British companies introduce innovative and exciting new products at GITEX 2006

Over 40 companies from Britain will be exhibiting at the dual event in a group presentation organised by Trade Fair (1), on behalf of the trade association Intellect (2), and with the backing of UK Trade & Investment (3), the government body responsible for promoting exports from and inward investment into the United Kingdom.

Dual-sided

Zebra Card Printer Solutions (4) will be launching the P340i™ desktop plastic card printer/encoder, a dual-sided addition to the Performance range of card printers.

The ability to print on both sides offers options for designing more functional and attractive personalised identification, security, gift and loyalty cards. More printed information can be added and larger photographs used for easier visual identification. The P430i uses a patented card feeder system that utilises the weight of the card stack itself to provide consistent feeding. A range of card thicknesses - from 10-mil to 60-mil - is supported and card feeder capacity can be increased from 100 to 220 (30-mil) by the addition of an input feeder extension. Cards that fail to encode correctly are automatically sent to a reject bin before printing.

Contact smart card encoding and magnetic stripe encoding are available, allowing the user to encode magnetic stripes and encode/read ISO 7816 contact smart chips (the most common contact smart card standard). In addition to the USB interface included in all configurations, built-in ethernet connectivity is also offered. This factory-installed or field upgradeable option allows remote printing and remote encoding.

Quad display switch

A quad display switch that allows any four of many connected KVM (keyboard-video-mouse) switches or computers to be viewed on the same screen simultaneously is the latest offering from Rose Electronics (5), KVM management technology specialists.

Called QuadraVista, the device provides three viewing modes: quad screen - where all four screens are displayed and each is controllable; picture-in-picture (PiP) - where the prime (controlled) source is the main screen image and the others are in smaller windows; and full screen - where only the selected computer is displayed. Apart from computers or KVM switches, other DVI video sources such as security cameras or DVD players can be displayed, switched and managed in any quadrant. Compatibility with Rose CrystalView extenders allows users to view and control computers generated locally and/or remotely up to six miles away, or over IP from anywhere in the world.

Also new from the company is the ViewLink KVM extender range. This allows users to locate a KVM station up to 300 metres away from the host computer. The video signal can be any VGA or similar format and the keyboard/mouse interface can be either PS/2 or USB.

Local office

Following the opening of a local office in Dubai last year, Datapulse (6) will use the exhibition to raise local awareness and launch its Intuition suite of screen-based operator consoles.

The suite includes both TDM and IP, has Arabic language as an option and, says the company, the high-performance software allows individual calls to be processed faster and high call volumes to be handled successfully, without compromising service standards. Running under a PC/server platform using the Microsoft Windows operating system, Intuition comes complete with PC hardware and remote diagnostics. Simple to follow menus keeps training time to a minimum.

Claimed to be the only IP console awarded compatibility status for Nortel IP systems, a range of applications will be demonstrated on Nortel IP phones.

Aftermarket components

What is said to be the first complete colour component solution for the HP2600 printer, including dedicated colour toner, universal Printdetect™ chips, wiper blades and rigid insertable seals, will be launched by Static Control Components (Europe) (7).

To allow customers to immediately begin re-manufacturing these strategically important cartridges, the company has developed two processes to quickly and economically remove the OEM drum without damaging other vital components. Vivienne Everton, New Product Manager for the company explained: "Our automatic drum removal tool is designed for large volume production. We also offer a low-cost manual cutting fixture that is much more precise than attempting to cut drums freehand." Also offered in a universal Printdetect™ chip solution. This allows Static chips to automatically determine the printer engine it is installed into, initialises the required printer settings and provides full printer functionality. This means re-manufacturers can build a single cartridge that is compatible with multiple printer engines using just one cartridge and just one chip.

Aftermarket components are also being launched for the HP3000/3600/3800 and HP 4700/4730 printers.

Several additions

Several new additions to its range of UPS and power protection products have been introduced by BPC (The British Power Conversion Company) (8), and many will be appearing at GITEX 2006.

Among the items on show will be a smaller range of PowerStar series line interactive UPS (illustrated). These provide clean and reliable backup power to ensure continued data integrity and optimum file server performance under a wide range of mains power conditions. Also new are the PowerMaster line conditioner and AVR ranges, designed to protect loads from all fluctuations from the mains voltage and provide voltage regulation, and a new transformerless UPS system. This provides higher efficiency, is a lighter and more compact system with cleaner and environmentally friendly technology.

Wide range

A selection of products from the wide range of copper solutions for 10-Gigabit, Cat 6 and Cat 5e, LAN systems and OM3, OM2, OM1 and OS1 fibre cabling for networking backbones will be displayed by Connectix (9), manufacturer of Connectix Cabling Systems (CCS).

Among the products on show will be: CCS Net 10G (illustrated), a 10 Gigabit Ethernet copper and fibre optic cabling system; CCS 4000 series, 4 ports of RJ45 in single gang; and Connectix Express, pre-terminated copper (10-Gig, Cat 6 and Cat 5e) and fibre (OM3, OM2, OM1 and OS1) solutions. The company will also promote its web site dedicated to the building services industry (www.connectixcablingsystems.com), with customer focused whitepaper e-marketing subscriptions for all sectors of IT network cabling amongst its features.

Joint stand

A total of six companies from the Glasgow region of Scotland will share a stand under the umbrella of Targeting Innovation (10), and sponsored by Glasgow City Council (11).

Targeting Innovation has significant expertise in ICT technologies and has provided business mentoring support to companies in this sector since 1993. It focuses on supporting business development and growth through innovation and can help companies turn ideas into reality.

A specialist mobile network operator, Stream Communications (12), offers an advanced range of cellular-based network services across continental Europe suitable to the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) sector, including low cost GPRS and GSM mobile network services. Other services offered include managed fixed IP; matrix GSM-based high accuracy and API location feeds; high-definition mapping; and bespoke electronic billing and payment collection services. Cherry Telecommunications (13) provides SIM cards available on contract or pre-pay/top-up to offer, what it claims to be, the lowest mobile phone tariff available when roaming internationally. The SIM not only reduces costs but also locks onto the strongest network signal in the area. Customers can manage their account and receive invoices on-line.

INDEZ International (14) has launched an enterprise search engine aimed at niche applications requiring the latest developments in knowledge management, information retrieval and advanced search. It can be customised for ultra-high relevancy, multi-lingual support, real-time search refinement, and dynamic data updates, all based on an innovative and scaleable server platform. The company is keen to explore business opportunities in the region that will take it into new markets, possibly with new partners. Providing specialist services to sectors such as hotel, leisure and hospitality, property development, communications, airports, governments and defence, Purple Patch Wireless (15) offer communication, networking and security products and services. Among products available are hotspot solutions, structured cabling systems and video security solutions.

The final two Glasgow-based organisations sharing the stand are Restaurantdiary.com (16) and Glasgow Caledonian University (17). Restaurantdiary.com is a reservation and marketing system for restaurants based on web technology and is looking for licensing agreements throughout the world. It provides operators with table management, yield management and revenue optimisation with real-time links from corporate web sites and portals. Novel software to deal with the frustration of callers to call centres when faced with an "all agents are busy" message or a variety of press nine options is the main focus of the School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences at the Glasgow Caledonian University. Called VISAAA (Virtual Software Agent Architecture and Application) is uses software to mimic a call centre agent by thinking and processing requests in a human way. A spin-out company will be formed shortly to commercialise the product.

Comprehensive portfolio

A comprehensive portfolio of UTP, FTP, STP and fibre cabling solutions, including variants on standard components that ease installation, will be highlighted by Molex Premise Networks (18).

The core PowerCat™ copper and Lightband™ fibre ranges offer all the necessary components for complete end-to-end cabling solutions. For particular interest will be the PowerCat™ category 6 range, which has introduced state-of-the-art technologies within its components, such as the RJ45 connector, DataGate Plus™. This incorporates an innovative shutter that not only protects the connector from dust and contaminants, but a spring-loaded design also ejects improperly seated patch cords.

Clip-on antennas

The latest development from Panorama Antennas (19) is the T-CL 1P, a range of antennas that simply clip onto a laptop screen for connection to the 3G data card, ensuring high speed 3G connection in poor reception areas.

Exhibiting at the GULFCOMMS section of the show, Panorama is a manufacturer of mobile and portable communication antennas used by service providers, OEMs and emergency services. Also on show will be a selection from the range, including GSM/3G/GPS and TETRA with combination versions as well as a range of WLAN.

All accessories included

Coming complete will all accessories included, the TSP 100 futurePRNT is the latest addition to its range of thermal and matrix point-of-sale printers from Star Micronics (20).

Capable of printing TrueType™ fonts and graphics at the same speed as 'internal fonts', the device can print 25 x 150mm receipts per minute, regardless of the font used or whether graphics are included. In addition to providing 'intuitive' compatibility with the majority of POS operating platforms - such as Java-POS™, OPOS™, ESC/POS™, Linux™ and Apple MAC™ - all printer features are available from the properties page in Windows (WHQL certified), allowing all settings to be stored on the PC and easily mirrored across other TSP 100 printers.

Mobile scanners

The Strobe XP range of mobile scanners will be showcased by Visioneer (21), all of which feature the company's AutoLaunch™ technology.

There are three models in the range - the XP100, XP200 and XP 300. The XP100 offers 600dpi optical resolution, 36-bit internal colour, prints at 10 seconds per page, us USB powered and comes complete with a travel bag. Fitting between the keyboard and monitor, the XP200 will scan images in 48-bit colour at up to 600dpi and directly to PDE. The XP300 has duplex capability so that two-sided documents can be scanned at the same speed as single-sided. AutoLaunch™ technology means that all models in the range automatically turn on when documents or images are fed into the front of the scanner.

Open systems architecture

Based on open systems architecture, the multiservice platform from Digitalk (22) is a service-ready solution allowing fact time to market for a full range of voice services, delivered from a single network infrastructure, using both TDM and VoIP.

Services supported include hosted VoIP applications such as broadband telephony and IP virtual office, service numbers (intelligent number services), mass calling, conferencing, direct (E1/T1) and indirect (CPS/1xxx) residential and business telephony and pre-paid services, including calling cards.

Security products

Barracuda Networks (23) is a provider of enterprise-class application security appliances for comprehensive e-mail, Internet and IM protection.

Among the products being promoted by the company will be its spam firewall. Available in six models, it supports from 1,000 to 30,000 active users with no per user licensing fees. It can be installed in front of the e-mail server in typically less than five minutes and is automatically updated hourly to block new forms of spam and viruses. Features include simultaneous inbound and outbound e-mail filtering with the inclusion of sophisticated outbound e-mail filtering techniques such as rate controls, domain restrictions, user authentication, keyword and attachment blocking, dual layer virus blocking and remote user support for outbound e-mail filtering.

Digital signage systems

The latest in digital signage systems and server management technologies will be demonstrated by AIT Partnership Group (24).

A subsidiary company, DVI Partnership, provide expertise in the provision of digital signage and AV distribution systems that form the backbone of electronic point-of-sale advertising, public information systems, interactive touch screens and numerous other applications. Another part of the group, KVM Partnership, offers consultancy and technical services for server management solutions and data centre installations.