ITEXPO Blog
| The ITEXPO blog is where you can view the latest news and happenings at TMC's leading VoIP conference.
October 2010
You are browsing the archive for October 2010.
BroadSoft BroadCloud a Smart Move
October 25, 2010Moving from equipment to the cloud is very smart move and something I noticed many vendors at the recent ITEXPO in Los Angeles were focused on doing. Just as VARs and channel partner/MSPs have shifted from once selling hardware to services for the recurring revenue and to offset shrinking margins, I expect many hardware providers to follow suit.
As the trend continues expect prices for services to drop in response to greater supply in the market. Why?
Hope To Start Blogging Again Tomorrow
October 21, 2010
I've had a chance this past week or so to spend two days with companies in the Satellite space at SATCON and a day at 4G World with wireless companies and two days at Interop with IT companies. That may explain why the writing has been sort of nonexistent.
I hope tomorrow I'll get back to normal and inform you of some of the interesting companies I've met with. In the mean time Juliana Kenny has the latest from the TMC Newsroom below:
I hope tomorrow I'll get back to normal and inform you of some of the interesting companies I've met with. In the mean time Juliana Kenny has the latest from the TMC Newsroom below:
ITEXPO up 50% with 216 Exhibitors
October 20, 2010Some great news about TMC's ITEXPO that I wanted to share. ITEXPO has experienced phenomenal growth year-over-year. Vendor participation for ITEXPO West increased almost 50 percent, and 216 exhibitors issued almost 400 news announcements from the show floor, detailing new products, services and alliances that were announced at ITEXPO. Additionally, more than 215 exhibiting companies, 366 speakers, 5,800 conference and expo attendees, and almost 100 members of the media participated in the event at the Los Angeles Convention Center. See, I told you VoIP is showing no signs of slowing down! Slow, stagnant economy be damned!
Full news release after the jump...
Nine Technology Targets Online Backup to MSPs
October 19, 2010
At ITEXPO I met with Gene Fay, Senior Vice President for Nine Technology, an online backup and recovery service designed for MSPs to brand and resell. Nine Technology’s "Powered by Nine" data backup and restore solutions enable managed service providers (MSPs) to offer cost-effective and secure online backup and recovery services for desktops, laptops and servers.
One of their main claims to fame is their patented global deduplication process. It uses "block level" global data deduplication and compression to minimize data size, number of files and bandwidth utilization. Gene Fay claimed that their partners have done some testing and Nine Technology is 5-15x faster at recovering files than the popular Mozy or Carbonite solutions.
Some new features recently announced include:
One of their main claims to fame is their patented global deduplication process. It uses "block level" global data deduplication and compression to minimize data size, number of files and bandwidth utilization. Gene Fay claimed that their partners have done some testing and Nine Technology is 5-15x faster at recovering files than the popular Mozy or Carbonite solutions.
Some new features recently announced include:
- Seeded initial backups shipped to the data center
- Semi-continuous data protection
- Granular SQL server backups using VSS snapshots
- Automated self-service branding of partner client software
- Web-based restore processes
- Updated, easier-to-control GUI
Do Not Connect to Free Public WiFi
October 12, 2010
Last week at ITEXPO in Los Angeles there was the standard Free Public WiFi option which you see virtually anywhere there are other wireless devices. I know not to click on this network now but I am sure I was fooled by it some time ago.
Basically the network is created by a "virus" and is being propagated by Windows XP machines. It does not appear to be malicious but clicking on it will not get you on the Internet so don't bother and save yourself time, energy and aggravation.
Here are the details - someone asked me about this network at the show and I told them not to click on it. I couldn't recall why - so I hope the person is a reader and this answers their question.
Basically the network is created by a "virus" and is being propagated by Windows XP machines. It does not appear to be malicious but clicking on it will not get you on the Internet so don't bother and save yourself time, energy and aggravation.
Here are the details - someone asked me about this network at the show and I told them not to click on it. I couldn't recall why - so I hope the person is a reader and this answers their question.
Interactive Intelligence Announces Positive Preliminary Earnings
October 12, 2010
There are a few things I wish for regarding earnings in the tech space.
The company says its cloud offering is doing well and you may recall company CMO Joe Staples spent some time recently (video) in the TMC Newsroom giving me details of the launch.
ININ expects total revenue to be between $41-$42 million with GAAP net income between $3.3-$3.9M. Last year the number was $2.8M meaning an increase of at least 17% over last year's sales.
According to founder and CEO Dr. Don Brown, the size of the deals gives the company increased operating leverage and revenue growth.
ININ CMO Joe Staples addresses a standing-room-only crowd last week at the first ever TMC Social CRM Expo
Here are additional details regarding the company's earnings:
- I wish I had time to give my thoughts on every announcement
- I wish they were all as good as what Interactive Intelligence just accomplished
The company says its cloud offering is doing well and you may recall company CMO Joe Staples spent some time recently (video) in the TMC Newsroom giving me details of the launch.
ININ expects total revenue to be between $41-$42 million with GAAP net income between $3.3-$3.9M. Last year the number was $2.8M meaning an increase of at least 17% over last year's sales.
According to founder and CEO Dr. Don Brown, the size of the deals gives the company increased operating leverage and revenue growth.
ININ CMO Joe Staples addresses a standing-room-only crowd last week at the first ever TMC Social CRM Expo
Here are additional details regarding the company's earnings:
Interactive Intelligence plans to issue a press release announcing its final 2010 third-quarter results Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. Eastern daylight time.
ITEXPO West 2010 Officially Over
October 7, 2010
ITEXPO West 2010 Los Angeles Exhibit Hall
More ITEXPO West 2010 photos
As I wait here in LAX Airport - I continue to decompress from what was the largest ITEXPO ever. There were more booths and content that at any previous TMC event - ever. We partnered with a record number of groups and provided content as wide ranging from CDMA development to optical to smart grid.
Generally the sessions were packed and we learned a great deal about your preferences and expect us to keep content areas where rooms were filled and delete topics which were not so much.
My conversations in the industry were upbeat and positive in general - Avaya showed Flare off multiple times, ShoreTel is moving upmarket, Xirrus is doing its part to replace wired Ethernet and the smart grid, MSP, 4G and M2M spaces seem to hold much promise for growth.
So thank you all for coming to the show - and especially those of you braved the record traffic, accidents and mudslides & green flag alert due to the massive LA storm to be there. I heard numerous stories of people who couldn't make it to the center and we almost had to cancel a keynote due to the massive traffic delays our speaker was stuck in.
More ITEXPO West 2010 photos
As I wait here in LAX Airport - I continue to decompress from what was the largest ITEXPO ever. There were more booths and content that at any previous TMC event - ever. We partnered with a record number of groups and provided content as wide ranging from CDMA development to optical to smart grid.
Generally the sessions were packed and we learned a great deal about your preferences and expect us to keep content areas where rooms were filled and delete topics which were not so much.
My conversations in the industry were upbeat and positive in general - Avaya showed Flare off multiple times, ShoreTel is moving upmarket, Xirrus is doing its part to replace wired Ethernet and the smart grid, MSP, 4G and M2M spaces seem to hold much promise for growth.
So thank you all for coming to the show - and especially those of you braved the record traffic, accidents and mudslides & green flag alert due to the massive LA storm to be there. I heard numerous stories of people who couldn't make it to the center and we almost had to cancel a keynote due to the massive traffic delays our speaker was stuck in.
CounterPath Demos iPhone to Nexus One Call Switching from VoIP to Cellular & Back
October 6, 2010I met with Todd Carothers, VP of Product Management at TMC's ITEXPO in Los Angeles to hear about Counterpath's latest patents and new product offerings. Todd gave me one of the coolest demos of mobile VoIP I've ever seen! I captured the demo in one of two videos that I've included in this blog post. Definitely a must watch!
ITEXPO Xirrus Keynote iPad Raffle
October 6, 2010
I just found out someone in the ITEXPO keynotes in LA Convention Center this AM will win an iPad - to be raffled off at the Xirrus booth #328 at 3:00 PM today.
2600hz Introduces "PromoCalling" - Free VoIP Phones for Business
October 6, 2010
I'm off to moderate an ITEXPO session, but came across some interesting news announced at ITEXPO I wanted to share.
Check it out:
2600hz Introduces "PromoCalling" - Free VoIP Phones for Business
Ad-Supported Phone Provides Competitive Free Calling Option to Enterprise, Small Business Market via SIP-enabled Devices
Los Angeles, CA, October 6, 2010 (ITEXPO: Booth # 606) - The 2600hz Project, a subsidiary of VoIP, Inc. today announced free SIP phone service for VoIP carriers. The ad-supported system is designed to empower today's VoIP providers to compete with free calling services already available on the Internet. The white-label service bundles features like find-me, follow-me, ring groups, meet-me conferencing and voicemail into a hosted platform. PromoCalling enables carriers to compete with similar offerings from Google Voice and Skype taking communication a step further by operating via business grade SIP phones rather than web or soft phone devices.
"Smaller VoIP carriers face fierce competition in a marketplace where Google and Skype offer services that are free," said Darren Schreiber, CEO and Co-Founder of 2600hz.
Check it out:
2600hz Introduces "PromoCalling" - Free VoIP Phones for Business
Ad-Supported Phone Provides Competitive Free Calling Option to Enterprise, Small Business Market via SIP-enabled Devices
Los Angeles, CA, October 6, 2010 (ITEXPO: Booth # 606) - The 2600hz Project, a subsidiary of VoIP, Inc. today announced free SIP phone service for VoIP carriers. The ad-supported system is designed to empower today's VoIP providers to compete with free calling services already available on the Internet. The white-label service bundles features like find-me, follow-me, ring groups, meet-me conferencing and voicemail into a hosted platform. PromoCalling enables carriers to compete with similar offerings from Google Voice and Skype taking communication a step further by operating via business grade SIP phones rather than web or soft phone devices.
"Smaller VoIP carriers face fierce competition in a marketplace where Google and Skype offer services that are free," said Darren Schreiber, CEO and Co-Founder of 2600hz.
Mykola Konrad Overview of Sonus Networks
October 5, 2010
I met with Sonus Networks' Mykola Konrad, Director, Enterprise Management at ITEXPO today. It's not every day that I get to meet someone who formerly worked on the Microsoft Surface product, a very cool technology. It's basically an extra-large iPad and Mykola mentioned Microsoft was considering something like the iPad two years ago.
Anyway, back to Sonus, Mykola talked about some of their products, including the GSX9000. One feature it offers is the ability for non-VoIP digital phones to register to their ASX (SIP registrar).
Anyway, back to Sonus, Mykola talked about some of their products, including the GSX9000. One feature it offers is the ability for non-VoIP digital phones to register to their ASX (SIP registrar).
ITEXPO West 2010 Avaya Flare Keynote in LA
October 5, 2010Phil Edholm from Avaya did an incredible job wowing the audience with Avaya's vision for the future of collaboration at the ITEXPO West 2010 Avaya Flare Keynote in Los Angeles. During the presentation social collaboration, business process and tablets came together to keep us all pumped as we learned about the future of communications.
Salesforce.com Keynote at Social CRM EXPO/ITEXPO
October 5, 2010
Alex Dayon discusses cloud computing, social networking and other important trends at Social CRM Summit West 2010 collocated with ITEXPO in Los Angeles. Of note was the discussion about how Cloud 1 has become Cloud 2 - some differences - now we are mobile, using 360 degree collaboration and utilizing social data.
Broadvox's David Byrd Overview at ITEXPO
October 5, 2010
David Byrd Vice President of Marketing and Product Management for Broadvox stopped by to speak with me at ITEXPO. You should definitely check out David's SIP and Serve by a Foodie blog. He provides interesting insights on VoIP, but also blogs some delectable recipes. He also mixes some VoIP and food metaphors.
UM Labs Brings 256-bit AES Secure VoIP to Mobile Phones
October 5, 2010
I met with Mike Wilson, VP of Sales & Marketing for UM Labs at ITEXPO today to learn more about their secure VoIP offering. At ITEXPO they announced their 1.5 release, which steps up interoperability amongst various IP-PBXS and now it works with Skype (Skype Connect).
Mike explained that a lot of independent dealers across the world who also use Skype, can now connect their PBXs to these Skype users and save a lot of money on conference calls. Their solution acts as the "glue" allowing Avaya to connect to Cisco, or Shoretel to Avaya, etc. They have a built-in scripting engine and can adjust paths between switch and trunking provider or two switches to ensure interoperability.
As part of this release they are stepping up encryption, which he claimed already had incredibly low latency.
Mike explained that a lot of independent dealers across the world who also use Skype, can now connect their PBXs to these Skype users and save a lot of money on conference calls. Their solution acts as the "glue" allowing Avaya to connect to Cisco, or Shoretel to Avaya, etc. They have a built-in scripting engine and can adjust paths between switch and trunking provider or two switches to ensure interoperability.
As part of this release they are stepping up encryption, which he claimed already had incredibly low latency.
Do IT Smarter MSP Provider
October 5, 2010
I interviewed Do IT Smarter's President, Lane Smith at ITEXPO. They're a managed service provider (MSP) offering everything from managed Exchange Server services to managed anti-spam and anti-virus services. He said they offer 50% margin to their resellers, which is more than many other MSPs. I asked about managed hosted telephony and he said they don't currently do that, because of their resellers existing relationships with Toshiba, Avaya, etc. But he said it's something they are looking at for the future. I mentioned to him that Aretta Communications might be a good partner.
In any event, check out this short video overview of his company, which was just acquired yesterday by ClearPointe.
In any event, check out this short video overview of his company, which was just acquired yesterday by ClearPointe.
AudioCodes MediaPack 252 All-In-One Gateway Sweetness!
October 5, 2010AudioCodes MediaPack™ 252 (MP-252) is a sophisticated, feature-rich, multimedia home gateway for broadband networks with Multi-play support. Launched at TMC's ITEXPO, it sports a built-in ADSL2+ modem, multiple antenna wireless LAN connectivity, DECT handsets supporting HD VoIP, Bluetooth interface for connecting cellular phones and optional battery backup. With its USB ports (3 in one model, 1 in another) , it even has support for being a print server, and can connect to file servers and UPnP AV Media Servers. I spoke with AudioCodes Alan Percy, Director of Business Development in the ITEXPO press room to learn more about this innovative all-in-one gateway for Multi-play services.
More Features Than You Can Shake a Stick At
The ADSL/ADSL2+ modem supports up to 24Mbps. It features a 10/100 Ethernet WAN port (optional connection to cable modem or FTTH ONU) and Four 10/100 Ethernet LAN ports.
Xobni CEO Jeff Bonforte Gives Fascinating Keynote At StartupCamp
October 5, 2010
ITEXPO hosted the 2nd annual Startup Camp where startup companies in the telecom, VoIP, wireless, CRM, and social media industries give a short 5 minute demo of their product or service. Then a few panelists critique their presentation. It lead to some interesting critiques. You'll definitely want to attend the next Startup Camp if you missed this one!
The keynote speaker at StartupCamp was Xobni CEO Jeff Bonforte, who has been actively involved in the future of communications for years, dating back to his involvement in what became the Gizmo Project (Gizmo5), and to his executive roles with Yahoo!’s Real-time Communications Group.
His keynote was one of the highlights of the event and I'm glad I was able to record about 80% of his insightful and funny presentation.
The keynote speaker at StartupCamp was Xobni CEO Jeff Bonforte, who has been actively involved in the future of communications for years, dating back to his involvement in what became the Gizmo Project (Gizmo5), and to his executive roles with Yahoo!’s Real-time Communications Group.
His keynote was one of the highlights of the event and I'm glad I was able to record about 80% of his insightful and funny presentation.
ITEXPO West 2010 Show Daily Monday Night
October 4, 2010
Latest Features
» Avaya Event Highlights the Importance of Fun in Work
By Paula Bernier, Executive Editor, IP Communications Magazines
Work is not a place.
ITEXPO West 2010 Day One Video Recap
October 4, 2010
Here is a fantastic video recap of day one at ITEXPO West 2010. Enjoy.
Monday Reminder ITEXPO West 2010
October 4, 2010
Here is a note about show happenings from TMC president Dave Rodriguez:
Hi All,
Things have been busy at the Los Angeles Convention Center for ITEXPO's Opening Day! ITExPO is off to a great start.
Startup Camp Communications West 2010
October 4, 2010
Thanks all for making this ITEXPO collocated show a success as well - there are wall to wall people - everywhere. It looks like Startup Camp Communications edition is a huge hit. We are currently listening to (and enjoying greatly) keynote speaker Jeff Bonforte - and Larry Lisser kicked the event off. Here is a photo - and the room filled much more after the start of the conference. Thanks again for attending.
Lightwave One West 2010 Launch Video
October 4, 2010
Lightwave One launched successfully as the first optical collocated event at ITEXPO. There was a nice crowd - here is one of the rooms and you can expect to see this event again at future ITEXPOs.
ITEXPO West 2010 Keynotes Kick Off
October 4, 2010Aretta Communications Hosted Virtualized Asterisk
October 4, 2010
I met with Marc Fribush at ITEXPO and we discussed their hosted Asterisk offering. I met Marc previously at TMC Days, when several VoIP and telecom companies visited TMC's offices. It's an impressive product. In about 60s you can "spin up" your very own virtualized hosted copy of Asterisk.
Standing Room Only at ITEXPO West 2010
October 4, 2010
Earlier I showed you how Smart Grid Summit is standing room only with wall-to-wall attendees devouring information. Now, I just happened upon the simultaneous 4G Wireless Evolution (4GWE) conference and CDMA Development Group sessions and they were packed as well with a need for more chairs. Thanks all for coming to ITEXPO and the collocated events to make them so successful.
4G Wireless Evolution
CDMA Development Group Sessions
4G Wireless Evolution
CDMA Development Group Sessions
CA Technologies Keynote Preview MSP World
October 4, 2010
One of the collocated events at ITEXPO West 2010 which has a tremendous amount of positive buzz is MSP World and a major keynote speaker for the event is Adam Famularo the General Manager of Cloud Computing for the company. I had a chance to spend a few minutes to sit with Adam and learn about the company's cloud and MSP strategy and of course get a preview of the keynote taking place later today.
Smart Grid Summit West 2010 Off to Great Start
October 4, 2010
Rich Tehrani did just a great job snapping a photo and video of the Smart Grid session at ITEXPO, I thought I'd steal them.
Smart Grid Summit kicked off this morning in Los Angeles to a standing room only crown. Collocated with ITEXPO West 2010 the event marked its one-year anniversary this event and continues to grow with each incarnation.
Smart Grid Summit kicked off this morning in Los Angeles to a standing room only crown. Collocated with ITEXPO West 2010 the event marked its one-year anniversary this event and continues to grow with each incarnation.
