Welcome to AECWeekly! Recently, AECWeekly conducted an Interview with Stephen L Schneider, director, product line management, Meridian Project Systems about the current release of their flagship project management software product, Prolog.
AECWeekly is a news magazine featuring important industry news profiles, a summary of recently published AEC product and company news, customer wins, and coming events. Brought to you by AECCafe.
AECWeekly examines select top news each week, picks out worthwhile reading from around the web, and special interest items you might not find elsewhere. This issue will feature Industry News, Acquisitions/Alliances/Agreements, Announcements, People, Awards, New Products, Around the Web and Upcoming Events.
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Industry News
Prolog 2007 Focuses on Keeping Current
by Susan Smith
Recently, AECWeekly conducted an interview with Stephen L Schneider, director, product line management, Meridian Project Systems about the current release of their flagship project management software product, Prolog. To see what’s new in Prolog 2007, go to the following web link.
AECWeekly: What issues led to the enhancements in Prolog 2007?
The technology upgrades were centered around keeping Prolog up to date with the latest Products from Microsoft and Business Objects such as Microsoft SQL Server 2005 as a supported DBMS, Office 2003 for viewing and redlining office documents within Prolog WebSite, and creation and viewing of Crystal XI reports in both Prolog Manager and Prolog WebSite. These technology upgrades were direct enhancement requests from our customers and a strategic decision by Meridian to keep our Prolog Product Line current with other software products to expand our leadership in the Project Management market.
The feature enhancements such as Project Specific Lookup Lists and Main Contacts were customer requested enhancements to further expand the capabilities of Prolog Manager to manage large portfolios of multiple projects with different data and correspondence requirements. We also improved Prolog Manager's user interface to provide a requested visual indication when files were attached to Prolog database records within the Prolog Data Entry Forms and document registers. These enhancements were highly requested by multiple customers.
AW: What is the learning curve for those who are new to Prolog? How about for those who have been using other versions?
The learning curve is dependent upon the training program implemented by customers during initial implementation or upgrade. Meridian's large network of Channel Partners offer many training courses in the use of individual Prolog Manager modules, Prolog WebSite, and Prolog administration. They offer both on-site training and training at their own training facilities. Courses range from 1-5 days depending upon the users need and specific role within their company.
Meridian also offers a Prolog Certification Program intended as a train-the-trainer program. The Certification Program enables a customer's power user or administrator to conduct training to their own user community. Many customers complete the Certification Program and create customized training materials to focus on the Prolog functionality specific to their direct needs and modeled after their unique Prolog configuration.
AW: Do new features arise from discussions with users at the user conference?
New feature enhancements are often discussed at the User Conference and during meetings with the Prolog Customer Advisory Board (CAB). All customers are encouraged to submit their enhancement requests through our Support Services group. Duplicate requests are linked together and help drive the planning priority for our Product Line Management and Development teams. I also conduct enhancement surveys with both the CAB and general user community to help identify the most desired and strategically beneficial enhancements for next releases.
AW: What is the pricing model?
Meridian has multiple pricing models depending upon the implementation requirements of our customers. We offer both self hosted licenses and subscription licenses to our ASP service called ProjectTalk. ProjectTalk is most beneficial to those customers who do not have the desire to build and maintain the IT infrastructure required to self-host Prolog Manager and Prolog WebSite. Customers can pay a monthly subscription fee per user or recognize greater cost savings for signing up for yearly or multiple year subscriptions.
For self-hosted Prolog Manager licenses, Meridian offers both individual named-user licenses or Enterprise Packs. Enterprise Packs consist of bundled shared licenses similar to the concurrent license model. These are sold in Packs of 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 licenses. Prolog WebSite is sold as individual Named-User licenses or in a Server Pack with 25 concurrent licenses.
Acquisitions/Alliances/Agreements
WinEstimator, Inc., a provider of project cost estimating software announced that it is partnering with On Center Software, a Texas-based software developer in the AEC industry. The agreement was finalized at the recent Constructech Vision Awards Ceremony in Chicago, Ill., where both companies received 2006 Technology Vision Awards. WinEstimator and On Center will work together to provide seamless integration between On Center Software’s takeoff application and WinEstimator’s suite of cost estimating solutions.
Announcements
Bentley Systems, Incorporated announced that BE Conference 2007 will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California, April 29-May 3, and BE Conference Europe will be held at the Hilton London Metropole in the United Kingdom, June 10-14. In addition, the company issued a call for presentations for both events.
The deadline for application submissions is Nov. 30, 2006. The benefits of being a presenter include recognition as an industry expert plus a waiver of all conference fees. For details, visit BE Call for Presentations .
For more information on BE Conference 2007 and BE Conference Europe, go to BE Conference.
Cyon Research Corporation, hosts of the Congress on the Future of Engineering Software (COFES), announced the opening of registration for next year’s event, COFES 2007. The premiere conference of the CAD world will take place April 12-15, 2007 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Last year, more than 260 attendees, including software company executives, engineers, programmers, consultants, and press, attended the intimate and innovative 3-day industry discussion. Registration for COFES 2007 is available by invitation only, according to Cyon Research CEO Brad Holtz. Those wishing to attend can apply for an invitation here. Early registration closes November 1, 2006.
For the first time since the fourth quarter of 2003, Hewlett-Packard moved into the No. 1 position for worldwide PC shipments in the third quarter of 2006, according to preliminary results by Gartner, Inc. The preliminary statistics show that HP's lead over Dell is 110,000 units.
Worldwide PC shipments totaled 59.1 million units in the third quarter of 2006, a 6.7 percent increase from the same period last year. The U.S. PC market experienced a year-over-year shipment decline of 2 percent. The last time the U.S. PC market suffered a decline in PC shipments was the second quarter of 2002.
AECnews, a leading online news journal covering design technology, announced the launch of TeamDWF. TeamDWF is a new web-based publication covering the use of Autodesk’s DWF publishing technology for collaboration. Autodesk is the site’s founding sponsor; AECnews is the owner/publisher.
The 2006 Kubotek USA Interoperability Survey finds continued and growing challenges for manufacturers working to get products to market quickly due to problems in the design-to-manufacturing processes, including the use of legacy data and disparate CAD systems.
The 2006 CAD Interoperability Survey is Kubotek's latest installment in an ongoing study of key issues that hamper productivity and therefore reduce efficiency in the design and manufacturing workplace. More than 2,800 CAD managers and users responded to the survey.
Intergraph Corporation, a provider of spatial information management (SIM) software, announced that it will hold a special meeting of Intergraph's stockholders on November 20, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time at Intergraph's executive offices, located at the Building 15b Auditorium, 170 Graphics Drive, Madison, Alabama 35758. At the meeting, Intergraph stockholders will vote on the previously announced merger agreement providing for the acquisition of Intergraph by an investor group led by Hellman & Friedman LLC and Texas Pacific Group. Stockholders of record as of the close of business on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting.
U.S. Sustainable Energy Corp., A Mississippi Corporation ("U.S. Sustainable," "USSEC" or "the Company"), announced the construction of the first United States 100% green power public utility.
John Rivera, CEO of U.S. Sustainable Energy Corp. "USSEC," stated, "With the opening of USSEC's new 500,000 square-foot biofuel facility in Natchez, MS., we will be supplying 100% of the power and electricity consumed by the city of Vidalia, Louisiana through the Vidalia Power and Light Public Utility. Since the electricity will be produced from 100% bio-waste product derived from the production of USSEC's organic 737 fertilizer created from soybeans, the power generated is renewable, recycled and green."
Avatech Solutions, Inc. invites CAD managers, IT managers, and mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineers (MEP) who currently use AutoCAD® to learn about the benefits and uses of Autodesk® Building Systems.
To participate in the webcast, register at Avatech events to receive attendance information, including an event URL and conference call number. All webcasts run at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. EST on October 11, 2006, December 6, 2006, and February 7, 2007, and last for approximately one hour.
People
Deltek, provider of enterprise management software for project-focused organizations, has named Holly Kortright as the company's new Senior Vice President of Human Resources. With 15 years of experience in human resources leadership, consulting, organizational development and process engineering, Kortright will oversee all human resources functions at Deltek.
Awards
Deltek, the leading provider of enterprise management software for project-focused organizations, announced that nearly 70 percent of this year's recipients of The Greater Washington Government Contractor (GovCon) Awards are Deltek clients. Presented by the Northern Virginia GovCon Council, Professional Services Council and Washington Technology, the GovCon Awards are the DC metro's premier event honoring the innovation and success of the area's leading government contractors and industry executives.
Mount Ida College School of Design professor Tom Yamamoto received an Award of Excellence from the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI) at its annual conference in Chicago, Ill. on October 14.
The award recognizes Yamamoto for his 16x24 inch concept sketch of a triangulated waterfront hotel. It was selected by an ASAI jury as one of the top 60 of nearly 500 entries from five continents. The winning illustrations will be part of a ten-month road show that will make several stops across the United States.
Nemetschek North America congratulates VectorWorks user Michael Gabellini of New York City firm Gabellini Sheppard Associates, LLP for winning the 2006 National Design Award for interior design. The Interior Design Competition Award is given to an individual or firm for exceptional and exemplary work in residential, corporate, cultural or interior design.
New Products
Bentley users can download a new SELECT update for WaterCAD and WaterGEMS V8 XM Edition, including support for Autodesk's AutoCAD 2007 platform. Support for AutoCAD 2007 for SewerGEMS and CivilStorm will also be available at the end of November 2006.
Autodesk, Inc. announced the launch of the Autodesk FMDesktop Product Suite, a powerful, easy-to-use software solution for facilities management. Developed by and for experienced facility managers, the Autodesk FMDesktop 7.0 suite of products, including Facility Manager, Facility Link, Facility Web and Facility Request, helps deliver the power of digital facility management through intuitive and easy-to-use features. The scalable computer-aided facility management (CAFM) suite of products was built on Autodesk’s DWF platform, and, by incorporating the latest DWF viewing technologies, provides facilities managers with a simple, accurate method to create, manage and share building operating data throughout the enterprise. This is the first full version of FMDesktop launched by Autodesk, who acquired the application in January 2006 as part of the acquisition of Applied Spatial Technologies.
Archway Systems, Inc. (Archway), developer and marketer of design software solutions including VersaCAD computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software, announces that it is shipping its newest version VersaCAD 2006 for Macintosh computers via universal binary that runs on either the Intel or PowerPC based Macs.
VersaCAD 2006 for Macintosh was updated for the latest Mac OS X operating system to provide a very fast, versatile, practical and economical design/drafting software for the Mac-based architect, designer, engineer or drafter. IO, a comprehensive solution for project estimating, planning, scheduling, and portfolio management.
DAZ Productions, Inc., a developer of professional quality 3D models and software, announced the immediate availability of Bryce 6.0, the first name in 3D landscapes. For over a decade, Bryce software has been a favorite among artists developing 3D environments and animations for print, multimedia, video and the Web. Bryce 6 now offers this audience more powerful features than ever before with advanced rendering effects, animation import capabilities and a simplified workflow.
AEC Software, a leading developer of business productivity solutions, announced the release of FastTrack Schedule 9.1, the latest update to the company's flagship project management (PM) software for both the Windows and Mac environments. FastTrack 9.1 adds support for integration with Mindjet(R) MindManager(R), a leading productivity application that provides a highly interactive, visual interface to improve team thinking, planning, and collaboration. PC users of FastTrack Schedule 9 can download a free add-in for integration with MindManager.
Around the Web
New for ADT Subscription Customers: Spaces and Drawing Compare Module
Autodesk 3ds Max now shipping (blog)
Upcoming Events
| Pacific Crossings: Hong Kong and Shanghai | |
| Date: | October 15 - 22, 2006 |
| Place: | Hong Kong, China |
| The event, entitled Pacific Crossings , will be hosted by AIA Hong Kong in collaboration with the AIA Committee on Design, and will comprise an entire week of educational, cultural and inspirational activities. The program commences in Hong Kong on Sunday, 15 October, when there will be a number of city tours as well as a golf outing plus an evening Welcome Reception. The Conference itself starts on Monday, 16 October, and ends with a grand finale in Shanghai on Sunday, 22 October.
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| AAH 2006 Fall Conference: The Technologically Sophisticated Healthcare Environment | |
| Date: | October 18 - 21, 2006 |
| Place: | InterContinental Hotel
Miami, FL USA |
| Conference Topics
• Executive decision-making: balancing the costs and benefits of technological innovation • How technology is changing the face of cardiology, oncology, radiology, and clinical practice and facility design • Technology’s influence on reducing errors and improving safety • Virtual medicine’s impact on medical education and clinical care • Information technology convergence: changing clinical practice and communications Conference Highlights • A focused curriculum of innovations in healthcare technologies specifically for healthcare planners and designers • Case studies delivered by healthcare institutions deeply embedded with emerging healthcare technologies • Collaborative opportunities to share lessons learned from and with healthcare colleagues on award-winning healthcare projects • Special Midmark event • Health facility tours and forum discussion groups • ModernHealthcare design awards banquet • AIA/STERIS student healthcare design charrette
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| Annual Civil Engineering Conference | |
| Date: | October 19 - 21, 2006 |
| Place: | USA |
| Join ASCE for a Taste of Chicago and cutting edge educational sessions at the 2006 Annual Civil Engineering Conference. With a theme of "Surviving the Future," the conference will include high level, dynamic civil engineering leaders, including keynote speaker retired Army Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey. The conference will take place
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| Remodeling Show 2006 | |
| Date: | October 19 - 21, 2006 |
| Place: | Lakeside Center | McCormick Place
2301 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60616 USA |
| IT’S THE ONLY EVENT OF ITS KIND. For three days, the entire remodeling community comes together to illustrate and reinforce the strength of the market.Hundreds of manufacturers fill the show floor, showcasing new products and services at every turn. Thousands of remodeling professionals crowd the aisles looking to catch a glimpse of the newest products and services that will take their business to the next level. IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR.
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| The 2nd International Conference on Universal Design | |
| Date: | October 22 - 26, 2006 |
| Place: | Kyoto, Japan |
| The International Association for Universal Design will organize the 2nd International Conference for Universal Design in Kyoto in October 2006. This conference, which will inherit the ideals of the international conference held in Yokohama in November 2002, is positioned as an opportunity for presenting the results of research and activities that saw progress in the last four years.
Universal design is a concept for designing appliances, architecture, and living space with the intention that they can be used by as many people as possible. In the International Universal Design Declaration, which was proclaimed in the finale of the conference in Yokohama in 2002, we went a step further and defined universal design as creation of social environment in which the humanity of each and every person is respected. We also proposed rebuilding the relation between the user and the creator and stressed the importance of framing a human-centered system, which should be applied to every aspect of society. In 2005, the percentage of senior citizens of 65 years old and above has reached 20 percent of Japan's total population, as Japan enters an era of "super-aged society" that no nation has ever experienced. Bodily functions such as eyesight and muscular strength decline noticeably with age as one reaches 50, and if we include people of 50 and above, the percentage has already exceeded 40 percent of the total population.
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| COMSOL Users Conference 2006 Boston | |
| Date: | October 22 - 24, 2006 |
| Place: | Hyatt Regency Cambridge
Boston, MA USA |
| Join us to learn about the latest in COMSOL products and applications of COMSOL Multiphysics while making contacts and getting hands-on training. Take this opportunity to gain the skills you will need to jump-start your modeling projects and save valuable time.
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| ISEIT 2006 (Americas) | |
| Date: | October 23 - 24, 2006 |
| Place: | Southshore Harbour Resort
Houston, TX USA |
| Since 2000, the International Symposium of Engineering IT has become a tradition; taking place in different international locations and bringing together engineering managers, directors and executives from both EPC and Owner Operator companies in every sector of industry.
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| SAIE 2006 | |
| Date: | October 25 - 29, 2006 |
| Place: | Bologna Fairground
Piazza Costituzione, Via Aldo Moro e Via Michelino, Bologna, Italy |
| COMSOL Conference 2006 Las Vegas | |
| Date: | October 26 - 27, 2006 |
| Place: | Las Vegas, NV USA |
| Join us to learn about the latest in COMSOL products and applications of COMSOL Multiphysics while networking and getting hands-on training. Take this opportunity to gain the skills you will need to jump-start your modeling projects and save valuable time
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| Academic Science Buildings 2006 | |
| Date: | October 26 - 27, 2006 |
| Place: | San Diego, CA USA |
| Here you'll see new breakthrough solutions for getting more college and university science building program (research and teaching) with limited construction dollars. You'll learn how new multi-discipline shared-facilities planning strategies, front-end business and life-cycle cost analysis, user-input processes, and construction contracting formats are yielding high-utilization, high-quality science-building outcomes. Attend Tradeline's 18th academic science buildings conference to assure that you implement the right construction or renovation plan, at the right cost, with the right design details, and with the right overall final performance metrics. Attend to save your institution millions of dollars through new cost-saving options and mistakes avoided for biology, chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical research buildings, nanotechnology facilities, advanced teaching platforms, and more.
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| MacExpo London 2006 | |
| Date: | October 26 - 29, 2006 |
| Place: | Olympia National Hall
Kensington, London, United Kingdom |
| The UK’s leading exhibition and conference for the Mac community. With its doors open to both creative professionals and the public the show is the annual celebration of everything Mac and iPod.
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| DELMIA 2006 Worldwide User Conference: Asia-Pacific | |
| Date: | October 30 - November 1, 2006 |
| Place: | Yokohama, Japan |
| Attendees will hear about the latest technology trends to address business challenges faced in today's marketplace and what you need to overcome them with great success. High-level keynote executives from companies that are at the top of their industry will share their views on how digital manufacturing and PLM implementations foster innovation to improve their operations. In addition, experts using DELMIA, the leading digital manufacturing software, present their current projects and successes. Our 2-day conference provides an interactive forum for attendees to have the opportunity to collaborate with DELMIA professionals, ask specific questions in a small group setting and attend Best Practices Workshops to gain important insight into DELMIA solutions. There is also plenty of time to network in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere with colleagues from a variety of industries.
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| HRC Programs at the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference | |
| Date: | October 31 - November 5, 2006 |
| Place: | Pittsburgh, PA USA |
| Every year preservation experts, professionals working in related fields, and community leaders all gather at the National Preservation Conference. Come together to share preservation challenges, successes, new information, and inspiration.
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| Architecture Exchange East | |
| Date: | November 1 - 3, 2006 |
| Place: | Richmond, VT USA |
| The Mid-Atlantic region's largest annual architecture and design conference and expo will be held Nov. 1-3, 2006, in Richmond, featuring keynote speaker Randall Stout, dozens of seminars, and hundreds of product and service exhibitors. For information, call 804-644-3041 or visit www.aiava.org
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| Nordic COMSOL Conference 2006 Copenhagen | |
| Date: | November 1 - 2, 2006 |
| Place: | Hotel Scandic Eremitage
Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Join us to learn about the latest in COMSOL products and applications of COMSOL Multiphysics while networking and getting hands-on training. Take this opportunity to gain the skills you will need to jump-start your modeling projects and save valuable time.
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| "2006 Fall FLUG Conference" | |
| Date: | November 2 - 3, 2006 |
| Place: | The Embassy Suites Hotel
Tampa, FL USA |
| The Florida Local Users Group (FLUG) is hosting its fall meeting at the Embassy Suites
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| GSDI-9 | |
| Date: | November 3 - 11, 2006 |
| Place: | Diego Portales Convention Center
Santiago, Chile |
| The theme for the 9th International Conference of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure is Spatial Information: Tool for reducing poverty. GSDI-9 will provide opportunities to participate in and attend plenary sessions, technical sessions, regional discussions groups, workshop, poster sessions and commercial exhibits. Together these activities support a rich environment for knowledge exchange.
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| Trimble Dimensions 2006 | |
| Date: | November 6 - 8, 2006 |
| Place: | The Mirage
Las Vegas, NV USA |
| Attendees of Trimble Dimensions 2006 will: Hear from key leaders who will discuss the latest industry issues and market trends Participate in hands-on introductory and advanced product training Attend technical and breakout sessions on applying positioning technology to real world problems to help organization grow their business and maximize return on investment (ROI) Hear from Trimble users focusing on the practical use of technology in surveying, civil engineering, highway and heavy construction, site preparation, and construction vehicle fleet management, as well as other emerging applications Network with worldwide peers to share best practices
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| Webcast: Making the Move from 2D to 3D | |
| Date: | November 7, 2006 |
| Place: | Webcast, USA |
| Log on to these webcasts when our INCAT experts discuss common considerations regarding a move from 2D to 3D design and data management.
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| 2006 CDNLive! Asia Pacific | |
| Date: | November 7, 2006 |
| Place: | Hsinchu, Taiwan |
| CDNLive! is a new, global series of technical conferences that brings customers together for face-to-face interactions. At CDNLive! events, you'll have the opportunity to talk with other designers using Cadence technology—and with the Cadence people who develop the technologies to help you face design challenges.
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| 2006 CDNLive! Asia Pacific | |
| Date: | November 9, 2006 |
| Place: | Beijing, China |
| CDNLive! is a new, global series of technical conferences that brings customers together for face-to-face interactions. At CDNLive! events, you'll have the opportunity to talk with other designers using Cadence technology—and with the Cadence people who develop the technologies to help you face design challenges.
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| Animal Research Facilities 2006 | |
| Date: | November 13 - 14, 2006 |
| Place: | San Antonio, TX USA |
| Getting more animal program capacity from limited capital dollars, improving logistical efficiency (cages, materials, and people), lowering operating costs, and implementing BSL-3 for animal operations are the top animal research facility issues being tackled by research institutions across the country. At Tradeline's 18th annual animal research facilities conference you'll see how these outcomes are being achieved in the latest round of construction and renovation initiatives (private sector, academic, and government) with more efficient space plans, cost-effective equipment investments, and efficient mechanical system designs. You'll also examine new initiatives for work environments, worker safety, and waste handling, plus space and fit-up specifications for specific space types, and strategies for animal facility contracting and commissioning.
Register through October 13 2006 SAVE $150 USD
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| COFES India Summit | |
| Date: | November 17 - 18, 2006 |
| Place: | Hyatt Regency
New Delhi, India |
| Sixty-four participants from around the world will converge on New Delhi this November for a once-in-a-lifetime industry event—the COFES India Summit. This free, invitation-only, landmark event will shine a light on how India and other countries will address the software issues facing the world in coming years.
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