After a $1.5 million angel round, Desktone, which was started in 2006 by Eric Pulier, who also started SOA Software, US Interactive and IVT, picked up $17 million in first-round funding about a year ago from Highland Capital Partners, SoftBank Capital, Citrix Systems and the China-based Tangee International. SoftBank as well as Deutsche Telekom could become service providers. Ruda says the brains behind the technology is Paul Gaffney, the former CIO of Staples. The company has maybe 40 people, more than half of them in Shanghai doing development, which explains Tangee's involvement.

This session will provide attendees with an overview of the iPhone SDK, including discussion of the App Store, Apple's planned distribution channel for SDK applications. Keep in mind that the contents of the SDK and experiences while using it are covered under NDA, so be prepared for me to talk in generics and leave out specific details that might be covered by the NDA. I am planning on providing a quick introduction to Objective-C for those attendees who may have never seen it and might be worried that it will be difficult to code in (it isn't!).

Norwegian browser maker Opera Software ASA has complained to the European Commission that Microsoft is abusing its dominant position by tying its Internet Explorer browser to the Windows operating system and hindering interoperability by not following accepted Web standards. It wants IE unbundled or Windows to preinstall competitive browsers on the desktop. And - and this seems extraordinary even for Europeans - it wants the EC to compel Microsoft to support open web standards 'accepted by the web-authoring communities.'

In keeping with the longstanding SYS-CON tradition of being at the very forefront of software development with all its online and offline resources, SYS-CON Media & Events jointly today announced a double whammy, launching both 'Open Web Developer's Journal' (htt p://openweb.sys-con.com) and 'Open Web Developer Summit' (http://openweb.s ys-con.com) - to be held for the first time in New York City April 21-22, 2008.

For building applications, BundleWorks includes ant tasks and command line tools to allow developers to build standard bundles for both custom and third-party applications. For testing, BundleWorks allows a developer to create and manage multiple environments to test multiple versions of applications. For deployment, BundleWorks supports local and remote deployment and provides a library of functions to handle common deployment tasks. For maintentance, BundleWorks tracks all bundle actions and configuration changes providing a complete history of activity.

Within minutes of my blog entry, I received the strangest email notification, alerting me to another blog written by Alan Zeichick, 'co-founder and editorial director of BZ Media, which publishes SD Times and Software Test & Performance, and which also produces the Software Security Summit, Software Test & Performance Conference, and EclipseWorld. Also president and principal analyst of Camden Associates.' That's what his bio says.

In my many years of programming, almost 20 years now, I have used countless integrated development environments (IDEs). I have used everything from a simple text editor all the way up to the high-end IDEs that Sybase, IBM, and Oracle use. More recently I have come to embrace the open source movement and development in Web environments. My programming language of choice for these days is PHP, so it stands to reason that I would be looking for an IDE. Like so many other developers I followed the path of looking for the pinnacle of IDEs for PHP. I started with basic text editors, moved into text editors with code colorizations, and then into project-based development environments, and finally to a fully robust IDE. The one that I've been using for a few years now is Zend's Studio Professional.

Sure, Oracle has its award-winning Fusion Middleware SOA-driven tools to integrate these sources. And Oracle already has a roadmap that ultimately merges/migrates its acquired customers into the Oracle fold. But what does an organization do while its waiting for the Fusion-driven SOA effort to reach critical mass before users can get the answers they need? Just wait? And should we tell this same organization to wait for the ERP migration to be completed before it tries to launch new information-driven initiatives? Of course not. As the kissin' cousin of databases and applications and the next door neighbor of SOAs and portals, mashups are the nimble-and-quick complement to these larger efforts. Mash and publish, growth and innovation continues.

I asked what she did for a living. She said she was a software engineer working with SOA. I did not think about my plane ride much until I arrived in San Francisco to attend the SOA World Conference & Expo this past Monday and Tuesday. The first day of the conference as I walked into the hotel, guess who I saw? My friend who I met on the Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul. What a small world, isn't it? Her company was one of the sponsors of the event.

Genuitec, provider of the MyEclipse integrated development environment and a founding member of the Eclipse Foundation, announced a new partnership with ICEsoft Technologies. ICEsoft is the creator and provider of ICEfaces, an open source framework for simplified development of AJAX-enabled Java EE applications.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) todayannounced that Universal Robina Corporation (URC), one of the largestbranded food product companies in the Philippines with a growing presencein other Asian markets, is streamlining business processes to help boostproductivity and information accessibility with a Service OrientedArchitecture (SOA) powered by IBM software.

United Reef Limited (TSX VENTURE: URP)(CNQ: URPL) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with General Gas Corporation ('General Gas') amending the dates on which United Reef may elect to exercise its option to increase its ownership in General Reef Corporation ('General Reef') (formerly 1270194 Alberta Ltd.), a private oil and gas exploration company. United Reef and General Gas are the shareholders of General Reef which was formed as part of an alliance between the companies established in November 2006 (see press release dated November 16, 2006). The revised schedule of dates on which United Reef may exercise its right to acquire additional shares of General Reef is set out below.

Nevsun Resources Ltd. (TSX: NSU)(AMEX: NSU) wishes to announce its annual results for 2006.

Negevtech, Inc. today released its Argus 3200 high-resolution wafer defect inspection system. Combining an enhanced version of Negevtech's proven and patented Step&Image(TM) technology with its new IPx image processing platform, the Argus 3200 extends production flexibility and sensitivity into more applications in the front-end of line (FEOL) and back-end of line (BEOL) of memory wafer inspection applications.

Ontex Resources Limited ('Ontex') (TSX: ONT) today announced that it has filed the following disclosure documents:

Dundee Corporation (TSX: DC.A) today announced that purchases of a maximum of 1,203,363 of its class A subordinate voting shares ('Subordinate Voting Shares'), representing approximately 5% of its 24,067,271 issued and outstanding Subordinate Voting Shares, by means of a normal course issuer bid through the facilities of The Toronto Stock Exchange ('TSX'), will commence on April 1, 2007 and will terminate no later than March 31, 2008. The purchases will be made in accordance with the Policies and rules of the TSX. The price paid for any Subordinate Voting Shares acquired will be the market price at the time of purchase and all Subordinate Voting Shares purchased under the bid will be cancelled.

Brooks Automation ('Brooks') today announced that Brooks completed the sale of its software division, Brooks Software, to Applied Materials, Inc ('Applied'), for $125 million in cash consideration, subject to post-closing adjustments, and the assumption of certain liabilities related to Brooks Software. The sale was consummated on March 30, 2007 pursuant to the terms of an Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of November 3, 2006 by and between Brooks and Applied.

Seaspan Corporation ('Seaspan') (NYSE: SSW) today announced that it has signed contracts to build two 2500 TEU vessels at Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. ('Jiangsu') in China. These new orders are in addition to the eight 2500 TEU vessels Seaspan ordered from Jiangsu in 2006. The two newbuilding vessels will be delivered in March and June, 2010. The total delivered cost is expected to be approximately $46.4 million per vessel, subject to certain pre-delivery expenses remaining at budgeted levels.

SR Telecom (TSX: SRX) today announced it will delay the release of its fourth quarter and year-end results for the period ended December 31, 2006. The Company is currently discussing financing options with several investors to provide a permanent solution for its capital structure issues. SR Telecom continues to focus its resources on developing, delivering and deploying WiMAX-certified broadband wireless access systems.

The U.S. Department of Education March 26, 2007released its Top 100 Consolidating Lenders for 2006 and 2005, withNextStudent firmly entrenched in the No. 4 position on the Top Lenders List. Over the past six yearsNextStudent has seen impressive growth, moving up a total of 44 spots onthe list since its No. 61 position in 2002 to No. 17 last year, and theninto the top five for 2006.

Anglo Swiss Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: ASW)(OTCBB: ASWRF)(BERLIN: AMO) has approved the grant of 1,200,000 incentive stock options to two of the Company's directors. The options are exercisable at 10 cents per share for a maximum period of five years expiring on March 13, 2012. This grant is subject to regulatory approvals and the vesting provisions of the company's stock option plan.

Echo Energy Canada Inc. ('Echo') (TSX VENTURE: EEI) today announced that it has filed the following disclosure documents:

VIASPACE Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: VSPC) , a company dedicated to commercializing proven technologies from NASA and the US Department of Defense, announced today financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2006.

At the Winter 2007 Investment Press Briefingheld last month, investment professionals gave their projections for thestock and bond markets and the economy in 2007, and examined the regulatoryissues that the investment management industry faces in the year ahead. Themedia conference was hosted by Millennium Media Consulting, an Arlington,Va.-based public relations and media consulting firm. A summary of thespeaker presentations follows.

icefloe Technologies Inc. ('icefloe') (TSX VENTURE: ICY) today announced that David E. Elliott will resign as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of icefloe effective April 30, 2007.

Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) announcedtoday that it will release its first quarter earnings after the marketclose on Tuesday, May 1, 2007, and will hold its first quarter conferencecall on Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conferencecall can be accessed by dialing 1-800-683-1525 and providing conference ID#8622931. Beginning two hours after the conference call, a taped replay ofthe call can be accessed through Wednesday, May 16, 2007, by calling1-877-519-4471 and entering access code 8622931.

First Nickel Inc. ('First Nickel' or the 'Company') (TSX: FNI) announces that it has filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities its audited financial statements, and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2006, and has restated its comparative financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Varsity Group Inc. (NASDAQ: VSTY) todayannounced it will release financial results for its fiscal year endedDecember 31, 2006 after the market closes on Monday, April 2, 2007 with aconference call to follow at 5:00 P.M. EDT.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has selected Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT, Inc.) to provide mechanical, thermal, and related engineering services to the Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate (AETD), in support of space technology development, Earth and Space science missions, and NASA's Exploration Program.

Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. , a leading global provider of high-quality, technologically advanced flexible printed circuit and value-added component assembly solutions to the electronics industry, announced today that the independent special committee of its board of directors has agreed, at the direction of the Singapore Securities Industry Council, to extend the deadline for the fulfillment of the pre-conditions to the offer for all of the outstanding ordinary shares of MFS Technology Ltd (the 'Offer') from March 31, 2007, to June 30, 2007, including the pre-condition that WBL Corporation Limited's stockholders approve its acceptance of the Offer.

PrimEdge, Inc. (Pink Sheets: PEDG.PK) announces today that its subsidiary, Orangebox Entertainment has completed several post-production projects for the Disney Channel (http://www.disney.com/), FOX Broadcasting (http://www.fox.com/), Spike TV, part of the MTV Networks and a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (http://www.viacom.com/), and the A&E Television Network (http://www.aetv.com/).

The law firm of Brower Piven, A ProfessionalCorporation, today announced that a securities class action was commencedon behalf of shareholders who purchased or otherwise acquired the commonstock of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH) between July 27, 2006 and March27, 2007, inclusive (the 'Class Period').

Infomercial leader Youth Enhancement Systems,Inc., as previously announced, has changed its name to Dynamic ResponseGroup, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: DRGP). The name change is effective immediately. This change was made to better describe the Company's global businessmodel as a leading direct response marketer of its proprietary products andservices throughout the world. NASDAQ has notified the company that itstrading symbol has now been changed from YEHS to DRGP effective as of March30, 2007.

Torstar Corporation (TSX: TS.B) today announced that Hon. Roy Romanow is standing for election to the Board of Directors at Torstar's Annual Meeting to be held on May 2, 2007. Mr. Romanow served as the Premier of Saskatchewan from 1991 until early 2001. He is a Senior Fellow in Public Policy in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. He is also a corporate director and a Member of the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) an agency that provides Parliament and the Canadian public with an external review of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Hon. Frank Iacobucci, Chairman of Torstar Corporation, said 'Roy Romanow is a Canadian of great distinction who has contributed richly to building a strong and progressive Canada. His experience, wisdom and judgment will be welcome additions to our deliberations.'

George A. Brown, President & CEO of MacMillan Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: MMG) announces that the board of directors of the Company granted 1,690,000 stock options today based upon yesterday's closing price of $0.37 per share. These options are subject to regulatory approval.

Asia Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: ASG) announced today that it had been advised by Ivanhoe Mines that 25 of the 35 coal exploration licences held by Ivanhoe Mines in the South Gobi area of Mongolia have been transferred by the Mongolian Government's Cadastral Office. Two key licences at the Nariin Sukhait coal discovery that contain the Ivanhoe Coal Division's main coal resources are among the transferred licences.

Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB) announced today that it has received significant interest from shippers for Phase I of a two-phased expansion of the Spearhead Pipeline through the Open Season which was announced March 2, 2007. The Spearhead Pipeline provides crude oil transportation between the Chicago area and Cushing, Oklahoma. Phase I will provide an incremental 65,000 barrels per day (bpd) of capacity.

The law firm of Brower Piven, A ProfessionalCorporation, today announced that a securities class action was commencedon behalf of shareholders who purchased or otherwise acquired the commonstock of U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTS) in connection withits February 8, 2007 Initial Public Offering ('IPO') or who purchasedshares thereafter on the open market (the 'Class Period').

Richview Resources Inc. ('Richview') (TSX: RVR) announces that subject to regulatory approval, it has granted an aggregate 500,000 stock options. The total 500,000 stock options have been granted to an officer of the Company. The options are subject to a vesting schedule and exercisable at $0.20 for a period of 5 years from the date of grant.

C.A. Bancorp Inc. (TSX VENTURE: BKP) ('the Company') is pleased to announce that it has provided a $10 million subordinated loan facility ('Subordinated Facility') to Charter Realty Holdings Ltd., $4.5 million of which was drawn as of March 30th, 2007. The Subordinated Facility is subordinated to a first mortgage loan from a Canadian chartered bank and a loan facility from KingSett Capital. Outstanding principal amounts on the Subordinated Facility earn interest at a rate of 12% per annum, payable monthly. The Subordinated Facility has a maximum term of two years.