OTTAWA, Feb. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - The demographic and economic clout of the Western Canadian provinces is expected to continue to grow, according to the Conference Board of Canada's Provincial Outlook-Winter 2012. The recently-released 2011 Census revealed that the western provinces are a magnet for new arrivals, and strong commodity prices are expected to boost the western economies over the next two years.

"The recent economic slowdown is now barely noticeable in Western Canada," said Marie-Christine Bernard, Associate Director, Provincial Outlook. "Despite concerns over global growth and the lasting fiscal problems in Europe, growth in the Western Canadian provinces is expected to be a full percentage point stronger than in the rest of the country this year and next."

The Canadian economy is forecast to post real growth in gross domestic product (GDP) of 2.1 per cent in 2012. All four western provinces can expect growth at or above that level this year, while none of the other six provinces will grow by more than 1.9 per cent.

Alberta is expected to lead all provinces both in 2012 and 2013, with economic growth forecast to be 3.3 per cent this year and 4 per cent next year. Global oil prices are expected to remain high, boosting construction and expansion of oil sands projects. By 2013, Alberta's unemployment rate is expected to be down to 4.5 per cent.

Saskatchewan is already experiencing tight labour markets and its unemployment rate in 2013 is forecast to match that of Alberta. After a gain of 5.2 per cent last year, Saskatchewan's real GDP growth will ease to 2.6 per cent in 2012 and accelerate to 3.5 per cent next year. Mining and manufacturing are among the province's strongest sectors this year.

Manitoba's agriculture, manufacturing and utilities sectors are expected to perform well in 2012. In particular, agriculture is expected to bounce back following the 2011 floods.  Solid population growth is bolstering demand for housing and retail sales. Overall, the provincial economy is expected to grow by 2.7 per cent in 2012 and by 2.6 per cent in 2013.

British Columbia is being held back by external factors, such as moderating growth in China and a modest improvement in the U.S. housing market, which will finally generate some gains in the forestry industry. But restrained public sector spending will dampen construction. All in all, British Columbia's economy will grow by 2.1 per cent this year, and real GDP growth will accelerate to 3.6 per cent in 2013.

Ontario's economy will feel the pinch of deficit-reduction efforts at both the federal and provincial levels. Ontarians' real after-tax incomes will post only a small gain in 2012 as both employment and wages advance at a moderate pace. As a result, Ontario's economy will grow by just 1.9 per cent in 2012, although stronger growth of 2.8 per cent is expected in 2013.

Quebec has a few bright spots in its outlook, notably strong business investment in Northern Quebec's mining sector. But lower public infrastructure investment, a decline in housing starts, a weak labour market, and declining real disposable income will limit real GDP growth to 1.4 per cent in 2012.

The Maritime provinces face modest growth prospects. Nova Scotia's economy will grow by 1.5 per cent in 2012, but 2013 offers a brighter outlook thanks to new natural gas production and stronger manufacturing. New Brunswick can also expect growth of 1.5 per cent this year, following a long-awaited rebound in the job market.  The end of fiscal stimulus in Prince Edward Island will limit the Island's real GDP growth to 1.4 per cent in 2012.

Newfoundland and Labrador's economy is in transition. The oil and natural gas industry has reached peak production, but iron ore mining in Labrador is on the upswing. The province's economy is forecast to grow by just 0.7 per cent in 2012, before accelerating to 2.1 per cent in 2013. Strong employment and wage gains mean that the province is attracting workers rather than losing them.

Brent Dowdall, Media Relations, Tel.: 613- 526-3090 ext.  448
E-mail: corpcomm@conferenceboard.ca

TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - A slower economy is not stopping Canadian CEOs from using mergers and acquisitions as a key growth strategy, as their desire to expand into foreign markets grows. This is according to the 15th Annual Global CEO Survey conducted by PwC, which compared the views of 130 chief executives in Canada to their counterparts around the world. The findings are featured in PwC's Capital Markets Flash newsletter www.pwc.com/ca/cmf.

Canadian CEOs are more bullish on the future, compared with their G7 and US counterparts. One quarter of Canadian CEOs surveyed are planning to engage in M&A, compared to the global average of just 12%. Canadian CEOs also have a stronger appetite for joint ventures and/or strategic alliances than their developed world peers.

"During 2011 we saw how Canadians stepped outside their comfort zone and onto the global stage. Canadian CEOs are not in a 'wait and see' mode—they are planning for more expansion outside of this country in 2012. Our CEOs were active in 10% of the total global M&A market last year, up from 7% at the 2007 market peak," says Canadian Deals Leader Kristian Knibutat.

Some highlights from the Canadian participants in the survey include:

• 73% are confident in their ability to finance growth
  
  
• 71% of CEOs with operations in Western Europe expect growth in their operations in 2012, compared to just 36% of their global peers expressing the same sentiment.
  
  
• 45% wish they could spend more time developing operations outside their home markets

Knibutat says there are a number of examples which point to a transformation in deal making in Canada. Last year was the first time in history that the value of Canadian acquisitions into the US outpaced the value of US-lead deals in Canada.

The survey also finds that Canadian CEOs are still concerned about the global macroeconomic environment, with only 13% expressing optimism about the prospects for a global economic rebound. The threats of continued equity market and foreign exchange rate volatility and protectionism, in particular, were top of mind.

A key finding is that a majority of Canadian chief executives (66%) anticipate that their companies will change strategic course in 2012. "We believe this is likely a reaction to concerns that CEOs have over a challenging global economy and an acceptance of slower domestic growth," says Knibutat.

Survey Methodology

For PwC's 15th Annual Global CEO Survey, 1,258 interviews were conducted in 60 countries in the last quarter of 2011. In Canada, 130 CEOs were surveyed. 291 interviews were conducted in Western Europe, 440 in Asia Pacific, 150 in Latin America, 236 in North America, 88 in Central and Eastern Europe, and 53 in the Middle East & Africa.

The full survey report with supporting graphics can be downloaded at www.pwc.com/ca/ceosurvey. Follow the discussion on Twitter with #ceo_survey. Copies are also available from the media contacts.

About PwC's Deal Team

PwC's Deal Team (www.pwc.com/ca/deals) helps clients to achieve deal success—from concept to close and beyond. As part of the world's largest Transaction Advisory practice¹, the PwC Canada Deals Team is your gateway to an exciting new world of emerging M&A opportunities.

Follow PwC on Twitter at @PwC_Canada_LLP and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pwccanada.

About PwC Canada
PwC Canada helps organizations and individuals create the value they're looking for. More than 5,700 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC Canada is a member of the PwC network of firms with close to 169,000 people in 158 countries. Find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/ca.

© 2012 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved.

PwC refers to the Canadian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

__________________________________
¹ Source: Kennedy;"Business Advisory Services Marketplace 2009-2011" ©BNA Subsidiaries, LLC. Reproduced under license.

David Rowney
T: +1 416 365 8858
Email: david.rowney@ca.pwc.com

Kiran Chauhan
T: +1 416 947 8983
Email: kiran.chauhan@ca.pwc.com

WATERLOO REGION, ON, Feb. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Communitech is using the latest technology to help companies find suitable candidates to fill some of the 1,300 specialized tech jobs currently available in Waterloo Region. More than 15 companies will participate in the TechVibe Online Career Fair Tuesday, Feb. 28^th from noon until 6 p.m. EST, which will feature virtual booths and enable live conversations between recruiters and candidates.

"We're excited to use technology to full advantage to attract candidates from farther afield, particularly the U.S., to help companies meet their recruiting needs," said Karen Gallant, Senior Director Talent Networks at Communitech. "Going virtual extends our reach to those unable to attend our live events, including ex-patriat Canadians contemplating returning from Silicon Valley or other locales around the world."

Through the virtual fair, interested candidates can upload and submit their resumes for various job listings in a secure environment. Recruiters will chat privately with applicants either through instant chat or webcam. Candidates can also connect with fellow attendees via an on-line networking lounge, and view informational videos about hiring companies in the virtual auditorium.

"We've tried to structure this as a replica of the live career fair experience but in a virtual, 3D version," said Gallant. "The fair set-up will be integrated with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn so that 'attendees' can search for connections or update their status in real time."

Participating companies include: Agfa HealthCare; Blue Coat; Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc.; Core Avionics and Industrial LLC; Desire2Learn; Enflick; Formulating Change; McAfee, Inc.; Miovision Technologies Inc.; One-eighty Corp; OpenText; Procom; Qwalify Inc.; RDM Corporation; and Sortable.

The virtual environment will be accessible to job seekers for 30 days after the 'live' date. While applicants will still be able to apply for jobs, the chat rooms will not be manned by recruiters after the event, Gallant explained.

Communitech has noticed significant movement between tech hotbeds like Silicon Valley and Waterloo Region, with talent flowing between the two regions as well as other tech centers such as Boston and other Canadian cities.

Communitech recently reported that 1,441 new jobs and 531 new companies were created in Waterloo Region over the past three years.

To register for the Online Career Fair, go to: http://www.waterlootechjobsfair.com/

About Waterlootechjobs.com
www.Waterlootechjobs.com is the technology jobs portal for Waterloo Region's technology companies, managed by Communitech.

About Communitech
Founded by a group of dedicated entrepreneurs in 1997, Communitech www.communitech.ca is the regional hub for the commercialization of innovative technologies supporting and building a Southwestern Ontario tech cluster of more than 800 companies that now generates more than $25B in revenue.  Communitech supports tech companies at all stages of their growth and development - from startup companies, to rapidly growing SMEs, to large global players - to create greater numbers of successful global businesses for Ontario and for Canada.

Media Contact
Shelley Grandy, Sr. PR Advisor, Communitech, 905-866-2656 or segrandy@communitech.ca

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA and SWINDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Feb. 22, 2012) - Intrinsyc Software International, Inc. (TSX:ICS) ("Intrinsyc" or the "Company"), a leading developer of intelligent connected devices and Ubiquisys, the developer of 3G and LTE small cells, will demonstrate Small Cell WiFi Wake-up at Mobile World Congress, February 27 - March 1. An innovative combination of handset and small cell apps, WiFi Wake-up switches on WiFi as the user enters a 3G/LTE/WiFi small cell hotspot and logs into the hotspot's secure WiFi network. When the user then leaves the hotspot, the WiFi is turned-off. This provides a compelling new tool for operators to maximize data offload by integrating carrier WiFi with small cell base stations.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 23, 2012) -

TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Over 100 leading Canadian Angels and Venture capital investors will be gathering for the Toronto Venture Forum (TVF), a first event co-organized with the Ontario, Quebec and New England communities on Tuesday, Feb. 28^th.  The TVF celebrates entrepreneurial and financial success stories, builds collaborations with universities and accelerators to improve entrepreneurs' successes, and provides opportunities for co-investments in promising high-growth companies.

This press point will be followed by a full day conference.  You are invited to meet many of the Canadian leaders of Angel and Venture Capital investment such as:

• Jacques Bernier, Managing partner, Teralys Capital
• John Ruffolo, CEO, Omers Ventures
• John Marshall, CEO, Ontario Capital Growth Corporation
• Michel Brûlé, Board Member, Investissement Québec
• John Elton, Partner, iNovia Capital
• Frank Erschen, Member of Golden Triangle AngelNet
• Henry Kay, Vice-president, Boston Habor Angels
• Ian Carew, Director, Northleaf Capital Partners
• Richard Nathan, Managing Director, CVCA
• Michelle Scarborough, Chair, NACO
• Senia Rapisarda, Vice-president, BDC

Over 100 venture capital investors will attend this unique gathering, including representatives of the 10 Ontario-based Angel investor groups, supported by NAO-Ontario.  More information can be found on the official web site at www.torontoventureforum.com

Medias representatives are welcomed. To plan for interviews, please contact:

Caroline De Guire, PIKANTÉ! Communications
Caroline.deGuire@pikante.ca
514-756-8430

TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - In honour of Fraud Prevention Month, Visa Canada, a leading global payments technology company, today released survey results revealing different generations of Canadians have habits that put them at greater risk for fraud.

The survey found that young Canadians - those aged 18-30, were the most likely to overshare personal information, with 32 per cent admitting to including their email address, home address, birthday, or phone number, on social networking sites - information that could potentially be used fraudulently to perpetuate identity theft and other scams. In contrast, 24 per cent of those aged 31-45, 14 per cent of baby boomers (aged 46-65), and just nine per cent of seniors (66 and older) reported engaging in the same risky behaviour.

Results also found that young adults are most likely to share their PIN (Personal Identification Number) and lend their credit or debit card to others, while seniors, aged 66 and older, were the group most likely to keep their experiences with fraud secret from friends and family.

"This year's survey reveals that Canadians of all ages have bad habits that impede their ability to protect themselves against financial fraud," said Gord Jamieson, Head of Payment System Risk, Visa Canada. "Young adults need to better understand the risks associated with oversharing personal and financial data, while seniors need to better understand that talking about fraud with someone they trust can help protect them from becoming a victim, helping them learn about risks and how they can protect themselves."

While Visa reminds cardholders to keep their PIN, card information and personal data private, the company does encourage individuals to talk with their friends and family about fraud. The survey found that amongst those who had experienced fraud, seniors (66 and older) were the least likely to talk about it afterwards. Only half of seniors surveyed reported they had spoken to friends or family about their experience, compared to 70 per cent amongst all other generations.

"It's crucial that seniors have conversations about fraud, so they can learn how to protect themselves," noted Jamieson. "No one should be embarrassed to talk to family, friends or their financial institution if they have questions about fraud or are worried they may have been victimized."

Although less likely to share personal information online, seniors are often the primary target of fraud scams - particularly fraudulent phone calls and emails designed to solicit personal and financial information. To help seniors recognize signs of fraud and protect themselves, Visa is hosting free fraud prevention seminars at seniors' centres across Canada. The seminars will take place throughout March and will provide attendees with information to help them identify potential scams, protect against fraud, and raise concerns with friends and family without feeling embarrassed.

Amongst the many behavioural differences in generations of Canadians, this year's survey revealed one alarming similarity - a common misperception about the security of cash.  The majority of all respondents (58 per cent), identified cash as the safest way to make a purchase and possessed a low awareness of Visa's Zero Liability Policy, with just 19 per cent indicating they had heard of this fraud protection.

"I'm always surprised by how many people think cash is a secure form of payment," said Jamieson. "With cash, if your wallet is stolen, the money is gone and it's very unlikely you'll get it back; you're also not protected against purchases gone wrong. With Visa you're protected by zero liability, ensuring you don't pay for fraudulent transactions made with your card." For more information about Visa's Zero Liability Policy visit www.visa.ca.

Visa's approach to fraud prevention is based on the belief that the best way to fight fraud is to employ multiple layers of security. Visa continually develops new technologies and solutions to help combat fraud, including Chip and PIN, Zero Liability and Verified by Visa. More information about these fraud prevention measures can be found at www.visasecuritysense.ca.

Additional Survey Findings

• While seniors are the least likely to share personal information through social media, they are the most likely group to send personal credit card information via email.
• More than half (56%) of all Canadians say that identity theft is the fraud concern that worries them the most.
• Younger Canadians (18-30) are more likely to shop/pay for purchases online and/or use a handheld device and older Canadians are more likely to shop by mail.
• Of those who have not shopped online, security concerns is the most-cited reason for not doing so (37%).

About the Survey   

Between January 23 and 27, 2012, a sample of 1,604 adults was surveyed as part of an Ipsos Reid online omnibus poll, on behalf of Visa Canada. The survey has a margin of error of +/-3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

About Visa

Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world's most advanced processing networks—VisaNet—that is capable of handling more than 20,000 transaction messages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.

Erin Sufrin, Visa Canada, 416-860-3869, esufrin@visa.com
Andrew Addison, Fleishman-Hillard, 416-645-3648, andrew.addison@fleishman.ca

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - If a picture's worth a thousand words, a snapshot of your tax return information may be worth much more. The maker of Canada's No. 1-selling tax software, TurboTax, wants you to file your taxes in a snapshot, using just a T4 slip and an iPhone or iPod touch.

SnapTax, the innovative point-and-shoot tax preparation app from Intuit takes only minutes to prepare and file simple tax returns. Users can finish tax chores in record time, bringing that hoped-for refund much closer to their bank account.

"Nothing comes close to SnapTax. You take a picture, review the forms and file. Just like TurboTax, the calculations are guaranteed accurate," said Jeff Cates, president of Intuit Canada. "We know Canadians love their iPhones and iPod touches, and know they're using them for just about everything these days. With SnapTax that now includes getting their maximum tax refund!"

Point, Tap, File. Done.

Filing taxes with SnapTax is as easy as point, tap and file.

• Point: Download SnapTax from the App Store, and then simply take a picture of your T4 slip; SnapTax does the rest. SnapTax's state-of-the-art optical character recognition technology automatically populates your tax information into an electronic form using TurboTax software.
• Tap: After snapping your pic, tap through a few basic questions about your life, so SnapTax can determine whether the government owes you any money through tax credits. As you answer, SnapTax shows a running tally of your progress - showing you exactly how much you'll get back - or owe.
• File: Double-check the numbers to make sure they're accurate and simply tap "File Now" to electronically NETFILE your return in minutes. In a snap, you're done.

The only thing left is deciding how to spend your refund - or sending a payment.

Security First
Just like TurboTax, SnapTax protects privacy by encrypting transactions with the same Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology used by Canadian banks. And because no tax information is stored on your iPhone or iPod touch, your information is safe and sound if you misplace or lose your device.

Pricing and Availability
Canadians can download and try SnapTax for free on iTunes. After entering information, it costs $9.99 to submit their return through NETFILE.

About Intuit Canada
Intuit Canada ULC is a leading provider of business, financial and tax management solutions for small- and mid-sized businesses, consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including Quicken®, QuickBooks® Enterprise Solutions, SuccèsPME, TurboTax, and ImpôtRapide^MC, simplify personal finance, accounting software and tax preparation and filing.

Additional offerings include ProFile®, a professional tax preparation software suite, the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program and the Intuit Developer Network for professional users and developers. All are provided by Intuit Canada or through its partners.

Intuit Canada has employees across and offices in Edmonton, Alb., and Mississauga, Ont. Intuit Canada is an affiliate of Intuit Inc., which is listed on the Nasdaq.

Further Information:
Connect with us at: facebook.com/turbotaxcanada and on Twitter @turbotaxcanada.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 29, 2012) - SelectCore Ltd. ("SelectCore") (TSX VENTURE:SCG), a prepaid telecom and financial services provider and transaction processor for the under-banked market, announced today that the Company has secured an agreement to launch Virtual Visa through its Facebook Social Media / Mobile Remittance Platform, "SocialTime".

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 2, 2012 /CNW/ - The Princeton Review has announced their "Top Schools to Study Video Game Design for 2012," ranking The Art Institute of Vancouver, BC, Canada number five on the top 10 of the list for undergraduate schools. This is The Art Institute of Vancouver's third appearance on the list and the only school from Canada included in the top 10.

The Princeton Review conducted a comprehensive survey with 150 colleges in the United States and Canada. The survey asked approximately 50 questions associated with the video game design courses offered at these schools, with topics ranging from the quality of academics to the institutions' facilities. Other important factors taken into consideration by the surveyors were faculty credentials and career opportunities. The company's full report on the 2012 list is accessible now at http://www.princetonreview.com/game-design.aspx.

"We are very proud to be ranked again in the top ten list by The Princeton Review," said John Mazzoni, President of The Art Institutes. "It is a testament to the great work by our faculty and staff at the school who are dedicated to achieving excellence and helping students reach their educational goals."

Marc Aubanel, Academic Director for Media Arts at The Art Institute of Vancouver, has set the precedent for his school. Aubanel has an extensive background in the media arts industry including producing the TV program "Sanctuary," which is now shown on the Syfy network. In addition, Aubanel was previously a Vice President and Executive Producer at Electronic Arts Canada.

"Academic and professional programs in video game design studies – from very specialized college majors to highly concentrated graduate degrees – have evolved tremendously over the past 10 years," said Robert Franek, Princeton Review's Senior VP/Publisher at The Princeton Review, in a statement made for the press release announcing the study's results on March 1, 2012 (http://www.princetonreview.com/game-design-press-release.aspx).

"We salute the schools on our list this year for their commitment to this burgeoning field and the innovative programs they offer. For students aspiring to work in this more than $10.5 billion industry and for the companies that will need their creative talents and skills, we hope this project will serve as a catalyst for many rewarding connections," said Franek.

To learn more about The Art Institute of Vancouver's Game Art & Design program, visit: http://www.artinstitutes.edu/vancouver/media-arts/game-art-and-design-d-curriculum-13615.aspx.To learn more about The Art Institute of Vancouver, go to www.artinstitutes.edu/vancouver.

For more information on The Princeton Review's rankings for the top 10 graduate and undergraduate programs for video game design in North America, visit: http://www.princetonreview.com/game-design.aspx.

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 45 educational institutions located throughout North America. The Art Institutes schools provide an important source for design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University. OH Registration # 04-01-1698B, AC0165, AC0080, Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 1287, 3427, 3110, 2581. See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info.

SOURCE The Art Institutes

Jacquelyn P. Muller, Vice President - Communications/PR, The Art Institutes, +1-412-995-7262, jpmuller@aii.edu, or Devra Pransky, Sr. Director of Communications, The Art Institutes, +1-412-995-7685, dpransky@aii.edu

http://www.artinstitutes.edu

http://www.artinstitutes.edu/vancouver

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwire - Feb 29, 2012) - ActiveState, whose software enables developers and enterprises to innovate from code to cloud, today announced the general availability of Stackato 1.0. Stackato is the application platform for creating a private platform-as-a-service (PaaS) using any language on any stack on any cloud. From the desktop to the datacenter, Stackato makes it easy to develop, deploy, migrate, scale, manage, and monitor applications on any cloud. Today's launch underscores Stackato's technology leadership in the private-PaaS space, and highlights how it solves real-world business challenges.

TORONTO, March 2, 2012 /CNW/ - Xerox's (NYSE: XRX) newest series of light production devices - the Xerox D95/D110/D125 Copier/Printer and D110/D125 Printer - deliver sharp black-and-white image quality with speed and efficiency.

Built to handle the demands of print-intensive environments, the devices make it easy for educators to create curriculum materials, student directories, course packs and bound materials. Productivity can be increased with archiving and stamping software allowing legal, insurance and healthcare users to store documents electronically and guarantee their authenticity with numerical markings.  In the print-for-pay market, commercial, quick and franchise, printers can meet tight turnaround times and offer more applications and services, like newsletters, on-demand book publishing and customized catalogs.

"The faster scanner and the simplified graphical user interface should make these new products popular in light production environments where ease of use and affordable productivity are key," said Jim Hamilton, group director, InfoTrends.

The copier/printer models are available in speeds of 95, 110 and 125 pages per minute (ppm), while the D110/D125 Printers are available in speeds of 110 and 125 ppm, which is suitable for the transactional print environment. Key customer benefits are:

Fast and easy.

• The Xerox copier/printer has a standard single-pass color scanner, 2400 x 2400 dpi print resolution and prints from and saves to a USB drive.

• A built-in scanner scans up to 200 images per minute and manages high-volume, complex jobs with a 250-page automatic document feeder.

Advanced workflow tools.

• An integrated controller comes standard with the copier/printer models, allowing powerful workflow with an easy-to-use touch screen. Two optional servers - the Xerox FreeFlow® Print Server or the Xerox EX Print Server powered by Fiery^® - deliver additional flexibility.
  
  
• Xerox's Extensible Interface Platform allows users to simplify work processes right from the copier/printer's touch screen interface.

Multipurpose finishing options.

• An array of finishing options on the copier/printer provide a professional touch to documents, from booklet making to creasing, stitching and hole punching. Users can easily produce tape-bound, lay-flat and full-bleed booklets with the Xerox Tape Binder, the GBC^® e-binder 200 and the Plockmatic Pro30™ Booklet Maker.

The D95/D110/D125 Copier/Printer will be in the Xerox booth at drupa 2012, May 3 -16, Dusseldorf, Germany.

Availability and pricing
The Xerox D95/D110/D125 Copier/Printer and D110/D125 Printer are available immediately worldwide through Xerox direct sales, agents, resellers and dealers, by calling 1-866-480-3119 or at http://www.xerox.com/direct. List prices in Canada range from $58,200 to $92,900.

About Xerox
With sales approaching $23 billion, Xerox (NYSE: XRX) is the world's leading enterprise for business process and document management. Its technology, expertise and services enable workplaces - from small businesses to large global enterprises - to simplify the way work gets done so they operate more effectively and focus more on what matters most: their real business. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Xerox offers business process outsourcing and IT outsourcing services, including data processing, healthcare solutions, HR benefits management, finance support, transportation solutions, and customer relationship management services for commercial and government organizations worldwide. The company also provides extensive leading-edge document technology, services, software and genuine Xerox supplies for graphic communication and office printing environments of any size. The 140,000 people of Xerox serve clients in more than 160 countries.  For more information, visit http://www.xerox.com, http://news.xerox.com or http://www.realbusiness.com.  For investor information, visit http://www.xerox.com/investor.

Visit Xerox Canada at: www.xerox.ca

Note:  To receive RSS news feeds, visit http://news.xerox.com/pr/xerox/rss.aspx. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views visit http://twitter.com/xeroxcorp, http://realbusinessatxerox.blogs.xerox.com, http://www.facebook.com/XeroxCorp, http://www.youtube.com/XeroxCorp.

XEROX^®, XEROX and Design^® and FreeFlow^® are trademarks of Xerox in the United States and/or other countries.  GBC^® is a trademark of ACCO Brands, Fiery^® is a trademark of EFI and Plockmatic Pro30™ is a trademark of Plockmatic International.

Prices, features, specifications, capabilities, appearance and availability of Xerox products and services are subject to change without notice.

Media Contacts:
John Quinn, Xerox Canada, 416-733-6828, john.quinn@xerox.com
Chris Conrath, Environics, 416-969-2716, cconrath@environicspr.com 

Customer Contacts:
For more information about Xerox office products and services, visit http://www.xerox.com/tr/office or call 800-ASK-XEROX.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 1, 2012) - LiveQoS Inc., the #1 provider of end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) for real-time applications, today announced the launch of its new corporate identity, unveiled last week to employees worldwide, and being rolled out across all of the Company's operations over the coming months. Formerly operating as IPeak Networks, the new LiveQoS brand will be applied to all corporate marketing materials, including the recent launch of www.liveqos.com.

MONTRÉAL, March 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Digital Locksmiths and Orange Business Services IT&L@bs today announced the launch of SMART Security Agent, an application designed to simplify the process of securing the wide array of mobile devices accessing corporate networks.

With user owned mobile devices (Bring Your Own Device) commonly logging on to corporate networks, it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to safeguard the security of both the devices being used and the networks they are accessing.

"With our customers increasingly adopting mobile solutions in their operations, it is critical that security is integrated into device communications," said Yves Laurin, sales director for Orange's IT&L@bs in Canada. "SMART Security Agent will enable us to seamlessly deliver mobile security with all of our customer solutions."

Mobile device access is monitored at the Digital Locksmiths Data Centre in Montréal, giving companies the ability to screen device security profiles in real time and mitigate any threats to both the network and the device. SMART Security Agent is controlled by a proprietary encryption algorithm that generates a unique ID, which certifies and validates the user, the device, and the communication technology being used.

"With hundreds of thousands of applications available for personal mobile devices, each potentially introducing security problems, it is paramount that companies are able to secure any device accessing the corporate network without constraining an individual's use of the same device for personal use," said Wadih Elie Tannous, CEO of Digital Locksmiths. "SMART Security Agent does this."

For example, when a user logs in at work, depending on corporate security policy, personal applications like Facebook or hardware capabilities (like the on-board camera or storage device) could be automatically locked down by SMART Security Agent. When the individual leaves work and accesses the device for personal use, the applications are automatically turned back on.

"Orange's goal is to simplify mobile security for its customers, giving them the ability to control network access in a straightforward and holistic manner," Laurin said.

SMART Security Agent can detect the existence of a corporate WiFi network and set the device's security profile automatically; if an employee tries to access the network under another setting (Home, Public) SMART Security Agent will tell the user to switch over to their work profile to access the network.

SMART Security Agent will be available in April to select Orange customers. The general release Android platform will be available in May, followed by the Windows platform in June, and the Apple and Blackberry platforms in early 2013.

About DL
Digital Locksmiths is headquartered in Montréal, Canada and provides security services in North America and emerging markets worldwide. The team works with government and private sector companies, especially those in health care, to aid in the implementation of state-of-the-art security technologies to combat risks to integrity, trustworthiness, and availability of critical data and systems. As a leader in security services, we believe strongly that safeguarding these entities adds another level of resilience to digital networks and information gathering systems, and is in keeping with our holistic approach to information security.

About Orange
France Telecom-Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with 172,000 employees worldwide, including 105,000 employees in France, and sales of 45.3 billion euros in 2011. Present in 35 countries, the Group had a customer base of 226 million customers on 31 December 2011, including 147 million customers under the Orange brand, the Group's single brand for internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the company operates. On 31 December 2011, the Group had 167 million mobile customers and 14 million broadband internet (ADSL, fibre) customers worldwide. Orange is one of the main European operators for mobile and broadband internet services and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.

MONTREAL, March 6, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) will be held in Montréal, from October 22 to 24, 2012, at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal. Every two years, the WCIT is organized in a different country under auspices of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) and it has become the world's leading information technology gathering, with prominent speakers, leading thinkers, and business leaders from all over the world invited to participate.

This year's WCIT will bring something new, and perhaps unprecedented, to the world stage. A World Tech Jam kicks off WCIT 2012 from June 5-7, with 20,000 online contributors collaborating and sharing their ideas, their passion, and their insights on a massive scale into the creation of a true bottom-up Global Digital Society Action Plan. "When compared to conventional engagement techniques, jamming or digital brainstorming has many advantages," said Anthony Williams, WCIT 2012 Program Chair. "And for the first time, IT users around the world will lead the conversation. This event will give users a voice - this is a giant step for the IT world and a first."

One of the results of the Jam will be a Digital Agenda that will have influence on the WCIT 2012 program. Think of it as an action plan for realizing opportunities for digital innovation that can inform, inspire and guide decision makers in sectors ranging from public administration and health care to education and science. The Digital Agenda will be unveiled to the Congress delegates, ICT stakeholders, and government, academic and community leaders during the closing ceremony of WCIT 2011 and then presented to the WITSA as a tool for policy development, educational curricula, corporate citizenship programs, and much more.

Convened under the theme of "ONE Vision for a Global Digital Society", WCIT 2012 will be a fast-paced three-day conference featuring more than 100 high-profile speakers and attracting up to 3,000 delegates and 300 media from more than 80 countries. The conference's objective is to impact economic and social development through the exchange of policies, practices, trends and ideas on ICT and it will feature topics that discuss ICT`s role in the economy, environment, government, healthcare, education and mobility.

"WCIT 2012 will bring together world-class keynote speakers and leaders of government, industry, academia, and civil society for broad discussions on how ICT technologies shape and help today's digital society by placing the user at the center of the event," said Francois Morin, CEO of WCIT 2012. "It will showcase canadian technology innovation to a global audience, creating business opportunities for Canadian entrepreneurs, and attract foreign investment."

The Congress will feature the following parallel events:

• The United Nations' World Youth Summit Awards (WSYA) will be co-hosted with the WCIT 2012. The WSYA selects and promotes best practice in e-content and new media, demonstrates young people's potential to create outstanding digital content, and serves as a platform for people from all UN member states in their efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are eight concrete goals to eradicate poverty and inequality worldwide. They were set in 2000 by the UN and should be reached by 2015.
• An exhibition featuring the latest advancements in ICT products, services, and applications, including government pavilions showcasing the expertise of leading ICT countries.
• A B2B event with structured business meetings for 200 to 300 Canadian SMEs that aims at renewing or developing multinational and cross-industry contacts and partnerships - strategic, commercial, financial, and technological - between companies from both developed and emerging economies.
• Approximately 200 Canadian companies will be selected and invited to attend the WCIT C200 Investment Forum. The program will provide a premium networking opportunity between the selected Canadian companies seeking investment and invited members of the International ICT Investment community.
• Unique showcases of Canadian Innovations and Young Global Innovators, where presenters will demonstrate world-changing ideas and answer questions from the audience.

About the World Congress on Information Technology

The World Congress on IT (WCIT) is a bi-annual event where politicians, CEO's and academics discuss opportunities and possibilities that IT applications offer. This world congress is a unique collaboration between the international ICT industry, users and governments. WCIT is organized under the auspices of WITSA (World Information Technology and Services Alliance). A premier global ICT congress, WCIT brings together more than 3,000 global leaders in business, government and academia from over 80 countries to impact economic and social development through the exchange of policies, practices, trends and ideas on ICT. Since its inception in 1978, WCIT has become the world's leading information technology gathering with prominent speakers from all over the world. Past congress speakers have included, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, and Mikhail Gorbachev, to name but a few.

For more information, please visit www.wcit2012.org

About WITSA

The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is a consortium of more than 80 information technology (IT) industry associations from economies around the world representing more than 90 per cent of the global ICT market. Founded in 1978 and originally known as the World Computing Services Industry Association, WITSA has become an increasingly active advocate in international public policy issues affecting the creation of a robust global information infrastructure. WITSA has a real impact on the global ICT environment. It strengthens the industry at large by promoting a level playing field and by voicing the concerns of the international ICT community with multilateral organizations, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the G8 and other international arenas where policies affecting industry interests are developed.

VANCOUVER, March 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Cloud technology is expected to create millions of new jobs around the world and will be an important force in inspiring the business innovation needed to restore global economic health, according to a new IDC study released today. The study, commissioned by Microsoft, found that by the end of 2015, nearly 14 million new jobs will be created worldwide, and just over 70,000 across Canada.

In Vancouver, new jobs related to the cloud will increase an average of 20 per cent annually, resulting in almost 6,000 by 2015.

The cloud is a web-based way to process, manage and store data - an IT solution so cost-effective that businesses of all sizes are moving away from the expensive maintenance of legacy systems, and instead opting to build on top of the cloud's common infrastructure. By using the cloud's global scalability, businesses can, in turn, invest those savings directly into business innovation.

IDC reports that worldwide, at least 75 per cent of IT spending is currently tied up with the maintenance of legacy systems and routine upgrades.

"By harnessing the power of the cloud, businesses benefit from reduced fees and equipment costs, and in turn free up IT staff to turn their focus to more mission-critical and strategic tasks," says John Weigelt, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Canada. "But we often overlook one of the cloud's most compelling benefits: by empowering business innovation and increasing revenues, using cloud technology can lead to job creation across all sectors, and in turn, drive Canada's economy forward."

The IDC also reveals several other interesting cloud facts:

• In 2011, more than $28 billion was spent on cloud services worldwide.
• In 2011, the cloud helped businesses around the world generate more than $400 billion in additional revenues and 1.5 million new jobs. More than 50 per cent of those jobs accrued to small and medium businesses.
• By 2015 in Vancouver, businesses with less than 500 staff (SMEs) will see an increase of more than 2,900 new jobs, while larger enterprise companies will increase by more than 3,000 jobs.

"At Microsoft, we're challenging businesses to really see the path that the cloud offers: increased flexibility and technology cost savings, allowing for greater productivity, more innovation, and as eventually, business growth," says Weigelt. "Businesses across the globe are realizing that if they act now, they will reap big benefits both today and into the future."

Vancouver-based VRX Studios has been reaping the benefits of the cloud.  After ten years of faithfully serving the company, VRX Studios' home grown digital asset management system wasn't able to support the company's size, scale and growth rate.  Realizing its dilemma, VRX Studios needed to quickly find a new, highly scalable, enterprise-class digital asset management system that could meet the global needs of its business. With over 10,000 hotel customers around the world and more than 20 terabytes of data, the benefits the cloud offered were too good to ignore.

"We knew we needed to build a system that was 100 per cent cloud-based in order to eliminate the enormous capital expenses that would be required to launch a global solution and to reduce operating costs to a small fraction of what an on-premises or collocated system would," says David MacLaren, President and CEO, VRX Studios.  "Using Microsoft's Windows Azure platform, we developed the first 100 per cent cloud-based digital asset management system to improve our content production, licensing and distribution business.  Since building the core system, we've branded it MediaValet and now offer the solution as a stand-alone SaaS product, providing cloud-based digital asset management services to companies of all sizes, industries and locations. Due to the demand that we're seeing for this new product, we expect MediaValet to surpass the success of VRX Studios within the next few years."

Microsoft offers a variety of cloud computing solutions worldwide, ranging from platform and infrastructure offerings (Windows Azure, Windows Server), productivity offerings (Office 365) and private cloud solutions (Windows Server, System Center) to consumer-focused offerings (Xbox Live, Hotmail).

For more information on Microsoft's cloud services, please visit www.microsoft.com/cloud.

About Microsoft Canada

Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca.

Image with caption: "CLOUD SPURS SKY-HIGH JOB GROWTH ACROSS THE GLOBE (CNW Group/Microsoft Canada Co.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120306_C2087_PHOTO_EN_10803.jpg

TORONTO, March 7, 2012 /CNW/ - T4G Limited, a North American full-service, project-based IT services company, is pleased to announce its game changing EnCenter tool that can save organizations hundreds of thousands of dollars by helping identify and reduce waste energy.

EnCenter separates itself from standard energy management information systems (EMIS) with its ease of use in not only monitoring consumption but pinpointing waste and predicting future consumption patterns through performance modelling.

"Real time consumption and energy driver data, coupled with powerful statistical modelling within EnCenter, takes the guesswork out of finding energy waste and identifying effective changes to save money," says T4G President Geoff Flood. "EnCenter exposes 'invisible' energy waste consumption with an economic potential of 10 to 20 per cent."

EnCenter's analytical features crunch numbers and find improvement techniques to make energy consumption visible to the end user, not just once like an audit but continuously. EnCenter uses analytics such as Linear Regression, CUSUM and Meter Mapping to build performance models of any energy consuming process, regardless of industry or type of facility.

If the actual consumption varies from predicted performance, EnCenter indicates a change in the process and alerts the energy manager, who can then investigate what is causing the change and prevent energy waste from occurring.

T4G invested heavily over the last two years developing EnCenter after Mike Carr, Managing Director, Energy, presented the idea at Geekfest in 2010, shortly after he joined the company.

Mr. Flood said EnCenter exemplifies why Geekfest is not simply a great team building and innovation exercise but also an evening to showcase great ideas from T4G staff that can be marketable.

"Right or wrong, we think we can change the world through innovative ideas and Geekfest is a wonderful forum to show off the talent within T4G. EnCenter is an example of helping to change the world by significantly advancing our ability to find and reduce waste energy," Mr. Flood added.

"With T4G's vast experience in IT business intelligence (BI) solutions and my background in energy management, I knew we could take EMIS to the next level," Mr. Carr said. "EnCenter certainly does that."

What types of organizations can use EnCenter?

"Pretty much anybody who consumes plenty of energy but we're specifically targeting those organizations with energy intensive facilities," Mr. Carr said. "Hospitals, universities, government, various industries from banking and telecommunications to automotive and pulp and paper, restaurant chains and more."

EnCenter is the tool for integrating energy management to LEAN and other continuous improvement best practices, he added.

ABOUT T4G

T4G is a national, project-based, full-service professional services company founded in 1996 with operations from coast-to-coast. We believe in building high-performing teams and breaking conventional wisdom. We believe in our people and true participation in each and every project we undertake. We believe in The Intelligent Application of Technology™ where less can be more, where innovation leads to opportunity, and where a culture of commitment always strives to exceed customers' expectations. For more information: www.t4g.com

TORONTO, March 7, 2012 /CNW/ - On March 9, The Toronto Tempest, Canada's first independent politics and culture tablet magazine will launch. While major publications like The New Yorker, Wired, and Vanity Fair have innovated successfully in the tablet space, The Tempest will be this country's first politics and culture tablet magazine.

"The Tempest is a natural development in the magazine world," says co-editor James Burrows. "Until the tablet, the costs of launching an independent magazine were prohibitive. We expect to be the first of many new, young, and interesting magazines that take advantage of this space. Because we're exclusively digital, The Tempest will feature the same high quality design consumers expect from print magazines but will also include interactive content, audio materials, and videos."

According to Burrows, "This city doesn't need another magazine or newspaper covering City Hall. In every issue we will publish insights into how the city's daily life actually works. A magazine for the Occupy generation, we ask what this moment demands in terms of its politics, its journalism, its music, its art, and its humour. Our focus is the city, but readers from around the world will appreciate our perspective."

Every publication will soon need a tablet version. As the first tablet-only magazine in Canada, The Tempest will target discerning readers in Toronto and across the country. With the numbers of tablets growing exponentially, The Tempest will be well positioned to reach tech-savvy, young, and influential readers.

The Tempest will be published bi-monthly and will be available through the Apple App store and the Google Marketplace. In April The Tempest will be available on smartphones.

Visit www.torontotempest.com for a video preview and to see the Issue 1 table of contents.

For more information contact info@torontotempest.com

MONTREAL, March 7, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The majority of SME executives plan concrete measures in favor of sustainable development according to a question asked for the SME Confidence Index-Fonds de solidarité FTQ . The results of the survey were made public during #mardidd on Twitter, an exchange between Quebec companies about sustainable development.

"It is important to have an overall vision for sustainable development and that vision must include Quebec SMEs, said Mario Tremblay, vice-president for public and corporate affairs at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. The results made public during #mardidd show that a majority of SME executives are concerned by the environment, but there remains a minority that still needs to be made aware of issues related to sustainable development."

In February 2012, 80% of SME executives planned to put in place concrete measures related to sustainable development within the next 18 months.

The main measures considered by SME executives include putting in place or improving policies for the reduction of documents printed by their enterprise (50%), putting in place or improving recycling policies (45%) and increasing the awareness about the use of energy in the workplace (42%).

The replacement of existing equipment by more energy efficient equipment (28%), increasing employee awareness about the use of disposal utensils (24%) and putting in place financial measures to encourage employee use of public transit and car pooling (9%) are among the other measures being considered by SME executives.

11% of SME executives plan other types of measures, while 20% plan no measures at all during the next 18 months, an increase of 3% since May 2011.

Methodology - The online survey polled 202 Québec SMEs with 10 or more employees and sales of $5 million and up. Respondents were invited to complete the survey between February 3 and 13, 2012, on Léger Marketing's secure Web site.

About the Fonds de solidarité FTQ

The Fonds de solidarité FTQ helps drive our economy. With net assets of $8.2 billion as of November 30, 2011, the Fund is a development capital investment fund that channels the savings of Quebecers into investments in all sectors of the economy to help further Québec's economic growth. Its investments, in all sectors of the economy, contribute to the creation and maintenance of businesses and development in Quebec. The Fund is a partner, either directly or through its network members, in 2,129 companies. With its 583,235 owner-shareholders, it has helped, on its own or with other financial partners, to create, maintain and protect 160,789 jobs. For more information, visit www.cyberfondsftq.com.

For media only

Patrick McQuilken
Senior Advisor for Media Relations and Communications
Fonds de solidarité FTQ
Phone: 514 850-4835
Mobile: 514 703-5587
Email:  pmcquilken@fondsftq.com

GATINEAU, QC, March 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Two Government of Canada (GC) departments will use the OPROMA System^TM cloud-based collaboration service to centralize the management, control and audit of its public infrastructure projects. Recognized as a solution to support best practices, this web technology will help departments deliver projects on time and on budget both in Canada and abroad. Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) have recently awarded competitive multi-year contracts to Oproma, a Gatineau-based technology company.

On August 25^th, Oproma was awarded a one year with four additional one-year period(s) contract to provide an online solution for the management of real property project information for PWGSC's Real Property Branch. Valued at C$1 million for the first year, this software-as-a-service will allow the Department to securely exchange property project documents while complying with confidentiality rules and requirements. The OPROMA System^TM enables centralized and secure online collaboration of PWGSC staff with external stakeholders.

This January, DFAIT awarded Oproma, also through public tender, with a two year contract with a value up-to C$1.5 million, including three one year extension options. DFAIT's Project Implementation Services main objective is to facilitate the execution of projects abroad through the use of a secure cloud-based collaboration system available to external contractors and other parties. DFAIT already uses the OPROMA System^TM to manage many projects across the world.

"Our team is very proud to help our government become a leader in the adoption of new web technologies for information management" said Marc Pageau, President and CEO of Oproma. He feels the OPROMA System^TM will help government departments to efficiently meet their objectives while reducing costs.

About Oproma Inc.

Founded in Gatineau at the turn of the millennium, Oproma specializes in the development and delivery of Information Management Services for secure cloud-based collaboration. Its main offering, the OPROMA System^TM, is actively used for numerous projects in Canada and abroad. Oproma devotes a significant part of its resources to research and development. Innovations and improvements are progressively integrated to the OPROMA System^TM.

For more details concerning Oproma, visit the Facebook page and the website at www.oproma.com.

Bruno Guérette, Director, Customer Service, Sales and Marketing, Oproma Inc.
bguerette@oproma.com / 819 568-4069 / Toll free: 877 268-4662