Communications and Technology Blog

Cisco Underestimated Skype's Value. Acts against Microsoft Acquisition

By Rich Tehrani on Wednesday, Feb 15

Cisco is far from the most open company in tech so it is ironic it is concerned about a monopoly over video...

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Tagged cisco, consumer, consumerization of it, gadget, itexpo, microsoft, polycom, sip, skype, telepresence, uc, umi, unified communications, video

FCC Now Requires VoIP Outage Reporting

By Tom Keating on Wednesday, Feb 15

The Federal Communications Commission today voted and passed a requirement that interconnected VoIP service providers report significant network outages that meet specific...

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Tagged 911, america, fcc, outage, reporting, skype, threshold, united states, voip, vonage

Grandstream Launches new ATAs at ITEXPO Miami 2012

By Rich Tehrani on Tuesday, Feb 14

Recently at ITEXPO East 2012 in Miami, Grandstream announced a new family of ATAs – an addition which shows the company...

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Tagged conference, grandstream, ip camera, ip communications, ip security, ip surveillance, itexpo, technology, voip

Will Nimble 2.0 take Social CRM Mainstream?

By Rich Tehrani on Tuesday, Feb 14

Recently consumer products manufacturer P&G – one of the largest advertising spenders at over $9B announced it will cut its marketing headcount...

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Tagged crm, goldmine, nimble, oracle, salesforce, siebel, social crm

Journey Releases New Video Featuring Michaele Salahi

By Tom Keating on Tuesday, Feb 14

I was scrolling through my Facebook Newsfeed when I came across a post by Journey saying they had a new music...

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Tagged journey, michaele salahi, music, neal schon, rock, valentines day

KEMP Load Balancer Certified for Microsoft Lync Server 2010

By Tom Keating on Tuesday, Feb 14

KEMP Technologies today announced that its LoadMaster hardware-based and virtual appliance load balancers are now approved for Microsoft Lync Server 2010. If...

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Tagged kemp, load balancer, loadmaster, lync, lync server 2010, microsoft

Watch out for Metallic Objects in IP Phones! You Could Get Hurt!

By Tom Keating on Monday, Feb 13

I've tested, used, and reviewed many Polycom phones over the years, but apparently I never noticed or received this warning letter with...

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Tagged australia, handset, ip phone, lawsuit, litigation, litigious, polycom, telecommunications act

So Can You Re-Use Those Cisco Phones?

By Peter on Monday, Feb 13

From a VAR:"At the risk of sounding like sour grapes, in my experience no one who has tried to use old Cisco...

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Tagged cisco, hosted pbx, phone system, sip, voip

Apple Planned the iPad BEFORE the iPhone. Who knew?

By Tom Keating on Friday, Feb 10

Everyone assumes that Apple was working on the iPhone before the iPad. However, the recent lawsuit by Proview Electronics suing Apple over...

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Tagged apple, china, cisco, ipad, iphone, proview, tablets, trademark

What Twitter Told Me This Week

By Peter on Friday, Feb 10

I get a lot of articles off twitter. Too many to write about all of them so I am just going to...

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Tagged clec, fcc, google, mpls, rural, UC, usf, voip

Dell Voice Launches in Canada - Will it Fail As Badly As Dell Video Chat?

By Tom Keating on Thursday, Feb 9

Dell has partnered with Ontario-based Fongo to offer Dell Voice, a VoIP app exclusively available exclusively in Canada that offers a Canadian...

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Tagged android, apple, dell video chat, dell voice, google, logitech, ontario, sightspeed, skype, voice

5 Tips for Speakers

By Peter on Wednesday, Feb 8

I'm not the best speaker. I'm still nervous and anxious before every talk, even when moderating. But I prepare for every talk...

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Tagged itexpo, radizeski

Vonage Attacks Skype with 30% Price Cut and Free App-to-App Calling & Texts

By Tom Keating on Wednesday, Feb 8

Vonage today launched new versions of their mobile app for both iOS and Android phones that feature free app-to-app calling and international...

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Tagged 3g, 4g, android, apple, free calling, ios, mobile app, mobile phone, skype, vonage, wi-fi, wireless

ITEXPO IP Communications Trade Show Continues Solid Growth

By Tom Keating on Wednesday, Feb 8

ITEXPO East 2012 in Miami was TMC's best show ever with over 200 booths and over 8,200 attendees. Conferee attendance for ITEXPO...

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Tagged austin, florida, ingate, ip communications, itexpo, miami, rich tehrani, texas

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Chinese Nortel Hack Unconfirmed by my Sources

February 15, 2012

Although reports have been swirling regarding Chinese hackers breaking into Nortel's computers for over ten years in order to steal trade secrets, I have been unable to confirm such a breach took place. I have tapped into a few high-level sources and they were unaware of anything like this happening - the internal Nortel employees would almost certainly need to know if such an attack was taking place.

After all, reports say that even Nortel CEO Mike Zafirovski had a computer which was compromised.

One of the reasons Nortel went bankrupt had to do with Chinese competitors Huawei and ZTE undercutting Nortel on price for carrier wireless and other products. So it easy to understand why many would easily believe that Nortel had been hacked.

And hacks from China are not unusual - they have happened to numerous US companies and even government agencies.

But again, would you not let your company workers know if this was the case?

Siobhan Gorman has a story in the Wall Street Journal on what happened at Nortel and it seems there is enough information to make you believe the hack was real. But still, I remain skeptical that the breach if it happened was on such a massive scale.

Posted in Avaya, Broadband, Call Center, Cisco, Nortel, SIP, Security, Speech Technologies, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, WiMAX, Wireless

Tagged: china, hacker, huawei, nortel, security, trad secret, zte : Related Tags: nortel, chinese, anything, happened

Cisco Underestimated Skype's Value. Acts against Microsoft Acquisition

February 15, 2012

Cisco is far from the most open company in tech so it is ironic it is concerned about a monopoly over video conferencing a result of the Microsoft acquisition of Skype. The company’s Martin De Beer said, “For the sake of customers, the industry recognizes the need for ubiquitous unified communications interoperability, particularly between Microsoft/Skype and Cisco products, as well as products from other unified communications innovators.” This statement coincided with Cisco challenging an EU court over the acquisition.

One has to wonder however if Cisco underestimated Skype’s value. After all, the company has been sold twice in the last few years and the networking company didn’t close the deal either time.

The thesis that Cisco did not realize Skype’s importance is backed up by Cisco’s other actions – launching its consumer video service Umi - a Skype competitor. As you may recall I immediately said this service would fail and backed it up with ten reasons.

Here are the first three as a reminder - #1 is the most important for now:

1) Skype.

Posted in Apple, Broadband, Cisco, Consumer Electronics, Gadget, IP Communications, SIP, Skype, Smart Ecosystem, Technology, Unified Communications, Video, VoIP, Wireless

Tagged: cisco, consumer, consumerization of it, gadget, itexpo, microsoft, polycom, sip, skype, telepresence, uc, umi, unified communications, video : Related Tags: microsoft skype, underestimated skype, communication industry, video communication, cisco underestimated, cisco

Grandstream Launches new ATAs at ITEXPO Miami 2012

February 14, 2012

Recently at ITEXPO East 2012 in Miami, Grandstream announced a new family of ATAs – an addition which shows the company is becoming a more complete player in the IP communications space. It has been a great journey watching Grandstream start with IP phones then evolve to an IP PBX and IP cameras. In fact they announced their new GXV3500 camera at the show. While the company started out making products which were sold based on low price they have gone upmarket to some degree with new offerings.

TMC’s Stefanie Mosca Interviews Grandstream’s Jorge Otero above at ITEXPO East Miami 2012.

According to Jorge we will see 3-4 new products in the IP surveillance space released this year.

Posted in Android, IP Communications, SIP, Skype, Technology, Video

Tagged: conference, grandstream, ip camera, ip communications, ip security, ip surveillance, itexpo, technology, voip : Related Tags: grandstream, itexpo, miami

Will Nimble 2.0 take Social CRM Mainstream?

February 14, 2012

Recently consumer products manufacturer P&G – one of the largest advertising spenders at over $9B announced it will cut its marketing headcount in-part because advertising on Facebook and Google is more efficient. The maker of Gillette and Pantene products is not alone; in-fact the business world is focusing heavily on social media including Google+ and Twitter.

But while it is understood by many web-savvy companies that social is important – how many of them are embracing social CRM? My informal analysis shows the numbers are very low meaning there could be huge room for growth.

That is of course if you don’t ascribe to the idea that it is important for companies to help shape the dialogue about themselves online. More importantly, you don’t believe that tying social media into CRM systems can boost sales and service levels and perhaps even increase productivity.

One person who believes in the power of social CRM is Nimble founder and CEO Jon Ferrara. Around 1991 or so he told me at a dinner that his new company contact management/CRM company Goldmine has lots of potential because, “There is no Lotus in the market.” Ironically, Goldmine did in fact become a major player in the space while Lotus faded from the scene.

Last year Nimble rolled out its initial cloud-based social CRM solution and there are now 30,000 users and 3,000 of them spend almost half their day on the platform.

Posted in Broadband, CRM, Call Center, Cloud Computing, Conference, Facebook, Google, Marketing, Microsoft, Networking, SaaS, Technology, Twitter, Unified Communications

Tagged: crm, goldmine, nimble, oracle, salesforce, siebel, social crm : Related Tags: social networks, social media, number social, including google, social, nimble

Logitech Zagg iPad 2 Keyboard: Do You Need a Laptop?

February 14, 2012

A few months back I was in Boston interviewing a number of companies in the tech space and just before one of my interviews I was reading about the Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG for iPad 2 and I was intrigued. I thought having a real keyboard connected to the iPad 2 was a great pain reliever for my fingers which ache when hitting glass repeatedly but I worried the addition would limit my ability to use the tablet while standing. Quite often in my office I find myself using the iPad and I figured a fixed aluminum keyboard would make this practice cease.

Owen DeLong of Hurricane Electric is an iPv6 evangelist but I found him equally good at evangelizing why I needed a bluetooth keyboard from Zagg for my iPad 2. At first I wasn’t convinced and instead thought the new TouchFire silicon keyboard would be the best choice for my aching fingers.

Posted in Amazon, Apple, Consumer Electronics, E-Commerce, Technology, Ultrabook, Wireless, iPad

Tagged: amazon, apple, case, hurricane electric, ipad, ipad 2, itexpo, keyboard, kickstarter, meritline, owen delong, touchfire, zagg : Related Tags: status light, while standing, including shipping, quite often, keyboard, laptop

The Only Way Google can be Successful in Consumer Electronics

February 10, 2012

Yesterday I detailed how Google IS the tech news of the day and folks, this search leader is ambitious – more so than Microsoft ever was. In addition to a Dropbox killer and massive Google+ growth I outlined in this recent post, the company is also getting into the home entertainment business through its Motorola Mobility acquisition. Specifically Google will release a self-branded line of consumer electronics allowing you to stream music throughout your home.

Google already has a cloud-based music service so obviously there is synergy there but the only way I see this strategy working is by Google doing things differently.

My loyal readers know I am a fan of Sonos – they sell an in-home audio streaming service which integrates with Slacker, Pandora, Sirius/XM, Spotify and even integrates with iOS devices and iTunes libraries stored on computers. In-short, you have access to all your music and favorite radio from any room.

Posted in 4G, Amazon, Android, Apple, Blackberry, Broadband, Consumer Electronics, FCC, Facebook, Gadget, Google, HD Voice, Microsoft, Social Networking, Speech Technologies, Technology, Twitter, Wireless

Tagged: amazon, android, apple, bose, gadget, google, ios, iphone, ipod, kindle, kindle fire, lala, motorola, motorola mobility, pandora, radio, sirius, slacker, sonos, spotify, streaming, wireless : Related Tags: streaming service, consumer electronics, radio advertising, future google, motorola mobility, google

Why Steve Jobs had an FBI File

February 9, 2012

The FBI just released the file on Steve Jobs and it contains information about hem being not the nicest person in the world and in addition lists the various drugs he used such as marijuana, hashish and LSD.

I know what you are thinking... Why on earth would this man need an FBI file? After all, he was the man behind the personal computer - how dangerous is that? The reason it turns out is In 1991, Jobs was being considered for a post on President George H.W. Bush’s Export Council, an appointment that would not have required Senate confirmation.

So that explains it. Still, it is worrisome to know the FBI has files on people - it does remind one of the Hoover times where the bureau kept files on many famous and outspoken personalities.

Posted in Apple

Tagged: apple, steve jobs : Related Tags:

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

Tagged: android, apple, bmw, drive, dropbox, google, google+, icloud, ios, mercedes, motorola, patent, seo : Related Tags: dropbox killer, google growth, social network, google, unrelated, search

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

Tagged: advertising, airlines, amercan airlines, bing, facebook, frequent flyer, google, groupon, marketing, microsoft, rewards network, twitter, yelp : Related Tags: rewards network, american airlines, dollar spent, dining program, imagine potential, company

Apple's Catering to the Press is Just Smart

February 7, 2012

As a member of the press, I have had mixed experiences with companies looking for me to cover them. Quite often, a company sending me their products for review will be responsive if I have technical difficulties due to a product malfunction of some kind such as buggy firmware. This is smart business. Not all companies do this mind you.

Posted in Apple

Tagged: apple, pogue : Related Tags: david pogue, apple, reviewer, press, companies, pogue

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