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Friday, May 18, 2012

Cisco and AMIDEAST Launch Cisco Entrepreneur Institute Training Center in Morocco

AMIDEAST Joins Forces With Cisco to Deliver New Business Training and Technology Tools for Businesses Throughout North Africa and the Middle East

SKHIRAT, MOROCCO--(Marketwire - May 11, 2012) - Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) has announced the opening of a Cisco® Entrepreneur Institute Training Center in Morocco in conjunction with the America-Mideast Education and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST). The Entrepreneur Institute will provide business acceleration skills through the use of technology.

AMIDEAST, a private, nonprofit organization that strengthens mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the people of the Middle East and North Africa, will offer in-person as well as distance learning sessions, to help entrepreneurs from throughout the region improve their skills and enhance business development opportunities. It will also provide a forum for owners of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to collaborate and share business expertise.

Small and medium businesses represent a significant portion of the North African and Middle Eastern economy, and therefore supporting their development and driving their performance can ultimately help to accelerate economic growth and raise living standards. The Cisco Entrepreneur Institute courses are designed to accelerate business through the effective use of technology and to encourage innovative solutions and the sharing of best practices, which can thereby enable growth and job creation.

Highlights / Key Facts:

·Under the agreement with the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute, AMIDEAST now has established Cisco Entrepreneur Institute Training Centers at their country offices in Morocco, as well as in Lebanon, Oman, Tunisia, and West Bank/Gaza.

·Young entrepreneurs will be recruited to participate in the Institute's core courses namely, "Starting a Business," "Growing a Business," and "iExec Enterprise Essentials," as well as several self-paced courses including "The Entrepreneurial Mindset" and "Web 2.0." "Starting a Business" and "iExec Enterprise Essentials" are available in both French and English.

·The Cisco Entrepreneur Institute offers four core courses, targeting micro-businesses to enterprise-level businesses. Its mission is to accelerate business through the effective use of technology solutions, increase employment opportunities, and help develop and sustain economic growth throughout the world.

·It fosters innovation, growth, and prosperity and helps transform the economies and social landscape globally by demonstrating the value of technology in business and by providing a resource center offering business advice and mentoring, Internet business solutions, and a technology-enabled human network.

·Cisco Entrepreneur Institutes support businesses worldwide by working with local government and business organizations to foster the creation and success of small- and medium-sized businesses. They provide practical business insights, tools, and technologies that lay the foundation for success. The result-oriented approach creates long-term economic and social prosperity for businesses, communities, and nations. At the same time, Cisco Entrepreneur Institutes help extend Cisco's business and social impact around the globe.

·Cisco Entrepreneur Institutes are already established in Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia, UAE, & West Bank/Gaza. In the Middle East North Africa Levant (MENAL) region, there are Institutes in seven countries with fifteen Cisco Entrepreneur Institutes in total. Established in 2007, the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute has a presence in 35 countries, with 152 Institutes, and more than 17,000 entrepreneurs trained.

Executive Quotes:

Joseph Phillips, country manager, AMIDEAST, Morocco
"AMIDEAST is pleased to be continuing its partnership with Cisco in support of expanding employability in the Middle East and North Africa. The Cisco Entrepreneur Institute fits closely with AMIDEAST's commitment to providing training and educational opportunities for young men and women seeking to gain skills and knowledge that will enable them to be successful in the global marketplace and reach higher personal goals. We look forward to making these resources available to support individual and institutional advancement and the development of new ideas in the public and private arena."

Hassan Bahej, general manager, Cisco Morocco
"Cisco has used technology throughout its 25-year history to become one of the world's leading companies. Its growing network of training centers and local institutes have been developed as a way to share its knowledge with business people and entrepreneurs. With the launch of our Entrepreneur Institute in Morocco, Cisco is fulfilling its goal of collaborating with community organizations and local government offices in North Africa to create a community of support that will facilitate business success in the region."

Additional Resources:

·Learn about the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute at: http://www.ciscoinstitute.net/

Links / URLs:

·Middle East News:
http://newsroom.cisco.com/ME

·The Network in Africa: http://newsroom.cisco.com/africa

About AMIDEAST:
AMIDEAST is a private, nonprofit organization that strengthens mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa. Every year, AMIDEAST provides English language and professional skills training, educational advising, and testing services to hundreds of thousands of students and professionals in the Middle East and North Africa; supports numerous institutional development projects in the region; and administers educational exchange programs. Founded in 1951, AMIDEAST is headquartered in Washington, DC, with a network of field offices in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen. For more details please visit: www.amideast.org

About Cisco:
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

RSS Feed for Cisco: http://newsroom.cisco.com/rss-feeds

Press Contact
Rose Bambi
Cisco
+44 7770 751107
rbambi@cisco.com

Analyst Contact:
Sharon Robinson
Cisco
+27 (0)21 4134577
sharobin@cisco.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Matt Hardwick
Cisco
+44 20 8824 1970
mahardwi@cisco.com

Nilesat Chooses Cisco Media, Satellite, and Broadcast Solution

Cisco Builds on Experience in Video and IP Protocol to Deliver High-Quality Video for Nilesat, the Leading Satellite Operator in Middle East & North Africa Region

CAIRO, EGYPT--(Marketwire - May 11, 2012) - At Cairo ICT 2012, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) and Nilesat, the leading satellite operator in the MENA region, announced that Nilesat has successfully installed Cisco® Digital Media solutions for its contribution network.

Cisco's end-to-end Media, Satellite, and Broadcast Video Solution provides all the important features Nilesat will need in the digital headend, including acquisition, video encoders and transcoders, video processors, encryption and management. Using the Cisco Lifecycle Services approach, Cisco and its partners developed a broad portfolio of services that addressed all aspects of planning, deploying, operating, and optimizing Nilesat's video network. The Cisco ROSA® Video Service Manager system will also provide a complete solution for end-to-end management. It will monitor, manage, and control equipment and services throughout the Nilesat network.

Currently the new digital contribution system between the Nilesat headend and the Egyptian Radio & Television Union (ERTU) site carries 32 government TV channels and hosts 40 radio stations to be broadcast over Nilesat's Satellites, Cisco video solutions at Nilesat headend (Nilesat DVB Center) is also processing more than 150 TV and radio channels.

Highlights / Key Facts:

·Cisco's Nilesat installation is built around three of its latest encoding solutions :
i. Cisco D9036 Modular Encoding Platform which provides multi-resolution, multi-format encoding for all applications requiring high levels of video quality.
ii. Cisco DCM Series D9900 Digital Content Manager MPEG Processors, the next generation of intelligent headend processing equipment combines compactness and flexibility and leads to a cost-effective solution.
iii. The Cisco ASR 1002 Router which comes in a two-rack unit (RU) form factor and is an ideal solution for a large branch office, for WAN aggregation, or as a managed high-speed customer premises equipment (CPE) device to support enhanced features such as security, deep packet inspection, and firewall.

·As the number of advanced applications continues to expand in the Nilesat network, managing and monitoring the network and its performance increases in importance. The Cisco ROSA Video Service Manager system will reduce complexity, increase uptime and also help to decrease operating expenses.

·Media production, contribution and distribution solutions are also integral to the Cisco Media, Satellite, and Broadcast Solution. They provide the foundation for an end-to-end digital workflow that dynamically moves media through each stage in the media delivery process.

·With Cisco media production solutions Nilesat will not only be able to easily extend content to any business unit, partner, or customer device, anywhere in the world, but it will also be able to reduce costs by consolidating and virtualizing media applications and infrastructures. The delivery of new content will also be accelerated.

·Cisco media production solutions will also enable Nilesat to adopt the concept of the medianet: an intelligent network of networks that is optimized end-to-end for dynamic media experiences. This will help to deliver a single, scalable IP architecture that extends from the point of content ingest through every aspect of editing and production, across video contribution and distribution networks, all the way to the customer screen. A medianet will transform the customer experience by delivering more content, mobility, personalization, and control.

·Cisco media contribution solutions can provide editing and modifying content for regions and sponsors, add special graphic treatments and transport content, error-free, to dispersed facilities. In a sporting event, for example, video feeds may originate from a stadium and be edited and enhanced at an onsite editing facility. They are then transported to a national or global broadcast center for distribution.

·Cisco's media distribution solutions will allow Nilesat to serve hundreds of operator headends and affiliate locations thereby meeting requirements for diverse video formats, quality levels, and compression standards. Also, with media distribution solutions Nilesat can deliver finished content and advertising to consumers in new ways.

Executive Quotes:
Mr. Salah Hamza, chief technology officer and acting chairman, Nilesat
"Nilesat chose Cisco's Media, Satellite, and Broadcast Video Solution because satellite communications in Egypt are evolving rapidly and we know how important it is to invest in the latest state-of-the-art solutions to enable us to take our customer offering to the next level. The Cisco solution will enable us to do this cost-effectively whilst also delivering the highest possible quality service."

Olaf Krahmer, president and general manager, Cisco, Egypt
"Based on Nilesat's business need Cisco introduced a platform that completely moved away from the traditional next-generation direct-to-home platforms and as a result we were able to successfully deploy a smart solution offering high performance and system availability whilst reducing the capital and operational expenditure for Nilesat overall. Following this successful deployment, Cisco is now working very closely with Nilesat to introduce other new technologies that will help enhance their customer offering in the Middle East region and even further."

Links / URLs:

·Nilesat web-site: www.nilesat.com.eg

·The Network in Africa: http://newsroom.cisco.com/africa

About Nilesat:
The Egyptian Satellite Company, Nilesat, is a joint-stock company operating under the Free Zone Law in 6th of October City, and the name of a series of Egyptian communications satellites. It was established in 1996 to operate Egyptian satellites, associated ground control stations and up-linking facilities. It has launched 2 satellites to the 7° West orbital neighborhood (Nilesat 101 and Nilesat 102), and launched its second generation satellite, NILESAT 201 in August 2010. In December 2010, Nilesat broadcasts over 600 TV channels, and over 100 digital radio channels uplinked either from Cairo, Dubai, Amman, Doha, Riyadh and Beirut and covering North Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf Region. Nearly 76% of the TV channels are free to air, the remaining channels are encrypted. Nilesat viewership in the MENA region has shown steady growth, from 11 million households in 2003 to more than 40 million households in 2009. Nilesat is enjoying the highest viewership in the MENA region according to the most recent surveys in 2010, about 95% of the house hold in the MENA region. For more details visit: http://nilesat.com.eg

RSS Feed for Cisco: http://newsroom.cisco.com/rss-feeds

Contact Information:

Press Contact
Rose Bambi
Cisco
+44 7770 751107
rbambi@cisco.com

Analyst Contact
Sharon Robinson
Cisco
+27 21 413 4577
sharobin@cisco.com

Investor Relations Contact
Matt Hardwick
Cisco
+44 20 8824 1970
mahardwi@cisco.com

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Johnstech and Spirox Announce Distribution Partnership

Two Test Industry Leaders Join Together to Provide Integrated High Performance Test Interface Solutions for Taiwan and China Customers

MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwire - May 1, 2012) - Johnstech International, the market leader in the manufacturing of high performance Test Contactors (Test sockets), and Spirox Corporation (TSE: 3055), a recognized leader in distribution and integrated solutions for high tech industries throughout Asia, today announced a new partnership agreement that extends distribution coverage in the territories of Taiwan and China.

Spirox will be responsible for expanding the sales, marketing and technical support for the full line of Johnstech products in the territories of Taiwan and China.

"We are excited to expand our portfolio of product offerings with a leading technology company like Johnstech," noted David Huang, President and CEO of Spirox Corporation. "We are confident that the partnership will enable the right combination of products, technology and local services to deliver compelling solutions to our customers in the region."

"Spirox has a strong, established presence with local fabless, testing and assembly companies in Taiwan and China. The strength of Spirox overall market presence and knowledge coupled with Johnstech's leading edge portfolio of testing sockets creates a winning combination for our customers. We are excited to work with Spirox to help expand our overall coverage and support to our customers throughout Taiwan and China," noted Bill Thomas, Vice President of Global Sales at Johnstech.

About Johnstech
Johnstech International Corporation is the leading manufacturer of Test Contactors solutions and services for the global semiconductor industry including RF/Microwave and Precision Analog applications. The company's patented technologies were first introduced to the market in 1992. Johnstech helps characterization and test floor engineers reduce risk, shorten development and test time and improve first pass yields.

Johnstech also provides test floor, electrical modeling, thermal modeling and load board optimization services. Johnstech is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota with worldwide sales and support offices in California, Japan, Singapore and the Philippines. For more information, visit http://www.johnstech.com.

About Spirox
Spirox is a leader in providing advanced solutions from IC design and fabrication through assembly and test for the semiconductor and TFT-LCD high-tech industries. The company offers total turn-key processes by integrating professional distribution and value-added solutions with Spirox manufactured products and services.

The Spirox Corporation was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Taiwan. The company also has operations in the USA, China, Singapore and Hong Kong with advanced technical centers in Hsinchu, Taiwan and Shanghai, PRC. For more information, visit the Spirox Web site: http://www.spirox.com.tw.

Contact Information

Contact:
Marybeth Reed
MarComm Manager
Johnstech International
1210 New Brighton Blvd.
Minneapolis, MN 55413
+1 612-378-2020
mbreed@johnstech.com

Dave W. Staats
Vice President, Business Development
Spirox Corporation USA
135 Commercial Street
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
+1 408-739-3334
dstaats@spirox.onmicrosoft.com

Mobile Software Company DSI Moves Corporate Headquarters to Kansas City, Missouri

New Downtown Location to Support Company's Growth and Vision of Becoming an Industry Standard in Enterprise Mobility

KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwire - May 1, 2012) - Data Systems International, Inc. (DSI), a global provider of mobile software, has relocated its corporate headquarters to 1201 Walnut Street in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

The move comes as a result of DSI's continued expansion and the company's need to be headquartered in a setting that matches the innovative nature of its industry.

"Our vision is to be a standard in enterprise mobility, and to accomplish that in this dynamic industry, we must continuously be looking forward to new opportunities," said Matt McGraw, President & CEO of DSI. "So we needed a location that not only accommodates our growth, but more importantly, one that better supports our corporate objectives."

McGraw expects the vibrancy of downtown Kansas City, rated among the top 10 in the U.S. by Forbes Magazine, will help DSI attract the technology talent that is in high demand. Recruiting the correct personnel is critical to the organization's quest to become a standard in enterprise mobility.

"We know our headquarters reflects the culture of this company," McGraw said. "So we want our employees, customers and partners to realize that our efforts to innovate and offer industry-leading mobility solutions extend to the very place where we conduct business. We're honored to call downtown Kansas City our new home."

About DSI
Founded in 1979, Data Systems International, Inc. (DSI) is a leading provider of Enterprise Mobility Solutions® that are helping companies worldwide increase productivity and profitability.

DSI's solutions, which include a mobile application development platform, pre-built applications, mobile data collection solutions and enterprise labeling software, enable enterprise-wide mobility -- regardless of data source, device type, operating system or network connectivity.

Based in Kansas City, Missouri, DSI serves clients globally through its offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, India, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia; through its network of business partners around the world; and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Unibar Inc. For more information, please visit www.DSIonline.com

For more information, contact:
Mark Kelly
Data Systems International®
Vice President, Marketing
816-416-5280
Mark.Kelly@DSIonline.com