0422.1 Hot Topics

Cisco and Trend Micro Extend Security Relationship to Deliver Network Worm & Virus Outbreak-Prevention Services

0422.2 Story of the Issue

VoIP Fault & Performance Management - Managing Enterprise IP Telephony

0422.3 Displays

DisplaySearch Indicates Large-Area LCDs Achieved Record Results in Q1’04, Revenues Surged 116% Y/Y to $9.2B

0422.4 Plasma

Pioneer Introduces Fourth Generation High-Definition Plasma Displays for Commercial Use

0422.5 Wireless

Forbes.com Adds New Section Devoted to Wireless

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0422.1 Hot Topics

***Cisco and Trend Micro Extend Security Relationship to Deliver Network Worm & Virus Outbreak-Prevention Services

SAN JOSE, Calif.
June 7, 2004

Cisco Systems, Inc. and Trend Micro Inc. announced a joint collaboration to deliver comprehensive network worm and virus outbreak-prevention services to help protect networked businesses. The new agreement is an extension of the companies' relationship previously established in the Cisco Network Admission Control (NAC) program, and will integrate Cisco network infrastructure and security systems with Trend Micro's worm and virus technologies, vulnerability assessment, and real-time outbreak-prevention capabilities.

Under this extended agreement, Cisco will initially integrate Trend Micro's network worm and virus signatures with the Cisco Intrusion Detection System (IDS) software deployed in Cisco IOS Software-based routers, Cisco Catalyst switches, and network security appliances. This will provide customers with advanced network threat intelligence and an added layer of real-time threat defense from known and unknown network worm and virus attacks.

Cisco has licensed additional Trend Micro technology that will, in subsequent phases, extend its threat prevention capabilities and include:

-- Vulnerability assessment: Helps further isolate and shield vulnerable machines from an attack and enhance endpoint protection.

-- Outbreak-prevention: Integrates policy-based attack-filtering capabilities with Cisco IDS software to accelerate network worm and virus detection and mitigation, helping customers detect, filter and contain outbreaks in the early stages of a new attack.

-- Damage clean-up: Provides customers automated assessment and repair of infected systems

The NAC program and this joint effort also enhance the Cisco Self-Defending Network security strategy that helps enable customers to identify, prevent and adapt to security threats. It also advances the Trend Micro Enterprise Protection Strategy (EPS), which provides proactive management of the network worm and virus outbreak lifecycle.

Alone, traditional antivirus technologies cannot address complex and ever-changing network security threats. This effort underscores how customers are realizing the need to take a systems-level approach to address this problem. Collaboration among industry leaders is required to deliver system-level solutions that provide multiple levels of defense.

Cisco and Trend Micro Solution Availability

The initial integration of Cisco IDS software with Trend Micro's antivirus technologies is scheduled to be available in the third quarter of calendar year 2004 for all Cisco products that support Cisco IDS software version 4.1 including Cisco IOS Software-based routers, switches, and network security appliances. Further integration efforts for virus and worm outbreak prevention extensions are scheduled to be available by early calendar year 2005.

http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2004/prod_060704.html

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0422.2 Story of the Issue

***VoIP Fault & Performance Management - Managing Enterprise IP Telephony

The WAVE Report reviewed an application paper produced by Telchemy Incorporated, Suwanee, GA, and found it to be an excellent guide in assessing a company’s IT infrastructure for VoIP applications. This area is quickly becoming a hot issue as VoIP becomes a reasonable alternative to hardwired telephone exchanges sharing T-1 assets that constrict Internet broadband access, and the voice connectivity with remote or regional offices and telecommuting. The WAVE makes no recommendations about software solutions to our readers but commends this document for their review.

Suwanee, GA
May 2004

Voice over IP brings many benefits to the Enterprise, including: lower system maintenance costs, improved network integration between branch offices and teleworkers and the ability to build distributed call centers. Telephony is mission critical for most businesses, and network managers expect that their new, “exciting” IP services deliver the quality, reliability and availability that they had with traditional phone service. Thus as VoIP is deployed in the Enterprise, it is critical to implement a performance management framework that is sufficient to deal with the many operational problems that arise. This application note describes the typical issues that network managers encounter when deploying Enterprise IP Telephony and introduces a management framework that allows them to detect, address and resolve these problems.

Performance Management and Enterprise IP Telephony

Calls originating from IP phones are typically carried as internal VoIP traffic to branch offices or teleworkers in their home offices. Calls going to external numbers or to non-VoIP sites are converted from VoIP traffic to conventional circuit-switched telephone calls by a gateway and routed through the public telephone network or TDM leased lines.

IP Telephony is very different from conventional data applications in that call quality is particularly sensitive to IP network impairments. Existing network problems become much more obvious with the deployment of VoIP. For network managers this means that LANs, access links and network equipment will probably need to be upgraded and that more sophisticated management and diagnostic tools are needed when deploying and maintaining VoIP.

There are three basic categories of performance-related problems that can occur in Enterprise IP Telephony:

• IP Network Problems

a. Jitter –- Variation in packet transmission time that leads to packets being discarded in VoIP end systems or to increases in delay; jitter is usually due to network congestion, but it can also be caused by load sharing across transmission routes with differing delays

b. Packet Loss –- Packets lost during transmission due to network errors, route changes, link failures or Random Early Detection (RED) in routers

c. Delay -- Overall packet transmission “lag time” that leads to two-way conversational difficulty.

• Equipment Configuration and Signaling Problems

a. VoIP Endpoint Configuration –- Performance impact based on CODEC type and packet loss concealment algorithm, or jitter buffer configuration

b. Router and Firewall Configuration -- Firewalls or incorrectly configured routers block VoIP traffic; routers need to be configured to deliver RTP packets in a timely manner

c. Bandwidth Allocation –- Network may lack sufficient bandwidth to support peak traffic volumes.

• Analog/TDM Interface Problems

a. Echo -– “Echo” commonly occurs at the boundary between the digital network (VoIP or TDM) and analog local loops. This becomes very obvious and annoying with the additional delay introduced by the IP network problems described above

b. Signal Level -- Abnormally high or low voice signal levels, “clipping,” excessive noise and “echo” may occur due to incorrectly configured gateway signal levels. Network architects and managers should address call quality and performance management problems when they plan and deploy their IP networks, but they should be aware that these problems may also frequently occur during normal day-to-day network operation post-deployment.

Many VoIP-related problems are transient in nature and can occur anywhere along the network path. For example, a user accessing a file from a server may cause a period of congestion lasting a few seconds. This, in turn, can cause short-term degradation in call quality for other users on the network. Thus it is essential that network managers use performance management tools that are able to detect and measure these types of network impairments.

The transient nature of IP problems also means that they are not easily detected or reproduced. In contrast to traditional POTS, problems are not necessarily associated with specific cables or line cards – they can occur randomly due to the “collision” of several different factors. Network managers could attempt to use packet loss and jitter metrics to estimate call quality; however, these metrics do not provide either a reliable way to do this or enough diagnostic information to determine the cause of the problem.

Network managers use probes and analyzers located at specific network points to help detect and diagnose VoIP performance problems; however, it is not cost effective to place probes on user desktops, in small branch offices or teleworkers’ homes. The distributed VoIP monitoring framework provides the ability to deploy a “software probe” on every user desktop, regardless of location, as well as real-time feedback on call quality.

This distributed approach provides performance feedback for every endpoint, virtually anywhere on the network, with a moderate number of probes and analyzers located at key aggregation points to support problem isolation and diagnostic functions.

Real time reports can be collected, alerts generated and call quality reports sent through the signaling system to call management servers. This enables call quality data to be associated with specific call records and to facilitate troubleshooting of completed calls.

VoIP Network Requirements and Pre-Deployment Testing

Data applications are not sensitive to real-time transmission problems like jitter, delay and route flapping. On the other hand, VoIP performance is very vulnerable to these problems. When deploying VoIP, network managers need to pay special attention to the IP infrastructure to support their new service. In addition, they should be prepared for increased network traffic and potential congestion once their VoIP network is active.

When moving to VoIP, Enterprise network managers and architects should take the following steps to ensure network success:

• Step 1: Assess Inter-Site Connectivity

Many call quality-related problems occur in access links or on limited bandwidth WAN or VPN links. If significant jitter or delay occurs on inter-site connections, this is a strong indicator that similar problems will occur during VoIP deployment. Budget bandwidth usage between sites and verify that routers can prioritize RTP traffic.

• Step 2: Assess Desktop Connectivity

Use a switched 100BaseT Ethernet architecture. Even with the use of Ethernet, problems can still occur due to duplex mismatch, excessively long Ethernet segments or bad cable connections. Examine Ethernet switch statistics for evidence of packet errors or excessive collisions and upgrade equipment accordingly.

• Step 3: Pre-Deployment Performance Testing

Before deploying the network, verify network performance using a pre-deployment tool to generate a realistic level of simulated traffic. In addition to analyzing performance, these tools also highlight problem areas. Make sure to use tools, like VQmon (described below), that are able to detect transient problems typical of IP network behavior.

• Step 4: Pilot Trial

After completing Steps 1-3 above, conduct a pilot trial for the network. At this stage, the trial should be successful. Any problems during the pilot trial are normally the result of an incorrectly configured router or other network equipment rather than a network performance problem.

• Step 5: Deploy “Live” Network

As deployment ramps up, carefully monitor any trends in key VoIP performance parameters, note any call quality -related degradation and investigate accordingly.

• Step 6: Maintain VoIP Network

Since VoIP networks are constantly changing and evolving; e.g., network configuration, equipment configuration and network traffic, continued monitoring and maintenance of the network is essential to maintain quality voice service after its initial deployment.

To deploy and maintain a VoIP network successfully, network managers need a new performance management infrastructure that understands IP telephony issues and call quality-related problems.

The New VoIP Performance Management Architecture

A new standards-based framework has emerged within the IP industry for VoIP Performance Management. It uses a distributed software probe architecture to provide cost-effective, real-time call quality feedback with maximum network coverage. The new framework’s monitoring functions provide real-time visibility of network performance, detection of transient problems and comprehensive diagnostic data.

The new framework provides new QoS reporting protocols that are able to send data back to network management and call control systems with minimal network traffic overhead. The architecture features high performance network probes located within the core network and at major customer locations that provide in-depth diagnosis when problems are detected.

A key benefit of the new VoIP Performance Management Architecture is that small lightweight monitoring functions can be integrated directly into IP Phones, Routers, Gateways and similar network elements. This “direct integration” provides probe functionality in equipment where it would normally be cost prohibitive, e.g., every customer desktop.

Common VoIP Performance Metrics

The new VoIP Performance Management Architecture incorporates a common set of VoIP performance metrics supported by multiple QoS reporting protocols, i.e., the same information is available regardless of the protocol used for reporting.

These performance metrics are:

• Percentage of Packets Lost By the Network

• Percentage of Packets Discarded By the Jitter Buffer Due To Late Arrival

-- Both these metrics help to identify the degree to which a call is being affected by network packet loss or jitter. They also eliminate the need to“guess” how much effect jitter is having on packet discard rate.

• Mean Length and Density of Bursts, where a burst is defined as an interval of time during which the packet loss/discard rate is high enough to cause audio quality degradation.

• Mean Length and Density Of Gaps Between Bursts and the Density Of Packet Loss/Discard Within These Gaps

-- Both these metrics help to identify the extent to which the call is degraded by loss/discard and provide some insight into the user experience. Transient network congestion is a common problem resulting in a period of high loss/discard lasting for several seconds during which call quality is degraded; these transient call quality problems are reported as “bursts.”

• Round Trip Delay Between VoIP Endpoints

• End System Delay Within a VoIP Endpoint

-- Both these metrics help to identify the sources of excessive delay which can lead to conversational difficulty and greatly intensify the effects of echo.

• Signal Level

• Noise Level

• Echo Level

-- These metrics enable detection of problems due to excessive variations in signal, noise or echo level. They also allow mid-stream probes to detect signal, echo and noise level problems without needing to decode voice packets. These metrics will be essential to support network management when networks use the secure RTP framework.

• Call Quality Metrics In Either R or MOS Scaling

-- These metrics provide an immediate view of call quality. If it is apparent that there is a problem, then the other metrics can be used for diagnosis.

• Jitter Buffer Configuration and Packet Loss Concealment Algorithm

-- This information is used to determine if poor call quality is due to incorrect configuration of the end system, and to allow mid-stream probes to automatically detect endpoint configuration.

Performance Management Reporting Protocols

Reporting protocols have been developed for the media path, signaling system and network management. It is important to realize that these are complementary; i.e., they are designed to be used together.

RTCP Reporting Extensions (RTCP XR)

The RTCP XR protocol (RFC3611) is a media path reporting protocol that exchanges call quality metrics between Voice over IP endpoints. RTCP XR provides several useful functions:

• Enables collection of call quality reports by the remote endpoint, e.g., a trunking gateway, or by intermediate probes

• Provides ability to pass transparently through firewall routers

• Supports the diagnosis of echo-related problems

• Enables network probes to obtain analog signal information without the need to decode voice packets

• Compatibility with the emerging Secure RTP security framework.

Signaling Protocol QoS Reporting

Several new QoS Reporting protocols have been developed within ITU and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that support call quality reporting to call management systems, e.g., softswitches. These protocols provide call quality information directly to the systems that maintain Call Detail Record databases and link service quality information directly to specific users and their calls. QoS reporting protocols for H.323 (H.460.9 Annex B) and Megaco (H.248.30) were approved in early 2004, and new protocols for SIP and MGCP are expected in mid to late 2004.

SNMP and the RTCP XR MIB

An RTCP XR Management Information Base (MIB) is under development within the IETF for use in gateways or probes to support the retrieval of metrics via SNMP. For example, RTCP XR could be used to relay call quality information from an IP phone to the gateway that forms the network end of a VoIP connection; and SNMP would be used to retrieve call quality information from the gateway for both in-bound and out-bound packet streams.

Further information may be found at

http://www.telchemy.com

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0422.3 Displays

***DisplaySearch Indicates Large-Area LCDs Achieved Record Results in Q1’04, Revenues Surged 116% Y/Y to $9.2B

AUSTIN, TEXAS
June 7, 2004

Revenues for 10” and larger TFT LCDs rose 14% quarter-over-quarter (Q/Q) and a record 116% year-over-year (Y/Y) in Q1’04 to establish a new quarterly high of $9.2 billion (B) as revealed in DisplaySearch’s latest Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report. 102% Y/Y growth was predicted, but 116% growth was achieved on faster unit growth, 59% vs. a forecasted 51%. In addition, ASPs were 1% higher than projected at $286, the highest value since Q1’01 as larger and more expensive panels gained share and shortage conditions continued resulting in price increases at certain sizes. Unit shipments rose 7% Q/Q to 32.1 million (M), 6% or 1.8M units higher than predicted. All applications grew faster than expected and quarterly TFT LCD supplier profits exceeded $2 billion for the first time. By application in Q1’04:

LCD monitor module shipments grew more than twice as fast as predicted, rising 15% Q/Q and 55% Y/Y to a record high 17.5M units and a 55% share of total Q1’04 large-area shipments, up from 51%. The higher than expected growth can be attributed to significant pent-up demand resulting from reduced allocation between Q2’03 and Q4’03 due to supply constraints and higher panel margins in notebooks and TVs. While monitor panel shipments rose 55% Y/Y, revenues were up 98% Y/Y with ASPs up 28% Y/Y. The average LCD monitor panel diagonal grew from 16.5” to 16.7” as the 17” unit share rose from 46% to 50%, with 19” rising from 8% to 11% and 15” falling from 39% to 34%.

Notebook PC module shipments fell more slowly than anticipated, declining 5% Q/Q compared with an expectation of minus 7%. The decline occurred as the market adjusts to excessive panel shipments and channel inventory growth in the previous quarter. However, on a Y/Y basis, shipments were still up a robust 50% to 11.3M units. The notebook share of total large-area shipments fell from 40% to 35%, the lowest value to date. Notebook panel revenues were up 103% Y/Y with ASPs rising 35%. The wide aspect ratio share fell from 15% in Q4’03 to 14% in Q1’04 on an 11% Q/Q decline due to channel inventory issues at 15.4”, but was still up significantly from 2% in Q1’03. Conventional high resolution panels (SXGA+ and higher) also lost ground falling from a 13% to a 12% share on a 12% Q/Q decline. 15” XGA remained the most popular panel with a 34% share, but fell 6% Q/Q on weakness in the consumer market. 14.1” XGA gained share, rising from 27% to 29%, on strength in the corporate market.

LCD TV module shipments grew significantly faster than expected, up 14% Q/Q vs. a projected 2% decline, as the result of a 26% increase in March after weak performance in January and February. Inventory concerns were eliminated by the end of the quarter and shipments continued to rise in April. On a Y/Y basis, shipments were up 228% to 2.35M units. LCD TV modules reached 7% and 13% of large-area units and revenues respectively in Q1’04, up from 4% and 6% in Q1’03. LCD TV module revenues rose faster than units, up 409% Y/Y on a 55% Y/Y increase in ASPs to $527 and a 17% increase in average diagonal to 20.8”. 20” VGA remained the single most popular panel, rising from a 16% share in Q4’03 to a 20% share in Q1’04. The 20” and larger share rose from a 53% share in Q4’03 to a 60% share in Q1’04 on 27% growth.

Other shipments, consisting of public display, industrial products and >10.0” portable DVD player panels, enjoyed the fastest Q/Q growth at 26% Q/Q on the strength of 10” portable DVD player panel shipments. On a Y/Y basis, shipments were up 54% to a record 905K units. Revenues rose 30% Q/Q and 58% Y/Y to $215M and a 2.3% share, up from 2.1% last quarter.

Table 1 reveals large-area share by supplier on an area basis, accounting for differences by supplier in panel size. As indicated:

Samsung overtook LG.Philips LCD to become #1 in large-area TFT LCD shipments on an area and a unit basis in Q1’04 for the first time since Q3’02. It enjoyed 20% Q/Q and 141% Y/Y growth, benefiting from the rapid ramp of its second 5th gen line and strong demand from the LCD monitor market. It enjoyed the fastest Q/Q growth in LCD monitor modules of any supplier at 41% on a unit basis and 43% on an area basis. It led the LCD monitor module market for the first time since Q4’01. It continued to hold the leadership position in notebooks despite a 7% area output decline and remained #3 in LCD TVs on a 12% increase in area output.

LG.Philips LCD fell to #2 in unit shipments and area output on flat sequential growth due to lack of increase in capacity. On an area basis, it fell from #1 to #2 in monitors and TVs and remained #2 in notebooks. Notebook output was down 12% with monitors up 6%, TVs down 1% and Other down 1%. Its 6th gen fab is now expected to begin to ramp in Q3’04.

AU Optronics (AUO) remained the #3 supplier with a 13.2% share, up from 12.2%, on 19% Q/Q and 91% Y/Y growth as it continued to ramp its first 5th gen fab and began ramping its second 5th gen fab. It remained #3 in monitors on a 24% increase, fell from #3 to #4 in notebooks due to a 10% decline, rose from #6 to #5 in LCD TVs on an 80% increase and surged from #8 to #3 in Other on a 266% increase on strong growth in portable DVD players.

Table 1: Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Share and Growth
By Supplier (Area Basis)

*Includes IDTech

DisplaySearch's “Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report” reveals each supplier’s large-area unit shipments and revenues by application, size and resolution for Q1’04 and forecasts this data forward two quarters through Q3’04. Actual glass input and fab utilization by fab line are also included. The report is now delivered in Powerpoint form with an optional pivot table available and already distributed for the latest issue. To find out which markets and suppliers will gain or lose ground in Q2’04 and Q3’04, contact Jerry Benson at DisplaySearch at 512-459-3126 for subscription information.

DisplaySearch will also be hosting the following events:

2004 Taiwan FPD International Conference – June 10-11, Taipei International Conference Center (TICC), Taipei, Taiwan.

http://www.displaysearch.com/taiwan/taiwanfpd2004.html

HDTV Forum 2004 - August 24 – 26, Westin Century Plaza, Los Angeles, California (co-hosted by DisplaySearch and Insight Media).

http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum

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0422.4 Plasma

***Pioneer Introduces Fourth Generation High-Definition Plasma Displays for Commercial Use

ATLANTA, INFOCOMM
June 9

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. announced two new high-definition plasma displays for the industrial market, the PDP-504CMX (50-inch), and PDP-434CMX (43-inch), providing commercial users the most flexible solutions for digital signage, board room and other business applications. Key among the features of the new PDP-504CMX and PDP-434CMX is the ability to insert a variety of expansion boards to change or enhance the capabilities of the display. As part of Pioneer's new Expansion Solutions program, the new Pioneer plasmas have two open architecture card slots enabling the user to modify or expand the panel's capabilities. One slot is for communication, the other for visuals. Mountable expansion boards are available from Pioneer as well as a variety of third-party manufacturers to create multiple custom application scenarios. The other key feature is the PureDrive technology that maintains all signals in the digital domain; eliminating signal loss, reducing distortion, and providing a far greater degree of control of the signal.

Expansion Solutions Card Slots

Pioneer's vision for its Expansion Solutions program is to provide a more future-proof environment for plasma displays by enabling users to modify their display to meet the rapid evolution of display and communication technology. Pioneer's plasmas can be adapted through expansion cards to allow access to the World Wide Web, to create a TV tuner, for system control, MPEG playback, signal interface, wireless connectivity or for an imbedded PC. The flexibility and adaptability of Pioneer's PDP-504CMX and PDP-434CMX enable them to outperform the competition today as well as into the future. As expert third party manufacturers continue to develop more cards, the breadth of new applications for Pioneer's plasma displays will grow exponentially.

Pioneer currently offers two new optional video cards, PDA-5003 and PDA-5004, that work with the Expansion Solution card slots. Each optional video card provides composite, s-video and component terminals. Vivid, vibrant images can be reproduced on the plasma display when either of these cards is used in conjunction with a PDP-504CMX or PDP-434CMX. The PDA-5003 is equipped with stable BNC terminals, and supports an analog RGB signal through its component terminals. The PDA-5004 is equipped with RCA terminals, for connectivity with many external devices.

Pure Drive

The PDP-504CMX and PDP-434CMX employ Pioneer's PureDrive technology to maintain the purest digital signal possible for a clear, smooth and natural image quality. PureDrive includes:

* Advanced Continuous Emission II (ACE II) processes the basic color elements enabling the plasmas to reproduce more than one billion colors and eliminates false contouring within the displays.

* Pioneer's unique Deep Encased Cell Structure and the use of new fluorescent materials results in the highest brightness levels (white peak) in the industry, 1,000cd/m2 and 1,100cd/m2 for the 50-inch model and the 43-inch model respectively.

* Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) effectively reduces random noise.

* MPEG Noise Reduction effectively reduces mosquito noise unique to MPEG signals.

* Natural Enhancer emphasizes image contours without causing adverse effects such as rough-edged images.

* Color Detail Adjustment allows users to independently fine -adjust the six basic colors.

Screen Management

Many commercial plasma displays offer a variety of patterns used in off-peak hours to help achieve even wear of the phosphors in the panel. Pioneer offers a their management tool, which gives integrators the ability to schedule these patterns at predetermined intervals. In the integrator mode, the panel can be instructed when and how long to implement the patterns, making Pioneer's plasma displays better suited to withstand the rigors of digital signage and other professional display applications. Patterns available include RGB separate full mask and side mask brightness adjustment, Orbiter mode, and Inverse mode. The Orbiter mode allows the plasma to move a displayed image one pixel at a time at fixed intervals and the Inverse mode lets the plasma displays images as negative.

Energy Star Certified

The new professional plasmas offer the lowest power consumption in the industry -- 360 watts peak consumption for the 50-inch model and 298 watts peak consumption for the 43-inch model -- without limiting performance. The plasmas also offer four Energy Save Modes, which include Power Save, Intermediate, Linear Brightness, which decreases the peak intensity of high-brightness images, and Auto Brightness Control, which uses a sensor to automatically adjust the brightness depending on room lighting.

Additional New Features

* Four Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Display Modes offers a variety of PiP combinations.

* Intelligent Auto Setup function automatically adjusts the screen when a computer is connected.

* Point Zoom function allows users to expand any portion of a PC image in three steps 1.5x, 2x and 3x for emphasizing key points in a presentation.

* 2x2 Enlarged Display function optimizes images depending on the input source when the four-segment multi screen display is used.

* Error Information function performs self-diagnosis of a malfunction and displays its cause using error codes as a sequence of lights on the front of the display for easy diagnosis.

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0422.5 Wireless

***Forbes.com Adds New Section Devoted to Wireless

NEW YORK
June 7, 2004

Forbes.com, home page for the world's business leaders, announced the addition of a new editorial section in its Technology channel, devoted to wireless. The section at http://www.forbes.com/wireless focuses on how wireless technology impacts the workplace, enabling companies and business professionals to be more productive.

The launch of the section features a special report on "Wi-Fi In The 21st Century Workplace," which is also available as a pull-out guide in the June 21 issue of Forbes magazine. In addition, the new Forbes.com wireless section includes:

-- Wi-Fi "hot spot" locator and maps

-- Case studies, interviews and "thought leader" commentary

-- News and feature stories on wireless

-- Product reviews

-- Interactive polls and chats

-- Company profiles

-- Event calendars

Forbes.com teamed up with JiWire, a San Francisco-based news organization devoted to wireless issues, to provide an international Wi-Fi hot spot locator for 55 countries, including the U.S. You can type in a city, country or airport code to get a map with the nearest Wi-Fi access points.

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