Tag Archives: Nokia Corporation

About 750 days ago Business Software | Gaming

Microsoft Games for Profits

It was only a few years ago that “Microsoft” and “games” seemed the unlikeliest of pairings. The OS provider and software giant was firmly entrenched in the business space. Yet the terms now happily co-exist in the company’s quarterly report. And they could get much cozier, says Erik Sherman on bNet. READ MORE »

About 752 days ago Telecom and Wireless

Nokia Cuts 7,000 Jobs

After forming a broad strategic partnership with Microsoft back in February, Nokia, the world’s leading cellphone maker, is undergoing a massive reorganization. In addition to consolidating its research and development divisions scattered across the globe, Nokia is also shifting its focus to begin development on smartphones running Microsoft Windows Phone software. READ MORE »

About 829 days ago Telecom and Wireless

iPhone Tug of War: Which Carrier is Best?

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The iPhone has finally broken free from the shackles of AT&T. After more than three years, Apple has signed on with the widely available Verizon network. Let the dancing and partying commence. Except for this: you might be wondering, once the iPhone is available on Feb. 10, should you make the move? Or, is the iPhone really worth all of the hassle?  Ron Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, has a definite opinion on the subject. Shortly after the announcement had people tweeting, texting and talking about the big news, he outlined on his blog the many caveats, subtleties and intricacies that need to be considered before buying an iPhone on the Verizon network right now. First off, he pointed out that while it’s common knowledge Verizon’s iPhone will not be able to use its 4G LTE network, AT&T’s iPhone isn’t technically capable of 4G either, although the carrier claims it is. AT&T’s HSPA+ network is a voice network retrofitted to handle data and more of an enhanced 3G network rather than fully 4G.  IDC analyst William Stofega says AT&T’s reputation has been bruised by its inability to deal with the load put on its network by millions of iPhone users.  He says it’s not all the carrier’s fault, though. “Everyone wants to point the finger at AT&T but the devices themselves and their use of network resources [has] not been stellar,” he said, adding that Nokia and the Blackberry maker RIM are better at helping phone users make best use of their network assets. Could Verizon have a similar load problem if a deluge of people buy iPhones for its network?   “Eventually they could, but Verizon’s network appears to have much more headroom,” says Enderle. “We likely won’t know for a few months yet. AT&T has historically oversold their network even back to the time they were Cingular.”  Stofega thinks the Verizon network can handle increased iPhone traffic because any movement over to Verizon from AT&T will be gradual because the penalty for breaking an AT&T contract is expensive. To check how much it will cost to break an AT&T contract, use this nifty calculator from Wolfram Alpha. Small biz weighs inExpert advice aside, plenty of people are lining up to get the iPhone through Verizon. Long-time Verizon customer Tom Hoebbel from Ithaca, New York, who runs Thomas Hoebbel Photo-Video, says he has a new phone upgrade option but is saving it for when the iPhone is available. “As a photographer, I often have images and video on my Web site that I want to share with clients or prospective clients. The iPhone will make that easier,” he said, adding that he hasn’t considered going with an Android-based smartphone because he uses a Mac for his business and thoroughly trusts the Apple brand. Also contemplating ditching AT&T, Zoe Gayle Villaroman operates a public relations and marketing consulting business out of her San Diego home office, which ironically is the one spot where she gets the worst service. “AT&T has recently introduced the 3G MicroCell to help boost their pitiful coverage. When I asked AT&T to provide me this product for free to resolve my long-term substandard coverage issues, they said that I must purchase it. Essentially, I pay for a service which I cannot use and, in order to use the service for which I already pay, I must now pay more,” she complains. To be fair, though, when we queried small business owners about their plans regarding the iPhone, many are happily using their iPhones with AT&T and aren’t going anywhere. Los Angeles-based Sayeh Pezeshki runs the online office supply store SortingwithStyle.com and has no intention of switching to Verizon. “One of the main reasons is because on the Verizon iPhone you will not be able to send an email or do anything else as long as you are in a call. When I have vendors or designers on the phone I am checking into files I keep on my iPhone as well as emailing them and myself reminders as we are on the call,” she says. IDC’s Stofega says it’s true — there will be no multitasking during a call on Verizon’s iPhone, at least at first. Verizon confirmed that you will not be able to send or receive e-mail on the Verizon iPhone while on a call but can text and perform other tasks, including reviewing previously downloaded e-mail. “It is related to Verizon’s use of CDMA technology versus AT&T’s UMTS. We have heard that fix for this problem [is coming] later this year,” he said. Plan pricing between the two carriers is similar. The cheapest voice plan for each buys you 450 minutes for about $40, or $60 for 450 minutes and unlimited texting. For $10 you’ll get 500 text messages out of Verizon and 1,000 from AT&T.  As for data, that’s where things have gotten all mixed up. AT&T — which formerly offered those network-hogging unlimited plans — switched last year to tiered pricing: $25 for 2GB or $15 for 200MB (and you’ll pay more for going over either). They’re letting people who previously had unlimited plans keep them. Verizon, for its part in the craziness, is opening its iPhone floodgate by offering unlimited data for $30 a month but will be announcing tiered plans later, so don’t get too jazzed about its all-you-can-eat offering. It may be go away soon after launch. Verizon says if you buy an iPhone on contract. your unlimited data plan will last during the contract even if Verizon moves to tiered usage plans. To further complicate things, some people like the idea of using Verizon’s iPhone as a hotspot for other devices. That’s an extra $20 a month for 2GB. While you can’t hotspot with AT&T’s iPhone, you can pay $20 to tether it to one device and share an internet connection with, say, your laptop. Be careful with that, though. AT&T won’t give you any additional data for that hook-up, so any data you use while tethered comes out of your regular data plan. Still not sure which carrier to stick with or which to dump? When in doubt, listen to the experts: Stofega says don’t buy an iPhone at all and that Blackberry is the best bet for business. Enderle says if you must have an iPhone, wait for the iPhone 5 to show up at Verizon sometime in 2011.

About 852 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

The Smartest Credit Card Ever Made: Your Phone

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Credit cards are extremely low tech — they contain simple data to authenticate a transaction. Now, several players, including banks to mobile carriers to financial networks, are looking at a new transaction device: your smartphone. Indeed, financial institutions such as PayPal and MasterCard have issued some customers adhesive chips for their phones. The credit card information is stuck to the phone and can be used at any of the 200,000 contactless readers in stores around the nation. That’s the low-tech version. What’s really a hot topic now, though, is Near Field Communication (NFC), which allows two-way wireless communication between a chip inside a phone and a receiving terminal. This means that soon, if you have a phone that supports NFC, you’ll be able to not only pay for a purchase by waving your phone near a contactless reader, but you can also get instant loyalty points, coupons and rewards. While the idea is intriguing for consumers and merchants alike, the question is whether NFC will work for US merchants — and work well. “Technology is usually only one small component that leads to the success or failure of ventures like this,” said Charles Golvin, principal analyst with Forrester Research, explaining that the technical infrastructure, customer adoption, and low fees must all line up as well.  Smarter smartphonesEven though countries like Japan and South Korea have been using mobile phones for payments for a while, paying with a smartphone is off to a slow start here, mostly for financial reasons.  “It’s a business model problem,” said Omar Green, the director of strategic mobile initiatives at Intuit, a company highly interested in using NFC with its millions of small business customers, who explained that there is still uncertainty about how merchants will actually be charged to use mobile payments from smartphones. That said, several indicators point to 2011 being the year when mobile payments and NFC reaches a tipping point. First and foremost: Samsung now offers the Nexus S as the first NFC-enabled Android phone. Nokia says its smartphones will support NFC in 2011. Visa’s head of mobile Bill Gajda says the company has been holding pilots with four of its largest issuers. As part of that, all New York City taxis — a whopping 13,000 — now have a contactless readers in the backseat. Chicago and Boston taxis are also being outfitted with about 3,800 readers so far. In fact, transit is a no-brainer for mobile payments. Most people have their phone in hand all the time anyway so waving it past a reader to get through a turnstile seems beautifully efficient.  Mobile commerce expert David Eads of Kony Solutions, writing in his blog, says the iPhone 5 is expected to support NFC when it comes out. In the blog post, he points out that, considering the trillions of dollars run through financial networks annually, Apple stands to increase revenue dramatically by getting involved in processing payments for things out in the real world. Conveniently, iTunes already has payment information for its 160 million customers. That’s a match made in Heaven for Apple. Most impressive, though, is an announcement from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. In November, the companies announced that they’re working together with Discover to build a NFC contactless payment network called Isis for the cell phone companies’ 217 million customers. While holding hands with the competition might raise eyebrows, it’s actually a brilliant idea. According to Jaymee Johnson, the director of strategic development at T-Mobile who is also the Isis spokesperson, the joint venture has worked to provide a single unified platform to consumers, merchants, and banks that will streamline adoption of NFC. They realize that mobile payments using NFC aren’t going to work if the merchant is seeing a different interface for every customer that walks through the door, says Johnson. Intuit’s Green says they’re also trying to figure out how to deal with transaction fees. Once they are low enough, a smartphone will be an ideal transaction device. About those fees, Forrester’s Golvin said, “There is a going rate that is established for transaction fees on payment. I would be extremely surprised to see a merchant fee schedule for these payments that was radically different from what currently exists from the existing acquiring banks and payment networks.” Using a smartphone for transactions makes sense, especially for merchants who can capture new information about a customer, such as buying habits and preferences. According to Jeff Miles, the director of mobile transactions at NXP Semiconductors (www.nxp.com), the company that invented NFC with Sony in 2002, NFC tags in stores are another tool that will benefit merchants and their customers. ”Think of a small hardware store,” says Miles. “I walk in and I’m looking at a new drill and Bosch has a promotion, so they put a smart tag in the store. I tap the tag and it gives me some product information and potentially could give me a coupon.”  Consumer concernsThere are concerns with using a phone to pay for goods. For example, some wonder: what if your phone is stolen? “[It would be] probably no worse than someone stealing a credit card and perhaps somewhat better because you can password protect a phone,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst with Enderle Group, adding that the Web service a consumer would be using with a NFC-enabled phone would likely contain financial information and it would not be on the phone itself.  Whether people will be eager to adopt NFC is another question. “Consumers are used to using existing methods of payment and as a race we are not very fond of change,” Enderle said. Golvin agrees. “The engrained behavior that people have for paying is pretty deep and it takes a lot to change that,” he said. The coupons and loyalty rewards that would come along with NFC phone payments will help, he said. “Those things do make a big difference. If you can do all of that in the transaction, now you’ve given the customer a real incentive to change their behavior and use this alternate payment method.”  Experts aren’t sure at what point the average consumer will be paying for things with a wave of a smartphone. Regardless of when, it stands to chance that while today our phones rule much of our lives, tomorrow they just might control our money as well.

About 1154 days ago Smartphones and PDAs

Cell Phones: A Security Risk to Your Business?

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Last July, Charlie Miller, a professional hacker, announced from the stage of an IT security conference that he could hack any iPhone in the world by text message. “That was a demonstration, it never really happened in the wild,” notes Jamie De Guerre, CTO of Cloudmark, which provides messaging security for mobile and fixed-line companies. No actual iPhone users were harmed in making Charlie Miller’s point, and Apple patched the vulnerability shortly after he announced it. But other cell phone users have been less lucky. The Sexy View worm, so dubbed because it sends a text inviting users to look at sexy pictures, targets some Nokia phones. If a hapless user tries to look at the pictures, it will take over the phone much the way a botnet takes over a computer, and then send itself to the entire contact list. So far, De Guerre says, Sexy View has been more of an issue in Asia than in the United States. But it seems only a matter of time until security issues begin affecting American cell phone users as well. “The thing to understand is that smart phones today have all the power of a full computer,” De Guerre says. “They can have a 1 gigahertz processor and hundreds of megabytes of RAM. So all the same types of attacks that could happen to a computer can happen to a smart phone.” These attacks include intrusions (such as Charlie Miller’s hack); viruses and other malware; phishing for passwords and other information; theft of data stored on or sent to or from the phone; and spam. And the phones’ new capabilities bring their biggest vulnerabilities. “Social media is expanding to mobile devices,” notes Martha Vazquez, senior research analyst in the Network Security practice at consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. “While this is a great way to market your business, many threats are attacking these sites and it’s common to find a malicious URL link. SMS messages are another very common way to receive malware.” What should a small business do? It’s obviously impractical to ask employees to give up their cell phones, or return to the quaint old days of using them only for phone calls or the occasional photo. But there are smart policies and practices that can help you keep cell phones out of harm’s way. Here are some steps to consider. 1. Insist on password protection. “The simple act of enabling a password or PIN number on a phone can save you a tremendous amount of hassle,” notes Randy Gross, CIO at CompTIA, a trade association for the IT industry. “You may be able to set security on the phone so that if someone tries the wrong password a certain number of times, the phone is automatically wiped. That can protect your data.” 2. Use encryption. While password protection is a good step encryption is even better, and a good way to secure data stored on cell phones. “A 16-gigabyte phone can contain a lot of information,” Gross notes. “With the right security software, you may be able to remotely wipe the phone if it is lost or stolen.” 3. Stay up to date on operating system patches. “Whenever the phone maker releases new patches or new versions of its operating system, make sure you have the latest version on your device,” Gross advises. 4. Use antivirus software. “Small businesses must treat mobile devices as they would their PCs by installing security software and keeping it up to date,” says Khoi Nguyen, group product manager, Mobile Security Group at Symantec. “This will protect the device from new variants of viruses and other malware.” 5. Warn users about malicious sites and phone numbers. Cell phone users can be their own worst enemies so make sure they know what not to do. First, if they receive an unsolicited SMS text, even if it appears to come from someone they know, they should avoid clicking on links contained in the message. These could lead them to malicious websites where the phone might be infected with malware. Second, and less obvious, users should never call a phone number that arrives in an unsolicited text message, even if the message appears to come from the user’s bank, employer, or cell phone company. Instead, users should find the bank or employer’s number independently to make the call, otherwise, they — or you — might wind up paying for a premium call. 6. Educate users about phishing. Some of the most successful phishing attacks in recent times have affected Twitter, often when users accessed the site with their smart phones. Make sure users know not to input their passwords or other personal information to any site or service unless they navigated there themselves, as opposed to following a link in an email or text. The same goes for any phone call where the user did not find the number independently, for instance by visiting a company’s website or looking it up using directory assistance. 7. Shut out unknown Bluetooth devices. Have you ever been in a public place and found that your phone’s Bluetooth was trying to connect to an unknown device nearby? Although many people think of Bluetooth as a neater alternative to a physical wire, in fact it creates a personal area network, and like any network, it will recognize appropriate devices within its range. This can let in malware, though, for example, a virus called CommWarrior that infects some phones via Bluetooth, as well as other ways. “A phone’s Bluetooth setting is on by default, so it needs to be turned off, or configured for a specific device or headset,” Nguyen says. “If not, it will look for other Bluetooth-enabled phones, which could result in malware being loaded on the device.” 8. Be wary of open Wi-Fi networks. It’s easy to forget, but many smart phones also work on regular WiFi networks. Users should be aware that when they join an open WiFi network, nearby eavesdroppers may be able to see the data they send and receive, such as email. “Make sure before you join that it’s a network you know and trust,” De Guerre advises.

About 1660 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

Google’s Android: Phones for Your Business?

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If Google can secure a fraction of its success in the smartphone space as it has on the Web, watch out BlackBerry, Apple, and Windows Mobile. The Mountain View, Calif.-based search giant has just launched its much-hyped Android mobile phone platform, powering the HTC T-Mobile G1 handset ($179 U.S., with two-year contract). This smart-looking smartphone features a large touch screen that resembles an iPhone to some extent, but it also houses a BlackBerry-like trackball and slide-out QWERTY keyboard. But what makes Android special might be less obvious to the casual observer. Unlike other smartphone platforms — such as those offered by Research in Motion, Apple, and Microsoft — Google’s Android is an “open” operating system given to developers for free to create applications. “There was no good reason why it shouldn’t do things your PC can do,” says Erick Tseng, product manager for Android at Google. “This isn’t just about Google, but rather the amazing third-party applications created by developers with unfettered access to the phone’s hardware, software and network.” Beyond the hype If you’ve been caught up in any of the hype surrounding G1, you’ll sense it’s geared towards (and generated by) the consumer space, opposed to a corporate crowd. Tseng, however, confirms Android is also ideal for businesses. “First of all you’ve got all the Google apps you’re used to such as Gmail, Calendar, Maps, and such, all offered for free and with the same login as your desktops,” says Tseng. “Because of this synchronous online connectivity between mobile and desktops, all your data ‘automatically’ updates for both devices since it’s the same account.” Second, Tseng says developers who are creating applications for the G1 and future Android phones can design and build something specifically tailored to their business. “Because we’re open, we encourage third-parties to create and upload your own apps to your own secure website and have employees download it onto the phone.” Along with integrated GPS, the G1 includes a built-in compass, an industry first, which will allow a savvy software company to create a “mash-up,” suggests Tseng, by fusing this technology with the integrated Google Maps program for better driving directions, satellite imagery, and navigation to local businesses. Not everyone agrees While the potential is there, many analysts don’t believe the Android platform is right for small or mid-sized businesses. “Android is not a business platform,” maintains Ken Delaney, vice president of mobile computing at the Gartner research and consulting group in Stamford, Conn. “It is squarely targeted at consumers.” “Business platforms have stability and strong interoperability or security as their hallmark; the two business platforms are RIM and Microsoft with Symbian S60 under Nokia as another alternative.” “While the G1 might be fine for a SOHO [small office, home office] worker who can use this for both a personal and business lifestyle,” says Nathan Dyer, senior analyst for enterprise mobility at the Boston, Mass.-based Yankee Group, he doesn’t believe that it’s necessarily geared for small or mid-sized businesses — or even larger enterprises. “It’s an exceptional device with loads of potential, and the openness is amazing, but the G1 is not business tool, primarily because there is no corporate e-mail, no support for Microsoft Exchange or Domino or any other server-based e-mail,” says Dyer. Google’s Tseng says Microsoft Exchange and Active Sync support “will happen” on Android, unquestionably. “It will happen because there is huge demand out there,” he says. “In fact, the third-party community has started to work on this already so very soon you will see the emergence of some of these business-focused apps.”

About 1752 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

Battle of the Mobile Operating Systems

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Decision-makers at small and mid-sized businesses don’t have it easy these days, especially when it comes to deciding what kind of smartphone to deploy among its mobile employees. This is because there are many operating systems to choose from today, such as BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, iPhone, Nokia’s N Series and Palm OS. There are also various handset manufacturers to consider — among them Motorola, Samsung, HTC, Apple, and BlackBerry’s maker, Research in Motion. And of course, then there are the form factors to consider. Do you go for flip, sliders, or candy bar-shaped phones, each with or without QWERTY keyboards and/or touch-screens? Before making all these decisions, it’s best to address which mobile smartphone operating system is best for your business. In the end, that will likely help narrow down your choices for handset maker and form factor, too. And what of Microsoft’s chances in succeeding in this highly competitive and overpopulated space? Read on. It’s all in the apps The first thing you need to do is to research the strengths and applications for each of the smartphone operating systems, says Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director at New York City-based Jupiter Research. “Perhaps you need the phone to work with Microsoft Exchange, or maybe you need to create or edit e-mail attachments, such as [Microsoft] Office documents,” explains Gartenberg. “Knowing what you’re going to use the smartphone for, and if it works with your company software and services, will help determine which one you’ll invest in.” Speaking of attachments, Windows Mobile-powered devices have an edge over the competition when it comes to file support and smooth PC synchronization, believes Ken Delaney, vice president of mobile computing at the Gartner research and consulting group in Stamford, Conn. “While Research in Motion has done a great job, Microsoft has tremendous back-end services, Windows file support and a host of applications, making it a natural choice for businesses to gravitate to Windows Mobile,” says Delaney. Windows Mobile is also supported by many manufacturers, which gives the consumer more choice in smartphones, adds Delaney: “More vendors mean more hardware options, including ruggedized PDAs for field applications which you won’t find with other OS’s.” BlackBerry and Nokia are also major players in the business space, agrees Delaney, but the iPhone has “a ways to go.” “The iPhone isn’t anywhere yet — it’s the new kid on the block — and while intriguing, it hasn’t made its full statement yet,” says Delaney. E-mail receiving, sending Led by BlackBerry, most of the major smartphone operating systems support the popular “push mail” application, meaning messages arrive on the phone as soon as they’re received in the user’s PC inbox (if not sooner). But a user must also be concerned about writing e-mails when out of the office, therefore Gartenberg says to consider the type of keyboard, as well. “Some swear by a tactile keyboard like a BlackBerry, while others like a soft keyboard a la the iPhone,” Gartenberg says. “The key is to try out the phone first to see if it’s comfortable for you.” While all BlackBerrys offer a button-based keyboard, some models offer a QWERTY layout (including the Curve and Bold), while thinner models (like many Pearl handsets) house a SureType keyboard with two letters per button. Security, too Nathan Dyer, senior analyst for enterprise mobility at Yankee Group, a Boston, Mass.-based research firm, says Windows Mobile is “gaining ground” on BlackBerry, the No. 1 smartphone maker in the U.S., because of more vendor relationships (RIM, Apple, and Nokia make their own handsets), strong brand recognition and familiarity, and more aggressive security measures than it did in the past. “Security had always been lagging in Windows Mobile,” says Dyer. “ActiveSync met most of the minimum requirements for  businesses including ‘wiping’ and encryption — especially for [small and mid-sized businesses] that didn’t want expensive middleware — but they’ve only recently stepped up to the plate with new and stronger tools,” explains Dyer. For example, ActiveSyc only met about a dozen security policies, explains Dyer, but now its service System Center Mobile Device Manager (SCMDM) meets more than 125 security policies.

About 1905 days ago Printers, Copiers, and Peripherals

Bet on Telephone Headsets

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The crew at Karen Pierce Gonzalez’s public relations firm couldn’t function without telephone headsets. The staff of the three-person company near Santa Rosa, Calif., spends so much time on the phone during the workday that headsets are a must, and not just any will do. According to Pierce Gonzalez, cheap models aren’t worth the investment because static starts creeping into the earpieces about the time the warranty expires. Yes, over-the-head models muss their wearers’ hair every time they’re removed, and earpieces don’t always stay in place. But that’s a small price to pay for relieving the pain that comes with cradling a phone between your ear and shoulder all day. “Just thinking about it makes my neck hurt,” Pierce Gonzalez says. As Pierce Gonzalez’s experience shows, people take their headsets seriously. If recent trends are an indication, the day is coming when wearing a telephone headset for work will be almost as ordinary as, well, using the telephone. Not just for customer service reps anymore Wearing a headset used to peg someone as a receptionist or customer service agent. But the era of cell phones, Internet phones, iPods, and video games has erased any stigma associated with working while something’s stuck in your ear. Industry experts say headsets could become even more commonplace after California, Washington, and New Jersey later this year join the rank of states with laws banning people from talking on hand-held cell phones. When deciding what to buy, some things companies should consider: Wireless — Wireless headsets are the fastest growing segment of the business, thanks in part to lightweight batteries that last longer between charges than older models. “Once you cut the cord, there’s a lot you can do to unleash it to a lot more people in the building,” says Joe McGrogan, director of business-to-business marketing at Plantronics, a leading U.S. headset maker. Some new wireless headsets can be used with multiple phones, allowing the wearer to switch between a cell phone and office phone without switching headsets. Other models let the wearer answer or hang up a call by pushing a button on the headset, McGrogan says. Frequencies — Wireless headsets operate on multiple frequencies to transmit voice signals to and from a telephone base station, and the higher the frequency, the better the clarity and range. Today’s high-end headsets use a 1.9 GHz frequency, which the U.S. Federal Communications Commission opened up for voice-only communications in 2005. Other models use 900MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz. Bluetooth — This short range wireless technology developed by a consortium of major telecommunications players including Motorola, Nokia, Microsoft, and IBM allows someone using a Bluetooth wireless headset to connect to other Bluetooth enabled devices like cell phones, computers and printers. Wired — Although wireless gets all the hype, companies like Plantronics still sell as many corded headsets as they do cordless, McGrogan says. What can you expect to pay? Prices for corded headsets range from $25 to $100. New wireless models with all the bells and whistles cost from $200 to $400, according to McGrogan and other sources. SIDEBAR: Headset resources Telephone headsets aren’t hard to find. Small and mid-sized businesses will see a healthy selection at office supply stores such as Office Depot and Staples. Online specialty retailers such as Hello Direct and Headsets.com have a larger selection. Some small-business telecommunications vendors also carry the gear or can tell companies where to find it. For additional information on headsets suitable for office and mobile workers, check out the following online resources: An interactive selector on the website of Sennheiser Communications, a European telecommunications equipment reseller, lets people select their preferred use, style and brand and then spits out a list of equipment that matches their needs. Plantronics has a similar online tool customers can use to view the company’s products for office, mobile, and home phones. Amazon.com has a telephone headsets page with equipment from a variety of manufacturers and online stores searchable by brand, seller, or price. If you’re thinking of going wireless, read  this white paper on choosing a wireless headset at Headsets.com

About 1934 days ago Telecom and Wireless

Will Open Cell Phone Networks Mean Business Benefits?

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You’ve surely heard the buzz — in November, a group of technology giants, led by Google, unveiled an open-source wireless software project, Android, that is likely to result in cell phones with more applications than ever before. But what does it all mean to your business? Over the short term, it probably won’t result in many differences to the way your business acquires its mobile phone service, say experts. But over the long term, Android is certain to “accelerate the growth of the mobile Internet,” forecasts a recent report by Forrester Research, putting mobile-friendly Internet applications into the hands of many, many more people around the world. What it doesn’t mean No, this doesn’t mean Google is getting into the cell-phone manufacturing business. Android is an operating system, just as Microsoft’s Windows is an operating system. Android is the project of the Open Handset Alliance, 35-odd companies in addition to Google, including chip makers, device makers, mobile operators, and software firms. Together, they are looking to developers to help build a better mobile device, allowing them to go after a bigger slice of the billion-plus market of cell-phone users, many of whom don’t have access to PCs. The first OHA-based phones will be available later this year, according to Barry Schnitt, Google’s senior manager for global communications.          And no, it’s not likely to result in major changes in mobile retail models in the U.S., at least not now, experts say. This is largely because North American consumers are accustomed to paying less than $100 for cell phones and then signing a long-term service commitment, notes Forrester. In actuality, cell phones, especially with all the bells and whistles that Android might help create, can run upwards of $600 (the feature-laden Nokia N95, for example, retails for $699). Small and midsize businesses in particular are unlikely to pay these prices for phones, and then have to shop around for networks that accommodate those phones optimally. This is one reason why mobile-phone giants like Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile are members of the Open Handset Alliance. They are not afraid of losing customers, because the operators still control the airwaves. They see the project as a way to build a better cell phone with more applications. “We recognize we may not have all the content and apps available that our customers want,” notes Scott Sloat, spokesman for Reston, Va.-based Sprint. “Ultimately, we want more people to use our service, so we’re willing to work with third parties to ensure that.” But Nokia, the Finnish mobile-phone manufacturing giant, is not a member. Forrester expects that Nokia’s Symbian system is poised to compete directly with Android. It does mean better mobile Internet and more ads Google’s Schnitt said it was “too early” to comment on the effects that Android might have on the market, especially given that Android-based phones are still being developed. However, Forrester expects that the project will result in phones whose next-generation mobile applications will not only allow more users Internet access, but allow more customization and localization of the information on the Internet than ever before. Google is in a good position to provide this. According to the Forrester report, “early efforts like Google Maps and Gmail …[are] optimized for maximum performance” on mobile phones. And, since Google is already heavily reliant on advertising, it is likely to develop new ways to bring ads to the very small screen. This will be a challenge, especially in ways that don’t overly annoy the customer, notes Mark Siegel, spokesperson for AT&T’s wireless unit. Siegel says that AT&T, while not an OHA member now, could join “if it makes sense for our customers.” Lastly, IT-savvy smaller businesses are likely to see the Android project as a source of new opportunities. “Internet innovators will see in Android the opportunity in mobile that they have long envisioned, accessible in a way they can understand,” says Forrester.

About 1996 days ago Business Software

Buy Web Apps? Webware Lets You D-I-Y

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Do-it-yourself webware programs such as Coghead, Python and Microsoft Office Live can be a cost-effective way of building a customized application platform for a small or medium-sized business. These webware applications are run through a Web browser, rather than a desktop application, and include servers, task scheduling, session management, cascading style sheets, and databases. The goal of these applications is to create interlocking computer platforms that are easy to deploy. Popular uses of these applications include database management, customer relationship management (CRM), asset and bug tracking, project and event management. So why would a small business rely on these D-I-Y technologies rather than hiring an outside consultant or buying a pre-packaged application? Advantages: Ownership — With a D-I-Y software application, you have full ownership and control of the product, so when you need to tweak a servlet, you do not need to wait on someone else. Cost — You don’t need to pay an outside programming consultant for the initial set-up; you don’t need to worry about the cost of upgrades, and there is no management fee for your server. A program like Adobe’s ColdFusion runs $1,600 and still needs to be customized, which is costly for the small business. Time — These applications will save you the consultant’s programming time since you’re doing all of the work yourself. Disadvantages: No maintenance — Since these applications are D-I-Y, you or someone on your team needs to know how to maintain the system and fish out the bugs. No upgrades — You need to ensure that your codes remain encrypted and secure to prevent hackers and system failures. How to decide whether to try webware Aaron Hyde, the founder/owner of BrewedFresh Media.com, a Web content and publishing company in Cary, N.C., says that with these D-I-Y applications users need to know if they are tech savvy enough to manage these applications on their own. “With full ownership comes full responsibility and some small businesses don’t have the time to spend programming and managing these applications,” Hyde says. He adds that these businesses may think that they are saving money, but they still need to know how to install and customize these applications. Businesses need to also determine whether they can get some of these applications from a vendor or an on-demand software provider. Farming out development and maintenance of your applications may end up being more economical when compared to the value of the time spent in-house developing and maintaining your D-I-Y webware application. Conclusion Although the folks in the IT department may look down on those of us who use D-I-Y webware applications, RSS feeds, wikis, mashups, and blogs, they are all part of the Web 2.0 revolution, the second generation of Web applications for the Web user who connects with others and participates in the global conversation. Implementing D-I-Y Web-based applications for a small business makes sense if your company has the right people on board who know what they’re doing so that significant cost and time savings may be achieved. SIDEBAR:D-I-Y Webware Applications Coghead Coghead is a Web-based application that helps users build and host custom database applications in a much shorter timeframe than traditional software development applications. Examples of Coghead’s business applications include project management, CRM, bug tracking, and dynamic programming. Pricing starts at $49/month for five users and a multi-user account is free for 30 days. Python Python is an open-source programming language that can run on Windows, Mac, Nokia mobile phones, and Palm Pilots. Companies and individuals use Python for game development, networking, databases, and bug tracking. Microsoft Office Live Microsoft Office Live is a hosted service allowing small businesses to customize their own website and Web-based applications. With Office Live, users can store and share documents via online workspaces and can efficiently track projects and company information. Three levels are available at varying monthly subscription rates: Office Live Basics (free), Office Live Essentials ($19.95/month), and Office Live Premium ($39.95/month).