Mobile capabilities like booking a hotel, restaurant, or taxi while on the go are essential for travel and entertainment (T&E) management solutions. Concur’s T&E solutions are available to its millions of business travelers through its mobile application powered by Windows® Mobile®. To diminish complexity for Concur and its customers’ IT departments, Concur Mobile was developed, and is managed with a rapid mobile application platform available from Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner Pyxis Mobile.

Invensys Operations Management is out to make it easier and less expensive for small electric utilities in the United States to participate in smart grid, an energy modernization program supported by the U.S. government. Utilities need a high-performance, low-cost way to distribute real-time pricing data to customers so that they can make smarter consumption decisions. Invensys responded by creating a smart grid communications platform using The Service Bus and Access Control Service, both part of the Windows Azure™ platform. The resulting platform enables utilities to immediately embrace smart grid services at affordable prices. Such services will help utility customers save money by using energy more wisely. Invensys developed its pilot solution in just three months as part of a plan to realize increased revenues from selling smart grid–compliant products and services.

Responding to high numbers of deaths at sea in the fishing industry, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution contracted Active Web Solutions (AWS) to create an automated sea-safety application. AWS developed a location-based service infrastructure, code-named GeoPoint, which transmits position data to a centralized tracking and alerting system. AWS used GeoPoint to build MOB Guardian, a search-and-rescue application for fishing vessels. To extend GeoPoint to more scenarios, AWS migrated it to the Windows Azure™ platform. By hosting GeoPoint in the “cloud,” in Microsoft® data centers, AWS attained massive scalability, richer functionality, and lower infrastructure costs. AWS was able to quickly convert its application to a hosted service and avoid the expense of building and managing a data center. AWS also has the flexibility and scalability to offer GeoPoint to many more markets.

Cast Iron Systems specializes in helping organizations connect Internet-hosted (cloud) applications with on-premises applications. When Microsoft announced the Windows Azure™ platform, Cast Iron set out to enhance its Cast Iron Integration Solution with Windows Azure platform connectivity. Using the Service Bus and Access Control Service, Cast Iron created the needed connectors in just one day. Faster time-to-market enabled Cast Iron to supply a timely solution to an urgent need. Its enhanced product can help customers host applications off-premises without concerns about interoperability with on-premises data. With the Cast Iron Integration Solution, companies can now use application data wherever it resides and scale workloads without worrying about overloading the communications infrastructure.

Metalman Auto syncs Sales, Procurement and Production to improve bottomline by 10 percent

Sessa Klein (SK), world leading innovator in the design and production of windows for rolling stock, established SessaKlein Shenfei (SKS) with Suzhou Shenfei Vehicle Windows Manufacturer in 2008. SK knew a sophisticated and flexible ERP was necessary to make the new joint venture a world-class operation where important technical and design data could reach the people that needed it quickly. Working closely with Beijing EXTECH Technology, SKS deployed Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2009. Streamlined access to critical information and processes through Role Center help people organize and manage workloads, and the familiar, intuitive interface made it easy for the 40+ staff to start benefiting right away. Furthermore, by taking advantage of Microsoft Dynamics AX’s localization modules, SKS was able to ensure they met Chinese regulations for their financial reports accurately and on time.

When researchers at Rutgers wanted to explore massive computing scenarios with real-world significance for fields such as financial services and pharmaceuticals, they turned to Windows® HPC Server 2008. In one research project, the software proved at least 30 percent faster than Linux. The Windows HPC Server cluster was deployed in one day and works like the Windows operating system with which users and administrators are already familiar.

EURO/CFD, which provides digital simulation of fluid mechanics and heat transfer, recently expanded its computing infrastructure and upgraded to the Windows® HPC Server 2008 operating system for its 37-node cluster. EURO/CFD can now launch simulations on 20 server computers simultaneously. With the resulting 20-percent increase in computation speed, EURO/CFD has gained a competitive edge by delivering detailed, accurate information for customers.

Sporton International provides testing and certification services for makers of mobile phones, computers, and other devices. The company employs automated efficiencies wherever possible to control headcount and optimize profits. Recently, it streamlined the work involved in deploying and managing 500 client computers in 11 locations by using Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 and Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6. With an optimized desktop infrastructure, Sporton has cut desktop management chores by 40 percent, freeing its small IT staff to focus on new services. In addition, because Sporton engineers can set up certification test systems 80 percent faster, they can service 33 percent more customers a day, increasing profitability. The Sporton network is also safer, because IT staff can centrally deploy security software and block unauthorized applications.

ITNAmerica®, the first national non-profit transportation service for the aging population and the visually impaired, was founded with the goal of providing affordable, easy-to-access transportation in automobiles by matching seniors with paid and volunteer drivers in local communities. To make it work – and to grow the ITNAmerica service nationwide – required flexible and scalable technology that could be easily deployed and managed. The ITNAmerica development team turned to Microsoft® products and, with the help of Reliable Software, used a software-plus-services model to redesign its ITNRidesTM software. The result is a highly scalable, flexible software solution that can be easily deployed to new ITN® affiliates and is opening up a huge potential market for the company.