easyHotel Jebel Ali, the super budget brand hotel chain’s first venture outside Europe, on Monday (September 6) welcomed its first guests, many of them taking advantage of the offer of attractive budget price of AED 99 per night for a double-room.

easyHotel Jebel Ali is part of the super budget hotel brand founded and owned by serial entrepreneur Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. The hotel’s brand new six-storeyed building, with its trademark orange trimmings, has 216 air-conditioned bedrooms, each equipped with basic amenities like en-suite bathroom, wireless Internet access and a work desk space for the busy traveller.

easyHotel Jebel Ali, operated by Istithmar Budget Hotels, an Istithmar World company, is Dubai’s first 1-star hotel that offers a clean room equipped with basic amenities and the first budget hotel with a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification, a widely accepted benchmark for high-performance green buildings.

easyHotel Jebel Ali remains true to the brand’s great value ‘no frills’ approach and is completely transparent on its services and pricing structure. Services such as housekeeping, luggage storage, early check in, late check out, vended snacks and drinks and wi-fi Internet access are available for a small additional charge to those guests who require them.

Announcing the opening of the easyHotel Dubai, Jebel Ali, Andy Watson, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Istithmar World, said:

“Istithmar World is pleased to introduce to the regional market the concept of remarkable value for money through the easyHotel brand. We believe there is a real gap in the hotel sector here for quality accommodation at affordable prices and easyHotel Jebel Ali fills that void beautifully. We are confident that our offer of purpose-built hotel rooms at highly attractive rates and our policy of leaving upgrade decisions solely in the hands of our guests will find resonance in an increasingly cost-conscious market.”

easyHotel Jebel Ali is conveniently located inside the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) with easy access from Sheikh Zayed Road and has parking for up to 50 cars. Guests arriving at Dubai International Airport can take a Metro Train to Ibn Batuta Mall Station or a quick taxi ride to reach easyHotel Jebel Ali.

easyHotel Jebel Ali is the first hotel to be established in Jafza, Dubai’s premier free zone, which is home to more than 6,500 companies and is adjacent to Jebel Ali Port, one of the largest container terminals in the world.

-Ends-

About easyHotel

http:///www.easyhotel.com - Simple comfort, great value

Part of the easyGroup of businesses owned by Stelios Haji-Ioannou, easyHotel (which is an entirely separate company from easyJet plc), franchises hotels in the United Kingdom and across Europe, with 5 London locations as well as Luton, Basel, Zurich Budapest, Larnaka, Sofia, Berlin. In addition to the forthcoming easyHotel Dubai Jebel Ali, further hotels are planned to open in 2010 including Edinburgh and Porto.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Yasir Zubairi,

Deputy Manager, Media

Hasaad Communications,

yasir.zubairi@dubaiworld.ae
+97150 640 7897

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Cambridge becomes the first non-US university ever to head the QS World University Rankings®, in the 7th annual edition published today.

* Harvard, which has topped the table since 2004 drops to 2nd place

* MIT jumps to 5th from 9th, reflecting a strong performance by technology universities

* 22 countries represented in the Top 100 - up from 19 last year

* Over 15,000 academics surveyed including 700 university leaders

World’s Top 10 universities

2010

2009

Institution Name

Country

1

2

University of Cambridge

UK

2

1

Harvard University

USA

3

3

Yale University

USA

4

4

UCL (University College London)

UK

5

9

MIT

USA

6

5=

University of Oxford

UK

7

5=

Imperial College London

UK

8

7

University of Chicago

USA

9

10

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

USA

10

8

Princeton University

USA

© Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd 2010. www.topuniversities.com. All rights reserved

The University of Cambridge was voted the best for research quality, as selected by over 15,000 academics around the world. Although Harvard was the most popular among the 5,007 employers polled globally, Cambridge edged ahead overall.

QS World University Rankings® measure university research quality, graduate employability, teaching commitment and international commitment. QS rankings use a combination of global surveys and audited data including citation counts from Scopus, the world’s largest database of academic publishing.

Ben Sowter, head of research at QS says “Unlike other rankings systems which rely heavily on statistical indicators of university research, QS also takes into account the most up-to-date views of employers and academics, reflecting the broader interests of students and parents. QS rankings reflect the highly competitive environment of global higher education.”

John O’ Leary, executive member of the QS Academic Advisory Board says:

“Governments around the world have been directing academics to be more actively engaged with their peers, partly in response to rankings. This has resulted in 50 countries, more than ever before, being featured in the QS Top 500.”

Sowter continues “Given the uncertain economic outlook, it is reassuring for students that the top 200 universities are also, by and large, the most popular universities with employers, suggesting that a world-class degree remains the best path to a great job.”

Top 200 results and methodology is available on www.topuniversities.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Simona Bizzozero
Head of Public Relations
m: +44(0)7880 620 856
t: +44 (0) 20 7284 7248
e: simona@qs.com

(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Institute of Risk Standards and Qualifications (iRSQ), an organisation established by Moody’s Analytics to develop and promulgate independent professional competency standards in financial risk, today announced the launch of the first global accreditation programme for applied risk management. Incorporating critical lessons from the financial crisis, the programme’s competency standards extend beyond a mastery of technical skills to emphasise judgement and decision-making as well as risk psychology and ethics.

The Institute’s curriculum has been developed by financial professionals and industry experts, with governance and oversight provided by an independent advisory board. Operational and financial support is provided by Moody’s Analytics.

“As the global financial crisis has clearly demonstrated, the practice of proper risk management is critical to the health and stability of global financial markets,” said Angus MacLennan, Chairman of the Institute’s advisory board and former CEO of Fortis Merchant Bank. “Through the creation of the iRSQ, we aim to address gaps identified during the crisis and to help ensure that bank professionals meet the highest standards for financial risk proficiency, including both technical standards and ethical responsibility.”

The Institute has been officially recognised by the UK Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (OFQUAL) to award professional qualifications in risk management. The iRSQ certification programme has also been endorsed as the sole standard for education and skills in applied risk management by the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC), the industry body that oversees competency development for financial institutions in the UK, and several global financial institutions have adopted the iRSQ programme as a central element of their professional development processes.

“We are pleased that the industry is taking a substantial step in raising standards and promoting a comprehensive set of risk management competencies for finance professionals,” said Liz Field, CEO of the Financial Services Skills Council. “The iRSQ qualification is consistent with the renewed sector qualifications’ strategy pursued by the FSSC, and we believe that it will help to address the need for global consistency and validation of proper competencies in risk management.”

In its aim to promote a consistent global competency standard, the iRSQ will offer certifications to bank professionals worldwide and to their sponsoring institutions. The Institute will partner with regulatory and certification bodies to harmonise its global competency standards with robust local risk management qualifications. A number of such certification bodies as well as regulators in Europe, Asia and the Middle East are currently evaluating this program for local adoption.

The iRSQ certification includes the theory and fundamentals of financial risk management as well as a robust foundation in “real-life” decision-making through the use of scenarios and case studies. The programme also emphasises the organisational and cognitive biases that may affect risk judgement, such as behavioural factors, ethics, accountability, incentives and governance. Grounded in credit but focusing on an end-to-end approach to risk management, the curriculum addresses the interactions among credit, operational, market and liquidity risk, as well as regulatory requirements and portfolio strategy.

Registration is now open for institutions seeking to sponsor candidates for the certification exam. Registration for individuals will be announced at a later date. Further information for banking professionals, financial institutions or training providers seeking to offer exam preparation courses is available at www.rsqinstitute.com

About iRSQ

The Institute of Risk Standards and Qualifications (iRSQ) develops and promulgates independent competency standards in financial risk for bank professionals, including the first global accreditation programme for applied risk management. The Institute’s curriculum is developed by financial professionals and industry experts, with governance and oversight provided by an independent advisory board. Operational and financial support is provided by Moody’s Analytics. Additional information is available at www.rsqinstitute.com.

About Moody’s Analytics

Moody’s Analytics is a leading provider of research, data, analytic tools and related services to debt capital markets and credit risk management professionals worldwide. The company’s products and services provide the means to assess and manage the credit risk of individual exposures as well as portfolios; price and value holdings of debt instruments; analyze macroeconomic trends; and enhance customers’ risk management skills and practices. Moody’s Analytics is a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO), which reported revenue of $1.8 billion in 2009, employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 26 countries. Additional information about the company is available at www.moodys.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Media:
New York
MICHAEL ADLER, +1-212-553-4667
Vice President
michael.adler@moodys.com

London
ELEANOR CHILDS, + 44 207772-8681
Communications Strategist
eleanor.childs@moodys.com

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Building upon its growing array of digital training tools for athletes, Nike (NYSE:NKE) today announced the availability of its new Nike+ GPS App on the App Store. The app is engineered to operate seamlessly between GPS and an accelerometer for an accurate, motivating and entertaining runner’s tool.

The new Nike+ GPS App allows runners to use their iPhone to visually map every run while tracking pace, distance, time and calories-burned as well as stay motivated with instant feedback during and after each run from athletes like Paula Radcliffe and Lance Armstrong, and comedian Tracy Morgan. The app also connects runners around the world or just down the street through www.nikeplus.com, the largest running community in the world with more than 3 million members.

“We are so excited to introduce the true ‘Runner’s App’ for iPhone combining the dynamic power and community of Nike+ with the user-friendly functionality of GPS and accelerometry,” said Stefan Olander, VP, Nike Digital Sport. “We will continue to evolve the digital options we provide to runners so that their running experience is always unique and inspired.”

The Nike+ GPS app for iPhone allows runners to:

Run Anywhere: From indoor to outdoor, track to treadmill, this new app combines the power of GPS technology with an accelerometer to map and track a run from anywhere. Even if the GPS signal is not available, the accelerometer will allow the user to continue to track pace, distance, time and calories-burned.

Map Your Runs: GPS technology allows runners to keep track of all their routes including a breakdown of pace and distance at different points during a run. Runners can even tap the screen during a run to see their current location.

Challenge Yourself: The “Challenge Me” feature allows runners to challenge themselves to run farther, faster, or longer than a previous run already logged. The app will also track run history to be able to personalize challenges.

Stay Connected: Runners can wirelessly connect with www.nikeplus.com after each run to instantly save the run and share it with friends via the site, Twitter, or Facebook. In addition, they can view their progress on goals, participate in running challenges and download coaching programs.

Stay Motivated: Runners receive motivating messages from top athletes and celebrities when specific customized goals are achieved, challenges are won, or when a personal best is achieved. Runners can also tap the iPhone screen to receive in-run feedback.

The Nike+ GPS App is available for $1.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch at www.itunes.com/appstore. The Nike+ GPS App is compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch although the app will function only through accelerometer technology on the iPod touch.

Video tutorials for the Nike+ GPS App are available at:

* http://videos.nikemedia.com/NikePlusGPSApp_1.mov
* http://videos.nikemedia.com/NikePlusGPSApp_B.mov

Since the 2006 launch of Nike+ in partnership with Apple, a variety of Nike+ enabled devices have been introduced to help runners reach their full potential including the Nike+ iPod SportKit for iPod nano and iPod touch for runners who enjoy training with music, the Nike+ SportBand for runners who prefer not to run with music, the Nike+ Heart Rate Monitor, and now the new Nike+ GPS App for use with the iPhone.

About Nike

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

For more information, including multi-media materials, please visit: www.nikemedia.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6420436&lang=en.

For media enquiries, please contact:

NIKE, Inc.
Nike Media Relations, +1-212-367-4447

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Ballista Securities LLC, operator of the Ballista Alternative Trading System (ATS) for block options, announced today the launch of a customized algorithm to source liquidity from public exchanges. The algorithm allows Ballista to aggregate both available light and dark liquidity in satisfying a customer’s option trading needs. This new Continuous Sweep Algorithm comes at a time when Ballista average daily volume is growing substantially.

Mark Monahan, Ballista CEO, commented, “August is by far the highest volume month the company has ever had – with days significantly over 100,000 contracts. To increase our volume during a slower summer month shows that we are adding value to the trading community. The advent of this new functionality will only enhance our offering and bring even more participants to the platform.”

Ballista CTO, Dr. Daniel Marques, added, “The Continuous Sweep Algorithm monitors the public markets to determine if an order resting at Ballista is executable. This algorithm will keep the true size and price of the order hidden, ensuring that the integrity and anonymity of the ATS auction is always maintained. Our customers requested this functionality and we have now delivered it.”

About Ballista Securities LLC

Ballista Securities, operator of the Ballista Alternative Trading System, offers equity options traders an efficient, anonymous and reliable platform for delta-neutral strategies, complex transactions and block options trades. For more information, please contact Ballista Sales at 800-434-7552 or via email at sales@ballistasecurities.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ballista Securities LLC
Micky Kerwick, 800-434-7552
sales@ballistasecurities.com

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Africa’s communications landscape has changed drastically in 2010, most notably thanks to investments and acquisitions by major operator groups, and to the launch of new submarine cables which are vastly improving capacity.

It is these market changes that will form the backdrop to discussions and learning at Africa’s largest annual congress and exhibition – the 13th annual AfricaCom. Taking place in Cape Town on 10-11 November 2010, AfricaCom is designed to equip the 4,000 attending African operators, solutions and technology providers with all the contacts, insights and predictions they need to ensure they are one step ahead, not only of the competition but also of market changes.

This year’s brand new conference programme features 40+ hours of market insights delivered in a mixture of strategic keynotes, interactive panel discussions, roundtables, breakfast briefings and special focus sessions. Coming under the overarching umbrella of “Driving the Next Stage of Growth in African Telecoms”, the conference programme has been broadened to span all aspects of Africa’s telecoms ecosystem including some new “hot” technologies yet to hit the market. Special Focus sessions include Efficiency and ROI Strategies; LTE; VAS; Marketing, Pricing and Loyalty; Mobile Money; Fibre Optics; Broadband Data Services; WiMAX; and Capacity & Wholesale. With so many sessions to choose from, AfricaCom is the only event telcos need attend to stay abreast of future and recent market dynamics.

To ensure that delegates learn from the cream of African telecoms, a record breaking 100 visionary speakers will be present. Headlining the conference are 40+ CxO level operator and ISP representatives including regional heads for MTN, Vodacom, Orange, Zain, Etisalat, and Expresso Telecom. In addition, leading international telecom solutions vendors will present on the latest products and technologies to improve services to the consumers.

Co-located at the conference is a 250 stand exhibition featuring some of the world’s leading solutions and technology providers. An opportunity for delegates to see, touch and try some of the latest products to hit the market.

With over 4,000 senior level attendees from across Africa and beyond, the networking opportunities at Africa Com 2010 are un-paralleled. This is a must-attend for anyone working in or looking to do business in this region’s telecoms sector. For more information, visit www.comworldseries.com/africa.

About Informa Telecoms & Media

Informa Telecoms & Media is the leading provider of business intelligence to global telecoms and media markets.

Our aim is to provide actionable, strategic advice and forecasting on all aspects of converging mobile, fixed, entertainment and IT markets.

Driven by constant first-hand contact with the industry our team of analysts and researchers produce over 300 annual events and intelligence services including news and analytical products, in-depth market reports and data sets.

We benefit from outstanding people, including 100+ analysts, researchers and journalists across 14 countries. Our customers include major blue-chip vendors, operators, and regulators in addition to key players from the financial and content communities.

We are proud of the role we play in bringing the industry together and keeping 100,000 individuals better informed.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Informa Telecoms & Media
For information on the conference programme:
Julie Rey, +44 20 7017 5394
julie.rey@informa.com

For information on marketing, press and registration:
Caroline Wiezien, +44 20 7017 5605
caroline.wiezien@informa.com

(BUSINESS WIRE)– After introduction of UE-L1L2L3 module emulating up to 1024 UEs in one chassis for system test teams, ERCOM is proud to introduce its UE-L1L2 module dedicated to modem test. ERCOM is now the only test equipment provider able to have a complete range of test solution for eNodeBs offering an homogenous test environment to the different test and integration teams of its customers.

“UE-L1L2 module” for modem test in load environment

This new Mobipass product is offering a very economical and an easy to use solution. With, you can stress your scheduler with the emulation of 1024 UEs in one chassis, using each of the physical channels defined by 3GPP. Easy to drive from L1 or L2 according to tester needs, ERCOM provides user friendly graphical interface that allow customers to collects and decodes TTI logs with full decoding at TTI level for each UEs as well as radio signal received by the tester. ERCOM also provides RLC and MAC full decoding.

Its powerful channel emulator allows to define RF path characterization for each UE without any changes in the lab setup.

Following main features are available:

* TxDiv & MIMO 2×2
* Direct CPRI link to the eNodeB or RF link
* RLC TM, UM and AM modes
* 5MHz, 10MHz and 20MHz bandwidth

And key differentiators such as:

* Channel emulator with per-UE behavior
* Real-time dashboard including multi-UE traffic fairness analysis
* Per-TTI and per-UE extended L1/L2 traces

Different LTE bands are available upon request, easily upgradable to allow switching between UEL1L2L3-module configuration and UE-L1L2 module, the flexibility of Mobipass? product range will allow user to share the same test environment for modem test, system integration, functional and load test teams.

About Mobipass? family product for LTE

* “eNodeB Mobipass tester” for functional and load test
* “UE-L1L2L3 Mobipass emulator” for functional and load test ( UEs full stack emulation, up to 1024 Uus per sector in one 19” chassis)
* “UE-L1L2 Mobipass emulator” for Modem test ( UEs L1L2 emulation, up to 1024 Uus per sector in one 19” chassis)
* “ePC Mobipass emulator” for functional and load test
* “AePC 12 users pack system” for automatic ePC emulation

For media enquiries, please contact:

Communication Manager:
Sandra Chouchen, +33.1.39.46.50.50

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Blackhawk Network, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, today announced that InComm’s (e2Interactive’s) United States Patent No. 7,578,439 (the ‘439 patent), is being reexamined by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

In a complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, InComm has alleged that Blackhawk infringes the ‘439 patent. Blackhawk denied that it infringes and alleged in defenses and counterclaims that the ‘439 patent is invalid and unenforceable. On June 28, 2010, Blackhawk also requested that the USPTO reexamine the ‘439 patent on the grounds that the claims of the ‘439 patent should not have been issued and that substantial new questions existed regarding the patentability of those claims. On August 26, 2010, the USPTO granted Blackhawk’s request for ex parte reexamination of the ‘439 patent, concluding that substantial new questions existed regarding the patentability of the claims of the ‘439 patent. The USPTO’s decision granting reexamination further states that the USPTO intends to proceed with the reexamination with “special dispatch.”

Blackhawk is pleased that the USPTO has agreed that its arguments raise substantial new questions concerning the patentability of the claims asserted in the lawsuit.

About Blackhawk Network

Blackhawk Network, a subsidiary of Safeway Inc., is a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses. The company’s Gift Card Mall™ offers the industry’s most popular prepaid gift card and telecom products. Gift Card Mall reaches more than 165 million people each week through an exclusive network of leading grocery, big box, convenience, drug, and specialty stores and is available through Internet retailers including GiftCardMall.com. Blackhawk Network’s business solutions include reward and incentive programs that offer choice and flexibility through a wide array of card brands, custom designed Visa® prepaid cards and fulfillment options.

Headquartered in Pleasanton, California, Blackhawk Network Inc. has offices in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. For more information about Blackhawk Network visit www.blackhawknetwork.com and www.giftcardmall.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/GCMall and on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/giftcardmall

For media enquiries, please contact:

MWW Group
Meghan Fintland, 415-262-5951 (office)
415-202-4339 (mobile)
mfintland@mww.com

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Carestream Health has acquired Quantum Medical Imaging, LLC (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), a privately-held manufacturer of high-quality digital and conventional x-ray systems used by hospitals, imaging centers and health clinics. With this acquisition, Carestream Health becomes a global leader in x-ray imaging—providing a broad portfolio of conventional and digital x-ray systems for healthcare providers worldwide.

Quantum Medical Imaging’s proven portfolio enhances and complements Carestream Health’s broad product line, and the combination of the two companies will enable Carestream to better serve the specialized imaging needs of community hospitals and clinics globally.

Likewise, Quantum Medical Imaging’s dealers and customers will have access to Carestream Health’s innovative medical imaging and healthcare IT solutions. The joint expansion of these product portfolios and the extended market reach will lead to more options for customers, and continued growth for both organizations.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Scott Matovich and his talented Quantum Medical Imaging team to Carestream Health,” said Kevin Hobert, CEO, Carestream Health. “Scott and his team have created very reliable, innovative and easy-to-use products and, with their strong dealer network, they have earned a reputation for outstanding customer satisfaction. The Quantum team brings great people, great products and new business partners to Carestream Health.”

Quantum Medical Imaging sells both digital radiography (DR) and conventional x-ray systems; computed radiography (CR) systems; and x-ray system components. The company serves hospitals, imaging centers, orthopedic facilities and medical clinics by providing high-quality, affordable medical imaging solutions appropriate for their unique needs.

“Our team has done a tremendous job serving customers and building a strong business, achieving consistent growth over the last decade with even greater long-term potential,” said Scott Matovich, President/CEO, Quantum Medical Imaging. “By joining forces with a global healthcare solutions provider of Carestream Health’s caliber, we are further advancing and accelerating our growth trajectory. We will continue our sharp focus on providing innovative imaging solutions for healthcare providers that place a premium on quality, value and success.”

Quantum Medical Imaging’s dealers and the customers they serve will see significant benefits from this acquisition as they will have access to a substantially larger portfolio of advanced CARESTREAM products including CR systems; the DRX-1 family of wireless digital upgrades; entry level RIS/PACS and archive solutions; and medical film printers. In addition, there is significant opportunity for Carestream Health to sell Quantum Medical Imaging’s high-quality products in international markets, where Carestream Health’s efficient distribution networks reach and serve more healthcare customers.

Quantum Medical Imaging will be integrated into Carestream Health’s Digital Medical Solutions business. CEO Scott Matovich will continue running Quantum Medical Imaging’s operations and will report to Diana Nole, President of Carestream Health’s Digital Medical Solutions business. Matovich also will manage Carestream Health’s U.S. dealer channel business.

Quantum Medical Imaging’s headquarters, employees and management team will remain in Long Island, N.Y. The company has just extended the lease on its headquarters and manufacturing facility through 2018.

More information on the customer benefits of Carestream Health’s products and solutions can be found at www.carestreamhealth.com. For information on the innovative radiology products available through Quantum Medical Imaging’s extensive dealer network, please visit www.quantummedical.net.

About Carestream Health

Carestream Health is a worldwide provider of dental and medical imaging systems and healthcare IT solutions; molecular imaging systems for the life science research and drug discovery/development market segments; and x-ray film and digital x-ray products for the non-destructive testing market. For more information about the company’s broad portfolio of products, solutions and services, please contact your Carestream Health representative or visit www.carestreamhealth.com.

About Quantum Medical Imaging

Quantum Medical Imaging is a highly innovative company that designs and manufactures superior medical radiographic systems for hospitals and imaging centers around the world. The company’s mission is to supply the radiographic imaging industry with superior products for enhanced diagnostic capability. An exclusive worldwide dealer network provides factory-authorized sales and service for all Quantum Medical Imaging systems and products. As members of Quantum Medical Imaging’s Quantum Medical Imaging Star Network, these dealers have been recognized for their excellence in technical support and customer service. For more information, please visit www.quantummedical.net.

CARESTREAM is a trademark of Carestream Health.

Quantum and Q-Rad are trademarks of Quantum Medical Imaging.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Carestream Health
Robert Salmon,
585-627-6560
robert.salmon@carestreamhealth.com

Jim Barillo,
585-627-6440
james.barillo@carestreamhealth.com

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Oerlikon Solar launched today the new production line “ThinFab” for manufacturing thin film silicon modules, which will achieve record breaking production costs of € 0.50 per Watt peak (Wp). Furthermore, Oerlikon Solar developed a new champion Micromorph® lab cell in cooperation with Corning Incorporated with 11.9 percent stabilized efficiency confirmed by the honorable U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The two world records boost the competitiveness of Oerlikon Solar Micromorph® thin film silicon technology and demonstrate its future potential. “Our achievements could become a breakthrough for thin film silicon technology,” says Michael Buscher, Oerlikon Group CEO. “We are proud that our new ThinFab offers a highly competitive production line to the solar market and that we could verify further potential of our technology.”

The new ThinFab incorporates a wide range of improvements ahead of the Oerlikon Solar technology roadmap:

* New generation of the core equipments PECVD, TCO and Laser

* Thinner cell structures with reduced degradation and reduced gas consumption

* Stabilized module efficiency of 10 percent (143 Wp per module)

* New low voltage module design, based on a simplified new backend equipment

The ThinFab reduces the energy payback-time of thin film silicon modules below one year, with the lowest energy consumption for photovoltaic production plants in the industry.

“Our extraordinary competencies are embedded in our new ThinFab and will change the perception of thin film silicon technology. The 10 percent efficiency of our non-toxic, environmentally friendly modules, combined with the lowest production costs ever, provides the solar industry with completely new opportunities. On top of that our new champion cell with 11.9 percent stabilized efficiency demonstrates even further potential of the thin film silicon technology,” states Dr. Jurg Henz, Oerlikon Solar CEO. “Furthermore our technology offers the lowest energy payback time compared to other crystalline technologies and is not based on limited resources.”

Oerlikon Solar’s existing customers can as well benefit from many technical improvements. Oerlikon Solar will gradually introduce upgrade packages, enabling better performance, higher output, and improved efficiencies of their existing production lines.

The Oerlikon Solar ThinFab was presented to the public with the kind support of Robby Naish, who won his first windsurfing world championship in 1977 at the age of 13. Thereafter he led the world championship for 23 years in a row due to his extraordinary competencies and his innovative drive.

You will find us at the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Valencia in hall 2, on level 2, booth B8.

For more detailed information about the new ThinFab visit www.oerlikon.com/solar/thinfab.

About Oerlikon

Oerlikon (SIX:OERL) is a leading high-tech industrial group specializing in machine and plant engineering. The Company is a provider of innovative industrial solutions and cutting-edge technologies for textile manufacturing, thin-film coating, drive, vacuum, solar energy systems and advanced nanotechnology. A Swiss company with a tradition going back 150 years, Oerlikon is a global player with around 16,000 employees at over 150 locations in 36 countries and sales of CHF 2.9 billion in 2009. The Company invests more than CHF 200 million annually in R&D, with over 1,200 specialists working on future products and services. The operative businesses rank either first or second in their respective global markets.

About Oerlikon Solar

Oerlikon Solar designs and manufactures field-proven equipment and end-to-end manufacturing lines for the mass production of environmentally sustainable thin film

silicon solar modules. With its amorphous and high-efficiency Micromorph® tandem technology, Oerlikon has dramatically increased the efficiency of thin film silicon and created innovative end-to-end manufacturing solutions for thin film PV, enabling new entrants in the fast-growing, global PV manufacturing business. Oerlikon Solar leads the thin film solar equipment sector with 12 factories in production in seven countries, almost 3 million modules produced and 450 MW of capacity produced worldwide.

Oerlikon Solar has Micromorph® patents dating back to 1993, was the first to integrate the high-efficiency Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) layer, and the first to commercialize the high-efficiency Micromorph® process and support the majority of its customers in migrating to it. To date it is the only proven end-to-end Micromorph® solution available on the market, offering lowest cost of electricity $/kWh, and proving highest future cost reduction potential. Certifications from UL and TUV confirm that Oerlikon Solar meets highest quality and reliability standards worldwide. In May 2009, Oerlikon Solar became the first thin film silicon PV technology provider to pass all tests required for its Micromorph® thin film silicon solar PV modules and receive TUV Rheinland’s IEC certification.

Oerlikon Solar thin film silicon modules are produced with non-toxic materials, and they are ideal for semi-transparent glass and other building-integrated PV (BIPV) applications. Thin film modules perform well in diffuse or lower light, and are best suited for high temperature climates. Its production lines are complete systems, yet modular and upgradeable, so customers have the capability to scale up rapidly with the latest technology to meet fast-growing demand for solar PV, demand that will accelerate as the cost of PV energy approaches grid parity.

Oerlikon Solar is headquartered in Switzerland, has about 700 employees in 13 locations worldwide, a number of factories in production around the globe and maintains sales and service centers in the USA, Europe, China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Japan.

For more information, please visit www.oerlikon.com/solar

For media enquiries, please contact:
Oerlikon Solar
Brunhilde Mauthe, +41 81 784 8040
Manager Public Relations
Fax +41 81 784 6544
brunhilde.mauthe@oerlikon.com

OC Oerlikon
Burkhard Böndel, +41 58 360 96 02
Head of Corporate Communications
Fax. +41 58 360 91 93
burkhard.boendel@oerlikon.com