The news as of the first coffee this morning, and the music is Tim Hardin 2, with such gems as "Black Sheep Boy" and "If I Were A Carpenter." Hardin's one of those songwriters whose stuff you've heard, you just didn't know it was his:
Brace yourself: Companies are "wasting money on unused minutes and unnecessary charges for their employees' mobile phones," according to a new survey by Mobi, a mobile device management company. I know -- shocked, aren't you?
Brace yourself: Companies are "wasting money on unused minutes and unnecessary charges for their employees' mobile phones," according to a new survey by Mobi, a mobile device management company. I know -- shocked, aren't you?
The survey talked to both employees and information technology workers, finding that a mere "one in four employees uses most (75 percent - 100 percent) of the monthly minutes their company is paying for. More than one third (35 percent) of employees have downloaded extras like ringtones and costly data applications for their mobile devices on the company dime -- and fully 14 percent of employees are spending $10 or more per month of their company's money on extras.
And it's not just money. Internal IT administrators spend hours assisting employees with day-to-day program issues, and the employees themselves waste time mucking around with wireless - almost one-third (31 percent) told the survey they have to spend between one and five hours a month on mobile issues, while 13 percent spend more than 10 hours a month. "That is all time that could be spent much more productively, if companies simply streamline their mobile device management," said Hampton.
Nearly half (48 percent) of employees say their wireless plan includes services they don't use. Forty-three percent of IT professionals think they consistently overpay for wireless device service -- and 22 percent of those think they overpay by 20 percent or more each month.
Might be time to sit down and look at your wireless plan, huh?
Brandon Hampton, director of Mobi, says one of the main reasons companies waste money on mobile devices and services is simply that they don't have a good, enforceable policy in the first place. "Our survey showed that a third of companies have no policy in place at all, and another 17 percent don't enforce their policy. So it's not surprising that money is being wasted on unnecessary services and other extras, because companies aren't monitoring their mobile programs."
Brandon Hampton, director of Mobi, says one of the main reasons companies waste money on mobile devices and services is simply that they don't have a good, enforceable policy in the first place. "Our survey showed that a third of companies have no policy in place at all, and another 17 percent don't enforce their policy. So it's not surprising that money is being wasted on unnecessary services and other extras, because companies aren't monitoring their mobile programs."
He added that just having a policy in place usually cuts costs by 25 percent. And there sits Mobi, willing and able to help you come up with one.
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Amdocs, a vendor of customer experience systems, is focusing its marketing efforts to support the broadband cable industry, showcasing a prototype of its tru2way (interactive digital cable services delivered over the cable video network) technology at the CableNET Technology Showcase. The vendor is also highlighting its operational support systems for cable broadband.
Building on what company officials call its place in "business support systems for the cable broadband industry," Amdocs has what they say is a "complete OSS portfolio for the cable service providers. It includes support for capacity planning and management, inventory and discovery, and the order-to-fulfillment process from service management to activation and assurance."
The OSS offering for cable uses technology from its April 2008 acquisition of JacobsRimell. The company continues to invest in and extend JacobsRimell assets, Amdocs officials say, offering as proof "the achievement of level-one integration of standard interfaces and deployment capabilities."
A recent demonstration showed off Amdocs' technology to enable cable customers to self-activate services on a tru2way set-top box and cable-ready TVs. Tru2way applications use CableLabs' OpenCable Application Platform specification.
Amdocs is already a BSS providers to pay-TV providers, working in the operations of such vendors as Cable One, Cablevision, Comcast and DirecTV in the U.S., Rogers in Canada, UPC in Europe, J:COM in Asia Pacific, and others. The company's cable broadband and satellite presence, extending into OSS, can be seen in expansion inside existing customers, such as its announcement in January 2009 that Rogers picked Amdocs CES 7.5 billing, ordering and service management applications and services. Also, in September 2008, Comcast selected Amdocs CES 7.5 for customer care, billing and OSS.
Amdocs saw revenue of $3.16 billion in fiscal 2008.
Amdocs is already a BSS providers to pay-TV providers, working in the operations of such vendors as Cable One, Cablevision, Comcast and DirecTV in the U.S., Rogers in Canada, UPC in Europe, J:COM in Asia Pacific, and others. The company's cable broadband and satellite presence, extending into OSS, can be seen in expansion inside existing customers, such as its announcement in January 2009 that Rogers picked Amdocs CES 7.5 billing, ordering and service management applications and services. Also, in September 2008, Comcast selected Amdocs CES 7.5 for customer care, billing and OSS.
Amdocs saw revenue of $3.16 billion in fiscal 2008.
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Vivendo, a Magento Platinum partner, has announced the release the first Magento-SugarCRM extension.
Officials of Vivendo say the Magento-SugarCRM extension "allows users of both Open Source systems to connect the eCommerce platform to the CRM system. This allows shop owners to automatically upload leads and customers from webshop to CRM, including information on abandoned shop carts and customer service cases."
The extension can be ordered and downloaded from VivendoConnect.com.
Officials of Vivendo say the Magento-SugarCRM extension "allows users of both Open Source systems to connect the eCommerce platform to the CRM system. This allows shop owners to automatically upload leads and customers from webshop to CRM, including information on abandoned shop carts and customer service cases."
The extension can be ordered and downloaded from VivendoConnect.com.
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Boston-based Jenzabar -- what a strange city to base a software vendor going after the higher education market -- has announced that Louisiana State University's Continuing Education picked Jenzabar Non-Traditional System to "consolidate various departmental administrative systems and obtain student data for a better understanding of the University's non-traditional students."
Prior to selecting Jenzabar NTS, each program area at LSU Continuing Education was running on separate administrative systems that were tailored for specific program needs, "making it difficult to analyze information across programs," according to the Jenzabarbarians. During the selection process, LSU Continuing Education officials said they wanted support for both its credit and non-credit programs and "the capability to better identify, segment, and communicate" with students.
Boston-based Jenzabar -- what a strange city to base a software vendor going after the higher education market -- has announced that Louisiana State University's Continuing Education picked Jenzabar Non-Traditional System to "consolidate various departmental administrative systems and obtain student data for a better understanding of the University's non-traditional students."
Prior to selecting Jenzabar NTS, each program area at LSU Continuing Education was running on separate administrative systems that were tailored for specific program needs, "making it difficult to analyze information across programs," according to the Jenzabarbarians. During the selection process, LSU Continuing Education officials said they wanted support for both its credit and non-credit programs and "the capability to better identify, segment, and communicate" with students.
"We chose the Jenzabar Non-Traditional System with the goal of consolidating our operations on a single platform," says Doug Weimer, executive director of LSU Continuing Education.
The system will be used to help LSU Continuing Education increase the level of service it provides to its students, faculty, and internal offices, Bayou Bengal officials say: "Students will receive a tailored and personalized experience based on their history, interest, and demographics. Faculty can use the system to obtain student data and determine how to best communicate and interact with each individual." The system will also let the institution set up new sections of course offerings in real time, accommodate flexible course dates, and audit financial, enrollment, and academic transactions.
It's a pretty sizeable program we're talking about here -- Continuing Ed courses at LSU enroll some 36,000 local, national, and international registrants each year. Such programs are becoming more and more important to college and universities' bottom lines.
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Convergys, a vendor of relationship management products, has announced that Renna, a Middle East mobile reseller, has signed an agreement for Convergys to provide prepaid services obtained from its acquisition of Intervoice to mobile subscribers in Oman.
Convergys, a vendor of relationship management products, has announced that Renna, a Middle East mobile reseller, has signed an agreement for Convergys to provide prepaid services obtained from its acquisition of Intervoice to mobile subscribers in Oman.
Majan Telecommunication, with the brand name Renna, is "a 100 percent Omani-owned company," its officials say, "backed by prominent players in the Omani market, with Al Yousef Group as the flagship shareholder."
Through its Relationship Technology Management business unit, Convergys officials say, the firm "has already implemented components including real-time rating, self-service, and value-added services for the operator," as Renna prepares to launch its service in the first half of this year. Convergys has also provided support for Renna's integration into a large network and will continue to work with the operator as it launches its service.
Through its Relationship Technology Management business unit, Convergys officials say, the firm "has already implemented components including real-time rating, self-service, and value-added services for the operator," as Renna prepares to launch its service in the first half of this year. Convergys has also provided support for Renna's integration into a large network and will continue to work with the operator as it launches its service.
Niklas Nielsen, Renna Chief Executive Officer, noted that with Convergys, "we can offer modern services to our customers... as well as a range of value-added services different from what is available in our market today."
Service does seem to be an important selling point for the company. "MVNOs like Renna look to differentiate themselves from the competition by offering services that define their brand," says Jim Boyce, Convergys President, Global Business Units.
Service does seem to be an important selling point for the company. "MVNOs like Renna look to differentiate themselves from the competition by offering services that define their brand," says Jim Boyce, Convergys President, Global Business Units.
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