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Speaking at IP Sizzles 2008

I am really looking forward to IP Sizzles 2008 -- formerly VoIP Sizzles 2008. What is it you ask? Well I am glad you did. IP Sizzles is an event put on by ABP which focuses on educating resellers on the the opportunities available in the IP communications space. It helps them maximize profit.

By attending the event you not only learn about the important technology in the industry but just as importantly you will learn about the solutions you should be selling while learning what works -- and what doesn't.

By coming to the show you can meet with companies such as Aastra Telecom, ClearOne, CyberData, Linksys, Snom and many others.

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On a partially unrelated topic -- I have been doing a  long-term review on a really nicely crafted Aastra IP phone with a DECT wireless extension built in -- expect a review shortly. So far this phone has been great.

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One of the reasons I love resellers so much is that they are really the grease that gets the world of IP communications humming. You see, resellers are essential in helping small companies with their telephony systems. Of course you could deploy a communications system without a reseller but for small companies, the experience a reseller brings to the equation is essential as smaller companies generally don't have time to focus on everything they need to know before and after they deploy a system.

I think all companies should keep up with the latest in the world of communications and technology but when it comes to deploying, you should always consult an experienced reseller who can bring unbiased  (as long as you choose wisely) experience into your purchasing process.

I will be a keynote speaker at the event and I hope to see you there -- July 28-30, 2008 in Dallas, Texas.

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Eyeball Networks Signs 5-Year Micro-Community Agreement with TMC

You may recall past writings about how TMCnet has been building communities of interest for customers worldwide in an effort to educate purchasing decision makers about the products and services in different subsets of the communications and technology markets.

Our micro-community program is called channels and our more comprehensive program is called GOCs or Global Online Communities.

Currently TMCnet has built sponsored communities devoted to over 100 topics such as: IP VPN, Telecom Expense Management Solutions, IPTV CRM and HD Voice.

In addition, there are over 30 more in development and a number of our customers have been asking for longer term contracts -- ensuring they are able to keep the key term which represents the channel or GOC they sponsor.

One such customer -- Eyeball Networks, the company sponsoring the NAT Traversal channel has just signed a five year contract to hold the term as the name of a channel.

TMC's customers -- the service providers, resellers, enterprises, SMBs and developers tell us they search for products to purchase at trade shows, via magazines and the web. I believe it will soon become obvious that in addition to traditional activities such as trade show exhibits and magazine ads, all companies should explore building viral, news-generated communities in order to help educate the markets they serve, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have found that online communities build a company's brand, thought leadership and ultimately its sales.

Most importantly, as communities are online products, they can be measured, tracked and adjusted frequently to ensure they perform well.

So thanks to our customers for continuing to choose TMCnet as a destination which helps them make  purchasing decisions and thanks to sponsors such as Eyeball Networks who enable us to bring you all the quality content you have come to rely on day after day.

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Microsoft Response Point at Costco

Is the world ready to buy their IP PBXs from Costco? We are about to find out as the warehouse club with 537 worldwide stores and over 51 million card holders will be carrying Syspine/Microsft's Response Point, the entry level PBX that is not short on features like mobility and speech recognition support.

My take? This is a great trial for Microsoft and its partners but I am not sure that every small business is ready to deploy an IP communications phone system without the aid of a reseller or technical person. Then again, the typical SMB is likely deploying more and more technology these days without reseller assistance.

It will certainly be interesting to watch how sales are and how much space Costco devotes to these products. I did a quick calculation by the way and it seems the average Costco store is 141,000 square feet and there are 393 stores in the US. That means Response Point will share space with juice, food, stereos, etc. in a total of over 55 million square feet of retail space. Wow! that is a lot of shopping space. Now I know why it takes me so long to get in and out of this retail giant's stores.

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