Rural Outsourcing Firm Onshore Technology Services Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program

.: Acorn Networks :. Onshore Technology Services today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program in three competencies - Custom Development Solutions, Business Process & Integration and Mobility Solutions--recognizing Onshore's expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Onshore Technology Services has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven its ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.
Founded in March, 2005, Onshore Technology Services is a rural outsourcing company providing web development, application integration, IT support services and IT education services as a cost-effective, yet risk-adverse alternative to offshore outsourcing. In 2006, the Company nearly doubled the size of its technology workforce (Onshore now employs almost 20 Microsoft-Certified Application Developers).
"We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program. This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers, " said Shane Mayes, President/CEO of Onshore Technology Services. "The benefits provided through our Gold Certified Partner status will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings we provide our customers."
"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes Onshore Technology Services as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology."

LG Electronics Showcases Latest Wireless Industry Innovations at CES 2007

.: Acorn Networks :. In addition to its 2007 product lineup that integrates the latest wireless technologies with style and function for the U.S. market, LG Mobile Phones is also emphasizing its global reach, showcasing several handsets available outside the U.S.
The strong presence for LG Mobile Phones at CES reflects the company's growing U.S. market share, which climbed to 16.1 percent in the third quarter of 2006. Third-quarter shipments catapulted LG Mobile Phones to the number two spot across all mobile phone manufacturers, while maintaining the largest share of the U.S. CDMA mobile handset market. Building on its well-known leadership in the CDMA market, LG Mobile Phones has continued its impressive growth in the GSM category as a result of innovative handsets such as the CU500, which features ultra-fast HSDPA technology, the first of its kind on Cingular's network.
In addition to participating in the Digital Experience and CES Unveiled pre-show events, as well as demonstrating the latest handset technologies at the LG Electronics booth, LG Mobile Phones was been honored with five 2007 CES "Innovations" Awards. LG Mobile Phones award winners include the smooth and stylish Chocolate by LG, the FUSIC mobile music handset, and two awards for the cutting edge HBS-110 Bluetooth Stereo headset. LG earned an additional award in collaboration with Digit Wireless for the LG AX490 Fastap phone. All of the award-winning handsets will be on display at the LG booth.
Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics MobileComm USA Inc., said, "Over the past year, LG Mobile Phones has focused on creating handsets that incorporate the latest entertainment features. Our current lineup includes products that continue to combine the latest mobile in style and functionality."
LG Mobile Phones is showcasing a robust lineup of handsets and wireless accessories at CES 2007. Devices available internationally show video telephony and 5 mega-pixel camera capability among other cutting-edge functionality. Style is exhibited with several innovative designs and accessories that accentuate the mobile phone users' experience. Fun will take the spotlight with handsets capable of mobile music and the ultimate in 3-D mobile gaming. Other handsets will give consumers a glimpse into the future of U.S. mobile phone technology by including handsets that double as televisions and accessories that make listening to music on-the-go easier than ever.
Featured LG Handsets at CES 2007 Include:
enV by LG
The enV was built to represent the ultimate convergence of advanced wireless capabilities and the latest developments in mobile entertainment. This handset is a complete multimedia experience, offering music, video, data and all the latest mobile handset innovations, including a beautiful large internal color screen, integrated QWERTY keypad and duel stereo sound.
Equipped with LG's first ever 2.0 mega-pixel camera with auto focus as well as Bluetooth Stereo support, the enV boasts features that stack-up with any other handset available in the US. With a full set of mobile entertainment features the enV makes it easier than ever to stay connected while enjoying music, videos and email in one slim package. Users can now watch streaming video on the crystal clear internal LCD, rock out to MP3s on their Bluetooth Stereo headset, or catch up on IMs or email with the full sized QWERTY keyboard.
Chocolate by LG
Featuring a super-slim style for sophisticated palettes, consumers can indulge in the luxury and innovation of Chocolate by LG. A work of art, both in looks and features, the Chocolate demonstrates looks aren't everything by including a full compliment of advanced features that make it one of the most innovative mobile devices in the world, inside and out. With the availability of new colors in white, wine red and mint green, the Chocolate is sure to appeal to the tastes of a wide variety of mobile users.
The Chocolate's sleek, ultra thin minimalist style and silky-smooth slide design is perfectly complemented by its glowing red touch keypad. The keypad is the first-of-its-kind in the U.S. and can be used to navigate phone menus as well as the integrated MP3 player.
LG VX8600
The LG VX8600 was designed to be a statement of beauty inside and out. At first glance, the phone garners attention with its glossy piano black finish and innovative glowing red touch front display keys for easy MP3 control. In addition to being the slimmest and lightest handset ever produced by LG, the VX8600 offers a 1.3 mega-pixel camera to capture every moment and amazing video capabilities allowing users to shoot up to one hour of video right from their handset.
The VX8600 also offers advanced music playback capability allowing users the ability to browse, preview, download and play high-quality digital music directly from their phone. Other music-centric features include a microSD memory slot that supports 2GB cards that hold up to 1,000 songs, Stereo Bluetooth capability, customizable effect/equalizer and player themes, a powerful speaker and dedicated music keys for easy access.
LG CU400
The CU400 is the latest handset from LG to showcase a wide array of features that is sure to offer something for everyone. With convenient Push- to-Talk (PTT) technology, users can connect to family and friends instantly with the push of a button. The CU400 offers the latest in PTT advancements, including PTT call conversion and PTT over Bluetooth.
With multitasking capability, high speed 3G network support, Music ID service and MobiTV, the CU400 is packed with the latest in multimedia goodies to keep users entertained while on the go. Additionally, the CU400 has a quad-band frequency, meaning users can take it across the globe and never have to worry about missing a call.
The CU400 includes additional progressive features like Bluetooth, integrated VGA Camera, one touch speakerphone and a full set of messaging functions.
LG CU500v
The LG CU500v was built and designed for speed. To meet the needs of more and more users downloading online content, the CU500 was outfitted with HSDPA technology. Now equipped with broadband like speeds at their fingertips, users will be able to use the CU500v to download the latest online content in a fraction of the time compared to conventional mobile web devices.
Another breakthrough feature on the CU500v is that consumers will be able to enjoy one-way video on their phones. Users can call a friend and send live (or pre-recorded) video to other users so they can see and hear you
simultaneously. LG is thrilled to be the first mobile handset manufacturer to offer this service in the U.S.
LG HBS-110
Talk or listen to music hands free with the Bluetooth Stereo headset from LG. This headset really rocks featuring Bluetooth connectivity, stereo sound and music control. The Bluetooth Stereo Headset is comfortable, easy-to-use and provides high quality stereo sound for up to six hours of music play. When connected to your Bluetooth enabled device, it offers three-way calling, nine hours of talk time, caller ID display and last number redial. This Bluetooth headset was designed specifically to appeal to mobile tech addicts as well as trend-setters that will embrace its sleek and stylish look.
FUSIC by LG
The FUSIC by LG is a mobile phone designed with the music lover in mind. A cool, thin phone, the FUSIC looks, feels and plays like a portable music player and proves to be the ideal device for on-the-go users seeking a fully featured phone with unprecedented music playing capability. LG Mobile ventured beyond the ordinary by making the FUSIC the first mobile phone in the U.S. to feature an FM Transmitter for listening to music through a radio or car stereo. Now users can listen to their saved MP3s wherever there is radio access. Another unique feature to the FUSIC is the internal Music Composer. With this application, users can record custom ring tones by humming a tune into the phone's microphone or composing a tune in Keyboard or Score mode. Users can further customize their ring tone experience by adding various instrument accompaniment, rhythm, tempos and styles.

Rhema now adds IT training to its broad range of consultancy and training via strategic link with Enliten

.: Acorn Networks :. Rhema Group has linked with Enliten Training Solutions in a strategic partnership which brings together two well-established and respected providers in the field of HR development.
Each organisation has over 20 years of experience and knowledge in its particular area. Rhema has an enviable reputation as a UK-based, globally operating, human resource development company and a provider of customised and blended solutions involving business consultancy, training, coaching, software and E-learning.
Enliten IT is a vendor independent IT training services business and is a Microsoft Registered Partner delivering courses covering not only Microsoft but also Adobe (Macromedia), Lotus, Quark, AutoDesk, Corel, Business Objects, CheckPoint and Oracle among others. The aim of the company is to provide a wide range of quality, value-for-money, training solutions to enable businesses to become more efficient and competitive. This involves the creation of clearly designed, relevant and focused tailored training solutions that meet the specific needs of both customers and partners.
"This strategic partnership has the significant effect of enabling us to include full IT training in our packages for our clients," said Rhema MD Jeremy Francis. "Rhema never relaxes in its efforts to keep its tailored solutions in line with the needs and expectations of organisations which want to offer fully tailored training packages to their management and staff. We are already bringing Enliten into our client offering and look forward to that continuing in future, and vice versa."
Recognising that staff training and skills development are fundamental to the growth and development of businesses, Enliten takes a flexible training approach using customised solutions. The four core areas pursued by the company are IT Training for end-users; technical network support staff and developers; design of Access databases, Web sites and Microsoft Office templates; Consultancy & Support for Network and Infrastructure services; and Soft Skills, within HR development programmes.
Enliten MD Marko Jergic said: "We have been providing ad-hoc soft skills services to our clients for some time, both at corporate level and for SMEs. This strategic partnership now allows us access to a far greater portfolio of services that can only be of benefit to our clients. Rhema is a like-minded organisation and we look forward to working closely with them."
Enliten IT http://www.enliten-it.com/ prides itself on providing quality value for money solutions, via very high quality trainers and consultants who are technically adept within their areas of expertise as well as being versed in educational methodologies - thereby ensuring that clients' staff get the most out of their training experience. The trainers are members of the Institute of IT Training (IITT) - the main standards body for IT Trainers in the UK covering all aspects of training, development and delivery. All are fully vendor authorised, having passed their trainer assessments e.g. MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer); MOS Master Instructor (Microsoft Office Specialist); CLI (Certified Lotus Instructor) as well as their product exams. Each trainer has a combination of certifications depending upon their skill sets, and additionally has practical knowledge of real life scenarios which adds value to the classroom experience. Enliten IT has trained customers throughout the UK, in Switzerland and Hong Kong. It provides a wide range of on-site technical training courses which can dramatically cut down on time spent away from the office and on money spent in travelling and overnight expenses. On-site services include migrations and rollout training, based around Microsoft, Adobe, Macromedia, Lotus and bespoke in-house systems.

Nationwide SIP Network

.: Acorn Networks :. AccessLine Communications completed a multi-year migration of its telecommunications network to the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) standard. Through leveraging its highly flexible SBC technology and sophisticated internal signaling, AccessLine can normalize complex SIP interoperation nuances and offer unified access to multiple VoIP domains via a single interconnection with AccessLine. The company is one of the first nationwide VoIP application service providers to invest in – and complete – nationwide network support for the SIP standard.
SIP is an open application-layer signaling control standard for establishing and terminating calls over a VoIP network. It delivers more architectural freedom to VoIP developers, allowing them to more easily and quickly develop network modifications for specific customers or specific applications.
“Each network service provider presents a different combination and permutation of the myriad options and capabilities that can be supported over a SIP interface,” said Jerry Knight, Chief Technology Officer for AccessLine. “AccessLine's customers can reap all the benefits in reach, availability, features and cost of multiple carrier interconnections via a single interconnection with AccessLine. This can save the customer years in time to market and technical effort that can be re-deployed on other more valuable initiatives. This is of particular importance to customers with large call volumes, where redundancy and availability are primary concerns.”
In addition to the unique “normalization function” that is inherent to AccessLine's SIP Network, AccessLine is able to deploy a much larger number of SBCs (Session Border Controllers) at a much lower cost than most other carriers. This simultaneously gives AccessLine both a cost and quality advantage. For customers of AccessLine’s hosted SmartVoice Service for business, this means that the benefits of advanced business telephone service are delivered at a fraction of the cost of competing services. AccessLine’s investment in its network migration to SIP means increased call quality, high availability and improved traffic efficiency.

BT Global outsources network support to Alcatel-Lucent for $US350m

.: Acorn Networks :. Just days after its formation Alcatel-Lucent has announced its first major contract: a $US350 million contract to take over responsibility for the maintenance of BT Global Services' global network for the next eight years.
Alcatel-Lucent’s Services will assume responsibility for the majority of BT Global Services’ equipment maintenance and spares management contracts. The contract covers first line maintenance, second, third and fourth line support. BT say it expects to derive cost savings in excess of $US100 million over the lifetime of the contract.
“By moving to a single-point-of-contact supplier, we will be able to benefit from having one primary interface for support services rather than having to manage a large number of service vendors, while service level agreements will remain at the current high level, or be improved where needed," said Roel Louwhoff, president of customer service and network operation in BT Global Services.

One-click BackUp for WinRAR Makes Daily Backups Easy

.: Acorn Networks :. Acritum Software has released One-click BackUp for WinRAR 2.16, a handy file backup utility for Windows. The product is available as freeware for home users and non-commercial organizations. Professional version with network support is available for corporate and advanced users at a small price.
It's important to have backup copies of all important documents, so you can restore your information if accidentally erase it, or if you have a hardware malfunction or virus attack. Because creating daily backups is boring, most people don't do it. One-click BackUp makes your life safer by automatically doing your backups, without fail.
The program acts as an easy-to-use backup shell for WinRAR archiver thus providing higher compression and safety of your documents in comparison with ordinary ZIP backups. OCB supports three backup formats - RAR, ZIP and self extracting EXE container.
OCB gives you full access to all key features of WinRAR - compression levels, volumes, password protection, recovery record, etc. You can easily run backup tasks manually or using the backup scheduler or the shell notifier which can run a backup process when the content of a certain folder changes. OCB can hide itself and create backup archives with a low process priority to let you proceed with your daily work without any inconvenience.
Having created an archive, OCB can store it to a local or removable drive, copy it to a network folder, write it to a CD/DVD disc, upload it to a FTP server or send it to your e-mail. You don't have to remember about your backups until you finally need them. Just set the number of backup copies you want to have and OCB will keep only recent archives and automatically delete old redundant ones. This is quite a useful feature when backing up to FTP servers where the available space it often limited. When backing up to CD/DVD discs, OCB can automatically erase them when there isn't enough room to write a new archive. The minimum of manual work - this is the main conception of One-click BackUp.
System administrators will also enjoy such advanced features as command line support, remote control of backup processes via Internet or LAN, error notification to e-mail and anti-hooligan protection.

Siemens’ New OpenStage™ Family of SIP Phones Provide Personal Fixed Mobile Convenience with Style

.: Acorn Networks :. BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Siemens Communications, Inc., today announced OpenStage™, a new line of stylish IP telephones that bring an open communications hardware platform to the desktop for the first time. With four different models ranging from basic to advanced, OpenStage phones feature a revolutionary new design that combines ease-of-use with PC functionality – the biggest change in the telephone interface since the pushbutton phone replaced the rotary dialer. In addition, OpenStage phones utilize Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to integrate wired, wireless and IP communications to invoke new conferencing and call features such as “push to conference,” desktop call management, “presence” based calling, and more. The phones also support compatible third-party applications through standards-based technology such as Java, HTML, WML and XML so that they can become a key interface for everyday enterprise business applications.
OpenStage introduces a touch sensitive wheel, called TouchGuide™ that allows easy access to the menu-driven user interface. The TouchSlider™ controls the volume of the handset, ringer and speaker phone, and there are touch sensitive pre-set and programmable keys that provide easy access to frequently used applications and features, such as address books, voicemail, conferencing, and speed dial. OpenStage also lets you dial using hands-free voice commands or a conventional keypad. It also features a high-quality speaker phone that has been specially designed for conference calls, and can operate multiple connections from the same desktop.
“End-users in business environments are faced with an ever-increasing variety of communications capabilities, devices, interfaces and modes. Efforts to streamline and integrate these capabilities, and to make the most of the latest in navigation techniques, are welcome and will get the attention of buyers,” said Jerry Caron, Vice President, Current Analysis. “Innovative systems, such as the Siemens Enterprise Communications Open Stage portfolio, make access to sophisticated capabilities easier and more intuitive, thus inherently raising the relevance of the capabilities themselves.”
Built-in Bluetooth support also lets you use a Bluetooth headset with the OpenStage deskphone for hands-free operation. A V.Card exchange even allows you to transfer contacts between compatible mobile phones and the desk phone. A USB port is available to backup data, such as personal contacts, as well as to connect to a wireless LAN using a WLAN dongle. With network support, you can readily access a corporate phone directory using an LDAP client, or gain public phone directory access using XML to look up new contacts.
“OpenStage is the missing link that integrates cellular, the Internet and the wired desktop,” said Thomas Zimmermann, Chief Operating Officer of Siemens Enterprise Communications. “We designed OpenStage to deliver mobile convenience in a fixed device, providing instant access that is always available and easy to drive. And this line of IP telephones offer a new, rich communications experience that combines style elements with the convenience of a mobile phone.”
OpenStage is designed to help organizations improve productivity and streamline workflow by integrating system-wide communications into the most-used office device, the telephone handset. Since it is an open application platform, OpenStage gives IS departments and third party developers more flexibility to write and deploy a wide range of value-added applications that can make the phone a key interface for enterprise applications and that can speed communications and workflow.
For example, Java applications that run on a PC, mobile phone, or PDA can now be readily ported to run on the OpenStage phone. Using HTML, the phones can be used as an interface for hosted applications, such as timesheets, calendars, or public phone books. WML support makes it compatible with applications developed for mobile phones, such as access to traffic news. Support for XML also makes it easy to customize OpenStage for any number of users, such as interfaces for building control systems, responses to incoming calls or to create "tell me when" applications that monitor for specific conditions. OpenStage is part of LifeWorks, Siemens’ vision for open communications and seamless collaboration across multiple protocols, networks, and devices.
OpenStage phones will retail starting at $295. They will be offered through Siemens Alliance partners.

Telecommunications Services Firm, Signet6, Partners with The Carlton Group to Plan Expansion

.: Acorn Networks :. LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Roger A. Snyder, President and GM of Signet6 Network Science Inc. announced today that his firm has signed an exclusive agreement with The Carlton Group, a capital advisory firm, headquartered in Little Rock.
Snyder commented: “Working with the Carlton Group, we plan to expand our current technical infrastructure and generally expand our operations to exploit an open window of market opportunity in our rapidly growing and changing industry.”
Signet6 is a telecommunication services company, whose customers include the U.S. military, Fortune 1000 companies, banking and financial institutions, colleges and universities, hospitals and other telecommunication companies throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Caribbean, and Mexico.
Out of the tens of thousands of government contractors, only a select few are authorized to provide services for projects with security clearance requirements. In compliance with the Defense Security Service policy, the company can not advertise the obtainment or authorization of any security clearances. “This information is truly provided on a need to know basis,” said Snyder. The company projects are often related to the engineering, project management and support of telecommunications supporting the US military, and government agencies. Signet6 was awarded the highest status of Gold Level Quality Service Provider for General Dynamics, this year, for voice switch engineering and implementation services. General Dynamics is a 21 billion dollar revenue government defense contractor.
The company, having recently attended meetings with Nortel in Paris, received recognition for the provision of the highest levels of technical support with Nortel’s Europe, Middle East and Africa service teams. “We are very grateful to Nortel for their true teaming effort and as a result our service delivery continues to improve as our partnership grows,” said Snyder.
Signet6 provides telecommunications equipment, systems and supporting technical services to its clients. Presently, the company’s concentration is the support of Avaya and Nortel Network equipment users; together they make up in excess of 40% of the large PBX or enterprise systems market.
“To grow a company you need good people,” said Bill Carlton. “At Carlton-Bates Company I purposely sought out and surrounded myself with talented employees and partners with high standards and levels of expertise. I see that same commitment to excellence in Roger. Signet6 is totally dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, and that’s what really sets them apart in their field.” Mr. Carlton added that The Carlton Group “is excited about the opportunity to partner with Signet6 and to help create the infrastructure and provide guidance and financing.”
Mr. Snyder’s experience as a telecommunications services organization started in September of 1991, with the provision of repair and remanufacturing services to Avaya, Nortel, and Rolm systems users, throughout North America. “Over the years, large national accounts with expensive service agreements experienced shortages of quality technical talent and mismanaged projects,” said Snyder. “That created opportunities for Signet6. Today our services are being utilized by the U.S. Air Force, US Navy, US Army, US Marine Corp, EDS, Nortel France, Computer Sciences Corporation, and General Dynamics. Obviously if you are one of these entities, you can’t settle for second best in terms of technical support.”
Snyder said “because our company consistently delivers outstanding support, the door is wide open for future growth. After ten years of the industry’s talk, fear and attempts at voice over IP, the manufacturers of these VoIP systems are now gaining market share. These networks are more complex and require technical services of a more exact and precise nature than ever before. Demand for the highest quality design, engineering, project management and network support resources will be in greater than the market can presently provide. That will take additional resources and expertise, hence our partnership with Bill Carlton and The Carlton Group.”
Snyder, age 51, is the founder and has been President and GM of Signet6 and its predecessor, Intelex. He has held memberships with the International Engineering Consortium and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Computer Information Systems Advisory group. Previously, Mr. Snyder was a member of the Distributor Advisory Board for Ericsson Business Systems for North America. Mr. Snyder received his Engineering Technology degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1978 and attended Memphis State University’s Herf College of Engineering.
The Carlton Group was formed this year by William P. Carlton, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Carlton-Bates Company of Little Rock. Carlton-Bates, a national, industrial distributor of electrical and electronic products, was sold in 2005 to a Fortune 500 company, Wesco International, Inc. for $250 million. “My real passion is entrepreneurship and small business,” commented Carlton. “I believe we have all the disciplines needed to represent and mentor a growing business such as Signet6. I look forward to working closely with Roger and Signet6 in the months and years ahead.”

SERIOUS VOIP BECOMING MORE OF A REALITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

.: Acorn Networks :. Many years ago in the very early days of Telephony, I was fortunate to get my hands on a TalkSwitch PC PBX to run my small office. Naturally as a small business owner, I had to watch costs and could only afford a single POTS line to run the company phone system. Mainstream phone systems were well out of my reach. But I still wanted to have a large company appearance and wanted to have various phone extensions for employees, voicemail, unified messaging capabilities and even follow me features. At that time, the TalkSwitch PBX was a godsend for well under $1000 and performed like a champ. While my original unit is no longer in service, I'm quite certain it could still do very well for any small company starting out.
As you can imagine, the OTTAWA, ON based company has not rested on its' laurels and has brought the TalkSwitch up over the years to remain a highly competitive force in the small business marketplace. Last week I was very happy to see a news release from the company announcing the availability of their latest PBX systems that fully integrate VoIP. The 280VS and the 284VS are fully hybrid IP PBXs that accommodate two incoming telephone lines and provide eight local extensions that the user can configure as IP or analog, and ten remote extensions. The 284VS also includes support for four VoIP trunks.
The new systems are ideal for small businesses, smart homes and franchise operations that want a feature-rich telephone system with a large number of extensions, but with minimal investment in incoming telephone lines. They also provide access to IP technology at a great price. And they protect the customer’s investment because they are networkable, meaning the system will grow right along with the business.
The beautiful thing about these units are their simplicity. Small business owners can easily set up and configure the systems, features and functions, and create a unified business image that looks like very large corporations at a fraction of the cost. While I haven't played with one of the new units, if they are anything like my original unit of years ago, I'm sure they are well worth the money spent.
Very small businesses are traditionally underserved by technology vendors and normally you don't think of them adopting cutting edge technologies like IP telephony. However, these businesses are increasingly needing robust communications solutions, as the SMB workforce is increasingly mobile and distributed, said Gary Chen, Yankee Group Analyst in Enterprise Research Small and Medium Enterprise IT Infrastructure and Applications. The challenge in this segment is not to sell them cool technology, but something that is drop dead simple, flexible, very affordable, and that has real business benefits.
Like all TalkSwitch telephone systems, the 280VS and the 284VS are available through authorized TalkSwitch resellers. The 280VS is priced at $1095USD and the 284VS is available for $1395USD.
CommPartners this week also made an announcement that will give small businesses more VoIP options as well. They announced their new CommPartners Connect™ for Linksys® One. The new CommPartners offering provides activation, network services, and automated service delivery for the Linksys hosted communications platform called Linksys® One. Linksys One is an affordable, easy-to-install Internet Protocol (IP)-based services platform that enables the delivery of data, voice and video applications to small businesses.
The combination of Linksys One hardware (Services Router, IP Phones, and Gateway) and CommPartners' network services specifically developed for the small- and medium-sized business customer makes affordable, converged communications a reality. Instead of paying for and managing separate internet access, phone system, and computer networks, small businesses have one converged services infrastructure with Linksys One for everything: phones, fax, data networking, Internet and business applications.
CommPartners Connect for Linksys One line pricing plans include unlimited local and long distance calling in North America for $39.95 per line. Services are sold on a "per line" as opposed to a "per user" basis which is a more economically attractive offering for the SMB market to purchase their IP communications services. CommPartners also offers local telephone numbers, local number portability (LNP), operator and directory assistance, directory listings, and E911.
PBXtra is another system making headway from LA based Fonality. PBXtra, Fonality’s enterprise-class IP-PBX, is based on a modified version of the popular open source Asterisk code base. Fonality has modified Asterisk to add reliability, stability and enterprise-class features. PBXtra is less expensive and easier to deploy than all other major PBX offerings on the market today. The price advantage comes from Fonality’s use of Asterisk-based open source technology to deliver the PBX foundation. The advanced, enterprise-class features and management ease come from Fonality’s innovative PBXtra application with its intuitive, web-based interface designed for the average business owner. In addition, PBXtra’s hybrid model that combines public telephone and VoIP network support, and Fonality’s experienced 24x7 technical support team delivers rock solid reliability to all customers.
Fonality announced this week that PBXtra Users Hit 50 Million Calls, Average 1.5 Million Calls Per Week, a clear indication that SMBs are taking advantage of VoIP and the benefits it can bring to their organizations.
These recent announcements and many others like them, make me happy to be doing what I do. While VoIP is still not mature, it's worlds ahead of where it was 10 years ago when I was dabbling in it. Small businesses need to put aside their fears and frustrations, and seek out some of the players I mentioned. There are also a host of others. A quick Google search on "VoIP Small Business" will lead you in the right direction.
I speak to a lot of SMB owners and execs who tell me all the time that they are totally interested in VoIP solutions for all the right reasons, but they are still hesitant to act for all the wrong reasons. Once again, I go back to my soapbox about education. In such a fast moving, intelligent leading edge industry, there is still a huge disconnect when it comes to educating the potential end user. Small business owners are being inundated with pitches from the big carriers who are telling them that they need services, hardware, and infrastructure from a number of different vendors and providers in order to successfully deploy a VoIP solution. This would scare even larger companies. Immediately as a business owner I would think about who is responsible when my systems doesn't work? Who will support me? Will they all blame each other? Come on already! Give SMBs a break.
I realize more than anyone that at the heart of a VoIP solution are some very complex interconnected parts, like phones, networks, hardware, software, firmware, switches, routers and so on. But guess what? SMBs don't need to know that...they just want somebody to give it all to them in one box. Make it easy. Support it. Maintain it.
And I think that the few companies and products I highlighted at the top of this article have finally done just that. Take all the pieces, hide the complexity, glue it all together so it works, cover up the underlying configurations with wizards and easy GUI interfaces, and just make it work. Pretty much out of the box. That is what will win the SMBs over to VoIP. And let's not forget. Most SMBs are entrepreneurs who are always hungry for technology. They want to embrace it and use it and have the latest and greatest. So let's just give it to them without feeling the need to scare them with the details of how and why it all works.
Tell them the benefits, what it will do for their company and bottom line, how it saves money, increases productivity, and looks and feels cool. Then tell them the price. Done!

Leading wireless module specialist will offer local sales and integration support for Sierra Wireless 3G embedded modules

.: Acorn Networks :. VANCOUVER, and MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sierra Wireless and M2M Connectivity, a specialist wireless module distributor for machine-to-machine (M2M) products and applications, today announced they have signed an agreement for the distribution of Sierra Wireless 3G embedded modules in Australia and New Zealand. Under the terms of the agreement, M2M Connectivity will distribute and offer integration and certification support for the full line of Sierra Wireless embedded modules to OEM customers in the region.
M2M Connectivity supplies wireless modules, modems, and value added services to the wireless developer community in Australia and New Zealand and works across wireless technologies including cellular, short range, and satellite. The addition of Sierra Wireless PCI Express Mini Card modules adds a new form factor for the developer community as well as early access to 3G/HSDPA hardware to develop new M2M applications requiring higher bandwidth.
"M2M Connectivity believes this partnership with Sierra Wireless will further strengthen our position as the leading specialist M2M wireless distributor in the region. The Sierra Wireless PCI Express modules for 3G/HSDPA are world leading and will be a key factor in this market to assist developers building new applications designed to take advantage of 3G/HSDPA," said Darren Moroney, General Manager, M2M Connectivity.
"Sierra Wireless is committed to providing OEM customers with high quality products and the support they need for integration and carrier certification," said Jin Pak, Vice President, Asia Pacific Sales for Sierra Wireless. "Our collaboration with M2M Connectivity enables us to offer customers in Australia and New Zealand the ability to integrate Sierra Wireless 3G connectivity, with strong local support to assist them in getting their products to market quickly."
AirCard Enabled(TM)
Sierra Wireless has over 12 years of experience in delivering industry leading WWAN products. The company produces a full line of PCI Express Mini Card modules for both CDMA and GSM network technology streams, in data-only and voice-enabled variants. OEM customers can rely on Sierra Wireless to deliver a suite of PCI Express Mini Card products along with best-in-class technical and integration support, so end customers experience the same reliable, robust AirCard Enabled(TM) data solution users have come to expect from the AirCard(R) line of PC card products.
Sierra Wireless PCI Express Mini Card modules include a common comprehensive WHQL-certified USB software driver architecture that provides superior power management, a dedicated diagnostic channel and the ability to enable or disable NDIS or DUN support, which provides maximum flexibility to OEM customers when designing their wireless product. To simplify and expedite product development cycles, Sierra Wireless also provides OEM customers with a comprehensive software development kit (SDK) or Sierra Wireless's own Watcher (TM) software for easy connection management.
Each module is PCI Express Mini Card form factor compliant, fully shielded and offers an operating temperature range of -30 to +60 degrees Celsius to suit all applications. Each module measures 51 x 30 x 4.5 mm, weighs in at less than 12 g, and complies with European Union directives on RoHS (Restrictions on Hazardous Substances).

Web Server Capacity: Austin Bank Wants To Lighten its Load

.: Acorn Networks :. A victim of its own success, the community bank's quick growth has forced it to find a solution for overtaxed Web servers. Load balancing has provided the answer.
Austin Bank's Internet operation faces two major challenges: Web site congestion from heavy use, and slow ISP technology across its rural footprint.

The problems are partially due to the East Texas-based community bank's fast growth-its assets jumped to $750 million this year from $500 million in 2005-but they're problems nonetheless.

To mitigate its increasingly crowded servers, the bank has embraced what's called load balancing, or the practice of distributing users across servers based on traffic and demand patterns.

"You want to distribute users that are coming into the Internet by sending them into a server farm," says Kevin Mahon, president of KEMP Technologies, which sold its load balancing software to Austin Bank. "You then distribute them across servers in the best way possible."
Austin Bank's path to load balancing began in 2005 when the institution saw its growth taxing its two online banking servers, which were operating without traffic management, leading to problems with performance and function. And that was before planned additions to Web banking.

"We'd been pushing the Internet for a couple of years," says Jeff Austin II, the bank's vice chairman. "We dropped the fee for online bill payment, and from September to September (2005 to 2006), saw an increase of about 45 percent to 50 percent in online banking."
Like any bank, Austin must improve Internet service while adding complex transaction capabilities to its Website. However, what makes Austin a bit unusual is its footprint, which includes large cities plus a wide swath of rural territory in East Texas, where the bank has 21 locations in nine counties.

Austin Bank's goal is to build a strong Internet customer service capability, but rural Internet technology lags behind the metropolitan areas. "Being in East Texas, we still have a lot of dial up customers," says Jeff Sowell, the bank's network support manager. "Dial up customers really suffer if they don't get in the Internet."

For those who don't remember dial up Internet service, it involves connecting to the Web via telephone landlines, making it impossible to use the landline at the same time to call to complain about a bad server connection. To fight against such rural cutoffs and other Web glitches, the bank deployed two KEMP LoadMaster 3620s for its Longview, TX operations center. LoadMaster is a server load balancing and Layer 7 content switching appliance with integrated SSL acceleration, which means it can handle one million concurrent sessions. Since the bank has deployed two 3620s, it can seamlessly move users to a "hot standby" in the event that one server crashes.

"People now don't have to travel as far to get to the bank. We want to be able to deliver to less technological areas as we do in larger cities," Jeff Austin II says. "And let's face it. You can now access the Internet on a cell phone, a wireless computer or a dial up. There's a variety of customers who are getting the Internet in a different way, and we can serve them all."
The deployment also means the bank can now expand and add more Web servers without additional certificates. And the bank's customers can access information and do transactions without wait times or server time outs.

Sowell says the improvements have allowed the institution to go forward with Internet-related enhancements to customer service. "We don't want to have just information on our site, for example, but actual pictures of checks to go along with the information," he says. Maintenance of the Web site has become easier, he says. If he can't get on the site at home, he just moves to another server remotely, saving repairs to the damaged server until the following workday. In the old days, the same problem would have required a trip to the office, often in the middle of the night, to get the server up and running.

From a security standpoint the integrated SSL acceleration capability has enabled the bank to offload processor-intensive customer key encryption processing from the Web servers to the load balancers-allowing the online servers the freedom to perform intensive operations. The improved security measures have helped the institution to thwart several attacks on the LoadMaster's virtual IP address.

Sowell says the load balancing software places an additional layer of protection in front of the bank's sensitive customer and corporate information. It might be easy to find the bank on the Web, but penetrating the server is another matter. "You can find Austinbank.com, but finding the server is hard because the LoadMaster hides it well," he says.

Nasstar to buy Network Support for 750,000 stg; raises 500,000 stg via placing

.: Acorn Networks :. LONDON (AFX) - Software services provider Nasstar PLC said it will buy Network Support International Ltd, trading as Virtual Email, for 750,000 stg.
Nasstar also said it plans to raise 500,000 stg through a placing of 1.8 mln shares at 28 pence each to fund part of the acquisition.
Virtual Email is a provider of Hosted Exchange, email software delivered over the Internet and over-the-air (using GPRS) to mobile devices such as BlackBerry or windows mobile phones.

BNC buys Dallas company

.: Acorn Networks :. Business Network Consulting (BNC) has acquired Version 4, a Dallas-based IT consulting firm, the companies said Thursday. The purchase price wasn't disclosed.
The acquisition is Denver-based BNC's second in two months. BNC bought Colorado-based JSsolutions in late September, the company said.
BNC's headquarters will remain in Denver, while the acquired Texas location and its 13 employees will support new and existing clients in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Version 4's client list includes Rogers-O'Brien Construction, Staubach Real Estate Services, Lincoln Property Co., Potter Concrete and Gallagher Construction Services.
BNC provides outsourced computer and network support for small-to-midsized businesses in Colorado. It supports more than 650 companies in Colorado and Texas.