NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

DataArt, a custom software development firm that builds advanced solutions for select industries, today announced completion of mobile banking apps for Plastyc, which provide its UPside Visa cardholders with a complete range of banking services on-the-go. Starting today, Plastyc's mobile apps can be downloaded from both, the Android Market and the Apple app store.

UPside Visa is Plastyc's award-winning prepaid program offering a premium suite of affordable banking services tailored for the up-and-coming youth and underbanked markets. The new UPside Visa mobile apps developed for Plastyc by DataArt, allow a full range of personal banking services on a smart phone, from checking balances and reviewing transaction histories to activating a new account, signing up for direct deposit, redeeming cash back points, paying bills, transferring funds to friends and issuing paper checks.

"DataArt helped us deploy the most comprehensive mobile banking applications in the prepaid market, simultaneously on two technical platforms - Android and iOS - in record time," said Patrice Peyret, CEO of Plastyc.

"We now have extended our platform capabilities to all three major software environments: Microsoft .Net, Google Android and Apple iOS, thanks to DataArt's experienced teams," added Justin Surman, CTO of Plastyc. "We were also able to address the specific security challenges of mobile applications by leveraging DataArt's prior experience in developing software for large financial institutions."

In addition to using their UPside card anywhere Visa debit is accepted, the apps let cardholders use their smartphones to manage accounts, load funds, pay online, send paper checks, send customer service requests or redeem cash back points.

This was a remarkable project for DataArt, which required an unprecedented level of rich functionality and security technologies baked into a mobile financial app, all delivered in a very tight timeframe, said Alexei Miller, Executive Vice President of DataArt. We are grateful for Plastyc's continued trust in DataArt and for their product and architecture leadership on this project.

DataArts rapid prototyping enabled Plastyc to deliver multiple mobile banking services for its customers with superior security measures. The apps include the highest levels of security to protect account information. All local data is encrypted with the key stored on the server-side, so the cached data cant be extracted even if the device is lost. Sensitive information such as full card numbers is never stored or transmitted to the device, and all server communications are protected and servers SSL certificate thumbprint is verified to prevent any tampering attacks. The client authentication is implemented with best-in-class practices and protects applications from replay attacks. The apps require an additional password for all spending transactions. The user is logged out automatically after five minutes of inactivity.

DataArt has worked with Plastyc on a number of development projects since 2006, including the back-end systems for Plastycs iBankUp prepaid card portal and new mobile banking and payments platform.

DataArts mobile technologies team is well versed in mobile Web/HTML5 development and all modern mobile platforms including iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7 & 8, WebOS, RIM OS and Symbian. The firm has created cutting-edge mobile apps for blue-chip brands, including an auto maker, a high-fashion house, pharmaceutical companies, an airline and numerous digital media agencies.

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DataArt Completes Mobile Banking Apps for Plastyc’s UPside Visa Customers

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10-08-2011 15:50 http://www.eaglestalent.com -Eagles Talent Presents Jeffrey Gitomer. To book speaker Jeffrey Gitomer visit his profile page. Jeffrey Gitomer is a creative, edgy writer and speaker with world-renowned expertise in sales, customer loyalty, and personal development. His presentations, seminars and keynote addresses are funny, insightful, and in your face. Real world. Off the wall. On the money Gitomer gives audiences information that they can take out in the street one minute after the seminar is over and turn it into money. He's an experienced and expert salesman. Jeffrey gives public and corporate seminars, runs annual sales meetings, and conducts live and Internet training programs on selling and customer loyalty. He has presented an average of 120 seminars a year for the past fifteen years. Gitomer's seminars and workshops focus on self-evaluation in each area of training. The attendee learns to change listening and learning habits from the traditional "I know that" to the 21st century strategy, "How good am I at that?" Each participant walks away with new understanding and an individualized game plan for action (and success).

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Jeffrey Gitomer: Customer Loyalty

WASHINGTON (AP) The government is taking a tentative step toward making it easier for airlines to allow passengers to use personal electronic devices such as tablets, e-readers and music players during takeoffs and landings.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is exploring ways to bring together all of the key stakeholders involved including airlines, aircraft manufacturers, consumer electronics makers, and flight attendant unions to discuss whether there are practical ways to test devices to see if they are safe for passengers to use during critical phases of flight.

Technically, FAA rules already permit any airline to test specific makes and models to determine if they generate enough power that they could interfere with sensitive cockpit radios, navigation instruments and other critical equipment.

But few airlines have done that kind of extensive testing because there are so many devices, and testing them all or even many isnt practical. Instead, the fallback position has been to comply with FAA rules requiring passengers to turn off all electronic devices while the aircrafts altitude is below 10,000 feet.

Even if a device were tested and approved for use today, later iterations of the same machine might be different enough that theyd have to be tested again. Todays Apple iPad, for example, isnt the same as the original iPad developed three years ago.

Can any device do this? The answer is no. All devices are not created equal. Some have more power than others, said Kevin Hiatt, chief operating officer of the industry-supported Flight Safety Foundation of Alexandria, Va.

Another concern is the additive effects of a planeload of 200 people using devices at once versus one passenger using a device, said Kenny Kirchoff, senior research and development engineer at the Boeing Co.

Recently manufactured planes have more shielding built into their wiring and other electronic equipment to prevent most electromagnetic interference, but planes that pre-date the early 1990s dont have nearly as much shielding, he said.

While acknowledging this is an area of consumer interest, the FAA said in a statement that no changes will be made until we are certain they will not impact safety and security.

Steve Lott, a spokesman for Airlines for America, a trade association for major carriers, said airlines would work cooperatively with the FAA on any opportunities to evaluate personal electronic devices to ensure customers can use these products safely during flight.

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Airplane passengers may get a break on electronics use

WASHINGTON (AP) The government is taking a tentative step toward making it easier for airlines to allow passengers to use personal electronic devices such as tablets, e-readers and music players during takeoffs and landings.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is "exploring ways to bring together all of the key stakeholders involved" including airlines, aircraft manufacturers, consumer electronics makers, and flight attendant unions to discuss whether there are practical ways to test devices to see if they are safe for passengers to use during critical phases of flight.

Technically, FAA rules already permit any airline to test specific makes and models to determine if they generate enough power that they could interfere with sensitive cockpit radios, navigation instruments and other critical equipment. But few airlines have done that kind of extensive testing because there are so many devices, and testing them all or even many isn't practical.

Instead, the fallback position has been to comply with FAA rules requiring passengers to turn off all electronic devices while the aircraft's altitude is below 10,000 feet.

Even if a device were tested and approved for use today, later iterations of the same machine might be different enough that they'd have to be tested again. Today's Apple iPad, for example, isn't the same as the original iPad developed three years ago.

"Can any device do this? The answer is no. All devices are not created equal. Some have more power than others," said Kevin Hiatt, chief operating officer of the industry-supported Flight Safety Foundation of Alexandria, Va.

Another concern is the "additive effects" of a planeload of 200 people using devices at once versus one passenger using a device, said Kenny Kirchoff, senior research and development engineer at the Boeing Co.

Recently manufactured planes have more shielding built into their wiring and other electronic equipment to prevent most electromagnetic interference, but planes that pre-date the early 1990s don't have nearly as much shielding, he said.

While acknowledging "this is an area of consumer interest," the FAA said in a statement that "no changes will be made until we are certain they will not impact safety and security."

Steve Lott, a spokesman for Airlines for America, a trade association for major carriers, said airlines would "work cooperatively with the FAA on any opportunities to evaluate personal electronic devices to ensure customers can use these products safely during flight."

Originally posted here:
Airline passengers may get a break on electronics

A local personal trainer has developed what is being hailed by some as one of the best new training tools on the market.

Born and raised in Tsawwassen, Sara Shears has spent almost 20 years working as a personal trainer. However, about three years ago she partnered with a client to develop Ugi - an all-in-one training tool that takes you from warmup to cardio, strength conditioning, balance work and cool down. All in 30 minutes and anywhere you can find a spot.

The portable Ugi ball allows users to get in a work out whenever and wherever they can. Shears says she wanted to create a workout that mimicked what she was doing in the studio with her clients, which requires multiple pieces of equipment.

"I wanted to create that style of training and find a piece of equipment that people could have at home."

Shears says it was about three years ago when she partnered with designer Melanie Finkelman, who was also a client, to design Ugi. She was inspired by an old piece of equipment at the gym - a medicine ball. The ball had a split seam, which made it more pliable, and Shears started using it because of the weight component. The idea for Ugi, which has the squish of a bean bag, the bounce-back of a stress ball and the benefit of a weight, was born.

Shears says she and Finkelman started research and development of Ugi two and a half years ago and launched their product for sale in November 2010. In addition to developing the equipment, Shears also developed a 30-minute program that incorporates a series of one-minute exercises that are efficient enough to produce results. The Ugi comes with a fiveday a week training program, an instructional DVD, workout guide and a nutritional guide.

On the market for around a year and a half, the Ugi is getting noticed.

Shears, along with Finkelman and third partner Debra Karby, made a pitch on the CBC show Dragon's Den (they turned down an offer from Dragon Arlene Dickinson because she wanted too large a stake in the company). Ugi has appeared in Shape and Fitness magazine, on QVC, an online shopping site, and was listed as the number one training tool on Yahoo.

Shears says they also recently launched an app to help Ugi users stay on track during their workouts.

"It's your personal trainer at home," she says.

Original post:
Tsawwassen woman invents new workout tool

By Chuang Peck Ming

THE economic slowdown doesn't seem to have calmed the restlessness of workers.

More than half - 57.9 per cent - of employees surveyed recently in Singapore by recruitment firm Ambition said they plan to change jobs this year, at least when market conditions allow.

Next to pay, the survey found career and personal development to be the key in attracting and retaining workers. Yet three in five of the employees surveyed complained they are not provided enough training and development to be equipped for career progression. And the most unhappy are managers.

The workers in the survey cut across many job functions at all levels. The itch to job-hop despite the sluggish economic growth is also seen in Ambition's recruitment work here in recent months.

'Candidate flow remains consistent and with bonuses being paid out in the first quarter, we anticipate movement and spike in recruitment levels as we progress through the first quarter and into the second quarter,' says Paul Endacott, the firm's managing director in Singapore. 'We also expect clients to be taking advantage of up-skilling during this period and have seen an increased demand for contractors.'

Even as hirings are tipped to dip as the economy shifts to lower gear, the labour market has stayed tight.

The year that just ended saw the jobless rate falling to a 14-year low of 2.0 per cent. Yet there are growing signs that bosses are wary of taking on more workers. Virtually all the employers - 96.7 per cent - Ambition surveyed said they are hit by sluggish global demand. One in five sees a business downswing. A large number of employees actually shared the view.

Some 41.9 per cent of the workers have lowered their pay expectations to a 3-5 per cent raise in 2012. That's not far from the percentage - 50 per cent - of employers who expect to pay that much. Half the workers polled think bonus will only be under 10 per cent of base pay this year, while 46 per cent of the bosses thought that's about right given the poorer business. So employers and employees see eye to eye when it comes to pay and bonuses, which should make everyone happy.

Yet the survey shows more than half of the workers want to quit, when they should want to hold on to their jobs for dear life - in fact, only 10 per cent of the workers think it's easy to find a new job in today's market conditions.

Original post:
Restless employees looking to quit even during a slowdown

Tribal Group (LSE: TRB.L - news) plc

International schools inspection contract with Abu Dhabi Education Council

and

Mathematics Professional Development Contract to take forward the National Centre for the Excellence in Teaching of Mathematics in the UK

Tribal, a leading provider of technology products and services to the education, learning and training markets, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract by the Abu Dhabi Education Council ("ADEC") to inspect Government funded and private schools in the Emirate. The 3 year contract is expected to be worth up to 6m, and builds on the schools inspections Tribal undertook for ADEC during 2011.

In addition, the Department of Education has awarded Tribal the Mathematics Continuing Professional Development Contract. This builds on Tribal's original contract under which it has since 2006 operated an online personal development portal for over 50,000 mathematics teachers in the UK. Tribal will now continue to provide this service until 2015, with the potential for a further three years, under a new contract initially valued at approximately 5m.

Tribal's Chief Executive, Keith Evans, commented:

"We are pleased to continue our work in Abu Dhabi. This contract complements our school, college and nursery inspections activities on behalf of Ofsted in the UK, and confirms the value of our UK expertise and solutions to international markets.

"Our service which provides continuing professional development to teachers of mathematics through the National Centre for the Excellence in Teaching of Mathematics is an example of our expertise in personal development and e-portal management, which brings together our intellectual property in software, subject knowledge and education and learning more generally. We are delighted to continue to deliver this service for the Department of Education."

End

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Tribal Group PLC - Contract Awards

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Posted March 18, 2012

By Bill Murphy WASHINGTON -- Personal Inc. has closed a $3.50 million mixed offering, raising the amount from 17 investors, according to an SEC filing.

Principals named in the filing by the Washington-based company are the following:

President and CEO R. Shane Green; COO Doug Wheeler; Executive Vice President Edin Saracevic; Chief Technology Officer Tarik Kurspahic; Vice President for Product Development Jennifer Devereux; Chief Policy Officer and General Counsel Josh Galper; and Chief Marketing Officer Henry Gaskins.

Also named in the filing were the following directors:

Don Rainey, of Vienna, Va.-based Grotech Ventures; Tige Savage, co-founder with Steve Case of Washington-based Revolution LLC; Eric Semler, of New York-based hedge fund TCS Capital.

Personal, founded in August of 2009 by Nokia Corp. alumni Green, Wheeler, Saracevic, Kurspahic and Devereux, is developing an online mobile platform for sharing digital information.

Reg D filing: http://tinyurl.com/86tmk4p

Also, at citybizlist see:

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Grotech Ventures-backed Personal Inc. Closes $3.5 Million Share Offering - cbl

MICHIGAN CITY The Michigan City Economic Development Corporation named Kevin Kieft as its interim executive director on Monday.

Ive been with the Michigan City Economic Development Corporation since 2006 as business development manager, Kieft said. Prior to that, I used to work in the Michigan City Planning Department. I started there in 2001.

Kieft is currently working on Dunes Plaza, a privately-driven project off of U.S. 20 and Franklin Street, the site of the former Hobby Lobby. The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission on Monday approved including the projects area in the Southside TIF district.

This is one development that weve been working on this year and last year, he said.

Kieft is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, with a bachelor of science in public management, and earned a masters in business administration partly at Purdue University North Central and was awarded the degree from Columbia Southern University in Alabama. Kieft also holds certificates from Purdue North Central in organizational leadership, supervision and economic development as well as coursework approved by the International Economic Development Council.

Kieft lives in the Michigan City area with with his wife, Gillian, and their two children. They also operate Platinum Gymnastics in Michigan City.

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Kieft named interim executive director at EDC

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2MqI34kwAg

19-01-2010 13:16 Peak Performance Principles How to Boost Your Self-Esteem and Discover Your Purpose Speaker: Jack Canfield - BUILDING YOUR SELF-ESTEEM HIGHER THAN EVER - THE SECRET TO CREATING POSITIVE OUTCOMES - TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES - CREATING A VISION AND FINDING YOUR PURPOSE - PEAK PERFORMANCE PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING A FULLER LIFE - AND MUCH MORE... If you enjoyed Jack Canfield in The Secret, you'll thoroughly enjoy this full length seminar on peak performance. Based on Jack Canfield's best selling book "The Success Principles", this powerful seminar is loaded with life-changing ideas. Jack will show you how to build your self-esteem, take responsibility for everything that happens, clarify your vision, gain greater balance, find your purpose, and discover the secret to a more fulfilling life. You'll hear several true stories about peak performance that will touch your heart and shift your consciousness to an even more positive place. As Jack Canfield demonstrates throughout this seminar, success leaves clues. The fastest way to achieve your goals is to follow a proven blueprint, and that's exactly what he gives you. After experiencing this peak performance training program, you'll have practical tools for creating greater success in any area of your life. Discover your greatness and take your life to the next level with this exceptional seminar on video, facilitated by one of the best success speakers in North America, Jack Canfield. As the originator of ...

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Peak Performance Principles - Personal Development Training Video Featuring Jack Canfield - Video