July 2008 Archives

Dallas is Sizzling!

July 28, 2008 8:03 PM

Rich Tehrani is not the only TMC editorial voice in Dallas this week.

I'm here as well visiting clients and dropping in to see what's going on at IP Sizzles.

So far today, I've had some interesting meetings with NEC and Fujitsu. More to come later, but suffice it to say there is a lot of interesting stuff going on here in Texas.

NEC is working on new platforms and new terminals (phones) and new applications to address their bread and butter Enterprise market, including some interesting applications targeting verticals such as healthcare, hospitality and higher education.

Fujitsu continues to build on their success in the optical market. The highlight of the visit today was a tour of their manufacturing facility in Richardson, TX. As I said, I'll cover this more in depth later on, but I just wanted to thank Traci King and Danna Melcher for their time and for arranging such an interesting tour of the facility.

Now it's off to IP Sizzles... and yes, FYI, it's sizzling in Dallas, with the mercury hitting 102 today.

#$%^&* Apple!

July 24, 2008 4:14 PM

It figures. Do something to help the masses identify where they can get an iPhone 3G and Bam! No good deed shall remain unpunished.

Earlier today I blogged about the Top Muffin iPhone 3G Availability Tracker, and how it was helping people find the iPhone 3G's they had been waiting for. Well guess what? It's gone. Over!

Here's what Top Muffin has to say:

Evidently, Apple did not like their 3G iPhone availability data being used outside of apple.com.

They have changed all inventory values to NULL in their JSON file. I guess it beats a cease-and-desist letter.\

Looks like people will have to go to the store themselves now. It's a wonderful strategy on the part of Apple. Maybe once we get the folks who want an iPhone into our stores, they'll impulsively purchase some iPods and a 30-inch Cinema Display...

Grrr....

iPhone Shortage Dissipating

July 24, 2008 1:24 PM

It is true that in the wake of the recent iPhone 3G launch, Rich Tehrani had trouble finding one.

But according to Top Muffin's iPhone 3G Availability Tracker -- which tracks which stores have inventory based on Apple's own information -- as of 12:45pm today, July 24th there were quite a few units available for purchase at Apple stores throughout the United States.

In fact if Rich really wants a black 16GB model, I might be able to hook him up.

For more on the availability of the iPhone 3G, check out this article.

Cisco Goes Pure for Home Networking

July 23, 2008 5:12 PM

Cisco announced earlier today that it is acquiring Pure Networks, a developer of home-networking software.

The acquisition will help Cisco to grow its solution set as the home networking market continues to grow more complex as home users continue to add new devices and services that connect to computers and to each other.

Pure Networks' home networking-management solution is designed to enable users to easily set up and manage their home network and connect a range of devices, applications and services.

Their flagship offering, Network Magic is billed as being the solution that helps stop users from wasting hours wading through manuals and confusing instructions or waiting on hold for technical support. The solution also promises to make it easy to:

Set up their network in minutes
Print from any computer and share files
Securely connect to a wireless network and prevent intruders from accessing the home wireless network; and more.

As Kurt Scherf, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Parks Associates, points out in the company's Analyst Blog,

Pure Networks and Cisco were no strangers to each other. Pure Networks' software was already a key element in the Linksys Easy Link Advisor (LELA) solution aimed at simplifying the setup and management of wireless networks.

Cisco will pay $120 million for Pure Networks, and they expect the acquisition to be completed in Cisco's first quarter of fiscal year 2009.

Brocade Buys Foundry for $3 Billion

July 22, 2008 8:07 AM

Brocade Communications Systems Inc. is shelling out $3 billion to buy data equipment maker Foundry Networks Inc.

The move is receiving generally positive reviews as a move that will not only strengthen Brocade's product offering but will also allow it to more effectively compete with Cisco Systems.

The combination of Brocade's storage switches and Foundry's data networking switches could have a significant impact on the combined company's ability to offer a complete solution through an enhanced channel strategy.

Brocade, agreed to pay $18.50 in cash plus 0.0907 Brocade share for each Foundry share, valuing the company at $19.25 per share.

Back in May Foundry announced a pair of modules that reportedly allow their BigIron RX Series switches and the NetIron MLX Series routers to deliver the industry's highest 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) and gigabit Ethernet (GbE) density of up to 512 ports of 10GbE and 1,536 ports of GbE in a single system.

ITEXPO: Well On Its Way!

July 21, 2008 5:22 PM

By any stretch of the imagination, 90% is considered a good number, with the obvious implication that 90% is WELL ON ITS WAY to 100%.

For example, in Butte County, CA,. a series of fires started by lightning strikes are reportedly 90% contained. The upshot is that the fire department is well on its way toa successful resolution of the situation.

NBC Sports sales issued a release saying that ad sales for NBC's family of networks are 90 percent sold out of their Summer Olympics inventory. Apparently there was great concern that they would fall short of their goals, but now it appears they are well on their way to 100%.

Likewise, Rich Tehrani blogged today that ITEXPO has sold out 90% of its Exhibit Hall capacity, and there are still two months to go before the event.

Looks like ITEXPO is well on its way to becoming another successful show!

Microsoft FREEs Up Support for Vista SP-1

July 17, 2008 3:39 PM

Tom Keating writes today that Microsoft is now offering FREE unlimited installation and compatibility support for Windows Vista, including FREE phone support!

Well, I might finally get up the courage to unwrap that copy of Vista that I got when I purchased my home office desktop last year.

I wonder how much flack it took for the decision makers in the Redmond customer service department before they threw their hands in the air and said, "Fine! Enough already! Free support until March 18, 2009!"

Now... what did I do with that list of all my peripherals that I jotted down noting whether or not Vista drivers existed?

Support is only being offered on Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1).

For more details, check out Microsoft's Help & Support page.

Obama Cites Cyber Attack Threat

July 17, 2008 10:33 AM

Kevin Coleman is a Certified Management Consultant and Strategic Advisor with the Technolytics Institute.

He's also our newest columnist.

Kevin's first column touches on a very important subject: the threat of cyber attacks.

Spurred by a Barack Obama speech, in which the Democratic candidate placed the threat of cyber attacks in the same category as nuclear and biological weapons, Coleman tackles the issue head-on and urges the powers that be to "act decisively now!"

As Coleman says, "The clock is ticking and there is no time for politics."

To read Kevin Coleman's first column in its entirety, click here.

DSL, Fiber, IPTV Subs Growing

July 16, 2008 2:13 PM

DSL currently dominates the global broadband access landscape with approximately 65% of the world's 370 million broadband subscribers. Fiber subscriptions are however growing rapidly, rising by 33% year over year to lay claim to approximately 10 million subscribers.

The numbers come from a report prepared for the Broadband Forum by industry analysts Point Topic.

The report also found a doubling of IPTV subscribers year on year with nearly 15.5 million people now subscribed to an IPTV service.

Europe lays claim to the most IPTV subscribers with over 8.4 million subscribers, making it the strongest market in terms of growth and total subscriber numbers.

Regionally speaking, Asia Pacific is next with 2.6 million subscribers, followed by North America at 2.2 million and South and East Asia at 2 million.

Asterisk & AudioCodes Webinar

July 16, 2008 11:56 AM

Asterisk continues its march into the telecom mainstream, as it grows into an ever more diverse range of enterprise and service provider applications. Of course developers and network operators alike still have some concerns regarding the scalability of and reliability of solutions based on open source software.

One way to overcome those objections is to partner with a player that has experience serving large enterprises and service providers, and one with a reputation for building high-quality, reliable gear.

Enter the team of Digium -- the Asterisk company -- and AudioCodes.

The two companies will be hosting a webinar tomorrow, Thursday, July 17, 2008, at 2:00pm ET (11:00am PT) entitled Asterisk: Reliable and scalable solutions with AudioCodes

Attendees will learn how the combination of Asterisk and AudioCodes Media Gateways can work together to deliver highly reliable and scalable solutions.

After the presentation, the Webinar will be open for a live Q&A. Be sure to have your questions ready!

Presenters will include Alan Percy, Director of Business Development, AudioCodes and Steve Sokol, Software Product Manager, Digium - The Asterisk Company

The event will be moderated by TMC's Erik Linask.

America for Sale?

July 15, 2008 4:22 PM

Tim Gray is reporting on the chatter that has Sprint as the target of a takeover - albeit a friendly takeover - at the hands of SK Telecom, South Korea's wireless giant.

Yesterday, Leuven, Belgium-based InBev picked up Anheuser Busch for the thirst-quenching little sum of $52 billion.

And last week word came down that the Abu Dhabi Investment Council had purchased one of New York's landmark skyscrapers, the Chrysler Building, for $800 million or so.

Now quick... Who owns Rockefeller Center?

If You See a Robot in the Mall...

July 11, 2008 12:40 PM

If Peapod doesn't provide quite the level of service you expected... if you would prefer to actually have a look at the specific fruits and vegetables or cuts of meat, etc... before purchasing them, then Japanese robotics developer tmsuk might have the solution for you.

According to Pink Tentacle, tmsuk has developed a remote controlled shopping robot that allows the infirm or just plain lazy to shop from home via various cellphone links.

The current state of the technology was demonstrated at the Izutsuya department store in the city of Kitakyushu, Japan.

According to Pink Tentacle:

In the demonstration, an unwell grandmother unable to go shopping with her granddaughter sent the robot in her place. Using an NTT DoCoMo video-capable cellphone, the grandmother was able to control the robot and enjoy the shopping experience through the robot's camera eyes. As curious shoppers looked on, the woman maneuvered the robot to the hat section, eyed what was available on the shelf, and had her granddaughter model a few for her before deciding which one to purchase.

Mobile Giving and the MLB: A Grand Slam!

July 11, 2008 10:48 AM |

1 Comment

Here's a great concept... Use technology to help raise money for sick kids.

This Sunday, the Washington Nationals and MLB.com will debut the use of "mobile giving" to benefit the creation of a Diabetes Care Complex for Children's National Medical Center.

Here's how it works: Fans can text the word "NATS" to 90999 to give $5 to support the work of Children's National Medical Center to fight pediatric diabetes, a growing concern in the Washington area and nationwide.

While the July 13 game against the Houston Astros is the public launch of this initiative, people can donate between July 10th and July 31st.

MLB.com, the Nationals, and Children's National Medical Center are partnering with the Mobile Giving Foundation, which enables nonprofits to accept donations from almost any phone and major cellular providers.
mobile giving.jpg

For further information about the Mobile Giving Foundation, visit their Web site.

For further information about the Children's National Medical Center, located in Washington, DC, visit their Web site.

Martin to Comcast: You're Punished!

July 11, 2008 10:11 AM

Looks like Kevin Martin is ready to drop the hammer on Comcast.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Thursday that he will recommend that Comcast -- the nation's largest cable company -- be penalized for violating the FCC's principles that are designed to guarantee access to the Internet. This would be the first such penalty levied in defense of the agency's open access rules.

It's expected that the two democratic appointees to the Commission will side with Martin.

The Washington Post is reporting the following corrective measures will be recommended:

Comcast will have to stop its practice of blocking
Comcast will need to provide details to the Commission on the extent and manner in which the practice was been used; and
Comcast will have to disclose to consumers details on future plans for managing its network going forward.

Truphone Hits iPhone App Store

July 11, 2008 7:44 AM

If you spend any time traveling internationally for business, you understand the challenge of maintaining a high level of connectivity while keeping costs down.

Let's face it, international calling plans are expensive, and frankly the various roaming agreements can be confusing, leaving users trying to remember how much it costs to call from Prague to Paris as opposed to say Peoria or Portofino.

Truphone today announced that their native VoIP client for the iPhone -- developed with Apple's own SDK -- is available at the online iPhone App Store. The application is currently available for download at no charge.

The company has been at the forefront of making mobile VoIP inexpensive and easy to use for some time now. The solution routes calls over WiFi, so if you're near a hotspot and need to make a call you can simply call up the Truphone application on your iPhone and place the call.

Existing Truphone users will recognize the same simple process for initiating a call: one touch to open the keypad/dialer, the actual dialing of the digits (or simply select a contact from the iPhone's own address book), and one touch to launch the call. That's it. No access codes, no fuss, no muss.

Here's a nifty video explaining how the solution works.

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July 2008 Archives

Dallas is Sizzling!

#$%^&* Apple!

iPhone Shortage Dissipating

Cisco Goes Pure for Home Networking

Brocade Buys Foundry for $3 Billion

ITEXPO: Well On Its Way!

Microsoft FREEs Up Support for Vista SP-1

Obama Cites Cyber Attack Threat

DSL, Fiber, IPTV Subs Growing

Asterisk & AudioCodes Webinar

America for Sale?

If You See a Robot in the Mall...

Mobile Giving and the MLB: A Grand Slam!

Martin to Comcast: You're Punished!

Truphone Hits iPhone App Store

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