HP and 3Com Corporation announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which HP will purchase 3Com, at a price of $7.90 per share in cash or an enterprise value of approximately $2.7 billion. The terms of the transaction have been approved by the HP and 3Com boards of directors.

This combination will transform the networking industry and underscore HP’s next-generation data center strategy built on the convergence of servers, storage, networking, management, facilities and services. The resulting business outcome will help customers simplify the network, deploy a unique and innovative edge-to-core network fabric for the enterprise and improve IT service delivery capabilities, all delivered with best-in-class price-performance.

3Com also brings to HP best-of-breed network security capabilities through its TippingPoint portfolio.

ASUS Philippines paraded the new ASUS UnLimited Series of notebooks designed to provide the very best of cutting-edge computing for individuals who accept zero compromise on performance.

Powered by an Intel Core2 Duo SU7300 processor, the UL series features exclusive ASUS Turbo33 Technology, which boosts overall performance by up to 33%, amalgamating both hardware and software solutions to deliver smoother graphics and online streaming. With 4GB DDR2/DDR3 memory on tap, the result is the rapid acceleration of system processes, which translate into a smoother computing experience.

To offer users with unlimited entertainment potential, the UL Series features a high definition LCD display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and graphics powered by a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce G 210M graphics card with 512MB VRAM. It delivers true-to-life graphics for a myriad of entertainment purposes, from videos to movies and games. Two Altec Lansing speakers supported by SRS Premium Sound provide a wider frequency range for pitch perfect sound quality.

With the theme “The New Efficiency”, Microsoft Philippines introduces the newest version of its server operating system, Windows Server 2008 R2; and Exchange Server 2010 – Microsoft’s unified communications technologies.

“Windows Server 2008 R2 is designed to provide better energy efficiency and performance by reducing power consumption and lowering overhead costs. It also helps provide improved branch office capabilities, exciting new remote access experiences, streamlined server management” said Danny Ong, Marketing Director, Microsoft Philippines.

Ong added that Exchange Server 2010, the cornerstone of Microsoft’s unified communications technologies will enable organizations to achieve new levels of reliability and performance by delivering features that simplify administration, help protect communications, and delight internal users by meeting their demands for greater business mobility.

"The New Efficiency" is Microsoft's redefined concept of I.T. for Businesses. The company believes that to drive growth, businesses need to go beyond the traditional meaning of "efficiency" which is cost-cutting. Growth should be driven by productivity and innovation.

SAP Philippines recently announced SAP Business Communications Management (SAP BCM), a software that provides a flexible multi-channel, all-IP business communications software platform with off-the-shelf integration to SAP business applications such as SAP CRM.

With SAP BCM, customers can run an end-to-end contact center solution for inbound, outbound and blending. The key strengths of SAP BCM are the benefits it brings to the customers: 1) increased internal performance, 2) less complexity, 3) reduced risk and 4) lower system TCO.

It also removes system complexity by delivering all contact center services centrally from one platform to all sites and users. In addition, integration complexity is removed with off-the-shelf integration between the contact center communications application (SAP BCM) and business applications (such as SAP CRM).

SAP BCM allows rapid deployment with low costs for installation, integration and maintenance. It also requires only minimal upfront investments in hardware and software. Finally, SAP BCM allows customers to capitalize on existing investments thru the interoperability with legacy telephony infrastructure and phased migration.

SAP Philippines Country Manager Ms. Jennifer Ligones, Mr. Kay Kretschmer, Director Business Development SAP BCM-APJ and Mr. Anthony Robles, Executive Vice President Chinatrust Commercial Bank were at hand to witness the event.

Smart Communications recently acquired Web messenger company Chikka for an undisclosed amount. Dennis B. Mendiola, one of Chikka’s co-founder said in his Twitter post: “Team smart + team chikka = unbeatable. Now we are one. Here’s to a new beginning”.

Reports indicated that the current Chikka team will still be at hand to manage and operate Chikka.com

In its official statement, Smart confirmed the acquisition saying that Smart has entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement to acquire 100% of Chikka Holdings, Limited. The transaction is expected to be closed sometime in late December, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions.

Chikka.com is a leading provider of enhanced mobile messaging services to mobile carriers around the world. Chikka’s mission is to bring together wired and wireless communities, otherwise separated by differences in information and communications platforms and by geographical boundaries, into one Chikka community.

Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.2, the second maintenance update for Snow Leopard, via Software Update and the company’s software downloads page. The update brings several bug fixes, reportedly including one for a serious issue involving Guest accounts that has caused some users to lose all data from their primary user accounts.

The 10.6.2 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes for:

- an issue that might cause your system to logout unexpectedly
- a graphics distortion in Safari Top Sites
- Spotlight search results not showing Exchange contacts
- a problem that prevented authenticating as an administrative user
- issues when using NTFS and WebDAV file servers
- the reliability of menu extras
- an issue with the 4-finger swipe gesture
- an issue that causes Mail to quit unexpectedly when setting up an Exchange server
- Address Book becoming unresponsive when editing
- a problem adding images to contacts in Address Book
- an issue that prevented opening files downloaded from the Internet
- Safari plug-in reliability
- general reliability improvements for iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, MobileMe, and iDisk
- an issue that caused data to be deleted when using a guest account

Microsoft Philippines announced the availability of Windows 7 in the country. Windows 7 delivers on the premise: make it easier for people to do the things they want on a PC.

To celebrate the launch of Windows 7, Microsoft has pooled together a group of successful individuals called the Windows 7 icons.

Microsoft and the Windows 7 icons awarded computers to the following beneficiaries: Caritas Manila, Batino Elementary School, Gifts and Graces, Bureau of Secondary Education, and the House of Refuge Foundation, as well as Bia Montante, a Marikina Science High Student, and Geraldine Colimbo, an accounting student from Negos Occidental.

The suggested retail prices for different versions of Windows 7 are:

Windows 7 Home Basic – PhP 8,000.00
Windows 7 Home Premium – PhP 9,500,00
Windows 7 Professional – PhP 15,500.00
Windows 7 Ultimate – Php 16,500.00

Canon Philippines announced their latest offerings under Canon’s flagship PIXMA brand: three All-In-One (AIO) printers with WIFI, specifically PIXMA MP568, MP648, and MP996, a dedicated photo printer with PIXMA iP4760 and an affordable multi-function printer with fax availability with PIXMA MX328.

Integrating print, copy and scan functionality in a compact and efficient package, the three Wi-Fi-capable PIXMA All-In-One printers give an impressive 9600 x 2400 dots per inch (dpi) print quality and high resolution scan at 2400 x 4800 dpi. Speed is also not an issue, churning out a borderless 4×6” photo in as fast as 20 seconds and monochrome prints in as brisk as 11.9 images per minute (ipm).

Designed to empower every user, the new PIXMA All-In-One Printers can accommodate convenient Wi-Fi connection, optional Bluetooth, infrared, and direct printing from cameras, memory cards, and USB flash storage devices.

From its exterior, PIXMA printers are easy to operate. The Easy Scroll Wheel makes exploring the printer a cinch since controls are intuitively laid out, and the large LCD screens allow for excellent viewing. Advanced Media Handling includes auto duplex printing, two-way paper feeding, and DVD/CD label printing which is available on all the new PIXMA All-In-One models.

Apart from these, new user friendly photo and web printing software are two of the original and thoughtful solutions that Canon has created for every modern user.

Additional New Features/Software

Canon has also introduced additional features that make the most important, common tasks so easy and its advanced technologies so accessible to all users:

Auto Scan Mode spares the user from complicated settings, by automatically detecting the document type of the original and employing the appropriate settings with just one click of the Scan button.

Template Print function makes it very easy to create various templates and personal stationery for a wide range of uses. New and more useful templates have been added, such as Monthly and Weekly schedules, and Handwriting paper.

Easy-WebPrint Ex is the total web printing solution, allowing users to select portions of web pages for printing, or clip information from multiple web pages and assembling them with user comments, optimizing paper use in the process.

Auto Photo Fix II transforms even poorly exposed images to stunning photos via intelligent multi-zone correction, for instance by automatically brightening underexposed areas of an image without washing out the brighter areas.

Red Fox Technologies opened its first ever concept store at the Cyberzone area of SM City North Edsa (Annex). Those present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony include Honorable Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and Commission on Information and Communications Technology Ex-commissioner Connie Perez, as well as guests from the brand’s partners such as Sonny Sy from AMD, Cecilio Tuanquin from Intel, and Telco representatives.

Products on display at the Red Fox concept store include the brand’s netbook, the Wizbook N1020i, the RN740JS and RN740JT—full-scale laptops—and the RN766J, a little something for the gamers out there looking for mobility.

As for the desktops, Red Fox stays true to its roots by offering two gaming rigs, two corporate setups, and two of the brand’s first Intel-based models. A media center was also in place to show how good a Red Fox would look (and feel) right at your home.

The Apple iPhone has its first virus called iKee – a worm that has been infecting jailbroken phones in Australia.

Written by a young Australian, Ashley Towns, the worm changes the wallpaper of the exploited phones to a picture of Rick Astley and then looks to infect other phones.