TMCnet

Microsoft, Apple & Twitter News June 27, 2011

June 27, 2011

It’s been a busy day in tech and communications news – so far these are a few of the stories worth knowing about:

Microsoft needs to get larger? Scott Rothbort at TheStreet gives us eight companies Microsoft should buy – and you know what, some of these make great sense such as Adobe & Netflix but in reading the article, I wonder if Yahoo! makes sense anymore. Then again a management shakeup could help get the company to start competing more effectively against Facebook and Google. There are some hosting/cloud vendors and hardware vendors suggested as well – but does Microsoft need to get bigger at this point? Many think it is too big already and if anything needs to start running in a more lean fashion – which of course means spinning some parts off or selling them. For more check out my critique of Microsoft and Steve Ballmer.

It’s raining iPhones: Earlier today I tweeted about the rumors surrounding the iPhone 5 but it seems perhaps – according to some analysts we will see not only an iPhone 5 this year but also an iPhone 4S.

Posted in Apple, Broadband, Cloud Computing, Consumer Electronics, Financial, Gadget, Google, IP Communications, Microsoft, Science, Social Networking, TMCnet, Technology, Verizon, VoIP, Wireless

Building Communities Online: Boost Sales, Search and Social Initiatives

February 22, 2011

Over the past decade, hundreds of companies have benefitted from TMC’s Community program, attracting a laser-targeted group of potential customers who are looking to learn about a specific topic area. TMC populates these communities with thousands of articles per quarter – which in turn attracts millions of interested viewers a year to our sponsors.

Sponsors can then offer these viewers more information about themselves – offer them coupons, a chance to visit them at a trade show or road show or whatever else they are looking to communicate to this group.

The most common question I am asked lately is how to build online communities and moreover companies in many new industries ask constantly about how TMC can help build these content-generated microsites for them.

As a result of these requests, we are now making these online communities available in multiple industries and we have a new free webinar you can attend titled “Building Communities Online: Reduce Marketing Spend While Boosting Sales, Search and Social Initiatives” which you can attend on March 30th, 2011, from 2:00pm – 3:00pm EST.

I think you’ll find this Webinar quite valuable, as it will cover how to improve your marketing ROI by integrating results currently driven by search ads, SEO, social media and thought leadership into one integrated campaign. The Webinar will also cover:

How the concept of Targeted Marketing has evolved How to build a news-generated, search optimized community online How your Online Community is more cost-effective, and powerful, than Search Click Ad campaigns Common reasons why some Online Communities fail Why it is essential to partner with a respected editorial team when building your community

Feel free to click here to learn more and register.

Posted in Google, Microsoft, Search, Social Networking, TMCnet, Technology, Twitter

ITEXPO Hashtag is #ITEXPO, Receptions and More

January 23, 2011

Good evening readers,

Just a note to let you know the hashtag for ITEXPO on Twitter will simply be #ITEXPO. You will see enhanced levels of twitter messaging at the show (Twitter stream at keynotes for example) allowing the ITEXPO and related technology and communications communities to stay connected.

A good way to keep track of news from the show is to set up a column with search terms ITEXPO and/or #ITEXPO in programs such as Hootsuite, Tweetdeck and/or your mobile Twitter app.

The show officially begins in nine days and here are some links you may find useful:

Agenda / Show Guide
Onsite Giveaways
ITEXPO Registration
Dates & Times
Hotel & Travel
Free Workshops
Exhibitor List
Keynotes (Former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin Recently Added)
Collocated Events
Speaker List
ITEXPO Floor Map
All Conference Party Feb 3rd at Mangos

In addition, I just turned on my out of office message (yes I'm early but I can't wait) to alert others to my participation. This is part of what I wrote if you want to utilize something similar.

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Thank you for your message... Please be advised I will be out of the office Feb 2-4, 2011 attending TMC's ITEXPO in Miami.

There are 13 collocated events focusing on 4G, super WiFi, SIP, business video, M2M, Asterisk, cloud communications, peering, startups, the channel and more.

We would love to have you at the show.

----

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you in Miami.

Posted in 4G, 4GWE, AT&T, Apple, Broadband, CRM, Call Center, Cisco, Communications Developer, Consumer Electronics, FCC, Facebook, Fax, Gadget, HD Voice, IP Communications, IPTV, ITEXPO, M2M, Microsoft, Nortel, SIP, SaaS, Science, Search, Social Networking, Speech Technologies, TMC Team, TMCnet, Technology, Twitter, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, WiMAX, Wireless

SIP Trunking and Unified Communications Summit Speakers Announced

January 18, 2011

For years, Ingate has run a very successful conference as part of ITEXPO the SIP Trunk-Unified Communications Summit and this year the evnt is bigger than ever according to the company. This highly popular educational series, free to all ITEXPO attendees and attendees will hear from Aastra, ShoreTel and Broadvox, as well as Bandwidth.com, Commetrex, EarthLink Business, FaxCore, Intertex Data AB, Qwest Business, SIP Forum, the Unified Communications Interoperability Forum (UCIF) and VOIPSA.

Additionally, Unwired Revolution will present a case study on SIP: Unifying the Distributed Workforce. Service provider Telia and Intertex Data AB will discuss their SIP trunk implementation as a case study.

David Yedwab, a Founding Partner in Market Strategy and Analytics Partners LLC, contributor to Unified Communications Strategies and TMCnet columnist, will discuss the future for service providers in a UC-enabled world. Joel Maloff of Maloff NetResults will moderate the sessions.

The SIP Trunk-UC Summit will be held February 2-4, 2011 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida, in room A208. It will follow a new Service Provider Pre-Conference Workshop on February 1.

Here is the seminar schedule:

Tuesday, February 1

Service Provider Pre-Conference Workshop

1:00pm – The Case for SIP Trunking 1:30pm – Delivering SIP to the Enterprise 2:30pm – The Value of a Service Provider Demarcation Point 3:30pm – Ensuring Interoperability: The Key to Service Revenue Growth 4:30pm – Addressing Security Issues 5:30pm – Generating Revenue from HD Video 6:30pm – Wine Reception

Wednesday, February 2

SIP Trunking Professional Development Program

9:00am -- The State of SIP Trunking: A World View SIP Trunking in Latin America and Europe 10:00am -- Building for ROI (with Live Demo) 11:30am – The Service Provider Perspective 12:30pm – Telia: Lessons Learned from Across the Pond 1:00pm – Town Hall Meeting: SIP, UC and Security 2:00pm – The Need for an E-SBC

Thursday, February 3

Unified Communications Day

9:00am – Town Hall Meeting: Unified Communications 10:00am – SIP: Unifying the Distributed Workforce 11:00am – Fax-over-IP 12:00pm – Unified Communications: The Future for Service Providers 1:00pm – Hosted Unified Communications 2:00pm – Enterprise-Centric Unified Comms 3:00pm – UC Across the Borders

Friday, February 4

SIP Trunk-UC Boot Camp

9:00am – SIP Trunking and Unified Communications for the Sales and Marketing Professional 10:00am – SIP Trunk-UC “Basic Training” with Ingate

Live demonstrations, during which participants will set up a SIP trunk in 20 minutes on-site, will also be part of the program.

Attendees can earn a SIP Trunking Professional Certificate by participating in the Professional Development Program on February 2. They can also earn a Unified Communications Professional Certificate by attending all seminars on February 3.

Here are details and VIP Passes for those interested.

For even more information, please contact: Hillary Call, (917) 414-9262.

Posted in AT&T, Avaya, Broadband, CRM, Communications Developer, Fax, Google, IP Communications, ITEXPO, Nortel, SIP, Security, Social Networking, TMC Team, TMCnet, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, VoIP, Wireless

ITEXPO East 2011 News Begins

January 13, 2011

The ITEXPO tsunami of news is beginning and one recent announcement which caught my eye was that snom will be showcasing its all new snom ONE collection of IP PBXs. The product line includes three versions - from free with ten extensions to a blue version which supports up to 150 extensions with support for five different businesses. There will be lots more news coming and for an idea of all the excitement and information which be generated from the event, check out the videos from the last ITEXPO in Los Angeles last fall.

Remember, the show is Feb 2-4, 2011 at the Miami Beach Convention center - be sure to register now.

Dialogic's Jim Machi discusses his company with me and also touches on the history of the Los Angeles Convention Center where we met over a decade earlier at Computer Telephony Expo or CT EXPO - anyone else remember the flying pigs?

ShoreTel's Bernard Gutnick discusses his company's latest offerings

Posted in 4G, 4GWE, AT&T, Apple, Avaya, Broadband, Call Center, Cisco, Communications Developer, Consumer Electronics, E-Commerce, FCC, Facebook, Fax, HD Voice, IP Communications, IPTV, ITEXPO, M2M, Merger/Acquisition, Open Source, SIP, Smart Grid, Social Networking, TMC Team, TMC Video, TMCnet, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP

The Apple iOS vs. Android Fight in 2011

December 28, 2010

As TMCnet's Tom Keating mentions on his blog, there are many factors to consider in the fight for mobile supremecy between Apple, Google Android and yes, even Microsoft. Tom's point about Microsoft injecting itself into the Android relationship with carriers to become the defacto search engine has even begun to happen already.

But what caught my eye regarding the controversy is will Apple become the defacto high-end alternative that is priced out of the reach of most of the market?

The answer may lie in production numbers alone.

You see, the Apple hardware is virtually unchanged from iPod to iPhone to iPad so economies of scale work in the company's favor.

However, Android devices are gaining massive share. If these gadgets can also leverage the same hardware with other mobile operating systems then they too can take advantage of the same efficiencies. Perhaps Samsung and HTC are best positioned in this regard as an HTC device, for example, can do double-duty as an Android and Windows Phone 7.

A while back I asked Nokia execs about the disadvantage they had in supporting a plethora of form factors while Apple gets away with one and they didn't have a good answer.

But if a phone manufacturer can leverage multiple operating systems to drive scale they can then compete more effectively with Apple.

Posted in 4G, 4GWE, AT&T, Apple, Blackberry, Communications Developer, Consumer Electronics, Gadget, Google, HD Voice, IP Communications, Open Source, SIP, Social Networking, TMCnet, Technology, Verizon, VoIP, Wireless

TMC Seeks Product Marketing Manager

December 13, 2010

How TMCnet Global Online Communities look online (Click to enlarge or go to TMCnet to see a larger version) (Channels run along the left border)

Due to great success achieved by TMC's customers, we have seen massive growth in our online community-building products and as a result, we are in the middle of a search for a product marketing manager - someone whose focus will be to articulate the value proposition of these products to a broader audience.

An established product-line, our keyword-based Global Online Communities (GOCs) and channels have grown to over 200 and many of our customers are coming to us to purchase more terms to help them with organic search engine rank, news search rank, community building, social network needs and numerous other reasons.

We believe we have the largest collection of sponsored, news-generated communities on the Internet and as a result it makes sense to focus more resources on this product-line so more companies in more industries can learn how such products can assist them in their growth.

These products are very dear to me as I knew in the nineties that every company would need someone to help them with content generation - text, audio and video. I realized every website had to eventually become broadcast TV stations and newspapers in one.

And now, that is exactly what TMC provides sponsors - a third-party content-generating machine which creates targeted news which in-turn brings a large, laser-focused audience based precisely on specific terms and concepts.

The benefit for readers is we continue to reinvest our resources - many of which come from this cloud-based community building and SEO model right back into more reporters, editors and designers meaning more targeted and in-depth news and analysis for people looking to make purchasing decisions.

What is most gratifying is the smallest companies choose to work with us to grow their brands and we also have major players as customers such as RIM and Alcatel-Lucent.

Obviously I am biased but I see this community concept as the most underestimated product on the Internet. Most people don't understand it.

Posted in 4G, AT&T, Avaya, Blackberry, Broadband, Call Center, Cisco, Communications Developer, Conferencing, E-Commerce, Facebook, Google, HD Voice, IP Communications, Microsoft, Nortel, Open Source, SIP, Search, Security, Smart Ecosystem, Social Networking, Speech Technologies, TMC Team, TMCnet, Technology, Twitter, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, Wireless

ITEXPO West 2010 Show Guide Available

October 1, 2010

The ITEXPO West 2010 Show Guide is here and if you are flying to the show - you may want to download it to your Kindle/laptop/iPad/netbook/smartphone or print it. I am on the plane now and we have the equivalent of a 300 baud modem's worth of bandwidth so I can't download it but as I recall it is over 100 pages and gives you a solid overview of the dozen conferences taking place next week.

In addition it shows you the exhibit hall with over 200 exhibitors and which sections correspond to which technology.

I have this dream that I will have enough time to go through the directory and point to some of the interesting highlights in a blog post.

We'll see how that works out.

Here is the PDF and it is fairly compressed down to 5 Megs as I recall - we may be getting a higher res one soon as well in case you have the bandwidth.

Posted in 4G, 4GWE, AT&T, Apple, Avaya, Blackberry, Broadband, CRM, Call Center, Cisco, Communications Developer, Conference, Conferencing, Consumer Electronics, E-Commerce, FCC, Facebook, Fax, Financial, Gadget, Google, HD Voice, IMS, IP Communications, IPTV, ITEXPO, M2M, Merger/Acquisition, Microsoft, Nortel, Open Source, Optical, SIP, SaaS, Satellite, Science, Security, Skype, Smart Ecosystem, Smart Grid, Social Networking, Speech Technologies, TMC Team, TMC Video, TMCnet, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, Vonage, WiMAX, Wireless, Yahoo

iPad goes to China, Crooks Mine Facebook and ITEXPO Highlights

September 13, 2010

As the first week of the fall begins, there is a wealth of news to share such as China getting the iPad, Facebook status updates leading to burglaries, another high- level departure at Nokia and GoDaddy.com looking to sell itself for a billion dollars.

The pace of acquisitions hasn't slowed as of late - HP just announced it will acquire ArcSight to bolster its security offering and PAETEC will pick up Cavalier Telephone.

Perhaps the biggest news of all is Wal-Mart's entry into the MVNO space - they will be reselling T-Mobile's service.

If there is a common theme here - it's that technology continues to be full of opportunity as it becomes more common. When Wal-Mart decides to become a phone company and thieves start mining social networks you know we have crossed the chasm.

TMC educates millions of readers each month and twice a year we gather 8-10 thousand of the movers and shakers in tech in a single place - at ITEXPO and a number of related events. Our next event is October 4-6, 2010 in Los Angeles.

I've kept you updated on the event and will continue to do so with this post.

Here are the new exhibitors:

· BlueTie added to MSPworld Exhibitor List

· Pangea Communications Contracts for a booth at ITEXPO

· Ciena Contracts for a sponsorship at Lightwave One

· Star 2 Star Contracts for a booth at ITEXPO

· APEX Voice Contracts for a booth at ITEXPO

Here are the latest speakers which were just added:

OS-03 Open Source Telephony for Everything BUT an IP PBX (ITEXPO)

Darren Schreiber

CEO

2600hz

SC-13 Untethering The Contact Center (Social CRM Expo)

Daryle Lamoureux

Product Marketing Manager

VXi Corp.

SP-07 Drive Revenue, Increase Profit Margins, Reduce Costs, and Build Your Subscriber Base (ITEXPO)

Brian Worthen

CEO

Mammoth Networks

OS-05 Open Source IP PBX Roundtable/Shootout (ITEXPO)

Tristan Barnum

Switchvox Product Marketing

Digium

CC-01 The Next Generation of IP-Based Conferencing (ITEXPO)

Jim Courtney

In Store Solutions

CCS-12 Using the Cloud to Support Social Media Strategies (Cloud Communications Summit)

Nitin Badjatia

Customer Experience Strategist

RightNow

CC-04 Videoconferencing QoS: Removing Barriers to Entry (ITEXPO)

Simon Dudley

Global Strategist

Lifesize Communications

D-03 Beyond the Browser Adding Voice & Real-Time Text to Your Web Apps (ITEXPO)

Adam Kalsey

Manager Developer Network

Voxeo Corporation

APT-06 Mobile, Multiplayer, Multimedia Gaming

Nathan Richardson

Executive Producer

CCP Games

OS-02 Open Source in the Customer Service and Contact Center Environment

Corey McFadden

Managing Partner

Infradapt

OS-05 Open Source IP PBX Roundtable/Shootout (ITEXPO)

Andrew Gillis

trixbox Founder

Fonality

B-05 Meet the HD Handset Vendors

Kim Murtagh

Director - SIP Communications

Panasonic

Lots of MSP World Sessions added Below

MSP-02 Winning Strategies to Sell Managed Services

Karen Sage

CA Technologies

MSP-03 Managed Services Accreditation Program and SAS 70: Charting a Path

Cody Griffin

Frazer Frost PLLC

MSP-04 A Network Security Value Meal Your Way: How a Burger King Franchise Solved its Network Security Needs

Nathan Austin

MyTech Partners

MSP-05 Choosing a MSP Pricing Model: Does one size fit all?

Lane Smith (Moderator)

Do IT Smarter

MSP-06 Building Your Pipeline Through Networking Events and Email Marketing

Barbara Dove

Dove Help Desk

MSP-08 How to Do Cloud Computing Securely

Scott West

CloudSway

MSP-09 Trojan Horse Approach: Acquire New Clients Using Security Practices

John Verry

PivotPoint Security

MSP-10 Increase Sales by Fueling Your Lead Generation Engine

Brian Sherman

Tech Success Communications

MSP-12 Regulatory Compliance and the Role of the MSP

Saylor Frase

Nuspire

MSP-13 Don't be Afraid of Twitter: How MSPs Can Use Social Media

Gene Fay

Nine Technology

MSP-14 Navigating the New Normal

Lawrence Walsh

President and CEO,

The 2112 Group

MSP-15 New Revenue Sharing Models: How MSPs and the Channel Will Benefit from Cloud Services

Jay Hallberg

SpiceWorks

MSP-16 Using the Internet to Automate your Marketing

Mike Cooch

Kutenda

VC-06 Virtualizing Your Contact Center (App Time)

Jason Hochman

Director - Enterprise and Channel Sales

Angel.com

APT-03 Show me the App Money

Eric Hernaez

CEO

netmobo

You can see there is tremendous activity around these events and we are now on the 4th hotel block as the last three have sold out. Be sure to book your travel soon and we hope to see you in LA.

Posted in 4G, 4GWE, AT&T, Apple, Avaya, Blackberry, Broadband, Call Center, Cisco, Communications Developer, Conference, Conferencing, Consumer Electronics, E-Commerce, FCC, Facebook, Fax, Financial, Gadget, Google, Green, HD Voice, IMS, IP Communications, IPTV, ITEXPO, JITC, M2M, Merger/Acquisition, Microsoft, Nortel, Open Source, Optical, Patent, Personal, Political, SIP, SaaS, Satellite, Science, Search, Security, Skype, Smart Ecosystem, Smart Grid, Social Networking, Speech Technologies, TMCnet, Technology, Twitter, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, Vonage, WiMAX, Wireless, Yahoo

AT&T Churn Rate Insanely Low

July 17, 2010

Gary Kim does a great job explaining in an articlethat Customers will put up with a a lot of imperfection in service quality as evidenced by the 1% churn rate of AT&T versus the industry average of 3%. One wonders however if this staggering low rate isn't just consumers not wanting to give up their iPhones. Kim also mentions Verizon in his post and I agree that the real test comes when the iPhone gets offered on this network - if ever. My experience has shown that around 50% of AT&T users would switch to Verizon based on casual conversations.

Posted in 4G, 4GWE, AT&T, Broadband, Communications Developer, Consumer Electronics, Gadget, IP Communications, TMCnet, Technology, Verizon, WiMAX, Wireless

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