I am at a Teledirect user group meeting at The Venue of Scottsdale which is a great location for a dinner party.
Blogged via Wireless Handheld
Blogged via Wireless Handheld
April 2007 Archives
NTT will be reselling Asterisk/Digium products in Japan. This is a pretty big deal for Digium and it shows the true global nature of open-source communications.
I have just received word Kerry Garrison will be speaking at TMC’s Communications Developer Conference to take place next month in Santa Clara, CA. Kerry is the Sr. Product Manager at Trixbox and works intricately with the open-source development community. If you have any interest in open-source communications development you will not want to miss his presentation.
In addition, Kevin Fleming, the co-maintainer of Asterisk will be presenting a keynote at the event.
We believe our keynote program is well balanced with representation from the open-source community and other important players in the market who will give their perspectives from various vantage points.
Keynotes will be provided from these other companies (in chronological order):
- AudioCodes
- Avaya
- Pactolus
- Aculab
- Skype
- Nortel
- Cisco
Tomorrow I will be speaking in sunny Phoenix, Arizona on “Marketing in the New World Order”. I often write about a plethora of new technologies and tomorrow I get a chance to weave together my knowledge of marketing and technology together and in doing so I hope to shed light on opportunities many companies are not yet taking advantage of.
Building communities, blogging and sites like Twitter will be mentioned as well as Web 2.0 and mashups. I am really looking forward to talking about this subject matter as it is an area I have a tremendous amount of passion for.
I am speaking for a company called Teledirect and the event is open to Teledirect sponsors and customers. If you fit one of these categories I hope to see you there.
Here is a link for more details.
Here are some stories worth reading from this past week:
- Hosted VoIP for SMBs to Grow: Study
- VoIP Call Quality Hindrances, Meet NetEqualizer
- Tektronix Beefs Up Spectra2 VoIP Test Solution With New IMS, SIP, and Video Features
- VoIP Provider Zupintra Integrates "Talking SIP" Platform from IVR
- GlobalTouch Modifies VoIP-in-a-Box for Prepaid Service
- VoIP Phone System Maker ShoreTel Releases ShoreTel 7, Adds New Switches and Conference Phone
- CommuniClique Announces 30-Day Trial for VoIP-Collaboration
- In-Stat Reveals VoIP as Key Enable for Cable Telephony Growth
- VoIP Provider Vocalscape Provides Calling Card Solution to NTel
- Avotus Call Accounting Minimizes Disruptions of Migration to VoIP
- FaxBack's VoIP Fax Relieves Fax Hassles
If you haven’t seen the Planet Earth series on TV you do not want to miss it. That is if you are at all interested in nature or animals. With a good HD TV the picture quality is absolutely incredible and there is footage never seen before anywhere.
Some of the scenes worth seeing are a crocodile taking a wildebeest in ultra slow motion. Unimaginable cave scenes and a snow leopard hunting and catching prey in the remote mountains of Pakistan.
You can order the DVD here if you like… It makes the perfect gift for your favorite blogger.
I was just perusing an article on Skype development from Greg Galitzine which consists of an interview with head of development for the world’s most successful VoIP software company. The interview is with Paul Amery the Director of the Skype Developer Program.
Here are some of the salient comments from Paul:
The breadth of developers who work with Skype is extraordinary. They range from 15-year old techies who are coding in their bedrooms to CEOs with more than 30 years of experience developing software applications. The uniting factor is that they all love Skype, and constantly want us to enhance the platform to help them do more.
The most popular application [Skype Extra] overall is CrazyTalk for Skype from Reallusion. This is a piece of software that allows users to use live avatars and emotions while on Skype video calls. Basically, it lip synchs a video avatar to your speech. It’s a lot of fun and has been downloaded more than 4 million times to date.
At TMC’s Communications Developer Conference in Santa Clara next month, I will be sharing my view of what makes a successful developer. I also plan to explain how to develop with Skype — from concept to cash. I’ve seen tens of thousands of third-party applications over the past seven years of involvement with various developer programs, but I think there are probably eight key factors to success. I will be sharing these with the attendees.
Here are a few questions and answers taken verbatim:
GG: Have you seen any exciting applications “on the drawing board” that might be available to the community of Skype users any time soon?
PA: During my keynote, I will be discussing some of these exciting new applications and channels.
Greg did a great job with this interview and I am looking forward to hearing what Paul has to say at the conference in a few weeks. I hope to see you there.
Congratulations to Ed Whitacre Jr. for building a great big telecommunications company from an assortment of smaller ones. Certainly in this case the sum was greater than the parts.
Ed is about to retire and he can consider this my retirement present.
While I have perhaps had a rant or two over the years about net neutrality comments made by Mr. Whitacre, there is not a single person who can deny this man has achieved greatness in the world of communications and technology.
Ed Whitacre Jr. put AT&T back together again and left it in great shape.
The Board of Directors has chosen Randall L. Stephenson, AT&T's chief operating officer, to succeed Whitacre as chairman and CEO.
Randall has tremendous shoes to fill and it may be very tough to keep AT&T’s massive momentum going without even more acquisitions. These could consist of content plays such as perhaps satellite radio, internet companies and even advertising networks. Yahoo! makes a good acquisition target for example. But really, who knows at this point?
It will be very interesting to see where this company which represents a new and old American icon will decide to take its expanding business. It will certainly be exciting to watch and discuss with my community of readers.
Today I get to explore the nation's railway system. And you thought my job was boring.
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Yesterday I was speaking to an influential PR representative who was implying one of his handset manufacturer customers was not really thrilled by the amount of power the wireless carriers wield. Generally this sort of talk is done behind the scenes but I have been noticing record levels of discontent among device-makers.
Perhaps this is the reason for my surprise at an article in the Wall Street Journal this morning where Motorola Ed Zander is on record as saying, “I love my job. I hate my customers.” It is surprising to see these thoughts going on record.
The article is a chronicle of how Motorola lost its top spot in the cell phone market and the soap opera that got them from where they were to where they are now.
The situation wireless handset manufacturers are in is similar to what Wal-Mart suppliers deal with as the nation’s largest retailer also dictates product specifications and pricing. I suppose you can’t blame wireless carriers for exerting their influence to do what is best for the bottom line.
Over the next few years as WiFi and WiMAX become more popular it will be interesting to see if consumers are swayed by a new generation of WiFi telephony devices and service providers subsidized by today’s handset manufacturers.
Remember Ari Zoldan the Internet Telephony Conference & Expo attendee who won the Toyota FJ Cruiser in Ft. Lauderdale, FL? Well I just heard from him. His company is a service provider bringing VoIP to countries in Africa. Here is a story mentioning Launch 3 briefly.We will cover their activities more in the future. Be sure to sign up for a TMCnet news alert if you want to stay informed.
In a $723 Million transaction two of the leaders in the mid-market communications space have teamed up as Mitel has just acquired Inter-Tel. Both companies were very strong players in the mid-size PBX space and both were leaders in staying ahead of the technology curve
Going back to the days of CTI over a decade ago, Mitel and Inter-Tel are established players in IP communications and unified communications.
“We believe this is an outstanding transaction for our stakeholders,” said Inter-Tel CEO Norman Stout. “Mitel and Inter-Tel have state-of-the-art products and complementary channels to market. In particular, we are excited about the opportunities this partnership represents for Inter-Tel’s associates and partners, who we believe will benefit from being part of a larger, growing and dynamic organization that can compete more effectively in the marketplace. We look forward to working with the Mitel team to ensure a rapid and seamless transition.”
The combined company, including Inter-Tel international subsidiaries such as Inter-Tel Europe, Swan Solutions and Lake Communications, will have solutions to address the needs of very small to large businesses globally. It will have market coverage in over 90 countries and customers in industries such as finance, healthcare, hospitality, retail, government and education.
“Having rapidly achieved the next step in our long-term growth plans with this merger, we will for the near-term, withdraw Mitel from the IPO registration process,” said Don Smith. “We look forward to working with the Inter-Tel team to accelerate our position in the dynamic unified communications market.”
The boards of directors of both companies have approved the transaction and it is subject to the approval of Inter-Tel stockholders and other customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007.
The transaction is being funded by a combination of equity and debt. The equity component is being led by Francisco Partners with participation by Morgan Stanley Principal Investments (“MSPI”). The debt funding is being arranged by Morgan Stanley on behalf of Mitel. Morgan Stanley was the financial advisor to Mitel. In addition, Genuity Capital Markets was the independent financial advisor to the board of Mitel with respect to the transaction. UBS Investment Bank was the financial advisor to Inter-Tel.
The combined company, including Inter-Tel international subsidiaries such as Inter-Tel Europe, Swan Solutions and Lake Communications, will have solutions to address the needs of very small to large businesses globally. It will have market coverage in over 90 countries and customers in industries such as finance, healthcare, hospitality, retail, government and education.
“Having rapidly achieved the next step in our long-term growth plans with this merger, we will for the near-term, withdraw Mitel from the IPO registration process,” said Don Smith. “We look forward to working with the Inter-Tel team to accelerate our position in the dynamic unified communications market.”
The boards of directors of both companies have approved the transaction and it is subject to the approval of Inter-Tel stockholders and other customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007.
The transaction is being funded by a combination of equity and debt. The equity component is being led by Francisco Partners with participation by Morgan Stanley Principal Investments (“MSPI”). The debt funding is being arranged by Morgan Stanley on behalf of Mitel. Morgan Stanley was the financial advisor to Mitel. In addition, Genuity Capital Markets was the independent financial advisor to the board of Mitel with respect to the transaction. UBS Investment Bank was the financial advisor to Inter-Tel.
There seems to be no downside to this transaction as customers of both companies have a more solid single company to rely on for upgrades, software and support. The combined entities will also be a more powerful force fighting against the likes of Cisco, Avaya and Nortel.
Greg has some thoughts on the bee problems and how Taiwan is being affected by bees who leave their hives and get lost on the way home. Last year at the Communications Developer Conference I joked onstage about the latest forms of IP communications and how pigeons would play an important role in providing mesh-based WiFi networks of the future.
It seems now we need a tiny IP-based bee-cam to be placed on bees allowing scientists to see where these bees are going. Some of the theories scientists are offering are power lines or cellular signals disrupting the bees natural ability to navigate.
Something I haven’t read about is pollution being a problem but pesticides and weather are other theories that have been posed.
But the bee problem seems to have become a problem last year and power lines and cell phone signals haven’t increased so much in the last year have they? Remember this is a worldwide problem it seems.
If it is a technology problem then it would have to be a new wireless technology. Perhaps BPL? WiMAX? Bluetooth is too weak to cause such a problem. Perhaps it’s EVDO Rev A.?
Anyway, I am not a scientist but it is clear the world needs honeybees if we want to continue to enjoy flowers and a variety of food. I hope this problem gets solved soon.
There is big communications developer news afoot as Skype announced over 10 million downloads of Skype Extras. These Extras are in fact software programs designed to integrate with Skype. Collaboration software and call recording are examples of products that are part of this program.
The most popular Skype Extra to date is Reallusion’s CrazyTalk for Skype, which has been downloaded by consumers more than 3.5 million times. For business users, the Pamela Call Recorder has been downloaded more than 1 million times.
It goes without saying that the past few years has seen the rise of ecosystems in the communications market. Two of the drivers in the space are Skype and Salesforce.com. Certainly there are others such as Avaya, Cisco but the model is always similar. Make your products work with strong players in the space.
I am sure you know by now that TMC’s Communications Developer Conference next month in Santa Clara, CA will allow attendees to meet with the head of the Skype Developer program as well as the key decision makers from developer programs at Cisco, Avaya, Aculab, NMS and a whole bunch more listed on this page.
I can’t be more excited about going out to Santa Clara next month to help facilitate the development of ever-larger communications ecosystems.
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