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Month: April 2010

Symantec to Offer Broadest Data Protection Capabilities With Acquisition of PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge

Making Data Protection More Intelligent, Policy-Driven and Easy-to-Manage While Ensuring Information Is Protected at Rest, in Use and in Motion

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, Apr 29, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –Symantec Corp. (NASDAQ: SYMC) today announced it has signed definitive agreements to acquire PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge Technologies, Inc., two privately-held leaders in the email and data encryption market, which will extend its ability to help customers secure and manage their most critical information. Under the terms of the agreements, Symantec will acquire PGP Corporation for a purchase price of approximately $300 million in cash and GuardianEdge for a purchase price of approximately $70 million in cash. The agreements are subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and are expected to close during the June quarter.

Encryption technology is an important element of an information-centric security solution, as critical information is increasingly on mobile devices and in the cloud. State and national governments are enacting more stringent and costly compliance mandates, such as the HITECH and UK Data Protection Acts, which are driving the need to encrypt sensitive information and protect an individual’s privacy. Also, the increased costs and frequency of data breaches are driving the adoption of encryption as companies strive to mitigate risk and protect their critical information from cybercriminals.

By bringing together PGP and GuardianEdge’s standards-based encryption capabilities for full-disk, removable media, email, file, folder and smartphone, with Symantec’s endpoint security, data loss prevention and gateway security offerings, Symantec will have the broadest set of integrated data protection solutions. This unique portfolio will address the data protection needs of all major customer segments from the largest enterprises and governments to small businesses and individuals. Together these acquisitions will expand Symantec’s addressable security market opportunity and will position the company as a leader in the fast growing encryption market which, according to IDC, is estimated to reach $1.7 billion in 2013.

"As information becomes increasingly mobile, it’s essential to take an information-centric approach to security. Our market-leading data protection solutions provide the intelligence for customers to better understand what data is important, who owns it and who accesses it," said Francis deSouza, senior vice president, Enterprise Security Group, Symantec. "With these acquisitions we can further protect information by using encryption in an intelligent and policy-driven way to give the right users access to the right information, enabling the trust that individuals and organizations need to operate confidently in an information-driven world. We’re now able to offer the industry’s most comprehensive solution across encryption and data loss prevention for protecting confidential data on endpoints, networks, storage systems and in the cloud."

Symantec expects these transactions to be 2 cents dilutive to non-GAAP earnings per share in fiscal year 2011 and accretive to its non-GAAP earnings per share in fiscal year 2012.

Consistent with Symantec’s strength in addressing heterogeneity in customer environments, PGP and GuardianEdge are committed to standards-based technologies, helping customers ensure broad compatibility and simplified management among deployments. Following the close of these transactions, Symantec intends to bring together key features and functionality from each company’s offerings and standardize on the PGP key management platform in order to deliver centralized policy and key management capabilities across the entire suite of encryption solutions.

Symantec also intends to integrate the PGP key management platform into the Symantec Protection Center, which simplifies security information management by providing customers consolidated access to threat, security and operational dashboards and reporting. Integrating the PGP key management platform into the Symantec Protection Center will further enhance the management of endpoint security, data loss prevention and gateway security products, which are also integrated with Symantec Protection Center, allowing customers to more seamlessly protect information.

"What I really like about these acquisitions is that they go well beyond PC full-disk encryption alone," said Jon Oltsik, Principal Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. "With PGP and GuardianEdge, Symantec gets a geographically-dispersed install base, a leading standards-based key management platform, a PKI SaaS offering, a strong government presence, and encryption coverage from mobile devices to mainframes. Yesterday, Symantec was lagging in encryption and key management and today, with PGP and GuardianEdge, it is now able to provide leading solutions worldwide."

PGP and GuardianEdge’s solutions are ideal for Symantec’s worldwide distribution network. PGP’s global customer base crosses enterprise, small and medium business and individuals. GuardianEdge, already a Symantec technology partner for Symantec Endpoint Encryption, provides strength in the government sector. The addition of encryption offerings will provide up-sell and cross-sell opportunities for Symantec’s sales team and extensive partner network as customers seek to conduct business with fewer vendors.

Upon close of the acquisitions, PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge will join the Enterprise Security Group led by Senior Vice President Francis deSouza. For more information on how PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge will complement Symantec’s security portfolio please visit: go.symantec.com/PGPGuardianEdge

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Symantec will host a conference call and webcast today to discuss the acquisition at 5 a.m. PDT/ 8 a.m. EDT. The live discussion can be accessed by dialing 888-778-8912 domestic and 913-312-1502 internationally, passcode 4938806. An audio webcast of the call will also be available at www.symantec.com/invest. Please go to the Web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available via webcast at www.symantec.com/invest. A slide presentation providing an overview of the transaction and strategic rationale is available at investor.symantec.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=89422&p=irol-eventnpres.

About PGP Corporation

PGP Corporation is a global leader in email and data encryption software. Based on a unified key management and policy infrastructure, the PGP(R) Encryption Platform offers the broadest set of integrated applications for enterprise data security. PGP(R) platform-enabled applications allow organizations to meet current needs and expand as security requirements evolve for email, laptops, desktops, instant messaging, smartphones, network storage, file transfers, automated processes, and backups.

PGP(R) solutions are used by more than 110,000 enterprises, businesses, and governments worldwide, including 87 percent of the Fortune(R) 100, 73 percent of the Fortune(R) Global 100, 80 percent of the German DAX index, and 60 percent of the U.K. FTSE 100 Index. As a result, PGP Corporation has earned a global reputation for innovative, standards-based, and trusted solutions. PGP solutions help protect confidential information, secure customer data, achieve regulatory and audit compliance, and safeguard companies’ brands and reputations. Contact PGP Corporation at www.pgp.com.

About GuardianEdge

GuardianEdge, the leader in endpoint data protection for the enterprise, offers award-winning solutions to protect sensitive data on end-user devices including laptops, desktops, portable storage devices and smartphones. GuardianEdge products offer a breadth of encryption, port, device and file type control technologies while establishing a market-leading position in solving the operational issues of deployment, management, scalability, reporting, auditing and user productivity at the lowest possible total cost. Millions of users worldwide depend on the EAL 4 certified, enterprise-software standards-based GuardianEdge Data Protection Platform to safeguard confidential or proprietary information, to ensure compliance with regulations for maintaining consumer privacy and to enable secure enterprise mobility.

GuardianEdge data protection solutions have been deployed by leading organizations including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Lincoln Financial Group, and The Hertz Corporation as well as numerous government agencies including the U.S. departments of Veteran Affairs, Defense, Energy, State and Education and the California Department of Healthcare Services.

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States.

Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including expectations regarding the closing of Symantec’s acquisitions of PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge and the integration of their products and technologies into Symantec’s products and solutions and the expected impact of the acquisitions on Symantec’s fiscal 2011 and 2012 operating results, that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this press release. Such risk factors include, among others, satisfaction of closing conditions to the transactions, our ability to successfully integrate the merged businesses and technologies, and customer demand for the technologies and integrated product offerings. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Risk Factors section of Symantec’s most recently filed Form 10-K. Symantec assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release. The contents of the Symantec website shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this press release. Any forward-looking indication of plans for products is preliminary and all future release dates are tentative and are subject to change. Any future release of the product or planned modifications to product capability, functionality, or feature are subject to ongoing evaluation by Symantec, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by Symantec and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.

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The easiest publishing platform ever. Posterous can post anything.

I just discovered what surely must be the easiest, most accessible, most flexible publishing platform ever.  It’s called Posterous, and it combines the best features of your favorite social media with the ease of email. 

 

It takes about one minute to get your own Posterous page.  There is no software to download, no forms to fill out, no bizarre email address to configure, no hoops to jump through.  It’s like having a web site with blog and You Tube and Facebook all in one place.  Plus, Posterous offers the simplest interface imaginable:  Your own email program.  You can email your entries from anywhere, and if you can attach a file you can post to Posterous.  You can post audio simply by attaching an MP3 to your email.  Posterous will embed a player for you.  Same with video, and even pictures directly from your camera.  If you can send it via email, Posterous can post it.  You’ve got to see this.  Oh, and it’s free.  Posterous can also blast your posts to your existing social media, too, and there are great applications of the Posterous platform for groups and families.  You can even create a private page or a single private post.  I can’t wait to try it.  My page is  called Legendary Insights, and as soon as I post something, you’ll know about it.  Seriously, click the link below and read about Posterous.  It’s screen-reader friendly, too, and it just cannot be any easier. 

 

Click here to go to Posterous.

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New Linked In feature makes sharing articles easy

If you are a Linked In user, you may have already received an email notification announcing this new feature.  If you have held off signing up with Linked In as a way to build your professional network in favor of more interactive social media, you may be interested to learn that users can greatly enhance communication with the new article sharing feature. 

 

It sounds pretty easy.  Just enter the article URL into the status box on your Linked In home page,  The rest of the information populates into the field, such as the article title, web address, picture and a few lines of the article.  You can customize how the entry looks to your professional network, as well as control who sees your update. 

 

Linked In has taken a few steps recently in an apparent effort to make the service more interactive.  I like the new features, and when you find useful and interesting content for your professional network, you can now share that information quickly and easily. 

 

Click here to go to Linked In

 

While you’re there, look for me and let’s connect.

 

Click here to connect with Laura on Linked In 

 

See you there!

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Changes in FTC rules regarding product promotion affects your business

If you have been hearing a lot about the new rules for social media with regard to product promotion, reviews, recommendations or testimonials, this is a must-read. 

 

Click here to read about new FTC rules

 

Do you have something better to do with $11,000.00 than to give it to the FTC?  I thought so.  Don’t skip reading this.  It can even affect your Facebook fans.  My own disclosure?  I get paid nothing for my blog, nobody gives me any free products, but both can be quickly remedied, thank you.  I do sell a few products on my sites, but no one seems particularly interested, so my imminent arrest is doubtful.  Do read the article, though.  The new rules affect your activity on blogs, sites, Facebook, Twitter, and more.  Be aware of the changes and take advantage of the disclosure guide provided in the article. 

 

LL 

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New cool tool from Nutshell Mail generates FB fan page newsletter

I’ve been using Nutshell Mail to keep up with my social networking efforts for a while now, and I’m as enthusiastic a user as ever.  If I’m in a writing zone, and don’t want to take the time to skip from site to site to accomplish my data mining tasks I simply check my email and a consolidated update awaits my perusal.  It’s a time-saver, and I recommend it for anyone who spends much of their time in their email inbox. 

 

The developers at Nutshell Mail have come up with a really interesting and fun way to enable your Facebook fans to enjoy the same great idea.  Install the Nutshell Mail Facebook fan page app and your fans can subscribe to an update of all your page activity, dropped right into their inbox. 

 

The updates can be scheduled to arrive at a specific time of day, and they contain all of your latest fan page info alongside their  own profile updates.  Every time you post a new note or upload a photo or video, your fans will be notified, eliminating the need to chase you down.  Your updates go straight to your subscribed fans. 

 

Check it out here:

 

Click to go to Nutshell Mail

 

If you want to see it in action, head to my Facebook page and sign up!

Click here to become a fan of Laura’s page

 

Everything you want to know in a Nutshell!

 

LL

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Apple iphone Voice Over demo will blow you away

I have to admit, I was very impressed with this.  Watch this You Tube video and you’ll be amazed by the accessibility features on the Apple iphone.  If you’ve not looked in that direction because you were unaware of the usability for people with vision loss, I think this video will convince you to take a closer look.  Amazing. 

 

 

Voice Over demo

 

If you are a gadget-hound like I am, I just don’t know how anyone could settle on just one of anything.  I absolutely love my Moto Q and Mobile Speak, but watching this video just kills me. 

 

LL

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Blogging Against Disablism Day is May 1st

Many   of my favorite tweeps and Facebook friends are bloggers who regularly write about disability, accessibility or assistive technology.  Since this is what they do anyway, I wonder how “Blog Against Disablism Day” will alter their routine.  However, it’s an interesting idea.  It is a wonderful opportunity for those who are reluctant to write about their life experience as a person with a disability, but the idea of ‘safety in numbers” might encourage their  participation.    I’ve not heard of it before, but the event  has been around for a while.

 

What really puts the juice in the tank for this event is the centralized hub from which posts can be located.  If you go to the site and submit your intention to participate, your link is placed on their sidebar for easy access and sharing.  Learn more here:

 

blobolobolob.blogspot.com/

 

Fair warning to screen reader users:  I was unable to submit my own entry, because the audio verification service seemed not to be working.  I have made a number of attempts to log in, to no avail.  Perhaps I will try again later.

 

The “Blogging Against Disablism” day is an opportunity for anyone to raise their voice on their own behalf or that of someone else, whether disabled or not.  Read all about the event and plan to participate on May 1st. 

 

LL   

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The Health Care Reform Law in Summary

 

Health Care Reform Summary

By Julia Day, MSW

Contributions from Bryon MacDonald

Disability Benefits 101 Information Services

California Work Incentives Initiative; World Institute on Disability

April 5, 2010

In late March of 2010, the U.S. Congress finished passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872). Soon after, President Obama signed these pieces of legislation into law, creating Public Law 111-148 (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) and Public Law 111-152 (the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010).

These new laws will result in significant reform of our nation’s health care system, including extending health care coverage to many more millions of Americans.

When a major bill becomes law, it is understandable that you might have questions or concerns about how the changes will affect you. It is important to remember that the changes in the new laws will not happen immediately, but will take effect over a period of years, through 2019.

There will be a lot to learn about the new health care reform laws. We are providing this timeline, showing when major reforms are expected to take effect, so that you can prioritize what to focus on first, and learn the details in stages. We will share more information on the reforms as it becomes available.

Implementation Timeline for Major Health Care Reforms

Within 90 days:

· Starting in late June of 2010, people who can’t get insurance because of pre-existing conditions will have immediate access to high-risk pools that don’t exclude people with pre-existing conditions.

§ To apply to a high-risk pool, you must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the United States; have had no health coverage for the last 6 months; and have a pre-existing condition, which will be defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

§ The law says that older people can’t be charged more than four times what younger people are charged to participate in the plan.

§ The law limits premiums to “standard rates”, defined as the average amount private insurers in the state charge for premiums for similar coverage.

§ There are limits on annual out-of-pocket expenses for participants in the pools ($5,950 for an individual) and plans have to cover at least 65% of the costs allowed by the plan.

§ High-risk pools will most likely be run by the states, and will vary from state to state. Details of how to apply have not been finalized and will be explained in further detail as the program develops.

The creation of high-risk pools is a temporary measure; the pools will end on 1/1/2014, when government-regulated insurance exchanges start operating. By this date, the law also mandates that insurance companies will no longer be able to deny people coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

Within Six Months:

· Insurance companies won’t be allowed to drop people’s coverage when they get sick, or to deny coverage to children under 19 because of pre-existing conditions.

· Insurance companies won’t be allowed to put caps on the amount they will spend on lifetime coverage costs.

· Children will be able to stay on their parents’ insurance policies until they are 26. Right now, health plans often drop children from their parents’ plans when they turn 19 or finish college.

Within a Year:

· Beneficiaries of Medicare’s prescription drug plan who fall into the coverage gap known as the “donut hole” will get a $250 rebate; over time, the law will close the gap, reducing out-of-pocket drug costs for people on Medicare Part D.

· All new group health plans and plans in the individual market will have to provide preventive services, free from deductible or copayment charges.

By 2012:

· People on Medicare will be able to get free prevention and wellness services each year.

· There will be a voluntary long-term care insurance program, known as the Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act (CLASS Act), that helps pay for long-term care costs for people with disabilities and elderly people. The insurance will allow people to receive services in their homes, or will help to pay for nursing home care.

· The Medicaid Community First Choice (CFC) Option will give states the option to allow people with disabilities who are eligible for institutional care to choose community-based services instead.

· People on Medicare who fall within the prescription drug coverage gap (the “donut hole”) will get a 50% discount on brand name prescription drugs.

By 2014:

· Insurance companies won’t be allowed to deny any person coverage because of pre-existing conditions, put caps on the amount they will spend on annual coverage costs, or refuse to renew a person’s policy because of a person’s health condition.

· The law also limits the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates because of health status, gender, or other factors. Higher premiums will be permitted based on age (no more than three times the amount charged for young people), geography, family size, and tobacco use.

· States will create health insurance exchanges, which will provide a way for individuals and small businesses to buy more affordable coverage. The exchanges will allow people to comparison shop for standardized health packages, and will give tax credits to help people afford coverage.

· Medicaid will expand to cover more low-income people, including adults without children and adults without a disability. The expansion will include people with incomes up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $28,000 for a family of 4).

· Most employers will be required to provide coverage, or pay a fine if they don’t (although there will be exceptions for small businesses with less than 50 employees). This will make employer-sponsored health coverage more widely available.

· Most individuals will be required to get coverage, or to pay a fine if they don’t. However, there will be healthcare subsidies to help people buy coverage if their income is below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $88,000 a year for a family of 4). If affordable coverage is not available to an individual, they will not be penalized.

By 2019:

· The “donut hole” gap in Medicare Part D drug coverage will be fully phased out, significantly reducing out-of-pocket costs for people on Medicare.

· Health coverage is expected to have expanded to an additional 32 million people by the end of 2019, and to cover 95% of non-elderly legal U.S. residents.

Changes Important for People with Disabilities

Some of the changes brought about by these new laws are of particular significance to people with disabilities:

· By 2014, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny anyone coverage because of a pre-existing condition, or to cancel coverage because of the onset of a new health condition. This will allow people with disabilities more access to private health coverage plans.

· The ban on lifetime coverage caps means that insurance companies cannot stop paying for treatment once they reach a certain dollar amount. Costly treatments for ongoing medical conditions such as cancer, AIDS, or diabetes will be protected from these coverage caps. This ban goes into effect before the end of 2010.

· Medicaid, which provides health care coverage to low-income people, will become more widely available. Since rates of unemployment and poverty are disproportionately high among people with disabilities, it is especially important to people with disabilities that Medicaid is accessible. In addition, people with disabilities will no longer have to go through such a complicated disability determination process to become eligible for Medicaid.

· The Medicaid Community First Choice (CFC) Option will give states the option to allow people with disabilities who are eligible for institutional care to choose community-based services instead. This will allow more people with disabilities who are on Medicaid to stay in their homes, instead of going into an institution. The CFC Option takes effect on October 1, 2011.

· Starting in 2012, the Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act (CLASS Act) provides for voluntary, self-funded, long-term care insurance through the workplace. This insurance will help pay for long-term care costs for people with disabilities. People with disabilities who participate will be able to start receiving cash benefits from this insurance after five years, and they will also be able to use their insurance to provide for their long-term care in the future. This program will make long-term in-home support services more affordable, and will help people with disabilities remain in their homes and communities.

Sources:

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148)

Kaiser Family Foundation

The New York Times

Speaker of the House

McClatchy Newspapers

The National Council on Independent Living

Congressional Budget Office

House Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor

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ZoomText users can enter to win from AI Squared

Screen reader users who love ZoomText can enter a contest this month.  Got this in my inbox today:

 

 

You have until April 30th to get your ZoomNews contest entries in to Becca at rproskin@aisquared.com. Just to refresh your memory, this issue asked you how ZoomText has changed your life.

Everyone who enters is eligible to win a $100 Amazon.com gift certificate. Send in your answer today!

 

Ai Squared Manchester Center, VT (800) 859-0270 www.aisquared.com

 

Good luck!

 

LL

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A reason to love April 15th

For Americans,   April 15 is a singularly remarkable calendar date.  it is the day our taxes are due the U. S. government Department of Internal Revenue, and as good citizens we are required to either write a check or qualify for a rebate if we have overpaid.  Most of us regard the duty to pay our taxes as inconvenient at best and abhorrent at worst.  Whichever is your attitude, it is the price we pay for living in the greatest place on the globe. 

 

Do I like paying taxes?  No.  do I want to pay more?  No.  Could I skip it altogether?  Sure.  Does anybody really want to have less and owe  more?  I doubt it.  For as much as we gripe and grumble and curse the tax paying process, though,  it is still the greatest privilege in the world to be born an American. 

 

I heard someone say once that the poorest U. S. citizens are better off than eighty percent of the world, simply by virtue of the fact that we can turn on any spigot anywhere in the country and have immediate fresh clean  running water.  I believe that.  Ever been without clean water?  Ever? 

 

I do not wholly subscribe to  any ideology, I doubt many do.  I   cannot say that I’ve attended a great many rallies, protests or tea parties, either.  I can honestly say, though, that the bitter pill of April 15 goes down a little easier when i wash it down with a tall cold glass of fresh clean water. 

 

God bless the USA.

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