...and just, well, don't.
"We're already looking at how you might structure a computer that could become conscious. Consciousness is just another sense, effectively, and that's what we're trying to design in computer."
This statement was made by Ian Pearson, head of British Telecom's futurology unit in an article posted on CNN.
It gets better! According to the futurologists, we may be able to download our brains into a computer by 2050 (that is, if you're rich). Um, not so sure how I feel about downloading my brain onto a computer. It's bad enough that I subject you to my musings here on this WiMAX blog (har har har) but, I don't know. Is it, well, right? Dare such a technology fall into the wrong hands.....you know, a cloned baddie might get his sticky hands on this thingie and infiltrate the world with his master mind!
I may be a bit dramatic. I am a writer, afterall.
The article continues: "Pearson said that computer consciousness would make feasible a whole new sphere of emotional machines, such as airplanes that are afraid of crashing."
Now that I wouldn't mind so much. Please, please, please put me on that plane that is afraid of crashing! My luck, I'll not only end up on the plane that is afraid to crash, but the plane that is also afraid to take off. Give a computer a phobia and just you watch it take it to the next level.
I assure you, these things will happen. We should all learn from stories such as Frankenstein. Heck, look what happened in Jurassic Park!
I understand that said stories are dealing with carbon-based life forms. I don't expect a Tyrannasaurus Rex to come stampeding through the offices any time soon. I doubt that there is a mad scientist trying to revive a dead body (or is there?) but this technology - downloading one's brain onto a computer - seems like a Pandora's Box waiting to open.
It could very easily fall into the wrong hands and ::dun dun dun:: who knows what will happen next....
I leave for the SciFi writers to handle this one.
...so ABI Research says. According to a report issued today, WiMAX may be utilized by window-mounted receivers for indoor use, but WiMAX is mostly for the outdoors.
The release states that there are optional specifications built into the 802.16 standard which can boost the sensitivity of receiving equipment to the extent of making WiMAX PC cards and built-in receivers a practical proposition for laptops, PDAs and other portable devices. Generally these optional specifications have not been implemented by the largest vendors of WiMAX equipment.
According to Philip Solis, senior analyst for ABI Research, "There may be WiMAX PC cards on the market earlier than many observers have expected. These will result from superior chipsets permitting the use of WiMAX in laptops and similar devices in homes and offices within the reach of fixed WiMAX transmissions. You will not have full mobility as you will with 802.16e, but you will have some portability."
Alexander Bain, a Scottish clockmaker received a patent for an "automatic electrochemical recording telegraph" ...aka...the fax machine on this day in 1843.
The device was able to transfer an image from one sheet of electrically conductive paper to another using clock mechanisms that included two pens connected to two pendulums, which in turn were joined to a wire.
The first commercial fax service opened in France to transmit documents between Paris and Lyon in 1865. In 1906, fax machines found their first major use: to transmit photos for newspapers. They came into their own between 1973 and 1983 when the number of fax machines in the United States increased from 30,000 to 300,000. By 1989, the number had jumped to four million.
source: Worst Case Scenario Workplace Calendar
(yes, I love my calendar)
Apple will be releasing a newer version of iTunes and iPod software to support the latest media outlet that has taken on a variation of the moniker iPod: the podcast.
According to an article published by Reuters:
Apple's co-founder and chief executive (Steve Jobs) demonstrated on Sunday evening how Apple's podcasting organization and downloading process would work at a Wall Street Journal technology conference, said Tim Bajarin, an analyst at market research firm Creative Strategy."
"From the demo, we saw you could put podcasts under categories," Bajarin said. "It makes it much easier to have, access, organize and sync podcasts to an iPod."
The updated digital music jukebox software, which Bajarin said Jobs said was version 4.9, "organizes the podcasts within the iTunes store."
I come across gadgets almost on a daily basis. Most recently, my guy received an Audiovox CDM8910 camera phone as a replacement to his Motorola v265. (stolen...the horror) Kudos to Verizon Wireless for helping out so quickly, by the way.
When the phone arrived in the mail, I couldn't help but take it from him. I immediately started pushing buttons, taking pictures, and setting his ring tones. Of course, he snatched it back from me and said "would you at least let me try out my phone before you get all geeked out over it?" Sometimes, a gadget geek cannot control herself. Control thyself, oh geek mistress. It was shiny and it was pretty. What ever could I do?
The Audiovox CDM8910 is not the newest member to the Verizon Wireless family of phones, but since I am always a step behind in obtaining new gadgets, it's new to me. I like the CDM8910's LCD screen over the v265 display. The colors are much more vibrant and the picture quality far surpasses the v265. (note to self: trade in your v265 for this one, or maybe a video phone?)
That said, I do have a list of gadgets that I want to obtain. In fact, being a recently engaged girl makes me want to go register for lots of gadgets, one such as a digital camera. We're not into patterns or flatware. Give us electronics and make them super cool. Do they have a geek gadget registry anywhere? Will someone fill me in?
On a side note, the blessed event happened just this Monday right before we saw Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith....great movie by the way. I highly suggest you see it...and in true geek fashion, what better way to become betrothed? My guy is certainly a clever one.
As an editor, I occasionally like to look into word/phrase history. Having ardor for the written word does this to us linguaphiles. So, let's talk about brainstorming.
As a channels editor, I brainstorm quite frequently with many of our sponsors especially when it comes to feature story ideas. But what does it really mean to brainstorm? When you think of brainstorming, do you honestly feel as if the gray matter inside your skull is thundering, raining, and bringing on a cold front? Maybe in the figurative sense. But let us look at today's work hero and why we as professionals have learned brainstorm ideas.
source: Worst Case Scenario: Workplace Desktop Calendar
Alex F. Osborn was born in NYC this day in 1888. Osborn came up with the idea of brainstorming sessions after he noticed that some of the junior people in his advertising agency weren't speaking up at meetings. He created the following four rules to define brainstorming:
1. Defer judgement. No idea is a bad idea.
2. The wilder the idea, the better. It's easier to streamline than to create anew.
3. The more ideas, the better.
4. People should contribute new ideas in addition to attempting to improve and incorporate others' ideas.
Osborn's approch is explained in his 1953 book, Applied Imagination.
You knew it was going to happen. In this technological era, how could it not happen? As of midnight earlier today, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith hit the theatres and streams of Storm Troopers, wookies, jedis and other types lined the streets like a bunch of freakish ants waiting for a seat.
(Don't think for a minute that I hadn't considered joining in on the fun....as an avid Star Wars fan, co-workers were surprised I showed up today. But I didn't go last night. My Princess Leia costume was at the dry cleaners and I didn't feel like donning the Greedo one....j/k)
But low and behold, according to Reuters article, Episode III hit the net shortly after the movie's release. Stats show that over 16,000 people are at this moment are downloading the anticipated flick, all thanks to BitTorrent, a filesharing network that allows the sharing of larger files.
Adam Pasick writes for Reuters, According to Web site Waxy.org (http:/www.waxy.org), one print was leaked on Wednesday before the film was even released in theaters. The movie was time-stamped, suggesting it may have come from within the industry rather than from someone who videotaped an advance screening.
I guess geeks all over will do anything to get the advanced copy of Episode III. Me? I'll pay the $11 or so to go see it on the big screen. In fact, I've already purchased my tickets for a show next week. Remind me, I have to dust off the ol' light saber.
Exemplary action!
So the recent e-mail subject header tells me (as does Babel Fish). The body says Lese selbst (according to Babel Fish, "vintage") and I'm given a link to who knows where.
According to an article on Yahoo! News, these new spam e-mails "bear German-language subject lines that translate to phrases like "Multicultural = multicriminal," the messages point to racist German Web sites and news articles that could be used to support anti-immigrant views."
"We have seen a trend in which worm authors are using spam not to hawk goods, but as a tool for political propaganda," said Scott Chasin, chief technical officer for the anti-virus firm MX Logic.
Chasin and other experts said the messages were sent by computers that had been infected with a new variant of the Sober worm, which turns computers into "zombies" that can be used as a base for attacks.
Just a word to the wise, (as if you didn't know this) and as a friendly reminder: be sure to always scan your e-mails, don't open any attachments that are from an unfamiliar sender, and certainly don't click on any links that tell you exemplary action is vintage.
TigerDirect filed a law suit in April against computer giant, Apple in an effort to relinquish it's name on the search engines. Apple, who released OS X 10.4, aka Tiger, had an early win in the courts since TigerDirect requested a preliminary injunction, basically forcing Apple to stop using the word "Tiger".
TigerDirect asked for $75,000 dollars in damage because the Internet has been monopolized with Tiger references that point directly to Apple when conducting a search. They just felt lost amidst the large cat references, I suppose. Aww.
If TigerDirect has a good reputation for online customer service and offers competitive prices, then is it not safe to assume that they already have a good customer base? Isn't it safe to say that these would-be customers already know and love TigerDirect? If you were searching for "cheap computers" or "computer parts", "pc components", "desktop computers", then you might find TigerDirect, that is, if their webmaster is knowledgeable in SEO. Judging by the title of their site, those listed above are the keywords by one would search, not "Tiger". Maybe "Tiger and computers"? I don't really equate "Tiger" with "pc components", but then again, I am a Mac user so therefore I defer to the big cat operating system.
But I'm happy Apple won, and not because I am a fan. I'm happy because this law suit seems like a waste of time. I mean, it's a cat. Give it up already.
May 15, 1930: Ellen Church, a registered nurse from Iowa becomes the first airline stewardess on a flight from San Fransisco to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Church, who had a fascination with air travel signed up for flying lessons and when Boeing Air Transport turned her down for a pilot job, she proposed that the airlined have registered nurses aboard to assist people with common fears with flying and other such needs. Boeing liked the idea and hence, she was hired.
Ellen Church defined the standards that were upheld through the 1930's, when stewardessses were required to be registered nurses, single, younger than 25 years old, weigh less than 115 pounds, and stand no higher than five-feet, four-inches tall.
Today's Work Hero Source: Worst Case Scenario; Work Place Calendar
In related air travel news, David Sims' writes up an announcement from Beyond Network America, Inc. who was chosen by Hibernia Atlantic to provide "optical level service from New York to London quickly and securely."
Read the full article here.
Just arrived to my inbox:
CEI, a non-profit, non-partisan public policy group dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited goverment have issued a statement to approve the mergers between SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI.
In comments submitted to the Federal Communications Commission this week, the Competitive Enterprise Institute urged quick approval of the proposed mergers between SBC and AT&T, and Verizon and MCI.
“These mergers will result in significant public interest benefits,” said Braden Cox, technology counsel at CEI and author of CEI’s comments to the FCC. “The nature of the technology sector, with its rapid and constant development, along with an environment where cable, telephone, and wireless companies all compete against each other, will help ensure competition in the telecommunications industry. These mergers are a natural progression of a communications market working for consumers.”
CEI believes regulators need to reassess the role of antitrust in the modern tech world and allow the marketplace to guide the future of the tech industry. “The acquisitions of AT&T and MCI by SBC and Verizon have stoked unwarranted fears of market domination,” said Cox, “while ignoring the fact that the various forms of content delivered over multiple and competing communications networks guarantees that the merged entities will face a competitive marketplace.”
Cox also warned that opponents of the mergers who fear market domination “are succumbing to rhetoric of the past that could prevent consumers from receiving the benefits of competing networks of the future.”
It's my blog, so I'm going to use this as a tool to wish my parents a very happy 33rd anniversary!
Yes, my parents have been happily married now for 33 years. And I'm sure they've been a fantastic 33 years, I mean, having me and all made it worth while. (Like I said, it's my blog)
So Happy Anniversary to Anne & Pete. May you have another 33+.
And to make this technologically oriented, my dad uses Nextel, whereas my mom uses Verizon Wireless. And since she's "in", I call her more. :)
Now if I can get them to switch to VoIP....
....and technology.
I had the honor of being a judge at Soundview Preparatory School's annual middle school science fair last night. I'm no Rich Tehrani traveling the country speaking about VoIP, but I definitely enjoyed being a guest at this awesome event and I have to say, the future is in good hands.
It was important to me to participate at this event because I am an advocate of science and technology (afterall, I do work for TMCnet ;-). It was refreshing to see the young adults and their various presentations, to learn a bit about chemistry, biology and physics through their eyes. Each project was well thought out and planned and it seems as if the students had fun putting together their presentations.
Every project was unique in content....from solar energy to plant life, to hamsters and ferretts, cookies and heartburn, chemical reactions....you name it, I saw it. No more errupting volcanoes or electrocuting a potato - our future scientists have found new ways to explain how things work, grow and change. I was utterly impressed!
And who knows - I could have met the future engineer who will design a new VoIP phone or new wireless router. Maybe I met the future scientist who will find a way to use solar energy more efficiently worldwide.....
Congratulations to the students of Soundview Preparatory School on a wonderful science fair!
I hope you invite me back next year :-)
Dear Santa, Boyfriend, or anyone else who is planning to buy me a present,
Sprint and Samsung just announced a new phone that I desperately want. Here are the details. Please make note of it.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Michelle
Sprint and Samsung Launch First Two-Megapixel Camera Phone in the United States
Sprint (NYSE: FON) and Samsung today announced the first two-megapixel camera phone in the United States, the Sprint PCS VisionSM Multimedia Phone MM-A800 by Samsung®. This unique slider phone is a multimedia powerhouse, allowing customers to capture two-megapixel still images and VGA-quality videos, listen to digital music files, and text message at lightening speed with voice commands and dictation, all in one intelligently designed device.
In addition to capturing crisp two-megapixel images, the MM-A800 by Samsung with Picture MailSM services has traditional digital-camera features, including a TransFLASH memory card slot (32MB card included), auto focus, 2.5x digital zoom, flash, color adjustments, fun frames and multishot. Further enhancing the user experience, customers can connect the MM-A800 by Samsung to any PictBridge-enabled printer with the included USB cable to print color photos, with no special software or PC connection required.
"The MM-A800 by Samsung exemplifies the continuing consumer trend to converge the functionality of consumer electronic devices with wireless handsets," said John Garcia, senior vice president — Sales and Distribution, Sprint. "The delivery of the first two-megapixel phone to the U.S. market reinforces Sprint's position to deliver expert technology from Samsung and offer leading data services with Picture Mail, Sprint TV, music and games."
The MM-A800 by Samsung is the ultimate in self expression and efficiency. Customers can use the embedded camera to capture a business-card image with Biz-Card Scan and transfer the contact information directly into the device's internal contacts, alleviating the need for manual entry. The phone's camcorder capabilities allow customers to shoot 30-second videos, sharing them with family and friends via email or saving them as screensavers and wallpapers. With the MM-A800 by Samsung's built-in TransFLASH expandable memory card slot, users have ample memory to store their favorite video clips and digital music files.
"The MM-A800 by Samsung is both a design and technological breakthrough that showcases Samsung's ability to embed real-life, relevant technologies in sleek, user-friendly packages," said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president, Samsung. "With Picture Mail services from Sprint and easy printing options, the MM-A800 by Samsung is a true competitor to traditional digital cameras."
The MM-A800 by Samsung perfects the "all-in-one" device, enabling customers to listen to and view streaming music and video clips live and on-demand in real time from Sprint TV and other channel providers directly through the phone's built-in media player at up to 15 frames per second. The content, played on the embedded media player, is directly delivered to the MM-A800 by Samsung from the high-speed (CDMA1X) Sprint Nationwide PCS Network. The phone also offers the added benefit of Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) quality, providing CD-like sound quality when listening to streaming music or playback of audio files.
Sprint and Samsung were the first to launch a device in the United States capable of streaming audio and video live and on demand at up to 15 frames per second across a CDMA network in August 2004.
The 4.26-ounce MM-A800 by Samsung features 3D graphics and a vibrant QVGA-resolution 1.22" x 1.59" TFT LCD screen. The 262,000-color screen with its 240 x 320 resolution level provides sharp detail of objects when viewing videos, high-resolution photos, games and other images on the phone.
Adding to its user-friendly consumer benefits, the MM-A800 by Samsung revolutionizes text messaging with VoiceMode speech-to-text dictation technology. VoiceMode, by VoiceSignal Technologies, allows users to dictate text messages. To start, the user simply says a voice command to address a text message to the desired recipient in their address book thus eliminating many time-consuming steps by just saying, "Send text to Dad." Once the message is addressed, the user is able to employ VoiceMode to populate the message with text by just speaking the words into the phone. The user trains the MM-A800 by Samsung through a brief series of spoken prompts that captures voice tone and intonation. The more frequently VoiceMode is used, the more it adapts to the user's voice. With the MM-A800 by Samsung, you can "Say it, see it, send it."
The MM-A800 by Samsung is available for a suggested retail price of $499.99 or $349.99 after rebate at third-party retailers and online at www.sprintpcs.com
...according Bill Gates. An article from Reuters says that Mr. Gates feels the iPod won't be able to uphold it's integrity because the mobile phone is stepping up as contender.
(Interestingly enough, I just blogged ABI Research's report on mp3 players and how they need to have some more portability.)
Apple's numbers prove that they're ahead of the game, what, with over 5 million iPods sold in the last quarter. But isn't Sprint PCS getting in on this portable music trend? You know... that annoying commerical with the woman singing about being "in line at the bank" as if she were Aretha Franklin? If streaming music is now an option on your cellular phone, who needs an mp3 player when you can just access music without having to plug, download and then listen?
In the article, Mr.Gates said "If you were to ask me which mobile device will take top place for listening to music, I'd bet on the mobile phone for sure."
Regardless, I can't give up my iPod. My trustworthy 10 gig, 1st gen iPod has been with me for the last 2 years. Does this make me "old fashioned"?
An interesting report was just issued by ABI Research this morning.
The report states that digital audio players need to be more like their ancestors....portable. Vamsi Sistla, director of residential entertainment research said "Today's so-called portables are still tied by an umbilical cord to the computer and a broadband connection. The industry should address these shortcomings."
Enter WiFi, whose networking capabilities are starting to show up in some of our most precious audio gadgets. Analyst Joseph Yau said "Although such models are still few in number, they will become a flood in 2006."
So is the audio device feeling too sexy for the PC?
The report concludes, the portable industry is growing explosively, he adds, both for equipment vendors and for content providers. "Yahoo's entry into the downloadable music market is a solid confirmation of that fact. One important development from such content providers is the bundling of free and extra downloads for annual subscribers. Apple, with its single 99 cent purchase model, will have to watch out."
I'm sure Apple is fully aware of the fact that music lovers and iPod'ers will be ready to toss the ol' Firewire/USB cable out the window and will want a device that can download music on the road, similar to how you can download ringtones to your cellular phone. And knowing Apple, I'm sure they have that VoIPod, WiPod or some such device already in the works.
I'd like to point your attention to one of our channel sponsors, Amae Software, and their latest release.
Amae just issued a new reporting tool for the Amae CI Suite which helps managers, supervisors obtain information on the performance of their staff instantly.
Here is the full release:
Amae Software Releases Automated Performance Index and Performance Metrics in the Amae CI Suite
Amae Software released a new reporting component within the Actionable Results Module of the Amae CI Suite today. The newest component, the Performance Index, gives executives and management real-time performance ranking of customer-facing individuals, teams, and facilities based on customer perspectives and any number of additional performance metrics.
“The Performance Index instantly identifies areas for opportunity and attention within our organization” said David Reeve, CEO of Timberline Communications. “Using our internal productivity metrics, QA scores, and actual customer feedback at the agent level, the Performance Index saves time and dramatically simplifies reporting and management activity.”
“Companies spend countless hours pouring through productivity reports, performance metrics, and QA scores. The Amae CI Suite automatically combines all of these elements AND actual customer experience information in a manner that saves organizations valuable time and money” said Vance Christensen, CEO of Amae Software.
The Amae CI Suite offers all the features needed to understand and improve the quality of customer experiences while lowering costs. By collecting customer perspectives in a way that builds customer loyalty, and integrating them automatically with relevant data, the Amae CI Suite delivers an advanced level of customer analysis and reporting, alerts and goal measurement and performance to all levels in an organization. The Amae CI Suite is the most advanced Customer Experience Management (CEM) system available - with interaction and agent-level actionable information.
I read an interesting post on a friend's blog today - she mentioned that her father had a "voice pal" in Japan using "voice over internet", and being in the VoIP space here at TMCnet, I had to inquire about this.
Turns out that her dad was contacted by some Japanese folks who were looking to improve their English skills and since my friend's dad is very interested in Japanese culture, he made some pals using the ever famous Skype.
What really moved me about my friend's blog entry was the nature of the conversations between my friend's dad and his Japanese friend. They exchanged lengthy e-mail discussions on Hiroshima, Vietnam and the war in Iraq. It was a pleasure to read what my friend's father had written to his Japanese friend about his take on the current events and the events that had transpired, sharing personal stories of the Vietnam era and how all too often other countries misinterpret or judge all of America for the actions of the government.
Without disclosing too much of the information, I would like to just give a nod to technology, more importantly, VoIP. I fear I will sound like a Hallmark card here, but VoIP can bridge gaps between cultures and shed some well needed light on often misguided information.
And even in some instances like this one, it can lead you to friends in places you never thought friends were easily made.
Neat.
...will hurt you.
I just had the unfortunate experience of learning that my broadband bill went up a whopping $20 per month because a "promotional" rate had ended. If I knew that I had a promotional rate, I might have done something about it six months ago when I signed up for service.
What Cablevision my broadband company has done to me is disgraceful, nevermind that the cable guy was an hour past the window they gave me when I had said disgraceful services installed.
What's a techno-minded girl to do? Dare I throw in the towel and sign up for all of those unecessary channels so I can get the better deal? As it stands, I am a basic cable gal because the only show I watch religiously is Smallville. I don't need Lifetime or Comedy Central or ABC Family as another reason to procrastinate and distract me from my graduate studies. (then again, ABC Family does air the reruns of Smallville, a bonus since I do miss an episode on the occasion) but still. It's wasted money for me. I just want what I had...basic service with a broadband Internet connection at the rate I was paying since October.
Customer service had nothing to say to me. All I heard was "Oh. They should have said it was a promotional rate". Well, if I tell you that I was not, in fact, informed of this and if I seem upset and you value me as a customer, wouldn't you do something to help me out here?
The representative had no answers, other than an "I'm sorry".
Well, Cablevision broadband company, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I can't even subscribe to your triple play at the rates advertised because I'm not a "new" customer. I'm sorry that you failed to inform me of promotional rates. I'm sorry that your customer service was of no help to me.
I'm sorry, but I think I may have to look for another service provider.
In case you missed the release from Intel, here's the latest dish on the vision of Sprint, Intel and the WiMAX adventure:
Sprint And Intel To Explore WiMAX Broadband Technologies
Sprint and Intel Corporation announced an agreement to engage in joint efforts to advance the development of IEEE standards-based 802.16e WiMAX mobile technology, which can provide high capacity wireless broadband coverage and services throughout metro areas and an enriched multimedia user experience.
The companies will collaborate on technical specifications, perform equipment trials and conduct interoperability testing to examine possible next generation wide-area wireless broadband devices and services. Ubiquitous wireless broadband access will help meet blossoming demand among businesses and consumers for rapid wireless Internet connectivity and integrated multimedia services.
"Our relationship with Intel will help validate requirements, drive key ecosystem development needs, formulate network strategies and define the potential for advanced wireless services adoption," explained Oliver Valente, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President, Technology Development at Sprint. Sprint is fostering a number of strategic partnerships and investigating multiple technologies in support of future wireless interactive multimedia services that would be considered for deployment in the 2.5 GHz band of spectrum. WiMAX is one of the technologies Sprint is investigating for these services.
"WiMAX technology has the promise to deliver new broadband services to consumers globally," said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and general manager of the Intel Mobility Group. "We are excited to work closely with Sprint to bring these new services and new networks to the market."
WiMAX, short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections. WiMAX will provide fixed, nomadic, portable and eventually mobile wireless broadband connectivity without the need for direct line-of-sight with a base station.
In January, Sprint joined the WiMAX Forum and was recently elected to the Board of Directors to lend its support and network expertise to that organization's mission of global interoperability standards formation for broadband wireless access products.
I had to share this release:
Azulstar Launches World's First Metro-Wide Voice Over Wi-Fi Phone Service in Rio Rancho, New Mexico
(ok, so it's NEW Mexico, not Mexico, but I digress.....)
Azulstar Networks today announced the launch of the world's first metro-wide Voice over Wi-Fi telephone service. The carrier class fixed and mobile service, which was developed by Azulstar Networks and its partners, operates over the converged city-wide Wi-Fi wireless network that already spans over 60% of Rio Rancho.
With the announcement, Azulstar has fully demonstrated a highly cost effective alternative to the traditional telecom "local loop" which has dominated telephone service, inhibited competition and kept pricing unnecessarily high for several decades. Azulstar developed the phone service in partnership with Ecuity, Inc., a leading enhanced Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications company.
"We believe this is the nation's largest and most advanced city-wide Wi-Fi network, and the combination of Azulstar's innovative Wi-Fi technology and Ecuity's leading VoIP services will make Rio Rancho a model for city-wide Wi-Fi and the premier digital city" explained Jim Palenick, Rio Rancho city administrator. "We are excited to be a pioneer with this first-of-its kind service and look forward to the advantages it will bring to our residents and businesses."
Industry Implications / Benefits to Businesses and Residents
Wi-Fi / WiMAX fixed and mobile phone networks such as Azulstar's Rio Rancho network are poised to transform the telephone industry by bypassing the traditional "local loop" and offering unified, IP-based networks capable of delivering a host of integrated services.
"By partnering with governments, technology leaders and other service providers, we are able to quickly design and deploy Wi-Fi / WiMAX mobile networks and services like the one we've deployed in Rio Rancho" said Tyler van Houwelingen, Azulstar CEO. "As more cities follow Rio Rancho's lead, it's going to have a profound impact on telco and wireless industry dynamics. Businesses and residents of forward-thinking digital cities like Rio Rancho are the chief beneficiaries. The cities themselves also benefit by providing a more attractive place to live and do business. Ultimately, all consumers will benefit as this lays the foundation for better service, new services and lower prices."
Service Details
The Azulstar Voice over Wi-Fi telephone service is now available for residential, business and mobile telephone users throughout the 505 area code. Customers can select from a variety of fixed and mobile handsets, choose a local phone number or keep their existing number. Seamless mobile telephone network coverage is already available throughout 60% of the city of Rio Rancho. Subscribers outside of Rio Rancho can also purchase any of the services, however, mobile coverage is limited to their residence 500 feet of their customers outside Rio Rancho. Features included with all calling plans include caller ID, call forwarding, voice mail over e-mail, multi-party calling, call waiting and Web based call control manager.
Pricing for residential fixed/mobile phone service has been set at $29.95/line for unlimited calling within the USA + Canada. The Azulstar Business phone services adds 4-digit inter company calling, a fax line and a Soft-PBX, which eliminates PBX hardware and provides a suite of centralized call control. Azulstar expects typical small business to save between 40-60% off of their current bill and in most cases can leverage existing hardware. Later this year, Azulstar plans to add seamless roaming in and out of cellular CDMA and GSM networks.
How it Works
The Azulstar city-wide Wi-Fi network was designed from the ground up to be a converged voice, data and video network and is the worlds largest and highest performing network yet constructed. Some 200 high performance Wi-Fi access points provided by Meru Networks provide a seamless "cellular" Wi-Fi cloud across the city. Advancements incorporated in the nearly complete network include end to end Quality of Service to standard Wi-Fi clients, 802.11a/b/g client access, and seamless mobility across the city at speeds up to 55mph with handoffs under 3ms.
A pre-WiMAX backbone from Proxim Corporation connects the access points back to the Azulstar network operations center (NOC) and eventually the public Internet. Azulstar partner Ecuity Networks provides call transport and termination from the Internet onto the traditional phone network and vice versa. The service is based entirely around the SIP protocol and voice compression is accomplished using both the G.711 and the G.729 Codec.
The Emperor: Rise my friend.
Darth Vader: The WiMAX will be completed on schedule.
The Emperor: You've done well, Lord Vader. And now I sense you wish to continue your search for WiMAX.
Darth Vader:Yes, my Master.
The Emperor: Patience my friend. In time it will seek you out, and when it does, you must bring it before me. WiMAX has grown strong. Only together can we turn the city of Seattle into the largest point-to-multi-point wireless metropolitan area.
Darth Vader: As you wish.
The Emperor: Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.
So that conversation never really happened between the evil Darth Sidious and Darth Vader. However, the news broke today that WiMAX is making an appearance in Seattle, "marking the first time that a true, high-density, point-to-multipoint broadband wireless service will be deployed in a large metropolitan U.S. city. "
This is exciting news since, you know, I've been wondering when WiMAX would officially show up here in the States. Which reminds me, I ran out of push pins. Have to grab some more for my "Where in the World is WiMAX" map...in the interim, here is the release.
No Darths were involved with the deployment of this technology.
Seattle Space Needle Anchors Speakeasy Wireless Broadband Service, Defining WiMAX Future
Beaming from the Space Needle and other buildings in downtown Seattle, Speakeasy, a national broadband services company, today announced the largest of its kind WiMAX-class service, marking the first time that a true, high-density, point-to-multipoint broadband wireless service will be deployed in a large metropolitan U.S. city. Seattle is the first among several major cities in which Speakeasy will roll out their fixed wireless broadband service for businesses. Today, businesses are constrained by the limitations of legacy telecom companies' "last mile" choices from telco switching stations to businesses. Speakeasy's wireless broadband service provides a much-needed alternative, enabling businesses to receive secure, cost-effective, high-speed fixed wireless connectivity at any location in their wireless zone, installed in days versus weeks.
Speakeasy, an active member of the WiMAX Forum, has formed strategic relationships with Intel Corporation and Alvarion to create a state-of-the-art deployment to validate and define the future of WiMAX service for technology, coverage, scalability, application compatibility, and customer demand. The service uses Alvarion's base station and end user hardware, which is very compact and easy to install. Alvarion's state-of-the art wireless antenna and radio are small and can be affixed outside windows or indoors. Intel and Speakeasy are working together to promote cost-effective technology that supports IEEE 802.16-2004. By joining together with Alvarion and Intel, Speakeasy has combined the most advanced technology available to create a WiMAX-class deployment that lays the foundation for a true WiMAX future.
"Speakeasy is providing what the industry now needs -- a real-world, WiMAX equivalent service deployment that validates outstanding questions about density, reach, network efficiency, and economics," said Bruce Chatterley, Speakeasy president and CEO. "We are bringing world class companies together in a market that experts agree is the toughest testbed for wireless communications."
"Alvarion shares Speakeasy's vision for using wireless broadband in large cities -- especially in cities with difficult terrain such as Seattle. This deployment is a precursor to true WiMAX services," said Amir Rosenzweig, president of Alvarion, Inc. "Combining our state-of-the-art hardware with Speakeasy's industry-leading network creates a template for major U.S. cities as we together lead the market to WiMAX."
Speakeasy chose Seattle as the first site for its WiMAX-class service deployment since its challenging combination of weather, terrain, bodies of water, and dense building skyline make it one of the most difficult deployments of wireless communications in the country. Success in Seattle will not only mean easy adoption in other, less challenging geographies, but will also demonstrate to the industry that WiMAX service can be deployed in the most treacherous of wireless environments. The Space Needle, along with other selected sites including the Westin Building, will beam secure and scalable broadband to thousands of business locations in Seattle's urban core.
"WiMAX has the potential to bring broadband, wirelessly, to many more users," said Scott Richardson, general manager of Intel's Broadband Wireless Division. "With this unique deployment, Speakeasy is demonstrating how effectively WiMAX can be used in challenging environments to reach previously underserved customers."
Speakeasy Wireless Broadband Service Advantages:
-- Highest Density Network -- With a multi-cell overlapping coverage
environment, Speakeasy is providing a high density WiMAX-class
deployment by providing a larger addressable market, higher reliability
and Quality of Service for business customers. The close proximity of
each base station provides higher through-put per subscriber and
greater dependability.
-- Near-Line of Site & Non-Line of Site -- For the first time near-line of
site and non-line of site installations are possible with Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology. In addition,
Speakeasy's WiMAX-class service network is completely independent of
the incumbent phone company network and provides a resilient alternate
connection for businesses.
-- Longer Distance Data Transmission Range -- Unlike WiFi (the technology
used in homes, offices, airports and cafes that allows users to connect
wirelessly from their laptop computers within 150 feet of an antenna),
WiMAX-class base stations deliver broadband Internet connections
through fixed antennas that send and receive signals across entire
cities at distances of approximately two miles per base station.
-- Bandwidth Flexibility -- The service's bandwidth levels can be flexibly
assigned to upload and download, so that businesses can tailor their
service to fit their usage patterns. This can translate to savings for
businesses that upload high content volumes, as compared to wire line
broadband technologies like T1 or fractional DS3.
-- WiMAX Economics -- In addition to the technical and operational
learning Speakeasy will gain, the Seattle deployment will serve as a
proof-center for wireless broadband industry on issues such as pricing,
service levels, installation time, customer demand and acceptance for
equipment, and overall customer experience.
-- Outdoor or Indoor Installations -- Using Alvarion's single, small
wireless antenna and radio, business customers will receive pure IP
broadband data transmission.
With the addition of the Space Needle site, the network is entering final deployment. Speakeasy is taking customer orders beginning today and will bring customers online in early June. Speakeasy's service will allow an unprecedented percentage of customers in the downtown core, including the Belltown, Lower Queen Anne, Central Business District, Pioneer Square and Lake Union neighborhoods, to have reliable access to wireless broadband at total connection speeds as fast as 6MB. Installation is quick and affordable and, with an annual contract, rates begin as low as $500 per month for the 3MB total connection and $800 per month for the 6MB total connection.
Interesting news came across the wire this morning. CosmoCom announced the release of UniFrame, a solution that integrates the CosmoCom Universe and Microsoft Customer Care Framework.
The full release is below. To learn more about CosmoCom, please visit their Hosted Contact Center channel on TMCnet by clicking here.
UniFrame Dramatically Simplifies System Integration for Complex Call Centers
MELVILLE, N.Y— May 2, 2005 — CosmoCom™ today announced availability of UniFrame™, an integrated combination of CosmoCom’s flagship product CosmoCall Universe™ and Microsoft Customer Care Framework (CCF). CosmoCom also announced that Technology Marketing Corporation’s (TMC®) Customer Interaction Solutions® magazine (www.cismag.com) has named CosmoCom and Microsoft as the recipients of a 2005 IP Contact Center Technology Pioneer Award for the UniFrame offering.
UniFrame represents a dramatic step forward in the unification of contact center technology. Every contact center today includes two main components -- a communication platform and an information platform. Unification, both within the many elements of each of these platforms and between these two main components, is much needed to reduce the high cost and high risk associated with call center projects, and UniFrame is a giant step in the right direction.
CosmoCall Universe is an all-IP platform whose hallmark has always been the unification of the Communication platform including the ACD, CTI, IVR, Agent Desktop, Recording, and Reporting functions across all media and all channels. Microsoft Customer Care Framework creates an agile information integration and presentation framework that allows contact center agents to access service configuration and billing information in highly flexible and effective ways, no matter where and how that information is maintained.
By integrating these two components to create UniFrame, CosmoCom has enabled a real quantum leap in the contact center today – one that can gracefully take its place in the most complex information application environments and dramatically improve the time and cost picture of contact center implementation and ongoing operation.
“UniFrame is an easily integrated and cost-effective solution for customer care aimed at service providers, using Windows Server System as the carrier-grade server platform, ” said Michael O'Hara, general manager of the Communications Sector at Microsoft Corp. “The solution combines CosmoCom’s expertise in hosted contact centers and Microsoft Customer Care Framework to accelerate time to market and provide an overall lower-risk investment.”
“CosmoCom has always used Microsoft tools within its own platform, so integrating CCF with our CosmoCall Universe was not only very compelling for us, but also relatively easy to do, especially with the active cooperation of Microsoft.” said Ari Sonesh, CosmoCom’s CEO. “We look forward to providing the benefits of this combined effort to existing and new customers.”
New this year, the IP Contact Center Technology Pioneer Award recognizes companies that have created a successful IP contact center product or service that is truly innovative.
“TMC realizes that technology is the key to the success of any call center, and we have been covering call center technology since 1982. This is why TMC is offering this awards program, so we can judge the ‘best of the best’ in IP contact center technology,” said Nadji Tehrani, Executive Group Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Customer Interaction Solutions. “With the UniFrame offering, CosmoCom and Microsoft have demonstrated to the editors of Customer Interaction Solutions their innovative leadership in the burgeoning IP contact center industry, and their ability to deliver a superior, high quality solution,” Tehrani continued.
The IP Contact Center Technology Pioneer Award highlights can be seen in the March 2005 issue of Customer Interaction Solutions magazine.