SAP AG has joined with Nokia Corp. and Giesecke & Devrient GmbH in the formation of a new company that will provide anti-counterfeiting protection to global manufacturers. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, the new venture known as Original1 will aid companies and consumers from a wide range of industries in combating piracy and counterfeiting. It is expected to begin operations before the end of this year, subject to approval of antitrust regulators. Giesecke & Devrient is an international technology provider with headquarters in Munich, Germany. It will offer security systems for the supply chain, relying on user authentication and database encryption. SAP will contribute its own software applications, while Nokia will provide mobile authentication software to allow businesses to follow a branded product's entire lifecycle via mobile devices. SAP also has unveiled an update of SAP BusinessObjects Explorer software, an application designed to allow users to find relevant answers to their questions in seconds. The new, accelerated version can be applied to any data set through an intuitive, Web-based interface. Users can now access any data source beyond SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse. In addition, SAP has developed an interactive sustainability map for the SAP EcoHub marketplace. The offering provides a clear view of the ecosystem of sustainability and "green" IT applications and services available from SAP and its partners. By clicking on defined areas in the SAP sustainability map within SAP EcoHub, customers can evaluate and purchase sustainability products and services.
