When I was with Ericsson, I had the opportunity to travel several times to Sweden. In addition to enjoying the museums, waterways and people, there was the food. One day I was invited to a chef's home for dinner and he made a very common Swedish dish called Pytt i Panna (pronounced "pity pahna"). The purpose of the dish is to use up left over roasted meats and potatoes. It is usually made in a single pan and served as a hash. However, the chef made the dish by keeping the three ingredients (beef, potatoes and onions) separate and allowing the diner to mix them. It was an interesting upgrade to a comfort dish. I came back from Sweden determined to copy and then improve upon the dish. My version adds dill, thyme and tarragon, which boost the flavor of the dish greatly. I often make it by cubing a strip steak or using the remains of a rib roast. I prepared the dish on Sunday after not having it in well over a year. It is a classic, simple to make and great tasting meal. My recipe of the week is Pytt i Panna. Enjoy!

VARs are a Trusted Source

Attending Channel Partners reminds me of why the Broadvox Partner Program is focused on VARs, interconnects and dealers. Installing SIP Trunking is not the same as selling broadband or Internet services. Making the correct decision as to whether to purchase an IP PBX or go with a hosted service can often exceed the expertise of a SMB client. It is expected that medium size business may use a consultant to determine the correct course of action but small businesses seldom believe they can afford IT consultants. Therefore, they look towards the VARs to examine their business needs and make proper recommendations.   The increased need for SMBs to utilize external expertise when upgrading or replacing communications systems was documented by The Brookside Group LLC. The 2008 State of the Market Study noted that SMBs now made up 54 percent of consultants' clients versus 46 percent of enterprises. This represented a significant growth in the number of SMBs seeking assistance.  However, it was consistent with Broadvox's understanding of the real and perceived complexity in transitioning to an IP communications infrastructure. Determining which path, hosted or premise-based, is only the first hurdle. The second is selecting a hosted provider or OEM platform and the path to either passes feature selection, support requirements, cost and future applicability.

Determining the right IP communications solution is not for fools.