“While certain factors, both economic and political, clearly influence short-term performance I am fundamentally confident of the success chances of our Healthcare business in the long run.” Mr. Rusckowski commented. “Our world is facing some inescapable challenges in the medium-to-long term. We have come a long way already in building up the Healthcare portfolio needed to face those challenges. This, coupled with our leading business positions and our differentiating approach in general, positions us well for the future, despite the short-term headwind we face today.”

During today’s meeting, several Healthcare executives will discuss the fundamental drivers and positioning of their respective businesses. For instance, the chief executive of Home Healthcare Solutions will discuss how ever-more pressing challenges like overburdened healthcare systems and ageing populations will lead to out-of-hospital medical treatment and patient monitoring becoming an increasingly important element in the Healthcare mix. He will elaborate on how Philips is excellently positioned to benefit from this trend, while providing sensible solutions to some of the key healthcare challenges of our time.

Other executives will cover a range of relevant topics, including progress made in building out the business in key emerging economies such as China, India and Latin America by making strategic acquisitions, expanding service businesses and extending the product offering. There will also be a session dedicated to Philips’ holistic care-cycle approach to Healthcare and how it gives the business a strong competitive edge. Steve Rusckowski will also discuss how, despite some short-term negative trends, the fundamentals of the business remain strong.

During the day, analysts will also be given more insight into Philips Healthcare’s efforts to tackle the short-term impact of the current economic slowdown through a strong focus on cost and cash management and ensuring that maximum value is captured from recent acquisitions. Philips will also provide an update on restructuring and cost reduction measures for Healthcare, which are now expected to result in total savings of EUR 150 million for 2009.

See also:

• New Intel Software Connects Health Networks, Enabling Key Data Sharing in Clinical Settings (0)

Lau was accused of asking an executive at the food supplier to pay him illegal kickbacks equal to some 10 percent of the sales amount of corn provided to McDonald’s outlets in Hong Kong, officials said.
Between 2005 and 2007, he accepted some 2.5 million Hong Kong dollars ($320,000) from the supplier, deposited to his and his wife’s bank accounts.
McDonald’s said Lau has been fired.
«McDonald’s does not tolerate criminal wrongdoing, or breaches of its code of conduct for employees,» the company said in a statement.
Lau joined the fast food giant in Los Angeles in 1983, according to an earlier press release on the company’s Web site.

He was the managing director of McDonald’s in the Philippines for three years before taking up the top post in Hong Kong in May 2004. Lau also spent 10 years expanding McDonald’s business in mainland China.
McDonald’s, headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, operates more than 200 restaurants and employs more than 10,000 people in Hong Kong, according to its Web site.

Lau, who faces fines and jail time when he’s sentenced next month, was convicted of two conspiracy charges. He was acquitted of a bribery offense.

Yitzchak Gat, CEO of Elisra said: “The Elisra system was selected after a long, in-depth evaluation process.” He added: “The selection of Elisra’s solution is another testament to the company’s technological leadership in the field, and we hope that the current award will be followed by additional contracts in the future.”

As a result of the acquisition, Centennial’s 1.1 million wireless subscribers — many of them in rural areas — will have access to the wireless network with the best global coverage and to the nation’s premier lineup of innovative wireless devices, including iPhone 3G, an AT&T exclusive. Centennial’s customers who choose select smartphones — such as the BlackBerry® BoldTM, another AT&T exclusive — and AT&T LaptopConnect cards will also enjoy free access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network.

“Mobility is a vital investment area for AT&T and our company’s biggest growth driver,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “This transaction enhances network coverage for our consumer and business customers and is expected to create long-term value for AT&T’s stockholders.”

“This acquisition offers important benefits for wireless customers of both AT&T and Centennial,” de la Vega said. “Our existing customers will enjoy a better on-network calling experience in the current Centennial roaming areas. And Centennial customers will have access to a mobile-to-mobile network of nearly 75 million subscribers, AT&T’s national and international roaming capabilities, our terrific device offerings and our great portfolio of applications and services.”

The Centennial acquisition demonstrates AT&T’s commitment to continuously enhance network quality and coverage for its wireless customers. The addition of Centennial’s high-quality 850 MHz spectrum will improve service quality for AT&T customers in parts of Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas.

Centennial also provides switched voice and high-capacity data and Internet Protocol solutions for business customers in Puerto Rico. The transaction gives AT&T a network presence in Puerto Rico and will allow the company to better serve its multinational business customers with a presence in this U.S. territory.

“Centennial has a 20-year history of doing what is best for our customers, and this transaction is a natural next step for us,“ said Michael J. Small, CEO of Centennial. “As a result of this merger, our wireless customers will enjoy greatly expanded network coverage and access to AT&T’s wide range of innovative products and services. Our business customers will benefit from AT&T’s expertise in delivering networking services and solutions to businesses of all sizes.

“I thank our associates for their dedication and hard work in always rising to the challenges of our rapidly changing industry, and I take pride that our company will become part of a world-class organization like AT&T.“

Under terms of the agreement, Centennial stockholders will receive $8.50 per share for a total equity price of $944 million. Including net debt, the total enterprise value is approximately $2.8 billion. AT&T expects the proposed transaction to deliver significant value to its stockholders. The acquisition offers opportunities for synergies in areas including corporate overhead, advertising, customer care and network operations. In the first year after the transaction closes, AT&T expects minimal dilution to EPS and cash flow, driven by upfront integration costs.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval, the approval of Centennial’s stockholders and other customary closing conditions. Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, Centennial’s largest stockholder, has agreed to vote in support of this transaction. AT&T is working to obtain approvals by the end of the second quarter of 2009.

Centennial’s 1.1 million wireless customers are in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as in Kalamazoo, Cass City, Newaygo, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Jackson, Roscommon, Allegan, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon and Saginaw-Bay City, Mich.; Miami, Kosciusko, Huntington, Kokomo, Muncie, Anderson and Lafayette, Ind.; Lima and Findlay-Tiffin and Williams County, Ohio; Lafayette, Alexandria, Iberville, Bastrop and Lake Charles and Caldwell, West Feliciana, Beauregard and DeSoto parishes, La.; Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas; and Claiborne and Copiah counties, Miss.

Dailymotion has created a specific group for program-suitable educational content, which can be accessed by children using the XO laptop at http://olpc.dailymotion.com as well as by users of any PC at http://www.dailymotion.com/group/olpc. Videos from OLPC will be also programmed into applicable Dailymotion channels such as Animals, Music, Sciences, Sports and Latino.

The partnership will enable OLPC to benefit from Dailymotion’s infrastructure, content management systems and user account systems to let children create and distribute videos using the video camera in the XO laptop. Dailymotion’s active role in the program may include assisting in developing additional programs for use on the XO, helping to improve and debug video applications for the laptop and creating activities that will be accessible to children who receive the machine. The Dailymotion platform is also positioned to become a communication distribution system that can be used by organizations around the world to reach remote populations.

“We at Dailymotion truly believe in OLPC’s mission to empower the populations of developing nations with access to educational and technological tools that many of us take for granted,” stated Mark Zaleski, chairman and CEO of Dailymotion. “We are proud to lend our support to this noble and worthwhile project, and look forward to contributing to the brighter future of millions of children around the world.”

“We are delighted to have Dailymotion join the OLPC project,” stated Samuel Klein, director of community content at OLPC. “We are confident that the additional video capabilities that Dailymotion will bring to the XO laptop will serve to further the educational opportunities we can offer to enhance the lives of children around the world.”

Under the terms of the new agreement, the customizable Verizon-Yahoo! portal will be offered as the first portal choice option for all new subscribers to Verizon’s FiOS Internet and High Speed Internet services. Customers who choose the Verizon-Yahoo! portal will get Yahoo! Search, and co-branded e-mail, Instant Messenger and Toolbar applications. Yahoo! also will provide search and display advertising on the co-branded portal and e-mail application, and both companies will share the search, advertising and e-commerce revenues generated by users of the co-branded portal.

“In addition to providing consumers the fastest upload and download broadband connection speeds available, Verizon offers features and services that enhance our customers’ Internet experience,” said Eric J. Bruno, senior vice president, Verizon Corporate Marketing. “Allowing customers to select a portal and personalize their content is a key part of the Verizon broadband experience.”

Beyond news and information, the co-branded Verizon-Yahoo! portal offers access to content and tools from Yahoo!, including e-mail previews, to-do lists, sports updates, weather, finance portfolios and TV listings, as well as photos and videos from Flickr, one of the world’s leading online photo and video-sharing communities. It also offers direct, one-click access to Verizon.net and other select Verizon and third-party sites. Key features include:

* Customizable Personal Assistant, where users can quickly check in for key information during their daily Internet routine, and get easy access to their own priority features, such as e-mail previews, daily horoscopes and local weather.
* Top Picks from Your Page module that highlights key stories, chosen based on articles that a user has read on My Yahoo!.
* Flexible customization tools and controls, such as on-page personalization options, easy drag-and-drop modules, and a variety of layout choices.

“Yahoo! is thrilled to further enhance our partnership with Verizon to deliver our industry-leading consumer experiences to Verizon’s new broadband customers,” said Jim Schinella, senior vice president, Corporate Partnerships, Yahoo!. “Our new multiyear agreement offers greater choices for consumers while enabling both companies to unlock greater monetization opportunities.”

Verizon’s 50 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 20 Mbps upstream FiOS Internet connection, provided via the company’s all-fiber-optic network, is the fastest available to U.S. consumers, and the company’s 20/20 symmetrical service is the first of its kind commercially available to U.S. consumers on a mass scale. Pioneering a new category of broadband for the American consumer, Verizon’s symmetrical FiOS provides the ultra-fast, two-way speeds crucial for such burgeoning online activities as video conferencing, social networking and super-fast uploading of electronic photo albums or home videos, as well as multi-player gaming and online work collaboration.

Verizon High Speed Internet service, based on DSL technology, provides the best value in broadband with up to 7 Mbps delivered on a dedicated line from Verizon’s central switching office to the customer’s home or business. Verizon High Speed Internet is backed by live, 24 x 7 customer service and technical support.

“We’re continuing to create new, convenient ways for our customers to watch digital movies and TV shows. The ability to watch content instantly without downloading first was among the most requested features of our customers, and now it’s live—customers can instantly watch the ad-free title of their choice on a Mac, PC or compatible Sony BRAVIA TV via Sony’s BRAVIA Internet Video Link device,” said Roy Price, director of Amazon Video On Demand. “Amazon Video On Demand provides customers with the choice of how to watch their favorite movies and TV shows, be it on their PC or Mac, on the TV with TiVo or through Sony’s BRAVIA Internet Video Link device on compatible Sony BRAVIA TVs, or on the go with a portable video player.”

Also starting today, Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link users can rent or purchase and instantly watch movies and commercial-free TV shows directly on their compatible BRAVIA TV. With the Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link, customers can explore and purchase or rent from the Amazon Video On Demand library with the push of a button. To get started, customers simply go to www.amazon.com/videoondemand/bravia and link their BRAVIA to their Amazon.com account. After a purchase is made, the title can be immediately watched. A backup version can also be found in Your Video Library, accessible from the Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link device user interface or on Amazon.com. Customers interested in purchasing a Sony BRAVIA television and/or Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link device can do so in the Amazon.com Electronics store at www.amazon.com/electronics. Amazon Video On Demand through the BRAVIA Internet Video Link is currently in beta.

Amazon Video On Demand, operated by Amazon Digital Services, Inc., is the only U.S. digital video service that gives customers the choice to stream or download premium movies and TV shows. With over 40,000 licensed movies and TV shows, customers can now watch on their Mac, PC, Sony BRAVIA TV, TiVo box, Windows Media Center extender devices such as Xbox 360, and portable media players. The Amazon Unbox Video Player will remain as the client application for downloaded content, allowing customers to watch purchased content on their computer when they are not connected to the Internet or transfer it to a portable media player. With Fall TV starting in early September, Amazon Video On Demand will have a full selection of the most popular returning and new shows, including pilots, premieres, and full episodes.

To enable TV manufacturers to take advantage of this growing digital TV market, Broadcom announces its BCM3556 single-chip DTV solution at the IFA Show in Berlin that now supports multiple compatibility standards in Europe and Asia. The Broadcom(R) BCM3556 DTV SoC also includes an advanced feature set including multi-format picture decoding in support of high definition AVC, H.264, VC-1, AVS and MPEG-2 streams. By supporting H.264, the latest video compression standard, the BCM3556 enables users to view multimedia and HD content with improved picture quality at lower bandwidth when accessing content from other consumer devices in the home network. The BCM3556’s support of H.264 also provides access to H.264 broadcast content without the need of an additional decoder within the digital television.

The BCM3556 also integrates a host of features that allow TV manufacturers to create differentiated products, and when combined with improved picture quality, will enrich the consumers’ DTV experience. One such feature is a 3D graphics core that provides consumers with a graphical user interface for flipping, rotating, moving or manipulating images, and enables OEMs to create specialized user interfaces that differentiates the TV from traditional flat, two dimension user interfaces.

“With the BCM3556, our DTV design partners can expand the use of Broadcom SoCs to address European and Asian markets,” said Dan Marotta, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Broadcom’s Broadband Communications Group. “By providing additional worldwide standards in our DTV product line, along with differentiated features to TV manufacturers, our design partners, in turn, can offer viewers greater connectivity and enhanced interactivity.”

The advanced home network connectivity of the BCM3556 includes an integrated Ethernet media access controller (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) device that enables the SoC to connect with multiple home networking devices such as media servers, PCs, MP3 and portable media players. As a result, users can share and stream music, photo and movie content to and from connected TVs. A high-powered CPU, featuring a MIPS(R) dual core processor, rounds out the BCM3556’s capabilities by providing consumers with a fast and responsive seamless user interface to content from either traditional broadcast sources as well as from personal or internet content.

The BCM3556 is available in package configurations that support WXGA (wide screen) display resolutions and a full 1080p high definition resolution. The new DTV SoC also incorporates a unique 3D color management system, as well as digital, analog and mosquito noise reduction. Also integrated is an advanced picture enhancement processor (PEP) to improve picture sharpness and perform picture post-processing functions. The PEP engine is fully programmable and can be optimized by each TV manufacturer to meet their respective quality requirements. As a result, the BCM3556 SoC enables TV manufacturers with better video quality, sharper images and more accurate color reproduction.

Technical Information

The BCM3556 is Broadcom’s next generation DTV SoC that features an advanced video decoder, 3D graphics core, Ethernet MAC and PHY, and support for either WXGA or 1080p HD resolutions. These features, combined with a high level of integration and picture quality, will greatly enhance the DTV experience and enable TV manufacturers to reduce overall system cost and improve picture quality, all with a single SoC. Additional features are as follows:

— Advanced multi-format decoder supports the following:
– H.264/AVC Main and High Profile to Level 4.1 (HD), Level 3.1 (SD) -
HD/SD AVS Jizhun Profile Levels 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0
– VC-1 Advanced Profile @ Level 3, Simple and Main Profiles
– HD/SD MPEG-2 Main Profile at Main and High levels
– MPEG still image decode
– HD DivX(R) 3.11/4.11/5.x/6x/Home Theater
— 3D/2D OpenGL(R) ES 1.0-compliant graphics core
— Ethernet MAC and PHY
— Integrated video processing:
– 3D color management
– Digital, analog and mosquito noise reduction
– 1080i motion adaptive de-interlacing with 3:2/2:2 pull-down
– True 10-bit video
— Extensive audio support:
– AAC LC, AAC LC+SBR Level 2, AAC+ Level 2, AAC-HE
– Dolby Digital(R), Dolby Digital Plus, TruSurround XT(R)
– MPEG 1 Layers 1, 2, and 3 (MP3)
– Windows Media(R) and Windows Media Pro audio
– Audio DACs, input switch and equalizer
– Dolby Digital, TruSurround XT, MPEG Audio Decoder
— Integrated DVB-T COFDM terrestrial demodulator:
– Standards compliance: ETSI EN 300 744, Nordig Unified v1.0.3, DTG
D-Book 5 compliant
– Excellent Doppler performance
– Active impulse noise suppression
— PAL/SECAM demodulator
— PAL decoder with a 3D/2D comb
— 400-MHz Dual Core CMT MIPS32(R)/MIPS16e(TM) class processor
— NICAM audio decoder
— Single/dual-link LVDS transmitters
— Dual HDMI 1.3a receivers
— Dual USB 2.0

Availability and Pricing

The BCM3556 digital TV SoC solution is now sampling to early access customers. Pricing is available upon request.