currently led by its high-density InRow offering. STULZ will be able to offer APC's InRow cooling systems to its extensive customer base.
Both firms will provide full application engineering support for these solutions and APC-MGE will offer services, including maintenance services, through STULZ service partners. Initially this agreement will cover select countries in Europe with the intention to expand globally.

The agreement is a continuation of a long history of cooperation, primarily in China, Singapore and the Philippines, where MGE and STULZ worked together for more than 20 years as a sales and service partner.
“Customers can now rely on one vendor to meet all their critical power and cooling needs in the data centre. We are delighted to combine STULZ's perimeter precision cooling expertise, solutions and services with the innovation and strong customer base of APC-MGE to better help our customers address cooling high efficiency data centres”, says Carl Kleynhans, regional director Africa at APC-MGE.

Kurt Plötner, Director of Global Product Sales & Marketing at STULZ emphasises further, “Our customers will benefit from the accumulated know-how of reliable partners in every aspect of critical infrastructure. APC-MGE supplies the electrical systems, and together we supply the mechanics so we complement one another in an ideal way. At the same time, we will each acquire markets and opportunities that are new to us.”

Since its foundation in 1947, the STULZ Company has evolved into one of the world's leading suppliers of air-conditioning technology. With the manufacture of precision air-conditioning units and chillers, the sale of air-conditioning and humidification systems, the construction of air-handling plants and service and object management, this division of the STULZ Group achieved a turnover of over US$ 300 million in 2006.

APC and MGE UPS Systems combined in February 2007 to form the $3 billion (€2.4 billion) Critical Power & Cooling Services business unit of Schneider Electric.
Together, APC and MGE offer the industry's most comprehensive product and solution range for critical IT and process applications in industrial, enterprise, small and medium business and home environments.

The third quarter of this year was a good one for the worldwide PC market, as mobility and a healthy consumer market provided the fuel for the double-digit percentage growth over last year, according to reports from IDC and Gartner.

In its Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, IDC reported that 67 million PCs shipped in the third quarter of this year, a 15.5 percent increase over the same time last year when IDC reported shipments of nearly 58 million units. Gartner reported shipments of 68.5 million for 3Q07, which is an increase of 14.4 percent its 3Q06 numbers.

HP owned a 19.6 percent market share, according to IDC, shipping just over 13 million PCs. The figure represents a 33 percent increase over the same quarter a year ago. Gartner reported an 18.8 percent share for HP and a similar 33 percent growth in terms of PC shipments.
IDC put Dell in second place with meager year-over-year growth of only 3.8 percent. Gartner reported growth of 3.5 percent. Dell still commands a 15.2 percent global market share, according to IDC, and a 14.4 percent share according to Gartner.

Lenovo rounds out the top three globally with an 8.2 percent market share, according to IDC followed by Acer with 8.1 percent. Gartner has Acer holding down the No. 3 spot with an 8.1 percent share, just barely ahead of Lenovo's 8 percent share.

Though HP is the leader globally, Dell still holds the top spot in the U.S. with a 28 percent market share in 3Q07, according to IDC, and a 29.1 percent share according to Gartner.
Dell's share, however, is on the decline; it's 3Q07 shipments fell by 4.8 percent from 3Q06 according to IDC and by 5.5 percent according to Gartner. In contrast HP's 3Q07 shipments surged 16.9 percent in IDC's report and by 16.5 in Gartner's study, propelling HP to an IDC-reported 24.3 percent U.S. market share and a Gartner-reported 25.7 U.S. market share.

Dell and HP have been locked in a tight struggle for top spot both globally and in the U.S. for most of the past year, with IDC and Gartner proclaiming a virtual tie as recently as January of this year.
For IDC, mobility is responsible for the growth.

"The appeal of portable PCs in all regions continues to propel the PC market at a remarkable pace and sets the stage for a very strong fourth quarter," said Loren Loverde, director of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, in a statement.

"Falling costs, aggressive vendor competition, and rising commercial spending in all regions, along with relatively low penetration and rising consumer income in emerging markets, will sustain high growth over the next couple years."

But Gartner points to the consumer market that's helping fuel the growth.
"Back-to-school sales were a major growth factor in mature regions, although U.S. sales were softer than expected," Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner's client computing markets group, said in a statement.

the use of technology applications in the country. “Intel is extremely committed to Nigeria's increased use of technology as a growth factor; we are working as technology catalyst in different fields such as connectivity, education, content and education. For us the essential thing is to build an ecosystem that is broad based to accommodate the ICT needs of Nigerians.

“As Intel has done around the world, we are working with local companies and organizations to build the competence and skills to deliver tomorrow's technology needs to Nigerians by Nigerians. Core to our overall engagement in Nigeria is technology transfer and ecosystem standardization.”

The Business Development Manager recalled that the celebrated Classmate PC initiative was a concept put together by Intel to bring a one-to-one ratio computing into classrooms around the world in line with Intel's World-Ahead Initiative adding that having done a survey of the educational system, as well as worked with local educationists, proffered solution and did a proof of concept (POC), its local partners are now replicating the commendable model.

“What we have simply done is combining the pillars of curriculum based content, specially built by Nigerians in partnership with Intel, Intel teacher training programme called the “Intel Teach”, specialized PC in this case CMPC and lastly connectivity. This recipe worked magic and in three months, we are getting 27 per cent improvement in academic performance.”

Contrary to widely held impression that Intel is only a chipmaker, Ibhawoh noted that the company has over time, become a global ICT enabler. “We are always one step ahead in our R&D and product range. Our products out-perform competition and leaves years for technology gaps for them to catch up on. Uniquely, Intel is all about the people; our technologies are built as solutions to the yearning needs of the people. Imagine Intel's drive for system that is more power efficient with increased overall speed and multi tasking ability.

“Our core business is chip manufacturing and that's where we have remained for about 40years now, to advance our market posture and grow globally we engage in technology adoption programmes, which grow not only PC penetration but overall technology penetration.”

He said Intel is working with local partners and ecosystem players like the government, to provide more affordable computers through the use of specialized programmes like CANi and GAPP adding that besides initiating such programmes, it is also helping to exclude those prohibitive cost components by working with government on tax waivers for PC components.

Ibhawoh stated that the renowned chipmaker is presently working with all Nigeria Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the development and advancement of technology in the country.

The Information Technology Professionals Assembly/Annual General Meeting, which held in Abuja between October 25 and 26, 2007, has been described as an important milestone in the effort at the proper positioning of the Computer Professionals of Nigeria (CPN) in the collective consciousness for the realization of sustainable developments for the industry and the country at large.Speaking recently at a parley with journalists in Lagos, president

of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Adenike Osofisan said the annual event was not only an avenue where topical issues are discussed but was created as a continuation of the awareness generation drive of CPN to let people know what the body is, reasons for its emergence and what IT practitioners stand to benefit by joining CPN.

“We are of the opinion that it would be very easy for us to sanction individuals and corporate organizations that engage in IT practice without being duly licensed or registered after the necessary awareness has been created”, she said.

She said the need for the Assembly became imperative because of the need for all the critical sectors of the economy to put their intellectual resources together and partner with government towards the realization of the vision of making Nigeria a giant economy by year 2020.

Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria), was established through Act 49 of 1993 and was passed into law in June of same year. It is a corporate entity charged with the regulation, control and supervision of the computing industry in Nigeria.

The Council is responsible for the organization and control of computing practice in Nigeria, supervision of the practice of computing in Nigeria, accreditation of institutions' courses and programmes as well as evaluation of certificates in computing among numerous other responsibilities.

Leading indigenous Original Equipment Manufacturer, Zinox Computer, has launched a scheme that would aid the acquisition of computer knowledge among Nigerian students.
Known as Zinox Students Computer Ownership Project (Z-SCOP), the scheme is geared towards ensuring that 100,000 Nigerian students own a computer within this season. It is offered to students in primary to tertiary level as well as members of the National Youth Corp are also included.

Chief Executive Officer of Zinox Computers, Dr. Leo Stan Eke, explained at the launch of the programme that the project would promote the use of computers among the

students and help to activate digital culture across the country.

According to him, the project if well utilized, would widen the IT knowledge of the intended target and would lift Nigeria from its current low IT awareness level to an enviable height in addition to positioning the country for the challenge of modern economy driven by IT.

The project he said would deploy 70 laptops and 30 desktops in the first phase and increase the number subsequently. The Z-SCOP project would deliver high volume rugged computers at a sensitive rate.
The Zinox boss explained that there would be full warranty assurance that include after sales support, which ensures that more engineers are deployed at the existing ten branches of the company and six new on- campus support assuring that all these are at no extra cost to the student.

The Z-SCOP project is divided into three stages; the first stage will grant a 10 per cent discount for student on laptop and 7.5 per cent discount for desktop. The other stage is for students who could not make full payment; such students will enjoy 3 per cent discount and no interest will be charged for the next six months till they are able to pay in full however, the student must pay 10 per cent of the total cost.

The last stage is for those students who are able to pay 20 per cent deposit after which they shall pay the balance in twelve dated cheque from their parents. For delivery outside Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, Zinox will charge a fee of N2, 500.

Dr. Eke explained that the condition for qualification is that the applicant must be a student and accurately complete an online application form explaining further that the reason behind the provision of more laptops than desktops was because the students are always moving about and it would only make sense if they were provided with mobile tool such as laptop.

Managing Director of Microsoft, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, said that the project could not have come at a better time than now adding that it was a step towards ensuring that Nigerian students were prepared for the challenge of the competitive market propelled by Computer technology. He advised parents to grab the opportunity for the benefit of their children.

Intel General Manager sub-Sahara Africa and Middle East, Mr. Jacques expressed happiness for partnering with Zinox computers describing it as a world-class company that has both the human and material resources to deliver on its Z-SCOP scheme.