| This week's sponsor is EXFO. | 
| Webinar: Carrier Ethernet woes? Improve operational efficiency and network visibility
Wednesday, October 10, 11am ET / 8am PT / 3pm GMT
This webinar introduces a centralized Ethernet service activation and monitoring solution that enables network operators to deploy cost-effectively, accelerate time to revenue and boost operational efficiency, while optimizing subscriber experience. Register Today! |
Today's Top Stories
1. Microsoft builds on Toyota telematics accord to expand cloud platform deployment
2. Integra Telecom partners with Metaswitch and steps into IP-based world
3. Beware of OpenStack 'hype', says Gartner
4. Server market doldrums could lessen for vendors targeting growing segments
5. Microsoft Lync deployments 'stuck in the pilot phase,' says UC integrator Editor's Corner: Austin calling: Check out our ongoing IT EXPO coverage Also Noted: CommScope
Spotlight On... Spotlight: Enterprises turn to mobile devices to access UC apps
White paper addresses shift toward cloud-based UC; Ingram sees cloudy future and much more... IT EXPO 2012: Continuing coverage from Austin This week, business communications service providers at the enterprise and SMB levels, along with government and other service verticals, are meeting in Austin, Texas at the IT EXPO West, TMCNet's biennial conference. Samantha Bookman, managing editor of FierceMarkets' wireline group, is on-site covering the conference for FierceEnterpriseCommunications. Read More  Follow @FierceEntComm on Twitter!
| This week's sponsor is Akamai. |  | "Shifting Performance Strategies and Solutions for Mobile and Web Delivery" Discover ways to improve web and mobile performance with less cost and complexity in this new independent study commissioned by Forrester Consulting. Download Now.
|
Austin calling: Check out our ongoing IT EXPO coverage
 Intrepid Wireline Group Managing Editor Samantha Bookman has traveled to Austin, Texas, this week to bring FierceEnterpriseCommunications readers up-to-the-minute coverage of IT EXPO West. The conference provides business communications service providers a venue to share the latest trends and market developments.
Check out Samantha's Q&A with MegaPath's Dan Foster and take a tour of the company's Austin network operations center. MegaPath is on the warpath in the highly competitive hosted solutions market. Also read about the latest softphone features being offered by Phone.com. The VoIP provider is hoping its Communicator will help it terminate the competition. In addition, Sangoma's Jeff Dworkin spoke to participants about open-source options for unified communications (UC), Microsoft Lync and UC security. For the latest from IT EXPO West, check out our special section, IT EXPO 2012: Continuing Coverage from Austin. I know you'll enjoy it. -Fred Read more about: Unified Communications, Sangoma
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Sponsor: Qualcomm FierceLive! Webinars > Mobile Acceleration for the Mobile Revolution - Tuesday, November 13th, 2pm ET / 11am PT
> Webinar: Beyond the Cable: The Move to Mobility by MSOs - October 9th, 11:00 am EST/ 8:00 am PST
> Carrier Ethernet woes? Here's an economical approach to improving operational efficiency and network visibility - Wednesday, October 10, 11am ET / 8am PT / 3pm GMT
> The 1000x challenge; Small cells everywhere! - Wednesday, October 17, 12pm ET / 9am PT Events > ITEXPO 2012 - October 2-5 - Austin, TX Marketplace > Research: LTE: a real disruptive technology and business opportunity?
> Whitepaper: Save 30-50% on Telecom Costs ? Free IntelePeer White Paper Shows How
> Webinar: Save 30-50% on Telecom Costs - Free IntelePeer White Paper Shows How
> EBook: Finding New Gold in Copper
> Whitepaper: Kabel Deutschland Uses Lavastorm Analytics' Flexibility to Optimize Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management Processes
> Whitepaper: Whitepaper: 7 Key Customer Trends Driving Convergent Charging
> The Benefits of Moving from Open Source to WebSphere Application Server: Forrester Research Discusses its New Total Economic Im
> EBook: Looking Beyong 100G
> Shifting Performance Strategies and Solutions for Mobile and Web Experience Jobs > Public Safety DAS Engineer - Houston, TX - Connectivity Wireless Solutions
> Project Manager Job - Charlotte, NC, USA – Yoh
> Wireless Project Manager Job - Cerritos, CA, USA – Yoh
> Field Technicians (5) Job - Melbourne, FL, USA – Yoh
> Field Technician (CDMA and LTE experience preferred) Job - Plano, TX, USA – Yoh
> Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs * Post a classified ad: Click here.
* General ad info: Click here | Today's Top News 1. Microsoft builds on Toyota telematics accord to expand cloud platform deployment
Collaboration between IT firms and car makers is on the rise as the use of telematics--vehicle-based communications and IT services--expands. But that collaboration does not have to be limited to the car, as evidenced by a recent enterprise communications deal Microsoft signed with Toyota. Building on an earlier telematics agreement, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced this week that it is deploying Microsoft Office 365 cloud-based services to Toyota's Japanese and overseas affiliates, leveraging a hybrid model with on-premise editions of Exchange, Sharepoint, Lync and Server. In June, the U.S. tech giant began Office 365 deployment in Toyota's North American facilities. Microsoft will eventually provide these cloud services to more than 200,000 Toyota employees around the world during the next two years. Microsoft said the Office 365 platform supports mobile device use, reduces costs and improves collaboration between employees with enterprise social networking, conferencing, messaging and information-sharing tools. "The building of a communication infrastructure for the 200,000-plus users in Toyota and its group companies in Japan, America and throughout the world is one of the largest projects that Microsoft has ever undertaken," said Yasuyuki Higuchi, president and chief executive officer of Microsoft Japan. Microsoft was able to build on a 2011 agreement with Toyota under which the firm supplied its Windows Azure cloud platform for the Japanese car maker's next-generation telematics services. Telematics is a rapidly growing market. Research firm TechNavio predicts the global automotive embedded telematics market will grow at close to 33 percent annually through 2015. Key factors driving this growth are the benefits telematics provides to the end user and automobile manufacturers as well as a decrease in the average price of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) automotive embedded telematics. However, issues related to data security are acting as a barrier to the growth, according to TechNavio. IT firms should keep their eyes peeled for telematics partnerships with car makers, which might lead to lucrative enterprise communications deals as well. For more:
- see Microsoft's release
- check out TechNavio's stats Related Articles:
Report: Automakers should put the brakes on in-car app hopes
Honda ties iPhones, Android phones into dashboard with HondaLink platform Read more about: Office 365, toyota
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| This week's sponsor is Qualcomm. |  | Webinar: The 1000x challenge; Small cells everywhere!
Wednesday, October 17th, 12pm ET / 9am PT To solve the 1000x mobile data challenge, we need more small cells, actually, much more, and everywhere - But, isn't interference a limiting factor? How dense can we deploy them? What are the future enhancements that takes HetNets to the next level? Find out the answers at this Qualcomm webinar. Register Today! |
2. Integra Telecom partners with Metaswitch and steps into IP-based world
Regional CLECs that do not offer hosted VoIP are finding it increasingly difficult to line up business customers because larger firms with multiple locations are looking for hosted VoIP services. Portland, Ore.-based CLEC Integra Telecom has decided it wants to shed its circuit-based roots and grow onward and upward. The company has teamed with Metaswitch to launch a hosted VoIP offering for business customers. The offering includes an integrated voice/data circuit up to 100 Mbps, a per-line feature package bundle and optional a la carte features, managed customer premise equipment and service management through a secure web portal. Craig Clausen, executive vice president and principal analyst with New Paradigm Resources Group, noted Integra's business voice services have been provided by the Class 5 circuit-based infrastructure. "While the company is a regionally-focused carrier based in the Northwest US, it is pushing to extend its reach beyond these confines," he wrote in a blog. Clausen wrote that regional carriers find it challenging to win multi-location business accounts with a national reach. Integra's new hosted VoIP platforms enable the company to "plug this hole" and "move further up-market." Market research firm Infonetics predicts that a total of $377 billion will be spent on VoIP services through 2016, driven primarily by hosted VoIP and SIP trunking. The largest segment for business VoIP services is managed IP PBX, which makes up 15 percent to 20 percent of the market. SIP trunking revenue grew 23 percent in the first half of 2012 compared with the second half of 2011. "The SIP trunking and hosted UC segments were marked by strong growth and dynamic supplier landscapes in the first half of 2012. Beyond traditional operators and service providers, we're seeing a growing number of PBX/UC vendors, enterprise agents, system integrators, and resellers expanding into hosted UC offerings," commented Diane Myers, principal analyst for VoIP, UC and IMS at Infonetics. The VoIP business market is growing, and regional CLECs ignore it at their financial peril. Integra, for one, no longer risks losing out on the lucrative VoIP business industry. For more:
- see the Integra release
- read Clausen's blog
- check out the Infonetics data Related Articles:
Integra Telecom partners with Verizon Wireless to deliver VPN wireless backup
Integra Telecom brings fiber services to Oregon Health Network Read more about: Metaswitch, Clec
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3. Beware of OpenStack 'hype', says Gartner
Technology research firm Gartner is warning enterprises about the "hype" surrounding OpenStack, an open-source cloud management platform (CMP), which could lead to poor sourcing decisions by companies. Developed by Rackspace and NASA, OpenStack is a cloud operating system that controls large pools of compute, storage and networking resources throughout a data center, managed through a dashboard that gives administrators control while enabling users to provision resources through a web interface. "Hype around open-source CMPs is causing some customers to make unfounded assumptions that may lead to poor sourcing decisions when they are choosing a CMP to build a private cloud, or when buying cloud infrastructure as a service (IaaS) from a service provider," according to the report authored by Gartner analyst Lydia Leong. The Gartner analyst noted that vendors who are participating in the OpenStack project are doing so to challenge dominant products Amazon Web Services and VMware's vCloud stack: "the participating vendors feel that Amazon and VMware are much greater threats than each other." Leong advised enterprises to assess OpenStack the same way they would any other offering from a vendor, use a third-party cloud API library or cloud management tool that supports a unified interface to multiple clouds and consider OpenStack only if they are willing to take a risk on an immature product. Responding to the report, Jonathan Bryce, executive director of the OpenStack Foundation, told NetworkWorld that it "touches on a lot of different points" and many of the criticisms could apply broadly to other cloud computing projects. "We're early on in this technology shift," he added. Leong's recommendations for enterprises about OpenStack adoption certainly seem prudent, given its early stage of development. As she admits, it is a promising early-stage project, but caution is warranted. For more:
- read the Gartner report
- see the NetworkWorld article
- check out the OpenStack website Related Articles:
Red Hat unveils new cloud framework
OpenStack turns two Read more about: Vmware
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4. Server market doldrums could lessen for vendors targeting growing segments
The worldwide server market has been in the doldrums this year: Vendor revenues have been down and shipments have been in decline. According to the latest IDC figures, factory revenue in the worldwide server market declined 4.8 percent year over year to $12.6 billion in the second quarter, the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue decline. Server unit shipments decreased 3.6 percent year over year in the second quarter to 2 million units. This was the first year-over-year decline in server shipments since the third quarter of 2009, IDC noted. But server vendors, don't despair. There is hope. Gartner has identified three market segments poised for significant growth: hyperscale data centers, hosted virtual desktop (HVD) workloads and increased demand for extreme low-energy (ELE) servers. In the hyperscale data centers segment, demand from companies like Google, Amazon and Facebook with huge data centers is expected to fuel shipment growth, from 11 percent of the service market this year to 17 percent by 2015. "The hyperscale data center market is a big one, but limited, with only a few dozen--albeit, large--potential customers. This strong, concentrated buying power inevitably means intense competition and lower margins, as well as fluctuating demand," commented Gartner Principal Research Analyst Kiyomi Yamada. "In order to be successful in this opportunity, organizations must offer custom design, manufacturing, installation and support capabilities that specifically target the segment," Yamada added. Virtualized physical servers deployed for HVD workloads are expected to reach 368,000 units by 2015 and account for 16.7 percent of the virtualized physical servers for all workloads, according to Gartner. The customers for HVDs are large enterprises and public-sector organizations, but small and mid-size businesses are also potential customers. There is also market opportunity for companies that can offer optimized HVD products that cover servers, storage and networking, the research firm said. A new market, the ELE server segment, is predicted to grab about 2.4 percent of the total server market by 2015 as the need for power efficiency and green IT products increases. ELE servers can be used to increase performance per watt for tasks such as static Web pages, streaming content, Web serving, Apache Hadoop analytics and memcached, which can help free power for conventional servers dealing with other workloads. Gartner cautions that companies need to investigate whether an investment in developing ELEs fits with their broader business goals. They require a large amount of research and development before products can be launched, so not only must companies be able to introduce low-power servers with small footprints, but they must also be willing to do development and testing. Server vendors would be well advised to target these market segments, given the declining revenues and shipments for the server market overall. The risks are high, but so are the potential profits. For more:
- check out IDC data
- see Gartner's release Related Articles:
Are data centers wasteful power hogs?
Beware of OpenStack 'hype', says Gartner Read more about: servers, hosted virtual desktops
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5. Microsoft Lync deployments 'stuck in the pilot phase,' says UC integrator
Many Microsoft Lync deployments are "stuck in the pilot phase," with enterprises using only instant messaging (IM), presence and some audioconferencing, said Jeff Wellemeyer, executive vice president of unified communications systems integrator West IP Communications. Wellemeyer said enterprises are befuddled by the complexity of linking their networks for external telecommunications and IP networks using the Lync platform, according to a report by eWeek. Not surprisingly, West IP Communications offers a service to help companies connect the on-premise elements of Lync to external telephony or IP networks. The company takes a hybrid approach that enables enterprises to manage the on-premise elements of Lync on their own, but uses Media Cloud for connections to external networks. According to Bill Haskins, senior analyst in unified communications at Wainhouse Research, when enterprises deploy only IM, usage tops 80 percent. But when they deploy the full array of Lync components, including telephony, audio and video conferencing, usage drops to 10 percent to 15 percent because of the limitations of the enterprise network. "The step from Lync as an instant messaging engine to Lync as a conferencing engine and Lync as a PBX, those incremental steps add almost exponential layers of complexity to IT organizations," Haskins said in eWeek. Gartner makes a more positive assessment of Lync in its 2012 Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications report. "Lync 2010 offers a full suite of UC functionality, and Microsoft continues to improve and evolve its offering with each release," Gartner judged. At the same time, the research firm noted that enterprises considering deploying Lync telephony and video "should understand its limitations and infrastructure requirements, how they will support branch offices, and how they will obtain global third-party support if they need it." So it appears the jury is still out on how Lync performs beyond IM. Those companies that already have a full complement of Microsoft products may want to give it a test run, while others might want to check out alternative UC platforms. For more:
- read the eWeek article
- check out the Gartner report Related Articles:
Gartner names Avaya, Cisco, Microsoft and Siemens as 2012 UC market leaders
Gartner tags Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Cisco and Siemens as telephony market leaders Read more about: Microsoft Lync, Gartner
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Also Noted | This week's sponsor is CommScope. |  | Webinar: Backhaul Capacity Planning Solutions
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2 pm ET / 11 am PT Today's wireless market is enjoying explosive growth. As a result, CommScope® has introduced a variety of solutions for expanding backhaul capabilities like Fiber-to-the-Cell (FTTCell) and Microwave Systems. Find out more and register today! |
SPOTLIGHT ON... Spotlight: Enterprises turn to mobile devices to access UC apps Enterprises are increasingly using mobile devices to access unified communications (UC) applications, according to the latest research by Infonetics. A survey of 102 managers who purchased UC said smartphones and tablets would be the two most widely used services for UC next year, surpassing PCs and desk phones. A full 71 percent of respondents said mobile device integration was "very important" in their decision making. However, UC deployment is being held up by concerns about complexity, the survey found. Read more More news from around the World Wide Web... > White paper released to address major shift toward cloud-based unified communications. Release > Ingram foresees a cloudy future. Article > How UC drove sales, rescued customers from voicemail hell. Article > BSNL ties up with WishTel to launch 3G and VoIP compatible tablet PC in India. Article > Quark unveils publishing platform for customer communications. Article And finally… Apple, don't mess with Carl Sagan. Article > Mobile Acceleration for the Mobile Revolution - Tuesday, November 13th, 2pm ET / 11am PT A revolution is underway in how companies interact with audiences online. Join us to learn the recent results from Compuware research on mobile performance expectations, unique challenges presented by delivery over cellular networks, and what to consider when balancing mobile performance and usability. Register Today! > Webinar: Beyond the Cable: The Move to Mobility by MSOs - October 9th, 11:00 am EST/ 8:00 am PST The best immediate prospects for MSOs may lie on using Wi-Fi to harvest data from mobile operators for backhaul over MSO HFC networks. Wi-Fi networks provide a huge differentiation and opportunities for cable operators. This webinar will explore how MSOs are integrating Wi-Fi into their existing network architectures and examine the economics behind Wi-Fi for cable operators. Register Now! > Carrier Ethernet woes? Here's an economical approach to improving operational efficiency and network visibility - Wednesday, October 10, 11am ET / 8am PT / 3pm GMT This webinar introduces a centralized Ethernet service activation and monitoring solution that enables network operators to deploy cost-effectively, accelerate time to revenue and boost operational efficiency, while optimizing subscriber experience. Register Today! > The 1000x challenge; Small cells everywhere! - Wednesday, October 17, 12pm ET / 9am PT To solve the 1000x mobile data challenge, we need more small cells, actually, much more, and everywhere - But, isn't interference a limiting factor? How dense can we deploy them? What are the future enhancements that takes HetNets to the next level? Find out the answers at this Qualcomm webinar. Register Today!
| > ITEXPO 2012 - October 2-5 - Austin, TX The world's largest communications & tech event - discover more new insights, new products and networking to keep you and your company ahead of the curve. Join industry powerhouses for a week of business-building and researching today’s most powerful communications solutions. Register today.
| > Research: LTE: a real disruptive technology and business opportunity? WiTech's latest Report "LTE: a disruptive technology and business opportunity" presents an in-depth analysis about the promising technology LTE by taking into account not only technology aspects but also business aspects. It points out the key drivers that are continuously changing the Telecom Market. Download this report today! > Whitepaper: Save 30-50% on Telecom Costs ? Free IntelePeer White Paper Shows How If you're serious about cost savings and providing reliable voice services without replacing your existing PBX, transitioning to SIP Trunking can streamline circuits, save money, improve number portability and enable flexible dial tone DR scenarios. Get the facts#mce_temp_url# in this free white paper download. > Webinar: Save 30-50% on Telecom Costs - Free IntelePeer White Paper Shows How If you're serious about cost savings and providing reliable voice services without replacing your existing PBX, transitioning to SIP Trunking can streamline circuits, save money, improve number portability and enable flexible dial tone DR scenarios. Get the facts in this free white paper download. > EBook: Finding New Gold in Copper This eBook from FierceTelecom will explore the ever-changing dynamics of service providers' copper networks and how they are using these new technologies to deliver a wider set of services to consumers and businesses. Download for free today. > Whitepaper: Kabel Deutschland Uses Lavastorm Analytics' Flexibility to Optimize Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management Processes Learn how Kabel Deutschland achieved quantifiable ROI in less than one year, accelerated detection of fraudulent activity by more than 2000 percent, and improved customer satisfaction. Download this case study today. > Whitepaper: Whitepaper: 7 Key Customer Trends Driving Convergent Charging Evolving customer trends have disrupted the traditional rules of revenue, causing service providers to rethink their approach to charging and billing. This whitepaper by Alepo explores how evolving customer trends are driving innovation in convergent charging solutions, and what it means for revenues and the customer experience. Download now! > The Benefits of Moving from Open Source to WebSphere Application Server: Forrester Research Discusses its New Total Economic Im Join us for this complimentary webcast and learn details from a new independent report that shows the total economic impact of migrating from an open source solution to IBM WebSphere Application Server -- including a 44% return on investment (ROI) producing a net value of over $1 million. Register today! > EBook: Looking Beyong 100G Driven by a never-ending appetite for bandwidth from businesses and consumers, service providers are in the process of upgrading their backbone and core networks. This eBook discusses the strategies, emerging standards, and technological advancements beyond 100G. Click here to download today. > Shifting Performance Strategies and Solutions for Mobile and Web Experience Achieving reliable performance that meets web and mobile user expectations is critical to business success. If your company's web and mobile applications are either poorly designed or poorly implemented, the result can be slow responses or unavailable sites that jeopardize potential transactions and damage your company's brand. Discover ways to drive web and mobile responsiveness and learn which emerging performance-enhancement techniques show the greatest promise in this On-Demand webinar. Download Now.
| > Public Safety DAS Engineer - Houston, TX - Connectivity Wireless Solutions Connectivity Wireless Solutions delivers best in class consulting, engineering, project management, installation, and staffing services to wireless carrier and enterprise customers. The Public Safety DAS Engineer is tasked with collecting and analyzing RF data typically with tools such as test phones and needs analysis equipment such as ZK Celltest and spectrum analyzers. Learn More! > Project Manager Job - Charlotte, NC, USA – Yoh Yoh has a contract opportunity for a Project Manager to join our client in Charlotte, NC 28217. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for planning and managing medium to large sized application development projects. Six (6) years of previous experience with technical applications and/or information systems (or equivalent) required...Learn more. > Wireless Project Manager Job - Cerritos, CA, USA – Yoh Yoh has a one (1) year full time contract opportunity for a Wireless Project Manager to join a large telecom client located in the Los Angeles CA area (Cerritos CA). Responsibilities include managing project completions (LTE, UMTS, NSB, and all other modifications) from issuance of work order to turn up including finance and timeline forecasts. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational and communication skills, be able to work independently and be able to work on scheduling and reporting...Learn more. > Field Technicians (5) Job - Melbourne, FL, USA – Yoh Yoh has five (5) month contract opportunities for five (5) Field Technicians to join our client in Melbourne, FL. This job will involve going out to sea and working on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships 2-3 weeks out of a month. Our client is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Minimum two (2) years' experience with VSAT systems required...Learn more. > Field Technician (CDMA and LTE experience preferred) Job - Plano, TX, USA – Yoh Yoh has a contract opportunity for a Field Technician (CDMA and LTE experience preferred) to join our client in Plano, TX. Responsibilities include developing proficiency in primary skills of customer relations, basic electricity, basic electronics, basic telephony, radio principles for CDMA, LTE and iDEN, and basic principles of digital transmission, fiber communication, data communication, telephony terminology, industry standards, and on-line network control/maintenance systems. Must be able to multi-task and maintain composure in stressful and demanding work environment...Learn more. > Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs | |
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