The news as of the first coffee this morning, and the music is Charlie Parker's debut album, cleverly titled Charlie Parker. First Coffee is no jazzhead, we do not wear black and smoke clove cigarettes, we cannot sit in cafes, drink espresso and debate the merits of Sonny Rollins vs. Dexter Gordon, we have never attended the St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church, we are unable to name our favorite Sidney Bechet recording, we cannot explicate Dave Brubeck's time signatures, we simply knows what we likes, and we likes this Charlie Parker album:
Jumping right in with the hard news this morning: InstantPresenter correctly notes that taking 12 reindeer around the world "requires time and lots of energy." So Santa Claus is going virtual this Christmas season.
Kindly old Kris Kringle is partnering with InstantPresenter, a vendor of online meeting and presentation services, to host a live Webinar from the North Pole, according to InstantPresenter officials.
At 11 a.m. Pacific time on Saturday, Dec. 19, Santa will broadcast his Christmas message using the InstantPresenter platform -- "recordable for those that can't catch the message live," company officials say. Anyone with access to an Internet connection may view the Webinar.
At 11 a.m. Pacific time on Saturday, Dec. 19, Santa will broadcast his Christmas message using the InstantPresenter platform -- "recordable for those that can't catch the message live," company officials say. Anyone with access to an Internet connection may view the Webinar.
Company officials say Santa has also created a profile on InstantPresenter's social network site, "so he can share a little bit more" about himself and his team.
"I'm always traveling to everyone's homes, but no one gets to come to mine because it's so far away," company officials report Santa Claus saying to them. "The Webinar is about as close as you can get to visiting me at the North Pole, and I can't wait to have you all as my guests."
There is no charge to attend Santa's Webinar, but he does encourage parents and kids to donate money and toys to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to help him reach all good little boys and girls.
"I'm always traveling to everyone's homes, but no one gets to come to mine because it's so far away," company officials report Santa Claus saying to them. "The Webinar is about as close as you can get to visiting me at the North Pole, and I can't wait to have you all as my guests."
There is no charge to attend Santa's Webinar, but he does encourage parents and kids to donate money and toys to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to help him reach all good little boys and girls.
Grinches need not attend.
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Using Ifbyphones saved DiabetesAmerica "over 50 percent," while integrating interactive voice response technology to increase patient access to its health centers, according to Ifbyphone officials.
DiabetesAmerica looked to Ifbyphone (a.k.a. The Third Lantern) to provide "a virtual call center system that would support over 600 inbound calls per day," with the capability for routing calls for appointment bookings, insurance verification, prescription refill requests, and physician referrals. 's Virtual Call Center software to bring its outsourced call center in-house, ha
Using Ifbyphones saved DiabetesAmerica "over 50 percent," while integrating interactive voice response technology to increase patient access to its health centers, according to Ifbyphone officials.
DiabetesAmerica looked to Ifbyphone (a.k.a. The Third Lantern) to provide "a virtual call center system that would support over 600 inbound calls per day," with the capability for routing calls for appointment bookings, insurance verification, prescription refill requests, and physician referrals. 's Virtual Call Center software to bring its outsourced call center in-house, ha
The charity's officials needed a cloud-based product, they say, with no capital expenditure -- and which would "work with their existing telephone system."
"DiabetesAmerica chose to work with Ifbyphone because our system provides an unbeatable combination: easy configuration, scalability, reliability, and cost savings," said Irv Shapiro, CEO of Ifbyphone.
The virtual call center technology from Ifbyphone's let DiabetesAmerica set up its own in-house call center in two weeks: "The organization's previous product required almost double the number of customer service representatives, in addition to racking up long distance fees," charity officials say, adding that with the new cloud-based system, they expect to save over $240,000 per year.
Ifbyphone's Cloud Telephony suite of phone applications includes Virtual Call Center, Hosted IVR, Call Tracking & Voice Broadcast services.
"DiabetesAmerica chose to work with Ifbyphone because our system provides an unbeatable combination: easy configuration, scalability, reliability, and cost savings," said Irv Shapiro, CEO of Ifbyphone.
The virtual call center technology from Ifbyphone's let DiabetesAmerica set up its own in-house call center in two weeks: "The organization's previous product required almost double the number of customer service representatives, in addition to racking up long distance fees," charity officials say, adding that with the new cloud-based system, they expect to save over $240,000 per year.
Ifbyphone's Cloud Telephony suite of phone applications includes Virtual Call Center, Hosted IVR, Call Tracking & Voice Broadcast services.
Founded in 2004 in Houston, DiabetesAmerica is a health center and management program for individuals with diabetes, providing them with a team of physicians, dietitians, and diabetes educators all under one roof. It has 17 Health Centers across Texas and Arizona, including Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Chandler, Arizona.
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Zapproved, a Software-as-a-Service vendor selling a platform designed to "add accountability to business communications," has announced the launch of Legal Hold Pro, described by company officials as cloud-based system for managing custodian notification and compliance for legal holds.
As a SaaS application, Legal Hold Pro is designed to help in-house legal teams and law firms implement defensible litigation holds. First Coffee's assuming the reader for whom this is intended understands what that is.
Zapproved, a Software-as-a-Service vendor selling a platform designed to "add accountability to business communications," has announced the launch of Legal Hold Pro, described by company officials as cloud-based system for managing custodian notification and compliance for legal holds.
As a SaaS application, Legal Hold Pro is designed to help in-house legal teams and law firms implement defensible litigation holds. First Coffee's assuming the reader for whom this is intended understands what that is.
"We have seen case after case in which judges are handing out sanctions for poorly executed data preservation. Too many organizations are taking chances with this step in the litigation process," says Monica Enand, President and CEO of Zapproved.
Since it's a cloud-based system there is no software to install. Company officials say the "intuitive" system requires "minimal training."
Quoting company officials themselves so we don't get it wrong, the product is designed for legal eagles to "meet their obligation to instruct custodians of the need to preserve information following a trigger event, once litigation or an investigation is reasonably anticipated."
The products' process ensures a compliance audit trail and preservation workflow. The main benefit of the system appears to be that it's billed as a way to "reduce risk in litigation by tracking every action in detail, while enabling best practices by making issuing and refreshing legal holds a simple process."
The products' process ensures a compliance audit trail and preservation workflow. The main benefit of the system appears to be that it's billed as a way to "reduce risk in litigation by tracking every action in detail, while enabling best practices by making issuing and refreshing legal holds a simple process."
Basically it's a way to reduce errors and the actions needed to manage and track compliance activities under manual systems. It's an online service, yes, but company officials say it's hosted in a secure environment "with all data encrypted."
It's available on a monthly subscription basis starting at $175 per matter.
It's available on a monthly subscription basis starting at $175 per matter.
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Acumatica, a vendor of Web-based accounting, ERP, and CRM software, has announced that it has been recognized among service providers offering flexible enterprise resource planning products in an Ovum report titled "Nine questions to ask about SaaS."
Acumatica, a vendor of Web-based accounting, ERP, and CRM software, has announced that it has been recognized among service providers offering flexible enterprise resource planning products in an Ovum report titled "Nine questions to ask about SaaS."
The paper, according to company officials, describes "the benefits of maintaining the flexibility to switch between SaaS and on-premise when selecting ERP software applications.
The Ovum paper discusses what it characterizes as "nine questions that customers need to answer before deciding between on-premise and SaaS" products, including such issues as regulatory compliance, security, customization, and IT budgets.
The Ovum paper discusses what it characterizes as "nine questions that customers need to answer before deciding between on-premise and SaaS" products, including such issues as regulatory compliance, security, customization, and IT budgets.
The paper also describes how external factors such as mergers and the economic climate can influence a company's ERP purchasing decision, as well as "the need to switch between on-premise and SaaS."
"ERP requirements can change quickly and frequently," warns Warren Wilson, Ovum Senior Analyst and co-author of the report, adding that customers with changing requirements "should purchase a product that provides the flexibility to move between an on-premise deployment, a hosted deployment and a SaaS implementation."
The Acumatica offering develops an integrated set of Web-based accounting, ERP, and CRM software that can be deployed on premise, hosted at a data center, or run on a cloud computing platform, company officials say, for mid-sized businesses to "access their applications and documents from anywhere using any popular Web browser."
"ERP requirements can change quickly and frequently," warns Warren Wilson, Ovum Senior Analyst and co-author of the report, adding that customers with changing requirements "should purchase a product that provides the flexibility to move between an on-premise deployment, a hosted deployment and a SaaS implementation."
The Acumatica offering develops an integrated set of Web-based accounting, ERP, and CRM software that can be deployed on premise, hosted at a data center, or run on a cloud computing platform, company officials say, for mid-sized businesses to "access their applications and documents from anywhere using any popular Web browser."
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Cbeyond, a vendor of voice, broadband, mobile and IT applications to small businesses, has helped customer Paddywax Candles "streamline the company's small business communication and IT infrastructure," Cbeyond officials say.
Founder David Duncan describes Paddywax as a hand-poured candle manufacturing company. Cultivating business relationships across the U.S. and expanding sales into global markets, according to Paddywax officials, Duncan wanted a provider that offered "a single, reliable source" for his communications services.
"I would spend hours juggling multiple bills, coordinating service providers and overpaying for marginal service," says Duncan, making it sound like all that's, you know, a bad thing. "After investigating Cbeyond, I learned its landline phone service would improve the level of service I was receiving and save me money."
Duncan says he can access operational information stored in his warehouse from his home office, and on the BlackBerry mobile phone he selected as part of his mobile service plan.
"Cbeyond's voice and data services give me reliable access to Hosted Microsoft Exchange and the enterprise software I need," says Duncan. "I live a very mobile life, whether I'm in my warehouse, at my home office or on the road. In addition, I can manage my account by logging onto CbeyondOnline to view, pay or manage my account."
"Paddywax exemplifies the core value proposition we provide to our customers," said Steve Zimba, Vice President of Marketing for Cbeyond. "Once we implement our solution, we see it as a long-term partnership by providing the solutions our customers need to grow throughout the life-cycle of their business."
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Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport --which let's just call BWI, okay? -- has selected FlightView, which it currently uses for in-terminal displays of flight and weather tracking, to bring the same technology to a newly upgraded Web site.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport --which let's just call BWI, okay? -- has selected FlightView, which it currently uses for in-terminal displays of flight and weather tracking, to bring the same technology to a newly upgraded Web site.
The airport serves more than 55,000 passengers on more than 675 flights daily. BWI officials say flight tracking displays in all of BWI terminals give BWI patrons "the answers to the most stressful queries in travel: where is my plane? What's causing the delay?"
Travelers coming in and out of BWI can get real-time, actionable updates on flight arrivals and departures from their computer or smartphone by logging on to www.bwiairport.com.
Timothy Campbell, executive director for the Maryland Aviation Administration, says the purpose of the Web site is to make it "accessible, simple and informative for the travel community -- whether it's someone deciding whether to leave for the airport, or a visitor tracking a flight."
FlightView's custom tracking map, data, and updates were integrated into the new site in less than a month. The flight tracking tool and status updates blend with the Web site's interface, contributing to a simple display. With the addition of weather radar overlays, site visitors don't need to navigate away from the page to get such information.
FlightView's information displays can be seen at airport terminals and on the Web sites of the largest major airports, airline and travel companies.
Timothy Campbell, executive director for the Maryland Aviation Administration, says the purpose of the Web site is to make it "accessible, simple and informative for the travel community -- whether it's someone deciding whether to leave for the airport, or a visitor tracking a flight."
FlightView's custom tracking map, data, and updates were integrated into the new site in less than a month. The flight tracking tool and status updates blend with the Web site's interface, contributing to a simple display. With the addition of weather radar overlays, site visitors don't need to navigate away from the page to get such information.
FlightView's information displays can be seen at airport terminals and on the Web sites of the largest major airports, airline and travel companies.
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SoundBite Communications, which sells on-demand, multi-channel customer communications, has announced the availability of a new release of SoundBite Engage, its platform.
SoundBite Communications, which sells on-demand, multi-channel customer communications, has announced the availability of a new release of SoundBite Engage, its platform.
SoundBite Engage is a tool intended to help "design, execute, measure and optimize communications strategies to generate revenue, increase customer satisfaction, and reduce operating costs," according to company officials.
The Q4 2009 release adds features to enable automated and agent-assisted interactive customer communications over the text messaging channel. These features "enhance many existing SoundBite products and enable new ones previously unavailable in the market," company officials say, including SoundBite's Contact Center Text Messaging Solution, announced on December 8.
SoundBite officials believe Consumers' growing preferences for text messaging and their adoption of mobile devices present both opportunities and challenges for organizations with "a need to communicate with their customers."
SoundBite officials believe Consumers' growing preferences for text messaging and their adoption of mobile devices present both opportunities and challenges for organizations with "a need to communicate with their customers."
One new text messaging feature is the SoundBite Dialog Engine. Using enhanced keyword search functionality, the Dialog Engine supports fully-automated, interactive text messaging conversations that implement custom business logic, company officials say: "Messages are relevant and personalized to the mobile recipient. The Dialog Engine enables opt-in programs, alerts, self-service and automated issue resolution in real-time."
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