Tech Watch: Nexus changes name; Microsoft launches Office 2007

In connection with the reorganization, Givatayim-based Nexus Telocation Systems Ltd. changed its name to Pointer Telocation Ltd.

By AVI KRAWITZ
tech watch 88 (photo credit: )
tech watch 88
(photo credit: )
Givatayim-based Nexus Telocation Systems Ltd. completed the first stage of its strategic repositioning by investing $40 million to refocus its business from technology development to providing services to insurance companies. In connection with the reorganization, the company changed its name to Pointer Telocation Ltd. The company, which provides stolen vehicle retrieval services in Israel and South America, will start trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under its new symbol 'PNTR' on Tuesday. Microsoft Corp. has unveiled its lineup for the new 2007 Microsoft Office system products, previously code-named Microsoft Office "12". The products include new suites, applications, servers and services to be available by the end of 2006. The software giant said the 2007 release is designed to increase individual impact, simplify collaboration, streamline business processes and content management, and improve business insight. Office 2007 will be unveiled in Israel at the Microsoft Israel Tech Ed event in Eilat in May. This year, some 44 Israeli companies participated in the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, last week, the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor said Sunday. The annual event, which showcases the latest technologies in the cellular market, has become the largest event of its kind as a total 962 companies from around the world participated in this year's event. Given the importance of the cellular market, the Ministry said it plans to put a special focus on the mobile industry this year. Exports in communications equipment made up 22% of all hi-tech exports in 2005, the Ministry reported, ending the year with a total $14.2 billion. Research conducted by Strategy Analytics House revealed that the global cellular market saw 423 million new subscribers in 2005, and is expected to grow to 2.5 billion by the end of this year. It further forecasts that 1 billion new subscribers will be added to the market by 2010. Meanwhile, the International Telecommunications Union has ranked Israel in tenth place for application of broadband, ICT research company Gartner Middle East said. Gartner, which will host its annual regional Telecom conference on March 23 in Tel Aviv, said Israel's ranking show it is far ahead of other Middle Eastern and European countries in its technological development and growth. Cellular network provider Orange, managed by Partner Communications, has launched it 3G music play list for the year branded 'Orange music 2006.' Orange presented its new range of new range of ring tones and mp3 song list headlining US singer Kelly Clarkson in the run up to her Orange sponsored concert dates in Tel Aviv at the end of March. Cable company HOT has chosen HP to move its working surroundings and computer systems to HOT's new premises in Yakum. The total value of the contract is NIS 1.3m.