Tag Archives: Forrester Research Inc.

Got a Netbook? Now You Need Accessories

Okay, so you’ve outfitted your mobile employees with inexpensive netbooks, but there are a few recommended accoutrements you should consider to help them remain productive while on the go. With a growing assortment of handy accessories, you can expand the functionality and longevity of your business netbook. From wireless mice and bigger keyboards to high-definition webcams and Bluetooth headsets, there are plenty of peripherals to choose from. Here are some netbook accessories that experts suggest might be worth a look: Mice and keyboards Because they’re portable and affordable, netbooks have become a popular laptop alternative — but its smaller form factor means typing and clicking on them might not be as comfortable as a full-sized laptop or desktop. “It might not seem necessary, it might even seem redundant, but you’d be surprised how handy a wireless mouse or keyboard can be when it comes to doing work on your netbook,” says Paul Semel, a seasoned technology journalist and netbook user based in Los Angeles. “Granted, you won’t need them when you’re sitting in the airport and want to quickly check your e-mail, and there isn’t enough room on a plane for them, either. But when you arrive at your hotel, and have to work on your proposal before the big meeting, you’ll appreciate having a better keyboard and a mouse,” Semel adds. “Well, unless you enjoy carpel tunnel syndrome.” Carmi Levy, an independent technology analyst based in London, Ontario, agrees. “If you’re planning on heavy duty text entry, most netbook keyboards just won’t cut it…. More often than not, the keys are smaller-than-standard, and are squished more closely together than on a conventional laptop or desktop PC.” Levy also says the miniaturized trackpads built into most netbooks can be frustrating to use: “This is especially true when they come with space-saving layouts that place the keys beside the trackpad surface — or worse, on the front panel of the netbook itself,” says Levy. Headsets and speakers Many netbooks feature integrated Bluetooth technology, which allows you to go wireless when it comes to some peripherals including, mice, keyboards and headsets. With the latter, these optional accessories are ideal for chatting via a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) solution, such as Skype or Windows Live Messenger. “Trying to type or use your mouse while a wire dangles in your way is a quick and efficient way to annoy yourself,” says Semel. With the increasing ability of free tools to make voice calls — such as GoogleTalk, Skype, and other products — the use of the netbook as a portable telephony device makes increasing sense, says Chris Silva, a senior analyst for enterprise mobility at Forrester Research, a Boston-based technology research firm. “A wired USB handset or, better yet, a Bluetooth wireless handset make for a must-have addition taking the netbook from small PC to mobile office.” Music lovers, on the other hand, might want to consider a pair of external speakers. “Road warriors who use their laptops to play tunes when they turn their hotel rooms into mobile offices are often disappointed with the tinny, usually mono sound from the average netbook’s speaker,” says Levy. “USB-powered portable speakers may not rock the Kasbah, but they’ll fit the bill when you need some familiar music in a faraway place.” Monitors, optical drives, and webcams Levy says an external CD/DVD burner is also a good idea because netbooks don’t have an embedded optical disc drive. “Although we’re burning fewer and fewer disks these days as the world increasingly shifts to solid state memory and Web-based software, there will come a time when we all need to burn a disk, or install something from a CD or DVD,” she says. “As netbooks lack internal optical drives, a slim external unit can keep you functional without adding too much weight.” Silva says to consider a netbook with an integrated Web camera, or you can always pick up an external model, now offering high-definition quality for crystal-clear online video conferences. “While the quality for digital still pictures is likely to be dismal [with an embedded camera], the use of the camera with IM tools for live, video chats makes the device moving video conference solution great for exchanging ideas with colleagues or checking in on the family from the other side of the world,” says Silva. And instead of squinting to read text on a 7- to 10-inch screen, an external monitor is recommended while stationary for a while. “While you certainly won’t be carting an external display in your travel bag, many netbook users use them at their desks to make up for the built-in display’s limited real estate and resolution,” says Levy. “For basic productivity needs, a netbook with an external display, keyboard and mouse can often be all the machine the average small or mid-sized business office user may ever need.” Other considerations A few other netbook accessory suggestions: A fitted sleeve to keep the netbook secure and protected when carried in a larger bag, backpack, or suitcase. A USB 2.0 hub that turns one universal serial bus port into four or more, to connect multiple devices at the same time. While the latest netbooks offer 160GB of internal memory, SecureDigital (SD) Flash cards or an external hard drive adds more storage, if needed, and the ability to transfer files easily between PCs.

Which Cell Phone Is Smartest for Business?

Smartphones are big for small business. In fact, many mobile workers now depend on these all-in-one digital Swiss Army Knives that offer support for third-party applications, messaging, Web browsing, GPS navigation, media playback, and photo and video capture. Oh, and they make calls, too. But there are a growing number of different platforms on the market — including BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm Pre and others — therefore deciding which one is best for your small or mid-sized business could be an overwhelming endeavor. So we turned to a couple of tech experts to discuss what a mobile worker should look for in a smartphone platform. The basics Smartphones are an increasingly popular choice for business use, but regardless which of which operating system you go with, the handset must meet a few key minimum requirements, says Scott Steinberg, publisher of Digital Trends. “Battery life and wireless coverage are two big ones,” says Steinberg, who is based in Atlanta. “Because of all of its features and integrated wireless radios, smartphones can consume a lot of power, and the last thing you need is to be on the road or at a trade show and there’s only one bar left.” As for coverage areas, which can greatly affect call quality and data speeds, Steinberg suggests to do your research by visiting the websites for carriers — such as Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint — and click on the map that shows coverage areas. “Many people assume the smartphone will work the same everywhere in the U.S., and elsewhere, but this is simply not the case,” he explains. “It’s also not a bad idea to talk to colleagues or friends on that network to hear first-hand about coverage, as the last thing you need is to be on the road and you can’t access your e-mail from client about a cancelled appointment.” Ted Schadler, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, a Cambridge, Mass.-based technology research firm, says before deciding which smartphone to invest in, figure out what applications your business requires and if they’re supported by the platform. “The horizontal app is e-mail, of course, but after that you’ll need to list any other apps you’ll want to run,” says Schadler. A small or mid-sized business “will also work out the cost per device, how many you need for your staff, the cost of the data plan, and any device management software or mobile middleware you might need.” Consider being device agnostic Schadler, who has just published a report entitled Technology Populism Fuels Mobile Collaboration: When IT Supports Personal Mobile Phones, Mobile Collaboration Ensues, says the trend is moving towards a “bring your own smartphone” practice. In a survey completed by more than 2,300 IT decision-makers in the U.S. and Europe, one in four are now supporting an employee’s personal mobile device — so long as the applications are platform-agnostic and meets the company’s security protocols. The gotta-have-it iPhone from Apple is the “big disruptor” for this paradigm shift, says Schadler. Deciding which smartphone platform to go, however, might be dependent on the industry you’re in, adds Schadler. If you’re in regulated industry — such as health care, pharmaceutical, insurance, or financial services — you might have strict privacy requirements, such as protecting customer data, remote wiping of device if the smartphone is lost or stolen, and so on. “There are many, many different kinds of policies in these industries so you have to be careful about which phones you’re supporting to ensure they meet regulatory compliance,” says Schadler. “If you want managed devices, you really only have one choice, which is BlackBerry,” adds Schadler, “as RIM supports more than 450 policies — but it’ll cost you a license fee per month, per user.” He adds, “Otherwise, Windows Mobile and iPhone are basically free if you’re running Exchange.” Steinberg agrees with Schadler on the additional requirements for any smartphone consideration. Your priorities should be “security and privacy issues must be addressed, support for enterprise-level e-mail, and whether or not you easily sync your data with a PC,” he says. “And depending on what you need, access to the company’s Twitter or Facebook account while on the road might be important or GPS to find your way to a meeting or wireless or on-demand software purchases at an app store.” Pros and cons The following are a few thoughts on each of the major smartphone operating systems: BlackBerry Pros: Reliable, fast and secure “push” e-mail; physical keyboard in most models; good battery life; supports multiple accounts. Cons: Browser not the greatest; App World doesn’t offer great selection or intuitive interface. Windows Mobile Pros: Supported by the broadest range of devices; Outlook and other Windows programs sync smoothly with a PC. Cons: Interface and stability issues; fewer apps than most other smartphones. iPhone Pros: Elegant and intuitive touch interface; more than 65,000 apps in App Store (many of which are free); great consumer device. Cons: No physical keyboard is obstacle for many; battery life trails other smartphones; still no MMS support in U.S. Android Pros: Powerful and versatile open-source operating system; seamless presentation and access of online Google apps; good user-interface. Cons: Not a lot of supported devices or software; Android Market not as intuitive as Apple App Store. Palm webOS Pros: Open-source operating system anyone can develop for; can support multiple apps open at once; offers both physical keyboard and touchscreen. Cons: Unproven for business because newest OS; poor selection of software and only one device (Palm Pre).

Web Applications: The Coming Threats

If you’re looking for a secure form of computing, you can certainly do a lot worse than software-as-a-service (SaaS), but like any technology, SaaS is far from 100 percent secure. SaaS, a remotely operated form of computing offered by the likes of Salesforce.com, nSite (part of SAP Business Objects), Qualys and others, is growing in popularity among small and mid-sized businesses, but still has fairly low penetration. A survey by Forrester Research, of Cambridge, Mass., of businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees in 2007 showed only 11 percent were using SaaS. “It’s starting to expand out and playing a much more crucial role,” says Liz Herbert, an analyst with Forrester. The appeal to small business is obvious. Having software managed by a third party obviates in-house IT positions and places the onus on maintaining consistent uptime (99.7 percent seems to be the norm) on someone else. Moreover, security concerns are fewer than with in-house systems. “It hasn’t prevented people from signing up,” says Robert DeSisto, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, of Stamford, Conn., said regarding security. “I wouldn’t say it’s a big issue, but it’s an issue.” Security concerns The truth is, there are security gaps in any kind of technology. SaaS programs are vulnerable to the following threats: Mass SQL bots, which compromised hundreds of thousands of websites. The loss of data. And the publishing of confidential data on the Internet. Those are worst-case scenarios and not all that likely, but if you’re contemplating a contract with a SaaS vendor, Wolfgang Kandek, CTO of Qualys, recommends hitting the prospective company with questions about their approach to secure computing. First, Kandek suggests tackling the loss-of-data question. “You should ask, ‘If I lose data, how will you get it back to me?’” Kandek says. While most companies will back up information like CRM databases as a matter of course, a bigger issue is if such information is made available to the public or competitors somehow. Kandek deems it unlikely that a competitor would go so far as to hack a rival company to get such information. A more likely scenario is that the information is made available as collateral damage during a random hack or bug attack. Questions to ask a provider For the latter reason, Kandek advises that those who use Microsoft’s SQL Server especially to grill their potential SaaS provider about how often they update their software with patches provided by Microsoft and the like. “Patches could be important so you should ask when they do it, do they wait until the weekend or do it as soon as they can. That gives you a good idea of how diligent they are about it,” Kandek says. The issue doesn’t just apply to Microsoft. Even if you’re using a Linux-based system, there are patches issued on a regular basis that may be relevant. Kandek says another question to pose is about data security. “You should ask, ‘How do you make sure it doesn’t go away,’” he says. Meanwhile, Kandek says you can ask vendors for Web application codes for further reassurance, but you’re unlikely to get them. “That is usually considered proprietary and competitive information,” he says. Another tip is to ask for a third-party security monitoring of the prospective firm. While there’s always the possibility that such results could be questionable (the monitoring firm could be in cahoots with the SaaS vendor), there are ways of checking the integrity of the third-party monitor. In the end, just as there is no 100 percent guarantee of security with any form of computing, there’s no way to be completely certain that your vendor is on the level, either. “You can be defrauded,” Kandek says. “It’s a trust relationship you have to build.”

Pros and Cons of All-in-One Printers

Buying a new printer for your small or mid-sized business might seem like a relatively straight-forward task until you realize the vast number of options associated with the decision: Should you opt for a standalone printer or one of those all-in-one machines? Inkjet or laser? Color or monochrome? Do you need collating, two-sided printing, or large input trays? What about wireless? You get the point. Many small and mid-sized businesses today are opting for laser printers for large volume jobs, as opposed to an inkjet they might have at home for the occasional photo printing. At the same time, the multifunction printers can also handle scanning, copying, and faxing. Here are some of the pros and cons of a laser-based all-in-one printer. Pros of all-in-one printers Buying a multifunction laser printer can save your company space, money, and aggravation. “Many small businesses simply don’t have the room for three or four dedicated machines for printing, scanning, copying, and faxing — nor do they likely have the funds to purchase three or four separate devices,” says Keith Kmetz, vice president of hard copy solutions at IDC, a Framingham, Mass.-based technology research and advisory firm. An all-in-one printer “consolidates all these important office features into one box, so you can better manage all your document management activity in one place.” Having just written a report on all-in-one printers, Kmetz says he found space-saving issues “come up a lot in small business and home-based offices” and any measures to cut costs are important considerations for small businesses, especially in an ailing economy. “You could spend many thousands of dollars for a dedicated printer, flatbed scanner, copier, and fax machine,” he says, “compared to only a couple hundred dollars for a reliable multifunction machine. Having one machine that does it all also makes it easier for maintenance, such as downloading just one driver update (opposed to up to four of them) and purchasing “consumables” such as ink or toner, paper, and other supplies. One machine also consumes less power than three or four printers. “Any time you can integrate multiple functions in one device you’re taking advantage of less space, lower costs, and fewer hassles when it comes to drivers and support,” confirms Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director at New York-based Jupiter Research, which was acquired in 2008 by Forrester Research. Cons of all-in-one printers As with any converged device, a clear downside is if something goes wrong with your product you’ll likely be without everything while it’s being repaired or replaced. In other words, if the scanner in your all-in-one device fails to work and you send it out to be fixed, you’re now without a printer, copier, and fax machine, too. Such is the problem when “putting all your eggs in one digital basket,” as Gartenberg puts it. “Indeed you’ll lose all functionality while your multifunction printer is being serviced,” explains Kmetz. But if you have more than 100 or 150 employees, he says, chances are you have more than one all-in-one printer, “so it won’t be too catastrophic.” On that note, it’s recommended to have a networked multifunction unit (wired or wireless) for offices with many PCs. When it comes to quality, Kmetz, who says he’s been following the multifunction printer market for the past 15 years, says there isn’t a clear difference between standalone products and multifunction ones anymore. “Multifunction printers used to be a generation or two behind its single device counterpart when it came to quality but this is not the case anymore,” Kmetz says. Gartenberg agrees. All-in-one printers, he says, “have come a long way — the quality has caught up to the convenience for the most part — so it boils down to your comfort level with the pros and cons, the cost per copy and what you plan on using it for.”

Smartphone Showdown: iPhone 3G vs. Storm

Many handset makers have attempted to deflate the immense popularity of the almighty iPhone (from $199 with two-year AT&T plan), yet most have not succeeded. Whether it’s the iPhone’s large touch-screen, fast 3G and Wi-Fi speeds, thousands of downloadable apps from the App Store, or integrated media player, this trendy phone has become a cultural icon with consumers and increasingly, among corporate types, too. That said, many mobile workers who rely on a BlackBerry smartphone for its secure and fast push e-mail have been reluctant to make the switch to Apple’s trendy device. Now, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) is hoping it has struck gold with its newly-launched BlackBerry Storm ($199 with 2-year Verizon plan), a smartphone that attempts to offer the best of both worlds for customers who want it all: the reliable BlackBerry operating system with support for secure e-mail that’s pushed to the phone, as well as an iPhone-like touch-screen interface to navigate through content. In fact, the BlackBerry Storm’s touch-screen is the first that actually depresses when you press on the soft QWERTY keyboard and with an audible “click” to confirm letters or numbers have been selected. Some users believe both of these extras make it easier to type messages compared to the iPhone. So, are these fancy screen features — as well as expandable memory and a removable battery — enough to unseat the iPhone? Has RIM created the “perfect storm” to win over the working world? We spoke with a couple of technology analysts for their professional opinions. Carrier concerns According to Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director at the New York-based JupiterResearch, now part of Forrester Research, deciding which smartphone to invest might not be too difficult a task. “For many, the carrier you’re with might determine which of these two smartphones you’ll pick up,” says Gartenberg. “Unless you’re willing to switch carriers — for yourself or the entire company — Verizon customers might opt for the BlackBerry Storm while AT&T customers will go with an iPhone.” In other words, the network might be the leading factor, says Gartenberg. Company support If carrier is not an issue in your decision to buy a BlackBerry Storm or Apple iPhone, it might boil down to what your company supports. “What’s on the backend of these devices, what it connects into, will help you make a smart smartphone decision,” explains Gartenberg, who suggests talking to your company’s IT person about server and e-mail support. “Apple is trying to make inroads into the business space, such as announcing Exchange ActiveSync with full Microsoft Exchange support for push e-mail, contacts, and calendar,” confirms Tim Doherty, associate research analyst for small and mid-sized businesses at IDC, a Framingham, Mass.-based research firm. “With the Storm, RIM is extending its reach into the consumer market and the touch-screen space, but remains firmly anchored in its framework of enterprise features and functionalities on a robust operating system,” continues Doherty. Small and mid-sized business customers seeking a touch screen experience have a rock-solid business platform to consider; RIM does not have to convince the market that its device will work in a business environment, he adds. Doherty says the mobile applications your company relies upon will also be a key decision maker when choosing a smartphone. Personal choice After carrier consideration and backend support, buying a smartphone for business comes down to personal preference. “The iPhone’s media playback and third-party app selection is much greater than the BlackBerrys,” says Gartenberg, “plus the iPhone offers Wi-Fi when the BlackBerry Storm does not.” But not everyone likes the iPhone’s touch-screen interface — especially when it comes to typing lengthy e-mails (which must be handled vertically). The BlackBerry Storm’s built-in accelerometer, on the other hand, will automatically flip the QWERTY keyboard horizontally when holding the device sideways for e-mail. There are other issues, too. “Despite Apple’s efforts, it has some shortcomings as a business device,” believes Doherty. “The iPhone lacks copy/paste functionality — a big deficit for even moderate volume e-mail users from any size company.” “And the iPhone’s lack of voice dialing could be a sticking point for field force and sales force workers who travel between multiple job locations or client visits,” Doherty adds. There are, however, many third-party apps that remedy these known iPhone shortcomings. Ultimately, says Doherty, there will likely be room for both devices in the small and mid-sized business market.

Online Advertising through Social Media

Do your friends trust you? How about your virtual friends? Social media marketers not only want to know who you’re talking to about the latest episode of “Lost,” they want to know how you’re interacting with your friends on your social media sites. If you’re the type of person who consistently uploads, shares, rates, blogs, and, yes, whom your friends trust, you represent a valuable component for the social media advertiser. According to Forrester Research, 75 percent of Internet users use social media, but less than half actively participate and influence their communities. Monetizing social media has been a challenge, but Lotame, a New York-business intelligence network and iWidgets of San Francisco, have made inroads into this maze by targeting users when they’re in the right mindset. Advertisers used to think that social networks only appealed to college-age students, but now social media has a reach comparable to the portals, such as Yahoo and MSN, says James Kiernan, vice president of digital media and innovation at New York-based MediaVest Worldwide. “There was a tendency not to acknowledge the [social media] ads as much as traditional ads, but now Facebook and Lotame are making the ads more relevant. All advertisers should consider social media as part of their plans.” Lotame tries crowd control Lotame gathers research data for its advertising and publishing clients (Flixster, Photolog, and Bebo) through its Crowd Control platform. The platform builds anonymous profiles of users by their age, gender, zip code, along with their actions and interests on the social media site. In fact, Crowd Control detects whether a user’s mouse is idle or not by recording the time spent looking at the creative content on the screen. “We look at people, not pages and how they are acting, interacting and communicating on the sites,” says Andy Monfried, CEO of Lotame. “We are focused on giving results to our advertisers so they can formulate a plan.” For instance, Lotame could target women ages 21-35 who upload and share content on Flixster, a movie social networking site, and then sell that data to an advertiser who would place their ad on Flixster. For movies, word of mouth is very powerful and Flixster is able to drive interactions with people who are vocal and want to share their opinions. It is within these targeted interactions that advertisers can make the most impact. “Social media is huge, but it’s important to not look at it as an amorphous thing,” says Steve Polsky, president and chief operating officer of Flixster. “You need to get people in the right mindset and catch them when they’re interested in movies — that’s what we try to offer.” Lotame partners with consumer goods advertisers and knows to catch users after they’ve checked their inbox and are more passive and receptive to advertising. Says Monfried, “Historically, ads didn’t respect the user and included pop ups and pop unders. We’re driving incredible business for our advertisers and publishers since we’re looking at it differently from everyone else by creating the technology and the means to do so.” iWidget uses widgets to monetize content “It’s really really hard to come to a website nowadays because users are using social media and are waiting for their friends to post a link,” says Peter Yared, founder and CEO of iWidgets. “Instead of pushing a rock up a hill, you put it where the people are.” iWidgets gets web publishers’ content on social networking sites and also uses video players to integrate targeted offers. In these video players, pre roll clips introduce offers and encourage fans to share these offers with their online friends. “Online advertising used to be very much like a billboard,” Yared says. “Now it’s much more engaging — your product has a core set of fans and they want to show off your products.” Successful social media advertisers know how to get users to recommend and talk up their product without ever talking down to their market. And they know about finding the right community of friends to spend their advertising dollars. Concerns about privacy With all of this raw data from social media users, it would be quite easy to invade the privacy of consumers. In fact, many Facebook users don’t like how the ads on their profile page advertise weight loss, colon cleanses, and diet remedies because they feel Facebook is lifting data from their profile to specifically target them. This is in a way true. In order for social media advertising to grow and gain the consumer’s trust, it has to protect identifiable information and keep the data anonymous. In fact, respect and trust are what keep the social media community intact since users rely on strangers’ recommendations. “Yes, you can deliver targeted advertising,” says Kiernan, “but acknowledge the fact there are controls to preserve consumer privacy.”

Collaborate via Your BlackBerry

Sure, you’ve outfitted your staff with BlackBerry devices because of its handy ability to provide push e-mail, instant messaging conversations, and Web access. But did you know that BlackBerry is also becoming a platform for mobile collaboration applications? Leading technology companies such as IBM, Intuition, and WICKSoft have developed applications for mobile employees to work together on projects in real-time, using their handset, regardless of where they might be on the planet. Here’s how your business can use mobile devices for collaboration. “BlackBerry is so popular with sales people, traders, and others that need to stay in touch while out of the office that one IT manager told us that he would have to pry the device ‘out of their cold dead fingers,’” says Ted Schadler, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, a Cambridge, Mass.-based independent research company covering business and technology. “That kind of passion raises a different question: What else can we use BlackBerry devices for?” ask Schadler. “The short answer is to use BlackBerry devices as mobile collaboration tool,” says Schadler, who has authored recent reports such as BlackBerry: An Emerging Platform For Mobile Collaboration and Distributed Teams Need Real-Time Collaboration Tools. Schadler suggests that business users can bring content from Microsoft SharePoint to the BlackBerry with WICKSoft, add required training to it from a company like Intuition, and push instant messaging out to it with Lotus Sametime. Discovering new applications “What we do, in short, is give people access to all of the information they would normally use if they were sitting at their desk,” says Will Hickie, founder and CEO of WICKSoft, a two-year-old Ottawa, Ontario-based firm with customers in North America, Europe, and Australia. “Research in Motion has done a fantastic job at giving people access to their e-mail, no matter where they are — it’s a secure, reliable, way to keep connected to customers and coworkers. Yet for all of this success, there are still a few things that you can’t do from a ‘vanilla’ BlackBerry, and that’s where WICKSoft comes in,” explains Hickie. WICKSoft has created a solution to help people stay connected to all of the important things “that live outside of the inbox,” says Hickie, including file servers, Microsoft SharePoint, shared contacts and calendars, and document management systems. For the uninitiated, Microsoft SharePoint is a popular collaboration tool with more than 100 million users worldwide, offering customers access to documents, contacts, CRM info, wikis, blogs, and other data. Thanks to hosted providers, such as Integrated SharePoint Development, many smaller businesses are finding it easy to work with. But smartphone integration was not accessible to BlackBerry users until WICKSoft’s technology was introduced, offering true mobile integration with Microsoft SharePoint. “This means you can access a contact in a SharePoint portal, and then call that person directly from your BlackBerry,” explains Hickie. “Documents stored in SharePoint, like product brochures or presentations, can also be viewed on the phone, or e-mailed out as attachments to prospects and customers,” he adds. “All of the calendars, custom lists, agendas, tasks, everything, is accessible, and in a very mobile friendly way.” After all, a copy of a report isn’t much good if everyone else is reading the latest version while you’re stuck with something a few days old. “With WICKSoft, everything is done in real-time, so that if someone in the office were to modify a contact or update a PDF, those changes are reflected on the BlackBerry immediately,” adds Hickie. “No matter where you are, you always have access to the most up to date information.”

Online Advertising through Social Media

Budget Cuts? Telecom May Be a Place to Trim

We’re in the midst of a bad economy, and more spending cuts need to be made around the office. Could your telecom budget stand some pruning? With the mortgage crisis, the collapse of major U.S. financial houses, stocks tumbling around the globe, and continued high energy costs, chances are, your business is feeling the resulting one-two punch of fewer sales and less available credit to make ends meet. Might telecom services be a place to cut some of your business costs? Definitely, say experts, even though AT&T, Verizon Business, and others have jacked up the prices of their voice and data services this year. Here are some cost-cutting suggestions from the experts: Review your wireless plans. Take a careful look, and eliminate or suspend any “zero users” in your office, advises Tim Wise, co-president of Advocate Networks, a telecommunications consultancy near Atlanta. Don’t activate any new mobile devices, either, says Wise. But don’t just throw out all the BlackBerry devices — this could actually hurt productivity, warns John Thompson, principal with Lisle, Ill.-based Thompson, Ross and Associates. “Once offices start using PDAs, it’s hard to go back,” he says. If your office has PDAs, be sure to shop around for the best deals with carriers — shared-rate plans continue to drop, says Thompson. Review the rest. “You may be paying for things you’re not using,” warns Lisa Pierce, vice president at Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester Research. Look over everything: the number of lines you’re using, price per minute of calling plans, the whole works. Consider running a traffic study to see whether both of those T1 lines are still needed, adds Advocate Network’s Wise. Look and see what can be cut. And, if you cut something, make sure the accounting department knows, warns Pierce. “Carriers are notorious for billing inaccuracies,” she says. “Accounting may still be paying for something that you’ve cancelled.” Try to renegotiate your contracts. “Carriers are in a challenging economic environment just like the rest of us,” Wise says. “You might be able to get a better deal, or get some credits you don’t have now.” But do this with care. When negotiating new usage plans with your carrier, taking the right steps can save you big in the long run. For example, Forrester’s Pierce recommends negotiating everything from liability in natural disasters to disconnection costs to taxes and fees you can be charged. Also, she says, try to avoid plans lasting two-to-three years in favor of plans based on a dollar value of service. Consider VoIP. For businesses with multiple locations or a presence overseas, voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) is a cheap and practical option that can link offices with remote workers. “For some companies, VOIP can offer big savings — thousands of dollars,” says Thompson. It can also position your business to save even more money if you decide to have more workers work from home as a way to cut additional costs. VOIP is not for everyone, however: for companies with few locations, VOIP as a big money-saver is “a nice myth,” says Pierce. Consider doing business with an aggregator. If you’ve got a lot of different business lines and DSL and find yourself paying multiple bills, consider doing business with a telecom aggregator like BullsEye Telecom or Ernest Communications, advises Wise. “These companies buy up service in bulk and can bring companies real savings and put it on one billing platform,” he says. To be sure, things are rough out there. But by trying a few of these tips, your business may be better able to weather the storm.

A Network Tune Up for Tough Times

The U.S. economy may be tanking, but Lilli Wiggins is as busy as she’s ever been. Wiggins, the vice president and customer care manager of Gainsville, Fla.-based Computer Network Experts, is taking in more business than ever. Small and mid-sized businesses are flocking to the nine-employee IT solutions company to find ways to make their existing network equipment and systems last longer. “Usually, when equipment gets to a certain age… about four years out, you’re on the edge, and thinking you’ll buy something new. Most people right now, though, are fixing rather than buying new. They’re not throwing anything out,” notes Wiggins, whose best customers are companies with fewer than 50 employees. October’s grim news of the housing market’s collapse sent stocks tumbling around the globe, creating recession woes and a credit crunch that’s making banks leery of lending to any but their best customers. Faced with the prospects of less available capital and fewer sales, businesses big and small are holding off on many major outlays, experts say. In a mid-October report, Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester Research forecast that computer and communications vendors will “bear the brunt of IT cost-cutting” as companies tighten their belts. How to make your networks last But just how can businesses make their networks last longer? The experts offer these five suggestions: Be proactive. Smart companies are taking a look at their networks now to make any fixes so that crucial systems don’t fail, says Wiggins. Clean out the hard drive and take care of any basic maintenance. “In this economy, people can’t afford to have a crash,” says Wiggins. Keep malware and spyware up to date. Yes, it’s basic, but so important, and many companies forget to keep things updated, says Wiggins. For companies lacking the staff or know-how, hosted spyware solutions are offered by MessageLabs, Cisco’s Linksys, and others. Keep close tabs on Internet use. Hammer down those inter-office and remote-worker policies about Internet use, and make sure employees aren’t downloading freebies onto the network. “There’s a fine line between open-source and free, and people are still downloading things that carry viruses and malware. It’s a quandary for many businesses,” says Wiggins. Schedule a check-up. Consider bringing in a consultant to independently review your networks and make sure there isn’t something you’ve overlooked in terms of maintenance. Consider upgrades. Adding memory, adding CPUs, or switches may be a good option for some companies wanting to use what they’ve got for a while longer, notes Jennifer VanDerHorst-Larson, CEO of Minnetonka, Minn.-based Vibrant Technologies, a business-to-business IT reseller that offers technical support. Consider buying them from a reputable reseller: by buying used, companies can save 50-80 percent on quality parts, says Larson. CNE’s Wiggins notes that most of these suggestions “are just common sense.” But in this tough economy, common sense is something few can afford to be without.

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