IBM launched the new "System z9 Business Class" mainframe, which is designed to tackle the critical computing challenges of our time.

Those include the coming wave of automated service-oriented architecture (SOA) implementations, new heightened expectations for data security and the rapid expansion of emerging markets. The aggressively positioned system features new speciality engine and capabilities.

"The IBM System z9 Business Class broadens access to the System z9 platform — the world’s most secure commercially available mainframe computer — around the globe, in India and other fast-emerging markets, where firms are rapidly deploying mainframe technology needed to achieve the scale and reliability required to keep pace in a globally integrated economy."

"The new mainframe is expected to play a growing role in healthcare and retail as it increasingly is used to process sensitive data that is progressively more shared, especially in an emerging market such as India," said Mr Jim Stallings, general manager of System z, IBM Systems and Technology Group.

Mr Alok Ohrie, director of IBM India, said, "Our efforts to modernise corporate and government IT infrastructures is served by IBM’s System z." He further said: "The rapid expansion of mid-market enterprises in India, as well as the immense pool of potential customers, calls for a system that can start small and scale on demand to meet increased demands of consolidated workloads."

Hey, we have all seen James Bond packing enough wireless gadgetry in his wrist watch to make the Pentagon envious. But, a computer which you can wear on your wrist? It’s coming. The gizmo has been developed by a company called Parvus Corporation. While Parvus, based in Salt Lake City, known more for its Mormon community in the United States hasn’t indicated when it will be launching the computer watch, here’s what the gadget is all about.

Firstly, the ZYPAD WL 1,000 is a wrist-wearable wireless computer flexibly designed to give the user instant access to computing capabilities while carrying out non-computer tasks in the field. "The WL 1,000 integrates features of a standard computer along with the convenience and ergonomics of being wrist worn. The wireless functionalities of the WL 1,000 ensure continuous connectivity no matter the location of the user, by utilising Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS capabilities. Using Linux or Windows CE operating systems, the unit can be quickly configured to access any remote host system through integrated wired or wireless interfaces," Parvus says. Integrating a tilt and dead reckoning system, the WL 1,000 can be used to determine if a user is motionless or fallen down and then transmit a locator beacon after a specified amount of time.

WiFi chipset

Meanwhile, a Swedish company, Nanoradio AB, has launched its first-generation WiFi chipset solution named NRX700 for portable electronic devices. The NRX700, launched to beta customers in February this year, is aimed at meeting the growing demand for voice over IP, driven by the fixed to cellular convergence as well as the revolution in media content transforming to digital mobile media supported by standards such as UMA (unlicensed mobile access) and IMS (IP multimedia subsystem).The NRX700, with a total die size of only 20mm2 is stated to be the smallest footprint in the market. Additionally, it has the lowest power consumption in the world in transmit, receive and stand-by, Nanoradio says.

Nanoradio is also stated to be the first company in the world to support the emerging need for WLAN into headsets and other audio devices and has demonstrated a full form fit function WLAN stereo HiFi headset using the NRX700 chipset at the 3GSM and the CeBit shows and can now together with a VoIP demo be seem at the CommunicAsia 2006 show in Singapore later this week. Nanoradio says the target markets for the WiFi chipset solution are mobile phones, portable media devices and other battery driven handheld consumer devices.