Leased Line Pricing Website Launched by hSo:compare

MPLS network provider hSo has launched a UK-wide price comparison tool that provides a direct best market pricing for connectivity in real-time.

London, UK, February 13, 2012 -- The carrier-independent MPLS network provider, hSo, has launched a new tool to help businesses pricing up their networks to budget their IT and telecoms expenditure.

A beta version of the hSo:compare website has been running for over 12 months, and has already provided thousands of quotes. With cost effective next generation access circuits, such as EFM, becoming available across the country, MPLS solutions are gaining popularity amongst companies looking to take advantage of new cloud strategies.

Replacing the traditional lengthy process of salesperson-led quotations, hSo:compare provides real-time, location-specific pricing for multiple sites. It has been developed with the company’s carrier partners and offers an all-inclusive cost of ownership, which includes the managed kit and 24/7 support for the service. It is currently the only site of its kind widely available on the Internet.

hSo:compare enables organisations across the UK and their IT consultants, to plan and budget for their network upgrade, an important part of implementing a sound cloud computing strategy. hSo’s networks are cloud-ready, which is vital for companies that safely operate multiple services between offices and cloud providers. Coupled with the scalable solutions on offer, allowing IT managers to expand or contract their networks and service as fast as they like, the communication system can evolve with the business making it effectively future-proof.

Business users have become accustomed, as consumers in their own right, to the instant availability of pricing on the net. We believe it is time for business-class telecoms to become more transparent too”, said Avner Peleg, Director at hSo.

Decision makers should take best pricing for granted and look at service-related factors such as access to cloud services and high levels of customer service when making decisions about such a critical element of their IT infrastructure.”

Peter Rusling, IT Director at Parity Group, who found hSo through the comparison site, had this to say: “hSo’s online quoting tool is extremely useful … it gave us a really good sense of what we were looking for.”

The tool has proven to be extremely popular with IT consultants and resellers, working on behalf of clients. Accordingly, hSo has developed a range of features to allow those users to manage their own campaigns and clients’ requirements.

Furthermore, hSo:compare has proved a hit with the UK’s tier-1 carriers; according to Jason King, Head of Wholesale Voice & Data at Virgin Media Business: “hSo's revolutionary pricing website enables business' of all sizes to gain access to Virgin Media Business' nationwide fibre optic network with ease and benefit from the advantages that superfast connectivity can bring."

hSo:compare is available at http://www.hso-compare.com.

About the company-

hSo is one of only a handful of providers to combine its own MPLS network with other Tier 1 carriers, providing an end-to-end next generation solution to its partners and customers. In addition, a substantial investment in data centre platforms allows hSo to provide managed solutions across the full spectrum of voice, data and security backed by a single technical support centre.

Media Contact:
Shirin MacDonald
hSo
Epworth House
25 City Road
London EC1Y 1AA
+44 (0) 20 7847 4500

AAA claims PPF timberland panel shows alternatives are attractive

In a move that further underlines the attractiveness of forestry investments, according to AAA, the Pension Protection Fund is establishing a dedicated panel for forestry and agricultural investments.

Boston, MA, USA, February 13, 2012 -- In a move that further underlines the attractiveness of forestry investments, according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), the Pension Protection Fund is establishing a dedicated panel for forestry and agricultural investments.

The fund, which is worth well over $10 billion, has issued tenders for managers to sit on the panel, which will be dedicated to making decisions about growing and selling timber and investing in agricultural land.

This is just the latest in a line of panels that have been set up to concentrate on investing in alternative asset classes, which are becoming much more attractive as the stock market remains volatile.

AAA is a supporter of timber investment and particularly investment into sustainable plantation projects in developing countries. Its analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained, “As well as providing investors with the peace of mind that only comes with making ethical investment choices, investing in timberland can be extremely lucrative.”

Average returns from forestry investments have easily exceeded returns from equities in the past decade or so. In addition, anyone investing in timber has the added benefit of being able to sit on their investment and watch it grow if the market is not good when it’s time to sell.

If timber prices are low when an investor’s timber stock reaches maturity, they can simply hold onto it for as long as they wish, in order to sell it when prices recover,” added Mr Johnson.

In the meantime,” he continued, “their trees will grow by a further eight per cent per year, adding to the value of the timber.”

Most plantation schemes, like that run by Greenwood Management in Brazil, for example, grow non-native, fast-growing species such as acacia, eucalyptus and teak, that are popular for specific purposes such as the manufacture of charcoal or in the construction of homes or for furniture making.

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596

Apollo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:APOL) Investor files Lawsuit against Directors and alleges Wrongdoing

A current long term investor in Apollo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:APOL) filed a lawsuit against directors and officers of Apollo Group over alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and other current long term other current APOL stockholders should contact the Shareholders Foundation, Inc. at mail@shareholdersfoundation.com.

San Diego, CA, USA (February 13, 2012) -- The Shareholders Foundation announces that a lawsuit by a current long term investor in NASDAQ:APOL stock is currently pending against certain directors and officers of Apollo Group, Inc. over alleged breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with certain business practices at certain of its for-profit colleges.

Investors who are current long term investor in shares of Apollo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL), have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation, Inc by email at mail@shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554.

According to the complaint the plaintiff alleges that certain Apollo Group’s officers and directors also caused Apollo Group, Inc to issue a series of allegedly materially false and misleading statements that perpetuated the illusion of Apollo Group’s purportedly strong business model and financial performance, but concealed from shareholders that Apollo Group’s enrollment and revenue growth were due to deceptive marketing practices, and falsely attributed them to the purported quality of Apollo Group’s services.

The plaintiff says in reality a large numbers of Apollo Group’s students were unsuited for its scholastic programs and eventually withdrew from school, and most of these ill-qualified students had Title IV loans that were unable to repay those loans after dropping out. The plaintiff further alleges that Apollo Group routinely attempted to enroll homeless individuals and improperly compensated its enrollment personnel.

The plaintiff alleges that while certain Apollo Group’s officers and directors were making alleged false and misleading statements, certain insiders sold over $470 million of their privately held Apollo Group shares at artificially inflated prices.

Those who purchased Apollo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:APOL) shares and presently hold those APOL shares, have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation.

Media Contact:
Joelle Day
Shareholders Foundation, Inc.
3111 Camino Del Rio North
Suite 423
San Diego, CA 92108
Tel: +1-(858)-779-1554