Third-party software support provider Rimini Street is moving ahead with its expected plans for an initial public offering, even as it awaits a showdown in court with Oracle.
Rimini Street filed its draft registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, according to its announcement Wednesday. Like other companies, including Twitter, Rimini Street has taken advantage of a law enacted last year that allows smaller companies to initially file IPO documents confidentially.
Rimini Street provides support services for Oracle and SAP software customers, who will save at least half off their vendor support bills, the company says. The company caters to customers that have stable systems and little desire to continually apply the upgrades that come with vendor support.
Oracle sued Rimini Street in 2010, alleging it had engaged in "massive theft" of Oracle software and support materials. Rimini Street has denied any wrongdoing and countersued, saying Oracle is trying to squash the third-party support market.
Oracle also charged that Rimini Street CEO Seth Ravin has duplicated the business model of TomorrowNow, a former SAP subsidiary Ravin co-founded. After a similar lawsuit by Oracle, SAP shut down TomorrowNow and accepted liability for wrongdoing by its employees. While the case resulted in a sizable damages award to Oracle, it's not yet resolved.
Software vendors are loath to see a major third-party support market emerge, given the high margins they enjoy on maintenance revenue.
Rimini Street remains small compared to Oracle but has reported consistent growth despite the lawsuit, which has yet to secure a trial date.
Last month, Rimini Street said third-quarter revenue had grown 40 percent year-over-year to US$15.8 million, and that it now supports customers in 72 countries.
A Rimini Street spokesman declined to comment Wednesday beyond the company's announcement. An Oracle spokeswoman didn't respond to a request for comment.
Chris Kanaracus covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Chris' email address is Chris_Kanaracus@idg.com
Chris Kanaracus, IDG News Service , IDG News Service
Chris Kanaracus covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for the IDG News Service. More by Chris Kanaracus, IDG News Service
Mocking the battle cry of "Developers, developers, developers," Microsoft is shutting down the desktop programming interface for Skype, effective the end of this year. Microsoft made the decision to yank the desktop API back in July, informing developers of that decision back then. But the shutdown hit the mainstream fan over the weekend, when the following warning began appearing as users log in to Skype:
Skype says my application will stop working with Skype in December 2013, why is that?
We've been working hard to develop new technologies and make improvements that will benefit Skype users across all platforms, especially on mobile devices. These changes will significantly improve the call quality and speed of delivery of instant messages, while retaining excellent battery life of mobile devices.
As people are using Skype on more devices, we're also working hard to create a more familiar and consistent Skype experience across all major platforms.
The Desktop API was created in 2004 and it doesn't support mobile application development. We have, therefore, decided to retire the Desktop API in December 2013.
[Cough, cough] The Win32 API started in 1987. Yes, I know the Win32 API doesn't support mobile apps. Skype's popular on the desktop, eh? [/Cough, cough]
Microsoft bought Skype in May 2011. The company paid $8.5 billion but apparently didn't earmark enough additional funds to continue its API.
Most of the programs that use the Skype API fall into four categories. There are dozens of recording apps, including VodBurner, Evaer, and Super Tintin, which will need a massive overhaul, assuming they can find a way to adapt.
There are also messaging apps that hook into Skype, such as Trillian, Pidgin, Adium, Kopete/KDE, Miranda, IM+, and fring, which may or may not be able to communicate with the future Skype.
A raft of miscellaneous third-party applications, once encouraged by Skype but now shunned by Microsoft, have already gone out of business, including Yappernut, Ubicall, KishKish, and many more. Other third-party apps will have to adapt, if they can. The Skype App Directory doesn't exist any more.
Most important, if you spent real money on a Skype phone -- one that has Skype controls on the handset or headset -- those fancy buttons won't work after the end of the year. You'll be able to use the Skype phone just like a regular phone or headset -- and that's it. Yes, even if you have an official Skype Certified headset, it'll turn very dumb after the API goes away.
There's no comparable API available without moving to SharePoint, which is hardly a household name. The residual Skype URI API, according to i-Programmer, lets programmers "place a call or start a chat and that's about it... the idea that you can bring existing applications up-to-date is laughable... From a technological point of view it makes no sense, so you can only assume that there is a marketing angle or some other politics in play."
Want to fight this Microsoft decision? There's a petition at Change.org that urges Microsoft to come to its senses:
Millions of Skype users have come to rely on the third party utilities developed by Skype's developer partners for their everyday communications activities, especially small to medium businesses. This petition requests Skype to reconsider this decision until they can provide support for these developers to continue to offer their added funtionality, such as call recording, chat archiiving, chat translation, headset operation to the basic Skype calling experience.
I'm petitioner number 1,029. Call me Sancho Panza.
It's hard to talk of music streaming service Deezer and not mention the behemoth in the room: Spotify. A launch in the US is certainly needed for Deezer to become a true rival, but in the meantime, it's adding new features for current users, which hail from basically everywhere else. Today sees the ...
Amsterdam, November 6, 2013 Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced the publication of a position statement by the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) in the journal Maturitas on the topic of fertility preservation.
The rising need for fertility preservation results from two new 21st century changes. Improved survival of malignant disease with gonadotoxic treatments means that long-term reproductive potential should now be considered. Delaying childbirth means that the use of fertility preservation techniques to counter the normal age-related decline in fertility is also becoming a topic of interest for many healthy women.
This EMAS position paper provides and critically appraises evidence on available options for fertility preservation in both pre-pubertal and post-pubertal men and women. EMAS position paper recommends that all men and women of reproductive age should be thoroughly informed before the initiation of any gonadotoxic treatment about the possible risks of the treatment in question and all available options of fertility preservation should be discussed. Fertility preservation should be a priority when treating children or adults of reproductive age with agents that may have hazardous effects on the reproductive system and gonadotoxicity should be kept at a minimum.
These and other recommendations presented in the EMAS' position statement on fertility preservation are published in the article: "EMAS Position statement: Fertility preservation," published in Maturitas, Elsevier; available online on ScienceDirect.
###
Notes for editors
Full text of the article is available to credentialed journalists upon request; contact newsroom@elsevier.com Journalists wishing to interview the authors may contact Greyling Peoples, +31 20 485 3323; g.peoples@elsevier.com or editor of Maturitas, Margaret Rees margaret.rees@hotmail.co.uk.
"EMAS Position statement: Fertility preservation" by Gesthimani Mintziori, Irene Lambrinoudaki, Iuliana Ceausu, Herman Depypere, C. Tamer Erel, Faustino R. Prez-Lpez, Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, Yvonne van der Schouw, Tommaso Simoncini, Florence Tremollieres, Basil C. Tarlatzis, Margaret Rees and Dimitrios G. Goulis. Published in Maturitas (Elsevier), In Press; DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.10.010.
About European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS)
EMAS promotes the study of midlife health through its journal, congresses, schools and website and encourages the exchange of research and professional experience between members.
Using a range of activities and through its affiliates, EMAS aims to guarantee and provide the same standard of education and information throughout Europe on midlife health in both genders. Recognizing the issues arising from increased longevity the society also provides articles, patient information, web resources, and referrals for healthcare providers in the field and keeps its members up-to-date.http://www.emas-online.org
About Maturitas
Maturitas is an international multidisciplinary peer reviewed scientific journal of midlife health and beyond, publishing original research, reviews, consensus statements and guidelines. The scope encompasses all aspects of postreproductive health in both genders ranging from basic science to health and social care.
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, Reaxys, ClinicalKey and Mosby's Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, helping research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.
A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world leading provider of professional information solutions in the Science, Medical, Legal and Risk and Business sectors, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).
Media contact
Greyling Peoples
Elsevier
+31 20 485 3323
g.peoples@elsevier.com
[
| E-mail
Share
]
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Elsevier's Maturitas publishes position statement on fertility preservation
Amsterdam, November 6, 2013 Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced the publication of a position statement by the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) in the journal Maturitas on the topic of fertility preservation.
The rising need for fertility preservation results from two new 21st century changes. Improved survival of malignant disease with gonadotoxic treatments means that long-term reproductive potential should now be considered. Delaying childbirth means that the use of fertility preservation techniques to counter the normal age-related decline in fertility is also becoming a topic of interest for many healthy women.
This EMAS position paper provides and critically appraises evidence on available options for fertility preservation in both pre-pubertal and post-pubertal men and women. EMAS position paper recommends that all men and women of reproductive age should be thoroughly informed before the initiation of any gonadotoxic treatment about the possible risks of the treatment in question and all available options of fertility preservation should be discussed. Fertility preservation should be a priority when treating children or adults of reproductive age with agents that may have hazardous effects on the reproductive system and gonadotoxicity should be kept at a minimum.
These and other recommendations presented in the EMAS' position statement on fertility preservation are published in the article: "EMAS Position statement: Fertility preservation," published in Maturitas, Elsevier; available online on ScienceDirect.
###
Notes for editors
Full text of the article is available to credentialed journalists upon request; contact newsroom@elsevier.com Journalists wishing to interview the authors may contact Greyling Peoples, +31 20 485 3323; g.peoples@elsevier.com or editor of Maturitas, Margaret Rees margaret.rees@hotmail.co.uk.
"EMAS Position statement: Fertility preservation" by Gesthimani Mintziori, Irene Lambrinoudaki, Iuliana Ceausu, Herman Depypere, C. Tamer Erel, Faustino R. Prez-Lpez, Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, Yvonne van der Schouw, Tommaso Simoncini, Florence Tremollieres, Basil C. Tarlatzis, Margaret Rees and Dimitrios G. Goulis. Published in Maturitas (Elsevier), In Press; DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.10.010.
About European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS)
EMAS promotes the study of midlife health through its journal, congresses, schools and website and encourages the exchange of research and professional experience between members.
Using a range of activities and through its affiliates, EMAS aims to guarantee and provide the same standard of education and information throughout Europe on midlife health in both genders. Recognizing the issues arising from increased longevity the society also provides articles, patient information, web resources, and referrals for healthcare providers in the field and keeps its members up-to-date.http://www.emas-online.org
About Maturitas
Maturitas is an international multidisciplinary peer reviewed scientific journal of midlife health and beyond, publishing original research, reviews, consensus statements and guidelines. The scope encompasses all aspects of postreproductive health in both genders ranging from basic science to health and social care.
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, Reaxys, ClinicalKey and Mosby's Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, helping research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.
A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world leading provider of professional information solutions in the Science, Medical, Legal and Risk and Business sectors, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).
Media contact
Greyling Peoples
Elsevier
+31 20 485 3323
g.peoples@elsevier.com
[
| E-mail
Share
]
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
As if there's not enough for liberals and conservatives to argue about, now they're duking it out over the Nickelodeon children's show SpongeBob SquarePants.
In an episode to air Nov. 11, the hardworking sea sponge is fired from his job at the Krusty Krab in the undersea city of Bikini Bottom after his boss figures out he can save "a whole nickel" from his payroll.
One day later, SpongeBob is already a disheveled, wrinkled, unshaven beggar, and his friend Patrick is determined to show him the ways of "glorious unemployment," which includes free stuff and lots of spare time.
"Being unemployed is the best gig I know," Patrick tells SpongeBob.
But at a no-charge, all-you-can eat meal, SpongeBob has an epiphany: "Unemployment may be fun for you, but I need to get a job," he tells Patrick. At that moment, he's instantly transformed into a sparkly clean, enthusiastic and energetic sponge again.
The episode subtly introduces a couple of hot-button issues, including the worth of social services, labor laws that caused SpongeBob's boss, Mr. Krabs, to fire his best employee, and more. When the New York Post and Fox News Channel remarked on the episode, the progressive group Media Matters for America pounced.
What seemed to particularly irritate Media Matters was a line from the Poststory: "Lest he sit around idly, mooching off the social services of Bikini Bottom, a depressed SpongeBob sets out to return to gainful employment wherever he can find it," Andrea Morabito wrote. "No spoilers -- but it's safe to say that our hero doesn't end up on food stamps, as his patty-making skills turn out to be in high demand."
Fox & Friends weighed in on Friday with Heather Nauert parroting the Post: "The harsh economic climate has hit the underwater community … but instead of mooching off social services at Bikini Bottom, that's the town, SpongeBob sets out to return to the work force."
This was too much for Media Matters, which posted an analysis at its site headlined, "Right-wing media use SpongeBob SquarePants' firing to attack social safety net."
According to the Media Matters article, "Right-wing media have a long history of attacking the social safety net. Recently, Fox attacked low-wage workers in the fast food industry who have to rely on necessary federal benefit programs because they earn below subsistence wages."
It's not the first time SpongeBob has waded into social commentary, though usually when it does, it bugs the right and supports the left. In episodes dubbed "SpongeBob's Last Stand" and "Selling Out," for example, environmentalism is glorified and large businesses are demonized.
And two years ago, Glenn Beck on Fox News asked if the education department was "indoctrinating children" by offering free copies of the book SpongeBob Global Warming Tale. Fox News hosts Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson also bashed SpongeBob for pushing the dangers of man-made global warming back then.
See an exclusive 90-second clip of the firing of SpongeBob above.
"Like all really great cartoons, part of SpongeBob's long-running success has been its ability to tap into the zeitgeist while still being really funny for our audience," said Russell Hicks, president of content, development and production for Nickelodeon. "As always, despite this momentary setback, SpongeBob's eternal optimism prevails, which is always a great message for everyone."
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Border Patrol agents may continue using deadly force against rock-throwers, the chief of the agency said, despite the recommendation of a government-commissioned review to end the practice.
The Police Executive Research Forum, a nonprofit group that advises law enforcement agencies, recommended that the Border Patrol and its parent agency, Customs and Border Protection, stop the use of deadly force against rock throwers and assailants in vehicles, Border Patrol Chief Mike Fisher said.
Both recommendations were part of a broader internal review of CBP's use-of-force policies and practices that began last year. The measures were not included in a revised policy announced on Sept. 25 that calls for more training and better record-keeping.
CBP considered the proposed curbs "very restrictive," Fisher told The Associated Press.
Under current policy, agents can use deadly force if they have a reasonable belief that their lives or the lives of others are in danger.
"We shouldn't have carve-outs in our policy and say, except for this, except for that," Fisher said. "Just to say that you shouldn't shoot at rock-throwers or vehicles for us, in our environment, was very problematic and could potentially put Border Patrol agents in danger."
CBP has not released the full findings of the Police Executive Research Forum. Fisher's comments are the most publicly detailed about them.
The internal review began last year after 16 members of Congress raised concern about the May 2010 killing of Anastasio Hernandez, an unarmed Mexican who died from stun gun wounds at San Diego's San Ysidro port of entry. Authorities have said he was being combative while being returned to Mexico. The Justice Department is investigating that killing.
Hernandez was one of 20 people killed by CBP officials since 2010, including eight who died in rock-throwing incidents with Border Patrol agents, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Fisher repeated the agency's long-standing position that rocks are lethal weapons. Smugglers have long pelted agents with rocks, bottles and other objects — often from Mexico — hoping to create an opening elsewhere along the border when agents rush to assist colleagues being pelted.
Agents were attacked with rocks 339 times in the 2011 fiscal year, more than any other type of assault, according to the Department of Homeland Security inspector general. They responded with gunfire 33 times and with less-than-lethal force — a category that includes pepper spray and batons — 118 times.
Rock attacks fell to 185 in the 2012 fiscal year, the second most common type of assault. Agents fired a gun 22 times and responded 42 times with less-than-lethal force.
The proposed ban on firing at vehicles would have brought the Border Patrol in line with some metropolitan police departments, Fisher said. But he pointed out that the federal agency operates in much different terrain.
"You don't want to just start shooting indiscriminately at a vehicle and try to blow out tires like they do on TV, but our environment is totally different," Fisher said. "In many cases, unlike a concrete jungle, you have a very narrow trail and the Border Patrol agent doesn't always have the ability to get out of the way."
Activists were disappointed that CBP rejected the recommendations.
"We've long held that deadly force should be limited to the most exceptional circumstances," said Andrea Guerrero, executive director of Alliance San Diego, who attended a meeting with Obama administration officials at the White House in September that covered the topic.
"The Border Patrol has yet to demonstrate that that's the appropriate level of force in the cases that have happened," Guerrero said.
Shawn Moran, spokesman for the National Border Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol officers, welcomed the agency's position.
"Almost every Border Patrol agent has been rocked at one point or another," Moran said. "I know agents here that have had vehicles accelerate toward them, attempt to run them down."
Fisher rejected any suggestion that Border Patrol agents were trigger-happy.
"When you look at that environment, that workspace, I think our agents show a great deal of restraint when it comes to use of deadly force," he said.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Invoking the Declaration of Independence, proponents of a bill that would outlaw discrimination against gays in the workplace argued on Tuesday that the measure is rooted in fundamental fairness for all Americans.
Republican opponents of the measure were largely silent, neither addressing the issue on the second day of Senate debate nor commenting unless asked. Written statements from some rendered their judgment that the bill would result in costly, frivolous lawsuits and mandate federal law based on sexuality.
The Senate moved closer to completing its work on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that would prohibit workplace discrimination against gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said a final vote in the Senate is possible by week's end.
Senate passage of the bill would represent a major victory for advocates of gay rights just months after the Supreme Court affirmed gay marriage and granted federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples and three years after Congress ended the ban on gays serving openly in the military.
Illinois was poised to become the 15th state to legalize gay marriage after the state's Legislature gave its final approval Tuesday, sending it to the governor, who has said he'll sign it.
"I don't believe in discriminating against anybody," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a backer of the measure who voted against a similar, narrower bill 17 years ago. Hatch said the bill has language ensuring religious freedom that he expects the Senate to toughen.
The measure, however, faces strong opposition in the Republican-controlled House, where Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, maintains that it is unnecessary and could prove too expensive and litigious for businesses.
Resistance remains within GOP ranks even as the national party, looking beyond core older voters, tries to be more inclusive. Republicans struggled to win over young people and independents in the 2012 presidential election.
Asked why he opposed the bill, Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., said the measure is "somewhat pandering to the special groups that I think should not have to be singled out by themselves. I think they're normal citizens like everybody else."
A bipartisan group of senators pressed ahead with the legislation, casting it as a clear sign of Americans' greater acceptance of homosexuality that has significantly changed the political dynamic.
A Pew Research survey in June found that more Americans said homosexuality should be accepted rather than discouraged by society by a margin of 60 percent to 31 percent. Opinions were more evenly divided 10 years ago.
"What changed is society has changed," said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. "Personal attitudes have changed, business is for it. There's just widespread support for taking these other steps in passing a civil rights bill."
A chief sponsor of the measure, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said that in his home state, Nike supports the measure.
About 88 percent of Fortune 500 companies have adopted nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation, according to the Human Rights Campaign. About 57 percent of those companies include gender identity.
"It's time to end this discrimination," Merkley said in a Senate speech. "It's certainly about the vision of the Declaration of Independence that has the promise of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness as the founding motivation."
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said his home state of Connecticut has had a discrimination law since 1991 and frivolous lawsuits are uncommon. Based on the latest data from 2009 and 2010, 53 of 1,740 employment-based complaints were based on sexual orientation, Murphy said.
"Fifty years from now history is going to judge no less harshly those that voted against this act as it judges now those that voted against some of the civil rights acts of the 1950s and 1960s," Murphy said.
Current federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race and national origin. But it doesn't stop an employer from firing or refusing to hire workers because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
The bill would bar employers with 15 or more workers from using a person's sexual orientation or gender identity as the basis for making employment decisions, including hiring, firing, compensation or promotion. The bill would exempt religious institutions and the military.
Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., were crafting an amendment to the bill that would prevent federal, state and local governments from retaliating against religious groups that are exempt from the law.
"It focuses on religious liberty," Portman said. "It provides a non-retaliation clause in the federal law comparable to what a lot of states have."
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., was working on an amendment to expand the number of groups that are covered under the religious exemption.
Portman, Ayotte and Toomey were the last three Republicans who voted Monday night to advance the bill as it past its first hurdle on a 61-30 vote. After the vote, Portman's son Will, a student at Yale, tweeted, "Go dad ... Sens Portman and Toomey vote yes. Cloture is reached on #ENDA."
The Ohio senator announced in March that he supports same-sex marriage, saying his views began changing in 2011, when his son told his parents he was gay and that it wasn't a choice but "part of who he was."
Portman said he exchanged messages with his son after the vote.
It's hard to talk of music streaming service Deezer and not mention the behemoth in the room: Spotify. A launch in the US is certainly needed for Deezer to become a true rival, but in the meantime, it's adding new features for current users, which hail from basically everywhere else. Today sees the ...
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