Weekly diary
Activision Blizzard
Beta version of Blur now available
Blizzard Entertainment has announced the limited-access beta launch of the eagerly awaited StarCraft® II: Wings of Liberty™. Thousands of players worldwide have begun to receive invitations to participate in the first testing phase. Participants will be able to give their opinion on StarCraft® II’s multiplayer mode and will also be the first to explore the new version of the online game service on Battle.net®. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the follow-up to StarCraft, which has been hailed by critics and players as one of the best real-time strategy games of all time. With its all-new 3D graphics engine, StarCraft II lets players join in the battle between the Protoss, Terran and Zerg races, which deploy armies comprising units of veterans, improved models or completely new fighters. The release of this second installment is slated for the first half of 2010.
Universal Music Group
Alice Sara Ott – Chopin: Complete Waltzes
Already a star in Japan, young German-Japanese pianist Alice Sara Ott is set to conquer the world with her first international album, Chopin: Complete Waltzes (Deutsche Grammophon). Ott proves her talent on these immortal piano pieces, her colorful and vibrant style revealing the extent of her musicality and mastery of the instrument. “I feel a deep connection to Chopin’s waltzes,” Ott explained. “For me, they symbolize a duality of culture. Like Chopin, who had a Polish-French heritage, I also feel pulled in two directions – between Germany and Japan. Music is the only thing that makes me feel completely at home.”
SFR
3G+ high-speed mobile Internet promotion
After windstorm Xynthia, all SFR teams pitched in to get customers’ service re-established as quickly as possible. They were able to repair nearly two-thirds of the affected mobile antennas over the past weekend. SFR not only increased its network maintenance teams but also anticipated possible electricity outages that might hinder the proper functioning of its facilities. Nearly 600 technicians and engineers were on the ground and several dozen generators were sent to affected areas. SFR coordinated its efforts with all local participants to better target its maintenance work.
Maroc Telecom
Trivia contest on SMSZone
Maroc Telecom’s 3G+ high-speed mobile Internet allows customers to get online anytime, anywhere, with unlimited access, and business customers can access their company’s information via browsing, e-mail, file downloads, unlimited high-speed voice and data exchange, access during travel and videoconferencing. This service is also accessible via laptop. Customers can connect with a PCMCIA card and 3G+-compatible USB modem, via desktop computer using the 3G+-compatible USB modem, or with a 3G-compatible mobile telephone for high-speed Internet, voice applications and other 3G services like videoconferencing. Maroc Telecom is currently offering 50% off for the first three months of service.
CANAL+ Group
Bus Palladium
Christopher Thompson’s new comedy-drama Bus Palladium (distributed by StudioCanal) will be out in cinemas on March 17. A director’s first film is often the most personal one he or she will ever make. Music and friendship thus clearly emerge as important themes for Thompson, who waited until he was almost 40 to get behind the camera and tell the story of a group of talented young musicians. Lucas, Manu, Philippe, Jacob and Mario have been best friends since childhood and dream of making it big in the music world with their rock band, Lust. As their success grows, however, the musicians’ different aspirations begin to make a common future uncertain. And when Laura appears on the scene, the fragile balance among the friends is imperiled.