Press Releases & News

July 23 2010 – Three years after the launch of the first iPhone, the advent of “mobile connectivity” is profoundly shaking up the way consumers shop, according to new research from PriceGrabber.co.uk®. Not just online, but in stores too, as a growing army of ‘smart shoppers’ are arriving in stores equipped with Internet enabled Smartphones.

Whilst these devices might be small, they still have the capacity to spend big – with the research finding that 20 percent of shoppers who make purchases from their mobiles have spent more than £100 on mobile phone shopping sprees in the last three months.

Of the 908 online shoppers that were asked about their mobile shopping habits, 66 percent owned a Smartphone or another Web-enabled phone. Of the consumers who shop from their mobile, nearly half (48 percent) claim that the convenience of having the Internet with them wherever they go is their number one reason for smart shopping.

PriceGrabber.co.uk’s research found that of the consumers that own a Web-enabled mobile phone…

•   24 percent compare or check prices from their mobile phone

•   22 percent research product details and specifications from their mobile phone

•   16 percent purchase online from their mobile phone

•   9 percent check product availability

•   5 percent access online discount vouchers

When it comes to most popular mobile purchases, research revealed that of the consumers who purchase online from their mobile phone…

•   59 percent purchase digital content for mobiles (ringtones, Apps and music/video clips)

•   52 percent purchase consumer electronics, such as GPS, MP3 players and digital cameras

•   45 percent purchase computers, laptops and peripherals

•   45 percent purchase books

•   33 percent purchase clothing

“Smart shopping is one of the most exciting developments in retail – as it enables customers to literally take the Internet into the store with them,” commented Justin Sedgmond, business director at PriceGrabber.co.uk (www.pricegrabber.co.uk). “Shoppers now use multiple channels to engage with retailers. The winning retailers will be those that have put themselves in a position to respond appropriately to consumers on every platform they wish to engage.”

Ends

Further information from:

Lisa Balliache, The PR Network

Tel: 07768 264132

lisa.balliache[at]theprnetwork[dot]co.uk

Distributed on behalf of PriceGrabber.co.uk by NeonDrum news distribution service (http://www.neondrum.com)

July 28 2010 – eWEEK Europe UK, www.eweekeurope.co.uk, the online publication designed for the new era of IT, has launched a new app which will allow users to access and interact with its news content across all Apple devices including the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The first app released by a UK IT publishing house, it is already available in the iTunes store.

eWEEK’s stable of sites across France, Germany, Italy and Spain, have each launched the Gizmodo app, with France boasting well over 150,000 downloads within the first three months.

Commenting on the launch, Dominique Busso, founder and CEO of NetMediaEurope (publisher of eWEEK Europe UK), said: “We have worked hard to develop the app, and are proud to announce the fact we are the first IT publishing house to have done so.

“In a recent Gartner study, it was announced that by 2013, mobile phones will overtake PC’s as the most common Web access device worldwide . With this fact in mind, we were keen to launch an app for our users, allowing them to interact with the eWEEK Europe UK website. And, we hope that app is as successful as the one we launched in France.”

eWEEK Europe’s UK editor, Peter Judge, said: “eWEEK is all about IT sustainability and return on investment. Our readers need to stay one step ahead in order to make sound decisions with regard to their IT. We can help them be more effective by providing content in their preferred formats, easily accessible on the move.”

He added: “The iPhone hasn’t traditionally been seen as a business tool, more as a consumer item. However, it’s increasingly finding a place in companies’ IT portfolios, and as the phone of choice of IT professionals. Although iPhone apps are undoubtedly easier to develop than for some other smartphones, there is a substantial development cost, and getting the app integrated with a website can be a complex process.”

The app store can be accessed via the homepage of eWEEK Europe UK.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

About the app

The eWEEK app runs on devices that have the iPhone OS 3.0 or later, needs 0.5MB to run, and was developed by French developer DuoApps. It can be dowbnloaded from the iTunes store here: http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/eweek-europe-uk

About eWEEK Europe UK

Launched in March 2009, eWEEK Europe UK (www.eweekeurope.co.uk), is an online publication aimed at everyone interested in the impact that technology will have on the future of their business. It provides insight on sustainable IT to a rapidly growing audience that increasingly sees the issue as business-critical.

Already established in mainland Europe and the US, eWEEK provides a one-stop shop for advertisers and sponsors looking for innovative pan-European opportunities.

eWEEK Europe UK is published by NetMediaEurope, which was founded in July 2007 as a result of an MBO by senior VNU managers.

For further information and interviews, please contact:

Katrina Suppiah/Claire Thompson,

Publicité

Tel: + 44 (0)20 8543 6582/+44 (0)20 8543 8481

Email: k.suppiah[at]publicite[cot]co.uk / c.thompson[at]publicite.co.uk

Distributed on behalf of Publicite PR by NeonDrum news distribution service (http://www.neondrum.com)

Stratford on Avon – Launched today, is the new Driving Instructor app for the iPhone, developed by Motopilot Rider Coaching, set to make big changes in the way driving instructors operate, and bringing their industry right up to date.

The app provides a complete solution for driving instructors, which takes advantage of iPhone’s built-in accelerometer and its global positioning system (GPS) to provide a repeatable method of giving instant and accurate feedback to students when performing controlled (emergency) stops and eco driving tasks. The app also gives the instructor an easy way of recording changes in students’ competency levels as their driving lessons progress. A simple road sign quiz is included as an additional educational tool.

At the end of each lesson, an email that comprises details of the route taken, brake training tests performed and any eco driving exceedances is automatically sent to the student. A list of all the changes in competency level is included in the email so that the student has a permanent record of their progress.

The app’s main features are:

• Eco Driving – Instant feedback as to how smoothly the student is driving which dramatically improves fuel economy as well as anticipation and planning skills. Exceedances are viewable in Google Earth ©.

• Brake Training – Compares student’s controlled stops to the Highway Code stopping distance table which means no more guesswork as to a pass or fail. Full graph and results given for each test. The student’s efforts can even be compared to the competency of an expert.

• Competencies – Can be changed as the student progresses from lesson to lesson. All Driving Standards Agency (DSA) competencies are included and competency changes are e-mailed to the student at the end of each lesson.

The Driving Instructor iPhone app is the brainchild of Motopilot Rider Coaching’s principal, Duncan Mackillop: “The idea was first conceived because of the profound lack of ability of most drivers to use the brakes properly. I reasoned that if learner drivers had a way of really understanding how good or bad their braking performance was at the early stages of their training, then this would remain with them throughout their driving career,” explains Duncan.

Although the Highway Code gives a clear table of the expected performance for controlled stops, until now there has been no way of relating this data to real world situations. The app gives both the instructor and the learner driver real time and accurate information on the student’s use of the brakes.

The Driving Instructor iPhone app is available now, free, from iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/driving-instructor-app-ill/id369531879?mt=8#

Three student record slots are pre-loaded so that instructors can get started straight away. Additional student driver record slots are available via in-app purchasing for less than £3 each.

About the developers

The Driving Instructor app is the first of a number of driver training apps to be launched on the iPhone by this team of highly talented software developers. With skills gathered from the aerospace and publishing industries, the team is led by the former research and development director of one of the original dot com companies.

For further information, please contact:

Duncan Mackillop
Principal
Motopilot Rider Coaching
1 Hands Paddock
Newbold on Stour
Stratford on Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 8UD

07788 563400
info@illdriveit.com
http://www.illdriveit.com

Submitted by: http://www.worldwidepr.net

LONDON, UK — 14 June, 2010 — Hitachi Consulting UK today issued a correction and clarification statement to its earlier press release on JLT Benefit Solutions Ltd. JLT Benefit Solutions Ltd conducted the design and build for the new standalone version of its BenPal pension modeller for use on the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch platforms, which were completed at JLT offices. Hitachi Consulting UK provided an introduction to a third party contractor, who worked collaboratively with JLT’s internal team onsite for the design and delivery of the new application.

The BenPal pension modeller app allows users to view the projected value of possible benefits at retirement based upon a number of simple facts about their personal details and pension plan arrangements. It provides a rich, graphical interface which can be used to model the impact of changes in contributions, retirement age and the type of pension payable. The modeller can also operate in ‘target mode’ to determine how much the user would need to invest to retire on a pension of a certain value.

###

About JLT Group plc

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (JLT) is an international group of Risk Specialists and Employee Benefits Consultants and one of the largest companies of its type in the world. JLT offers a distinctive choice to clients and partners through our combination of independence, scale and specialism. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and employs 6000 people worldwide and through JLT NetworkTM provides services in more than 120 countries. http://www.jltgroup.com

About Hitachi Consulting Corporation

As Hitachi, Ltd.’s (NYSE: HIT) global consulting company, with operations in the United States, Europe and Asia, Hitachi Consulting is a recognized leader in delivering proven business and IT strategies and solutions to Global 2000 companies across many industries. With a balanced view of strategy, people, process and technology, we work with companies to understand their unique business needs, and to develop and implement practical business strategies and technology solutions. From business strategy development through application deployment, our consultants are committed to helping clients quickly realize measurable business value and achieve sustainable ROI.

Hitachi Consulting’s client base includes 25 percent of the Global 100 as well as many leading mid-market companies. We offer a client-focused, collaborative approach and transfer knowledge throughout each engagement. For more information visit www.hitachiconsulting.com

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 360,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2009 (ended March 31, 2010) consolidated revenues totaled 8,968 billion yen ($96.4 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachi.com.

** Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Hitachiuk **

For further information, please contact:

Vanessa Land
Devonshire Marketing
Tel: 0870 242 7469
Email: vanessa[at]devonshiremarketing[dot]com

Distributed on behalf of Devonshire Marketing by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com)
Nicky Denovan
Tel: +44 7747 017654
nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com

LONDON, UK — 9 June, 2010 — Hitachi Consulting UK today announced the development and delivery of a standalone version of the BenPal pension modeller for use on the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch platforms for JLT Benefit Solutions Limited. The new modeller is a standalone version of the existing enterprise class integrated pension and benefits management system that HCUK originally designed and built with JLT, delivered as an iPhone application available for download free in the iTunes App Store from 7th June. The BenPal modeller allows an employee to determine the projected value of their pension based upon a number of simple facts about themselves and their pension scheme and provides the employee with a rich, graphical interface which can be used to model the effect of changes in contribution, retirement age and other variables on the final value of their pension. The modeller can also be used to determine what the employee would need to contribute in order to retire with a pension of a certain value. HCUK was appointed by JLT to scope, design and build an iPhone version of the original modeller, taking into account BenPal’s look and feel, to reflect the central branding and creative imagery. The project, adhering to Apple’s development and human interface guidelines, was completed within eight weeks, which included the design and build of a calculation engine and automated testing. Charlie Carrick, solutions director at JLT Online Benefits, said, “The best way to encourage UK employees to engage with their pension is to make it simple to understand and easy to access. With the BenPal system already available to clients via iPhones, as well as PCs and laptops, the development of a modeller application is a natural progression for us. We hope it helps the wider community to appreciate that pensions planning in a defined contribution world means taking greater responsibility and personal control, and having a bit of fun at the same time.” Mark Smith, Enterprise Solutions Operation Director, Hitachi Consulting UK, commented, “This was a great project to embark on with JLT which delivers real benefits in an intuitive way. This first version of the iPhone pension modeller provides a platform for possible next steps such as integration with the BenPal online system, modelling other benefits and of course an iPad version.” ### About JLT Group plc Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (JLT) is an international group of Risk Specialists and Employee Benefits Consultants and one of the largest companies of its type in the world. JLT offers a distinctive choice to clients and partners through our combination of independence, scale and specialism. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and employs 6000 people worldwide and through JLT NetworkTM provides services in more than 120 countries. http://www.jltgroup.com About Hitachi Consulting Corporation As Hitachi, Ltd.’s (NYSE: HIT) global consulting company, with operations in the United States, Europe and Asia, Hitachi Consulting is a recognized leader in delivering proven business and IT strategies and solutions to Global 2000 companies across many industries. With a balanced view of strategy, people, process and technology, we work with companies to understand their unique business needs, and to develop and implement practical business strategies and technology solutions. From business strategy development through application deployment, our consultants are committed to helping clients quickly realize measurable business value and achieve sustainable ROI. Hitachi Consulting’s client base includes 25 percent of the Global 100 as well as many leading mid-market companies. We offer a client-focused, collaborative approach and transfer knowledge throughout each engagement. For more information visit www.hitachiconsulting.com About Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 360,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2009 (ended March 31, 2010) consolidated revenues totaled 8,968 billion yen ($96.4 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachi.com. ** Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Hitachiuk ** For further information, please contact: Vanessa Land Devonshire Marketing Tel: 0870 242 7469 Email: vanessa[at]devonshiremarketing.com Distributed on behalf of Devonshire Marketing by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com) Nicky Denovan Tel: +44 7747 017654 nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com