Fadi Zaidan / AP

In this Monday, May 14, photo, a girl walks past Syrian rebels at Khaldiyeh neighborhood in Homs province, central Syria.

Updated at 1 p.m. ET: Syrian rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad’s government are getting more and better weapons in an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated partly by the United States, the Washington Post reported late on Tuesday.

The report cited opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials.

Obama administration officials emphasized the United States is not supplying or funding the lethal material, which includes anti-tank weapons, the report said.

Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the Gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure, the Post said.

Opposition activists said the Syrian security forces have even opened fire on a funeral procession, killing at least 21 people. NBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin reports.

Syria violence spills into streets of Lebanon’s Tripoli

“We are increasing our non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition, and we continue to coordinate our efforts with friends and allies in the region and beyond in order to have the biggest impact on what we are collectively doing,” said a senior State Department official, one of several U.S. and foreign government officials who discussed the evolving effort on condition of anonymity, the Post reported.

Syria says dozens dead in twin Damascus blasts

U.S. contacts with the rebels and the information-sharing with Gulf nations mark a shift in Obama administration policy as hopes dim for a political solution to the Syrian crisis, the Post said.

Opposition activists speaking to the newspaper said that the flow of weapons increased significantly after Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others boosted the amount of money they would spend on the rebels.

The killing has not stopped, leaving many to wonder if the peace plan has failed. NBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin reports.

Weapons and other material was being stockpiled in Damascus, near the Turkish border in Idlib and Zabadani near Lebanon, according to the Post.

The Muslim Brotherhood in Syria claimed to have opened its own supply channel, Mulham al-Drobi, a member of the Brotherhood’s executive committee, told the newspaper. 

U.K.-based Syrian opposition activist Abdul Wahab Omar said he would welcome increased supplies to the rebels’ Free Syrian Army, but said he had not heard this was happening.

“The (Free Syria Army) remains in my eyes as powerful, no more no less, as it was two months ago,” he told msnbc.com. “I haven’t seen any reports of new kinds of equipment on the ground.  I have heard what I’m used to hearing so far – the rebels continue to be in the position where they cannot yet pose a significant threat to the Assad regime.”

Any indications that there were more weapons were likely due to the relative lull in activity, which meant that stockpiles weren’t being depleted as quickly, he added.

 Reuters contributed to this report. 

More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:

• Computer nerds and freaks:’ Germany’s Pirate Party rides wave of popularity
• In China, English teaching is a whites-only club
• Beer-swilling bride sparks controversy in New Zealand
• Oh la la! A look at France’s fascinating first ladies
• ‘Puppet’ and ‘Stooge’: al-Qaida chief al-Zawahiri issues message on Yemen
• Bomb kills at least two in apparent assassination attempt in Colombia

Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world

Article source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/16/11731075-report-syria-rebels-get-better-weapons-as-us-quietly-boosts-support?lite

HELSINKI (Reuters) – Nokia patched up its ailing basic phones offering on Tuesday with two models offering access to games, applications and the Internet, hoping to regain its footing in emerging markets.

After precipitously losing its position in the smartphone market to Apple’s iPhone and models running Google’s Android software, Nokia has also been losing its shine in the basic phone market, which had been a reliable generator of profits.

Nokia’s basic phone sales fell 16 percent in the first three months of 2012, and have fallen in four of the last five quarters, while rivals like China’s ZTE and Huawei have been growing fast.

China’s largest search engine Baidu Inc is also planning to enter the cellphone market with a cheap smartphone.

The new Nokia 110 model will be sold for 35 euros ($45) and will start shipping in the second quarter, while the 112 model will be sold for 38 euros from the third quarter, with both using Nokia’s Series 40 software, the Finnish phone maker said.

Nokia said new models would come with a license to download 40 games by Electronic Arts and offer Internet access with the a new browser built upon its 2010 acquisition of U.S. firm Novarra.

“These products are critical for Nokia to maintain traction in the face of mounting competition from Samsung and the Chinese rivals,” said Geoff Blaber, analyst at CCS Insight.

“Nokia’s Series 40 platform is under attack from all sides. Full touch support is a must if Nokia is to fend off the challenge from aggressively priced Android devices,” he said.

Around 105 million full touch-screen basic phones were sold last year globally, but Nokia has been slow to react. It is due to unveil a full-touch 306 basic phone model only in the coming months.

Nokia’s shares have lost 90 percent in five years, and two of the three major ratings agencies cut its debt to junk last month.

Nokia stock was 2.6 percent lower at 2.28 euros at 1150 GMT.

($1 = 0.7789 euros)

(Additional reporting by Eero Vassinen; Editing by Will Waterman)

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/nokia-launches-low-end-smartphones-090711718.html

Washington (CNN) — Republicans blocked an attempt by Senate Democrats on Thursday to pass new sanctions against Iran, complaining the final language in the bill, which they had negotiated for months, is not tough enough to deter Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

Their objection angered Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who claimed he was being “jerked around” by Republicans.

“I’m deeply disappointed my Republican colleagues are preventing the Senate from passing additional critical sanctions against Iran. If they want to embarrass the president this is a strange way to do it,” Reid said during a testy floor exchange with GOP leaders.

The new sanctions would target Iran’s oil and banking industries, as well as other sectors.

Republicans complained Democrats provided them the final language just minutes before they were asked to approve it. Republicans said the new wording appeared to water down the threat of U.S. military action against Iran if that country developed nuclear weapons; something President Obama has said is on the table.

“I’d like to think that’s an oversight in drafting and we can work this out over weekend and make this reflective of our national policy and the president’s policy,” said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri. “But I’d be very concerned about moving to this language today.”

“A little communication ought to be able to bring us together behind something we can speak to unanimously,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader. “Nothing, I think, to get angry about.”

Democrats want to get the sanctions bill completed before U.N.-sponsored talks with Iran about their nuclear program that begin next week in Baghdad. Reid said the Iranians probably were watching the Senate floor exchange on television and “laughing at us. Here is the United States Senate quibbling over a sentence.”

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut, stepped between the two parties and said an agreement was possible because the differences between the two sides are actually “non-existent.”

“We all agree that we ought to try the sanctions, we ought to make them tough,” he said. “They ought not to be watered down before the Iranians agree to stop their nuclear program. And we all agree we that we have to have the credible use of force against the Iranian nuclear program if there is any hope of the sanctions working.

“I appeal to my colleagues, let’s step back, let’s take a breath,” Lieberman said. “Can we do it this afternoon?”

Instead, aides said later that senators will use the weekend to negotiate a solution, with the hope of getting to a vote next week.

Article source: http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/17/politics/iran-sanctions/index.html?eref=rss_politics

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

MOBOTIX today announced the availability of a new suite of security
solutions, including the S14 FlexMount, next-generation DualDome D14
cameras and the Hemispheric T24 Door Station with new modules. MOBOTIX
also unveiled the development of a mobile app for use with the T24 IP
Video Door Station and the addition of enhanced analytics to its Q24
Hemispheric Camera.

MOBOTIX started 2012 with deliveries of the complete T24 IP Video Door
Station. In addition to the hemispheric video door intercom, the
T24-KeypadRFID, the Security Door Opener (T24-Doormaster) and
optionally, the two-wire network module (T24-Info2wire+) is now
available. Customers receive a powerful, complete video solution for
door communication and access control. The new IP telephony standard
enables the user to establish a direct connection from the door station
to any VoIP phone, computer or smartphone running VoIP software. By
setting up the appropriate network infrastructure, the user will be able
to establish a video connection, remotely open doors or view video
messages and review recordings from anywhere around the world.

In addition, T24 customers will soon also be able to use their iPhone or
iPad as a mobile remote station. The new MOBOTIX App allows a connection
to the T24 to be established over the IP network from anywhere around
the world using WLAN (Wi-Fi) or UMTS. The app provides fully automatic
and mobile notifications when someone rings the doorbell, and offers
options for two-way video communication with the visitor and can
remotely open the door. It will also be possible to retrieve voice
mailbox messages, live images and recordings from all integrated MOBOTIX
door stations and cameras.

The S14 FlexMount from MOBOTIX is the world’s first flexible double
hemispheric camera. It features miniature lens units and allows for a
wide variety of application scenarios. For instance, the S14 can be
equipped with two hemispheric module units and an integrated microphone
that connect to the camera housing via cables. This makes it possible to
fully secure two rooms located next to or on top of one another with a
single S14 system. Since the weatherproof camera (IP65) is very slim, it
can be mounted discreetly.

MOBOTIX is also unveiling the second generation of the D14D DualDome
camera, which can record dual images with a resolution of up to
6.2 megapixels. The new D14D features a vandalism sensor that detects
forced manipulation of the camera or the direction of the lens. The new
D14D Day/Night Fix model is equipped with day and night sensors
that are pre-installed and mounted precisely parallel to each other to
allow for even simpler and faster fine tuning. The D14D-180° model
delivers extremely high resolution 180° panorama images that can be
greatly magnified, both in live and recorded modes. This enables users
to reliably analyze any detail in the monitored area.

With the additional MOBOTIX video analysis tools for the Hemispheric
Q24, MOBOTIX enhanced image data processing inside the camera, thus
offering new and valuable information sources for process optimization
or marketing purposes. MxAnalytics makes it possible to monitor people
and objects and collect statistical data. Specifically, heatmaps provide
an analysis made of contour lines in the image, with the camera showing
how often each line is passed over within a specified period. The most
frequented areas are highlighted in color on a heatmap and the results
are saved in the camera, and can be exported via various interfaces.

The new security solutions are complemented by new accessories such as
the MX-NPS3 Network Power Switch for connecting up to three IP
cameras/end devices with a network cable and a power supply. By simply
inserting a UMTS stick into the weatherproof special housing, the
connected end devices become accessible wirelessly around the world.

Users can boost the performance of the entire video system by adding any
of the new weatherproof and easy-to-install functional boxes:
MX-GPS-Box, MX-NPA-Box, MX-232-IO-Box and the MX-Repeater-Box. The
appliances introduce useful features such as a central system time or
act as power amplifiers. The functional boxes can be connected with all
MOBOTIX cameras.

MOBOTIX AG Company Profile:

MOBOTIX AG is a software company with in-house hardware development for
digital, high-resolution and network-based video security solutions. The
company focuses on the development of user-friendly, complete system
solutions from a single provider. Not only has the company with
headquarters in Langmeil, Germany, been known as the leading pioneer in
network camera technology since its founding in 1999, its decentralized
concept has also made high-resolution video systems cost-efficient in
practice. From 2010 onwards, MOBOTIX will extend its product range to
include in-house-developed intelligent home automation products. Whether
in embassies, airports, railway stations, ports, gas stations, hotels or
highways, hundreds of thousands of MOBOTIX video systems have been in
operation on every continent for years.

for MOBOTIX
Rhianna Daniels
Phone: +1 847 986-6141
Mobile: +1 603 591 7209
E-Mail: rdaniels@compasspublicrelations.com

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mobotix-enhances-product-portfolio-cameras-140900504.html

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

CloudTop, a startup that has created a new set of tools that enables
developers of Web applications to integrate users’ online content in a
unified and simple way, was awarded the Robert P. Goldberg $100,000
grand prize Tuesday night after beating out seven other finalist teams
during the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition finale held on the MIT
campus.

This year’s teams of finalists in the business plan contest – whose
offerings included, among others, the cryopreserving of fish eggs and
new patent-pending wireless throughput-increasing technology – emerged
from a pool of 215 teams. A panel of judges made up of entrepreneurs,
venture capitalists, scientists, and industry professionals chose
CloudTop on the strength of their business plan and presentation.

By handling authentication and application programming interface
integration, Cloudtop’s offering, Filepicker.io, allows developers to
integrate Dropbox, Gmail, and other services into their application with
only one line of code. Filepicker.io’s vision is to become the
underlying infrastructure layer for Web applications that allow users to
view, manage, and work on files entirely within their browser.

CloudTop was founded by Brett van Zuiden, 22, an Electrical Engineering
and Computer Science student at MIT who was named by the Phenom List as
one of the top five undergraduate computer scientists at MIT. Van
Zuiden’s fellow co-founders are Anand Dass, 31, an MIT Sloan MBA 2012
who ran a $35 million sales organization at a global IT services
company; Liyan David Chang, 22, an MIT senior studying Computer Science
and Political Science who served as a key researcher in the MIT Media
Lab’s Sixth Sense Project; and Thomas Georgiou, 19, an MIT sophomore
studying Computer Science whose team won this year’s MIT 6.570 Mobile
App Competition. Georgiou won first prize in the 2011 Facebook Hackathon
held at MIT.

“Our motto is ‘anywhere, anytime, any device,’” says Dass. “Our goal is
to usher in the future of computing by allowing access to all of a
user’s content and applications. By winning the $100K, we are even
better positioned to create our vision.”

The MIT $100K Competition’s runner-up team, LiquiGlide, also nabbed the
Audience Choice Award sponsored by KPMG. LiquiGlide has created a super
slippery coating that allows for easy and complete dispensing of food
items such as ketchup and mayonnaise. Developed in the Varanasi Research
Group at MIT, this new coating is made from nontoxic materials and is
easily applied to food packaging.

The MIT startup Janus Data, which provides users with the opportunity
to monetize data, was presented the Thomson Reuters Data Prize, a
$10,000 award given to a team for the most innovative use of data as a
core part of a company’s business plan.

The winner of the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation YouPitch Prize was
the MIT startup Invisergy Corporation, which offers a transparent, solar
power generating window technology designed to offset up to 10 percent
of a building’s energy usage. This YouTube-based elevator pitch contest
was open to students around the world who were invited to present a
60-second pitch of their business ideas and then promote these videos to
solicit as many “likes” on YouTube and Facebook as possible. All teams
with over 500 “likes” were judged by an elite panel of entrepreneurs.

The MIT $100K Competition remains an economic barometer on what new
ideas are being funded by venture capitalists. Since its debut in 1989,
the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition has facilitated the birth of
more than 160 companies, which have gone on to raise $1.3 billion in
venture capital and build $16 billion in market cap. More than 30 MIT
$100K startups have been acquired by major companies such as Oracle and
Merck. Over 4,600 people are currently employed by MIT $100K companies.

Alice Francis, MIT Sloan MBA 2013 and the co-managing director of
the MIT $100K Competition with fellow MIT Sloan MBA Adam Borelli,
said at Tuesday’s finale that the renowned business plan competition
will now be referred to as the ‘launch competition’.

“This year we incorporated activities to test competitors’ ability to
set goals, execute against goals and reach milestones, to understand the
needs of their customers and adapt to feedback, and define a clear
company vision,” says Francis. “This decision was made after talking to
previous years’ semi-finalists and finalists who shared that they
weren’t solely focused on writing business plans but, rather, actually
going out and launching their companies during the contest period.
Making these changes to the competition enables the MIT $100K to provide
the best learning opportunities to MIT’s hottest startup teams as they
strive to launch.”

For more on the MIT $100K, please visit: www.mit100k.org

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mit-100k-entrepreneurship-competition-awards-163200212.html

DENVER (CBS4) Hundreds of thousands of computers could be infected with a virus, and the owners don’t even know it. The FBI is warning to check your computer now before it becomes a problem later.

The FBI discovered a breach on about 560,000 computers. Criminals changed the domain name systems, or DNS’s, on victims’ computers to redirect unsuspecting users to fraudulent websites. The victims didn’t know their Internet browsing was being manipulated.

If the rogue servers were disconnected, many people would have lost internet access. So the FBI replaced the bad equipment with clean servers to keep unsuspecting users connected to the Internet. The new equipment was always meant to be a temporary solution, and now the FBI is preparing to shut down the system in July.

That means that every computer user needs to check their computer and router to see if their equipment is infected. Here’s a step-by-step guide of what to do:

– Go to fbi.gov

– On the homepage, click on the red box where is says “DNS Malware – Is Your Computer Infected”

– Scroll down to the second bullet point, click where it says “Check Your Computer’s DNS Settings”

– Then click on first link in the table, next to the word “English”

– That will check your computer and router for the virus

If you get a big green box, your computer and router are likely in the clear. If the box is red, it indicates that either your router or your computer are infected.

The next thing you’d want to do is run security software to clean your equipment. Steve Utke of Surge Computers of Highlands Ranch recommends F-Secure Easy Clean or Malwarebytes, which are both free.

“But you’re not changing your DNS’s back to what they originally should be,” Utke told CBS4.

“And how do you do that?” asked 4 On Your Side Consumer Investigator Jodi Brooks.

“That would require an IT person to get in there,” Utke replied.

Getting those DNS’s corrected could cost as much as a few hundred dollars. The FBI encourages everyone to take security seriously. The Denver Division issued this statement:

“The FBI Denver Division wants to remind all Internet users that you must be diligent in protecting your personal computing devices to include laptops, tablets, and smart phone devices from these types of aggressive intrusions.”

RELATED: More Reports By 4 On Your Side Consumer Investigator Jodi Brooks

- Written for the Web by CBS4 Special Projects Producer Libby Smith

Article source: http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/04/26/fbi-warning-of-latent-computer-virus/

IRVINE, Calif., May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Total Car Score (www.totalcarscore.com), one of the most comprehensive automotive ranking and comparison websites, has named the 2012 Forte sedan and hatchback to its “Top Cars for College Grads” list.  This roster of over-achieving compact cars was released on the cusp of graduation season, as new college grads – along with their parents – look to purchase vehicles that are reliable and cost-conscious, while also considering factors including safety, fuel-efficiency, comfort and performance.  Beyond praise for its styling, spaciousness, technology and interior materials, the 2012 Forte was found to be the most affordable vehicle among the cars selected.

“Forte’s achievement of being named to Total Car Score’s ‘Top Cars for College Grads’ list is validation that its low cost and abundance of smart, youthful characteristics make it a natural fit for young adults who are about to enter the professional world,” said Orth Hedrick, director of product planning, Kia Motors America.  “Furthermore, as the automotive marketplace becomes increasingly competitive with higher-quality cars, the Kia Forte is poised to succeed as one of the most well-built, well-equipped cars in its class.”

Total Car Score provides a comprehensive auto rating system that lets car buyers and enthusiasts compare models from all automotive segments.  The “Total Car Score” assigned to a vehicle is an overall industry assessment that combines quantitative car reviews from various major automotive authorities, including the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“The Kia Forte is one of the best compact car values on the market today,” said Karl Brauer, chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of Total Car Score.  ”With standard features like Bluetooth®[1] hands-free phone operation, a USB port for iPod[2] connectivity and a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty[3], the Forte offers the technology and long-term quality today’s college graduates seek in a new-car purchase.”

For more information about Total Car Score’s “Top 10 List for College Grads,” visit http://www.totalcarscore.com/car-reviews/news-stories/tcs-identifies-10-best-cars-for-college-graduates.

Kia’s Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is the one of the world’s fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling.  Kia Motors America’s full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand.  In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality[4] and the industry’s highest brand loyalty ranking[5].  Kia’s U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company’s best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan.*  Kia’s value and technology-laden 2012 model year lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and LPGA.  In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

About Total Car Score
Total Car Score is an automotive research and comparison website that establishes a new industry-wide standard for ranking every car, truck, van and crossover on the market. TotalCarScore.com evaluates and ranks cars according to an aggregate score based on the most trusted automotive authorities available. The site also features original content, reviews and insights from a veteran automotive journalism and data team. For more information, please go to www.totalcarscore.com.

* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are built in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

[1] The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Kia is under license. Other trademarks and tradenames are those of their respective owners. A compatible Bluetooth® wireless technology enabled cell phone is required to use Bluetooth® wireless technology.
[2] Kia accessory cable required for iPod® connectivity on vehicles equipped with navigation system. iPod® is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
[3] Warranty is a powertrain warranty and is limited. See retailer for warranty details or go to kia.com.
[4] Source: Automotive Lease Guide Spring 2011 Perceived Quality Study
[5] Source: Experian Automotive Q2 2011 market analysis

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/total-car-score-names-2012-100000083.html

Also announces new 4K lenses for its growing line-up of 4K solutions

By George Winslow — Broadcasting Cable, 4/19/2012 5:31:25 PM

Complete Coverage: NAB 2012

In another sign of the growing importance of 4K imaging, which offers much higher resolutions and picture quality than the current HD standard, Canon announced that it is developing two digital cinematography cameras as part of its new Cinema EOS System of professional cinematography products.

The new cameras are the Cinema EOS C500, which is designed for use with EF-mount lenses, and the Cinema EOS C500 PL, which will use PL-mount lenses. Both are capable of offering 4K (4096 x 2160-pixel) resolution with uncompressed RAW output for external recording.

The cameras follow Canon’s push into digital cinematography last fall with the launch of the EOS C300 HD camera. The new 4K cameras are designed to tap into growing interest in higher resolution imaging for film production and it is particularly important for big-budget motion pictures that include scenes compositing live-action cinematography with high-resolution computer-generated imagery.

But in the company is also seeing strong interest among producers of prime-time network series and bigger budget cable fare for HBO and other channels. Many of those shows had traditionally been done on film but in the last five years producers have been moving to digital video. The new 4K cameras from Canon and others would offer a very high quality alternative to film.

The Cinema EOS C500/C500 PL digital cinematography cameras will not only support 4K-resolution video but also outputs images as a 10-bit uncompressed RAW data stream with no de-Bayering. They can also output quad full HD (3840 x 2160), which is the format preferred by TV producers, 2K (2048 x 1080), full HD (1920 x 1080), and other options.

Canon expects to bring the cameras to market later this year. No pricing has been set but it is expected that they will have a suggested list price of approximately $30,000.

Also at the show, Canon continued to expand its line of 4K lenses and announced that it was developing a display monitor with 4K resolution for use in such professional applications as color grading, image quality management in VFX/CG production and checking image quality on location.

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Article source: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/483380-NAB_Canon_Launches_New_4K_Cameras.php?rssid=20065

Enterprise Holdings, the most comprehensive service provider in the car rental industry, operates the flagship Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand as well as the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands. Founded in 1957, Enterprise has always focused on community transportation needs, renting cars where customers live and work. In fact, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car network — with 5,500 branch offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population — has more than twice as many neighborhood locations as its nearest competitor and is renowned for offering affordable, accessible and flexible local car rental service in towns and cities of all sizes.

Mint’s services will be offered under its current brand name initially. However, the Mint car-sharing vehicles will immediately be incorporated into the local Enterprise car-rental fleets in the New York City and Boston regions — and operated as a natural extension of the Enterprise home-city business model, which already includes a wide variety of car leasing, vanpooling and hourly rental programs.

By year’s end, all of Enterprise’s car-sharing services throughout the country — including WeCar by Enterprise, PhillyCarShare and Mint — will be transitioned to the Enterprise Car Share brand name. “We have been anticipating and meeting local transportation needs for more than 55 years, so underscoring car-sharing’s connection to the Enterprise name and legacy makes perfect sense,” explained Ryan Johnson, assistant vice president for Enterprise Holdings.

Leadership and Strength
“We also intuitively understand what it takes to run a successful and sustainable car-rental operation in a highly competitive marketplace, regardless of whether vehicles are being rented for an hour, a day, a week or longer,” Johnson noted.

Richard Ull, who founded Mint in 2008, agrees. “I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished thus far in the New York and Boston markets in such a short time,” he noted. “But thanks to Enterprise’s industry leadership and financial strength, our business will evolve and jump to the next level — and our car-sharing members will not only have access to a larger and newer fleet, but be supported by a team renowned for its community focus and customer-service excellence.”

Ull, who has more than 10 years’ experience in the New York parking business, grew the Mint network to more than 40 locations across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Boston in just four years. Ull now brings his knowledge forward and will manage Enterprise’s newest car-sharing division, and help the company incorporate Mint’s “best practices” into its existing policies and procedures. This process will be managed carefully for the long term, as Enterprise is known for taking its time with acquisitions and for ensuring that integrations take critical operational, financial and personnel issues into account. Almost all of Mint’s staff members have been offered positions in their respective cities.

Ideal Partnership
Johnson sees today’s acquisition as the beginning of an ideal partnership, since car-sharing services are basically a form of local car rental, only with different technology.

For example, two years ago, a New York Supreme Court Justice found that car sharing “is in ‘the trade or business of renting or leasing motor vehicles’ as those words are traditionally and plainly understood.” In addition, the judge wrote: “This bargain — use of a car in exchange for a fee — appears little different from ‘traditional rental car’ companies…”

In addition, last year Auto Rental News magazine published an editorial titled “Should Car Sharing Get a Pass on Excise Taxes?” In it, Editor Chris Brown stated: “…I see car sharing as part of the evolution of auto rental, an offshoot of the neighborhood car rental market that took hold in the 1980s. Back then, local communities were looking for transportation solutions that were met by smaller, conveniently located branches. Later, car sharing came along to meet the needs of specific community, urban dwellers, while automating the process. Separating car sharing from car rental will become increasingly harder moving forward. Car sharing is growing out of its original urban core and into university environments, corporate campuses, government fleets, suburbia and even airports — all areas in which traditional car rental is already part of the transportation lexicon.”

Johnson pointed out that this fundamental principle — which makes the Enterprise-Mint partnership so powerful — also means that car-sharing members are subject to unfair car rental taxes. “We have a strong track record on this issue,” he said. “We remain committed as ever to our well-documented fight against discriminatory car rental excise taxes on behalf of car-rental and car-sharing customers everywhere.”

Grassroots Sustainability
“We likewise remain committed to comprehensive, long-term local transportation planning,” stated Lee Broughton, head of corporate sustainability for Enterprise Holdings. “So strategic acquisitions like this underscore the sustainable nature of our longtime grassroots strategy from a social, environmental and economic perspective.”

For instance, Enterprise’s local car rental branches enable millions of consumers to try late-model, fuel-efficient models and even new technologies, including electric vehicles and hybrids, for consideration of purchase or just out of curiosity. As a result, Broughton said, Enterprise is uniquely positioned to use its unparalleled network and environmentally friendly car rental options as a sort of “petri dish” to promote new alternatives and prove their feasibility in the marketplace.

In addition, Enterprise has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation and the United States Forest Service to plant 1 million trees throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as part of the Enterprise 50 Million Tree Pledge. The company also has joined forces with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the largest independent plant research center in the world, to establish the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels.

“We also often reach out to organizations like the Electrification Coalition, the Transportation Sustainability Research Center, the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative, and the National League of Cities’ Sustainable Cities Institute — all of whom help broaden discussions about local mobility and the transportation value chain,” Broughton added.

Economic Impact
Enterprise works hard to align the interests of its customers, employees and business partners with the long-term interest of its business. Today, with annual revenues of $14.1 billion and more than 70,000 employees, Enterprise Holdings owns and operates, through its regional subsidiaries, more than 1.2 million cars and trucks, making it the largest car rental company in the world measured by revenue, employees and fleet. Enterprise Holdings also is the only investment-grade company in the U.S. car rental industry. Ranked No. 15 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies, Enterprise Holdings is owned by the Taylor family and headquartered in St. Louis.

A typical Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch office makes a significant contribution to the local economy — generating millions of dollars in economic impact each year — by hiring people locally, buying and selling cars locally, paying local taxes and contributing to local charities. “Mint is now part of the Enterprise family and an integral part of our local ‘transportation solution,’” Johnson stated. “We think this is a great fit and completely in sync with our approach to doing business for the long term.”

Note: For more information about Enterprise Holdings’ Corporate Sustainability Report or the company’s environmental stewardship and long-term commitment to the sustainability of its business, visit www.DrivingFutures.com.

For more information, contact:
Laura Bryant
Enterprise Holdings
314-512-4178
Email Contact

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/enterprise-holdings-acquiring-mint-cars-133000883.html

The Agence métropolitaine de transport may add two cars to the 10-car train sets now used, AMT president Paul Côté told The Gazette. The extra cars would increase capacity on the crowded line, but the AMT is still studying the possibility and it’s unclear when extra cars could be added, he said.

“We may have a different approach to increasing capacity,” Côté said. “We have started a study to see if we can increase the size (of trains)” from 10 to 12 cars.

Deux Montagnes serves the West Island and reaches into Laval and the north shore.

In total, current trains on Deux Montagnes have 900 seats. The AMT has said that at rush hour. they often carry more than 1,800 people. New double-decker cars, now in use on other lines, would significantly boost capacity.

But on Deux Montagnes, the AMT’s only electric-powered line, the double-deckers can only be used with new dual-mode locomotives the AMT has purchased.

Those locomotives are out of service until the Transportation Safety Board completes its investigation of a derailment of one of the locomotives at Central Station in December. Côté said it’s unclear when the investigation will be completed.

Current trains on the line are self-propelled coaches and do not require locomotives.

The AMT ordered 20 of the Bombardier locomotives for $308 million. The one that derailed was the first put in service. Described by Bombardier as a “North American first,” they can switch between diesel and electric.

Côté made the comments Wednesday before an AMT public meeting. At the meeting, the AMT said: – It hopes to add six more weekday trains on the Vaudreuil-Hudson line after upgrades announced in March are completed. More trains could be added “in the near future,” Côté said.

- By June, screens at six train stations will start alerting riders to late and cancelled trains in addition to the scheduled times now displayed. By October, screens at 29 stations are to offer real-time info. All 51 stations are to be equipped by early-2013. Promised in 2009, the rollout of the $3.5-million network of display screens has been repeatedly delayed.

- It is working on a plan to simplify public transit fares in the Montreal region. Currently, various transit agencies offer more than 700 different types of fares. But don’t expect changes soon. A preliminary report is only due at the end of 2013.

- It’s on track for ridership to hit 18 million this year, up from 16.6 million in 2011.

- The Train de l’Est, mired in cost-overruns and delays, should be up and running at the end of 2013.

ariga@montrealgazette.com Twitter: @andyriga

Article source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/amt-may-add-more-rail-cars-070200314.html