May 2009 Archives

Now, if only 8x8 would start offering DID and DDI from more countries,

Forget the cartridges and attend the Social Media Academy and other great sessions at Open Silicon Valley Forum in Mountain View on June 13th, 2009. Listen and mix with the experts from RockYou, SlideShare, Zoosk, Sharethrough, and Eduify. A miniscule entry fee of $55 for the full conference right now will place you in an inspirational circle of movers and shakers at the forum's venue the Computer History Museum.

The main categories set for this event include cleantech, global affairs, and tech and media. See the full conference schedule. Fantastic opportunities include pitching for the Entrepreneurial Idol award (application deadline Monday June 1, 2009) and Clean Investor Pitch Lunch. (application deadline Sunday May 31, 2009).

The conference registration includes:

• Access to Keynotes

• Access to world-class professional development workshops & panels, covered in three parallel tracks

• Access to networking sessions with global business leaders

• A three-course, delectable lunch buffet

Everything we do on the Internet and make available on the Internet involves some form of communication.  Monetizing IP communications, to me, means making the best us of available resources to add new customers, keep them, over-please them,  for the and have them refer more. The Open Silicon Valley Summit has a great combination of world Internet leaders, topics and opportunities for interaction, collaboration, and business. Sign up at http://www.opensiliconvalley.org.

Hotels in the area...

The Computer History Museum address is 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, Califonria 94043.

Let's make more of the web accessible to mobile phones, okay? Some companies don't make sure that they are delivering valid XHTML. I discussed this with Jessica Zhu, an expert in XML and XHTML*, at ISPCON last year. World Wide Web Consortium can help your company check to see if your websites are mobile-friendly. Check their best practices published in January 2009. W3 is also looking for your feedback. 

Come hang out with more experts on mobile applications and technology at the following conferences. I'll see you there.

Sept 1-3, 2009 ITEXPO and 4G Wireless Evolution

Sept 15-18, 2009 4G World

Oct 6-9, 2009 CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment®

* Check Surfin' Safari for the relationship among XML, XHTML and HTML.

Video conferencing... what are the first thoughts that come to mind? It's too expensive, it takes too much bandwidth. We don't need it. On the flip side, I have come to the conclusion that it is a must in the mix of plans businesses have for staying in touch with competitors, suppliers, clients, and business partners along with audio telephony, instant chat, email, and conference face to face. Match a Polycom or Grandstream video phone with BlinkMind video conferencing service and watch things happen!

BlinkMind's video conferencing solution definitely outperforms regular peer to peer video in quality customer and technical service.  It has designed a video conferencing solution with the demanding business environment in mind. Paul Turso and I, both from DIDX at the time, experienced and tested what it's like to be a BlinkMind customer on a Grandstream GXV-3000 video phone. The real-time video was a sharp thirty frames per second with an absolutely pristine audio experience. No more wishes for a dedicated video conference room filled with expensive high tech equipment. Small to medium sized businesses like ours have access to technology that can bring a wealth of savings, monetize and create more effective communications, and open new possibilities. I can't get 16 way video conferencing on Skype. (I like and use Skype. Our company is on the SILK developer list.)

BlinkMind's video conferencing product line will never replace the all important face to face interaction. How did I meet Chris Veasey, BlinkMind's CoFounder & VP of Engineering in the first place? At an ITEXPO conference, of course. But, the service will help your company maintain the important client relationship in a more effective way. The cost is less than one tank of gas per month. One solution, for increased productivity, better customer relations and real savings to the bottom line.

BlinkMind is also a "family reunion in a box," a relief to decreasing family travel budgets. Families use BlinkMind's "video conferencing platform" to connect with loved ones anywhere with broadband Internet. View multiple family members at once, up to 16. You can also connect your TV, flat panel display or any other monitor that accepts a standard RCA video input for maximum view.

The company offers friendly customer service, always leaving the customer feeling empowered and not belittled. We had a small glitch at the beginning of the test, of one-way audio, solved within less than three minutes. See the customer service in action on Youtube.

There is a Call Record feature. I forgot to download the video call I made within 7 days. It has been a fast-paced 2009 so far. No recession around the Super Technologies, headquarters. But what a great feature to review any audio or video calls that you make and receive. Just log into your BlinkMind account and see a green check mark under Record. Click and download.

I recommend readers to join the BlinkMind Facebook page to watch demo videos, participate in discussion, meet other BlinkMind users, and just experience the friendly and helpful interaction with the BlinkMind team. Keep up with the latest via BlinkMind's blog at http://www.blinkmind.com/blog/.

So what's next?  I already have requests from the more technically-savvy readers to complete another video call and record with Nathan from BlinkMind Communications, Inc. to discuss the technical nature and advantages of the video conferencing service.

BlinkMind designs, develops and innovates. It is a member of DIDX.net which means its clients have access to owning a phone number from any of up to 60 nations. I am amazed at the speed this company's customer base is growing. In conclusion, I want you to checkout BlinkMind's service and perhaps even consider becoming a reseller.

Will this be good or bad for Russian consumers and businesses and the rest of the world?

"The Russian government is to buy a 20% stake in Sistema-Shyam, an Indian telecom service provider. The total value of the deal amounts to RUB 34.3bn ($1bn).
Sistema is the major shareholder in Shyam Telecom and operates under the Rainbow logo."

Original source where I copied this information is http://www.itandtelecompoland.com/next.php?id=71360. This was predicted in the middle of March 2009 in the Reuters UK news.

I was checking out IP communications companies that are using MySpace to implement voice plugins and applications and then checked my Linkedin network to read the latest from some of those same companies, and noticed the job opening at MySpace for Vice President of Business Development... job entry number 687227.

I'm copying here the details. If you believe you are qualified and would love a career with MySpace click on "job opening."

Location: Los Angeles, CA (Greater Los Angeles Area)

URL: http://www.myspace.com

Apply Now
Type: Full-time Experience: Executive Functions: Business Development, General Business, Management, Product Management, Strategy / Planning  Industries: Information Technology and Services, Internet, Marketing and Advertising, Online Media, Wireless  Posted: May 12, 2009 Job Code: Vice President, Business Development - MySpace Job Description
Vice President of Business Development - MySpace

Overview:

MySpace is looking to hire a Vice President of Business Development. Candidates must be a product-centric business development professional with extensive experience structuring and negotiating complex media and technology-driven deals and a proven track record managing a business development team.

The VP Business Development will manage a business development team working across a wide variety of deals including content licensing and syndication, integrated advertising, enterprise IT, and the MySpace Open Platform. A passion for social media and an appreciation of its potential for users and advertisers is important. A proven track record leading deals that involve many of the complexities of Web 2.0 is a must--this includes experience structuring content licensing and monetization deals involving integration with third party APIs while also addressing issues of data portability, service level agreements, and complex revenue sharing arrangements. Prior experience in product management is not required but is highly preferred.

Responsibilities:

•Work closely with the MySpace executive team to set priorities for business development
•Oversee deal analysis and negotiations
•Interact closely with the MySpace product management organization to ensure that product strategy and specifications are properly accounted for in deal negotiations - ensuring that strong monetization and good user experience are outcomes of every deal
•Serve as manager and mentor to an experienced business development team
•Prepare presentations, financial projections, and strategic analysis

Requirements:

•7+ years of relevant business development experience within a consumer-facing Web company and 3+ years experience managing a business development team
•Deep knowledge of the emerging trends in social media as well as supporting business models and technologies
•Exemplary client management experience with strong communication and presentation skills
•Recognized industry presence and significant senior level contacts in the social media landscape
•First-hand experience with a variety of online advertising models including CPM, CPC, and CPA; experience in consumer e-commerce and micro transactions is a real plus
•Deep cross-functional knowledge of business development, product management and engineering
•A deep understanding of developer APIs; background in web application development is a real plus
•Demonstrated ability to create and execute on a long-term business development strategy
•A keen sense for gleaning market insights and innovative trends and an ability to translate this understanding into executable business development deals
•Financial modeling and analysis experience
•Ability to work well in a team environment as well as to set personal goals and manage time
•Bachelors Degree from a top tier University; engineering degree strongly preferred. MBA or JD a plus.

Skills

This position will be based in Los Angeles.

To apply for this position, please send your resume directly to elke.gallo@fox.com.

Please reference "Vice President of Business Development" in subject line of email.

Company Description

With over 126 million worldwide monthly visitors (ComScore), MySpace is the largest social portal in the world. In the U.S. alone over 44 billion page views are served monthly to 76 million visitors, with users spending an average of 266 minutes each month on the site. Our users come to MySpace to meet friends, find and listen to new bands/music, blog, plan events, play games, and participate in user forums and groups. MySpace has revolutionized the way people interact and plan their social lives.

 

I have so many friends in the mobile everything industry, and I hope they all apply for the Mobile Excellence Awards 2009. I'd love to see any of them win.

Submit your application at http://www.mobilexawards.com/ for the 2009 Mobile Excellence Awards. Mobile Monday will present the awards. Award submissions must be postmarked by August 31st, 2009. Please send your submissions along with payment to LMM- Mobile Awards @ 139 S Beverly Drive, Suite 230 Beverly Hills, CA 90212.


2008 Mobile Excellence Award Winners

Best Start Up ◦EQO Communications (Listen to the Bending the Needle podcast interview of EQO's Bill Tam.) 
Best Comeback ◦FusionOne
Best Mobile Innovator, Mobile Technology ◦2Ergo
Best Mobile Advertising ◦GoTV Networks for Crescent Heights
Best Mobile Video ◦QuickPlay Media
Best Social Network ◦Zannel
Best Innovator Mobile Entertainment ◦Transpera
Best Mobile Games ◦EA Mobile, Monopoly
Best Mobile Music ◦Gracenote
Best Original Programming, Mobile ◦Sony Pictures TV, Afterworld
Best Mobile Community/Fan Content ◦Vringo
Best Mobile Promotion ◦Sportgenic, Ironman & AT&T
Best Adapted/Companion Program ◦Direct TV, NFL Mobile
People's Choice Award ◦GoTV Networks (Hip Hop Official)
Mobile Ambassador Award ◦Jack Hallahan/MobiTV

Get recognized. You deserve it. Your clients do, too.

I feel certain that the readers of this blog are the real telephony experts, early adopters, think tank types, not me, so that is why I am asking you to check this request from a school on the web group. 

They are looking for a system where people can call in from a cell phone line in El Salvador. Their call would be answered by inputting a PIN #.

Then they could have an option to listen to voice mail prompts--questions or multiple choice, respond and playback their recording. If these files could be saved as .wav files that would be best.

A second option would be to be put through to someone else on the line to speak to directly, i.e., have a conversation.

Much of this technology is already used in call centers, except for the conference calling feature (being able to talk to one or more people at the same time). Again, conference calling technology exists and most likely uses VOIP.

They know that the readers of this blog, various companies offer all of these things and the DIDX lines (for El Salvador), right? Looking for your comments and directions! You can comment on this blog, on my Facebook page, email suzanne@didx.net, or call me.

Inc.com has extended the deadline to May 22, 2009 to apply for the Inc.com 5000 list. Many of us asked them to do this because some of the most qualified companies need more time to gather their financials and fill the registration form. Good luck!