As Published In February 2006

News and information from around the globe

Under Your Thumb

Profit spoke with Brian Wong, senior consultant for the International Biometrics Group (IBG), about the practicalities of biometrics and smart card technology.

PROFIT: What exactly are smart cards, and how are they being used with biometrics?

WONG: Smart cards are essentially portable computers or, if you prefer, small memory storage devices. Biometrics, on the other hand, provides a highly secure form of authentication, through fingerprint or retinal scanning, for example. When you pair the two, the synergies allow biometrics to be used to make access to a smart card more secure, particularly in areas of the card where sensitive information may be stored.

PROFIT: What benefits are provided by the combination of these two security measures?

WONG: For individuals, what's beneficial from a privacy standpoint is that all computation can be done on the smart cards, so no sensitive biometric information ever goes into the main system. Somebody could conceivably trade a smart card with somebody else and use it as an access credential. With biometrics added onto that smart card, you greatly mitigate that risk.

PROFIT: What is the IBG's role in helping smart cards and biometrics become more prevalent?

WONG: The IBG's mission is to educate the public about the use of biometrics and related technologies. An example of the type of work we do is the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's Medicaid Integrity Pilot Program. The program uses smart cards and fingerprint biometrics to verify the identity of individuals in the state's Medicaid program. Other real-world applications in which smart cards and biometrics are used together include identity management for corporate and government environments. PIV [Personal Identity Verification] codes are being implemented by some federal agencies. PIV programs employ a single smart card, standardized across different agencies, for all physical and logical access.

Another example of using a single smart card to replace the functions of multiple cards is the Malaysian national ID card program, called MyKad. The card works in conjunction with fingerprint and face biometric technology, combining the functions of several different cards you might have in your wallet. The information includes identity card numbers; passport, driver's license, and health information; and access to automatic teller machines and online government services.

PROFIT: What is preventing more-rapid adoption of smart cards in the U.S.?

WONG: North America has a very good centralized infrastructure for processing payments and data storage, so there's less of a need for onboard computing and storage. Currently in North America, most of the smart cards are SIM [Subscriber Identity Modular] cards, which are found in cell phones. Most people are probably not even aware of SIM cards, so my guess would be that if they don't even know they're using them in the most prevalent application in North America, then we have a ways to go in terms of knowledge and acceptance.

Cool Tools For Productivity and Protection
Calling All Web Users

Is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) the next big thing in telecommunications? According to the Yankee Group, roughly 1.1 million of the 113 million existing residential telephone lines in the U.S. are now using this cost-effective telephone service, which capitalizes on the internet as a global telephone network.

What makes VoIP so appealing is that for as little as US$25 dollars per month, you can get unlimited local usage, plus tap into bonus features such as three-way calling, call waiting, caller ID, and more. VoIP is powerful, because it transforms speech into digital data packets that can be stored, searched, manipulated, copied, and sent out to other devices that connect to the internet.

Some of the better-known companies offering VoIP are Vonage, via:talk, SunRocket, and AT&T. These companies offer a variety of fixed-fee packages and per-minute charges for international calls. But to take advantage of these services, broadband internet access via cable or DSL is required. You will also need an analog telephone adapter (ATA). Some companies provide these adapters, and others require you to purchase your own. To get started on your hunt for the VoIP package that best suits your needs, check out www.conneczone.com.

Keeping House

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is becoming big news in business, but home owners will soon be able to benefit from the same technology that's keeping Wal-Mart shelves stocked. Peter Monahan, founder of Alpharetta, Georgia-based iAutomate, developed the HomeSeer RFID Starter Kit after his young son nearly perished in a backyard pool. For US$512, iAutomate's HomeSeer Software will, for example, allow you to remotely control your house lights, open your garage door, activate a security system, and even automatically open a pet door. You can also use the system to track personal property and send out an alert if anything is removed from its designated location. For more information, visit www.iAutomate.com.

Get It Right Before You Write
Practical tips for crafting e-mail messages

Food for Happy Thoughts Don't fret. If the gray and hazy days of winter are getting you down, the experts at WebMD Health recommend keeping these mood-boosting foods on hand: Popcorn Oatmeal Nuts Egg whites Peanut butter Brightly colored fresh vegetables Fruit Whole-grain crackers and bread Fresh turkey Cottage cheese Forget the Wonder Bread. WebMD Health also recommends forgoing white, starchy foods such as bread, rice, and potatoes. For more information on power foods, see my.webmd.com/webmd_today/home/default.

In today's rushed and stressed work environments, who hasn't crafted the occasional "hit-and-run" e-mail and suffered the consequences? Author and instructor Janis Fisher Chan has been teaching business writing for nearly 25 years, and she's seen it all—the good, the bad, the ugly, and the e-mail that wouldn't go away. With e-mail becoming more ubiquitous, Fisher Chan says her students are using it as a primary form of communication.

In her new book, E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide, Fisher Chan offers practical advice on crafting highly effective e-mails that get the point across neatly and succinctly. "People are sometimes nervous about their writing in general," says Fisher Chan. "When it comes to e-mail, people understand that it is a different kind of writing, but they're not always sure how best to approach it."

Fisher Chan addresses the slippery slope of "not thinking before writing." According to the American

Management Association and the ePolicy Institute, one in five survey respondents has had employee e-mail and instant messages subpoenaed in the course of a lawsuit or a regulatory investigation and another 13 percent have battled workplace lawsuits triggered by e-mail. Chan cautions against falling into the trap of typing before pondering. "People tend to say things in e-mail that they would never say on the phone or to somebody's face," she says. "They sit down and just write. They don't reread it, they don't look at the tone, they don't think about whether it's an appropriate subject to put in e-mail." The key to successful e-mail? "Respect the people at the other end of your communications," she insists. "Even if you disagree with them, you'll be more thoughtful in your responses."

Visit www.writeitwell.com to learn more.

Airport Spas
Relaxation on the go

We're all familiar with the high stress of air travel. But thanks to airport spas, it's possible to turn a layover or delay into a mini-oasis of rejuvenation. Here's a selection of airport spas that allow busy travelers to unwind.

XpresSpa, located in San Francisco Airport's International Terminal Boarding Area A, offers a variety of services. According to Lynne Spalding, XpresSpa manager, the most popular service is the chair massage, which fits well into busy schedules. "Travelers leave our salon feeling less stressed and more relaxed when they go to catch their flights." Offered in 10-, 15-, and 30-minute increments for US$20, US$32, and US$45, this quick but effective massage allows you to sit in a customized chair while the massage therapist works out the tension in your back. Other popular services include facials, foot massage, and waxing. For more information, visit www.xpresspa.com.

Oasis Day Spa, located at JFK International Airport's JetBlue Airways Terminal 6, specializes in quick treatments such as 15- and 30-minute facials and 20-minute eye treatments for tired, puffy eyes. Have more time? Get a full-body massage, an aromatherapy facial, or a French manicure or pedicure. For more information, visit www.oasisdayspanyc.com.

Additional spas can also be found and enjoyed at Denver International Airport (www.flydenver.com/shops/consumer), Chicago O'Hare International (chicago.citysearch.com/profile/36915092), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Massage Bar (www.massagebar.com).

Gold Diggers
Novelizing Lean

Disaster Preparations Are You Ready? Home, work, and pets Many of us put aside food, water, and first-aid supplies in our homes in case of disaster. Experts advise expanding that planning to include our workplaces and pets. Workplace preparedness. The American Red Cross recommends that safety kits for the workplace contain the following: flashlight with extra batteries, battery-powered radio, first-aid supplies, nonperishable food for three meals, one gallon of water, medications for three days, personal hygiene supplies, a manual can opener, plastic utensils, an emergency blanket, and a change of clothes and shoes. For more information, visit www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html. Pet-friendly preparation. "Many people don't think about updating their pets' ID tags until it's too late," says Scott Delucchi, senior vice president of Customer Service and Community Relations for the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in San Mateo, California. "We urge people to get new tags when they move or change their phone number. Current ID, plus current photos for 'Lost Animal' posters could very well be your lost pet's ticket home." Some basic items for pet disaster preparedness include: pet first-aid kit; transportation for your pet, such as a secure carrier; leash or other harness; food, water, and medications for one week (including treats for enticement and comfort); a blanket or a towel, preferably something with your scent; plastic bags for waste disposal; and more. For more information, visit www.peninsulahumanesociety.org/download/Emergency.pdf.

What's next on your reading list—a juicy novel or a business book? Now, there's no need to choose. With Freddy and Michael Ballé's The Gold Mine: A Novel of Lean Turnaround, published by the Lean Enterprise Institute, you get the best of both.

It's an all-too-human drama, and an unforgettable lesson in Lean. Take a frazzled factory owner named Phil Jenkinson who is desperate to turn around his failing company. Picture your favorite curmudgeon in the role of Bob Woods, a reluctant but world-class teacher of Lean. Imagine that this old geezer has to be urged out of retirement by his son Mike Woods, who is a boyhood friend of Phil's and an academic with his own productivity problems. Throw in Amy Cruz, a young dynamo of an HR director. Add a few cameo appearances, and you've got the basic cast of characters.

Lean is all about people. The novel, which excels at exploring the roots of human motivation, is particularly well suited for conveying the challenges people undertake on a Lean journey. For more information about The Gold Mine, visit www.lean.org.

Oracle Events

The Road to Nashville
San Ramon, California, February 9; Boston, Massachusetts, March 3; Dallas, Texas, March 31 oaug.org/conferences.shtml.

If you can't make it to the Oracle Application User Group's Collaborate '06, a technology and applications forum for the Oracle community to be held in April in Nashville, you can still experience the conference's educational and networking opportunities at these free events, featuring multiple technical and functional presentations.

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Annual Conference & Exhibition
San Diego, California, February 12-16 www.himss06.org

This event features education and exhibitors highlighting leadership in healthcare IT. Information is available for academic medical centers, acute care, ambulatory care, military, nursing, payor, pharmacy, physician practice, public health, and regional health information organization professionals.

RSA Conference 2006
San Jose, California, February 13-17 2006.rsaconference.com

Expand your security knowledge at the largest event for information security professionals. Choose from more than 200 sessions in 17 tracks.

Oracle Technology Day
February, various cities oracle.com/start keyword: otd_compliance

Learn how to drive long-term compliance by aligning your IT systems with regulatory functions.

CFO Summit—2005
CFOs meet at Oracle OpenWorld to exchange views and ensure Oracle executives understand what they need from Oracle Fusion.

UPCOMING CFO SUMMITS April 11, 2006 - Shanghai April 13, 2006 - Beijing To learn more visit oracle.com/events

The second annual CFO Summit, held last year during Oracle's annual conference, gave finance leaders the opportunity to hear from their peers, from Oracle executives, and from thought leaders about how finance organizations can become trusted partners and add value to their businesses. Highlights included a panel with leading CFOs, who discussed their real-life experiences within their own organizations. After the break, participants broke into small groups to ask questions about Oracle Fusion and express their viewpoints to Oracle executives who are part of the Fusion Advisory Board, which is working with customers to make sure their voices are heard as Oracle Fusion progresses.

PARTNER NEWS
Partners of Distinction

Recognizing Excellence and Innovation in Partnership

At Oracle OpenWorld San Francisco, the Oracle PartnerNetwork showcased its award recipients from around the world. Each region acknowledges outstanding partner accomplishments annually through a series of awards based on partners' business and growth.

The following award recipients from across each region represent the highest levels of achievement in partnership with Oracle, delivering solutions and services that solve customer business challenges, create value for customers, and leverage Oracle products and technology to generate new business potential.

Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Regional Partner Innovation Awards
Pharmagest Inter@ctive, Definitive Solutions AG, CAP Spa

Germany
Best Revenue Improvement
Opitz Consulting GmbH
Highest-Revenue Project
PDV-Systeme GmbH
Best Revenue Growth
Up to Data Professional Services GmbH

Eastern Europe
Oracle Warrior of the Year
Informacines technologijos UAB
Oracle International ISV Award
ComArch SA
Oracle Application Server Partner of the Year
Sefira
Oracle E-Business Suite Partner of the Year
Borlas
Oracle Public Sector Project Award
ComputerLand SA
Oracle Consulting Award
ABG SA
Oracle Technology SME Partner
Datalock, a.s.

The Netherlands
Partner of the Year 2005—Technology
Dell B.V.
Partner of the Year 2005—Applications
Atos Origin Nederland B.V.
Special Award
Capgemini Nederland B.V.
Outstanding ISV
Centric IT Solutions
Outstanding System Integrator
LogicaCMG
Best Midmarket Partner
Matadex B.V.
Best Newcomer
Bridging Solutions B.V.
Best Marketing Partner
Kender Thijssen
Innovation Award
Inter Access B.V.
Best Partner in Technology Adoption
Impulse Info Systems B.V.

Italy
Innovative Solutions for SME Awards
CDM Technoconsulting, ObjectWay, Synesis

Middle East
Oracle Business Excellence Award
Global Technology Services, Intracom Jordan, Giza Systems, Royah, Bula Communication Technologies, State Informatics Limited
Oracle Industry Excellence Award
Mercator
Oracle Sales Champion Award
Mannai Trading, Intracom, Giza Systems, Saudi Business Machines, Bula Communication Technologies

North America
Titan Partner of the Year 2005, Applications
Accenture
Value-Added Reseller
Mythics Inc.
Regional Systems Integrator
Hitachi Consulting Corporation
PeopleSoft
CedarCrestone and Deloitte (tie)
JD Edwards
CSS Inc.
Marketing Excellence
Computer Sciences Corporation
Independent Software Vendor
Fidelity Information Services Inc.
Global Systems Integrator
IBM Business Consulting Services
Technology
HP

Titan Solution of the Year 2005, Oracle Database
Fair Isaac Corporation
Public Sector
EnvironMax Inc.
Small-to-Midsize Business
Egenera Inc.
Oracle Application Server
SunGard SCT
Collaboration and Integration
Enterprise Business Solutions LLC
Industry ISV
MHC Software Inc.
Industry Systems Integrator
Mi Services Group

Latin America
Outstanding Sales Performance Award—FY05
Northern Region (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Central America)
Asistir, Datum, and Solusoft
Southern Region (Argentina, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay)
ACT, SQL Technology, In Motion
Brazil
JFM, Unimix, and Commit
Mexico and Puerto Rico
IT Ware, Sinergy, and Illuminat
Partner Award 2005: Outstanding Applications, Oracle Latin America
Illuminat, Appteck, Aporte, and Tilsor
Partner Award 2005: Outstanding VAD, Oracle Latin America
Top Revenue
Tecnologia Especializada Asociada de Mexico SA de CV
Top Number of Transactions
Officer Distribuidora

Asia Pacific
Best New OPN Partner, Applications Award
E-Biz Technologies
Best New OPN Partner, Technology Award
Syscom
Outstanding Value-Added Distributor
Digital China
Outstanding JD Edwards Reseller
Sunway Business Applications
Outstanding Oracle E-Business Suite Solution
Asparona
Outstanding Oracle E-Business Suite Solution
K Solutions
Outstanding Oracle E-Business Suite Special Edition Solution
Active Business Solutions
Outstanding Oracle 10g Solution
Neusoft
Outstanding Oracle Fusion Middleware Solution
Nucleus Software
Outstanding Systems Integrator, Applications Award
IBM Business Consulting Services
Outstanding Systems Integrator, Technology Award
Satyam Computer Services Limited
Outstanding ISV, Applications Award
Infosys Technologies Limited
Outstanding ISV, Technology Award
i-flex solutions Limited
Marketing Excellence, Technology Award
Sun Microsystems
Marketing Excellence, Applications Award
Red Rock Consulting
JD Edwards Business Excellence, Applications Award
Acumen Alliance
Industry Excellence, Technology Award
DataHeaven
Business Excellence, Partner Award
Tata Consultancy Services