The new features include:

• Auto-Installation for MS Vista users
Now MS Vista users can install actiTIME automatically without usual complications of step-by-step manual installation procedure.

• UTF-8 Support
Although actiTIME interfaces remain in English, users of the new version can enter data in other languages.

Actimind decided to implement these features basing on the actiTIME users’ requirements. While automatic installation for MS Vista OS is obviously one of the popular features, support of UTF-8 was chosen through the special survey among the users. In this survey the company offered users to choose between support of UTF-8 and support of MS SQL database. 53.8% of users who participated in the survey gave their votes for UTF-8.

In Actimind involving users in the decision making process is an important part of product development. Such approach derived from the principles of Open Mind in Action marketing campaign. Within this campaign actiTIME is being enhanced on the base of users feedback, which makes the product tailored to the real people’s needs.

About actiTIME

actiTIME is a free web-based timesheet for enhanced management and billing in small to mid-sized companies. It provides an intuitive way to register time-expenses, analyze employee performance and to prepare timesheets for billing the customers. actiTIME has become a time-tracking solution for more than 30 000 people from 5 000 companies all over the world.

The current version of actiTIME is available for free download at http://www.actitime.com/download.html

Actimind, Inc. is an international company which offers technologically advanced software development service. For more information please visit http://www.actimind.com

A small self administered pension scheme can be used in a variety of ways to transact with a business,which is usually the business of the members of the pension scheme. The following is an example of how a SSAS can be used to help your children purchase their first home.

The current low level of interest rates have made it slightly more affordable for first-time buyers to get on the property ladder by way of lower interest payments on their mortgage. However, it is still extremely difficult, especially for young people, to buy their first home. Banks who are willing to give a mortgage on the basis of a 10% deposit charge punitive interest rates and conditions. Most lenders require a deposit of 25% or higher.

Parents who are keen to help their children with this problem, may find they are able to do so if they have a small self administered scheme (SSAS). Instead of relying on a bank to obtain financing for the purchase of a home, under their terms and conditions, it is possible to use ones pension to loan the shortfall in capital needed and repay the interest to the SSAS very tax efficiently.

If you have sufficient funds in your pension, you can loan half the amount to your company, which may use the money to loan onto the director (who’s offspring needs the deposit), via the director’s loan account. The interest payments are set by the pension scheme, provided interest is at least one percent above the base rate. It is therefore possible to lend money at a rate of 1.5% using the current base rate of 0.5%. The loan must have a term of no more than five years, but can be rolled over once for an additional term of no more than five further years. Tax relief is also received on the interest payments to the pension scheme plus to ensure the SSAS does not face a loss, a first charge on an asset of equal value is made.

Pension Practitioner .Com is one of the most innovative administrators for SSAS, they have produced a free fact sheet on how this works in detail in conjunction with a leading firm of tax advisors. To get this free guide freephone 0800 634 4862.

The latest version integrates suggestions and comments from current users in the legal, architectural, engineering, accounting, business consulting and computer repair industries. Based on their feedback, BillingTracker Pro now offers even more customization options, allowing users to better personalize their billing and invoicing process to meet their needs.

“Our customers know that we’re extremely responsive to feedback, so they feel comfortable approaching us with suggestions for additional features or program improvements,” noted Jeremy Gerber, Founder of BillingTracker. “There were so many good ideas. For version 3.5, we implemented what we felt were the most pressing of those needs. Having heard loud and clear from people involved in business across the globe, not just in the US, we’re proud to include new functionality that lets users customize invoices in languages other than English.”

BillingTracker Pro currently allows users to easily track time and create invoices, whether they bill hourly, project rate, retainer or on a contingency. The software features detailed payable, cash flow and receivable reports, in addition to giving users the ability to manage vendors, suppliers, materials, receivables, invoices and expenses. Easy to learn, BillingTracker Pro also makes it easy to share reports and information; in addition to the ability to export reports to all common file formats, a multi-user module is also available.

New features in version 3.5 of BillingTracker Pro include:

• Improved invoice customization options: In addition to choosing from five invoice templates, BillingTracker Pro users can now change any (or every) word on their selected invoice template. Users can simply change how something is worded, or can create different language versions of an invoice template.
• Footer functionality: Users can now add a footer to any invoice. They can select typical footer content from a drop-down menu, or create their own content by changing preferences under the ‘languages’ tab.

BillingTracker Pro 3.5 is available as a free upgrade to current customers who purchased version 3.x. Prospective buyers can try a 20-day demo of the product by visiting www.billingtracker.com and selecting ‘download.’ Buyers can also purchase a fully licensed version of the program for $89 by visiting www.billingtracker.com and selecting ‘buy.’

About BillingTracker

The BillingTracker suite of software was designed by an entrepreneur frustrated with traditional time tracking, billing and invoicing software. Founder Jeremy Gerber believed that people should be able to spend more time working than tracking and billing for work; easy-to-use BillingTracker is the result. BillingTracker works on Windows-based systems, tracking hourly, retainer, project rate or even contingency fee activities. For more information, please visit www.billingtracker.com or call 866-893-8741.

Designed for businesses involved in the rapid manufacture and distribution of goods, iBAM Logistics 3.6 is an on-demand solution, delivered via software as a service (SaaS) that is designed to streamline stock movements, consolidation and returns. The solution encapsulates pre-mapped business processes, corresponding B2B messages and a collaborative web based user interface that facilitates the integration, management and exchange of load plans, stock returns, in-cab proof of deliveries and a consolidated view of load tracking data.

“Integrated in to ERP applications and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) including SAP, Epicor, Infor, Red Prairie and Manhattan Associates via straightforward web calls, iBAM Logistics 3.6 provides complimentary functionality that is uncomplicated to implement”, says Simon Hart, partner at DDA Logistics Consulting. “In addition, Perceptant has developed an in-cab interface via the Apple iPhone or iPad that allows drivers in real time to record and send proof of delivery and returned stock information, complete with customer signature”.

“Logistic companies and their customers have for many years’ maintained error prone manual processes and loosely coupled IT systems, predominantly because there hasn’t an alternative. As a result, load plans aren’t optimized, expensive returned stock floats around in the ether and proof of delivery messages that trigger the final invoice take days to arrive”, says Richard Ward, COO of Perceptant. “iBAM 3.6 marks a new phase in logistics management and the impact it has on reducing the number of part shipments, and untracked returns is impressive. Furthermore, POD’s arrive within seconds of delivery, which has an immediate positive impact on cash flow.

Europe’s leading B2B hub for the construction industry, encompassing thousands of trading partners and millions of business transactions is delivered using Perceptant’s core solutions, which has not only proven to be of great benefit to the market but also of significant benefit to its logistic partners.

“For the first time, comprehensive and complimentary Supply Chain Management applications are now available, on-demand, via cloud computing and companies involved in load planning, consolidation, stock returns and optimized shipping can share the rewards” says Matthew Slinn, CEO and founder of Perceptant. “Within weeks, customers have an integrated suite of complimentary applications that drive new efficiencies, reduce costs and help connected parties meet stringent carbon emission guidelines through more effective load planning and fewer returns”.

About Perceptant

Perceptant is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand supply chain management, application integration and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many complex trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.

LV= research reveals that 11.1 million (23%) UK adults will attend a wedding this year. However, the impact of the economic climate has resulted in 2.7 million (25%) of those attending saying they cannot afford to spend as much going to the wedding and buying gifts as they would have otherwise. A further 24% said the bride and groom are not expecting them to spend as much because of the recession, with the average reduction in spend per person being £37.

Of the Brits set to attend weddings this year, 61% said that the recession has affected their attitude towards going. Nearly a third (31%) said they would be less willing to attend a wedding abroad this year if asked while 19% would be less willing to travel long distances in the UK due to the cost implications. A further 19% said they would avoid attending a wedding unless they were close to the people involved.

The research also reveals that the trend for weddings abroad is becoming increasingly popular. 2.8 million adults have attended a wedding abroad over the last 18 months and 1.4 million plan to do so over the remainder of this year. One of the most common reasons cited for attending weddings abroad is that the bride and groom are trying to keep costs down in the current recession.

John O’Roarke, Managing Director of LV= home and travel insurance, commented: “Weddings are clearly an expensive affair, but not just for the bride and groom. Despite the recession this research shows that the average couple will spend over £300 per wedding they attend. People planning on attending or holding their own wedding, both in the UK or overseas, should have travel insurance in place so that if they do have to change their plans at the last minute they won’t be out of pocket.

“In addition, much of this spend will be on wedding gifts so anyone planning their own wedding should check their home insurance policy to ensure it includes an automatic increase in home contents insurance to cover wedding gifts. The LV= home contents insurance policy automatically increases the sum insured by 10%.

“Finally, gifts such as cash will not be covered on most home insurance policies, so the bride and groom should make arrangements for any large amount of cash to be deposited somewhere safe rather than left in the house whilst they are on honeymoon.”

– ends –

Notes to editors
Opinium Research carried out a survey of 2,141 people between 16 and 20 Jane 2009. All population figures based on ONS statistics: 48,315,000 UK adults.

About LV=
LV= offers home, car, pet, travel and home insurance direct to consumers online and from its offices in Bournemouth, Croydon and Bristol.
 
LV= employs more than 3,800 people, serves more than 3.5 million customers and members, and manages around £7bn on their behalf. We are also the UK’s largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Yearbook 2006/2007, total net assets) and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and entered on the Financial Services Authority Register No. 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

For further information please contact:
Emma Holyer
Press Office
LV=
69 Park Lane
Croydon
CR9 1BG
0208 256 6714
www.lv.com

Against 13 competitors in the Q1 2009 online life insurance provider category*, LV= came second for its overall content, with a customer experience score of 57%. LV= topped the study for its online claims information, and its life insurance tips and advice section. LV= was ranked second for the customer support and prospective customers categories.

Overall, the LV= Customer Experience score was 57%, an increase of 4% from Q4 2008, and 10% higher than the online life insurance industry average.

LV= ecommerce director Paul Wishman said: “We are delighted to receive such positive external feedback about our website, particularly after a major redesign and re-launch. Slick online purchasing capability is increasingly important in today’s financial services marketplace and we are committed to continually developing content and usability to enhance the overall online customer experience.”

LV= re-launched its website in March 2009. New features include a ‘top tab’ navigation system giving users ‘one-click’ access to all products, and a financial advice tab which consumers can click on to complete an online financial health check and book an appointment with one of LV=’s financial advisers.

– ends –

Notes to editors:
* Independent research company Global Review measured LV=’s life insurance website against more than 650 criteria across 34 categories, interviewing more than 1,000 people to find out how they rated the experience during Q1 2009.

About LV=
LV= is a trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and LV= is a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.
 
LV= employs more than 3,800 people, serves around 3.5 million customers and members, and manages around £7bn on their behalf. LV= is also the UK’s largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Yearbook 2006/2007) and a leading mutual financial services provider. LV=’s services include car, travel, pet and home insurance, financial advice and retirement plans.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and entered on the Financial Services Authority Register No. 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

For further information please contact:
Edgar Forbes
Press Office
LV=
County Gates
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH1 2NF
01202 502 204
www.LV.com/lifeinsurance