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Video news report from Siemens introduces OpenScape, a new software designed to integrate your communication devices. Newstream Video (Quicktime Movie: Cable, DSL, T1)

80 Percent of Users Prefer E-Mail as Business Communication Tool
ST. LOUIS, (Newstream) April 27, 2003 - A new study by META Group, Inc. revealed that 80% of businesspeople surveyed believe e-mail to be more valuable than the phone for business communication.

The startling findings also found that 74% of respondents believe being without e-mail would present more of a hardship than being without phone service. The top three reasons cited by respondents who preferred e-mail over the phone were:

E-mail facilitates communication with multiple parties
E-mail enables more rapid communication
E-mail generates a written record of the interaction

"These findings reveal a major tipping point in the evolution of communications," said Matt Cain, META Group senior vice president and an expert on e-mail and collaboration strategies. "While we had suspected that e-mail was becoming more popular than the phone, we were surprised by the magnitude of the ratio of those choosing e-mail over the phone. Clearly, e-mail best suits a changing business climate characterized by geographically distributed workgroups, extreme mobility, the need for rapid information dissemination, and a desire for reusable business records."

For organizations, these findings underscore a critical need to bring phone-like reliability and stability to the e-mail environment. However, according to Cain, e-mail presents many challenges not faced by telephone communications.

"Users are struggling to keep up with rising tide of message volume, with some users receiving over 200 messages per day and spending several hours daily managing their inbox. Clearly, something has to give," said Cain. "Vendors must develop tools to help streamline inbox management, and users need to be more adept at handling large amounts of messages."

According to META Group, e-mail systems are also faced with the scourge of spam, circulation of salacious content, destructive viruses, and system failures -- as well as newer, malicious attacks such as denial of service and mail bombs. META Group believes the creation of safe, secure, and stable mail systems will be a major IT imperative for organizations throughout the decade, requiring significant increases in labor and financial resources.

The survey also indirectly pointed out some of the shortcomings of e-mail. The top three reasons why respondents choose the phone over e-mail are that the phone is more personal, it creates better context for communication, and it helps clarify the tone of messages. These findings suggest that e-mail is sometimes seen as impersonal and prone to misunderstanding, because verbal cues and context are missing.

The survey findings underscore the rapidly changing nature of business communications. Other relevant changes include:

E-mail and other communication options are fast replacing faxing for document delivery -- research shows that the number of faxed pages has dropped 50% during the last five years.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a technology used for transmitting telephone calls over shared IP networks such as the Internet, is now viewed as a credible alternative to traditional telephone infrastructures in certain situations.
Instant messaging is on the fast track, with over 90% of Global 2000 knowledge workers expected to have the service by 2007.
More than half of all US adults in the 35 largest US markets now have a cell phone, demonstrating the great thirst for mobile communication options.

Cain suggested that the respondents' preference for retaining written records of their e-mail interactions also creates challenges for organizations. These stored messages frequently run afoul of corporate legal guidance, which often advises the rapid destruction of messages. The survey findings highlight the inherent tension between management, which worries about stored messages, and users, for whom stored messages are a virtue. According to META Group, most organizations will need to formalize and implement comprehensive records management programs to address this conflict.

Nissan Unveils New Z® Roadster

Nissan Nissan unveiled the all-new 350Z Roadster at a press conference at the 2003 New York International Auto Show.

NEW YORK, (Newstream) April 20, 2003 - Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) unveiled three all-new vehicles at the New York International Auto Show - the 2004 350Z Roadster sports car, Titan Crew Cab pickup, and the company's first-ever full-size sport utility vehicle, the Pathfinder Armada.

"These critical new product introductions are part of one of the biggest and most exciting years in Nissan's history, which also includes the recent launch of a new 2004 Maxima and the summer debut of a new Quest minivan," stated Jed Connelly, senior vice president, sales and marketing, NNA. The 2004 Titan, Pathfinder Armada and Quest will be assembled at Nissan's new $1.43 billion manufacturing facility in Canton, Mississippi.

The much-anticipated 350Z Roadster, which goes on sale this summer, offers the same dynamic driving experience and cutting-edge design as the 350Z Coupe, but with an open top. The power-operated soft top with glass rear window transforms the Z® Roadster from top-up to top-down in 20 seconds.

The all-new 2004 Titan Crew Cab brings a fresh, new alternative in the full-size truck category. Features include a spacious cabin with class-leading interior room, a high-utility bed with an industry-first factory-applied spray-in bedliner and new Utili-track™ tie-down system. The Titan Crew Cab is built on a new, rugged pickup platform and features a newly designed 5.6-liter DOHC Nissan Endurance V8 with over 300 horsepower and more than 375 lb-ft of torque, standard 5-speed automatic transmission and a towing capacity of up to 9,400 pounds. The Nissan Titan will be available in both King Cab and Crew Cab models, with a choice of 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive in late 2003.

The powerful, roomy 2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada, the newest member of Nissan's diverse family of authentic sport utility vehicles, proudly takes the Pathfinder name and reputation for innovation to a new dimension.

The new Pathfinder Armada offers distinctive exterior styling, class-leading (full-size, light duty SUV class) second row roominess, fold-flat 2nd and 3rd row seating, and a long list of standard and available equipment, including a full-length overhead console with available DVD entertainment system and optional 2nd row captain's chairs with a removable 2nd row center console.

The Pathfinder Armada features a rugged, fully boxed high-strength steel frame; an independent rear suspension designed for improved interior roominess, comfort and handling; and the 5.6-liter DOHC 32-valve Nissan Endurance V8 engine offering one of the highest standard horsepower/torque ratings in the full-size light duty SUV class and the highest maximum towing capacity in that class at 9,100 pounds (when properly equipped). A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard on every Pathfinder Armada (the first available in class), while 4-wheel drive models feature an advanced full-time 4WD design with a two-speed transfer case with 4-Lo and Auto 4x4 technology.

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