2007, adding a new category to its TV business. Sony’s TV lineup is centered on its “BRAVIA” LCD TVs, and the addition of OLED TVs will provide customers with unparalleled thinness combined with superb image quality. Going forward, Sony will progressively develop its OLED TV business, positioning it alongside “BRAVIA” with the aim of expanding its overall TV business.

OLED is a light-emitting display technology based on electroluminescent organic materials, with a structure that enables unprecedented levels of thinness and lightweight design to be achieved. OLED also delivers advanced levels of contrast and brightness, wide color reproduction range and rapid response time to realize stunning picture quality. Furthermore, with its limited environmental impact, OLED has attracted widespread attention as a highly-anticipated next-generation display device technology.