SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Telespree Communications, the leading developer of self-service solutions for wireless carriers, announced that it has received the Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a new patent covering automated provisioning and activation of a wireless device. The patent protects the key technology behind Telespree's innovative platform -- a solution that fully automates activation including device programming, service enrollment, ongoing account maintenance, rate plan changes and promotions for wireless networks. Telespree has five patents covering its core technology dating back to 1999.

"Telespree's self-service technology allows wireless carriers to automate manual processes to significantly lower customer care and retail operations costs, while satisfying the end-user's natural preference for the self-service option," said Bill deKay, CEO for Telespree.

Finding a great relationship

Relationships are a hot topic. Turn on the television, surf the Net or walk into any bookstore and you'll be instantly overwhelmed with the latest news on who's dating who and how to find your very own Mr. Right. It's not coincidental that so much of our popular culture and dinner conversations revol .

SHeDAISY's Hits CD Due Feb. 5

SHeDAISY will release The Best of SHeDAISY on Feb. 5 on Lyric Street Records. The 12-song compilation includes all previously-released material, spanning from their 1999 debut single, "Little Good-Byes," to a song inspired by Desperate Housewives, "God Bless the American Housewife." The trio of sisters has released six albums for the label so far, including a remixed version of their debut album and a holiday album. Four of their singles reached the Top 10 on Billboard's country chart. .

The rise of British Girl Power

Despite Britain arguably producing some of the world's best bands, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Oasis, outstanding female artists have never really been the nation's forte. Until now.

Entertainment Calendar

A FOX VALLEY OF ILLINOIS CHAPTER OF USA DANCE, formerly United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association. A non-profit organization, designed to promote and sponsor amateur ballroom dancing for the general public. Information: Walt, 815-337-6860 or ok3wire@joltmail.com; Jackie, 847-639-8699, jackiepenze@aol.com or www.dancefoxvalley.org. Admission: $8 members, $12 non-members. Dances take place 8 p.m. at Dole Mansion’s Sage Ballroom, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Dances include a free dance lesson at 7:30 p.m., cake and snacks. Dance schedule: March 15, Celtic Cha Cha (Cha Cha).B AND B SQUARE DANCE CLUB, Johnsburg Community Club, 2315 W. Church St., Johnsburg. Dances first and third Friday of every month. Rounds begin at 8 p.m., squares at 8:30 p.m. Cost: $4.50 members, $5 visitors.

Zednik: Skate in neck 'felt like somebody stabbed me'

A video of the accident posted online has been viewed more than a million times, but Zednik said he has seen the footage only once and won't watch it again. He said he was at first hesitant to see it, but curiosity took over.

"At first when I was in the Buffalo hospital, I was like, 'No, I don't want to watch.' I was like still kind of in shock. But then when I got back to Florida ... I was curious, exactly, how the skate came to the neck," he said. "I watched it once. That's enough."

It's doubtful Zednik will return this season. Florida coach Jacques Martin said he expects Zednik's recovery to take about eight weeks. The regular season ends April 5, and there may be no postseason for the Panthers.

Still, the team was glad to find Zednik on the mend.

"It's nice to see Richard back and looking good," Martin said.

Vikings have turned around their ship

Minnesota was a total eyesore during its 3-6 start. The quarterback play was wretched. The receivers couldn't catch a cold. The pass defense remained a major weakness. There were whispers that Childress had lost the locker room. The season looked completely hopeless after the Vikes got spanked 34-0 in Green Bay.

The turnaround has been pronounced and remarkable. But will it end with a berth in the playoffs?

Brad Childress and his staff deserve so much praise for how things have clicked over Minnesota's recent four-game winning streak.

Childress hand-picked young Tarvaris Jackson out of Alabama State in the 2006 NFL draft. The former Eagle offensive coordinator saw him, eventually, as his answer to Donovan McNabb. And it didn't hurt that Childress smartly hired the savvy Kevin Rogers to be his QB coach.

Enhanced water drives US beauty food market

A wide range of functional food products, beverages and supplements promising beauty benefits have hit the market in recent years, however in the US the industry is dominated by water products, says the report. The functional water brand Borba is one of the leaders in the sector with its range of Skin Balance Waters. The selection of enhanced waters contain antioxidants, vitamins and botanicals, with each drink being formulated to help provide clearer, firmer skin, and help for dry, dehydrated skin, the company claims.Launched in 2005, the range was originally marketed in beauty stores Sephora and Nordstrom, before being introduced into grocery stores.Borba's Skin Balance Waters were picked up by Anheuser-Busch in late summer last year and at the time of the distribution deal the company's vice president of business operations Dave Peacock noted that adding the range allowed the company to participate in the emerging nutraceutical beverage category.In addition, PepsiCo has targeted the notion of beauty through water with the launch of a skin care range that carries the Aquafina logo.