March 2007 Archives

Good news, golf fans! AT&T; announced this week that you can now enjoy more of the 2007 Masters Tournament as the company launches its first major content initiative across the three screens central to customers' lives: the wireless device, the TV and the PC.

Under an agreement with the Masters, AT&T; will provide golf fans with access to Masters previews and daily highlights, live tournament and practice range coverage, player interviews, live updates, links to real-time scoreboards and more. Masters coverage will be available through AT&T; blue room, AT&T; U-verse^SM TV, AT&T; Homezone^SM service, AT&T; U-verse OnTheGo, AT&T; Broadband TV, and Cingular, now AT&T;, wireless service. Live video, including Masters Extra and Amen Corner Live, real-time scoring and additional information is also available on the Masters official Web site, masters.org.

The deal furthers the company's commitment to deliver compelling content across the three screens. AT&T; offers customers a wide variety of content through a portfolio of advanced video, broadband and wireless services, bringing customers more of the entertainment they enjoy and strengthening programmers' and advertisers' connections with new and loyal audiences.

"By extending the excitement of the 2007 Masters Tournament across the three screens, AT&T; is giving golf fans more ways to enjoy one of the greatest traditions in all of sports," said Dan York, head of content and programming, AT&T; Entertainment Services. "As audiences look to get content on the range of digital devices, three-screen entertainment is the future. The Masters recognizes that successful programming translates to all three screens, which AT&T; can deliver to consumers, programmers and advertisers."

For more information, check out the AT&T; press release.

DiversityInc has named Verizon Communications to the number six position on the magazine's 2007 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list. Verizon has consistently been among the magazine's top ranked companies for diversity.

"Verizon Communications is much different from the average corporation; it is a true champion of diversity," said Luke Visconti, partner and cofounder of DiversityInc.

This is the first time Verizon Business was included in the application process, along with Verizon's wireline and wireless business groups. Verizon also ranked number three for the recruitment and retention of women and minorities and number eight in recruitment and retention of African-American employees.

The 50 companies, selected from among 317 submissions, were announced during a live video Webcast on March 21.

Verizon established its supplier diversity program more than 20 years ago to create mutually beneficial business relationships with a diverse body of suppliers, a process that strengthens communities and creates value for shareholders. Verizon's goal is to increase year-over-year spending with companies owned and managed by minorities, women, people with disabilities and Vietnam-era and service-disabled veterans. Verizon spent $2.6 billion last year with such businesses.

In March, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council again named Verizon one of the top American corporations for women's business enterprises. The winners were selected on the basis of their world-class supplier diversity programs, which offer equal access for women's business enterprises in competing for, and winning, corporate contracts for goods and services.

The council also named Verizon one of the top American corporations for women's business enterprises in 2006. Also this year, Verizon earned a Top 10 ranking on Black MBA magazine's list of Top 50 Companies for African-American MBAs to Work. In 2006, Verizon was recognized as a leader in workplace practices in numerous benchmarks including BusinessWeek, Working Mother magazine, LatinaStyle and Black Enterprise.

Verizon says that diversity is part of the company's culture and an integral part of its business strategy, which cuts across all business groups and functions—from human resources and supplier relations, to marketing and philanthropy.

Through its philanthropic arm, the Verizon Foundation, Verizon contributed more than $31 million in 2006 to charitable causes and organizations that serve minority communities across the country.

Verizon says depends on the unique talents, perspectives and experiences of all employees in an increasingly competitive marketplace to be a leader in the delivery of broadband and other communication innovations.

Minority employees account for nearly 34 percent of Verizon's work force and make up nearly 38 percent of Verizon's management team. The company's recruitment strategy depends on forming partnerships with colleges and universities as well as professional and community-based organizations. Employees can create their own road map for advancement through mentoring, training, education initiatives, and through development and leadership initiatives that target high-performing employees, with a special focus on identifying women and minorities for developmental opportunities.

For more information, check out the press release DiversityInc Magazine Ranks Verizon No. 6 on Publication's List of Top 50 Companies for Diversity.

Game developer Digital Leisure announced this week the release of Dragon's Lair, the first high definition-video game to be offered on Blu-ray disc.

An instant hit in its 1983 arcade debut, Dragon's Lair has now been digitally restored and enhanced with an all-new 5.1 surround sound mix. The video has been transferred directly from the original film and cleaned frame by frame by Digital Leisure and authoring studio Infinite HD. In addition, Dragon's Lair is the first release to be authored in the Blu-ray Java environment, or BD-J, an advanced format that allows users to enjoy a fully arcade-authentic experience.

"I've seen the newly restored footage and it just looks amazing" says Don Bluth, original creator of Dragon's Lair. "It looks even better than I can remember. The visuals, the 5.1 surround sound audio, all I can say is 'Wow!' Now a whole new generation can enjoy Dragon's Lair all over again."

All the special features on the disc are in full 1080p HD, including brand-new interviews with creators Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and Rick Dyer, and even a full-length visual commentary of the game.

Digital Leisure plans to follow up Dragon's Lair Blu-ray with the release of Space Ace and Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp in the Blu-ray format.

Dragon's Lair Blu-ray will be available April 9 at software and movie retailers as well as online.

For more information, check out the press release.

A federal judge dealt a serious blow to Vonage last week that sent the company's stock plunging. U.S. District Court Judge Claude Hilton said he would issue a permanent injunction against the VoIP company that will bar it from using patented technology owned by Verizon Communications.

Hilton said the injunction, which followed a jury decision that Vonage had infringed on three Verizon patents, is required because monetary damages do nothing to "prevent continued erosion of the client base of the plaintiff." However, he won't formally enter the injunction for another two weeks, while he considers Vonage's request for a stay of either 120 days or until its appeal is heard at another hearing that was originally scheduled for Friday, April 6.

Vonage has seen its share price fall 80 percent since its initial public offering last year as a result of legal challenges and heightened competition. Vonage tried to reassure customers concerned by the judge's ruling, just as the company did following the jury decision earlier this month.

"We are confident Vonage customers will not experience service interruptions or other changes as a result of this litigation," Vonage Chief Executive Mike Snyder said in a statement released last week following the judges comments.

According to a recent Dow Jones report, Vonage has been vague in describing how an injunction would affect its services, other than it plans to use a technology "workaround" to avoid infringement of the Verizon patents. They also say that It's relatively common in these cases to keep the solutions under wraps until they are required to be used. Vonage filed a legal brief on the issue under seal.

For more information, check out the Smart Money article Judge Sides With Verizon Over Vonage.

AT&T; recently announced a $500,000 contribution to After-School All-Stars, which targets at-risk middle school children across the country. The contribution will specifically support after-school programs at the San Antonio, Texas and San Diego, Los Angeles and San Jose, California affiliates. The goal of the program is to offer children positive alternatives to drugs, gangs and violence by providing opportunities for them to focus on technology, education, sports and life skills.

Serving 60,000 youth annually through after-school and summer programs in 14 U.S. cities, After-School All-Stars improves the lives of children by providing a place where they can nurture their minds, bodies and spirits through programs that incorporate independent learning, academics and enrichment activities. The AT&T; contribution will support the organization's efforts to increase the capacity of the national office in order to provide value-added services to the San Antonio, Texas, and three California affiliates. The contribution will also help to implement a best-practices-sharing program to continually increase program quality and capacity. Since 2004, AT&T; has contributed $1,254,000 to the After-School All-Stars program.

In 1990, Arnold Schwarzenegger was appointed to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and traveled to schools all over the U.S. to promote physical fitness. The following year, Schwarzenegger was invited to serve as executive commissioner of the Inner-City Games (ICG), a project of the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Los Angeles bringing sports programs and events to at-risk kids. Seeing the potential to serve kids nationwide, Schwarzenegger founded the Inner-City Games Foundation (ICGF) and took the program to cities around the nation. In 2003, the ICGF expanded to include not just sports but also after-school and summer programs focusing on academics, homework assistance, community service and life skills. In 2003, the ICGF changed its name to After-School All-Stars.

More than 15 million children in the United States have no place to go after school. Law enforcement has labeled the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. as the "danger zone"—when kids are more likely to engage in activities that involve drugs, alcohol and gang activity, as well as become susceptible to crime and violence. In many instances, the only time children participate in extracurricular activities like physical education, music, drama and community service activities is in after-school programs.

"AT&T; is committed to providing educational opportunities for youth. Through this contribution, we hope to help strengthen the future for kids and position them for lifelong success," said Lora Watts, AT&T; senior vice president of Customer Events Management and ASAS board member. "We are thankful for the leadership of Governor Schwarzenegger and Governor Perry for supporting programs that build opportunities for our children."

"Education will always be a priority for Texas, and we welcome new ideas and programs that will help all of our youth succeed in the academic arena. We thank the After-School All-Stars organization for bringing this crucial investment to San Antonio and to the many students who will benefit from its after-school programs, tutoring and educational resources," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry. "It takes a community to make a difference in the lives of at-risk students, especially in the teenage years when they are most deeply influenced by the people around them. This program brings those community elements together to do just that."

For more information about the After-School All-Stars program, visit www.afterschoolallstars.org..

Even if you follow all of the energy-saving tips we've posted over the last year, there are still more ways you can cut down on the amount of energy you use and save on your utility bills. Take your refrigerator, for instance. According to Chris Hall, president of RepairClinic.com®, refrigerators are the most attention-deprived household appliance.

"It's true that refrigerators just keep on ticking—often with minimal care—but many problems we see are a result of homeowners not taking simple steps to ensure their refrigerator is operating at peak efficiency," says Hall.

Here are some areas RepairClinic.com say need attention often, and some fixes you can easily implement:

1. Keep the door shut - The refrigerator and freezer door gaskets provide a tight seal to keep the cool in and warm air out. If the gaskets are torn or bent, or if the door isn't closing tightly, the refrigerator will have to work overtime to keep its contents cold.

To avoid this problem, inspect the gaskets all the way around and check for any tears or rips. If the gasket is torn, replace it. If there is a gap where the gasket meets the refrigerator/freezer, you might be able to correct this by loosening the screws that retain the gasket to the door. Then, gently twist the door so that the gasket makes contact, and tighten the screws.

2. Look for dusty coils - The condenser coils on self-defrosting refrigerators are fan-cooled and must be kept clean. Look for black, radiator-like coils underneath the refrigerator -- you may have to remove the toe-kick grill on the front to gain access to them. On older refrigerators, they may be on the back.

To keep them clean, use a special condenser cleaning brush (a long, narrow bristle brush), fitted to your vacuum cleaner to remove deposits from the coils once a year. If you have pets, clean them more often.

3. Don't crowd the appliance - If the refrigerator never seems to stop cooling, there may be inadequate clearance around the appliance, restricting airflow to the cooling coils.

If the condenser coils on your fridge are on the back, make sure there's at least one inch between them and the wall behind the unit. If they are underneath, make sure the bottom front of the refrigerator is clear so that cool air can reach them.

For additional maintenance and cleaning tips, as well as more information about RepairClinic.com, check out the press release RepairClinic.com Publishes Energy-Saving Tips for Refrigerators.

Improving for a third consecutive year, business customer satisfaction with electric utility providers has reached historically high levels, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study^SM released today. The study's nationwide customer satisfaction index has increased considerably—from 667 points on a 1,000-point scale in 2006 to 690 in 2007.

Utilities are doing a great job in offering price and customer service options, both of which improve customer satisfaction," said Alan Destribats, vice president of the energy utility practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "In addition, utilities are now focused on talking directly to their business customers via proactive telephone contacts and on-site visits. Business customers have responded positively to this attention."

The study is based on interviews with representatives of more than 12,900 U.S. businesses that spend between $500 and $50,000 monthly on electricity. Overall customer satisfaction is measured through six factors: power quality and reliability, customer service, company image, billing and payment, price, and communications.

Businesses served by the largest 55 electric utilities in the United States rate their experiences better across all components in 2007, with price and communications attributes registering the largest increases.

For more information, check out the press release J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Satisfaction of Business Customers With Electric Utilities Reaches All-Time High.

Baseball has long been regarded as the sport best suited to radio. The pace of the game allows legendary announcers like Vin Scully and Bob Uecker to "paint the picture" in the listener's mind.

Americans have been tuning into baseball on the radio ever since Pittsburgh's KDKA became the first station to air the game 85 years ago. Historically, you could hear the home team on a local station, and with some effort, you could pick up a game from a different city through the crackle.

But now, thanks to XM Satellite Radio, Major League Baseball fans can listen to every game for every team on the radio. XM airs the full line-up of 2,400-plus MLB games every season from Opening Night to the final game of the World Series. XM customers hear the games live and nationwide on satellite radios for the car, home, office, and portable use.

No matter where they live, baseball fans can listen to Scully calling a Dodgers game from Los Angeles, then turn the XM dial to hear Uecker wax profound about Milwaukee, then flip to Joe Castiglione live at Fenway Park in Boston.

For Opening Night on April 1, the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals will host the New York Mets at Busch Stadium. Fans across the U.S. can hear the hometown broadcasts for each team and the ESPN Radio broadcast on three separate XM channels. The day before, XM will air the inaugural Civil Rights Game in Memphis, an exhibition game featuring the Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians.

To celebrate the season's start, XM will launch a special radio channel called Play Ball!. The channel will feature a rich mix of music and vintage audio that captures the spirit of Opening Day. XM is digging deep into its musical library for gems like Ruth Brown's R&B; stomp "Baseball Boogie" and favorites like Terry Cashman's "Talkin' Baseball." Listeners will hear spoken-word treasures like Abbott & Costello's "Who's on First," James Earl Jones' dramatic reading of "Casey at the Bat," and archival recordings of classic baseball calls. The channel will play the baseball-themed episode of Bob Dylan's XM show "Theme Time Radio Hour," which was added to the archive of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. XM's "Baseball Confidential," featuring candid conversations with legends of the game, will also be featured. The Play Ball! channel will air on XM from March 30 to April 2 on XM Channel 200.

In addition to the full schedule of games, XM has the nation's only 24- hour talk radio channel devoted to baseball. MLB Home Plate (XM Channel 175) covers every aspect of the sport 365 days a year with call-in shows, round- the-clock news updates, and exclusive interviews.

Cal Ripken, Jr., who will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July, hosts the show "Ripken Baseball" on MLB Home Plate with his brother and fellow major league veteran Billy Ripken.

XM also offers Spanish play-by-play game coverage and baseball talk on the channel MLB En Espanol.

"Major League Baseball is the ultimate radio sport, and XM is the ultimate place to hear all the games on the radio," said Eric Logan, executive vice president, programming, XM Satellite Radio. "A lot of the appeal of baseball on XM stems from the fact that displaced fans can hear their favorite teams from a thousand miles away. You can hear John Sterling calling the game at Yankee Stadium, whether you live in Manhattan or Miami. For people who love the sport like we do, XM's got the games, the news, and the analysis you can't hear anyplace else."

For more information, check out the XM press release.

Netflix said it recently delivered the one billionth DVD since the company's subscription service was launched in September 1999. The milestone was reached on Feb. 24, when the drama Babel arrived at the home of a subscriber in Helotes, Texas, from Netflix's distribution center in Houston.

Netflix said it viewed the one billionth delivery as symbolic of the company's rapid subscriber growth, high levels of customer satisfaction and a record of operational excellence. Netflix's service is widely recognized as among the best and most reliable in Internet commerce and has for four consecutive polls been named the number one Web site for customer satisfaction by the independent researchers ForeSee Results and FGI Research.

The company said it would give the recipient of the milestone DVD a free lifetime membership to Netflix and would also mark the occasion with an update to the theme line of its current TV advertising campaign, which will now read "Over one billion movies delivered so far. Zero late fees." The theme had previously referred to "Nearly one billion ???"

The one billion deliveries span a movie library that now numbers 70,000 titles. On September 23, 1999, the day Netflix inaugurated its subscription service from a small warehouse in San Jose, Calif., the title count was barely north of 2,000. Subscriber destinations that day included Tucson, Arizona (True Crime), Annapolis, Maryland (Analyze This) and Pottstown, Pennsylvania (Dr. Strangelove). Today, Netflix serves more than 6.3 million subscribers and ships approximately 1.5 million of its trademark red mailers per day from 42 distribution centers geographically dispersed across the United States.

"A billion of anything is a lot and it's certainly a nice round number," said Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix. "What it really says to us, however, is that we've been lucky to have such supportive customers over the last seven years and that we've provided them with a distinctive customer experience."

The road to a billion deliveries passed a number of markers. The company delivered its 100,000th DVD in October 1999, its one millionth the following month and its 100 millionth in May 2003. Over the years, the service's five most frequently rented movies have been, in order, Crash, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Walk the Line, Hotel Rwanda, and Million Dollar Baby.

For more information, check out the press release One Billion & Counting: Netflix Reaches Service Milestone With Delivery of One Billionth DVD Since Launch of Business.

NSTAR is looking to lower summer natural gas prices by 26 percent this May. The company has submitted a summer rate of 87 cents per therm, down from last summer???s cost of $1.19. If approved by the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy, the price cut will save the average NSTAR Gas heating customer about $12 a month.

"Higher inventories of natural gas have helped hold the line on increasing prices and we???re always pleased when we can pass on such significant savings to our customers," said Thomas J. May, NSTAR Chairman, President and CEO. "While energy supply prices remain higher than we???d all like to see, clearly a 26 percent drop is welcome news."

If the proposed cost is approved, the average NSTAR Gas heating customer using 38 therms of gas a month between May and October will pay approximately $56 a month, down from $68 last summer. The average NSTAR Gas non-heating customer using 12 therms of gas a month will pay about $24 a month, down from $28.

The Cost of Gas Adjustment reflects a six-month forecast for the price of natural gas, with no profit made by NSTAR on this charge. The proposed rate reflects normal differences between winter and summer prices and the continued volatility of fuel prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

NSTAR transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including over one million electric customers in 81 communities and nearly 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities.

For more information, check out the NSTAR press release.

APS isn't the only one being recognized by the EPA and DOE. Lowe's has received the 2007 Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award for its contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by marketing and promoting energy-efficient products and solutions.

This is the fifth consecutive year the company has been recognized for its efforts in championing energy-efficient products and consumer education. Lowe's will also be recognized by the DOE and EPA at the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 21.

Lowe's received the award for its comprehensive fall program promoting products that earn the ENERGY STAR label by meeting EPA and DOE's guidelines for energy efficiency. The month-long program was highlighted by a nationwide "Save Energy, Save Money" education day on Sept. 30, during which Lowe's stores offered free energy-saving tips and demonstrations.

Lowe's continued helping consumers throughout October's National Energy Awareness Month by hosting free weekly "How-To" clinics offering homeowners practical energy efficiency tips. The clinics promoted the use of energy- efficient products and educated consumers on the value of the ENERGY STAR program.

"Over the course of a year, the ENERGY STAR products purchased from Lowe's save customers more than $3.8 million on their energy bills," said Bob Gfeller, Lowe's senior vice president, marketing and advertising. "We're proud to be recognized as an ENERGY STAR partner and remain committed to helping our customers save money and protect the environment."

By choosing ENERGY STAR qualified products, the typical household can save up to 30 percent on its energy bills - more than $600 per year - while improving home comfort and helping the environment. Last year alone, with the help of ENERGY STAR, Americans saved $14 billion on their energy bills and enough peak energy to power 70 power plants. Through those savings they avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 25 million vehicles.

"Partners such as Lowe's are helping to promote energy efficiency in all aspects of our lives," said Bill Wehrum, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "Lowe's excels at educating consumers about the financial and environmental benefits of ENERGY STAR products."

The Excellence in ENERGY STAR Outreach award is given to organizations to recognize their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings. Award winners are selected from more than 9,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

For more information, check out the Lowe's press release.

AT&T; Inc. announced today that the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations, has named AT&T; as one of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises.

AT&T; and BellSouth, acquired by AT&T; in late 2006, were selected for this honor after successfully demonstrating that the companies had made a substantive commitment, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to enhance contracting opportunities for women business enterprises (WBEs). WBENC will recognize the company and other corporate leaders that demonstrate best practices for supporting women's business enterprises in the March 16 issue of Fortune Small Business magazine. AT&T; and the former BellSouth will also receive the Women's Business Enterprise Award on March 30 at a special awards presentation held in conjunction with WBENC's 2007 Salute to Women's Business Enterprises: The Enterprising Economy in Dallas, Texas.

In recognizing AT&T;, Linda Denny, interim president of WBENC, said, "AT&T; has 'raised the bar' with respect to implementing and innovating best practices in purchasing from women's business enterprises. We are recognizing AT&T; as one of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises because the company has made a number of significant contributions that proactively integrate WBEs at all levels within its supply chain. AT&T; is also very consistent, year over year, in its ongoing commitment to this important group of vendors."

"We are honored to receive this award from WBENC. Supplier diversity is an integral part of AT&T;'s business strategy, and we pride ourselves on our world-class WBE initiatives," said Maureen Merkle, president-Procurement, AT&T.; "Like AT&T;, the former BellSouth has always had a strong commitment to supplier diversity. Now that we are AT&T;, we are in an even stronger position to cultivate valuable relationships with women-owned and diverse businesses in the communities we serve."

This is the eighth consecutive year that AT&T; has received this honor from WBENC. The company has been included among the Top Corporations since the list's inception. In 2005, AT&T; spent $2.4 billion with diverse suppliers, representing 15 percent of its procurement base, including more than $760 million with women-owned businesses. In fostering diversity and inclusion, AT&T; has created a better business environment, one that makes the company an employer of choice, a preferred business partner and an important contributor to the community.

For more information, check out the AT&T; press release.

In honor of the new Daylight Savings Time, there has been a lot in the news about energy efficiency this week. For instance, NSTAR is launching a new energy advice column on its Web site called Bill's Bright Ideas. Featuring tips and facts from NSTAR's energy expert Bill Stack, the monthly column will highlight the many programs and rebates available to help customers lower their energy use and save money.

"We're always looking for new ways to let our customers know about the savings opportunities available to them," said Penni Conner, NSTAR's Vice President of Customer Care. "Bill's new Bright Ideas column will help us to share his energy-savings expertise with folks at their convenience in the comfort of their homes."

The debut column discusses the energy-saving benefits of lowering home heating temperatures and rebates available for purchasing programmable thermostats. The savings by reducing in-home temperatures by just a few degrees at night make this month's column a must read for anyone interested in taking control of their energy bills.

To read this month's column, click on the Bill's Bright Ideas link in the News section of www.nstar.com. It's a great new way to get up-to-date information about a hot topic that's on everyone's mind.

Approximately 15 million Americans were victimized by some sort of identity-theft related fraud in the 12 months ending in mid-2006, according to a survey by Gartner Inc. These statistics represent more than a 50 percent increase since 2003 when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported 9.9 million American adult identity theft victims.

According to the Gartner survey of 5,000 online U.S. adults in August 2006, the average loss was $3,257 in 2006, up from $1,408 in 2005. At the same time, the percentage of funds consumers managed to recover dropped from 87 percent in 2005 to 61 percent in 2006.

"Hackers are exploiting Internet auctions, nonregulated money transmittal systems, the ability to impersonate lottery and sweepstake contests, and other types of imaginative scams," said Avivah Litan, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. "The thieves have also discovered the weakest links in the U.S. payments systems. Typically, the weak links are found among the five or more million businesses that accept electronic payments from consumers, and the consumers themselves."

Electronic theft of sensitive information is a leading cause of certain types of fraud, including credit card, debit/ATM card and bank account transfer fraud. This is not the case with check forgery and new account fraud, where in-person data theft is the leading cause.

"All sensitive electronic data needs to be protected, but enterprises should be aware that the low hanging fruit for the criminals is electronic card and checking account numbers, as well as user IDs and passwords for online financial accounts," Ms. Litan said.

The average loss on new account fraud more than doubled from $2,678 in 2005 to $5,962 in 2006. Unauthorized charges to credit cards rose nearly fourfold from an average of $734 in 2005 to $2,550 in 2006. This trend reconciles with a trend cited by various U.S. card issuers who reported large increases in counterfeit card fraud in 2006. Similarly, there were large increases in checking account transfer fraud and "other" noncategorized types of fraud (for example, scams exploiting eBay, PayPal and phone companies).

"Oftentimes, consumers have no idea how criminals hijack their accounts and/or identities," Ms. Litan said. "They also typically have no clue if one or more of their personal attributes, such as their social security number, is used to piece together a new fictitious identity in a phenomenon typically referred to as synthetic identity fraud."

Regardless of the method used to steal data to commit new account fraud, the fraud itself can be largely prevented by using identity verification and scoring services.

"Enterprises that store credit card, debit/ATM card and bank account data should expect electronic data breaches and/or hacks, and migrate away from that practice while protecting their systems accordingly until they are able to do so," Ms. Litan said. "Rule-makers debating identity-theft legislation should consider comprehensive financial protection for consumers who lose money to fraud that goes beyond disparate regulations in place today. Service providers should pay for this protection when data or accounts under their custody are breached."

For more information, check out the press release.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have named APS an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for outstanding contributions in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting energy-efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to customers. Specifically, APS won for Program Delivery of its Residential Lighting initiative.

"Partners like APS have had an outstanding year in helping consumers help themselves," said Bill Wehurm, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "In addition to leading the way in promoting products that earn the ENERGY STAR, APS also works to educate consumers about the importance of energy efficiency. These efforts are a win for consumers and for the environment."

Tom Hines, APS Residential Lighting Program manager said, "The award supports our vision for a more sustainable future. By helping our customers use smarter technology like CFLs we are able to save energy, improve the environment and shape a better future for us all. Our program is making a difference one bulb at a time."

According to ENERGY STAR, when you use less energy at home, you lessen greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere. The EPA estimates that every CFL can prevent more than 450 pounds of emissions from a power plant over the life of the bulb. "The EPA calculation translates into reduced greenhouse gas emissions of 450,000 tons over the life of the CFLs sold in the APS program," said Hines.

Since APS introduced the program in the fall of 2005, almost two million CFLs have been sold at reduced pricing throughout the state. Those sales also mean estimated energy savings of more than 500 million kilowatt-hours&mdashenough; energy to power over 40,000 homes for one year and save consumers about $50 million in energy costs over the life of the bulbs.

CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs, generate less heat and last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.

Hines said APS more than doubled its original 2006 sales target of the bulbs from 600,000 to more than 1.2 million bulbs. The program was approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission and is paid for by all APS customers.

APS will be formally recognized for the program accomplishments at an EPA awards ceremony in Washington D.C. on March 21, 2007.

For more on this award, check out the article APS lights up at EPA awards.

In an effort to lower the nation's energy consumption, the federal government passed the 2005 Federal Energy Policy Act, which includes advancing Daylight Saving Time, beginning this year, from the first Sunday in April to the second Sunday in March to encourage energy savings. The extra hour of daylight is expected to reduce the use of lights and small appliances, which can account for up to 25 percent of a typical homeowner's power consumption. Using less energy means saving money on utility bills.

So as you "Spring Forward" by turning your clock an hour ahead this Sunday, March 11, at 2:00 a.m., Pacific Gas and Electric Company offers some simple things you can do to conserve energy and lower your bill:

• Turn off unneeded lights, computers and appliances.
• Clean or change your central heating and air conditioning filter monthly.
• Install programmable thermostats on central air conditioners and timers on lamps.
• Seal air leaks around pipes, flues and vents that pass through exterior walls, ceilings or floors.
• Install energy efficient appliances and windows.

For more information, check out the PG&E; press release.

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has named Verizon one of the top American corporations for women's business enterprises. The council says that the winners were selected on the basis of their world-class supplier diversity programs, which offer equal access for women's business enterprises in competing for, and winning, corporate contracts for goods and services.

"Verizon is a leader in enriching the value chain by working with innovative and highly competitive women's business enterprises," said WBENC interim President Linda Denny. "By leveling the playing field for women's businesses across their organization, Verizon is rewarded with outstanding products and services that benefit their customers and their shareholders."

Established more than 20 years ago, the Verizon Supplier Diversity Program works to create mutually beneficial business relationships with a diverse body of suppliers, a process that strengthens communities and creates value for shareholders. Verizon's goal is to increase year-over-year spending with companies owned and managed by minorities, women, people with disabilities and Vietnam-era and service-disabled veterans (MWDVBE).

The WBENC also named Verizon one of the top American corporations for women's business enterprises in 2006. Verizon spent $2.5 billion that year with such businesses. The WBENC is the only organization that brings together women business enterprises and corporations to work to improve marketing opportunities for women-owned businesses as vendors and suppliers to the nation's top corporations. Verizon is a sponsor and supporter of the WBENC's advocacy for maximizing the competitive edge of self-employed, entrepreneurial women.

Verizon and the 15 other winners will receive the Women's Business Enterprise Award on March 30 in Dallas.

Verizon is also a charter member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, a group organized to promote research, education and best practices in supply-chain diversity. The company's approach includes operating a Web site that allows MWDVBE suppliers to participate in an online registration process that matches prospective suppliers' competencies with business needs. Verizon's Second Tier/Prime Supplier Program enhances opportunities for women-owned businesses by continually increasing the number of prime suppliers participating in the program and encouraging the use of women and minority suppliers as subcontractors.

A 2006 benchmarking study commissioned by WBENC and conducted by the Center for Women's Business Research found that women-owned businesses are beating the industry average of keeping and growing corporate contracts.

The results revealed that 40 percent of WBENC's corporate members increased their spending by at least 10 percent over the last three years with women-owned firms, compared with 24 percent of corporate members who increased their spending with suppliers overall.

There are 7.7 million majority-women-owned companies, or those with 51 percent ownership by women, employing 7.1 million people and generating $1.1 trillion in sales, according to the Center for Women's Business Research. Over the past two decades, majority-women-owned firms have continued to grow at around two times the rate of all companies.

For more information, check out the press release Women's Business Enterprise National Council Names Verizon a Top American Corporation for Second Consecutive Year.

The City of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Cree Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of Light Emitting Diode (LED) solid-state lighting components, recently announced a joint, city-wide initiative to test, deploy and promote LED technology focused on a variety of general lighting applications. The "LED City" initiative is designed to create a "living laboratory" to deliver the economic, environmental and usage benefits of LED lighting to the residents of Raleigh. The first project is focused on validating both the cost savings and technology capabilities of LEDs through an installation of LED lighting in the City's Municipal Building parking deck. Both Cree and Raleigh public officials expect the initiative to serve as a model for other cities that are considering implementing energy-efficient infrastructures.

As part of the commitment to creating an "LED City," Raleigh plans to deploy LED lighting, through its living-laboratory initiative, to serve a number of lighting applications, including garage and parking lot lights, street lights, architectural and accent lighting, portable lighting and pedestrian and walkway lighting over the next 18 months.

Cree, the City of Raleigh and Lighting Science Group Corporation of Dallas, Texas, also announced initial results of the first installation of the LED City initiative. LED-based lighting fixtures, provided by Lighting Science Group, were installed by Amtech Lighting Services in the Raleigh Municipal Building parking deck in Dec. 2006. Progress Energy, Raleigh's primary electric utility provider, says the floor equipped with LED lights uses over 40 percent less energy than the standard lighting system. Plus, according to Progress Energy's research, the quality of light in the garage is greatly improved.

"The economic benefits for municipalities to invest in LEDs are clear—they save energy, reduce environmental impact and improve the quality of light. As leaders in one of America's fastest growing cities, it's our civic responsibility to invest in the future and ensure the highest possible quality of life and safety for our citizens in generations to come," stated Charles Meeker, Raleigh mayor. "We believe that the cost savings and benefits of LED lighting are real and achievable today."

"Today's announcement represents a milestone toward large-scale adoption of clean, energy-efficient technologies," commented Kateri Callahan, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance to Save Energy (ASE). "Raleigh's progressive commitment to becoming the first ???LED City' will no doubt serve as a model for other cities seeking to improve energy consumption and reduce negative impacts on the environment. We commend Cree and the City of Raleigh for helping support our mission of achieving a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security."

"The City of Raleigh is willing to set the pace, and we invite other municipalities to join us in developing energy-efficient civic centers," said Chuck Swoboda, Cree CEO and chairman. "This leading-edge effort establishes an important driver for LED adoption within the United States."

For more information, check out the EERE Network News.

If you started 2007 with a resolution to handle your finances better, Yahoo! recently launched a new personal finance Web site that might help you stay on track. Yahoo! says that the new site brings together the Internet's most useful tools and information to help consumers manage their personal finances. Yahoo! Personal Finance offers consumers a suite of new financial centers, covering every major area of personal finance, ranging from "Banking & Budgeting" to "Retirement." The site continues the company's media strategy of bringing together the best tools and information around a particular topic from the industry's leading providers, while also expanding advertising inventory in one of the largest advertising categories.

"The goal of Yahoo! Finance has always been to help our users make informed financial decisions, and now we're able to do that across every aspect of their financial lives," said Peggy White, general manager, Yahoo! Finance. "Not all of our users manage an investment portfolio, but we all manage a checkbook. This presents a huge opportunity for Yahoo! Finance to expand beyond our core investing-focused offerings."

Yahoo! Finance has already established itself as the Internet's number one destination for investing tools and information, and aims to expand its audience size and engagement with the addition of a new personal finance home.

For more information, check out the Yahoo! press release or visit the Yahoo! Personal Finance site.

According to findings recently released by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), wind energy markets around the world exceeded expectations in 2006, with the sector experiencing yet another record year. The findings, which include wind energy developments in more than 70 countries around the world, show that the year saw the installation of 15,197 megawatts (MW), taking the total installed wind energy capacity to 74,223 MW, up from 59,091 MW in 2005.

Despite constraints facing supply chains for wind turbines, the annual market for wind continued to increase at the rate of 32 percent following the 2005 record year, in which the market grew by 41 percent. This development shows that the global wind energy industry is responding fast to the challenge of manufacturing at the required level, and manages to deliver sustained growth.

In terms of economic value, the wind energy sector has now become firmly installed as one of the important players in the energy markets, with the total value of new generating equipment installed in 2006 reaching $23 billion (U.S.).

The countries with the highest total installed capacity are Germany (20,621 MW), Spain (11,615 MW), the United States (11,603 MW), India (6,270 MW) and Denmark (3,136). Thirteen countries around the world can now be counted among those with over 1000 MW of wind capacity, with France and Canada reaching this threshold in 2006.

In terms of new installed capacity in 2006, the United States continued to lead with 2,454 MW, followed by Germany (2,233 MW), India (1,840 MW), Spain (1,587 MW), China (1,347 MW) and France (810 MW). This development shows that new players such as France and China are gaining ground.

???The tremendous growth in 2006 shows that decision makers are starting to take seriously the benefits that wind energy development can bring. However, we must not forget that wind energy is a new technology that needs robust policy frameworks and political commitment to fulfill its full potential,??? said Arthouros Zervos, Chairman of GWEC.

Twenty-two percent of the world???s new wind capacity was installed in North America, where the annual market increased by a third in 2005, gaining momentum in both the United States and Canada. And for the second year running, the US wind energy industry installed nearly 2,500 MW, making it the country with the most new wind power.

???Strong growth figures in the United States prove that wind is now a mainstream option for new power generation,??? said Randy Swisher, President of the American Wind Energy Association. ???Wind???s exponential growth reflects the nation???s increasing demand for clean, safe and domestic energy, and continues to attract both private and public sources of capital. New generating capacity worth $4 billion was installed in 2006, billing wind as one of the largest sources of new power generation in the country—second only to natural gas—for the second year in a row.???

Read more about these findings in the GWEC press release.

CRO magazine recently named Motorola Inc. to its list of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens." The 2007 ranking marks the second year in a row that Motorola has earned the fourth spot on the list and the fourth time that Motorola has appeared in the top 10.

The annual ranking is based on the evaluation of more than 1,100 of the largest U.S. publicly traded companies in eight key categories: shareholders, community, governance, diversity, employees, environment, human rights and product.

"Corporate responsibility is inherent in everything we do - from our commitment to strong environmental, health and safety practices to our community support and efforts to foster a diverse and engaged workforce," said Maryann Clifford, corporate vice president, who leads Motorola's corporate responsibility efforts. "Being named as one of the country's top corporate citizens is a testament to the work of our employees around the world to uphold such strong standards that benefit both Motorola and our customers."

Analysis by KLD Research & Analytics to develop the ranking noted that Motorola is particularly effective in reporting on social, environmental and economic performance measures, and that the company has taken significant steps to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate contributions to global climate change and air pollution.

Recycling is another priority for the company. Motorola has developed a variety of reuse and recycling programs for mobile phones and accessories. The Race to Recycle program encourages U.S. K-12 students to collect used phones—Motorola or other brands—in exchange for a cash contribution to their schools.

The Motorola Foundation's global support for education-focused initiatives also was scored as a company strength in the list analysis. In 2006, Motorola and the Foundation's charitable giving increased to more than $21 million, with primary focus on math, science, technology and engineering educational programming for both teachers and students. Motorola also became a global partner of (RED), selling a range of phones from which a percentage of profits is donated to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa. The company also continues to promote economic activity in developing countries through greater access to mobile telecommunications.

"The 100 Best distinguish themselves from their peers at other large public companies by embracing higher standards—combining strong financial performance with responsible practices on environmental and social issues," said Michael Connor, publisher and editor of CRO magazine. "We salute the 100 Best for their leadership roles in the field of corporate responsibility."

Motorola has been recognized repeatedly for its corporate responsibility efforts. In addition to being named as one of the country's "100 Best Corporate Citizens," several rating agencies and indices recognized Motorola as a socially responsible investment in 2006. The company also was named one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired companies in 2006 and has received numerous awards for its employment, environment and supplier diversity initiatives.

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens list was developed by Business Ethics magazine, which was incorporated last year into The CRO, a premier membership organization for corporate responsibility officers. CRO magazine will publish the full list in its January-February 2007 issue. More details regarding the 100 Best Corporate Citizens list are available on the CRO Web site.

Cartoon Network New Media announced today it has created CallToons, a new mobile application that integrates smart technology with entertainment, essentially allowing Cartoon Network characters to take over a mobile phone. Using patent pending technology, CallToons creates an unparalleled user experience that replaces ordinary mobile phone functions (such as ringtones and wallpapers) with an all-encompassing entertainment platform provided by the users' favorite character. At launch, CallToons will feature characters from Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, and will be offered as separate services for each brand. CallToons is targeted to be available to consumers in Q4 2007.

According to ZDNet News, one choice for adults could be the cynical next-door neighbor Carl from Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Carl first growls "Hey," but if the call is not answered, he gets more irate and ends with "Pick up your friggin' phone." If the same ignored caller phones again, Carl eventually yells, "You're lazy. That's nice. That's fine. Like you get paid by the government or something?"

The same concept will be applied to other characters, with milder messages for fans of children's cartoons.

"CallToons extends our fans' relationship with our characters in a personal and interactive way through a mobile phone," said Paul Condolora, senior vice president and general manager for Cartoon Network New Media. "With this application, we are developing a novel approach to the mobile experience. CallToons is a natural next step for the company and offers limitless cross-platform entertainment possibilities with cartoon characters, celebrities, sports figures and beyond."

'"CallToons does more than set a character's voice to a ringtone. CallToons allows a character's personality to take over the mobile phone's functionality so that they actually interact with the user and incoming callers in a unique way," said Ross Cox, Senior Director of Entertainment Products, Cartoon Network New Media.

Cartoon Network New Media developed CallToons in conjunction with Turner Platform R&D;, and has been in discussions with Ericsson regarding concept refinement and content delivery options. The technology takes Cartoon Network New Media into mobile licensing as the product will be available to non-Turner companies in the future.

CallToons ties together popular mobile content such as ringtones, ringbacks, wallpapers, and audio and text alerts into a character-driven narrative experience unlike any mobile content offering available on the market today. Cartoon Network New Media will introduce additional functionality to the CallToons application in the coming months.

For more information, check out the Cartoon Network press release or the ZDNet News article.