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Radio IP Software Inc., developer of advanced mobile Virtual Private Network (MVPN) software solutions, has announced a co-marketing and co-selling agreement with Bell Mobility. Radio IP’s Mult-IP and ipUnplugged mobile VPN software solutions will leverage Bell Mobility’s nationwide 3G/4G wireless network to provide public safety and enterprise customers throughout Canada with MVPN services that offer unprecedented performance, seamless roaming and flexible management.

“Radio IP is pleased to continue working with Bell Mobility, bringing powerful, secure and flexible mobile VPN solutions to mobile workforces across Canada,” said Frank Draper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Radio IP Software. “We’ve combined the 100% coverage, unmatched quality and carrier-grade reliability of Canada’s premier broadband mobile network with Radio IP’s network agnostic VPN solutions to provide our customers seamless mobility without sacrificing security,” he continued. “Together we elevate the user’s mobile experience while meeting IT administrative needs for increased ROI, improved productivity and reduced support costs.”

Radio IP’s Mobile VPN solutions are engineered to address the needs of commercial businesses and public organizations requiring ubiquitous and secure remote coverage across disparate wireless networks using the highest encryption standards resulting in persistent connectivity and data integrity. By partnering with leading mobile technology firms and network providers, Radio IP delivers a robust and secure end-to-end solution in any environment.

Eight Ontario companies have received more than $6 million in seed and later stage financing from the Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF), a program that invests in eligible companies as they develop their technologies and bring their products or services to market.

The IAF supports the launch and development of innovative companies in Ontario’s priority sectors of advanced materials and manufacturing, information technology, cleantech and life sciences. The IAF is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by MaRS.

The IAF is committed to investing $500,000 in each of the following companies:

• GridCentric: Two groundbreaking technologies: one supports cloud computing, while the other cuts the number of servers needed in client/server IT setups.
• Karos Health: Creating an exchange network to improve electronic ordering and results distribution of diagnostic imaging tests between client hospitals, imaging centers and radiology reading services.
• Locationary: Locationary is now commercializing its sophisticated cloud-based, local data management system that helps mobile and web publishers improve quality while reducing the costs and complexity of managing local business places data.
• Temporal Power: Develops and manufactures electrical energy storage systems that use a breakthrough flywheel technology. The technology is aimed at helping the electrical utility industry modernize the grid, integrate wind and solar power and better utilize water for generating clean power.

The Investment Accelerator Fund-Life Sciences (IAF-LS) helps accelerate the growth of life sciences companies in Ontario. The fund invests up to $1,000,000 in seed and later stage financing in companies that have the potential to be global leaders in their field and provide sustainable economic benefits to Ontario. Funded by the Government of Ontario, the fund helps innovative life sciences companies turn their discoveries into new products and services that meet patient needs.

The IAF-LS is committed to investing up to $1,000,000 in each of the following companies.

• Cytochroma Inc.: A pharmaceutical company that is developing and commercializing products to treat and prevent vitamin D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism associated with chronic kidney disease.
• Profound Medical Inc.: An award-winning medical device company commercializing a device that accurately and precisely treats localized prostate cancer on an out-patient basis.
• Trillium Therapeutics: Developing a new and innovative treatment for interstitial cystitis, a chronic and debilitating bladder disease that affects millions of women in North America.
• Xagenic Canada Inc.: Commercializing a low cost, chip-based diagnostic testing system that can detect and identify germs within 30 minutes, right at the point of care (no lab required).

These investments, generally made in the form of a convertible debenture or as an equity investment, will help the companies develop their products or services and attract additional investment. Funding and support from the IAF and IAF-LS will help these innovative companies save lives, protect the environment and introduce new technologies.

“The IAF is proud to support these early-stage companies. Their innovative technologies, products and services mean that the strong management teams are capable of building businesses with sustainable competitive advantages,” says Barry Gekiere, IAF Managing Director. “We support our portfolio companies with access to capital and a network of market and sector connections. By partnering with these companies and helping them grow, the IAF is helping to create high-value jobs that contribute to Ontario’s innovation agenda.”

“We are thrilled to have MaRS and the IAF as investors and appreciate their help and guidance as we commercialize our new data management services”, says Grant Ritchie, CEO of Locationary. “The whole team was responsive, professional, and frankly, absolutely incredible through the entire investment process. They are great ambassadors for Ontario and play a major role in supporting the start-up tech community here.”

“We are absolutely delighted to have received this investment from IAF. Their team was comprehensive in their diligence, quick in their decision and is already contributing strategically to the direction of the company. We couldn’t be happier to have them as investors,” says Paul Chipperton, CEO of Profound Medical.

DHX Media has concluded a worldwide administration deal for more than 40 titles from DHX Media’s extensive library of television and film content with ole, one of the world’s largest independent music publishers. The deal includes a significant advance payment to DHX Media and gives ole music publishing administration rights for the entire DHX Media group of companies, including recently acquired W!LDBRAIN Entertainment. Under the deal, ole will collect and retain all music publishing revenue and, once it has recouped its advance, remit to DHX these revenues net of an administration fee.

DHX Media CEO Michael Donovan commented: “We are very happy to partner with ole on this venture. This deal again highlights the additional revenue streams we are able to access, unlocking the potential of our library of high-quality, enduring content.”

DHX Media maintains a library of over 2,300 hours of television productions that covers both live action and animated programming. The internationally popular titles in the company’s catalog include That’s So Weird, How To Be Indie, Bo on the GO!, Being Ian, Animal Mechanicals, Naturally Sadie, Franny’s Feet, Kid vs Kat, Angela Anaconda, dirtgirlworld, and Yo Gabba Gabba!, the successful live version of which will be back on the road this fall for a 50-city North American tour under the banner YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: It’s Time To Dance.

OpenText™ has announced delivery of its comprehensive vision for Customer Experience Management that addresses the needs of marketers and the challenges of managing major global brands. To complete this vision, the company has formed an alliance with US-based digital marketing agency VML, bringing together the full range of OpenText Customer Experience Management technologies with VML’s creative and implementation capabilities.

Customer Experience Management (often referred to as CEM or CXM) addresses the key business transformations marketing teams are embarking upon today: embracing a social business strategy, driving customer-centric mobile and online marketing, managing their brands globally, raising customer satisfaction for online service, and delivering tailored customer communications online and offline.

Over the past two years, OpenText has delivered and integrated a robust set of Web content management, semantic search, analytics, media management, social, mobile, portal, campaign management, and customer communication management technologies. As a result of this concerted focus on Customer Experience Management, OpenText now offers the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions that marketers need for rich, interactive campaigns, managing brand consistency and adopting a social business culture that enables the agile, adaptive enterprise.

By joining forces, OpenText and VML give marketers a one-stop option for developing Customer Experience Management solutions spanning both the technical and the creative sides of marketing. The agreement formalizes an already strong working relationship between the two companies – one that already includes many mutual customers, encompassing business development, consulting, development, implementation, technical training and customer support. VML brings impressive credentials as a member of the WPP Group and the proven ability to bridge the worlds of marketing and technology.

“As a marketer, the only way to succeed in the face of rapid and constant change and disruption is to create deep and lasting connections to customers,” said James Latham, Chief Marketing Officer, OpenText. “This requires comprehensive integration of customer information across engagement platforms, portals and mobile, together with cohesive creative concepts. This level of integration is extremely difficult to create and maintain on an ad hoc basis, but without it the customer experience is fractured. We are delivering this today.”

“We share OpenText’s vision of integrating Web, social and mobile together with community and collaboration portals in order to create the type of personalized experience customers expect online,” said Martin Coady, Director of Technical Strategy of VML. “By working more closely with OpenText, we significantly enhance our ability to help some of the world’s top brands develop a digital roadmap to move toward a smoother, more sophisticated and effective relationship with their customers.”

To help organizations design their Customer Experience Management strategies, OpenText recently launched a Customer Experience Management website that features numerous videos and stories of how marketing innovators have applied online technologies to strengthen connections with their customers.  It also features an ongoing conversation fueled by the new blog titled Engage U authored by OpenText experts and guests.  Core subsections include Online Marketing, Global Brand Management and Adaptive Enterprise with Customer Self-Service and Customer Communications Management on the horizon.  Finally to round out its vision, the OpenText Value Engineering team can help customers, analyze, document, and quantify the positive impact to strategic business processes that could result from the

D-BOX Technologies Inc. has signed its first agreement with Paragon Theatres to equip the Paragon Odyssey 15 in Burnsville, Minn. with 32 D-BOX MFX Seats.

“On the heels of a record-breaking week with the release of Harry Potter, we are delighted to name Paragon as our newest exhibitor,” said President and CEO of D-BOX Technologies, Claude Mc Master.

The Paragon Odyssey 15 will unveil its D-BOX MFX Seats July 29^th, with the recently released epic motion picture, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

“At Paragon we are committed to providing the highest quality entertainment experience utilizing the greatest digital and audio technologies,” said CEO of Paragon Theatres, Michael Whalen. “Now that we offer D-BOX motion technology, our guests will not only see an incredible picture complemented by exceptional sound, but feel the onscreen action directly from their D-BOX seats.”

MaRS Discovery District has announced today that construction of MaRS Centre Phase 2 will proceed. This 20-storey state-of-the-art convergence centre, a substantial expansion of the facility, will enable MaRS to accelerate its role as a catalyst of innovation in the launching and growth of new science and technology businesses. To complete the development of MaRS Centre Phase 2, MaRS is partnering with the Province of Ontario and continuing its strategic relationship with Alexandria, the world’s leading life science developer and owner.

The current MaRS Centre is at full occupancy, and cannot meet the increasing demand for space from both institutional and business tenants. MaRS Centre Phase 2, directly adjacent to the existing facility, will offer tenants co-located technologically advanced laboratory and office space; award-winning communications and information technology capabilities; access to a large multi-function conference centre; and collaboration opportunities with other MaRS tenants and partners across Canada and around the globe.

“The MaRS Centre has been at capacity since it opened six years ago, when we first started working with entrepreneurs building new growth companies. Today the MaRS community has tremendous momentum, and our facility is bursting at the seams! This expansion of the MaRS platform offers a huge opportunity to accelerate that momentum and further strengthen our innovation economy for future generations.”— Ilse Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District.

In the heart of downtown Toronto, the MaRS Centre is an architecturally inspiring space that has become the undisputed hub of Toronto’s renowned Discovery District. The MaRS Centre is at the heart of a vibrant and creative urban environment known for its highly skilled and diverse talent pool. Among globally recognized universities, academic teaching hospitals and research institutes and in close proximity to Toronto’s Financial District, business community, and government offices, its location provides a strong, sustainable innovation pipeline.

“Every day, the innovators and entrepreneurs at MaRS work on ideas that will save lives, invent whole new industries and create jobs we can’t even imagine today,” said Glen Murray, Minister of Research and Innovation and MPP for Toronto Centre.  “Our government is proud to help meet the demand for state-of-the-art space that will help bring these projects to life.”

Founded in 2000 and opened in 2005, the MaRS Centre brings companies of all sizes, researchers and innovators from different disciplines, investors, professional service firms, community organizations, and policymakers together in a thriving urban facility. This collaborative, interdisciplinary and cross-industry approach is the cornerstone of the MaRS model.

Phase 2 of the MaRS Centre will double the size of the facility to over 1.5 million sq. ft., making it one of the largest innovation hubs in the world. Today more than 2,300 researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals representing 80+ tenants come to work at MaRS every day. Every year thousands more come to attend seminars, workshops and conferences.  MaRS Centre Phase 2, by more than doubling this vibrant and creative core, will dramatically enhance the capacity of the MaRS community as an innovation engine, creating the jobs of the future economy.

Two prominent tenants have already committed to leasing space in the new building. The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, with its exceptional translational cancer research and commercialization programs, presently in the south tower, will expand into MaRS Centre Phase 2. Public Health Ontario, a central player in public health research and policy and in infectious diseases management, will anchor its provincial network in MaRS Centre Phase 2.

To finance the project, Infrastructure Ontario is providing a fully repayable loan to MaRS, which, with investments by MaRS and the existing investment of Alexandria, will enable MaRS to complete the project. MaRS Centre Phase 2 will be developed and operated by MaRS and has an anticipated completion date of September 2013.

Following recent App Store policy changes imposed by Apple, Kobo has announced that development is underway on an HTML5 eReading web app. With the development of the HTML5 app, Kobo will continue to provide the most optimized experience for iOS users and users on other Kobo platforms.

Kobo is dedicated to an open-platform experience and believes that consumers should have the freedom to read on any device, at anytime, anyplace in the world. With the new HTML5 web app, Kobo remains committed to open solutions and extends eReading capabilities to a platform that can be quickly enhanced and updated with the latest eReading features and functionality. Kobo’s HTML5 app will not replace the company’s existing apps, but extend its read-across-any-device strategy to reach a broader set of users and add additional value for their current customer base.

Over the past weeks, Kobo has worked with Apple to create a solution that would benefit the iOS eReading community within Apple’s new App Store guidelines. Unfortunately, Apple has mandated that Kobo, along with all eBook retailers, substantially change the eReading experience for consumers by removing in-app access to the Kobo store.

Even after modification, Kobo’s hugely popular and heavily downloaded eReading iOS apps continue to offer powerful features in the new 4.5.1 version, from the Reading Life social platform to the app’s industry leading reading experience. Kobo users can continue to use the Kobo app to read existing books in their library, purchase new books from Kobo using any popular web browser and shop from Kobo’s selection of over 2.4 million eBooks – latest New York Times bestsellers, new releases and more. Any books purchased on Kobo.com are automatically updated in the iPhone or iPad Kobo app.

This change does not affect Kobo’s other free eReading apps, all of which retain the integrated eReading and in-app Kobo Store access. Kobo’s move to provide an HTML5 web app will offer additional convenience to consumers and deliver a rich and seamless experience to Kobo app users across platforms, including Android, RIM and HP WebOS.

“Kobo believes in providing an open platform for users, and our HTML5 development will support the company’s current app strategy to reach a broader base of users worldwide,” said Michael Serbinis, CEO, Kobo. “HTML5 allows us to add more features and update our popular Reading Life social experience far more quickly, providing an agile method to deliver advanced enhancements to consumers without limitation.”

Kobo continues to innovate, and the HTML5 app development will let Kobo users enjoy the best eReading experience worldwide, allowing consumers to read, browse, shop and share on dedicated eReaders, smartphones, tablets, netbooks, laptops and desktop computers. Kobo’s HTML5 web-based app will continue to offer the company’s popular, industry-leading features to readers around the world, as well as quick and easy access to Kobo’s massive eBook store of over 2.4 million titles. Kobo expects to launch the new HTML5 web app later this year.

In acknowledgment of exceptional service and sales performance, Alberta’s Serenic Corporation, a publisher of financial management and business operations software for nonprofits, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the public sector, has been named to both the 2011 Microsoft Dynamics Inner Circle and the 2011 Microsoft Dynamics President’s Club, reflecting Serenic’s success in extending the Microsoft Dynamics platform to drive business advantages in companies worldwide. Both achievements are a direct result of Serenic’s outstanding dedication to customer satisfaction through the delivery of innovative business solutions.

The prestigious 2011 Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics is an elite group made up of approximately the top 1 percent of Microsoft Dynamics partners from across the globe with sales achievements that rank them in the highest echelon of the Microsoft Dynamics global network of partners. Members of the Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics have performed to a high standard of excellence by delivering valuable solutions that help organizations achieve increased success. 2011 Inner Circle members are invited to the Inner Circle retreat, at the breathtaking Fairmont St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland, Aug. 7–10, 2011, where they will have a unique opportunity to share strategy and network with Microsoft Dynamics senior leaders and other successful Microsoft Dynamics partners from around the globe.

The Microsoft Dynamics President’s Club honors high-performing Microsoft Dynamics partners whose commitment to customers is reflected in their business success and growth. This prestigious group represents the top 5 percent of Microsoft Dynamics partners worldwide. Membership is granted based on their continual, committed efforts aimed at offering solutions that meet the needs of their customers.

This recognition came during the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC), the company’s annual premier partner event, which took place this year in Los Angeles. WPC provides Microsoft Corp.’s partner community with the opportunity to learn about the company’s road map for the upcoming year, establish connections, share best practices, experience the latest product innovations and learn new skills.

“We’re excited to recognize Serenic as a leader in the Microsoft Dynamics global partner community for promoting and delivering solutions that drive customer success,” said Doug Kennedy, vice president, Microsoft Dynamics Partners. “By providing the highest level of sales and innovation, customers can have absolute assurance they are dealing with the ‘best of the best’ when working with Serenic.”

Serenic is dedicated to helping customers find the best solutions and services to accommodate their business needs and further their success, while excelling in customer satisfaction. By collaborating with the teams at Microsoft, Serenic maintains a comprehensive understanding of the Microsoft Dynamics platform to provide innovative solutions, services and unparalleled value to Microsoft Dynamics customers. Previous honors include Serenic being named the 2007 and 2009 Microsoft Dynamics Outstanding ISV of the Year and earning membership in the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Microsoft Dynamics Inner Circle and the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Microsoft Dynamics President’s Club.

“Serenic is honored to receive Microsoft’s highest recognition acknowledging the company’s continued performance,” said Randy Keith, Serenic’s president and CEO. “The entire Serenic team, our customers, and our dedicated partners are responsible for our continuing success and for this accomplishment.”

Ottawa digital content distribution company International Datacasting Corporation has announced a vendor financing package and a follow-up on contracts with the Wananchi Group Ltd., for the rollout of a Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast service in Africa.

International Datacasting announces that it has successfully secured a vendor financing package, which establishes a revolving credit facility for Wananchi. This credit facility was developed in cooperation with Export Development Canada (EDC) and a Canadian financial institution.

Wananchi Group Ltd. launched the first triple-play network in Africa, and recently added Zuku Satellite to bring video, voice and data services to consumers in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Richard Essex, Chief Development Officer of East Africa Capital Partners (EACP), and Africa Telecommunications Media and Technology Fund (ATMT) stated, “We believe that this unique structure acts as an important cornerstone for our relationship going forward. Canadian technology is already playing a key role for Wananchi as it launches its pay TV service. We have broken new ground and as the business grows, we look forward to this facility growing along with it.”

EDC’s July 2010 investment in ATMT under its international equity program, along with this new credit facility, demonstrates EDC’s continued participation in investment opportunities in East Africa.

In addition to financing, IDC was awarded two new contracts worth nearly US$1 million. The first contract is a multi-year Support Agreement for equipment and software support, valued at US$299,000 in the first year. The second contract, valued at US$591,000, covers a 12-month period for the supply of Operations and Technical Assistance for the Zuku DTH satellite platform in Kenya.

“IDC and Wananchi worked well together with EDC to structure this unique financing,” stated Frederick Godard, President and CEO, IDC. “This is an important step in the growth path of IDC Systems Group. We will look to expanding this credit facility for Wananchi, and to pursuing other viable opportunities within this new framework.”

In June 2010, IDC announced an initial contract with Wananchi that includes broadcast products, and IDC Systems Group services for the development, build and roll-out of the network. The contract includes head-end equipment that will enable a satellite-to-set-top box distribution platform for the delivery of a secure broadcast system to homes throughout the region.

Intertainment Media Inc. is celebrating the first anniversary of its social media, real time, experiential communications platform Ortsbo with major milestone achievements. The service has generated over 367 Million Minutes of User Engagement, 303 Million Page Views, 111 Million Online Engagements from over 71 Million Unique Users, from over 170 countries and territories during its first year.

On July 21, 2011 Ortsbo expanded its intellectual property portfolio submitting a provisional patent application to the United State Patent and Trademark Office titled “System and Method of Translating Instant Messages”. The comprehensive patent application covers many of the innovative features found in Ortsbo’s product and services suite including the ability of translation of instant messages on multiple instant messaging networks and enabling language translation of instant messages where only one of the parties is a user using the translation enabled system. This is the 5th patent application submitted directly by, or purchased by Ortsbo in the past 60 days and provides a foundation for Ortsbo’s leading edge intellectual property multi-faceted experiential communications platform.

Intertainment entered a binding letter agreement, effective as of July 21, 2011, to purchase 100% of shares of SaaS Technologies Inc. which shares will be transferred to Ortsbo Inc. after the closing of the acquisition, making Ortsbo the sole owner of all of its technology and services offerings. The letter agreement provides for ownership and rights of several existing and new technologies where formerly Intertainment and Ortsbo had partial ownership agreements and exclusive licensing arrangements with management and development staff of SaaS remaining onboard. The purchase is valued at over $27 Million in a combination of cash and common stock of Intertainment with final details to be reflected in closing documents between the parties. This transaction and final agreements are subject to final board, escrow and regulatory approval.

Ortsbo’s social media offering continues to accelerate achieving record results for the first half of July 2011. Below are the reported results for Ortsbo’s first year together with semi-monthly results for July and Estimated Yearly Growth Trends based on the comparison of the reported results.

“This has been an amazing first year for the Ortsbo team. We achieved Facebook’s first 3 years of growth in 9 months, established a Guinness World Record for Most Nationalities in an online chat, and had world wide Live & Global events with KISS and Steve Nash, along with the development of a world class product, technology, marketing and execution team,” said David Lucatch, President of Ortsbo / CEO Intertainment Media “As we look towards our 2nd year, we continue to accelerate Ortsbo at record pace, have 5 patent applications in process, numerous branding activities underway with partners like INDYCAR and Variety, upcoming mobile releases and a bevy of revenue opportunities emerging. Amongst all this, it’s the emergence of our loyal users and supporters who have been the most exciting achievement as together we tear down the global language barriers.”