Wolfstar News Releases

Free exporting event promises to help Yorkshire businesses save thousands

2008-06-27T15:11:17+01:00

4X Currency Corporation, the world’s first online currency exchange company, is holding a breakfast briefing, in association with UK Trade & Investment and Leeds Chamber of Commerce on Thursday July 3^rd at the Radisson hotel in Leeds to help Yorkshire companies save money when importing and exporting.

The free one hour event will feature a number of specialist speakers from a range of organisations covering topics including identifying foreign opportunities, eliminating risks, demystifying international payments, foreign VAT recovery, international Leeds, dispute resolution on overseas trades and how to benefit from exchange rates.

4X Currency’s managing director, Helen Scott who will be speaking at the event comments: “We decided to hold this event as the credit crunch is really starting to bite and all local businesses could do with a helping hand and some useful advice on how to save money in this current climate. We are delighted to be working alongside UK Trade & Investment and Leeds Chamber of Commerce and I am sure our attendees will come away with some really useful tips which will help grow their foreign trade.”

Attendees of the event will also get the opportunity to network with other managing and finance directors during the course of the morning.

The event takes place on Thursday July 3^rd at the Radisson Hotel, Leeds 7.30 - 9.00am

The speakers will be discussing the following:

· Recognise opportunities as the credit crunch bites (Colin Russell, UK Trade & Investment)

· Benefiting from the effect of the exchange rates on the pound - (Colin Smith, former head of foreign exchange Commerzbank)

· Dispute resolution on overseas trades (Gerard Khoshnaw, Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution, The Law Society’s Cross Border and International Reference Group, Nabarro)

· Look for an opportunity in foreign VAT recovery (Martyn Redman, Chairman, Eurocash Corporation)

· Reduce the costs dramatically from your foreign currency transactions (Helen Scott, managing director, 4X Currency Corporation)

· International Leeds (Steve Haynes, International Trade Advisor Leeds Chamber of Commerce)

For a free invitation, please contact Chris Norton on 0113 394 7960 or via e-mail chrisn@wolfstarconsultancy.com

ENDS

Notes to editor:

4X is able to offer competitive rates because it has developed the first unique online foreign exchange system (4X Dealer™) which provides the end user with live dealing rates, and the ability to complete the currency purchase themselves. It’s free and easy to use and it allows the user to instantly make currency purchases without the need for long, complicated and costly phone calls to banks or other provider
4X won the Business of Tomorrow award at the Brighton and Hove Business Awards 2007 (BAHBAS)
4X operates in a unique and price transparent way, providing exchange rates that customers can actually obtain at that particular time, rather than rates that are merely indications based on the bank’s interbank rate
4X is a registered overseas money provider with HM Revenue and Customs
4X Dealer™ can process 2,000 trades per second and transfers can be made to any worldwide bank
4X Dealer™ has been designed especially with the business market in mind to enable companies to receive live, up-to-the-minute, market rates so that they select the most favourable ones available before making a transfer.

Contact: Beth Kay / Chris Norton

+44 (0)113 394 7960 / +44 (0)7932 864 901

Skype bethanykay

bethk@wolfstarconsultancy.com

Technorati Tags: marketing,4X,news

Trafford chooses Fronter for its move into a digital era

2008-06-26T17:22:08+01:00

Trafford Local Authority (LA), one of the highest performing local authorities in the country, has signed a contract with Virtual Learning Environment (vle) provider Fronter, allowing pupils across the region to benefit from the new online tool.

The Virtual Learning Environment will be available to all schools in Trafford allowing pupils and teachers to share and host learning opportunities and resources needed to help pupils learn and develop in education.

The new vle is part of Trafford LA’s education strategy to push the boundaries of learning through the use of digital classrooms that can be accessed by not only pupils and teachers, but by parents too. Parents will be allowed secure access to view their child’s attendance and performance and school events over the internet, allowing greater interaction with their child’s education.

The initial contract will run for two years and will see the vle implemented into 86 sites, including 68 primary, 12 secondary and four schools by September 2008. All Trafford’s teachers and teaching assistants will be members of the LA wide portal, allowing for collaboration between all schools.

One of the key advantages of the Fronter platform is that the vle can be used from any computer with internet access, in school or off-site. This allows pupils to access the same information at home and in the classroom. Pupils will be able to communicate with friends and teachers, access virtual learning resources, including audio and visual material and discuss topics with other pupils outside of school hours.

Bill Gayler, Fronter’s UK managing director, commented: “We are very excited about working with Trafford to implement the Fronter learning platform to schools in the region. We feel that the vle will be of great benefit to both students and teachers and will allow parents to play a greater role in their children’s education.”

Margaret Woodhouse, director of education and early years service for Trafford comments: “Fronter was chosen for Trafford after an in-depth analysis of learning platform providers. After looking at our school’s needs and the tools provided by Fronter for education, it was clear that the vle was the right choice for our teachers and young people.”

Fronter operates within its core values of openness, simplicity and pedagogic focus which are applied not only to the vle but the entire work ethos of the company.

Roger Larsen, international managing director at Fronter said: “Because Fronter is an open company, it develops its learning platform in partnership with its users. We work closely with schools and LA’s like Trafford to ensure the implementation of the platform is correct. This allows the system to be used easily and it can then be embedded into everyday school life.”

---ENDS---

For more information please contact, Sebastian Mysko on 0113 3947960 or email sebm@wolfstarconsultancy.com Skype: sebastianmysko

Notes to Editors

Roger Larsen is Fronter’s founder and international managing director· Fronter was founded in Norway in 1998 and is now used by more than four million users in nine European countries· Fronter is used by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) for their talk2learn platform and work with a large number of UK schools, colleges and local authorities.

· Fronter is a 3^rd time winner of the European Seal of E-Excellence in Gold

· Becta is the Government's lead agency for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education, covering the United Kingdom. In March 2007, Becta was given an enhanced remit by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to lead the co-ordination, development and delivery of the government's strategy to harness the power of technology to help improve education, skills and children's services.

Multimedia

Linda Bilsborrow, primary advisory ICT teacher at Trafford Learning Authority.

Jim Gilmour, e-learning consultant for Trafford LA.

Margaret Billington at Trafford Learning Authority following the signing of a contract with Fronter UK.

Managing director of Fronter UK Bill Gayler at the Trafford Learning Authority contract signing.

Interview with Chris Pratt, corporate director for children and young people services in Trafford at the Fronter contract signing

Images

Bill Gayler and Chris Pratt at the Trafford LA and Fronter contract signing

Margaret Billington, Bill Gayler and Chris Pratt sign the Trafford LA contract

Representatives from Fronter and Trafford LA at the contract signing

Technorati Tags: Fronter, News

Award winning British director to showcase his skills at the world famous Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

2008-06-25T11:52:21+01:00

London’s award winning director, Michael Walling is heading stateside to act as guest director for this summer’s presentation of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the 36^th annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.

This theatrical event, which attracts more than 35,000 people every year, celebrates the work of the literature great and includes two live performances of Shakespeare’s classic plays and a contemporary musical performance in the most scenic venue in the world - against the spectacular backdrop of scenic Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Mountains.

Brits looking for somewhere cheaper to holiday in 2008 are being encouraged to take advantage of the weak dollar on the warm, sandy beaches of Sand Harbor State Park, to experience the 36th annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, July 10 – Aug 17, 2008.

This season, the Festival will be showcasing Shakespeare’s tale of “Richard III” alongside “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” A new romantic musical titled “CAMBIO,” based on Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” also takes centre stage on Monday nights.

Michael Walling is currently the artistic director of Border Crossings in London and has directed numerous productions across four continents, winning awards for Two Gentlemen of Verona in the US and Paul & Virginie in Mauritius. He also directed the English National Opera's acclaimed productions of Wagner's Ring at the Coliseum and Barbican theatres. “For a play set in an enchanted forest, there really could be no greater gift to a director than the sublime setting of Lake Tahoe”, says Walling.

Alongside the theatricals, guests will be able to enjoy dinner at the venue on the beach at Shakespeare’s Kitchen, experiencing a blend of traditional and gourmet American cooking with a fresh, organic, Californian twist. Shakespeare’s Vineyard also offers visitors the chance to sample Californian wines along with a full bar.

Catherine Atack, Executive Director for the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and ex-pat comments: “Year after year, fans of the event continue to come to enjoy the festival. With the value of the dollar being so low against the pound, and the slide of the Euro, British holiday makers are flocking to the states. The event offers them a chance to take in the marvellous views of Lake Tahoe alongside some great culture from Britain’s own Shakespeare. The Festival has a great atmosphere which, for many visitors, is the major reason for attending as well as the attraction for first-time attendees.”

Tickets and further information are now available online at www.LakeTahoeShakespeare.com with reduced costs for online purchases. Tickets start at $22 for open seating tiers.

- Ends -

Notes to editor:

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a non-profit organisation established for the cultural benefit and enjoyment of all residents and visitors to Lake Tahoe and Reno. Through its in-house artistic direction, the Festival produces three plays each summer, creating original costuming, set design and choreography, and attracting a team of national and international stage talent. The Festival’s community outreach includes an annual program, InterACT, designed to educate future generations on the importance of the arts, theatre and music.

Michael Walling was an associate director to Peter Sellars on Nixon in China, and to Phyllida Lloyd on The Handmaid's Tale (Canada).

For more information or to request photography, please contact Beth Kay on 0113 3947960 or bethk@wolfstarconsultancy.com

Images

Technorati Tags: news

Fronter chosen as Campus Solution for the University of Vienna

2008-06-25T11:47:56+01:00

The oldest university in the German-speaking world and one of the largest in Central Europe has selected Fronter as its central Learning Management Solution. The Fronter platform is implemented this autumn and replaces Blackboard Vista.

The contract with Blackboard Vista was about to expire and, looking for alternatives, the University of Vienna put the LMS out to tender. Fronter was chosen to replace Blackboard after an extensive tender process and intensive testing. Fronter was selected from a number of competitors for its attractive cost benefit ratio and level of support and flexibility.

“Fronter’s offer in response to our Software and services for the eLearning-infrastructure for the university of Vienna tender, had the most attractive cost benefit ratio” says Peter Rastl, Director of University of Vienna Computer Service. “We are confident that Fronter meets the user needs specified in our requirements in an optimal way. Fronter offers our users a powerful, stable and flexible solution that meets all the needs of a heterogeneous university society”.

"We are very proud to have been selected as a campus wide solution by one of the oldest universities in Europe", says Roger Larsen, Fronter Founder and CEO. "The University of Vienna, with its history, experience and commitment to advanced learning strategies, will be a key strategic partner in the further development of the Fronter platform".

An important factor in the LMS selection process was the possibility to structure the LMS along the lines of the Bologna-Processes. Fronter’s open solution supports modular structures and makes it possible to embed E-Learning and Blended Learning solutions within the LMS. “In the spirit of the Bologna-Processes, Fronter’s platform is student centric”, says Roger Larsen, “it is designed to enhance the learning experience for the individual student and his/her opportunities for collaboration”.

The Austrian University has bought a campus license which covers the whole University, and will host the system on its servers. The agreement includes a 5 year plan for Fronter upgrades as well as support and training. Starting October this year, Fronter will facilitate the change of platform from Blackboard Vista, migrating some 4500 courses from the old platform into the Fronter platform. As of March 2009 Fronter will be available in its full range as the University of Vienna’s eLearning Platform.

About Fronter:

www.fronter.com

About the University of Vienna:

The University of Vienna is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and one of the largest in Central Europe. At present, about 72,000 students are enrolled at the University of Vienna, in more than 130 courses of which 26 Bachelor and 47 Masterstudies. With close to 8,300 employees, 6,200 of which are scientists and academics, the University of Vienna is also the largest teaching and research institution in Austria. The University of Vienna has always been strongly orientated towards international research and teaching and therefore continues its efforts to maintain its relationships with other countries. The University has 331 European Partner Universities. Students from approximately 130 countries are taking part in more than 10,000 lectures at the University of Vienna every year.

The University of Vienna is one of the few Universities in Europe that has institutionalized the Bologna-Reform by establishing a dedicated Bologna-department that systematically supports the new structure of the study plans. E-Learning is a central tool for the university to achieve the goals from Bologna.

www.univie.ac.at/

For further information, please contact:

Kirsti Rogne, Communications Manager, Tel.: 481 16 851/e-mail: kirsti.rogne@fronter.com

Technorati Tags: Fronter

Number one dance music producer hires Wolfstar for social media campaign

2008-05-23T09:20:07+01:00

Chris Lake, a dance music producer and world renowned nightclub DJ, has appointed Wolfstar to deliver a strategic social media and word of mouth (WOM) campaign, to support the upcoming release of his latest material during the summer.

In 2006, Chris Lake became a global phenomenon after his first single “Changes” topped the US dance chart and made it into the UK’s Top 40. Prior to his debut single, Chris had already secured huge critical acclaim from several dance music pioneers such as Sasha, Sander Kleinenberg and Nic Faciulli. In fact, BBC Radio 1’s very own Pete Tong has also proclaimed Chris as being “the best thing to come out of Scotland since Mylo”.

With a brand new website being launched and an array of exciting new material ready to hit the shelves, Chris has tasked Wolfstar to help him engage better with his fans and build brand awareness for his record label Rising Music Ltd.

Chris commented: “I have been producing dance music for more than 11 years now and I seem to have spent months on end locked in my studio mixing and remixing these new tracks. We decided to appoint Wolfstar to help with the word of mouth campaign as we have noticed a major shift in the way people acquire and use their music. The team at Wolfstar certainly have a big passion for dance music and a couple of their team have even already worked in the industry. They also demonstrated a much deeper level of understanding of how social media and word of mouth campaigns work. I am really looking forward to launching my new website and interacting with my fans on a whole new level.”

Long time dance music fan and Wolfstar account manager, Sebastian Mysko commented: “When Wolfstar was launched just over a year ago, we said we wanted to ensure that our client base was as exciting and as diverse as possible. So for us to be working with a high calibre dance music producer like Chris Lake and his record label is truly fantastic. I earned some extra cash as a club promoter during my university days, but to be working within the music industry on a strategic level is very exciting indeed both for me and the rest of the team. We hope that this will be the first of many clients from the music industry.”

Wolfstar will also be working with Chris’ management team Three Six Zero Group and IMD, his public relations support team.

ENDS

For further media inquiries please contact Wolfstar +44 (0)113 394 7960

Sebastian Mysko +44 (0)7855 323728 Skype sebastianmysko sebm@wolfstarconsultancy.com

Chris Norton +44 (0)7932 864 891 Skype chrisnorton2 chrisn@wolfstarconsultancy.com

Chris Lake Ft Laura V - Changes

WOM UK briefing on new consumer protection legislation

2008-05-16T14:00:10+01:00

WOM UK, the trade association for the word of mouth marketing association, is holding an ‘Espresso Briefing’ on Wednesday 28 May 2008 on the implications of the new Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. The briefing will be presented by Steve Barton, President of WOM UK, Stephen Groom Head of Marketing and Privacy Law for Osborne Clarke and Marina Palomba Legal Director for the IPA.

The event will be held from 8:30am – 10:00am at Osborne Clarke’s office at One London Wall, London, EC2Y 5EB. Please register at http://www.womuk.org/Events.aspx.

ENDS

Notes to editor:

Media attendance for this event is free of charge. In order to register, please call 0113 394 7960 or email sebm@wolfstarconsultancy.com.

About WOM UK

WOM UK is the independent not for profit organisation representing the word of mouth marketing and communication industry in the UK. WOM UK was set to mirror the success of the USA’s WOMMA in establishing a member owned trade association designed to help he WOMM business grow in the UK. We do this by promoting ethical practices, skills development and access to the leading practitioners. Our membership includes a wide range of organisations including brands, creative agencies, research firms through to data bureaux. Member companies include: Unilever, Royal Mail, Experian, Nielson, Edelman, 1000heads, Weber Shandwick, Golin Harris, Wildfire, BzzAgent UK, Dubit, Face Group and RAMP Industry.

See www.womuk.org for a full list of members.

Technorati Tags: Consumer protection legislation,WOM UK,Espresso Briefing,Unfair Trading Regulations

WOM UK endorse new consumer protection legislation

2008-04-17T12:05:00+01:00

WOM UK, the trade association for the word of mouth marketing association, has welcomed the new Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and said that it does not ban word of mouth marketing, but provides a regulatory framework that supports WOM UK’s existing code of ethics for its members.

WOM UK is hosting an ‘Espresso Briefing’ on May 28 to brief members on the implications of the new legislation. Speakers include Marina Palomba, legal director of the IPA and Steve Barton, president of WOM UK.

The new regulation does not ban or prohibit word of mouth marketing according to Fraser Chisholm of Royal Mail, a WOM UK council member: “The interpretation is that individuals are still free to advocate products and services. The key difference is that an advertiser must not falsely represent oneself as a consumer. The advertiser must disclose its relationship.”

Steve Barton, president of WOM UK, added: “We are very much in favour of protecting and acting in the consumer’s best interests. If fact, we go one step further. We actively promote ethical and professional word of mouth marketing practices. Every member of WOM UK must sign up to the WOMMA ethics code in order to be a member. Honesty of relationship, opinion and identity are the key to what we believe and how we behave. It is this focus upon ethical practice that helped the word of mouth marketing business grow to be worth $1.3bn in the US in 2007*. As an organisation we’re behind this regulation.”

The WOM UK ‘Espresso Briefing’ on the implications of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 is on May 28 from 8:30am to 10:00am. To book places visit http://www.womuk.org/Events.aspx.

ENDS

For more media information or a WOM UK spokesperson on the new legislation please contact:

Seb Mysko, womuk@wolfstarconsultancy.com, 0113 394 7960, Skype: sebastianmysko

About WOM UK

See www.womuk.org for a full list of members.

Sources:

Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file44861.pdf

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Guidance for Business:

www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/CPRguide.pdf

Word of Mouth Marketing Association Code of Ethics:
www.womma.org/ethics/code/read/

Technorati Tags: consumer protection legislation,Royal Mail,IPA,WOM UK

4X Currency launches worlds fastest buy now pay later online currency exchange service for companies that trade overseas

2008-04-16T08:32:03+01:00

4X Currency Corporation, the world’s first online currency exchange company, has launched a new facility to offer its customers the opportunity to buy foreign currency up to twelve months before all the money needs to change hands, therefore removing any worries of fluctuations in the volatile currency market.

The new forward trading service will provide small businesses, which trade overseas, an easier way to predict and manage their cash flow more efficiently. The service has been developed as an enhancement of the company’s 4X Dealer platform. The new facility accurately updates the user with currency rates every five seconds.

Helen Scott, managing director of 4X Currency comments: “We have had our developers working on this project for some time and it means that if a business knows in six months that it will be receiving $200,000 from one of its American customers, it doesn’t have to worry about exchange rates anymore. Rather than take a chance on what $200,000 will be worth in six months time the business can decide to sell the dollars forward by six months.

“The business will then know exactly how many pounds it is going to receive for its dollars. It also works the same way if a business knows it has to pay for materials in a foreign currency. A business can buy the currency now on a forward contract and then it knows exactly how many pounds it has to pay, no matter what happens to the exchange rates in that time.”

The future date for the trade is agreed at the time of the forward contract. 4X offers its customers forward contracts of between one week and a year.

Helen adds: “The main benefit of our system is that clients can actually watch the changing rate themselves and when they are happy they click their mouse and that’s the rate they get. Forward rates are actually calculated by taking the current spot rate and applying a premium or discount to it, which is based on the interest rate difference in the two currencies. Customers just need to place a small deposit of 10% when the contract has been agreed and then the remaining 90% is still available to the business as capital to help it grow.”

Martin Lee, director at Mountainsun comments: “Our bankers offer a first rate service, but their rates are not as competitive and harder to access than 4X Currency’s. As a company we are trying to do everything electronically since that expands the day and we can do things when it suits us rather than when it suits others. 4X Currency has a real no nonsense attitude and you get an immediate response, which is exactly the way we like to do our business. To support our week-in week-out activities in foreign countries we need a quick, accessible and reliable service, which is just what we get from 4X Currency."

4X Currency (www.4xcurrency.com) is able to offer competitive rates because it developed the first unique online foreign exchange system (4X Dealer) which provides the end user with live dealing rates, and the ability to complete the currency purchase themselves. It’s free and easy to use and it allows the user to instantly make currency purchases without the need for long, complicated and costly phone calls to banks or other providers.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Chris Norton/Sebastian Mysko

+44 (0)113 394 7960 / +44 (0)7932 864 901

Skype chrisnorton2

4X@wolfstarconsultancy.com

Notes to editor:

· 4X Currency operates in a unique and price transparent way, providing exchange rates that customers can actually obtain at that particular time, rather than rates that are merely indications based on the bank’s interbank rate

· 4X Currency is a registered overseas money provider with HM Revenue and Customs

· 4X Dealer™ is a registered trademark of 4X Currency Corporation

· 4X Dealer™ can process 2,000 trades per second and transfers can be made to any worldwide bank

· 4X Dealer™ has been designed especially with the business market in mind to enable companies to receive live, up-to-the-minute, market rates so that they select the most favourable ones available before making a transfer.

Multimedia information:

Helen Scott on 4X Currency's new foward trading service

A full set of images are available for download at 4X Currency's Flickr account:

4X Dealer forward trading screen grabs:

USEFUL QUOTES

4X Currency Quote:

Mary Sheppard finance director at 4X Currency comments: "Forward contracts enable clients to lock into an exchange rate to cover currency needs for payments or receipts at a specified future date. This removes the uncertainty of currency fluctuations and helps to protect profits. Forward contracts are useful for ensuring that sales are priced at known foreign exchange rates. The price paid for supplies in foreign currency can also be stabilised by fixing the exchange rates through a forward contract.

Forward contracts provide a further advantage as clients are not required to pay most (90% generally) of the payment for the currency until the specific future date. Clients can therefore closely match the timing of their currency payment with the timing of their payments or receipts, reducing their short term borrowing requirements and associated interest payments to lenders.

A further great advantage of taking out a forward contract with 4X is that we offer very competitive forward rates, which create further savings for you. We also make it quick, easy and secure for you to take out a forward contract using 4X’s own on line free to use foreign exchange dealing platform 4X Dealer™."

Software Tech Quote:

Darren Brown, managing director of Cybertrak who built the software for the new system comments: "We had to create a well designed trading engine with a whole range of new system improvements. We had three genuine challenges which were firstly to make the GUI (Graphical user interface) quick and easy to use whilst still fitting the corporate style, despite the extra complexities. Secondly, to ensure that the speed of forward rates delivered to customers was optimal and finally the redesigning of the application deployment to the client, which means that future updates for customers are as simple as a click of a button."

Business Customer Quotes:

Richard Lowe, managing director, Grid Defence Systems Ltd

"The initial set up required the usual paper trail now insisted upon by the financial sector, but 4x were good enough to remind and support this initial step. The software package is small and neat and has the benefit of retaining beneficiary details until payment needs to be made. Logging on and dealing is very quick and easy and the rates are very much more competitive than those offered by the High Street Banks. Queries and problems are dealt with compassionately and swiftly, which again is a vast improvement on the service from the main banks. We are pleased to have moved our forex to 4X and would have no hesitation in recommending your service to other companies."

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Dr Richard I Taylor, director, Taylor Associates.

"The service provided by 4X Currency Corporation has been exemplary in that it provides that rare combination of being highly efficient, flexible in meeting client requirements and, at the same time, was significantly cost effective. A recent requirement by my company to exchange sterling into euros, undertaken by Helen Scott (Managing Director), was accomplished with helpful and constructive advice. The net result being that the transaction was undertaken at a cost considerably lower than ones quoted by commercial banks, and at a time which saved this company some £3,000."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ian Shearer, Rubber trade finance and factoring.

"4X Currency Corporation has provided me with a fast and cost effective service. I have traded between EUR GBP and USD sums between $40000 and $100000. 4X rates are always closer to the spot mid rate than my bank. I have saved as much as two-thirds of the cost that my bank would have charged and can recommend 4X to other businesses."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clive Hayton, finance director, Eurocash Corporation PLC

"4X Dealer is simple to install, easy to use and when I click on the icon to deal, I am confident that I am getting a great rate. The transparency offered by the online live rate being constantly updated reassures me that I am getting the current prices direct from the FX Markets."

Technorati Tags: Forward trading,Helen Scott,Exchange rate,Foreign currency exchange

University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations chooses Fronter

2008-03-26T14:56:12+00:00

University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations plans to use the Fronter Learning platform for a wide range of e-learning solutions, including the delivery of blended learning courses in English and the provision of on-line coordination of external examiners around the world.

Cambridge ESOL will use the Fronter learning platform’s communication, survey and test tools, the learning paths for individualised learning and a range of functionalities developed specifically for the education sector. The Fronter learning platform will also be instrumental in the effective sharing of learning resources across ESOL’s global operations.

The initial contract runs for three years, with an option for a further seven years. “This is probably the most exciting project in European higher education, and at Fronter we are very proud to have been selected by Cambridge ESOL, and to feature in the long term plan to move its operations onto a digital platform,” said Roger Larsen, founder and CEO of Fronter. “The Fronter Learning platform has been developed in close cooperation with a large reference group of academic professionals. It is a tribute to the work of this group that the platform has now been selected by the most prestigious university in the world.”

Nick Charge, examination manager at Cambridge ESOL, is responsible for the 10 year strategy for e-learning. If the initial phases are successful, it is planned that the Fronter learning platform will play an integral part in Cambridge ESOL’s e-learning strategy.

“We chose the Fronter platform because it provided all the tools we need to fulfil our e-learning ambitions,” said Nick Charge. “We look forward to working closely with the Fronter team over the next few years.”

ENDS

For further information please contact Sebastian Mysko on 0113 3947960 or sebm@wolfstarconsultancy.com.

Get Skype and call me for free.

Notes to editors:

About Fronter

Fronter customers come from a wide selection of educational institutions, from primary schools through to higher education. Public and commercial organisations also use Fronter as a collaborative working tool, enabling professional support networks, and continued professional development.

Used by the National College of School Leadership in the UK, across schools in the Nordic capitals, chosen by London education authorities, and recently selected as preferred learning platform provider for all Austrian schools, the Fronter platform is fast gaining recognition as a learning platform solution catering for the next generation of global education.

The Fronter platform’s development is based on three core values; openness, simplicity and a pedagogic foundation. These values ensure wide accessibility, an intuitive user interface, and most importantly that the platform’s development is driven by the dynamic needs of the education community.

About Cambridge ESOL

Cambridge ESOL is a not for profit department of the University of Cambridge. It is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group, Europe’s largest assessment agency. The Cambridge Assessment Group incorporates three major exam boards; University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR) and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL). Cambridge ESOL provides examinations in English for more than two million people every year in more than 130 countries.

Fronter partners with Elluminate to combine live e-learning within its virtual learning environment

2008-03-20T09:53:18+00:00

Fronter, one of the top three providers of learning platforms for schools in the UK, has announced a new strategic partnership with Elluminate, Inc. The learning platform enables education to take place online, enhancing collaboration between students, teachers and parents. Fronter will embed Elluminate’s real-time virtual classroom and web conferencing technology into its platform free of charge.

Elluminate Live!® is a real-time virtual classroom environment designed for distance education and collaboration. Academic institutions worldwide use Elluminate technology to extend the physical boundaries of the traditional classroom and add live discussion and dynamic interaction to asynchronous distance learning. Elluminate Live! has become the educational standard for engaging students, enhancing learning, and improving comprehension..

Fronter will include two Elluminate solutions as part of its Open Learning Platform: an unlimited-use, limited functionality version and a fully functional version Live! for up to three participants. The addition of these fully integrated services will provide educators and students with a comprehensive, real-time collaboration system that is embedded and facilitated directly within the Fronter environment.

Fronter, is an open-learning platform that combines almost 100 easy-to-use web tools for learning, teaching, communication, personal work, portfolios and publishing. It is working with more than 1000 schools and almost a third of all UK LAs to help them implement a learning platform in line with the new government target for all learners to have an online personalised learning space by 2008.

Elluminate is a real-time virtual classroom designed for distance learning and collaboration in academic institutions. It offers an affordable service that duplicates any learning activity, from lectures and presentations to small group discussions and debates.

"Fronter and Elluminate share a commitment to enhancing and facilitating the process of teaching and learning for academic institutions of all levels," said Roger Larsen, international managing director of Fronter. "By including industry leading real-time collaboration from Elluminate in the Fronter solution, we are offering our customers the most feature-complete collaboration platform on the market"

In May 2007, Fronter was chosen by the London Grid for Learning (LGFL) to provide and implement a learning platform to all London schools. The solution, known as the London MLE, is an integrated learning and management system based on Fronter’s open learning platform. The partnership has encouraged nearly 400 schools to implement the platform, including 42% of all secondary schools.

Bill Gayler, UK managing director added: “This new partnership is fantastic news for our customers across the country. We are constantly looking for new innovative ways to improve and develop our platform, so teachers, parents and students alike can share their work quicker and easier.

"We are extremely pleased to partner with Fronter to extend the company's popular virtual learning environment to include live eLearning and web collaboration, while expanding our presence in the European marketplace," said Maurice Heiblum, president of Elluminate Inc. “Integrating Elluminate Live! will help ensure that students are fully engaged in learning, communicating and collaborating in real time on a global level."

On an annual basis, Fronter brings together 100 pedagogy and teaching experts from across the globe to discuss industry trends. It relies on the findings from this forum to ensure the product evolves to meet the future needs and wishes of the community. For further information please go to www.fronter.co.uk.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Fronter was founded in Norway in 1998 and is now used by more than four million users across nine countries. Fronter is used by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) for their talk2learn platform and work with a large number of UK schools, colleges and local authorities.
Fronter is a 3^rd time winner of the European Seal of E-Excellence in Gold.
Since its formation, Fronter has gone from strength to strength with its increasingly popular open learning platform, which offers a web-based and multilingual platform where students and teachers alike can benefit from collaboration and learning.
Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Elluminate has served more than 200 million web-collaboration minutes to over 3 million teachers and students located in 184 countries.
The winner of several prestigious awards, Elluminate is one of Deloitte’s 50 Fastest Growing Technology Companies and is positioned in the Visionaries Quadrant of the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Web Conferencing, 2007.
Elluminate Live!® is a Live!registered trademark of Elluminate, Inc.

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