Dave Michels
Telecom/VoIP/UC/Mobility enthusiast. Blogolyst, Consultant, and Analyst publishing independent telecom and UC research at TalkingPointz. Dave is CEO of Verge1 which offers independent analysis and interpretation of business communications systems and technologies. Dave works with the major vendors, end users, and media sources. His independent research is available for download at www.talkingpointz.com. Dave regularly contributes to this site and other major sites focused on communications. His blog PinDropSoup is one of the most popular independent telecom oriented blogs on the web.
New From AT&T: A Fee For No Fees
When touch-tone dialing was new, the Bell System charged a small fee for the service. It was actually cheaper to provide touch-tone (the registers that hear dialing were freed-up much quicker). The Bell system figured out that customers liked the faster dialing, and were willing to pay a premium to get it. Extra fees are [...]
Thought of the Day: Carriers!
Remember what hotels taught us? They taught us to never make a long distance call from the room. The hotels discovered that long distance wasn’t just a service, but a money maker and charged us through the nose on long distance usage. It sorta worked w…
Cisco Snags AXIOSS
Cisco intends to acquire AXIOSS from the UK subsidiary (formerly Axiom Systems) of parent company Comptel Corporation of Helsinki. Why? Because it will enable Cisco to extend network and service management across its platforms and enable service providers to launch new video, mobility, data, and cloud services faster. In other words, Cisco bought this technology to [...]
HP Headlines, Pick A Favorite
HP used to be a great company. An amazing company, and the subject of numerous business books discussing innovation and leadership. Other than printers and calculators, I don’t have much HP around any more. Love my HP 12C calculator (RPN Ever4!). But the current HP is a joke and has been for quite some time. [...]
Toy Story 4:Google Voice
Toy Story (1995) is a phenomenal movie on many levels. We can all relate to the core story – the bright shiny new toy makes us forget about our old favorites. But the bigger and sadder story was how Toy Story itself served notice to the Disney animators, Disney had animation nailed – how could [...]
Cloud in a Box
Panasonic wants to sell SMBs hosted voice – and is doing so via retail with its new “Panasonic Cloud Business Phone System.” Available now at Amazon, Best Buy, Office Depot, and Staples. The vast majority of hosted voice services downplay the phone itself – usually positioning it as optional (use a softphone) and treating it [...]
Skype: Interop is a Waste of Time
Ecomm is a fantastic conference (for telecom propeller heads). This year I was only able to do a fly-by. However, the organizers are starting to post videos. Jonathan Christensen of Skype discusses the latest release of SkypeKit, an SDK for real time communications. SkypeKit is primarily targeted at consumer electronics manufacturers to embed Skype into a [...]
Long Live the Business Card
I have new found respect for the business card. It works. Various forms of new technology with the promise of a better solution have tried many times to kill this old-school piece of paper, but none have really delivered a better solution. The business card wins because it is simple, cheap, and reliable. The one [...]
A Cloud a Risin’
Is the Cloud OS going to replace traditional server operating systems? Are the days of server based Windows, Linux, Solaris, AIX, UX, etc. over? Last week: Citrix acquires Cloud.com VMware announces vSphere V In terms of enterprise voice, we are starting to see the trend of centralization – hosting branch offices off a centralized voice [...]
Enterprise Tablets: Hurry and Get One Before They Are Gone
The Cius is here. That makes two enterprise UC tablets: Cisco Cius and Avaya Desktop Video Device with the Flare Experience. First some clarifications and differences, then a few conclusions. These devices do not compete with each other. The Cisco Cius is for Cisco UC customers and the Avaya Desktop Video Device is for Avaya [...]
Is That A Tablet In Your Pocket, or…?
My problem with tablets is they don’t replace anything. My smartphone replaced a lot of things, my laptop replaced my desktop. My Kindle replaces lots of books. From what I see, tablets don’t replace anything. They are a new device joining the primal fight for airport power outlets. They do seem kind of fun. On [...]
Danger Will Robinson
The new next big thing is Telepresence robots. At least that’s what some people think. I think not. With any luck, telepresence robots are currently experiencing their peak in popularity. That probably isn’t the case – telepresence robots may become the perfect yardstick for ego measurement, but I seriously doubt they will positively impact productivity. [...]
Collaborating with VMware
VMware is on fire. The company recently reported year-over-year growth at 49%, ending FY2010 at $2.9 billion. Included in that top line is 95% increase in operating income. Q111 revenue is 33% higher than Q110.
In UC, VMware is everyone's buddy. …
World’s Collide: Phones and Home Automation
A Man’s home is his castle laboratory. My last post was about phones needing more apps – and here is a great one for the home. There are two things I believe every home should have – home automation and a PBX. However, my opinion (in this case) does not reflect the opinion of the [...]
The Post iPod Era
In my personal version of Toy Story, my iPod plays the role of Woody – a former favorite toy that just can’t compete with the latest technical toys. It is hard to pinpoint when an era begins or ends, but I believe the iPod Era passed. I was an early adopter on the Apple iPod. [...]
