The smart entry mobile phone will offer simultaneous access to all leading communication portals.

This will be the first time that consumers can have access to chat and email functions on low-cost mobiles, which currently only offer voice chat and short message service (SMS) functions.

Established in 1986, Jurong Technologies provides Electronics Manufacturing Services to original equipment manufacturers and original design manufacturers in the wireless communication, hard disk drive, networking, PC peripherals and
industrial sectors.

Under the partnership, Infineon will develop the technology platform; TJAT Systems will enable all mobile messaging and integrated services; and Jurong Technologies will integrate Infineon's technology platform and other systems in the production of the smart entry phone.

Jurong Technologies has already implemented Web-based instant messaging services in its new range of ULC mobile phones, which were showcased at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

"We believe that this new feature will drive greater demand for ULC mobile phones, particularly in Asia, where Internet usage and wireless handset subscription are both at an all-time high," said Mr Cheang Chee Ming, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jurong Technologies.

The company is partnering Brightstar Corporation, a global leader in customised distribution and supply chain management, who will be distributing the new range of ULC mobile phones globally, starting from the Asia Pacific.

"With the support of Brightstar, we will focus our initial marketing efforts in the Asia Pacific and expect to break into other emerging markets in the near future," said Mr Cheang.

KOOPrime (www.kooprime.com), which provides IT products and solutions for the biomedical industry, has teamed up with IT consulting and solutions company Evolution Hub (www.evohub.com) to build an e-commerce platform for the delivery of its applications to the life sciences sector.

KOOPrime provides software platforms for integrating software components which deal with data collection, data warehousing, data mining and
data visualisation.

Its iTrials Integrated Clinical Research Platform, for example, is aimed at addressing the growing need of clinicians and pharmaceutical firms for clinical trials, personalised medicine, drug studies, epidemiological studies, call centre management and laboratory results collection. iTrials was recently put through a series of successful tests and deployments at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and the National University Hospital, with the aim of studying 5,000 to 10,000 Hepatitis B subjects over a period of five to 10 years.

Riding the genomics revolution, KOOPrime has also developed a set of applications (iBioSuite) that facilitates genomics data management, including a Sequence Discovery Platform which increases the productivity and efficiency of the sequencing labs by integrating and automating sequencing workflows with advanced bioinformatics and data visualisation tools. The end-to-end capability of the iBioSuite platforms gives research laboratories the ability to implement streamlined solutions for the increasingly complex challenges associated with producing, storing and analysing large volumes of DNA sequence data.

Another KOOPrime product is iCHEMS, which is conceived for chemical surveillance purposes. The goal is to deliver a one-stop chemical management system for organisations to track the chemicals and associated safety/regulatory issues. This system has generated interest beyond life sciences and are finding users in schools, nanotechnology centres, oil & gas, wafer manufacturing, etc.

Mr Lim: The partnership will enable KOOPrime to reach out strategically to more users.

Going forward, KOOPrime plans to distribute and synergise its life sciences applications with the Evohub’s NETcommerce platform. The companies are targeting the offerings at the bio-research and medical research communities, said KOOPrime's Chief Executive Officer Mr Lim Teck Sin.

"This partnership will enable KOOPrime to position itself even more strategically to reach out to more users," he added.

In a statement, the companies noted that KOOPrime's domain expertise and bio-business network will complement Evohub's NETcommerce software platform.

Evohub's NETcommerce technology has been deployed successfully in various industries. An example is L'ArtiChaut, an online gallery that sells designer accessories to a global clientele. NETcommerce makes use of ASP.net programming to build online ordering portals that are robust and easy to maintain. The platform is also linked to WorldPay, which allows for a holistic management of the entire inventory process.

The collaboration dovetails with Evohub’s plans to grow the life sciences market. "This partnership with KOOPrime will strengthen our presence in the Asian market and create a higher level of product exposure," said Mr Jeffrey Lau, senior IT consultant with Evohub.

Stratech Systems (www.stratechsystems.com) has announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will deploy its iFerret Runway Surveillance System, in the first commercial implementation of the award-winning solution.

Foreign object damage poses a perennial hazard to aircraft operations and passenger safety.

The iFerret system, which detects, identifies, tracks and displays foreign objects in real-time, will be deployed on Runways 1 and 2 at Singapore's Changi Airport. As part of the deal, which is valued at over S$12 million, Stratech will customise the system to Changi Airport's requirements and perform system maintenance and upgrades.

Foreign object damage (FOD) poses a perennial hazard to aircraft operations and passenger safety. It is estimated that aircraft repairs, flight delays and airport maintenance stemming from FOD cost the global aerospace industry about US$4 billion a year.

"The prevention of FOD incidents has always been a priority at Changi Airport. For example, the frequency of our runway inspections already exceeds guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation," said Mr Lim Kim Choon, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of CAAS. "iFerret will enable us to automate these inspections and set even higher standards in operational efficiency and passenger safety," he added.

An all-weather automated system, it is the first of its kind to be based on intelligent-Vision, a form of artificial intelligence that enables machines to "see" in real-time, providing the means for critical-decision support. The system was awarded the Research and Development prize at the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Awards in Macau in 2006.

iFerret can be scaled for airport runways and taxiways of any length, and can also be deployed on airport aprons, airport hangars and even aircraft carriers. CAAS awarded the contract to Stratech following a 15-month pilot trial conducted at Changi Airport.

Dr David Chew, Executive Chairman of Stratech, said, "iFerret represents cutting edge runway surveillance technology, and we hope that it will pave the way for improved safety standards at airports worldwide."

Commenting on the Changi Airport deployment, he said, "The deployment of iFerret at one of the world's best airports is testament to its capabilities, and is in line with our 'powered by Stratech' strategy to commercialise the company’s intellectual property."

iFerret has also been recommended for evaluation at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, by the Centre of Excellence in Airport Technology at the University of Illinois, a performing partner for the Federal Aviation Administration R&D Centre in the United States.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Justice has appointed CrimsonLogic (www.crimsonlogic.com) to develop and operate a revolutionary eJustice programme which will enhance the Judiciary's transparency and efficiency, promote the legal fraternity's professionalism and create greater access to justice for the people and businesses in the UAE.

His Excellency Mohammed Bin Nekhaira Al Dhaheri, Minister of Justice of the UAE said CrimsonLogic was selected as a partner in implementing the initiative because of its stellar track record in operating sustainable eJustice systems and services. "Leveraging CrimsonLogic's expertise will assure us of the delivery of a truly end-to-end suite of eJustice services," he said.

With the implementation of the eJustice programme, individuals and businesses living and operating in the UAE can look forward to more user-friendly electronic transactions with the Judiciary, anytime, anywhere. "We are also confident that the eJustice Programme will foster a conducive environment for trade and investment in the UAE," added His Excellency.

Individuals and businesses living and operating in the UAE can look forward to more user-friendly electronic transactions with the Judiciary.

The five-year programme comprises the development and operations of an integrated platform that will enable seamless case filing, legal research, notary services as well as case and document management. At the same time, CrimsonLogic will work closely with the Ministry to operate and drive the adoption of the eJustice services amongst government officials and the legal fraternity. CrimsonLogic will also assist the Ministry in planning and managing its IT strategies and initiatives.

Having developed and operated Singapore’s electronic case filing, online legal research and due diligence services for over 10 years, CrimsonLogic has gained a good appreciation of the aspirations and challenges of the judiciary and legal fraternity, said its Chief Executive Officer Mr Leong Peng Kiong. "Coupled with our experience in the Gulf, we are well-poised to establish a comprehensive cluster of eJustice services for the UAE Ministry of Justice. We will also expand our operations in the UAE in order to strengthen our responsiveness and support to our customers and partners," he said.