Microsoft Shows phone software

BARCELONA, Spain » Apple Inc. rocked the wireless business by combining the functions of a phone and an iPod. Now, more than two years later, Microsoft Corp. has its comeback: phone software that works a lot like its own Zune media player.

The software, unveiled yesterday at the Mobile World Congress, is a dramatic change from previous generations of the software that used to be called Windows Mobile. But Microsoft is, for now, sticking to its model of making the software and selling it to phone manufacturers, rather than making its own phones.

The new ones won't be called “;Zune phones,”; as had been speculated. The software will be called “;Windows Phone 7 series.”;

Philippine remittances rise to $17.3B

MANILA » Millions of Filipinos working overseas sent home a record $17.3 billion last year, helping the local economy amid the global financial crisis, the government said yesterday.

Remittances grew 5.6 percent from a year earlier and accounted for 10.8 percent of the country's annual gross domestic product. Nearly 10 percent of the Philippines' 90 million people work abroad, and the money sent back fuels domestic spending.

The steady inflows were made possible by the sustained demand for Filipino labor, especially skilled workers like engineers, nurses and teachers, the central bank said.

Other factors included the expansion of services for wiring money to the Philippines, such as remittance centers and banks.

Remittances reached $16.4 billion in 2008. The major sources of remittances were the U.S., Canada, Saudi Arabia, Britain and Japan.

Kamps donate $460,000 to UH

An estate gift from University of Hawaii alumnus Leonard Kamp and wife Rebecca, estimated at $460,000, will go to scholarships at the Shidler College of Business and the College of Engineering at the Manoa campus, the UH Foundation said.

Kamp, a former Hawaiian Dredging & Construction vice president and former owner of Haas Insulations Inc., graduated from UH Manoa with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1967 and an executive MBA in 1982.

The Leonard and Rebecca Kamp Executive MBA Endowed Scholarship and the Leonard and Rebecca Kamp Endowed Scholarship in Civil Engineering will provide tuition support for students in the Executive MBA and civil engineering programs.

“;The University of Hawaii has been good to me and my wife, Becky,”;

said Kamp.

“;We are extremely fortunate to be in a position to give back to the university to ensure that talented and deserving students continue to receive a world-class education. We hope one day the scholarship recipients will pass on their knowledge and support to advance the public good.”;

Campbell refuge grows to 1,100 acres

The James Campbell Wildlife Refuge will expand to 1,100 acres.

The refuge has consisted of more than 160 acres of wetland habitat near Kahuku. But Congress has appropriated about $22 million to acquire and expand the refuge to about 1,100 acres, according to a news release. Some of the last existing wild coastal wetland and dune habitats that were under private ownership will be placed in public trust as part of the newly expanded refuge.

The refuge was established in 1976 with about 150 acres under a dollar-a-year lease with the estate of James Campbell.

ON THE MOVE

MW Group has promoted Daniel Cody to vice president of acquisitions and development in the Honolulu-based office from acquisitions manager. His experience includes working in the development industry in Seattle, San Diego and Jakarta, Indonesia.

Pearlridge Center presented the nonprofit Hawaiian Railway Society with $36,722 in thanks for its service to the riders of Pearlridge Express over the holiday season. The funds will go toward repair and conduct maintenance on Locomotive No. 423, which is one of two locomotives that pulls the train during the Hawaii Railway Society's rides.

In recognition of United Nations International Women's Day, the Zonta Club of Hilo will present its Rose Award during a dinner in March to Helene Hale for her lifetime of service as an elected official representing Hawaii County.

Atlantis Submarines has promoted Wesley Kam as accounting manager for its submarine and cruise tour operations in Hawaii from senior accountant. His experience includes serving as senior accountant for HEMIC, accounting supervisor for the law firm of Ashford & Wriston, financial and billing specialist for HMSA's Dental Services Management and chief accountant for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.