Acer Unveils New Visual Identity for its BYOC™ (Build Your Own Cloud) Brand

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (May 15, 2014) Acer today unveiled its new visual identity for BYOC™ (Build Your Own Cloud). As previously announced, and under the direction of the new Acer leadership team, Acer is transforming from a hardware company into a “hardware + software + services” company as it embraces new opportunities in the cloud technology era.

This change is being accomplished through championing the foundation and spirit that the company was built on. Acer has always believed that sustainable success comes from balancing the interests of consumers, shareholders, business partners, employees and communities. And its mission has been to break down barriers between people and technology.

Acer has always been prepared to take an unconventional route and today’s introduction of the visual identity of its BYOC brand is another example of a ground breaking approach.

Acer Chairman Stan Shih said, “Acer is continuing its decades-long tradition of challenging convention by completely redefining the meaning of the cloud for consumers and businesses; it is therefore highly appropriate that the new, powerful and distinctive visualization of BYOC conveys this message.”

For consumers, BYOC is a differentiated solution which allows you to create a cloud that lives on your own device wherever you are, yet with ultimate privacy and security. This means that the storage capacity of your cloud can be as big as you want. With BYOC your digital life is synced wirelessly and simultaneously across your entire ecosystem of devices regardless of the network connection, operating system or brand of device. As part of BYOC, Acer is also introducing a suite of software products to help organize personal content, such as music, photos and files.

For businesses, BYOC is also truly breaking down barriers. Now any company, in any industry, can create a cloud-based solution with Acer’s open platform. By using BYOC, companies can build a multi-network, cross-platform, multi-device cloud without a significant investment in time and resources. Any company with an idea can build their own cloud for all connected devices in the new PC world and the Internet of Things (IoT). Simply put, better solutions get in the hands of end users faster.

In creating the new BYOC logo, it is important to convey the key message that this is Acer’s vehicle to leap over current technology and introduce a new era of cloud computing. To this end, Acer has been inspired by the ancient Chinese novel, Journey to the West, in which the character Sun WuKong travels on a cloud and uses it to cross thousands of miles in one leap. The stylized cloud of the BYOC logo represents more than technology, it symbolizes Acer’s heritage and desire to do things differently.

Cloud technology is a revolutionary concept, yet the industry has only begun to realize its capabilities. With BYOC, Acer is accelerating progress by putting the power of the cloud in the hands of all people. Combined with Acer’s powerful and intuitive products, BYOC creates a new ecosystem of “hardware + software + services” to break down barriers between people and technology and to enable everyone to stay a touch more connected anytime, anywhere.

On May 29th, Acer will be opening its BYOC experience center in Taoyuan, Taiwan to showcase new BYOC solutions.

Addressing the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) on Malaysia

MIMOS launches first Internet of Things Technical Working Group Workshop towards developing National IoT Blueprint

Kuala Lumpur, May 14: MIMOS today launched the first national Internet of Things Technical Working Group (IoT TWG) Workshop to kick start the development of the National IoT Blueprint, which will play a key role in shaping Malaysia’s ICT landscape and take advantage of the numerous opportunities offered by IoT technologies.

The two-day Workshop, which brings together the cream of the cream from the technology community, academia and government agencies nationwide, will share knowledge and discuss ideas on means to best address the importance and impact the IoT will have on the country’s economic and social progress and explore collaboration in IoT research, development and commercialisation.

Launched under the patronage of the Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, Professor Emeritus Dato’ Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, the opening of the workshop was also attended by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s Deputy Secretary General (Science), Dr Zulkifli Mohamed Hashim.

“The IoT will inspire new working practices and business processes, spark a new wave of innovation, allow us to penetrate new markets and industries and encourage greater investments in technology,” said Dr Zulkifli. “With the right direction and policies, the National IoT Blueprint will bring about tremendous economic benefits to the country.”

The Internet of Things encompasses the integration of enabling technologies – devices, embedded software, connectivity/communications and information services, among others. It is expected to transform daily life via the application of smart appliances, homes, offices, vehicles, streets and cities.

Dr Zakri said the Blueprint would realise the Science to Action (S2A) initiative launched last year by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak. The initiative aims to intensify the application of science and technology for industrial development and the wellbeing of Malaysians through three key components: Science to Industry, Science to Wellbeing and Science to Governance.

“The Internet of Things will also act as Science to Action enablers,” he said. “In Science to Industry, for example, it will realise opportunities in the digital age which in turn can lead to a Gross National Income of RM1.7 billion and the creation of 14,720 new jobs by 2020.”

Dr Zakri said the Blueprint would also complement national transformative initiatives as Digital Malaysia, the Government Transformation Programme and the Economic Transformation Programme.

“The Internet of Things will change the digital market and create greater economic value for all organisations and for Malaysia’s economy” he said, adding that the Blueprint would be presented to the government in October.

MIMOS President and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Abdul Wahab Abdullah said the Internet of Things was a logical progression for the national R&D centre in ICT after having ‘introduced’ the Internet to Malaysia in 1992.

“MIMOS has been undertaking applied research in ICT towards raising national competitiveness and to position Malaysia as an innovation-led economy since our inception in 1985,” he said. “It is therefore fitting that we spearhead the IoT initiative with the support from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.”

Agencies and companies taking part in the Workshop include the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), National Heart Institute, Cisco Systems, Celcom Axiata Berhad, Intel, Oracle Corporation and Microsoft.