Communications and Technology Blog - Tehrani.com - Super WiFi Archives

Volubill Helps Carriers Deliver Enhanced Wireless Services

2012-03-19T20:13:47Z

The FCC has a web page dedicated to bill shock and encourages wireless users who haven’t achieved a successful resolution with their wireless carrier to call and complain. The same page explains one in six users has at one time or another experienced bill shock – totaling 30 million users in total.

One of the companies helping carriers reduce bill shock for their customers is Volubill, the policy management and charging company has many innovative ideas to help carriers in an era of data caps and ballooning cell phone bills. In a recent conversation with Akil Chomoko Head of Product Marketing at the company he explained the company looks at the business side of things – enabling subscribers to be unrestricted and subsequently free to choose from various options which not only serve the needs of the customer better but potentially can generate more revenue for carriers.

The company’s Policy Manager integrates via Diameter (Gx) and Radius or SOAP/XML. It can also support an embeddable Subscriber Profile Repository (interface) to centralized SPRs such as HSS, CRM or SDPs. Moreover it integrates with the company’s own charging system “Convergent Charging” or a third-party solution.

But what differentiates the company perhaps most may not be the technology but the marketing ideas and experience helping carriers offer truly unique services. For example, as carriers in the US and elsewhere are adding bandwidth caps to their services, why not offer an opportunity to buy more data for a fixed amount of money?

The company has an app which can in fact help customers not only get a sense of how much data they are using but just as importantly it allows customers to purchase all sorts of optional plans you may want to offer. Before we go any further it is worth pointing out that the app demo I saw had a meter in the top left hand of the phone interface allowing users to see how much data they have used in their plan – just as they might see how much battery is left on the same device or how much credit they have on their credit cards.

The company has helped carriers provide, provision and bill for a bewildering array of services. Starting with the most ironic is a “happy hour” service provided by a Saudi carrier which allows a free hour of calling – which could free up the network for other parts of the day. Another service in the same country allows parents to prevent their kids cellphones from working during prayer time.

Moreover, carriers could use the platform to enable quota within a quota services where a low-cost plan may not only have a monthly cap but could also have a daily cap. Other options allow a customer to have a larger video viewing limit, a time based cap – let’s say $5 for one hour, a $5/day tethering price, tiered pricing based on QoS level or how about lower pricing for consumers who don’t use BitTorrent?

Other options could be a $10/month unlimited Facebook package or the same $10 could provide unlimited access to a few URLs of the user’s choice. The parental example above could be further enhanced to include homework and bedtime.

Other options include multi-SIM plans where consumers, families and businesses with multiple devices could share bandwidth across the devices in aggregate. A master account could top up the service and add a user cap if desired.

One comment of interest from Chomoko is the device-based app is a better solution for the consumer who wants a usage cap threshold notification in a timely manner. He pointed out that a user in Google Maps could rapidly exceed their bandwidth cap by the time a warning is received via SMS.

A recurring theme in our discussion was marketing-driven business – not technology driven. And this makes a lot of sense.

One of the most interesting applications worth sharing which shows how this would work is a carrier in Indonesia giving companies access to data between 9-5 with a separate prepaid plan for employees to use the phone during other times. Moreover, email is active at all times allowing the company to still provide a phone to workers for personal use but only pay for business communications.

It should also be evident that with such solutions we may be entering a new world of subsidized connectivity where a company like Google may subsidize a YouTube bundle where enhanced QoS is provided to consumers. Likewise for other large companies like Facebook.

The challenge of course will be small competitors may not have the deep pockets or advertising base to compete with app giants – but such are the facts of life I suppose.

Other facts are carriers are rapidly running out of wireless bandwidth and having the flexibility to manage networks on a more granular basis may yield more revenue for carriers and potentially more flexibility for consumers.

Off to MWC 2012 Next Week

2012-02-23T19:34:46Z

I've got lots on my plate this week before I take off to Barcelona to attend Mobile World Congress (MWC) - which was once called 3GSM. I've got great meetings lined up and I am very interested in seeing what is happening in the world of 4G, white spaces, M2M, tablets and smartphones. Apple won't be there - formerly anyway so I consider this event to be kind of like the anti-Apple confab. Interestingly, all the major events I attend these days are devoid of the iconic Cupertino brand as well. It doesn't seem to be hurting them does it?

Yet face-to-face events like this one are crucial to get the word out and generate buzz around brands which don't have the Apple halo. Companies that will really need to shine this week include Microsoft, Nokia, RIM, Samsung, Google and HTC.

I will be sure to keep you posted as I travel to the show (www.tehrani.com)- you can also follow me on Twitter at @rtehrani. In addition the TMCnet Mobile World Congress news page will give you access to articles written by 100+ TMCnet contributors.

These are some of the MWC stories produced so far today:

Need a New Car? Win a Mustang at ITEXPO in Miami Next Week

2012-01-27T15:48:11Z

I think I may have one of the best jobs in the world. I admit it is a bit ADHD-inducing as I get involved in lots of areas from new media to the latest technologies in the market as I run this major media company which is TMC. Not only do I get help influence tens of millions of people online I also get to host live events where I meet many of the readers who frequent my blog and TMCnet - the main web portal of TMC where I am CEO.

But the most exciting part of my job comes twice a year when I give away a car to an unsuspecting attendee at ITEXPO. Next week - Friday Feb 3rd at 1:45 pm at the Miami Beach Convention Center, I get to give the next car away and it will be a Ford Mustang. In order to be eligible to win you need to pick up a card at registration and get it stamped by all the sponsors of the car giveaway.

Thank you sponsors for making these giveaways possible. If I were an attendee at a show I would want a mix of solid education, a chance to network with peers, see the leading exhibitors in the space but also to have some fun and that is what events like our various receptions and giveaways are supposed to provide.

The TMC team and I look forward to hosting you next week. Thank you all in advance for coming to our event and hats off to the TMC team who is managing not only ITEXPO but a host of collocated and unparallelled events such as Super WiFi Summit, MSP World, our SUITS technology patents event, M2M Evolution, Mobile LATAM, HTML5 Summit, Cloud Communications Expo, The Channel Vision Expo (CVx), Business Video, Asterisk 123, 4GWE, StartupCamp5, Avaya Tech on Tap, the Blackberry Hackathon, SIP trunking workshop, business development workshop, telecom reseller week, to name a few.

http://itexpo.tmcnet.com/sip-trunking-workshop/miami/

ITEXPO East 2012 Miami Schedule

2012-01-25T20:49:34Z

One of the most frequent question I get regarding TMC’s ITEXPO which takes place next week in Miami – is with all that is going on – how do you make a decision as to which parts of the show to attend. Truth be told I believe the event and its collocated conferences and educational sessions rivals just about any other tech show in terms of education.

Some of the hot topics to be discussed include not only general communications and technology but 4G wireless, mobility, Asterisk, open source, business video, the channel, cloud computing and communications, HTML5, Mobile Latin America communications, M2M, technology patents, the MSP market, Super WiFi/white spaces and much more.

The following is a list of important details you will need to help navigate ITEXPO East 2012 Miami. I warn you – this is a subset of what is happening. To keep you posted on not only these items but other important events at the show please follow @itexpo on Twitter and turn on mobile notifications – it is pretty simple – just follow the menu below. Twitter also allows you to turn off notifications at certain hours in its settings tab.

Also, please download the show directory/guide (PDF) and read through it before you get there to get the most out of the event.

ITEXPO East 2012

January 31 - February 3, 2012

Miami Beach Convention Center

If you are staying at the Loews in Miami or a hotel nearby the best route to walk is down 16^th street making a right on Washington after a block. Most concierge personnel will tell you to walk down Collins which is longer and if the sun is strong may be a bit uncomfortable.

View Larger Map

Registration counters are located in the Hall B Lobby. This is the section of the convention center on Washington Blvd., closest to the show hotels.

When you arrive, proceed to the registration counter to receive your badge. You will need a photo ID.

SHOW HOURS

Tuesday, January 31

Registration: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Workshops begin at 9:00am
POST POTS Special Sessions: 2:00pm
Avaya Tech on Tap: 5:00pm

Wednesday, February 1

Registration: 7:00am – 7:00pm
Workshops/Sessions begin at 9:00am
Free Keynotes: 12:45pm; 3:30pm
Exhibits Open: 4:30-7:30pm
Free Networking Reception: 5:30-7:30 on expo floor - Sponsored by Broadvox.

Thursday, February 2

Registration: 7:00am – 4:00pm
Workshops/Sessions begin at 9:00am
Free Keynotes: 9:00-11:00am
Exhibits Open: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Networking Reception: 4:00pm
StartupCamp5, featuring keynote by Terry Matthews: 4:45pm
ITEXPO Party on South Beach - Mangos Tropical Cafe: 9:00pm

Friday, February 3

Registration: 7:30am – 2:00pm
Workshops/Sessions begin at 9:00am
Exhibits Open: 11:00am – 2:00pm
New Mustang Giveaway at 1:45pm – Must Be Present to Win

Updated schedule. Visit the show site for additional details

Keynotes and Special Sessions Schedule: (Open to all attendees)

Tuesday, January 31:

2:00 pm: Special Panel Session:

Post POTS Net Neutrality & the Cloud: From POTS to PANS

============================================================

Rumors of the death of POTS are not exaggerated. To build a new model for the future we have to determine the bottlenecks. Come discuss the impact of the cloud and the migration from end to end to any to any services; about supporting access and quality of service; about Net Neutrality and Privacy.

5:00: Avaya Tech on Tap Workshop and Networking Reception

=========================================================

Kick off ITEXPO East with a special pre-conference seminar and evening networking event, hosted by the Avaya DevConnect Program. Join Avaya and our special keynote speaker Judith Hurwitz, co-author of "Cloud Computing for Dummies", as we tackle some of the most challenging technology transitions facing IT organizations today, namely cloud computing and collaboration enablement.

KEYNOTES Wednesday, February 1:

12:45pm: Michael Rouleau, tw telecom
3:30pm: Paget Alves, Sprint
4:30pm: Timothy Wagner, Samsung Telecommunications America

KEYNOTES Thursday, February 2:

9:00am: Rick Whitt, Google
9:30am: Chris Swearingen, Senseaware, Powered by FedEx
10:00am: Dirk Gates, Xirrus
10:30pm: Julius Knapp, FCC
4:45pm: Sir Terry Matthews, Wesley Clover

WORKSHOPS at ITEXPO – Open to All Attendees

Cloud Business Development Workshop

Tuesday, January 31 - 9:00am

Larry Dillon and Michael Curry will co-host the first ever pre-show workshops focused towards new business development techniques for resellers, developers and cloud-based service providers.

Asterisk 123 Training

Tuesday, January 31 - 9:00am

Come get a well-rounded and informative introduction to the Asterisk Project. All are Welcome! Whether you are managing a team deploying an Asterisk implementation, evaluating potential replacements for a legacy telephony solution that's on its last leg, or just a general Asterisk "newbie" excited to learn what Asterisk is capable of, then this talk has something to offer you.

Sangoma Vega Training

Tuesday, January 31 - 9:00am

Sangoma Technologies will host a free full day hands-on training session teaching you how to configure and troubleshoot the Vega series gateways for use with IP-PBX and SIP trunking.

Blackberry HTML5 Hackathon

Tuesday, January 31 - 9:00am

Join us at the upcoming HTML5 Hackathon to discover how BlackBerry WebWorks takes HTML5 beyond the browser. We'll show you the power and simplicity of the new BlackBerry browser

Ingate’s SIP Trunking Workshop

Wednesday, February 1 – Friday, February 3

Attendees can earn a SIP Trunking Professional Certificate by participating in the Professional Development Program on February 1. Attendees can also earn a Unified Communications Professional Certificate on February 2.

Telecom Reseller Week Presentation Theatre

Wednesday, February 1 – Friday, February 3

Telecom Reseller Week provides you with a forum for you to learn about cutting edge new solutions you can represent, to meet with many new potential partners, and to study proven sales techniques to help improve your team's performance.

MPLS University

Tuesday, February 2 - 1:30pm

MPLS University is a forum for IT and business professionals to bring their questions about network reliability, always-on connectivity, voice, regulatory requirements, security, and cost control. Join us for two FREE live MPLS University sessions at ITEXPO to learn more about utilizing cloud-based solutions

StartupCamp5: Comms Edition

Tuesday, February 2 - 4:00pm

Featuring keynote address by Sir Terry Matthews

The incredibly popular StartupCamp networking event returns. This unique forum is for early-stage entrepreneurs to pitch their communications products or services to a discriminating audience of potential investors, media, bloggers and industry influencers. The event's fast-paced, "ready, set, pitch" format brings early-stage communications companies, developers, industry leaders and investors together to network and validate entrepreneurial pitches in real time.

4:00: StartupCamp5 Free Networking Reception

4:45: Introduction/Event Kickoff by Larry Lisser

5:00: Keynote Presentation by World-Renowned Entrepreneur Sir Terry Matthews

5:45: Startup Presentations and Judging

7:00: Networking and Voting

QUESTIONS?

Contact Frank Coppola (203.852.6800 x 131)

Thank you sponsors

Diamond Sponsor:

Digium

Platinum Sponsors:

AudioCodes
Sonus Networks
Sansay
Dialogic
Interactive Intelligence
Netxusa

Gold Sponsors:

abp
Adtran
Broadvox
MegaPath
USAN
888VoIP
Panasonic
snom
tw telecom
Sangoma

I really look forward to seeing you all at the show – it will be fantastic.

Update: My marketing team has a fancier version of this document which they send in emails after you register. It has web links and may be easier on the eyes.

ITEXPO East 2012 Miami Out of Office Message

2012-01-24T22:15:59Z

While I digest the super-strong, mind-numbing Apple growth numbers which propelled the stock to a high of $460 per share after hours I have just set my out of office message for next week when I will be at ITEXPO. The message is below in case you want to use something similar. And for your convenience here is the first show daily from the event – which covers news from Sprint, AT&T, Whitespace Alliance, Panasonic, Accedian Networks, Cycle30, FaxSIPit, Phone.com and Polar Media.

---

Thank you for your message. Starting Jan 30th I will be at ITEXPO (www.itexpo.com) in Miami.

This is the global tech and communications conference - covering cloud, MSP, super WiFi, 4G, M2M, Patents, SIP, VoIP, HTML5 and featuring keynotes from Google, Sprint, Samsung, The FCC and Sir Terry Matthews.

On Friday, Feb 3rd @ 1:45 pm I give away a new Mustang - You must be present to win so I hope to see you there. (http://goo.gl/vkqrd)

Have a wonderful week and enjoy the New Year.

Google Keynote at ITEXPO Feb 1st, 2012 in Miami

2012-01-03T19:03:02Z

I am really thrilled to let my readers know that Rick Whitt, Washington Telecom and Media Counsel at Google will be the keynote presenter at Super WiFi Summit which is a collocated event at ITEXPO. ITEXPO kicks off this January 31^st and continues until February 3^rd and we expect this show to be very well-attended and one of the best places in the technology world for networking and choosing products and services for purchase.

Now getting back to Super WiFi – it is the concept of using white spaces – radio spectrum which for the most part isn’t in use to allow a super high-speed network to be developed. Think of it as WiFi but with far greater range and consider what happens when equipment can routinely communicate with other devices many miles away without the need for wireless service provider or 4G network.

TMC’s partner in Super WiFi Summit is Crossfire Media and Carl Ford from the company had this to say about this news:

The unused portions of the UHF white space spectrum can drive down the costs of consumer broadband access and provide a range of new opportunities for service providers and device manufacturers – and we’re all looking forward to hearing Google’s perspective on this topic.

In Whitt’s first keynote (he has two), which is scheduled to take place at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, February 1st, he will discuss how the use of White Spaces, is fostering innovation and providing new mobile broadband alternatives for local providers. Here are the details and a bit more on Whitt's background:

Whitt is Director and Managing Counsel for Telecom and Media Policy for Google Inc. He is responsible for Google's strategy and advocacy on all wireline, wireless, and media matters before the Federal Communications Commission, other Federal agencies and the U.S. Congress. Whitt represents the company's interests on a variety of broadband and spectrum policy issues, as well as the “un-regulation” of VoIP and other Web-based applications.

iPhone 4S Review with Help from Duran Duran

2011-10-27T20:33:40Z

Two days ago I happened upon a new iPhone 4S as a replacement for my current 4 model. On the same day, I had an opportunity to go to Madison Square Garden and watch a Duran Duran concert where I was able to put this state of the art phone through its paces. I found it ironic that Simon Le Bon, the lead singer of the group said he was first in the Garden 30 years ago – and that was around the time I was introduced to PCs and programming in general. Now, here I was using the new phone as a camera in what has to be one of the harshest environments ever in which to shoot photos and videos. It was impressive - these shots haven't been retouched or altered at all. Videos are at the bottom of this post.

You gotta love when a 30 year old band breaks out the Twitter wall!

On the way to the concert I put Siri through its paces. I asked it for restaurants near Madison Square Garden. It replied that it couldn’t search near businesses. So then I tried searching near the address. Again, it couldn’t help. I then went to my Zagat app and laughed out loud when one of the ways you could choose the price range of a restaurant was “My friends have a trust fund.” But before I got through the tedious, mind-bending process of using this app to find a restaurant on the lower west side, I thought the heck with it (censored – my kids are getting old enough to read my blog.), let’s try the Google app. On the first shot I got a list of restaurants near Madison Square garden and put an end to my embarrassment in front of my friends and wife.

This also by the way is probably a great explanation as to why Google bought Zagat – with an awesome voice-based search interface, Zagat data can be very useful. The current mobile app is painful to use.

Once we got to the Garden I realized the battery drain was significant on my device – perhaps because it was backing up to iCloud? I wasn’t sure but I was concerned. When we finished eating and went into the concert I realized I had no signal at all. My friend had an iPhone 4 also on AT&T and she had 2 bars – me nothing. And as typical in such cases my battery was draining very fast as it tried to communicate with a tower. I had to go into airplane mode and also turned off iCloud sync so I could have enough battery for the trip home.

Siri was a disappointment but later I have found it is OK at reading and sending text messages as well as emails in a pinch. The accuracy could be better – but I am sure it will improve. Surprisingly, this is an instance where Google has technology which is much better than Apple – aren’t we used to seeing Apple leapfrog others?

On the way back from the concert I encountered this sign on the train allowing for travelers to see the next few train departures via their phones – pretty amazing tech – simple but helpful. Just send a text to 266266 with the locations you are looking for. For example "GCS to Rye." No more paper schedules are needed to try to figure out when the next train is.

The other benefit of the 4S is the increased processor speed and there is indeed a slight increase in performance when you surf the web, download, etc. Nothing incredible mind you – I still find myself waiting for pages to load – even on super-fast WiFi.

Should you upgrade your 4 to a 4S – the answer is yes if you spend lots of time in a car and you think you will benefit from Siri being able to help you perform some tasks while you drive. Moreover, if you take lots of pictures, the camera is better and the quality of video is far better. Then there is the stability control which helps improve the quality of videos – and in my testing, photos as well.

But it isn’t a must have. On an AT&T network your speed will be dramatically improved according to the specs I have read but in reality, unless you are on a cell tower with lots of capacity and few other users, you may not ever see these download speeds.

The latest rumor is an iPhone which works on 4G will be out next year and it better or the company will fall further behind Android. For many, it may just be worth waiting.

Here are the Google results for the above search - got it on the first shot

Although Siri isn't perfect you can get interesting market info allowing you to compare market caps and see how the market is doing

You can even look at a Honda Accord if you like

If you are interested in what a water molecule looks like, you are out of luck

Duran Duran View to a Kill

Duran Duran Planet Earth

Duran Duran Is There Something I Should Know?

Duran Duran Hungry Like a Wolf

Duran Duran The Reflex

FreeWave Technologies Provides Secure, Long-Range Radio Communications

2011-10-26T21:37:37Z

Submarine cable systems between the UK, Canada and Paris became essential in the 1850s as the British government found itself in a situation where it would fight wars, sign treaties and still have thousands of soldiers in the field fighting – totally oblivious to the end of conflict. This cost the UK a tremendous amount of money and reducing this cost became a priority. Once the cables were laid they also became invaluable to the shipping industry as they allowed ships to be rerouted to ports which would be more lucrative destinations.

Nowadays with 3G, 4G and WiFi networks overlapping in much of the developed world we take instant communications for granted but this is not the case.

Moreover there are many applications where secure, low-power and virtually instant communications is required but infrastructure to facilitate such communications may not exist. Think of a market consisting of the needs of industrial communications, military comms, smart grid and machine-to-machine (M2M).

One of the companies playing in these spaces is FreeWave Technologies and in a recent conversation with CMO Ashish Sharma he told me about how his company provides long-range data communications solutions to a range of markets including oil and gas, agriculture, clean water, wind and solar.

In a typical application – let’s say in oil and gas, a radio can be connected to equipment which measures pressure, temperature and other levels and at a preset interval – let’s say 15 minutes and can report back to a NOC tens of miles away regarding the status of the equipment in the field. As a reminder, quite often drilling takes place where there isn’t much infrastructure around so cell towers are generally non-existent as is fiber, copper, etc. Solar power assists the FreeWave devices in running and lasting for years if necessary, providing readings and other important information.

The company is based in Boulder, Colorado where it makes all of its devices and to date and has placed about 700,000 radios in the field. Each radio by the way is tested and calibrated from -40 degrees F to 168 degrees which believe it or not is only slightly more extreme than the seasonal temperature variations in Boulder :-). Sharma reinforced the fact that his company’s radios are secure and transmit data reliably. He went on to say how crucial reliable information is as it could help determine whether or not a drill needs to be shut down preventing oil spills and gas leaks.

In the military space, the company’s radios are placed on many unmanned vehicles (UAVs) providing command and control communications.

The company’s radios run on a variety of frequencies from unlicensed, licensed and military such as 900MHz to 2.4 GHz, 869 MHz, 700 MHz, 1.4 GHz, 400 MHz and 1.3 GHz.

FreeWave makes many radios and perhaps my favorite is the embedded MM2 (pictured) because it looks like something small enough at 14 grams that I could probably put about 10 of them in my shirt pocket.

The company is pretty excited about their new LRS400 Series allowing for the first time radios which operate on licensed frequencies in the US. It operates on frequencies of 435 MHz-470 MHz, 1.427 GHz-1.432 GHz with up to 2W of output power.

The LRS455-EU (pictured) is global radio which operates in both FCC and ETSI modes meaning a single unit for use across the continents and less maintenance costs.

Where can the LRS455-EU be used and under what conditions?

One of the more interesting points made by Ashish is the fact that the radios communicate in a proprietary fashion means they are generally more secure than traditional communications systems where hackers can more easily figure out how to tap into the data stream. Generally this also means costs are higher but for many applications the importance of secure communications outweighs potential cost savings.

In the past 160 years, undersea cable investments have only increased as the Internet has propelled forward our need to not only communicate over distance but to communicate with more people and devices than ever. Likewise it seems the opportunity for secure, long-range wireless communications will not let up and Sharma thinks the market today is worth hundreds of millions if not a billion dollars.

Jobs, Ritchie & Galvin Dead but not Forgotten

2011-10-14T14:51:16Z

As TMC's Peter Bernstein says, the rule of threes seems to be in effect. First we lost Steve Jobs who transformed the music, movie, computer and mobile markets and next we lost C programming language and UNIX OS creator Dennis Ritchie. The third death was that of Former Motorola CEO Robert Galvin who oversaw the creation of the first "large-screen" (19-inch), transistorized, cordless portable television and the first cell phone among a slew of other important innovations.

As I mentioned yesterday, the C programming language was the fourth one I learned after BASIC, Pascal and PL/1 and what made it unique was its infinite flexibility. All of a sudden a programmer could create dynamic arrays of pointers in a program instead of relying on fixed variables. The language was fresh and outside the box and made a programmer feel like the sky was the limit.

And then there was UNIX which I learned back in 1982 - where it was used to computerize TMC while I was in high school. Using this infinitely flexible operating system I was able to accomplish miracles programmatic miracles and utilities like TAR were so flexible that even though it was designed for tape archiving, years later I used it to back up an aging UNIX system running ZILOG OS onto a 386-based PC.

This OS was a dramatic departure from operating systems which ran on IBM mainframes like MVS which made my skin crawl with its unneeded complexity. In the engineering school of UCONN there was a book which probably weighed 200 pounds filled with ABEND or error codes. I shiver as I recall the pain of digging through that monstrosity over the 48-hour programming marathon I endured to complete my final project in CS 267. In case you are interested we had to recreate a PDP-11 compiler using IBM assembly language.

Surprisingly these three tech visionaries were more related than we may at first realize. You see Ritchie helped create UNIX but it was Jobs who used this OS to build a new computer company NEXT which used the operating system exclusively. Later, it was purchased by Apple and Jobs brought this OS into everything that Apple does - including iOS. This may be heretical to say but UNIX in fact may be just as responsible for Apple's success as Jobs.

Even more interesting, markup languages which predated the Internet and specifically HTML were first on UNIX systems. Also, the first node on the Internet was a Next computer!

We didn't lose three individual visionaries, we lost a trio of geniuses who together changed the world from one in which information and communications was limited to fixed locations to one where mobile devices allow information to be accessed anywhere, with virtually limitless flexibility.

So in a way, this trio enabled the Internet, wireless communications, advanced programming tools - and just so much more. Its incredible.

We owe Jobs a debt of gratitude which is beyond calculation but without Ritchie and Galvin's contribution, the world of tech would have been much worse off.

My condolences to all their families and may they rest in peace.

Why AT&T Purchased Superclick Networks

2011-09-27T18:45:25Z

AT&T just picked up Canadian WiFi gateway and solution provider Superclick Networks for $15 million dollars and the deal is curious as the company provides wireless solutions but not service for the hospitality, healthcare and retail markets. As you may recall, in November of 2008, AT&T also purchased leading WiFi provider Wayport and my take at the time was the deal signaled the importance of WiFi.

This transaction echoes this sentiment but it’s a bit different because it isn’t a service they are purchasing per se. The deal also shows the Ma Bell is looking outside the country for growth and isn’t afraid to do deals that are unexpected. Then again, it does tie in nicely with the Wayport side of the house.

It is worthwhile to note that hotels and conventions are generally areas of network congestion and as a result AT&T is making a relatively minor purchase which will help them provide WiFi service to customers where they need bandwidth the most. The reason here is obvious as the carrier is concerned it is running out of spectrum and WiFi is always cheaper than 3G and 4G.

So the more you can offload to WiFi and fiber, the better it is for the carrier – and as a side benefit, customers will see less battery drain on their devices.

AT&T’s argument regarding the T-Mobile USA acquisition is that the company is running out of spectrum and needs to acquire to get the needed frequencies to deal with all the traffic its customers generate. This small step further entrenches them in some markets where many of the company’s customers congregate.

It is worth noting that there is an important psychological factor at play here as well because conference goers – especially in the tech space have no problem trashing their carrier to others. In other words, it is bad to drop a customer’s call but worse to drop hundreds of customer calls where thousands of people congregate and can complain about the experience to others.

Expect AT&T to be more acquisitive in the WiFi space – I’m surprised this deal took so long to complete after Wayport.

A few other points of note – TMCnet covered the WiFi infrastructure company when they entered into an alliance with Vocera Communications last year allowing the companies to collaborate in selling wireless/voice solutions. One other point worth noting is that Paul Butcher formerly Mitel President and COO and interviewed by me in 2009 is on the advisory team of Superclick Networks and has been there just about 30 days. And finally, at least two law firms - The Briscoe Law Firm, PLLC and Powers Taylor, LLP are investigating the deal because they believe the price being paid may be too low.

AT&T Responds to DOJ - What They Missed

2011-09-09T23:54:10Z

AT&T responded to the DOJ regarding the blocked T-Mobile USA acquisition saying that the proposed merger would be good for consumers as it would allow AT&T to gain access to T-Mobile spectrum allowing their call quality to improve and the number of dropped calls to be reduced. This in turn they argue would lead to lower prices. Ma Bell 2.0 continued to explain that the wireless business is fiercely competitive which has resulted in lower prices over time.

The interesting takeaway here is that there is nothing new being argued. These were the original reasons presented when the merger was suggested. Sure, AT&T went on to say that smaller regional players aren’t being taken that seriously by the DOJ but to this point it seems consumers aren’t taking them that seriously either.

The way I see it, AT&T is basically saying their growth will be severely limited if this merger doesn’t take place because the spectrum doesn’t exist for them to serve the growing needs of their customers. But critics would likely respond that in a free market with vibrant competition, an independent T-Mobile would take advantage of the situation and advertise their network is superior and potentially even lower prices – thus luring customers from the oversubscribed AT&T network to T-Mobile’s.

This situation is even more likely as T-Mobile USA gets a nice chunk of AT&T spectrum if the deal does not go through.

It is worth noting that the mobile market has to a certain degree been in an unusual state in the last five years in-part because of AT&T Mobility’s exclusivity on Apple products. The combination of the popularity of Apple’s iOS-based mobile devices coupled with the amount of mobile data users of these devices consumed has led to a challenge AT&T has not solved yet.

One way the company has tried to cope is to put mobile WiFi hotspots around the US – in fact there is one here in Austin where I am as I prepare for ITEXPO next week. But sadly I haven’t been able to connect to it for some reason. Perhaps it’s oversubscribed as well?

Although AT&T hasn’t argued this point – it could be the one fact they need to explain as to why competition will be vibrant in the future – even after a merger between the number one and four players in the same market. Basically it is Super WiFi or white spaces. You know – those frequencies which are unused but could potentially be the basis for a nationwide wireless network with tremendous range and capability.

Next Week at Super WiFi Summit in Austin a collocated ITEXPO event, the industry will get together to discuss how this market is evolving and come up with ways to ensure it becomes a major wireless communications enabler.

To give you an idea of how big a space this could be – take a look at who is presenting at the show. Google, Microsoft, Telcordia, Carlson, Nokia, Neul, Spectrum Bridge, 6harmononics and Adaptrum. I am told we also will have most of the attorneys and lobbying power in the rooms including Rick Whitt, Michael Calabrese, Marty Stern (K&L Gates), and Steve Coran (RiniCoran).

The goal of this piece wasn’t to bring up these TMC events but the tie-in is just too important to ignore. As I see the world, Super WiFi could be to 4G what VoIP was to the PSTN and since I am going to be part of a Death of the PSTN keynote panel this coming Tuesday there should be little doubt how that battle has ended up.

The challenges of Super WiFi are many but technology seems to find a way to enable new competitors to emerge where you least expect them. Google never knew that some college kid was going to invent social networking and challenge their dominance in online ads. Yahoo didn’t realize that their enviable position of being the premiere online destination would eventually be successfully challenged by Google, Facebook and countless others. Nokia and RIM didn’t see the iPhone coming and Microsoft, Palm and HP did see the iPad coming and Microsoft was even first to the tablet market and still Apple is gaining desktop and mobile share from all three and Microsoft still doesn’t have a new tablet OS on the market.

So my suggestions to AT&T’s lawyers would be stop explaining how a merger will create jobs because there seem to be no examples of a merger yielding more jobs – ever. Instead focus on new technology because although I would rate the real threat of Super WiFi to 4G today as very small, there was a time when the WiFi market didn’t exist at all and we saw how quickly it proliferated once the prices for hardware started to decline rapidly.

ITEXPO West 2011 Austin Highlights

2011-08-23T19:09:30Z

Before all ITEXPO events I do a final proofread of the show directory and this one may be the biggest ever at 132 pages with tabs (just doing our part to support the economy). We will post a PDF version soon so you can see what’s in it but until then, here are some highlights that caught my eye:

Keynotes & Exhibits Tuesday, September 13^th at 9:15 AM we have Ian Pennell from Cisco and at 4:30 PM-5:30 PM we have keynotes from Siemens and IBM followed by a Grand Opening Networking Reception sponsored by Interact from 5:30-7:30.

Wednesday, September 14^th at 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM we have keynotes from Polycom and DHL followed by exhibits from 11:00 AM- 4:00 PM. Then at 4:00 PM there is a Cocktail reception sponsored by Rackspace Hosting and at 4:45 you could win a pair of mountain bikes from Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop - an Austin Institution ( I am told). Then at 5:00 PM Bob Metcalfe kicks off StartupCamp4 Comms Edition with a keynote and this event continues until 8:00 PM and is free to attend.

Thursday, September 15^th Exhibits open at 11:00 AM and the Jeep giveaway begins at 2:45 PM (see below). Thanks to Jeep sponsors AireSpring, AudioCodes, Windstream Communications, Panasonic, Sotel Systems, Taqua, WildPackets and VocalTec.

ITEXPO West voted #3 fastest growing trade show by Trade Show Magazine – thanks to the fine editors of this publication and to all our loyal attendees who have allowed this conference to honored. We really appreciate your support.

You can win a Jeep – TMC has given away dozens of cars over the years and we will be giving away yet another on Thursday, September 15^th at 2:45 PM. And YES, you have to be present to win.

Free WiFi, as long as less than 5,800 devices are trying to connect at once, I am told the Austin Convention Center will have fast WiFi access for everyone who wants it. Like many of you, I know from painful experience that tech crowds like ITEXPO attendees can bring just about any WiFi network to its knees so I am looking forward to seeing how this network does under heavy load.

Super WiFi & white spaces Speaking WiFi, Tuesday morning 9/13 Super WiFi Summit kicks off and this paid conference will teach you about how white space technology could be as disruptive to 4G/wireless as VoIP was to the PSTN. Imagine if you knew what you know about VoIP today – but in 1998. What investment and career decisions would you have made as a result? And now you see the Super WiFi opportunity. It all takes place in room 5C on the 3^rd floor – learn more here and check out the agenda or register.

HTML5 Revolution In room 6B, Sept 13-15^th you will find the most authoritative conference on HTML5 anywhere and if you are interested in learning how HTML5 will disrupt app stores and allow developers to create broad-reaching apps without having to develop for multiple architectures, this conference is for you. Sessions will allow designers, entrepreneurs, programmers and investors to learn everything they need to know about the future of cross-platform and mobile development. Here is the link to the HTML5 Summit, a Devcon5 Event. Here are some of the latest developments on the show.

MPLS University MegaPath is sponsoring MPLS University on Wednesday, Sept 14th in room 7 between 2:00 and 4:00 PM and it is free to all attendees. Please contact the company with questions and pregister here.

Regulations change everything: Regulatory 2.0 Workshop takes place in room 4A for a half-day on Thursday, September 15^th. The federal government, FCC and other governmental agencies have changed the fortunes of entire industries with the simple passing of a bill. And with the massive disruption in the market taking place with the PSTN potentially being eliminated, OTT set-top boxes eliminating the need for cable operators and wireless eliminating the need for fixed lines and countless USF issues, you need to get a sense of what the feds and state regulators are planning for your future.

Voice peering continues to grow The VIPeering conference takes place in room 5A Tuesday, September 13^th and focuses on crucial factors in the voice peering market like the role of the SBC, number portability and more.

SIP Trunking on a tear Let’s face it, virtually all SMB and enterprise telephony on a global scale will be replaced by SIP trunks and this massive opportunity is why the Ingate SIP Trunking Summit has been such a success at ITEXPO for many years. ITEXPO was the first show in the world with a SIP trunking workshop and we continue to have the most knowledgeable speakers and curriculum designers anywhere. Learn more about this free 3-day event.

Asterisk and open source telephony You know who you are – you prefer to have your telephony be open-source either because you enjoy the added flexibility, want full-control or perhaps you like the cost-savings that comes with this more open form of telecom. Whatever the reasons for your interest, you have to be at Asterisk 1-2-3 training hosted by Digium in meeting room 2 on the first floor on Monday September 12^th where you can learn how to connect SIP phones to Asterisk, how to add logic and even how to compile Asterisk from source code. This is a good fit if you are relatively new to the topic or are exploring your options.

What, more SIP? You know you need to know as much about SIP as possible to ensure you can effectively interconnect your organization’s telecom systems. This is especially true in light of the fact that SIP systems aren’t always interoperable out of the box. And just for you we have assembled some of the best speakers anywhere to teach you at the SIP Tutorial which takes place Thursday, September 15^th in room 5A.

Need talent or a job? We are thrilled that the people from Dice will be hosting a high tech job fair at ITEXPO September 15^th, between 11:00 AM -3:00PM. For more information email Bob Westerkamp or call 800-695-1939.

Dialogic Solution Showcase? On page 53 of the directory there is an ad from Dialogic touting a Solution Showcase. I am not sure what this is but is certainly reminds me of the nineties when Dialogic used to feature its solution partners at shows around the US and world. Anyone else remember the Computer Telephony shows in LA? I’ll be stopping by their booth #407 to learn more.

Send your marketing team Marketing departments have never had to deal with the level of technology and complexity that exists today. SEO, social, deal sites, print, TV, radio, online ads, online communities, resource centers, lead generation, CRM management, analytics and so on. To help, we have launched a CMO Summit on Tuesday, Sept 13, 7:30-9:30 at Fogo de Chao. This event requires an application be filled out and approved so thanks for your understanding.

When a cloudy future is good You mean you haven’t thought about moving your communications in the cloud like millions of others? Well even if you are sure you don’t want to move all your comms to the cloud you should explore moving some of it or at least be educated enough to defend your position in the next meeting with your boss. The best place to learn about cloud communications of course is at Cloud Communications Expo on the level one ballroom C Tuesday, September 13^th and Wednesday, September 14^th.

Some highlights from the above expo are:

International Hour on Tuesday
MidMarket Session on Tuesday
M&A Social Networking Lunch/Track
Analyst Keynote on Wednesday

A 4G future it should come as no surprise that your wireless future will be 4G but how does a company leverage all the opportunities this new standard allows? Well of course by participating in the 4GWE conference where you can learn how to solve picocell issues, deal with backhaul challenges and more. Be sure to come to room 4A and 4BC where this conference will take place and learn more. As part of this event you will also get to hear two awesome keynoters – Cameron Coursey of AT&T as well as Charles Jolley the CEO of Strobe. Here is a link to part of a past keynote Jolly did at the TMC DevCon5 event in Manhattan a few weeks back. It was one of the best presentations we had at the show.

Billions of M2M devices Yes, as amazing as it sounds there will be billions of machine-to-machine devices from tablets to sensors to appliances. Yes, your refrigerator and washing machine will be connected to the network allowing them to utilize power when it costs less and moreover making the world a more efficient place. Opportunity in M2M abounds – witness my recent pieces on Sprint and OnAsset. Life often imitates musical chairs – and if you aren’t quick, you lose. Come to M2M Evolution Tuesday September 13^th through Thursday, September 15^th in room 5B to learn more about the industry.

MSPs are the cloud Recently a managed service provider I was speaking with said his company was the cloud. Of course this sounds a bit silly but he had a point – and that is, without a network of cloud-based providers supplying backup services, payroll, email, collaboration and other apps – the cloud would not only be boring but not as profitable. Leave it to MSPs to act as the glue that makes all the really cool cloud-based apps stick. Come learn more at MSP World Tues-Wed, Sept 13-14^th.

Without the channel, where are we? Starting up companies which make great products is sometimes the easy part of the equation. The tough part is finding a channel to market – a set of resellers who can hold the hands of your customers and walk them though a more complex sale. There is no better place for the channel to gather than at Channel Vision Expo or CVx Wed-Thurs Sept 14-15^th, located on the show floor.

Customers are tweeting and facebooking, are you listening? Social CRM Expo is an event I decided the world needed because to be honest there are so many ways customers can complain and comment regarding your company that if you aren’t engaging prospects and customers in near real-time you risk major reputational and potentially financial damage. Social CRM is the discipline which brings together the art of listening to what customers are saying and engaging them to ensure problems are resolved quickly and your company’s reputation is as good as it can be. Social CRM Expo is the place to be to learn all about it Tues-Wed Sept 13-14^th in room 8A.

Be sure to check TMCnet for the latest on Telecom reseller week – an event all resellers should be particicpating in and of course Avaya has a great event on Monday, Sept 12 at 7:00 PM called Technology on Tap which will explore how the workplace needs to evolve to handle the millennial generation. Oh great, now we need to tweet these kids to get them to do something we want. :)

It should be really great – like all the past Avaya events they have always included great drinks, food and course objective information.

I really can’t wait to see you all at the show – it should be the best one ever. Please register now if you haven’t – and keep in mind you may need to register for multiple conferences if you have interest in their sessions.

20 Millions Reasons WiMAX is Here to Stay

2011-08-22T20:19:06Z

Wait a minute. The common wisdom in the wireless world is that WiMAX lost the war to LTE. But with the news that the standard has passed 20 million subscribers, is it time to rethink that premise? The answer is that in many cases incumbent providers have opted for LTE as their 4G standard of choice and as a result, WiMAX is going to remain somewhat nichy. Even 20 million users is not a tremendous amount when you consider the billions of users predicted to eventually use LTE networks.

Although when it comes to tech, predicting the future is never easy, it seems that WiMAX is still going to occupy a small segment of the wireless market.

Beyond what I have already written, the challenge with any wireless standard has to do with the chicken-and-egg nature of devices versus network reach. In other words, does a manufacturer even want to have their device work with WiMAX if the addressable market is a small number in the tens of millions?

So really, although the news is somewhat good for WiMAX - the wireless standard needs to do better to be taken seriously by device manufacturers.

Really, the only way I see WiMAX overtaking LTE is if Apple decides to roll out a device exclusively on WiMAX and LTE. And I don't see a business case for such a scenario.

For more, check out this article on TMCnet's new Mobility Tech Zone site.

Will AT&T, T-Mobile Merger Slow Wireless Innovation?

2011-07-25T18:46:59Z

AT&T has done an incredible job of getting special interest group after group to endorse its merger with T-Mobile, saying it will provide better broadband access for minorities, rural subscribers and just about any group of people you can think of. The broader gay community too has endorsed the merger - apparently transgender-Americans have been hoping for the day when there was one less GSM provider to choose from.

Here is how the system works - AT&T has hundreds of thousands of workers and inevitably large numbers of them in myriad groups. This in turn coupled with large contributions to various organizations and associations is rewarded with the reciprocal endorsing of anything AT&T requests.

To help grease the wheels even further, AT&T has further upped its lobbying budget by 58% according to PC Magazine.

AT&T is doing the smart thing by getting rid of its sole GSM provider allowing it better negotiating leverage in its roaming agreements with foreign carriers and gaining the ability to raise rates with one less major competitor to depress market pricing. It will also gain more leverage when negotiating with hardware and software companies.

An anti-merger video by the Free Press Action Fund

If the US government blocks the deal it will be because the remaining major companies AT&T and Verizon will have so much share that they are effectively a duopoly at about 80% - allowing them to raise prices at will.

Again, if you are an AT&T or Verizon shareholder, you likely want this merger to happen and AT&T is serving its short-term shareholders well by seeking this transaction.

But the challenge I see is that with one less major telecom carrier in the US it becomes that much more difficult for innovative start-ups to launch, get funding and hold their breath long enough for a carrier to buy from them. Sprint and T-Mobile have been fairly aggressive working with smaller companies that provide FMC solutions for example and because of this, funding has flowed into a bunch of companies serving the needs of the telcos. To make matters worse, Alcatel-Lucent has struggled for years to make money in this new landscape of shrinking carriers and NSN is really having problems making profit. Moreover, Nortel well bankrupt largely because of a single wireless contract it missed out on so obviously the challenge here is for the telecom hardware and software ecosystem as a whole.

So with less competition there will be less need to innovate and subsequently telecom equipment providers will have more trouble making money, getting funded and spending on R&D. This in-turn will cause a negative feedback loop where there are less companies innovating and Verizon, AT&T and a host of other carriers have less advanced services to offer. This in turn will eventually reduce revenues for carriers.

But this outcome will take a while to happen because investors aren't thinking about these issues, they are still licking their lips trying to take part in a telecom deal like the one where Skype sold to Microsoft for $8.5B.

AT&T should know these dangers and they probably do - but it is possible they are giving up on services. After all, IMS was supposed to unleash a wave of new applications and the carriers were going to share in the profit. Well the the app store quickly brought an end to that hope.

But then again, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam is set on bringing what he calls the innovation from wireless, into the wireline side of the business. But if Verizon really wants an environemnt where there is lots of innovation, one would imagine it would be very vocal in opposing the AT&T, T-Mobile deal. To date they haven't said much.

So for AT&T, Verizon and a host of other larger carriers in the global market, this merger could make it more difficult for them to find the next killer service like SMS. But then again, if you own one of the two major wireless superhighways, you may not have to offer anything in exchange for increasing your toll prices.

PSTN Death is Near

2011-07-07T14:13:04Z

I vividly remember driving my car in 1999 – two years after the company where I am CEO, TMC decided to launch Internet Telephony Magazine and thinking VoIP was going to change the way communications works and eventually kill the PSTN. It seemed to me that within five years most of the world would make the transition as the cost disparity at the time was quite large between the PSTN and VoIP connections. Moreover, there were a myriad of free calling services using VoIP such as Dialpad which were ad supported, putting even more pressure on traditional telecom networks.

Within a few years the dotcom and telecom bubbles burst (we collectively said goodbye (details) to Dialpad and its competitors) and the cost for using the PSTN dropped substantially in order to better compete with IP communications alternatives. So my internal projections which I am not sure I ever wrote about before turned out to be too optimistic.

The period between 2001-2004 could easily be referred to us the nuclear winter of VoIP – well communications in general is more like it – not to mention tech. But the last six years has seen continuing evolution in IP communications with VoIP peering and SIP trunking just some of the latest solutions to make a cost savings and productivity–boosting technology even better.

And from the consumer standpoint – they all know about Vonage, Skype – have cell phones and use IM and social networking to communicate. So it will come as little surprise to you that according to an article from TMCnet’s Peter Bernstein:

As of May 2010, 23% of respondents lived in a mobile-only household
37% of adults in the 18-24 and 30-34 age groups lived in a mobile-only household
Only 6% of the US population will still be served by the public switched telephone network (which is defined as TDM access line service) by the end of 2018

Simply stated, the PSTN is dying.

Industry leader and past TMC conference speaker Tom Evslin a person who I couldn’t respect more, even suggests the government needs to get involved to ensure there is universal access as we enter a transitionary period. Specifically he explains that USF dollars help maintain the network and as more high-value customers leave it, there are fewer dollars to maintain service in areas which are expensive/hard to reach and potentially devoid of alternatives.

Specifically he says:

Although it offends my free market sensibilities, I think government also must be involved in assuring that everyone who now has PSTN service has access to either a broadband or cellular communication alternative.

BTW – it is always tough to argue with free-market sensibilities – my confidence in the government doing anything right beyond putting out fires, enforcing contracts, and keeping us safe through the military and police force is pretty low. Of course this is in part because I see the law of unintended consequences rearing its ugly head virtually every time the government acts. See Net Neutrality: More Unintended Consequences and Dear Government, Please Stop "Helping" Us for details. Want more? Google effectiveness of Obama stimulus.

But getting back to the discussion on the PSTN – Bernstein suggests a separation between the pipe and service business. But are we to rely on the government or a separate monopoly to upgrade these pipes for us or is it better to allow a combined service/pipes company provide both? In the latter situation, the combined entity has increased incentive to upgrade the pipes quickly so as to provide value-added services over the connection.

Of course in my example I assume that one company will be responsible for maintaining both a copper and fiber network – would it make sense to have multiple companies maintain networks which are unprofitable for one company to maintain?

Moreover, would it be better to wait for Congress, the Senate and White House to come to an agreement on which fiber pairs should be run to our homes? Or will a separate company manage these networks and if so, who runs that? Will the FCC decide? By the way, is the new company regulated? Will it be forced to dig up and replace the technology from time to time? And finally, who pays for it?

Of course this situation is far from simple to solve and I wonder if satellite providers may not be a missing puzzle piece requiring more study. Then there are new technologies such as white spaces/super WiFi which could theoretically work in a meshed capacity to solve some of the remote access issues we now face.

I’d love to hear from you if you have some thoughts on how to resolve the situation and bridge the gap.

Be sure to check out TMC’s Super WiFi Summit, September 13-15 in Austin, Texas to learn more about this promising technology and how it could could be part of the solution to sunsetting the PSTN.