International Geosciences and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2008)

The IEEE GRSS sponsored International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium is one of the premier symposium on this theme. It is held annually with alternate years in North America and international venues. This conference has become an international focus of remote sensing programs and activities. Each year it draws thousands of scientists and engineers from around the world to make them familiar with current research and technology. It offers an unique opportunity to discuss instruments, techniques, models and programs of global interest.

Official Website: http://www.igarss08.org/

Who Should Participate?

• Software Developers & Analysis Firms

• Instrument Developers

• Remote Sensing Equipment Suppliers

• Universities and Colleges

• Publishers

• Mission Managers

• Government Agencies

• Research & Development Corporations

Exhibitor Benefits

• Direct contact with over 1,000 industry professionals

• Sponsorship and promotional opportunities to enhance your marketing plan

• Dedicated customer service from the IGARSS staff to assist you in making your exhibit experience both positive and successful

• Company listing and 40 word description on the official symposium web site

• Comprehensive exhibitor service manual including offi cial supplier contacts and order forms for furnishings, customs broker, electrical, etc.

Virtualization come to mobiles

Most of the mobiles generally used are not compatible for more than one or two multimedia or web applications. Features found in one handset might be good for one application and not for other applications. In such cases you can't experience the best applications in one single handset. But virtualization can sort out this problem. Virtualization can be used by the handset makers to easily replicate the features used in other devices. It could help cell-phone makers provide a large number of features at a lower price.

The current scenario is that for each different operating system, Symbian, Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows Mobile, or Google's (GOOG) Android, the programmers have to rewrite each and every application be it a game or a social networking feature. It takes a lot of time. Let's see how virtualization would help sort out these issues.

Accelerate phone design process

Virtualization software would enable the mobile-phone makers to add several features regardless of the operating system. In such a way, any hand-set manufacturer could use an e-mail application written for one system, calling features designed for another, and a web-browsing application written for a third OS. With the help of virtualization all these features could be integrated in one phone. It would definitely accelerate the phone-design process.

Lesser number of chips

Virtualization could also reduce the number of chips needed to run a phone. Typically a mobile phone require three processors. One baseband processor to communicate, an applications processor required for running applications like e-mail and a multimedia chip, which handles graphics, audio, and video. But a virtualized phone can achieve all of the above with just one or two processors instead of three. It would help the manufacturers to save $5 to $10 per phone.

Needs a boost

However the mobile-virtualization market is still in nascent stage and require sudden boost to flourish. In a recent survey it has been found that less than 5% of some 200 engineer respondents used virtualization in phones or other consumer appliances. Almost 30% of the respondents were not even familiar with this technology and half of them didn't know of its benefits. But the scenario may change in near future as some of the big names like Motorola, Intel, Texas Instruments, Cisco systems are investing in the projects related to virtualization.

10 years for Paypal

10 years ago fewer people dreamed of sending and receiving money all around the world through a single click of a mouse button. It was June 23, 1998 when Paypal was borne to make it possible. The idea of Paypal founders, Max Levchin, Peter Thiel and Luke Nosek, was to allow the shoppers to buy an item online without sharing financial information, and at the same time, enable retailers, small-business owners and individuals a guaranteed quick and sure payment for a small fee.

Since the takeover by eBay, an online auction house, in 2002 Paypal made more than 60 million active accounts in 190 countries and 17 currencies around the world. The company has carved a niche for itself in the online payments market and is now the most popular alternative to long-established leaders Visa and MasterCard.

On the occasion of its 10th anniversary Paypal officially launched a micro-site, https://www.paypal-10.com/, featuring a series of video interviews with PayPal's founders and others key officials who played important roles in the company's history.

Future lies ahead

With the rapidly increasing use of online purchasing worldwide the use of PayPal service is slated to grow even more in the future. According to a study released by Javelin Research & Strategy in September 2007, the alternative payment methods like PayPal will increase to gain 30% of all online transaction volume by 2012.

A survey conducted by PayPal shows that 84% percent of US respondents have been shopping online for five or more years and 87% report that they shop via the Web at least once a month. It is the most popular online payment service in Britain, with more than 20 million registered users. At present PayPal has 7,000 employees worldwide. In the first quarter of 2008 Paypal posted revenue of $582 million, a 32 % rise from last year.

Some Paypal Facts

• Paypal processes around US $2,000 every second in payments.
• PayPal payments represent about 9 percent of e-commerce globally and 12 percent in the U.S.
• It operates in 190 countries and transfer money in 17 currencies.
• It operates more than 60 million active accounts through which it transacted $47 billion in 2007.
• More than 100,000 websites accepts the service of Paypal.