Monetizing IP Communications - Entrepreneurship Archives

Google Enables Business to Add Subscribers in Search Listing

2012-08-02T13:33:37Z

May not be news to everyone, but I was browsing for new running gear, and I think this is cool that Google search can enable businesses and consumers who opt in. Businesses and consumers can enter their email address and zip code to subscribe to special deals and news.

This ad format enables advertisers to include an email subscription option in ads. It was first made available in early mid-December 2011. In fact, from what I've heard, the email subscription feature was first tested by Google in partnership with Honda. Imagine the number of email addresses of interested parties you have the potential to collect.

ThingWorx CEO Russell Fadel on M2M and the Connected World

2012-03-12T19:09:52Z

Last weekend my three-year-old grandson and six-year-old granddaughter helped me complete a CSI face reconstruction kit. Afterward, Simon held up a pan in front of his own face and asked the finished kit, "Why don't you talk to me, Mr. Face?"

His request was not such a silly one. That is what M2M does. It assists things to talk to each other. In fact, Japanese mobile operator NTT DocoMo estimates that by 2010, two thirds of their mobile customers were not human. They were machines like cars, fire hydrants and even pets.

"Machine to machine is defined by having a smart piece of equipment that will communicate back to a central application to perform some useful function," says Russell Fadel, CEO and Co-Founder of ThingWorx, a Gold Sponsor of ITEXPO M2M conference and expo. (Listen to the complete audio podcast between Suzanne Bowen and Russell Fadel on DIDX podcasts at http://www.didx.net/podcast/?p=episode&name=2013-02-07_thingworx_machine2machine.mp3.)

He says that the most common functions of Machine to Machine (end to end states) are vehicle telematics such as fleet management and remote access of services. All types of businesses can benefit from Machine to Machine such as utilities, smart cities, smart grid, mining, and more.

From 2000 to 2009, the main reasons that Machine to Machine did not take off well were connectivity, high expenses, and it was friction filled. Even so, during the first generation, there totalled approximately 20 million connected devices.

According to Mr. Fadel, that number should top 50 billion devices (things) in ten years. Within 25 years, there could be as many as a trillion. Common current examples of the Internet of Things are sensors, factory equipment, airplanes, cars and refrigerators. (Sensors are converters that measure physical quantity and then convert that quantity into a signal which is understood by an instrument.)

Enter, the second generation in which Thingworx is the first to build the future-thinking application platform that provides all the services and tools for a business to build in the end state, a new application. Because the cost of connectivity and tools have dramatically decreased since 2009, Thingworx is able to assist developers to create innovative applications.

ThingWorx introduces "Connected World" which is different from traditional M2M. So how does this effect businesses in the future?
Connectedness will be ubiquitous and in three dimensions. It will not just be between a device and a computer. It will connect people, systems, services, and equipment like a social network. Each entity with access to know the status of another at any time, will be able to know it through this Connected World.

--------> New innovations are lurking and waiting to be created because of this ambient awareness. <--------

Russell shares examples of their partners creating useful applications with Thingworx platform so that listeners of this audio podcast can understand more how they can benefit from working with Thingworx. An example is Sensei Solutions who has used Thingworx platform along with their own intellectual property to create an environment for smart grid infrastructure to optimize how a substation runs. The results are the abilities to predict equipment failures and work toward operating the substations closer to 100 % loading.

Another of Thingworx partners runs complete traffic light systems. They replace all traditional lights with LED bulbs which saves money in energy and maintenance. (Oh, I remember every other booth at a 2011 Indonesian conference we participated in was demonstrating LED. My first time to be exposed to them.) The company is using Thingworx to run the algorithms that connect to the smart traffic lights. Such a configuration will schedule where maintenance needs to go to replace burned out bulbs.

Mr. Fadel explains in detail how businesses and individuals can partner with Thingworx. Keep in mind that Thingworx does not build *vertical applications. That is what those who develop applications with Thingworx platform do. Thingworx partners include solutions providers, applications developers, consultants, and resellers.

Thingworx's "not too far in the future plans" include having something like the smart phone market has ... like an app store. It will be a liquid market for developers around the world to build small or big apps which are made available to customers on ThingWorx. It even won't matter if the developer or customer are in opposite areas of the world!

We thank you for listening to the podcast and recommending that others do, too!

Website of interviewee: http://www.thingworx.com
Websites of the podcast sponsors: http://www.astraqom.com, http://www.thesipschool.com, http://www.didx.net, http://www.telecomyou.com

Your IP Communications Biz is Up and Running and Ping! Malware Arrives

2010-08-23T13:24:11Z

What to do?

1. Take site offline, and replace with an "under maintenance" page.
2. Work out how the malware got there. The most recent was via an SQL injection vulnerability (HP(?) produce a useful scanner for these); another was down to an unpatched underlying operating system.
3. If it's an OS hole, plug it.
4. Restore the site and data from a recent, uncorrupted backup.
5. If it's a hole in the site, plug it.
6. Test
7. Put it back live
8. Subscribe to a service that will notify you of changes to the site, and take note of unexpected ones.

Various things not to do:
1. Leave it live while you try to work out how to fix it. It's much easier to get on to Google's list of malware-infested sites than off it.
2. Restore from backup and/or eliminate the malware from the site without diagnosing and fixing the vulnerability in the hope that it won't come back. It will.

Craiglist, USA Phone Numbers, Call Centers, Fraud

2010-07-01T21:39:43Z

A friend on Facebook said, "I heard that my call center can make a lot of money using Craigslist. Would you give me advice?"

Answer: Craigslist requires a USA phone number from each person using Craigslist. Craigslist will call the number to verify the person answering has signed up to use Craigslist and agrees to their terms and conditions.

A few ways to get bulk number of USA phone numbers wholesale.
Any USA landline or mobile operator.
http://www.voxbone.com
http://www.didx.net

A few ways to get a USA phone number retail.
Your local USA mobile operator or landline operator.
http://www.jetnumbers.com
http://www.didww.com
http://www.mydivert.com
http://www.tollfreeforwarding.com
http://www.virtualphoneline.com
http://www.ring2skype.com

If the Craigslist member is found to be using Craigslist fraudulently as in human trafficking, drug trafficking, selling fake goods, calling USA phone numbers (call center campaigns) that are on the http://www.donotcall.gov list, making threatening calls to anyone... Craigslist will cancel that member's Craigslist account.

Looking for New Clients? How about Hotels?

2010-05-18T13:59:57Z

"THE Financial Mail reported, on 23 April, 2010 on three new hotels for the inner city - a 120-room four-star hotel in Marshall Street, near Rissik Street in Johannesburg, opening in May; a 50-room five-star hotel near AAC headquarters and the Standard Bank superblock, which will follow later; and then, next year, a 150-room hotel in the same vicinity.

These are to be branded as Reef Hotels, developed by Isaac Chalumbira and hotelier Gustav Krampe.

The units offer an open plan kitchen design, great finishes, VoIP telephones, internet and DSTV connections and a safe environment via 24 hour security, fingerprint access, street patrollers and a shuttle service into the CBD. Hey, the new stuff in the inner city, even if it is recycled, is offering much, much more than it used to."

What is DSTV? It is digital satellite television. It is MultiChoice's multi-channel digital satellite TV service in Africa. It started up in 1995, the same time as Vocaltec's Internet Phone in Israel.

In South Africa and neighbouring countries, it broadcasts on Ku band via the Intelsat 7 and 10 satellite (PAS7 and PAS10), which require a small satellite dish. Other countries in the rest of Africa receive broadcasts via both Ku band and C-Band which requires a larger 1.2m dish.

But voIP ... it became legal in South Africa on February 1, 2005.

Voice over internet is making its way into more hotels than you know around the world, in the inner cities, remote islands, bed and breakfasts and hostels. It's good for the patrons and adds cash in the pockets of the owners. Thanks for posting on this, Andy.

I know my choice for staying at any conference including the ITW May 24-26, 2010 (bilateral table A378) includes free and good quality wifi. I do have a Verizon wireless card for my laptop and use a Motorola Droid cell phone with Internet, but free Wifi and oh yes, breakfast and close to public transportation like train or subway work for me.

Some companies I am meeting with: Bankai, Bharti Airtel, Paetec, MCM Telecommunicaciones, Telmex, Rebtel, One Communications, Pac-West (yes, they are back), General Transit Telecom, TurkTel, Etisalat, Tata, Voxbone, African Telecommunications Union, DIDww, Zain, and more. Can't wait!

Read more on the new hotels in South Africa: http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/5163/335/#ixzz0oI13tZ12 written by Neil Fraser.

Vintage VoIP 2002: Start a Call Center in South Asia

2010-05-18T13:30:29Z

Topic: How to start and operate a successful call center in Pakistan.

Note by the author Suzanne Lombard: This is an excerpt of the tiny 26 page book written and published by me in 2002 with the goal to inspire people and organizations to study and practice English, use the Internet, voIP, and start a call center or back office in South Asia.

This version was targeted more to Pakistan. Some of the URLs and information are outdated, but I still get emails, IMs, Facebook wall notes and voip calls from those who have read it and tell me they are somewhere in the process of starting or working with a call center or back office: studying English, getting Internet, using voIP, and putting food on the table at home.

In the year 2000, major research firms predicted that by 2003 approximately US$60 billion was expected to be spent on call center services worldwide. It's a reality, and how much of that action does Pakistan have? How much does it deserve to have?

Enter "India Call Center" key words in google.com and get over 200 meaningful results. Enter "Pakistan Call Center" and get seven meaningful results.

India was already employing 16,000 personnel for USA companies two years ago (2000) with the claim that Indian call center agents are more reliable and skilled and can operate at a much lower cost per transaction than USA call centers.

President Arroyo of the Philippines signed three major agreements with USA companies the same year. She is quoted, "To be successful, the ICT sector must be driven by the private sector, with minimal government intervention and regulation." Today, the Philippines is a major player in the outsourced call center world.

Some nations, with the same potentially well-qualified personnel for these "back offices," are still talking about "thousands of jobs will be available in call center applications in next few years." Meanwhile, the competition around those countries who are just simply waiting... are doing what it takes right now. Not right now, they began yesterday and before that. It is not thousands of jobs, it is millions.

My main objective is to clear questions you may have in your mind about call centers in Pakistan. I hope to encourage every single one of you to create a plan today to take advantage of the huge and wonderful opportunities just waiting for you in the call center, back office, and remote sales to USA business.

Pakistan is an excellent example of a nation of many extremely fluent English-speaking and Internet literate people who have the future-thinking entrepreneurial attitude needed by USA companies looking for outsourcing their customer support, technical support, telemarketing, accounting and more.

So, what is wrong? Internet must be more affordable, and bandwidth needs to be subsidized more. This and other kinds of encouragement will bring these companies to the Land of the Pure instead of elsewhere in the world.

What is a call center anyway? A call center can take many forms. A mother and wife can work from the privacy of her home as a medical secretary, never leaving her children. She will be able to practice her religious beliefs and still help her family financially. Pizza delivery, medical insurance claims, book orders, travel itineraries... there is no limit to the number of jobs that are now available. Young, elderly, men, women, handicapped, and those with families or without will now have new opportunities in Pakistan to improve their economic status and use their often self-taught English, Internet, and people skills. Anyone can be a call center with these three skills. Manned by one or more than a thousand, it doesn't matter.

What has India accomplished in comparison to Pakistan in the Call Center Choice race? Bangalore is known worldwide as IndoPak area's Silicon Valley. They were first and quickest in jumping on the software market. Now, Bangalore and the rest of India are moving to the hottest market, Call Centers. This is just a "dust in the wind" phenomenon. It is here to stay for several decades. Take a look at "Dialing for Dollars" India Call Center article and video show at http://www.pakistancallcenters.com/. On 30 December 2002, there were listed at http://www.people-one.com/searchjob/hotjobs.asp 250 call center positions in India.

India supports call center operations in a huge way. See the following example.

"THE INDIA ADVANTAGE ( http://www.delhicall.com/why-india.html )

Language
» India has the second-largest English- speaking population in the world.
» English is the principal language for the transaction of business

Manpower
» India has the second largest and the fastest growing pool of technical manpower .
» High availability of English speaking & educated customer care professionals.
» Has the lowest manpower cost
» High availablity of computer literate graduate manpower and technical manpower

Reliability and Security
The work force is highly reliable and can deliver world-class quality and ensure rapid delivery of service. Indian companies are also increasingly adapting to international quality and security standards.

Infrastructure
» Well-connected telecommunication systems on a world-class scale . • High availability of infrastructure resources.
» India's satellite-based telecommunication network enables almost instantaneous high-speed transfer of voice and data across the globe

Legislative Framework
» Highly liberal Government policies on Call- center operations
» Maintains High cost competitiveness in service sectors
» Proactive Government - 10yr. Tax holiday • Duty free import of capital machinery and software.

Cost Benefits
Indian companies can provide call center services to clients based in the U.S. or the U.K. at one-sixth to one-fourth of what it costs in the U.S., U.K. or Australia.

Time Zone
A virtual 12-hour time zone difference with the USA and other markets for Call Center services is in India's favor.

Pro-Active Government
The department of telecommunications, Government of India has given a special thrust to the industry by reducing the prices of high-speed international private leased circuits. The recent IT boom has prompted the Government of India to announce exemptions from income tax and customs for the exports of IT enabled services. Central and the State governments have put emphasis to set up state-of-the art infrastructure for the projected boom for IT enabled services. Private Internet gateways and 100 foreign direct investments have been given approvals. "Potentially 50-80 percent of total process costs in most IT enabled services can be out sourced offshore. As much as 70 - 80 percent costs can be reduced primarily because of wage differentials. However, in order to manage operations in remote locations, expatriate management may initially be required to support the remote locations. This together with higher telecom costs could result in additional costs of 10-20 percent. Hence there could be 50-60 percent saving on out located processes." (VCare Technologies, Market Perception Memo III, July 2000)"

Why is Pakistan not one of the choice call center locations in the world? Priorities? The infrastructure needs assistance. (Do not feel bad when I say this. No matter what you think, even in America our infrastructure needs to be improved to see better success for the people.) The opportunities must be publicized to the people. Call centers can have a location as small as a corner of one's home. Again bandwidth must be subsidized, Internet access must be affordable, and VOIP must be viewed as a friend, not the enemy. Look at these hard facts. About 2 MB of bandwidth will host about 68 phone lines at 30 Kbps per phone line. This costs US$6000/month in Pakistan and only US$1000/month in USA.

Finally, why would a nation want to block VOIP when it should be the answer to economic improvement? Why block VOIP and not Playboy? Playboy is not blocked in Pakistan but VoIP is? Playboy uses 50% more bandwidth than VOIP, and it does nothing to improve the Pakistan citizenry.

In fact, we all know it does a world of harm to one's emotional, social, family, spiritual life and sometimes even causes a person to lose everything he has. On the other hand, VOIP, something that is still being blocked by a few governments of the world, is a necessity for any type of call center. Something has to change. Let us see that Pakistan is the smart example and choice call center location of the world with all the tools of success and encouragement ready to get in on the action.

... read the rest of the 26 pages of the copyrighted book sometime!

About the author in 2002:
Suzanne Lombard has a wide variety of experiences and careers. She graduated from Pensacola Junior College, Pensacola, Florida with a Liberal Arts A.A. From there, she completed her English Education B.A. major at the University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida. She completed graduate studies in Instructional Technology at the University of West Florida and Media Education at the University of South Alabama. She is a volunteer for ITGulfcoast and Big Brothers Big Sisters and is an active member of Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau of the United States of America.

At Renaissance Fitness Center, she managed the sales and instructor staff in the southeast USA region for six years. She taught English, Computers and Gifted Studies at Carver Middle School, Century, Florida, for sixteen years. In addition, she was the Intranet Sales Library editor and Sales Trainer at Z-Tel Communications (local and long distance CLEC). She currently holds two jobs. One, New York Times sub-contracts out to Publishers Circulation Fulfillment where she is also a sales coach. Two, she has been integral to the marketing department and other facets of Super Technologies, Inc. as CEO for four years.

Suzanne received many awards throughout life including Middle School English Teacher of the Year and Emmit Smith Charities, Inc. Writing Award. She wrote and was granted over $500,000 worth of educational grants including Foundation of Excellence, Core Knowledge, and Gifted Studies Technology. She was named Most Valuable Player at PCF. In addition, she assisted Super Technologies, Inc. in winning Best of Show Client Device Award at Spring Internet World 2001 and Internet Telephony Magazine Editor's Choice Award I n 2000. She has traveled extensively throughout Pakistan, India, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Germany with a mission to improve education and to share VOIP opportunities.

Many thanks to the most creative future-thinkers Elizabeth Carden (technical researcher), Rehan Ahmed (inventor, entrepreneur, philosopher and philanthropist), Arshi Masood (excellent brainstorming partner), my son Scott Slay, my parents Ernest and Evelyn Lombard, Call Center magazine (exhaustive source for call centers) for the ideas and support in helping to spread the Call Center phenomenon and reality to new areas of the world such as the "Land of the Pure."

Get the full hard copy by placing an order via Paypal to suzanne@..... (no longer valid email) with your complete name, shipping address, and contact phone number or email address.

... vintage! ;-) Blog on some antique trivia about you in IP communications, okay?

Word Association Led me to 17 Year Old VoIP Singer and Entrepreneur

2010-05-06T12:43:42Z

Something I enjoy doing ever since I heard Ray Bradbury talk about it on a documentary is word association. This morning, I typed in "art" and "voip" on Google and also Yahoo search. I clicked on the first item of interest on VoIP-info and found it was actually a spam, nothing to do with VoIP.

Next, I found a 2005 VoIP Monitor article with the title "Aspiring Teen Pop Singer Launches Own VOIP Service." Intriguing!

The article states that in 2005, there were approximately 11,000 + VoIP providers but definitely room for a new kid on the block. Kandice Melonakos who started KanTalk! and released her first single at the same time, was only 17 years old. She was a singer/songwriter/ventriloquist. her first single. She was basically doing what I like to do. She picked one thing that supposed has nothing to do with voIP ... music ... and used both (mash-up, they used to call it) to connect people.

I talk to men and women every day all over the world using voice over IP. These people have signed up to use DIDX to buy and/or sell phone numbers over SIP or IAX2 with their VoIP service like KanTalk! VoicePod. Don't let anyone tell you that there is no more room for another communications service business. Each story I hear while interviewing new members of DIDX is unique.

"KanTalk!'s marketing blurb" was that it enables friends to talk for hours and save their cell phone minutes for when they are truly mobile. So I looked up the Kantalk! VoicePod, which was a free downloadable software that could let you talk from computer to computer free ... to see if it is still around.

She's still at http://www.kandicemusic.com/. She's got a great voice, and by now she's around 22 years old. When you click on Portfolio, you see pictures of her. But nothing there about Kantalk! I searched that term and found it in Skype Extras at https://extras.skype.com/394/view.

It's described like this: "KanTalk connects the likeminded language learners worldwide through free Internet telephony tool like Skype. KanTalk provides its users a fun space to practice spoken English, or any language. The practice is done over the user-generated, live conversations online, on a wide arrange of topics and in several proficiency levels."

So how did or does or will Kandice make money from this? There WAS a KanTalk! registration link at http://www.kandicemusic.com. After fans heard the music on Kandice's VoIP service the KanTalk! VoicePod, they were able to click a button to even "call the artist, leave a voicemail, send a text message or even video mail."

What if? What might happen if we associate the next word we find on the Random Word Generator with "VoIP?"