Technology

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

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

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

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

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