VoIP Blog - Tehrani.com

January 12, 2007

While the world is going iPhone lawsuit crazy (posts from Andy, Jeff and Aswath) there is a bit of news that seems to be under the radar but crucial. What is it you ask? It is that eBay/PayPal will start distributing key fobs with random security codes. The goal will be to increase security. Basically the computer asks you for the code, password, etc and if you have it, you are who you say you are. The system can be broken if someone steals the key fob without your knowledge and also has your user name and password. This is a pretty secure system and could usher in a new era of secure online transactions and fraud reduction.

 

This is very good news for all of us who want more security online. This may come in especially handy for those recently discovered prostitution transactions on Craigslist.

 

Now speaking of security, you are about to gain some. That secure feeling you got when you knew Ma Bell was around, giving you communications everywhere you needed it. How you ask? Well the Cingular name will go away and be replaced by AT&T. So the once ultra-secret Apple iPhone will work on the Cingular network, soon to be AT&T.

 

But while we were all so focused on what was going on in the mobile world, many of us may not have seen the takeover of Ubiquity by Avaya for $141 million. I had heard the company was looking to sell but I expected this transaction to take place in another year or so. This is good news for the world of SIP as this is an area Ubiquity was very strong. Also, it puts Avaya more in the business of providing service provider solutions which is a bit surprising.

 

Either Avaya is looking to expand their revenue sources from the service provider market or they are just looking at Ubiquity as an enterprise company with some unrelated service provider solutions.

 

Lots of companies would like to be purchased by Avaya – that would be a big payday for anyone… Like winning the lottery. Speaking of which I just noticed the French National Lottery has implemented a new CRM system from InStranet… I have never heard of either of these organizations but I agree having a god CRM system in please makes great sense when you are dealing with unhappy people who didn’t win. Then again, to me having six weeks of vacation a year would be like winning the lottery.

 

CRM is important and I have been doing a fair bit of it myself as many people have been calling and e-mailing me lately asking what is up with Zultys. So I diligently reached out to Telrad Connegy, the new owners and before I received a response (hopefully I will soon), I saw that the company has put out some news on what is up. Here is a note from CEO Avi Weinrib.

 

Now I could go on like this for a while mind you but I just came across this fascinating article about how Tuesday’s are the worst days ever for dieting. Many people start their food-reduction-suffering on Mondays by the way and give up a day later. Moreover you can gain 2 pounds a year from 5 M&Ms a day. So with that, I am wrapping up this article and going out for an early dinner. I figure I can eat everything in site or a few more days and start my diet on Wednesday instead. It helps to stay informed. :)

 

 

 

January 12, 2007

I just finished up my keynote presentation for the Alpha 911 class of the Purple Heart Foundation and got a chance to thank the disable veterans of this country for all they have done to keep America safe and Secure. I felt very humbled by the opportunity to speak to such a distinguished group of people.

 

I spoke a bit about the how the call center market has evolved over the years and how TMC launched the first magazine in the world about call centers in 1982. I also mentioned how TMC launched the first publication on VoIP in 1997.

 

I explained how these veterans are on the front lines of customer contact and in today’s day and age the call center agent is many times the only person you can speak with at a company.

 

I mentioned how these people will grease the wheels of international commerce for years to come.

 

Ken told me some of the family members of people who lost their lives on 9/11 at the Pentagon were on the web conference. Also in attendance was the Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Again – a humbling experience.

 

During my presentation I also gave much credit to what Ken Smith is doing with the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The training these disabled veterans get from the MOPH is second to none and I am proud to be part of an industry that allows disabled veterans to find employment.

 

Moreover, IP communications has made it possible for these veterans to work from anywhere in the world. This is certainly the most exciting thing I have done in a while and I can't wait to meet many of these disabled veterans in a week or so at Internet Telephony Conference & Expo in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.