Financial

Google+ Growth, Dropbox Killer: Google IS the Tech News

February 9, 2012

Google has entrenched itself is so many areas of tech they have become the technology news of the day. First off, Google+ growth has been nothing short of fantastic, in part because the company has altered search results to put more emphasis on this social network. Every SEO/SEM professional has had no choice in the past few months to get up to speed on the latest social network from the search giant. And this in part is the reason why it has half the unique visitors of Twitter according to web traffic tracking site Compete.

In other unrelated news in the mobile market – hey wait, it isn’t unrelated at all – once again it features Google whose Motorola Mobility acquisition is about to get OKed – perhaps as early as next week.

The bad news now for those companies selling products with technology covered by Motorola/Google patents – you’re on the hook for 2.25% of every sale.

Posted in 4G, Android, Apple, Broadband, Cloud Computing, E-Commerce, Facebook, Financial, Gadget, Google, Microsoft, Open Source, Patent, Search, Security, Social Networking, Technology, Wireless

Rewards Network, the Social Restaurant Hub

February 7, 2012

In the last few decades it has become apparent that all companies are for the most part limited by their imaginations. Apple was thought to be a computer company but is now a leader in music, movies and phones. Amazon went from selling books to everything – even its servers are for rent via its cloud-computing solutions. Google went from search to purchasing Motorola Mobility and is well known for being involved in many projects from solar to self-driving cars and the television space.

But an airline? Certainly they aren’t adapting to the new competitive landscape – after all, many of the airplanes we fly on in the US were built in the 1960s when the cloud was defined as an IBM System/360 mainframe.

American Airlines has been a pioneer in loyalty marketing since the AAdvantage frequent flyer program was launched in 1981 and as a result their successful marketing concept spread to many other industries from toys to greeting cards.

The airline took a page from its own book and runs an AAdvantage Dining program which allows members to earn points good for travel and other services.

Posted in Amazon, Android, Apple, E-Commerce, Facebook, Financial, Google, Marketing, Microsoft, Social Networking, Technology, Twitter

Bain Capital, Romney, Vulture Investing and 15% Tax Rates

January 23, 2012

A shout out to investors everywhere

I haven’t seen this level of funding in the tech space in years – I would go so far as to say the amount of funding is the greatest I’ve seen since 2000. I don’t believe we are exceeding 2000 levels but it is encouraging to see that investors believe that tech makes a solid investment.

Before I begin with which markets have gotten money, let me make a shout out to the investors in the world. You see, me, everyone at TMC and in fact most of the tech world owes its existence to investors who risk their capital against all odds to make a profit. It isn’t unusual for these investors to hit it big in one out of ten deals – meaning 90% of their investment is washed down the drain.

And because of their decision to be investors we get companies like Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Pandora and Google which have made the world a better place.

We are in an unusual time in American history – one in which a potential presidential candidate is under attack for being a successful investor.

Posted in Amazon, Broadband, Facebook, Financial, Google, HTML5, SaaS, Social Networking, Technology, Twitter

Super Bowl Streaming to Accelerate Mobile and Web Video?

December 21, 2011

For the first time you will be able to stream the Super Bowl online and using a Verizon 4G device you can watch for free but 3G device users will have to pay a monthly fee of $10 for access. For users who are at a computer and most likely on a device needing Adobe’s Flash you will be able to watch for free on NFL.com and NBCSports.com.

In another plus, the one event where consumers actually look forward to watching the commercials is the Super Bowl and NBC has confirmed users will be able to watch the TV ads shortly after they air on TV via the web. Unfortunately the default in-game ads for those not watching TV will be different.

On a related note, there is no word yet on the whether any unscheduled wardrobe malfunctions have been scheduled.

Verizon made a smart move by bundling this package with its more expensive 4G plans. As you may recall my last post in fact was a review of the Verizon MiFi mobile hotspot where I discussed whether the service was worth the price.

Posted in 4G, AT&T, Blackberry, Broadband, FCC, Financial, Gadget, IP Communications, IPTV, Technology, Verizon, Video, Wireless, iPad

Avaya's Top Communication Trends in 2012

December 16, 2011

Recently I had a chance to have an in-depth conversation with Avaya about the trends they see for 2012 in the communications space. In particular I spoke with George Humphrey a Director and Line of Business Owner at Avaya and Diane Royer, Senior Marketing Services Manager.

The trends below are at times augmented or enhanced with my thoughts.

1) Mobility raises the expectation of availability

Voice is morphing in the enterprise and becoming more consumer-driven and as a result everyone is connected at all times and moreover everyone wants immediate action. Consumers want to know right away if that widget on the website is compatible with European power or if the red color of the lamp online is closer to burgundy, beet or pomegranate.

Consumers are walking around with smartphones today that are the computing equivalent of supercomputers of a few decades back. This means we not only can do anything anywhere from a voice and data perspective, we will need to in order to maintain our customers and jobs.

Posted in 4G, AT&T, Amazon, Android, Apple, Avaya, Blackberry, Broadband, CRM, Call Center, Cisco, Cloud Computing, Communications Developer, Conference, Consumer Electronics, FCC, Facebook, Financial, Gadget, Google, IP Communications, ITEXPO, Microsoft, SIP, Speech Technologies, Technology, Twitter, Unified Communications, Video, Virtual Worlds, VoIP, Wireless, iPad

Ineptocracy Definition

November 3, 2011

I came across this term ineptocracy this morning while watching CNBC. The hosts had lots of fun with the word saying it is redundant. Here is the definition they quoted and a website with more:

A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

Photo credit: Victorian Traditions / Shutterstock.com

Posted in Financial, Political

China Telecoms and Incoherent US Foreign Policy

October 28, 2011

China telecom companies growing globally Go to any of the recent shows in technology and telecom such as CTIA Wireless and Interop and you see a huge presence from Chinese telecom companies like Huawei and to a lesser extent, ZTE. Moreover, talk to the competition and you will hear them say these companies are poised to “take over the world.”

This shouldn’t be a surprise because these companies have been able to benefit from the massive build-out of China’s tech and telecom infrastructure and while the rest of the world was experiencing post telecom-bubble burst syndrome, their Chinese competitors were feasting on home-grown growth and rapidly expanding worldwide.

No selling into the US Of course these companies are said to be state-controlled by the US which is why they aren’t allowed to make certain acquisitions or even sales into the US. Recently Owen Fletcher wrote about comments made by ZTE chairman Hou Weigui who said he won’t try to make core telecommunications deals in the US to companies like AT&T, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless due to political obstacles. He went on to cite a deal with Sprint which the government prevented.

Posted in AT&T, Broadband, Cisco, FCC, Financial, Gadget, IP Communications, Technology, Verizon, VoIP, Wireless

Evolution Understanding has Evolved

October 20, 2011

My paraphrased theory of evolution basically says DNA is passed from parent to offspring and through various mutations the offspring may be more adaptable to the changing environment, allowing them to be more apt to survive. But more recently I have read articles about how offspring can also be altered based on parental behavior.

In fact a new field of epigenetics is focused on chemical changes which determine if a gene is expressed or not.

This article I discovered today is very interesting if you have an interest in science, genetics or evolution as it details the concept of a molecular memory of a parent's experience. A few items of note are scientists have been able to alter the genes of worms to get them to live longer but offspring bred with non-mutated worms and no longer possessing the mutations still lived longer.

Basically it proves you can alter offspring through methods beyond mutations.

There is also a reference to a paper which shows the diet of a parent can change the offspring's cholesterol and lipids. Moreover, parents eating high-fat diets made daughters fatter and gave them type 2 diabetes.

While this topic is not my usual area of focus - I have always found science fascinating and moreover, I can't help but think that if the cost of healthcare is such a huge problem and it is in-part rising due to an ever-heavier population...

Posted in Financial, Science

Gary and Mary West: Improving Healthcare Through Disruption

October 19, 2011

For years, Americans have prospered like people in no other country on earth because our class-free society allowed virtually anyone with a good idea to launch a company, hire, prosper and keep the majority of the fruits of their labor. A competitive entrepreneurial culture further fostered an environment where successful businesspeople went from being entrepreneurs to serial entrepreneurs.

Even more impressive, so many of these successful businesspeople seem to reach a point in their career where they don’t feel satisfied helping society through their inventions and hiring, they want to focus on problems with society and fix them directly.

Such is the case with Gary and Mary West – two legends in the call center space as founders of West Corp. As you may know,in 1982 TMC launched the first magazine in the world in the call center space and at the time we called it Telemarketing (now Customer Interaction Solutions). Believe it or not, The term call center wasn't coined until the late eighties. And one of our areas of focus was on the outsourcing space – which at that time was virtually all done domestically in places like Iowa and Nebraska.

For decades, West Corp constantly placed high on lists of contact center outsourcing companies TMC ranked and currently employs around 35,000 people.

Posted in CRM, Call Center, Financial, Political, Technology

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ... 54 Next

Communications and Technology Blog - Tehrani.com

Financial