Rich Tehrani : Communications and Technology Blog - Tehrani.com
Rich Tehrani
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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

Unified Communications

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

January 27, 2012



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.
Posted in 4G, 4GWE, AT&T, Amazon, Android, Apple, Avaya, Blackberry, Broadband, CRM, Call Center, Cisco, Cloud Computing, Communications Developer, Conference, Conferencing, Consumer Electronics, E-Commerce, FCC, Fax, HD Voice, IP Communications, ITEXPO, M2M, MSP, Microsoft, Open Source, SIP, Skype, Speech Technologies, Super WiFi, TMC Team, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, Wireless

ITEXPO East 2012 Miami Out of Office Message

January 24, 2012

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.

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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.

Posted in 4G, AT&T, Amazon, Apple, Avaya, Blackberry, Broadband, Cisco, Cloud Computing, Communications Developer, Conference, E-Commerce, FCC, Fax, HTML5, IP Communications, ITEXPO, Networking, Nortel, SIP, Social Networking, Super WiFi, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, Wireless
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Despite Outages, Verizon Has Record Quarter

January 24, 2012

Months back Verizon sent me a 4G personal hotspot to review and I confess it is one of the most important pieces of technology I have. For example just yesterday I was at a lunch meeting for an extended period of time – and I had an iPad and keyboard with me. The Optimum WiFi network was not working well. AT&T was also having problems for whatever reason – it was very slow.

Posted in 4G, AT&T, Amazon, Android, Apple, Blackberry, Broadband, Consumer Electronics, FCC, Facebook, IMS, IP Communications, Microsoft, Networking, Skype, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, Wireless

Paget Alves, Sprint CSO keynotes ITEXPO in Miami

January 17, 2012

Dear readers – thanks for registering for ITEXPO – our conference registration numbers show there is solid attendance already and the scope of attendees as always will be international with people coming from as far away as China. What I love about running conferences is the ability to experiment with the leading edge of technology to help attendees stay up to date on the latest happenings in hot spaces like super WiFi, UC, IP collaboration, mobility, 4G, M2M, etc.

On Wednesday, February 1, at 3:30 PM, Sprint’s Chief Sales Officer Paget Alves will help tie many of the themes at ITEXPO and related show as he discuss the power of ingenuity in the business-to-business space and its influence on wireless technologies – both current and future.

If you want to stay up to date on the latest in technology and communications including cloud computing, asterisk, the opportunity for channel partners, HTML5, the MSP space, startups, etc you should think about attending.

If you can’t – that’s fine as well – TMC and I will do our best to keep you posted on what I believe to be one of the most important events in the industry. I just got back from CES, I will be at MWC… I get a sense of renewed energy and excitement in so many sectors of the market; it will hopefully be a successful year for us all.

Posted in 4G, AT&T, Android, Apple, Broadband, Cisco, Cloud Computing, Communications Developer, Consumer Electronics, FCC, IP Communications, ITEXPO, Technology, Unified Communications, Video, VoIP, Wireless
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Woz, I Agree. Now What if the Samsung Galaxy Note Ran iOS?

January 17, 2012

In July of 2010 I penned a piece about the ensuing marketshare loss Apple could face as a result of repeating the same mistake from the eighties in which it tightly coupled hardware and software while other companies were free to innovate on hardware alone. In a post titled Is Is Apple Repeating its Mistake from the Eighties? I explained how the thinness and lightness of the Motorola Droid X won me over in a few minutes. In December of 2010 I followed up with And Then it Hit Me, Open Always Wins and a few months back with Apple Screwed Again?

I witnessed firsthand how in the eighties the price/power curve of the PC clones helped make PCs much cheaper than Macs of equivalent power and over time as a result, software developers once loyal to Apple switched over to the PC. The Mac was superior to the PC in most every way except cost – the reality was though that most people would take 80% of the usability for 50-60% of the price or perhaps less.

A huge and imposing banner promoting the Samsung Galaxy Note at 2012 CES

Fast forward to today – there are quad-core 4G Android smartphones with better screens and battery life than an iPhone 4s and they are gorgeous.

Posted in 4G, Amazon, Android, Apple, Avaya, Broadband, FCC, Microsoft, Smart Ecosystem, Technology, Ultrabook, Unified Communications, Verizon, Wireless, iPad

Quad-Core Galaxy S III Rumored to be at MWC

December 29, 2011

It isn't like quad-core smartphones are unexpected but it is still amazing that the power of four processors can be sandwiched between thin pieces of glass - communicating over 4G networks and doing what a supercomputer of just over a decade or so ago could do.

This past November I wrote a piece equating the absolutely ferocious pace of advancements in the Android space to the same situation back in the eighties where the PC slaughtered Apple in the price/performance wars. The core of my argument was the Samsung Galaxy S II a sleek smartphone sporting a dual core 1.5 GHz processor, 4G and a 4.5 inch Super AMOLED Plus display. It is a brilliant device and immediately gave me Android envy. The story which is repeating itself is an entire industry will be competing, coming out with faster and better devices while Apple will have fewer product rollouts.
Posted in 4G, AT&T, Android, Apple, Broadband, Consumer Electronics, Gadget, Google, Speech Technologies, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Wireless, iPad

Julius Genachowski Makes Brilliant Move at FCC in Hiring Henning Schulzrinne as CTO

December 29, 2011

Earlier this month, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the appointment of Henning Schulzrinne as Chief Technology Officer – a major move forward for the FCC and the US communications regulatory environment. This move was made in-part because the FCC has had to keep up with fairly rapid changes in the communications and networking worlds. Telephony was once a circuit-switched service provided by a handful of large telecommunications companies and a number of regional players.

It was relatively easy to understand and regulate. But when VoIP and other forms of IP communications came on the scene, the world became less defined.

Posted in 4G, AT&T, Broadband, FCC, HD Voice, IMS, IP Communications, ITEXPO, SIP, Skype, Smart Grid, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Video, VoIP, Vonage, Wireless
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Ultrabooks, Kindle Fires and the New World Apple Must Compete in

December 27, 2011

I have had many friends and relatives share their gadget purchase decisions with me these past weeks and none of them were Apple products. Most were Kindle and one Nook. Based on my informal questioning it seems the only reason to not buy an iPad and instead a gadget from Barnes & Noble or Amazon is price.

In other words I get the sense these purchases would all be iPad 2s if the prices were similar.

I have argued before that Apple needs a lower-priced tablet whether it is the iPad 2 when a new model comes out or a new iPad Nano. It is worth pointing out that to date Apple hasn't chased competitors downstream into the land of reduced margin.

Posted in 4G, AT&T, Amazon, Android, Apple, Consumer Electronics, Gadget, Google, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Wireless, iPad
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