What do the cloud, collaboration and virtualization have in common?
January 27, 2012
With so much talk and buzz about cloud (computing, storage, application sharing) and Virtualization (server & desktop), it can seem as if though these two IT consolidation trends are trumping the Collaboration movement. Service Providers across the map have readied themselves for cloud computing by partnering with infrastructure and networking providers. Carrier clouds are all the rage: If you’re not selling cloud your customers are likely looking at alternatives. Virtualization services have dramatically increased since the days of pervasive computing, the reawakening VMware anything (server appliances and server blades) and screen scraping data movers and mungers (aka Citrix).
S1 and Fundtech, The Latest Bank Tech Consolidation
July 14, 2011
CORRECT: Fundtech Agrees To S1 Merger In Deal That Values Co At $318 Million | online.wsj.com
Clearly, bigger is an advantage for bank tech providers. With Fiserv and FIS as the two 800 pound gorillas, the small and mid-tier players need to successfully consolidate to thrive. There is probably room for a third gorilla, and not many good reasons for keeping around the small chimps.
Microsoft on-demand exchange having stability problems
May 22, 2011
Exchange Online has downtime problems again | www.computerworld.com
Microsoft's move into the cloud is far behind other on-demand mail services such as Google and yahoo. Will these stability issues give Google's email and calendar programs for corporations a chance to take over?
Microsoft Purchases Skype and Why this Makes Perfect Business Sense
May 10, 2011
Microsoft to Buy Skype for $8.5 Billion in Catch-Up Bid | www.bloomberg.com
As a UC Collaboration expert, and one experienced in the field of video acquistions, the announcement of Microsoft's $8.5B all cash deal certainly looks RICH on the surface, but fills a HUGE product void for the company. This software giant recognizes the world is getting flatter and smaller because the planet is increasingly MORE CONNECTED. At the core of consumer and enterprise connections is Unified Communication and Collaboration which will allow the greatest number of human touch points.
People do not pay for Radio, TV, or digital newspapers
May 7, 2011
8 in 10 Won’t Pay for Online Daily Newspaper | www.marketingcharts.com
There are plenty of business models where the content is given away. If digital newspapers attract enough readers, then they will also attract enough advertizers.
RPX Corporation - Fast Track IPO for NPE Insurance Policy Writer Circa 1999?
May 4, 2011
IPO Pick of the Week: RPX Corporation | seekingalpha.com
RPX Corporation is the self proclaimed NPE Fighter that 'reduces patent litigation costs'. This fledgling company, with little more than 2 years of full operating income, is poised to IPO as fast as many 'internet boom and bust' startups. Will RPX be different? Is RPX's business model sustainable? Can RPX Corp turn patent licensing, a traditionally 'lumpy' revenue model, into a smooth predictable quarter on quarter performance? How big is the market?
Ma Bell to AT&T, "the consumer rules the new economy".
April 30, 2011
Ma Bell Stifled Innovation, AT&T May Do the Same | uk.ibtimes.com
When Ma Bell ruled the phone lines, most products were developed for businesses first and only later small versions were done for consumers. Today, it is the opposite. Products are built for consumers first and only later developed for businesses. This change is so significant that it will be difficult for even AT&T to stifle creativity.
Amazon makes the money on the reader software - Not hardware
April 19, 2011
The Kindle is an iPad Accessory, And That's Why It's Still Going to Be Huge | www.businessinsider.com
People own Kindles and iPads. The great thing is that you can read kindle books on your ipad with the kindle reader. Amazon has been smart to focus on the content and the software that runs on the kindle. If they make it run on all the tablet platforms, then it could be a solution like Microsoft office is to productivity tools.
My intellectual property creation is not manageable
April 18, 2011
With all of the recent new applications being developed for the tablet (iPad is my case), the ability to track company Intellectual property is getting more difficult and protecting these assets is nearly impossible. Yet IT is challenged with maintaining corporate assets with regards to digital information.
Social Media - A Terabyte of Knowledge or Noise each day
April 10, 2011
The amount of data that can be gathered by companies on Facebook, twitter, and the many other sources of social media can add up to a terabyte of data a day (and increasing) for companies with even a meager amount of brand recognition. We finally have a source of new information that is like drinking from a fire hose – literally. There is so much information becoming available that all companies are racing to understand and manage this new source of market feedback.
February 7, 2012
SOPA and the wisdom of Yogi Berra
January 19, 2012
Larger wafers present a growth opportunity for LEDs
January 6, 2012
Smartphones threaten digital camera industry
December 1, 2011
Google music launches: The end of the end for the music industry
November 22, 2011