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Communications and Technology Blog - Tehrani.com

| Communications and Technology Blog - Latest news in IP communications, telecom, VoIP, call center & CRM space

Technology

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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
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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

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

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

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

ITEXPO Miami 2012 Room Keys

January 28, 2012

Very cool room keys at one of the ITEXPO Miami show hotels I am staying at. Everyone at the registration desk apparently had Blackberrys or other phones incapable of scanning this code. They were waiting for me to come enlighten them as to who it was sponsoring them and what it "meant."

The orange color and the fact that the company with this color logo has sponsored room keys at ITEXPO tipped me off. Yes, believe it or not I don't know all the sponsors and what they purchase before I come to the show.

Posted in Technology

La Carreta, one of my Favorites

January 28, 2012

Miami may be the only city where one of my favorite restaurants is in the airport. You should give La Carreta a try and eat the Yucca fries with the green sauce. See you in Miami for ITEXPO this week.





Posted in Technology

Startup Camp at ITEXPO Draws Praise

January 27, 2012

One of the more exciting portions of ITEXPO is the collocated StartupCamp5 Comms Edition which is an event which brings together some of the hottest startups around and allows the audience to help pick the one which should get funding. Last year, there were investors in the audience who pledged funds on the spot!

Very exciting – this is where the next generation of innovators will be discovered.

For more on this event-within-an-event check out these articles from Dave Michaels and Andy Abramson.

Here are some excerpts from Dave:

Every year, the most excitement at ITEXPO is around Startup Camp. Embrase puts on this event every year -and unlike all the other co-located events that take place there – StartupCamp doesn’t compete for the same audience. StartupCamp is the one event that runs in the early evening – after the exhibits and before dinner.

Posted in ITEXPO, Technology
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ITEXPO is Everywhere - Even Newspapers

January 27, 2012

In TMC’s never-ending quest to bring in the largest global community of tech and communications decision-makers from around the globe to ITEXPO we do virtually everything we can to ensure we reach the largest audience we can online and via our multiple print publications and social networks. But what you may not be aware of is we also spend money in newspapers such as the Miami Herald to ensure everyone in Miami is aware of the show.

And yes, people still read newspapers. I hope you like the ad – let me know if you have any comments on it or room for improvement thanks.

Oh and yes, the show is next week in Miami - see you there.

Posted in ITEXPO, Technology, Unified Communications, VoIP
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