Cisco Announces New Specialist Certifications
Cisco Systems has added 12 new Specialist certifications to align with Cisco’s recently enhanced Channel Partner Program. The new Specialist certifications match job-role requirements within Specializations for Cisco’s Channel Partner employees, and will also be of interest to any technical professional involved with the design, implementation and support of integrated Cisco networks that incorporate Unified Communications, wireless, security, and routing and switching technologies.
“Cisco has created new Specialist certifications to meet the growing demand for integrated network technologies,” said Don Field, director of certifications at Cisco. “Organizations that employ specialists certified by Cisco have expertise in the technologies required to build robust, sophisticated network-based solutions.”
The new Cisco specialist certifications include: Cisco Advanced Wireless LAN Design Specialist; Cisco Advanced Wireless LAN Field Specialist; Cisco Advanced Wireless LAN Sales Specialist; Cisco Security Solutions and Design Specialist; Cisco Advanced Security Field Specialist; Cisco Security Sales Specialist; Cisco Routing and Switching Solutions Specialist; Cisco Routing and Switching Field Specialist; Cisco Routing and Switching Sales Specialist; Cisco Foundation Design Specialist; Cisco Foundation Field Specialist; and Cisco Foundation Sales Specialist.
To learn more about the new Specialist certifications, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/certification.
Digital Release Before Availability in Stores
MusicGiants has set a milestone by becoming the first music download service to release a new album in true CD quality sound ahead of the general release date of the album in stores. MusicGiants has been offering Neil Young’s new album, “Living With War” (Reprise), in the highest sound quality of any music download service providing early availability of the album. The CD has just gone on sale in stores.
MusicGiants offers downloads in the Windows Media Audio Lossless format, at up to seven times the sound quality of ordinary music downloads. The company recently announced the availability of the MusicGiants HD Music Store in the Windows Media Player 10, making HD music purchases available to the more than 300 million users of Windows Media Player 10.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), worldwide digital music sales grew to $1.1 billion in 2005, an almost three-fold increase over the previous year ($380 million).
UAE University Professor Receives Global Award
The global annual IBM Faculty Award has been presented to Dr. Rafic Z. Makki, professor of Computer Systems Engineering at the United Arab Emirates University (UAE-U), dean of the UAE-U’s IT College and the team leader for the university’s microprocessor design and testing research. The IBM Faculty Award recognizes the UAE-U’s achievement and contributes to the funding of the microprocessor design and testing project, which is developing a new technology that allows microprocessors to self-test, detecting and diagnosing manufacturing defects. New technologies from the IBM supported projects have already been cited and used by researchers worldwide.
“This award recognizes the high quality of UAE University’s microprocessor design program and its importance to the IT industry,” said Pat Toole, VP, Intellectual Property & Standards, IBM Corporate Innovation & Technology. “The IBM Faculty Awards program is highly competitive, seeking out excellence in research and development at universities worldwide. It’s a real pleasure to see world class R&D work being carried out in the UAE.”
The university’s IT College has been developing new technology for microprocessor design that can be used to improve the detection and diagnosis of faults in microchips by incorporating certain unique SoC features. SoC or “systems-on-chip” refers to the integration of new microprocessor components, features and technologies onto a single microchip.
The UAE University has been developing new methods to utilize the dynamic power supply current (or IDDT) of the microchip to monitor the switching behavior of the microprocessor circuit and so detect potential faults.
“One of the UAE-U IT College’s core objectives is to closely collaborate with industry giants such as IBM to contribute to the development of an innovation-based society in the UAE,” said Professor Makki. “We are very proud that the IBM Faculty Award acknowledges the success and global significance of the college’s research. This award will truly help to highlight the role that this research plays in the IT industry and will encourage the new generation of computer system engineers studying at the university.”
Makki explained that such research programs can be extremely beneficial for the students who acquire valuable experience in SoC design and testing. He believes that integrating IBM tools into the College of IT curricula has broadened the students’ way of thinking. Makki added that students are the future IT leaders of this nation and involving them in innovative projects like this helps to guarantee a better future for the UAE as a hub for research and development.
